TTC_02_24_21_Vol.17-No.18

The Town Common

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PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY FOR 17 YEARS

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 Vol. 17, No. 18

Essex — After a year-long process

of developing and issuing a request for

proposals and vetting applicants, Essex

County Greenbelt has announced that

Iron Ox Farm of Topsfield will be the

new farm operator at the former Green

Meadows Farm in Hamilton and Topsfield

starting in 2021.

Iron Ox Farm’s principals, Alex Cecchinelli

and Stacy Apple, have had great

success in the past years growing their

business from 1 acre with a 40 member

CSA to 3 acres with a 120 member

CSA with plans to expand further. Using

organic and regenerative methods,

Iron Ox produces high quality vegetables

for their CSA, farmers markets,

and wholesale to restaurants. Like many

farmers, Cechinelli and Apple found

ways to ramp up their production to

feed the increased demand that they saw

FREE

Essex County Greenbelt Announces Next

Farmers for former Green Meadows Farm

in 2020 as a result of COVID. “We are

so grateful to have this opportunity to

help meet our community’s demand for

high quality, delicious vegetables while

conserving and regenerating the soils

and ecology on the farm.”

Iron Ox plans to continue to utilize

their existing fields at Nutter Farm

while starting the process of reopening

the former Green Meadows. Future

plans include expanding the CSA and

reestablishing the farm stand, formerly

a vibrant community space. Iron Ox is

excited for this opportunity to invest

in and grow their business. They will

be using the larger space at the former

Green Meadows to increase their vegetable

production to meet the high demand

within the community. They will

Site of Green Meadows Farm. Photo / The Town Common Greenbelt, page 2

By Stewart Lytle, Reporter

ROWLEY – Rowley is trying to solve

two challenges the town faces – bringing

more businesses to town, while building

more affordable housing – at once.

This week, the Planning Board will

hold a remote public hearing at 7 p.m.

on Wednesday, Feb. 24 on a proposed

rezoning by an affordable housing developer

of nine parcels on Rte. 1 to

create a Retail Village that would have

retail shops on the ground level and

housing on the second, maybe third

floors above.

The proposed rezoning is from 236

to 282 Newburyport Tnpk. across the

highway from the Rowley Marketplace

that includes Market Basket grocery

store and other stores. It would be south

of the Yankee Pine operations.

The proposed rezoning is the second

Retail Village Overlap District that has

come to Rowley in recent months. Rowley

approved a Retail Village on Haverhill

Street, Rte. 133, near Interstate 95.

No developers have applied for a special

permit to build a mixed-use project at

that site.

Harborlight Community Partners in

Beverly approached town Planning Director

Kirk Baker about the town creating

what Baker called “more flexible”

zoning on the properties along Rte. 1.

Founded by the First Baptist Church

in Beverly in the 1960s, Harborlight

(HCP) is a non-profit community development

corporation, which develops

and manages affordable housing opportunities.

It collaborates with communities,

mostly along the North Shore to

provide housing for underserved populations.

“HCP strives to make homes available

to all, because everyone deserves a

home,” its website states.

It develops housing for seniors, family,

special needs individuals and the

homeless.

Current projects include a six-unit

family housing project as well as an 85-

unit senior housing project and a 79-

unit family housing project in Beverly.

In Rockport HCP will have 23 units,

and in Wenham it is building a 45-unit

senior housing project.

HCP has not submitted a proposal

for its plans in Rowley to the planning

board, which would have to review its

plans as part of a special permit, Baker

Retail Village, page 2

Harborlight Affordable

Housing May Come

to Rowley

Stewart Lytle / The Town Common

The Rte. 1 site under review

Page 2 www.TheTownCommon.com

February 24, 2021

The Town Common

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Essex County Greenbelt

Announces Next Farmers for

former Green Meadows Farm

Greenbelt, from page 1

also be partnering with Lillooet

Farm to include sheep as part of

the farm. The incorporation of

sheep grazing into the larger farm

plan will give Iron Ox the chance

to bring a more holistic approach

to the farm. The team at Iron Ox

wants to put an emphasis on soil

health and biodiversity to keep

the land resilient and protect the

surrounding watershed. Iron Ox

plans to have their farm fully

transitioned to the former Green

Meadows site by spring 2022 with

an increased CSA, continued sales

to local restaurants and the opening

of a farm stand. Their longterm

plans will be to grow the

farm into a community hub where

people can come to learn more

about agriculture, get involved

with their food and enjoy nature

together. Iron Ox is looking forward

to sharing this special space

with the community.

Greenbelt’s farmland program

is designed not only to protect

our most important agricultural

resources, but to use innovative

methods to make that protected

farmland available and affordable

to area farmers. In this instance,

Greenbelt is utilizing a long-term

ground lease approach, wherein

Greenbelt will remain the owner

of the land but Iron Ox, and subsequent

farmers, will have access to

the land under a 99-year ground

lease. This approach, pioneered

in the affordable housing world

and utilized by a relative handful

of land trusts across the country,

gives the farmers the confidence

and ability to invest in the land

and in their business, and they

can secure financing to build out

their operation. Year-to- year and

handshake agreements, though

common with agricultural land,

do not provide adequate security

for developing and investing in a

business.

Seventeen farmers and farm

Retail Village, from page 1

businesses responded to Greenbelt’s

request for proposals. A

committee of staff, board, local

farmers and community members

reviewed and ultimately selected

the finalist.

Greenbelt President Kate

Bowditch said, “The experience

highlighted the demand for farmland

and the variety of highly

qualified and skilled farmers and

entrepreneurs who want to farm

in Essex County. We will continue

to work with that group of

land-seekers to match them up

with protected farmland. This

work is the nexus of conservation,

local economic development, and

food security.”

Greenbelt purchased the land

– a resource-rich landscape between

the Ipswich River and Bradley

Palmer State Park – in 2019

with support from Institution for

Savings and many generous donors.

The vision for the property

includes the public reservation at

Vineyard Hill on the west side of

Asbury Street, paired with a working

farm. In addition to the public

access already available at Vineyard

Hill, new trails will be developed

on the farm side of the property,

providing additional public access

in a way that is compatible with

the farm operation.

Harborlight Affordable

Housing May Come to Rowley

said. He expects HCP to propose

that it be “an anchor tenant” of the

new retail village. There would be

space in the nine parcels for other

Photo / the town Common

tenants in the retail village, he said.

Affordable housing is a challenge

to most cities and towns in the Commonwealth,

most of which are well below

the state standards for the amount

of affordable housing required.

February 24, 2021 www.TheTownCommon.com

Page 3

Telling the Stories of Black Americans in Essex County

By Stewart Lytle, Reporter

REGIONAL — Sarah Baro, believed

to have been born an African

princess because she bore ceremonial

scars on her face, designating

her as royalty, was captured by a

slave trader and brought to Salem,

probably in the 1850s.

Baro’s life was “an amazing story

of survival,” said Dr. Kabria

Baumgartner, a professor of American

Studies at the University of

New Hampshire. She is a principal

investigator on a two-person

team, funded by the National Park

Service, to find stories and documents

like Baro’s that will be assembled

in a guidebook on the African

experience in Essex County.

The goal is to get North Shore

museums, private and public collections

to communicate better

with one another about the documents

they have stored, many of

them hidden for centuries.

Baro, who later used the last

name Colcher, was given to Austin

Dodge, a sea captain from

Beverly, in 1844 and was brought

to live in the Topsfield home of

Nathanial Conant and his wife

Elizabeth Dodge Conant. She

attended the Topsfield Academy

and later worked as a domestic in

white homes in Boston and Beverly

Farms.

Before she died of cancer in

1882 and was interred in the

Conant family plot at Pine Grove

Cemetery, she wrote a will and

kept it in a mahogany box.

The volunteer-run Topsfield

Historical Society has her box,

along with a letter from Charles

Dodge, a Conant descendent.

Sarah’s life story is one of

Baumgartner’s favorites that she

and Dr. Elizabeth DuClos-Orsello,

a Salem State University

professor, found in scouring museums,

historical society records,

newspaper articles, birth and

death certificates for records of Africans

and African-Americans in

the county. Baumgartner said she

is fascinated with Baro’s will and

is eager to see what she left as an

inheritance and to whom.

On March 27 from 9 to 11

a.m., Essex Heritage will present

a workshop entitled The Struggle

for Liberty, Equality, and Property:

Examining Resistance to Exclusionary

Policies Against Black

People in Essex County. The

workshop features Baumgartner

and Bethany Jay, an associate professor

of history at Salem State.

“The history of Black People’s

experiences in Essex County, including

enslavement, ‘gradual

emancipation,’ and hard-fought

access to fundamental rights, offers

a rich set of stories for our students

to explore,” Essex Heritage

announced.

“In this workshop, we will examine

how these experiences exemplify

a larger history of structural

racism and prejudice, but

also perseverance and change. In

uncovering some of these stories,

we will explore how and why this

history has often been hidden

from view or distorted to fit more

comfortable narratives, discussing

implications for our students in

today’s world.”

Baumgartner, who specializes

in 19th Century African American

history and literature, is the

author of several books on the

black experience. Her first book,

In Pursuit of Knowledge: Black

Women and Educational Activism

in Antebellum America examines

the history of school desegregation

in the 19th century Northeast by

focusing on the experiences of

African American girls and women.

Her second book explores the

rise of indentured servitude in the

Northeast and its impact on African-American

girls and women

during the early national period.

The two-year, $100,000 research

project on the black experience

in Essex County “is a great

start,” Baumgartner said.

She and DuClos-Orsello have

visited 21 different museums and

collections from large ones like

the Phillips Library in Rowley and

the Andover Historical Center to

small volunteer-run collections,

such as the one in Topsfield. But

they have only begun to unearth

the stories, which are mostly hidden,

Baumgartner said, because

“no one really cared.”

In 2021, when black lives matter,

she hopes the museums and

collections will communicate

more with one another, so they

can create large and impactful exhibits.

Other major collections include

the Cape Ann Museum, Historic

Beverly, the Newburyport Public

Library, John Greenleaf Whittier

Home and Museum in Amesbury

and the Amesbury Carriage Museum.

The researchers are looking

mostly in the 19th and 20th century,

but have found documents

that go back to the 18th century.

The grant for the project is

jointly funded by the National

Park Service and the Organization

of American Historians. It was the

idea of Dr. Emily Murphy, Paul

DePrey, Dr. David Goldstein and

the National Park Service staff at

Salem Maritime, who recognized

the need to expand the histories of

African Americans in Essex County.

Dr. Murphy, a historian and

curator at Salem Maritime and

Saugus Iron Works, applied for

the grant and found the scholars.

“Dr. Elizabeth DuClos-Orsello

and I signed on,” Baumgartner

wrote.

Completing the guidebook will

allow a museum or organization

to prepare more impactful exhibits

and presentations for students and

the public on diverse topics like

slavery in the northern colonies.

“That’s happening,” Baumgartner

said excitedly.

In the 18th and 19th century,

a large number of black families

lived in cities and towns like

Newburyport, where there were

enough black residents to have a

literary club, named for W.E.B.

Du Bois, Baumgartner said. Du

Bois, an educator, born in Great

Barrington, helped found the

NAACP.

The cities of Lynn and Lawrence

had larger numbers of black

residents, but in the 20th century,

according to census records, many

of these families left the county.

Some went to Boston, while others

left the state, apparently looking

for better jobs.

Baumgartner believes that Sarah,

from princess to slave to respected

member of a local family,

is just part of a larger story of the

black presence in Essex County,

whether brought here in slavery

or escaped from southern plantations.

More research is needed into

the role captains, shipbuilders and

investors in maritime commerce

played in the illegal slave trade,

she said.

One exhibit Baumgartner suggested

was on Black entrepreneurs.

There are many examples

of owners of hair salons, caterers,

restaurants, oyster dealers and

dance studios, she said.

An exhibit on black entrepreneurs

might include the

“heart-warming story” of Allen

Hinton, an ex-slave, who was

the first in New England to sell

ice cream exclusively. Hinton, a

waiter at the Andover Theological

Seminary in 1877, was told by a

student that he should open an ice

cream business. Working from a

horse-drawn precursor to the ice

cream truck, he sold two flavors –

vanilla and lemon.

In 1901, Hinton and his wife,

Mary Jane, bought at auction a

4-acre farm on Hidden Road.

Customers, including the students

at Phillips Academy, flocked to the

farm. He advertised in the school’s

newspaper, the Philippian, and

was popular among the students.

Once when Hinton raised the

price of his ice cream a nickel, the

students protested until he lowered

the price.

After Hinton died in 1912,

his children, led by his daughter,

Alice, expanded the business

through the 1930s, adding other

flavors, including the popular

tutti-fruiti. She won the praise of

Booker T. Washington for her successful

business skills.

Black people were among the

leading opponents of slavery, until

it was abolished in the Massachusetts

courts in 1783. As early

as 1774, Caesar Sarter, who had

been kidnapped in west Africa

and enslaved for 20 years in Newburyport

before freeing himself,

published an address in the Essex

and Merrimac Packet declaring

that “as Slavery is the greatest, and

consequently most to be dreaded,

of all temporal calamities: So, its

opposite, Liberty, is the greatest

temporal good, with which you

can be blest.”

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February 24, 2021

By J. Peter St. Clair, DMD

This is a phrase we hear far too

frequently when patients call to

cancel or change their dental hygiene

appointments. When the

patient is told that there are no

open hygiene appointments for

4-6 months, the response is often,

“Oh, that’s okay, it’s just a cleaning.”

This lack of concern is only

partly to blame on the patient;

most of the accountability falls in

the lap of the dental team.

If you read this column with

any frequency, I am sure you

have seen me report that 75% of

the population has some form of

Brighter smiles ...

“It’s Just a Cleaning”

periodontal (gum) disease. I’m

sure you have also read that periodontal

disease has been linked

to heart disease, stroke, pre-term,

low birth-weight babies, diabetes,

and possibly even some types of

cancer. The problem is the dental

team is not discussing this

enough with their patients.

Here’s the way I see it: If a

patient has made the decision

to seek the services of a dental

office, we must assume that the

reason is based on wanting to

improve and/or maintain their

dental health. If that’s not the

reason you go to the dentist, what

is? Patients will often say during

an exam, “Please don’t find anything.”

Our response may be,

“Well then, I better not look.”

Assuming the reason for going to

a dental office is to improve and/

or maintain dental health as part

of overall health, it is the obligation

of the dental team to “find

stuff” if it’s there, communicate

that with the patient, and have a

conversation about whether any

steps should be taken.

For example, based on your

level of periodontal health, there

are different levels of frequency

recommended for hygiene visits.

The majority of patients should

be seen every 6 months. Some

are lucky enough to have yearly

visits recommended to them.

For others, every 3 or 4 months

is recommended. This frequency

is determined by your dental

team to maintain your dental

health. Regardless, if you put

off your routine care by 1, 2 or

even 6 months, that is a lot of

time to have bacterial growth

accumulate and put your body

into a defensive mode due to

increased inflammation. This

brings me back to the reason you

have chosen to be an active dental

patient.

Remember, gum disease is not

only bad because it makes your

breath stink and your teeth fall

out; it is bad for you systemically

because of chronic inflammation.

You may very well not notice an

increase in inflammation, but

your body does. There are measurable

indicators of this.

If your goal is optimal health,

routine maintenance is essential.

I tell my team all the time that

we must continue to educate the

people who put their trust in us to

maintain their dental health.

Depending on your car, there

is a recommended maintenance

schedule. If you ignore the recommended

maintenance, only

bad things can happen. You

may be able to “stretch it out”

a little, but must understand

there are risks associated with

that decision. If you knew how

bad chronic inflammation really

was for you, you would want

to be seen more frequently than

you are.

There are obviously valid reasons

why patients need to change

an appointment. Most dental

offices understand that. It is the

frequency, attitude (It’s just a

cleaning), and lack of commitment

that causes both disruption

within the dental office and discontinuity

of care.

Dr. St. Clair maintains a private

dental practice in Rowley and Newburyport

dedicated to health-centered

family dentistry. If there are certain

topics you would like to see written

about or questions you have please

email them to him at jpstclair@

stclairdmd.com. You can view all

previously written columns at www.

jpeterstclairdentistry.com/blog.

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www.fsrobertsandson.com

office@fsrobertsandson.com

978-948-7763

We Offer:

• Personalized and

Traditional Funerals

• Cremations

• Graveside Services

• Memorial Services

• Advance Planning Options

Jeffrey E. Megna, CFSP

Owner,

Licensed Funeral Director (Type 3)

February 24, 2021

www.TheTownCommon.com Page 5

Community News

Topsfield And

Haverhill

Firefighters

To Receive

Federal Grant

BOSTON — The Federal

Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA) announced $3.9 million

in direct assistance grants to

288 volunteer and combination

fire departments nationwide

through the agency’s FY2020

Assistance to Firefighters Grant

COVID-19 Supplemental program

(AFG-S).

The AFG-S Program includes

grants to two local local fire departments

in Massachusetts:

• Haverhill - Haverhill Fire

Department- $21,271

• Topsfield - Topsfield Fire Department-

$4,089

Authorized and funded

through the Coronavirus Aid,

Relief and Economic Security

(CARES) Act, the Fiscal Year

2020 Assistance to Firefighters

Grant COVID-19 Supplemental

(AFG-S) is a $100 million

supplemental funding opportunity

to support the purchase

of personal protective equipment

(PPE) and related disinfectant

supplies and equipment

to help the fire services prevent,

prepare for and respond to the

COVID-19 pandemic.

By law, 25 percent of the

available AFG-S funds must

be awarded to volunteer fire

departments and another 25

percent must be awarded to

combination fire departments.

The funding being announced

today encompasses the fulfillment

of that requirement to

volunteer and combination fire

departments. A volunteer fire

department means a fire department

that has an all-volunteer

force of firefighting personnel.

A combination fire department

means a fire department that

has paid firefighting personnel

and volunteer firefighting personnel.

Fire departments which

pay fees/stipends (paid on-call

firefighters) are also considered

under this category.

FEMA obligates funding for

this project directly to the recipient

fire department. It is

the recipient’s responsibility to

manage their grant award within

federal guidelines with technical

assistance and monitoring provided

by FEMA Fire Program

Specialists. Additional information

about FEMA’s Assistance to

Firefighters grant programs may

be found by visiting: https://

www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters

Should You Buy

or Sell a Home in

2021? Here’s

What to Know

While the roll-out of the

COVID-19 vaccine has left a

lot of question marks about the

future of the U.S. economy atlarge,

analysts expect the housing

market to remain strong and

stable in the coming year.

“Despite the uncertainties of

the pandemic, the housing market

performed well in the second

half of 2020,” says Sam Khater,

Freddie Mac’s chief economist.

“Low mortgage rates and the

ability to work remotely continued

to propel demand for housing,

which is reflected in home

sales reaching levels not seen in

15 years.”

Whether you’re a potential

homebuyer, a current homeowner

or considering selling, here are

some of the biggest takeaways of

Freddie Mac’s Quarterly Forecast:

• Interest rates are likely to remain

low. The average 30-year

fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) hit

a record low over a dozen times

in 2020. The low interest rate

environment is projected to

continue through 2021, with

the 30-year FRM expected to

average below 3 percent. Low

rates are good news for buyers

looking to purchase a home,

and homeowners looking to reduce

their mortgage payment

through refinancing.

• Home sales to remain high.

The demand for housing is expected

to remain strong in 2021,

creating a favorable market for

sellers. Last year, low mortgage

rates and the ability to work remotely

drove up home sales (the

measure of the number of homes

sold every month). This year,

home sales are expected to ride

that wave, averaging 6.5 million

for the year.

• House prices to grow moderately.

In the second half of

2020, the high volume of home

sales and low supply of housing

drove up house prices. In 2021,

house price growth is expected

to moderate for the full year.

• Refinances to start declining.

Low mortgage rates

spurred refinance activity

in 2020, boosting mortgage

originations (the process in

which borrowers apply for a

home loan) to historic highs.

As mortgage rates rise modestly

in 2021, refinance activity

should start to slow. “While

many homeowners took advantage

of these low rates last

year, evidence suggests that

many lower income homeowners

still have the opportunity

to strengthen their financial

position by refinancing,”

says Khater.

For more insights on housing,

visit freddiemac.com/research.

For home buying and homeownership

resources, visit My

Home by Freddie Mac.

Many of the trends that

shaped the market last year, especially

historically low mortgage

rates, will continue to

drive housing activity in 2021.

As you embark on your journey

towards your home goals, be

sure to have a firm understanding

of today’s market conditions.

(StatePoint)

Scattergories at

the Newburyport

Public Library

(Zoom)

Scattergories at the Newburyport

Public Library (Zoom)

Thursday, March 4th at 2:30 pm

. Join in a virtual game or two on

the first Thursday of the month

at 2:30 pm. All ages welcome. All

you need to play Scattergories is

a pen and a piece of paper. Prizes

will be available. Register to

receive the Zoom link via the library

event calendar by visiting:

https://www.newburyportpl.

org/events/03-2021 or by calling

978-465-4428 x242.

Red Cross calls

for healthy blood

donors following

severe weather

Following record-breaking

cold and winter storms that

forced the cancellation of more

than 10,000 blood and platelet

donations in parts of the U.S.

in February, the American Red

Cross is urging healthy individuals,

especially those with type

O blood, to give now to ensure

blood products are available for

patient emergencies when help

can’t wait.

The American Red Cross shelters,

feeds and provides emotional

support to victims of disasters;

supplies about 40% of

the nation’s blood; teaches skills

that save lives; provides international

humanitarian aid; and

supports military members and

their families. The Red Cross is a

not-for-profit organization that

depends on volunteers and the

generosity of the American public

to perform its mission.

Every day thousands of patients

rely on lifesaving blood

donations. The need for blood

is constant, even during snowstorms

and the COVID-19 pandemic.

To help ensure life saving

patient care isn’t impacted,

individuals are urged to make

appointments to donate in the

coming days and weeks by downloading

the Red Cross Blood

Donor App, visiting RedCross-

Blood.org, calling 1-800-RED

CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or

enabling the Blood Donor Skill

on any Alexa Echo device.

Blood and platelet donors can

save time at their next donation

by using RapidPass® to complete

their pre-donation reading and

health history questionnaire

online, on the day of their donation,

before arriving at the

blood drive. To get started, follow

the instructions by visiting:

RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass

or use the Blood Donor App by

visiting RedCrossBlood.org

All blood types are needed

to ensure a reliable supply for

patients. A blood donor card

or driver’s license or two other

forms of identification are required

at check-in. Individuals

who are 17 years of age in most

states (16 with parental consent

where allowed by state law),

Community Announcements,

page 6

The Collector’s & Eye Route 1 Antiques

Come support over 100+

small businesses.

Antique & Vintage gifts of all kinds.

Dealers welcome. Tax Free, NH

The Collector’s Eye

132 Portsmouth Avenue,

Stratham

603-772-6205

Route 1 Antiques

106 Lafayette Road

Hampton Falls, NH

603-601-2554


February 24, 2021

Community News


from page 5

weigh at least 110 pounds and

are in generally good health may

be eligible to donate blood. High

school students and other donors

18 years of age and younger

also have to meet certain height

and weight requirements.

Important COVID-19 information

for donors

The Red Cross is testing blood,

platelet and plasma donations

for COVID-19 antibodies. The

test may indicate if the donor’s

immune system has produced

antibodies to this coronavirus,

regardless of whether an individual

developed COVID-19 symptoms.

Red Cross antibody tests

will be helpful to identify individuals

who have COVID-19 antibodies

and may now help current

coronavirus patients in need

of convalescent plasma transfusions.

Convalescent plasma is a

type of blood donation collected

from COVID-19 survivors that

have antibodies that may help

patients who are actively fighting

the virus. Plasma from whole

blood donations that test positive

for high levels of COVID-19

antibodies may be used to help

COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 antibody test results

will be available within one

to two weeks in the Red Cross

Blood Donor App or donor

portal at RedCrossBlood.org. A

positive antibody test result does

not confirm infection or immunity.

The Red Cross is not testing

donors to diagnose illness,

referred to as a diagnostic test.

To protect the health and safety

of Red Cross staff and donors,

it is important that individuals

who do not feel well or believe

they may be ill with COVID-19

postpone donation.

Each Red Cross blood drive

and donation center follows

the highest standards of safety

and infection control, and additional

precautions – including

temperature checks, social

distancing and face coverings

for donors and staff – have been

implemented to help protect the

health of all those in attendance.

Donors are asked to schedule

an appointment prior to arriving

at the drive and are required

to wear a face covering or mask

while at the drive, in alignment

with Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention public guidance.

Upcoming local blood donation

opportunities Feb.

22-March 15

Andover

2/25/2021: 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.,

DoubleTree, 123 Old River Rd

3/2/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,

DoubleTree, 123 Old River Rd

3/7/2021: 8 a.m. - 1:30

p.m., Andover/North Andover

YMCA, 165 Haverhill St

3/10/2021: 12:30 p.m. - 5:30

p.m., DoubleTree, 123 Old River

Rd

Beverly

3/5/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.,

Franco American Club, 44 Park

Street

Danvers

2/22/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 6:15

p.m., Danvers Blood Donation

Center, 99 Rosewood Drive

2/23/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 6:15



2/24/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 6:15



2/25/2021: 12:45 p.m. - 6:15



2/26/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 2



2/26/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.,

Amity Mosaic Lodge, 30 High

Street

2/27/2021: 8:15 a.m. - 2



2/28/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2



3/1/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.,

Danvers Blood Donation Center,

99 Rosewood Drive

3/2/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/3/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/4/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/5/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/6/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/7/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/8/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/9/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.,

Best Western Plus North Shore

Hotel, 50 Dayton Street

3/9/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.,


99 Rosewood Drive

3/10/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15



3/11/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15



3/12/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2



3/13/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2



3/14/2021: 8:30 a.m. - 2



3/15/2021: 1 p.m. - 6:15



Georgetown

2/25/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints, 9 Jewett Street

Gloucester

3/2/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,

Magnolia Library & Community

Center, 1 Lexington Ave

3/4/2021: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.,



3/12/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,



Haverhill

3/3/2021: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.,

American Legion, 1314 Main

Street

Middleton

2/23/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m., Saint

Agnes Parish, 22 Boston Street

North Andover

3/1/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.,

North Andover Masonic Lodge,

19 Johnson St

3/1/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,

North Andover Masonic Lodge,

19 Johnson St

Topsfield

3/3/2021: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.,

Topsfield Fair, 207 Boston Street

West Newbury

2/23/2021: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.,

Town of West Newbury, 381

Main Street

3/9/2021: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.,

Town of West Newbury, 381

Main Street

For more information, please

visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org,

or visit us on

Twitter at @RedCross.

Newbury

Council on Aging

Programs &

Services Survey

- Seeking Input

from Residents

The Council on Aging is seeking

input regarding services and

programs that Newbury residents

are interested in that could be

offered at the Senior Center; let

your voice be heard. The Council

on Aging is currently evaluating

space needs and timely

participation from the community

is critical for this assessment.

You may participate in

the survey by visiting: https://

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/

1FAIpQLSdQFMIoH4XdjLag-

PA2cYN_-cTNOCaUlKhyJklrtwxUo349mew/viewform.

The

phone number to the F. Ryeburn

Lynch Senior Center (at Newbury

Elementary School) is (978)

462-8114.

Next Wave

of Ipswich

Residents Eligible

Under Phase 2

Can now book

appointments

IPSWICH - Town Manager

Anthony Marino and Public

Health Director Colleen Fermon

report the state announced

that the next wave of residents

eligible through phase two of

the state's vaccination distribution

plan can begin booking appointments.

Residents who became eligible

to begin making appointments

today include those 65-years-old

and older, including residents

and staff of low income and affordable

public and private senior

housing, as well as those

16-years-old and older with two

or more comorbidities. Eligible

comorbidities include moderate

to severe asthma, cancer, chronic

kidney disease, chronic obstructive

pulmonary disease, down

syndrome, heart conditions, immunocompromised

individuals

from a solid organ transplant,

obesity and severe obesity, pregnancy,

sickle cell disease, smoking

and type two diabetes mellitus.

State officials shared on

Wednesday that Massachusetts

is currently receiving approximately

110,000 first doses of the

vaccine per week.

Everyone is asked to remain

patient as they seek appointments,

as there is a very limited

supply at this time of vaccinations

and they are in extremely

high demand. Approximately 1

million Massachusetts residents

are eligible through the latest

wave of the distribution plan,

and it is believed those individuals

may need to wait more than

one month before they can book

an appointment to receive their

first dose. Only 70,000 appointments

will be posted at mass vaccination

sites statewide today for

booking.

The closest mass vaccination

site is at the DoubleTree Hotel

in Danvers.

"We encourage residents who

become eligible to book an appointment

today to be patient

and to stay positive. Even if you

can't schedule an appointment

right away, check the state vaccination

site regularly, and reach

out to your local pharmacy,"

Director Fermon said. "Eventu-


page 7

February 24, 2021


Community News


from page 6

ally, you will be able to get the

vaccine if you want it. We know

this has been a tremendously difficult

time and want to remind

our residents that we're in this

together."

Residents that became eligible

are advised to seek out a vaccination

appointment through a

mass vaccination site, and should

a regional clinic be planned in

the North Shore area Ipswich

officials will share that information

with residents promptly.

To make an appointment at a

vaccination site:

• Visit mass.gov/COVID-vaccine

to find your phase and priority

group

• If you’re eligible, visit mass.

gov/COVIDVaccineMap to find

a vaccine clinic near you

• Make an appointment online

and fill out the attestation form

Those without internet access

may also call 211 for assistance

making an appointment.

The 211 line can be accessed

by dialing 2–1–1 and selecting

the prompt for “Help Scheduling

a Vaccine Appointment.”

The hotline is only available for

residents eligible for the vaccine

without internet access or

who otherwise cannot use the

appointment site, and will take

calls Monday through Friday

from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Translators will be available

to help through the 211 line.

Callers will be able to speak

with a live representative who

will help them find a nearby

vaccination location and

make an appointment. For

more information about the

211 line, visit: https://ipswichcovid19.com/2021/02/09/

town-of-ipswich-shares-newstatewide-211-vaccine-scheduling-resource-line-for-residents-75-years-old-and-older/

Local Boards of Health will

continue working with homebound

individuals to schedule

vaccinations. Vaccinations are

being given to homebound residents

in Ipswich today, and vaccinations

in senior housing communities

in Ipswich are already

underway.

For the latest COVID-19 updates

for the Town of Ipswich,

visit ipswichcovid19.com.

Healthy, Safe and

Affordable Home

Cleaning Tips

When it comes to keeping

your home healthy, safe and

clean, it’s all about balance. Using

the following tips, you can

make 2021 the year you perfect

your cleaning technique affordably:

Get Prepped

Before getting started, wash

your hands. Not only does it

help you to avoid spreading

germs, it’s also a great way to get

into a cleaning mindset.

You can also give yourself a

little motivational boost by putting

on some great tunes. Check

out the Ultimate Cleaning Playlist

on Spotify, which features

danceable hits spanning decades,

or create your own. According to

the experts, a bit of preparation

can even streamline your efforts.

“Before any cleaning session, I

take a few minutes to de-clutter.

This makes the process of dusting

and wiping down surfaces so

much easier,” says Erin Chase,

AlEn Cleanfluencer and busy

mom of four.

Strike a Balance

Contrary to what you might

assume, there’s no need to use

a disinfectant cleaner on every

surface, even in the age of

COVID-19. High-touch areas

such as doorknobs, light switches,

remotes and countertops

should be disinfected daily. You

should also be sure to disinfect

after visitors, and continually

disinfect surfaces touched by

sick household members. However,

it’s important to use strong

cleansers mindfully. The power

of bleach is a great way to disinfect

properly where and when it’s

needed. Be sure to use approved

products, such as Cloralen Disinfectant

Bleach, and follow the

instructions on the label. Don’t

use bleach on porous surfaces

and never mix cleaning products

— in particular don’t mix

bleach with ammonia. This can

result in dangerous fumes you

shouldn’t breathe.

Go Green When You Can

For everyday messes, use naturally-derived

cleaning products,

such as Art of Green wipes and

sprays, which are hardworking

and safe for sensitive skin, making

them good choices for “over

and over” cleaning around kids

and pets. Voted a 2020 Product

of the Year by more than

40,000 consumers, Art of Green

works on many surfaces and

comes in two uplifting scents,

Lavender Eucalyptus and Citrus

and White Flowers. You can

also help protect the planet by

choosing products from companies

committed to building a

cleaner, more sustainable world.

Many products from AlEn USA

are made with sustainable ingredients,

and the company recycles

more plastic than it uses.

“The good news is that these

products also offer great value,

making it possible to get an effective

eco-friendly clean at an

affordable price,” says Chase.

Celebrate a Job Well-Done

“Cleaning is an opportunity

to refresh your mindset,” adds

Chase, who makes sure to celebrate

a job well done with selfcare

rituals. “After cleaning, I

always wash my hands and apply

my favorite hand lotion.” With a

few smart cleaning tips, you can

create an environment that helps

protect the health and safety of

your family and your pets. To

learn more, visit alenusa.com,

artofgreen.com and cloralen.

com. (StatePoint)

Georgetown

Water

Department

Offers Tips to

Prevent Frozen

Pipes

GEORGETOWN — The

Georgetown Water Department

provides residents with tips to

prevent frozen pipes this winter.

Outdoor pipes, including outdoor

hose bibs, swimming pool

supply lines, and water sprinkler

lines, often freeze when exposed

to severe cold. Indoor pipes also

are prone to freeze, such as in

unheated interior areas like basements

and crawl spaces, attics,

garages, or kitchen cabinets, and

in pipes that run against exterior

walls with little or no insulation.

Freezing water expands, which

can put pressure on a pipe, making

it susceptible to bursting. A

burst pipe can cause significant

water damage to a home and be

costly to repair.

Residents who encounter

water flow issues should first

contact the Water Department

directly at 978-352-5750 to determine

whether the problem is

systemic.

"We ask residents to follow these

useful tips to avoid the potential of

any damage to their homes," Utility

Director Marlene Ladderbush


page 8

MARLEY NEVER LOOKED SO CUTE!

homes and get gifts for your loved ones! Our 2021 Marley

Calendars support The Pittie Stop Rescue and make

perfect gifts.

ORDER YOURS TODAY!

www.OrangesfromMorgan.org


February 24, 2021

Community News


from page 7

said. "Most importantly, we ask residents

whose houses will be vacant

for a period to not shut the heat off.

Lowering the thermostat will save

money, but the damage caused by

burst pipes will cost much more to

repair."

To avoid or thaw frozen pipes

this winter, the Water Department

shares the following tips

provided by the American Red

Cross:

Preventing Frozen Pipes

• Drain water from supply

lines to swimming pools and

water sprinklers.

• Remove, drain, and store

hoses used outdoors. Close inside

valves supplying outdoor

hose bibs. Open outside hose

bibs to allow water to drain.

Keep the outside valve open so

water remaining in the pipe can

expand without causing the pipe

to break.

• Add insulation to attics,

basements, and crawl spaces.

• Check around the home for

areas where water supply lines

are in unheated areas, including

the garage and under kitchen

and bathroom cabinets. All water

pipes in these areas should be

insulated.

• Consider installing products

made to insulate water pipes like

a pipe sleeve, UL-listed heat tape

or heat cable.

• Keep garage doors closed.

• Open kitchen and bathroom

cabinet doors to allow warmer

air to circulate. Be sure to move

any harmful cleaners and household

chemicals out of the reach

of children.

• If the temperature drops,

keep one or two faucets running

slowly. Moving water helps prevent

pipes from freezing.

• Set thermostats to the same

temperature day and night. If

you will be away during cold

weather, set your thermostat no

lower than 55° F.

Thawing Frozen Pipes

• If you turn on a faucet and

only a trickle comes out, assume

a pipe is frozen. Locate the area

that might be frozen. Likely

places include pipes running

against exterior walls or where

your water service enters your

home through the foundation.

• Open faucets. As the frozen

area begins to melt, water moving

through the pipe will help

melt ice.

• Apply heat to the section

of pipe. Wrap an electric heating

pad around the pipe, use an

electric hair dryer, or wrap pipes

with towels soaked in hot water.

Do NOT use an open flame - a

blowtorch, kerosene or propane

heater, charcoal stove, or other

The Newburyport Public Library hosts

"Theater: From Banned to Bawdy" (VIRTUAL)

From banned

to bawdy

TUESDAY, MARCH 9TH | 6:30-7:30 PM

Many of the Colonies forbade playacting on the grounds that it was

morally detrimental. Theater has been used to ridicule, persuade,

titillate, amuse and outrage audiences from every class. This lecture

takes a look at the evolution of theater from clandestine Colonial

performances that landed the players in court to Vaudeville shows

that packed theaters. Anne Barrett is Vice President of the Topsfield

Historical Society, and was named Storyteller of the Year by the North

of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau. This event will be held on

Zoom. Register online via our website newburyportpl.org or give us a

call at 978-465-4428 x242. A link will be emailed to participants

automatically.

The Newburyport Public Library

is hosting "Theater: From

Banned to Bawdy" (VIRTU-

AL) Tuesday, March 9th at 6:30

pm. Historian and storyteller

Anne Barrett will be presenting

an entertaining take on the

history of theater. Many of the

Colonies forbade playacting on

the grounds that it was morally

detrimental. In the 19th century,

Reverend Charles Smythe

urged his congregation to avoid

the show "The Black Crook"

with its scantily clad dancers.

Members of his congregation

promptly rushed out to buy

tickets. Theater has been used

to ridicule, persuade, titillate,

amuse, and outrage audiences

from every class. This lecture

takes a look at the evolution

of theater from clandestine

Colonial performances that

landed the players in court to

Vaudeville shows that packed

theaters. This event will be held

on Zoom. Register online via

the library event calendar by

visiting https://www.newburyportpl.org/events/03-2021

or

by calling 978-465-4428 x 242.

devices. A blowtorch can make

water in a frozen pipe boil and

cause the pipe to explode. All

open flames in homes present a

serious fire danger and a severe

risk of exposure to lethal carbon

monoxide.

• Call a licensed plumber if

you are unable to locate the frozen

area, if the frozen area is not

accessible or if you cannot thaw

the pipe.

• Check all other faucets in

your home for additional frozen

pipes. If one pipe freezes, others

may freeze too.

If a Pipe Bursts

• Locate your home’s main

water valve and shut off the water

supply.

• Call a plumber immediately.

• Remove water as quickly as

possible to minimize damage.

Essex County

Community

Foundation’s

Creative County

Initiative Funds

Six New Public

Art Projects

Merrimack Valley photographers,

writers and people seeking

calm have probably found themselves

at some point on the edge

of the Spicket River in Methuen,

where Essex County’s only natural

waterfall – which once powered

19th century textile mills –

drops 100 feet and tumbles over

a bed of rocks on its way to the

Merrimack in Lawrence.

It’s a place where industry,

history and nature converge.

And by summer 2021, the Falls

will also be home to a dazzling

display of vivid colors and hydro-powered

lights designed by

local artists to bring new life to

this celebrated treasure.

“Light the Falls” – headed by

nonprofit Methuen Arts – is

just one of six new collaborative

public art and creative placemaking

projects being funded

by Essex County Community

Foundation’s Creative County

Initiative (CCI). Launched

in 2018 through a partnership

with the Barr Foundation, CCI

is designed through a variety

of facets to elevate arts, culture

and the creative economy

in Essex County. The six new

projects will join an already

impressive list of CCI-funded

public art projects that have

successfully mobilized collaborations

of nonprofits, artists,

municipalities and local businesses

to transform their communities

through art. Visit:

https://www.eccf.org/arts-andculture/arts-grants/

to see other

funded art projects.

“ECCF is incredibly thrilled

to fund these additional projects,

which merge creativity,

collaboration and ingenuity into

something that can unite the

entire community,” said ECCF

President and CEO Beth Francis.

“Our first round of grantees

proved that these projects

are invaluable to improving the

health, vibrancy and connectedness

of our cities and towns and

we’re excited to expand this to

additional Essex County communities.”

The first round of grantees

touched 14 Essex County cities

and towns; these additional

grantees will impact many more.

“The idea of creating a space

where anyone and everyone can

access art and culture is paramount

to our vision for Essex

County,” said CCI Program

Director Karen Ristuben. “And

bringing together all of the different

sectors to create that opportunity,

makes it a vision that

is sustainable for the future.”

“We were really inspired by

these new collaborations, which

have not only designed innovative,

creative plans to bring

people together through art and

culture but have also managed to

persevere through COVID-19,”

added Ristuben.

The mission of Essex County

Community Foundation is

to inspire philanthropy that

strengthens the communities

of Essex County by managing

charitable assets, strengthening

and supporting nonprofits and

engaging in strategic community

leadership. Since 1998, ECCF


page 9

February 24, 2021


Community News


from page 8

and its family of 250 charitable

funds have granted $107 million

to nonprofits, schools and

students in Essex County and

beyond. The ultimate goal is to

have 34 thriving cities and towns

in Essex County and to improve

the quality of life for the region’s

nearly 800,000 residents.

ECCF’s 2021 Public Art and

Creative Placemaking Grantees,

listed in alphabetical order by

the leading nonprofit partner:

Alliance of Climate and Environmental

Stewards and Thomas

Starr, public artist, $20,000

for Remembrances of Climate

Futures, a multi-site series of

public art plaques documenting

the history of climate change

from a future date in the 21st

century.

Backyard Growers, $25,000

for Agri-Culture, a project that

will use storytelling, multimedia

arts and a participatory design

process to create dynamic spaces

in and around the community

garden at Willowood, a low-income

housing development in

Gloucester.

Beyond Walls, $25,000 for

Taking Classroom to the Streets,

which will use existing largescale

works of public art in Lynn

as the foundation for a cross-curricular

educational experience

for students to connect art with

history, identity, culture, community

and civic engagement.

LuminArtz, $25,000 for Centuries

in the Making, which

brings the iconic fishermen’s

and fishermen’s’ wives’ memorial

statues in Gloucester to

life through art technology and

sound effects.

Methuen Arts, $25,000, for

Light the Falls, a visual display

of color and hydro-powered

lights designed by local artists

that brings new life to the

historic Spicket River Falls in

Methuen.

North Shore CDC/Punto Urban

Art Museum, $25,000 for

Casa de Abuela, an experiential

exhibit that connects art with

the immigrant residents of the

Point neighborhood in Salem

through an immersive experience

that mimics a Dominican

“Grandma’s House.”

“Many of these installations

will also include public events

that further engage the community

through storytelling, live

performance art, concerts and

more,” said Ristuben. Events

will be publicized on Essex-

CountyCreates.org, an online

hub for arts and culture in the

region developed by ECCF.

In addition to these full-scale

public art installations, ECCF

has also awarded three special

project grants to:

• Exposed Brick Literary Magazine

in Lawrence,

• 2019 CCI grantee, Iluminacion

Lawrence

• and Switch Rideable ArtScape,

a 2019 CCI-funded project

located in Ipswich.

Community

Encouraged to

Submit Airport

Comments By

Feb. 26

Beverly — Airport Manager

Gloria Bouillon community

update on the next steps for the

airport's new master plan.

The new master plan will replace

the airport's current plan,

which was first developed in

1999 and no longer reflects the

operations of the airport.

In the 2019 Massachusetts

Statewide Airport Economic

Impact Study, Beverly Regional

is estimated to have brought

$34 million annually in economic

activity to the North

Shore region. The airport has

18 businesses on site that continue

to grow and hire new employees,

and has a wait list for

building and hangar space with

increased attractiveness to encourage

new businesses depending

on the finalized form of the

new master plan.

Virtual public meetings were

held in late January for residents

of Beverly, Danvers and Wenham

to learn more and weigh

in on the progress of the master

plan, and a second round of

public meetings will be held in

late April to share an update on

planning for the plan's implementation

and to gather further

input and feedback from the

community.

These meetings will include

a review of the most up-to-date

efforts associated with the master

plan, as well as any adjustments

made since the January

public meetings. They will also

present the 20-year-phased

implementation recommendations

for projects and next

steps as required by the Federal

Aviation Administration for

airport master plans. The FAA

and MassDOT are active partners

in the development of the

airport's new master plan, and

continue to share their expertise

and have been reviewing

the plan throughout the process.

Community input to date has

included concerns about existing

noise levels associated with

the airport. The airport is currently

conducting a noise study

which will be presented at the

April meetings, in addition to

information on pilot education

regarding noise and voluntary

noise abatement procedures for

aircraft operators.

Dates for the spring meetings

will be announced by the airport

as soon as they are finalized.

"We are deeply appreciative

of everyone who joined us for

the virtual public meetings in

January and look forward to

providing more information in

the spring," Bouillon said. "In

particular we look forward to

having specialists share their insight

about noise, as we understand

that is a primary concern

for residents. We also encourage

residents to continue to share

their feedback with us through

Feb. 26."

Residents will also be able to

share comments following the

spring meetings later this year.

The Airport master plan is

a federally and state regulated

and funded process designed

to project future levels of aviation

activity at the airport

and any associated capital

projects required over the next

20 years. All recommended

improvements must comply

with all federal and state regulations

and airport design

standards. The master plan

will serve as a guide to address

infrastructure needs with the

goal to ensure that the airport

continues to operate in a safe,

efficient, and effective manner,

while reflecting the character

and goals established for

it by the Beverly Regional Airport

Commission.

Improvements proposed in

the plan include paving the existing

300-foot Runway. Safety

Areas at each end of Runway

16-34 to enhance aircraft operational

safety and improve

efficiency for departing aircraft.

Additional proposed improvements

include increased

efficiencies through taxiway

realignments, updating existing

pavements, potential landside

development opportunities

based on demand, and the

construction of a new airport

vehicle service road to enhance

operational safety. All of these

potential improvements are

contingent upon appropriate

future environmental permitting

and funding. The upcoming

April meetings will address

the timeline and funding availability

for proposed improvements.

The Airport

Commission will decide when

to approve a project.

Residents are encouraged to

submit comments regarding

the January public meetings by

emailing Airport Master Plan

Project Manager Jim Miklas at

jim.miklas@woolpert.com. The

deadline to submit comments

regarding the master plan is Feb.

26.

For more information about

the master plan project and to

review the documents from the

January 2021 meetings, visit

www.beverlyairport.com and

click on the Master Plan tab.

Anyone with questions can contact

Beverly Regional Airport

Manager Gloria Bouillon at

gbouillon@beverlyma.gov and/

or Jim Miklas at jim.miklas@

woolpert.com.

Georgetown

Fire Department

Receives State

Grant for Student

Awareness of

Fire Education

and Senior SAFE

Programs

GEORGETOWN — The

Georgetown Fire Department

has been awarded $4,692 for

the Fiscal Year 2021 Student

Awareness of Fire Education


page 10

Page 10

www.TheTownCommon.com

February 24, 2021

Community News

Essex Tech Receives $240,000 State Grant for

Workforce Training, Career Placement

Essex Tech has been awarded a $240,000 grant to train people ready

to enter the workforce or advance in their careers, in the fields of

Construction Labor, Automotive Services Technician,

HVAC Technician, and Plumbing.

DANVERS — Essex Tech

has been awarded a $240,000

grant to train people ready to

enter the workforce or advance

in their careers, in the fields of

Construction Labor, Automotive

Services Technician, HVAC

Technician, and Plumbing.

The school will use the Career

Technical Institute grant

to train those who are unemployed

or underemployed.

Twelve students will be trained

in each of four disciplines: Automotive

services technician,

HVAC technician, plumbing,

and construction labor.

Successful participants will

earn industry certifications/credentials,

and career placement

assistance.

“At Essex Tech, our primary

mission is to train our future

workforce. We carry out this

mission through excellent technical

programs during the day

but also in our evening programs.

We intend to do that,”

Superintendent Heidi Riccio

said. “When a recession hits,

some occupations may need to

adjust, and the output is new

opportunities. Essex Tech is

ready to serve those displaced,

unemployed, or underemployed

workers and train them

for high-paying careers on the

North Shore.”

"The Baker-Polito Administration

has developed the Career

Technical Institute (CTI)

initiative which includes industry

training for adults in

our region,” said Bonnie Carr,

Director of Workforce Development

at Essex Tech. “These

CTI courses are offered at Essex

Tech through our NightHawks

Adult Education Program.

Through the CTI initiative, we

continue to work in partnership

with the MassHire North

Shore Career Center for job

placement assistance in these

high-demand fields.”

"MassHire North Shore

Workforce Board and Career

Centers are so thankful and

proud to work with Essex Tech

on the CTI project,” said Mary

Sarris, Executive Director of

MassHire North Shore. “This

training leads to jobs that are

critical to our region's economy,

and provides strong career

opportunities for local unemployed

or underemployed residents.

Essex Tech's training is

the best in the state. Partnering

with MassHire's career coaching

and job placement services

guarantees employment success

for students and quality talent

for our companies."

The school will work with its

local employer partners for information

on current industry

training trends and potential

job openings. These partners

include F.W. Webb Company,

Cranney Home Services,

National Mechanical Service,

Tremblay Heating, Kelley

Automotive Group, Mini of

Peabody, Lyon Waugh Auto

Group, Groom Construction,

Menino Construction, Bilo

Plumbing & Heating and

Breen Sullivan Mechanical

Services.

CTI is a state initiative to increase

job training for students

and adults, preparing them for

Photo Courtesy Essex Tech

careers in high-demand and

high-growth sectors. CTI emphasizes

pathways for people

from underserved populations

and underrepresented groups.

Approximately 9,000 to 13,000

additional adult learners statewide

are expected to earn industry

credentials, opening opportunities

for them to obtain

jobs in high-demand skilled

industries.

These grants will transform

vocational high schools into Career

Technical Institutes, which

remain open through the evening

to expand enrollment of

high school students and adults.

“Working alongside our regional

employment board, community

colleges, and Governor

Baker's Workforce Skills Cabinet,

we are fortunate to have

the opportunity to change the

trajectory of these workers,” Superintendent

Riccio said. “The

Governor has made a commitment

to keeping vocational

schools open for three shifts.”

The plumbing class has

been filled. To register for Free

CTI courses for Auto Technician,

HVAC or Construction

Labor Training, visit Essex

Tech's NightHawks Adult Education

Program site by visiting:

https://essex-adulted.

coursestorm.com


from page 9

(S.A.F.E.) Program and $2,480

for the Senior SAFE Program

by the Massachusetts Department

of Fire Services.

Funding for the programs allows

for specially trained fire

educators to work with classroom

teachers and seniors to

deliver age-appropriate lessons

on fire and life safety. The key

fire and life safety behaviors in

the school-based program meet

both the requirements of the

Department of Elementary and

Secondary Education’s Health

Curriculum Frameworks and

the state Department of Fire

Services Curriculum Planning

Guidebook.

“We are grateful to receive

this funding once again

from the state,” Chief Fred A.

Mitchell Jr. said. “Our firefighters

enjoy working closely

with our community members

of all ages to help them learn

what they can do to prevent

fires and how to respond correctly

to fires and other emergencies.”

The S.A.F.E. Program provides

$1.2 million through

the Executive Office of Public

Safety and Security to local

fire departments. The Senior

SAFE Program provides an

additional $600,000 in grant

funds from fees paid by tobacco

companies to the Fire

Standard Compliant Cigarette

Program to ensure their products

meet the fire safety requirements

to be sold in Massachusetts.

The average number of children

who die in fires each year in

Massachusetts has dropped 78

percent since the program started

compared to a similar time

frame before it started, according

to the state’s Department of

Fire Services, which administers

the two programs.

For more information about

the Student Awareness of Fire

Education or Senior SAFE Programs,

call Chief Mitchell or

S.A.F.E. Coordinator Donna

Robbins at 978-352-5757.

AARP

Community

Challenge Grant

Program Now

Accepting 2021

Applications

The program funds quick-action

projects; Application Deadline is

April 14, 2021

Boston — AARP Massachusetts

invites community organizations

and local governments

across the state to apply for the

2021 Community Challenge

grant program, now through

April 14. Grants fund quick-action

projects that can range

from several hundred dollars for

small, short-term activities to

several thousand or tens of thousands

for larger projects. Now in

its fifth year, the grant program

is part of AARP’s nationwide

Livable Communities initiative,

which supports the efforts of cities,

towns, neighborhoods and

rural areas to become great places

to live for people of all ages.

“We are thrilled to bring

this grant opportunity back to

Massachusetts in 2021 and we

encourage all eligible organizations

to apply,” said Mike Festa,

AARP Massachusetts State Director.

“We’ve seen great results

from the Community Challenge

grant program in communities

across the Bay State, and this

year we are increasing our support

for projects that focus on

diversity and inclusion and aid

in local recovery from the coronavirus

pandemic.”

Since 2017, AARP has awarded

560 grants – including 12

in Massachusetts – through the

Community Challenge to nonprofit

organizations and government

entities in all 50 states, the

District of Columbia, Puerto

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The program provides direct

support to all community types,

with nearly 40% of past projects

benefiting rural communities,

20% going to suburban

locations and 40% improving

urban places. Granted projects


page 11

February 24, 2021


Community News


from page 10

have demonstrated an ability to

help garner additional funds or

support from public and private

funders, encourage replication

and overcome local policy barriers,

and receive greater overall

awareness and engagement.

AARP will prioritize projects

that deliver inclusive solutions

that meet the needs of diverse

populations, as well as those

that directly engage volunteers

through permanent or temporary

solutions that aim to

achieve one or more of the following

outcomes:

• Create vibrant public places

that improve open spaces, parks

and access to other amenities.

• Deliver a range of transportation

and mobility options

that increase connectivity, walkability,

bikeability, wayfinding,

access to transportation options

and roadway improvements.

• Support a range of housing

options that increase the availability

of accessible and affordable

options.

• Increase civic engagement

and demonstrate the tangible

value of “Smart Cities” with

innovative and tangible projects

that bring residents and local

leaders together to address challenges

and facilitate a greater

sense of inclusion.

• Support local recovery from

the coronavirus pandemic with

an emphasis on economic development,

improvements to public

spaces, and transportation

services.

• Ensure a focus on diversity

and inclusion while improving

the built and social environment

of a community.

The Community Challenge is

open to 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and

501(c)(6) nonprofits and government

entities. Other types of

organizations will be considered

on a case-by-case basis.

The application deadline is

8:00 p.m. ET, April 14, 2021,

and all projects must be completed

by November 10, 2021. To

submit an application and view

past grantees, visit www.AARP.

org/CommunityChallenge.

AARP Massachusetts works in

collaboration with communities

across the state, bringing people

together, and providing resources

and expertise to help make

the Commonwealth’s counties,

towns and cities great places to

live for people of all ages.

Georgetown

Council on

Aging’s March

programs and

services continue

during COVID-19

The Georgetown Council on

Aging and the Georgetown Senior

Community Center remain

closed to the public at this time.

Staff is available in the office if

you have questions or need assistance

call 978-352-5726.

Current services include: reassurance/wellbeing

calls; COA

MarketPlace (food pantry) deliveries;

Elder Brown Bag deliveries;

face masks; COA Van for

essential shopping by appointment

Tuesdays and Thursdays;

Monday – Thursday Grab & Go

lunches; durable medical equipment

lending, telephone appointments

with SHINE Counselor;

telephone appointments

with Karen Tyler, Director of

Veterans Services; Fitness Center

appointments; Tai Chi classes

on ZOOM; Yoga and Strength

Training with COA Instructor

Donna Bonin available on Cable

Access 42 Verizon/9 Comcast;

Special Music Programs on Cable

Access 42 Verizon/9 Comcast

along with information, resources

and referrals.

COA Fitness Center now includes

a stationary recumbent

bicycle

Open for individual exercise

appointments, the COA Fitness

Center at the Georgetown

Senior Community Center

now includes a new stationary

recumbent bicycle along with

two stationary bikes, two treadmills,

stair climber and weights.

Face masks must be worn while

individuals are in the building.

Exercise bikes, treadmills and

free weights are available for use.

For information and to schedule

an appointment, please call the

COA at 978-352-5726.

COA offers weekday Grab

and Go Lunch Program

During the COVID-19 pandemic,

the COA has partnered

with Elder Services of Merrimack

Valley (ESMV) to offer

Grab and Go take-out lunches

Monday – Thursday at the

Senior Community Center.

Lunches are mostly hot meals

similar to those previously

served at the Senior Center. To

participate, please call the COA

(978-352-5726) the Wednesday

before the desired meals. Meals

can be picked-up or delivered

and there is no charge at this

time. For information and reservations,

please call the COA at

978-352-5726.

ESMV Travelling Chef to

offer special to-go St. Patrick’s

Day lunch March 17

In addition to the special

meals that are planned as part

of the COA’s Grab and Go

monthly menu, Elder Services

of Merrimack Valley will

provide a special Traveling

Chef Grab and Go meals for

holidays and special events.

The menus are similar to the

special event lunches that are

typically hosted at the Senior

Community Center. This

month, the Traveling Chef

meal is planned to celebrate

St. Patrick’s Day on Wednesday

March 17. The menu will

feature corned beef au jus,

cabbage, potatoes, carrots, rye

bread and a special dessert. To

reserve a lunch, call the COA

at 978-352-5726 by Wednesday

March 10.

COA Marketplace available

to residents

The COA Marketplace offers

a wide variety of non-perishable

food such as Easy Mac/

Cheese (2 flavors), V-8 juice,

fruit cups, canned tuna/meats,

a variety of soups, shelf-stable

milk, peanut butter, rice, pasta,

cereal & fun snacks to local

older adults. The Marketplace

also offers a variety of products

including, personal care

items, paper products & dish/

laundry detergent. The COA is

also able to provide some fresh

foods (eggs, milk, fruit/vegetables

etc.) along with Market

Basket gift cards upon request.

No income restrictions apply.

The COA will provide individual

home deliveries. Appointments

are required by calling

the COA at 978-352-5726.

COA Van available for Essential

Shopping

The COA Van is available on

Tuesdays and Thursdays for essential

shopping and other essential

errands such as Post Office,

pharmacies and banks. To

schedule a ride, call the COA at

978-352-5726.

NEET Program Provides

Medical Appointment Rides

Scheduled through the COA,

the Northern Essex Elder Transport,

Inc. (NEET) provides rides

for elders to medical appointments.

Additional protocol and

guidelines are in place to ensure

driver and passenger safety. To allow

time to complete a new registration

form and review guidelines,

reservations should be made

at least one week in advance by

calling the COA office at (978)

352-5726. If the office is closed,

leave a message (and remember

that the COA is not open on Fridays).

After the ride is arranged,

the driver will call you the day

before the ride. A donation of 45

cents per mile is suggested to help

support the program, but no one

is turned down due to inability to

pay. Reservations must be made

through the COA office. Clients

should not call the drivers directly.

ESMV to host Virtual Memory

Café March 2 and 16

Elder Services of Merrimack

Valley will host a virtual Memory

Café on Tuesday March 2 and

Tuesday March 16, 1 – 2 p.m.

The memory cafes offer online

activity and social engagement

for those living with memory

loss and their caregivers. For further

information and to register,

call Lyn Brennan, 978-273-2501

or email LBrennan@esmv.org.

AARP Income Tax Preparation

underway


page 12

TOWN OF ROWLEY COMMUNITY

PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given that the Rowley Community Preservation

Committee will hold an online virtual public hearing regarding

requests for funding in accordance with the requirement of the

Community Act, M.G.L. Chapter 44B Section 5 (b) (1). The

purpose of online virtual public hearing is to discuss with the

community, the needs, possibilities and resources of the Town

regarding the use of the Town’s Community Preservation Fund.

The Committee seeks community input in the areas of open

space, recreation, affordable housing and historical preservation.

The Virtual Online Public Hearing will be held on Thu, Mar

4, 2021 1:30 PM

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or

smartphone.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/997033149

You can also dial in using your phone.

United States: +1 (872) 240-3311

Access Code: 997-033-149

Join from a video-conferencing room or system.

Dial in or type: 67.217.95.2 or inroomlink.goto.com

Meeting ID: 997 033 149

Or dial directly: 997033149@67.217.95.2

or 67.217.95.2##997033149

2/17, 2/24


February 24, 2021

Community News


from page 11

Continuing through April 15,

two AARP Tax Aide preparers

will be available to assist elders

and other moderate-income individuals

with income tax preparations

on Thursdays through

April 18 at the Georgetown

COA office. This year’s process

will include telephone interviews

along with appointments

to drop off and pick-up tax return

documents. Information regarding

income tax preparation

and the criteria for the Massachusetts

Circuit Breaker income

tax credit program is available at

the COA office. Appointments

for income tax preparation are

required. To schedule appointments,

please call the COA office

at 978-352-5726.

Healthy Gift Bag Supporters

Many thanks to the supporters

of the ongoing COA

Healthy Gift Bag distribution.

Although the COA was unable

to hold a Health Fair this year,

the Healthy Gift Bags provided

consumers with information

and resources regarding local

wellness and health care opportunities

as well as some fun and

healthy items. The COA thanks

Partners in Rehab, Georgetown

Family Dentistry and Elder Services

of the Merrimack Valley –

North Shore for their support of

the project. To receive a Healthy

Gift Bag, please call the COA at

978-352-5726.

COA has Face Masks available

to residents

The COA has both disposable

paper face masks and reusable

fabric masks available to the

public. For more information,

call the COA at 978-352-5726.

March & April Blue Cross

Blue Shield Wellness Webinars

In partnership with the Massachusetts

Councils on Aging,

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

is offering a series

of wellness webinars. All are

welcome to participate. Blue

Cross Blue Shield membership

is not required. Eight Steps to

a Healthier Heart will be presented

on Tuesday March 2, 10-

10:30 a.m. Register by visiting:

bcbsma.info/March2. Discover

simple tactics for preventing

& treating heart disease. Boost

Your Health with Better Sleep

will be presented on Tuesday

March 23, 10-10:30 a.m. Register

by visiting: bcbsma.info/

March23. Learn strategies to

get a good night’s sleep & discover

stress-relieving breathing

exercises to help you fall asleep

or fall back to sleep faster. Discover

how to feel calmer during

the day & sleep more soundly at

night. Food for Thought: Superfoods

to Boost Memory, Mood

& Mental Functioning will be

presented on Thursday April

15, 10-10:30 a.m. Register by

visiting: bcbsma.info/April15.

Learn the tools of nutritional

success for enhancing your brain

power, increasing your energy &

improving your mood.

Self-directed walking program

In partnership with Elder Services

of Merrimack Valley, the

Arthritis Foundation is offering

a Walk With Ease Program. A

self-directed physical activity

and health promotion program,

Walk With Ease includes

health education, stretching

and strengthening exercises, and

motivational strategies. You can

walk at your own pace, any days

and times that work for you. You

can walk indoors or outdoors,

even in place! You will be provided

a Walk With Ease Guidebook

to complete the six-week

program on his/her own and can

also participate in a weekly call

with a program leader and others

to help keep you motivated.

During the six-week program,

participants will understand the

basics about arthritis and the

relationship between exercise,

and easing pain, exercise safely

and comfortably, use methods to

make walking fun, make a personal

walking plan with realistic

goals for improved fitness, learn

tips and resources to help them

overcome barriers and continue

to be physically active and

learn about other programs and

resources that can help them

maintain their walking and try

other physical activity. For more

information or register by visiting:

hlce@ESMV.org or call

978-946-1211.

Heating Assistance Program

Applications are available at

the Georgetown Senior Community

Center

Households that did not apply

for the Community Action

Heating Assistance program last

year, can apply for the program

by calling Community Action

at (978) 373-1971. Maximum

gross income is $39,105 for

one-person or $51,137 for a

two-person household. Applications

are available, and can be

completed, at the Georgetown

Senior Community Center. For

more information & assistance,

call the COA at (978) 352-5726.

Trustees of the Perley School

to Offer Limited Fuel Assistance

Recognizing the difficulties of

home heating costs, the Trustees

of the Perley Free School offer

a limited fuel assistance program

to Georgetown residents

who are experiencing financial

hardships with energy costs. In

addition to the money that is

used to fund scholarships for

Georgetown graduates & alumni,

the Trustees oversee a small

endowment to aid Georgetown

residents facing financial hardships.

Individuals who may need

assistance with heating costs, including

oil, gas or firewood, can

call the COA at (978) 352-5726

for information & referral.

Winter Snow Shoveling

Available

As part of community service,

some Georgetown High

Newburyport Edult Education offers Winter Samba

with John Tavano and Roger Kimball

Such a treat is waiting for you

and you can dance all over your

living room. From the land of

Carnaval comes Brazil’s weeklong

celebration filled with music

and dancing. John Tavano on

classical guitar and Roger Kimball

on double bass and cello will

treat you to a world filled with

samba music and at the same

time share a little of its origins.

Visit https://newburyportadulted.org/concert/

Donations are

appreciated to help support this

exciting musical event.

School students may be available

to shovel stairs and sidewalks

this winter. If possible, student

volunteers will respond to elder

requests for snow removal.

The COA will refer requests to

Georgetown High School. Older

adults in Georgetown should

call the COA at 978-352-5726

as early as possible as last-minute

requests are hard to accommodate.

Veterans’ Weekly Food Pantry

available in Haverhill

Georgetown – Veterans currently

dealing with food insecurity

issues can seek assistance

through the Veterans Northeast

Outreach Center, Inc. The Veterans’

Weekly Food Pantry at

10 Reed Street in Haverhill on

Tuesdays or Thursdays from 10

a.m. to 2 p.m. To register or for

more information, please call the

VNEOC at 978-372-3646 or

visit their webpage at VNEOC.

org. **ID and DD-214 is required

for registration**.

Co-sponsored by Merrimack

Valley Food Bank, Inc., Fantini

Bakery, The Accidental Food

Bank & Massachusetts Military

Support Foundation.

MassSupport Network: A

Service of Riverside Trauma

Center

Pandemic got you down? Feeling

stressed? The MassSupport

Network provides services to all

Massachusetts residents during

the COVID-19 pandemic. The

Network serves individuals,

families, and more. Services include

emotional support, coping

strategies, resources, up-to-date

factual information and are

anonymous, confidential, and

free. To request services: leave

a message at 888-215-4920 or

email to MassSupport@riversidecc.org.

You may also visit

the website at www.masssupport.org.

You should (typically)

receive a response within a few

hours Monday through Saturday,

8 a.m. to 8 p.m. If your

need is urgent, contact the Disaster

Distress Helpline (24/7) at

800-985-5990.

February 24, 2021


Why Was I Rejected?

By John McCarthy, Rowley Realty

You have looked and looked

and looked for your “dream

home” and finally found it.

It is within your budget and

checks off all your needs and

a few other things you never

thought you could get in

your price range. Yes, all this

in our current sellers market.

You sit down with your RE-

ALTOR®, make an offer, and

24 hours later you get the

call that your offer was rejected.

Disappointment sets

in. What happened? Well,

it could be any number of

things or a combination of

the following:

Reason #1: The sellers received

a better offer

This is the obvious one.

Keep in mind, home sellers

usually want the most money

for their property with the

best terms (more on this below).

Believe it or not, it isn’t

always about the most money.

Admittedly it usually is,

but often times a seller will

favor one offer over another

when offers contain better

terms than yours: lesser

mortgage amount required,

pre-approved buyer, bigger

or all cash component,

no contingencies, to name

but a few. If you thought

this house was your “dream

home”, then there’s a very

good chance others thought

the same.

Make sure you’ve made all

the necessary calculations and

supporting documents (preapproval

from bank or mortgage

company or if paying

cash, proof of funds) ahead of

time in order to put in your

best offer.

Reason #2: Your offer was

lower than the asking price

Your REALTOR® can give

you a market analysis on what

the home is worth and you

can formulate an asking price.

This price can be influenced

by whether or not other offers

have been submitted. When

that is the case typically a seller

will require that the buyer

give their best offer and there

is little to no negotiation; one

offer is simply chosen.

Some buyers won’t get involved

in a “bidding war”.

This doesn’t make any sense

to me if you truly want the

house. Make your best offer.

If you don’t get the house you

can say “ok, it wasn’t meant to

be”. You can’t complain about

not getting a home if you

aren’t willing to try just you

can’t win the lottery if you

don’t buy a ticket.

Reason #3: Too many contingencies

One of the surprises that I

have found over all the years

writing and receiving offers

is that the best price doesn’t’

always get the house. It’s

true. If you’re thinking of

putting an offer at even full,

or over the asking price but

with lots of ridiculous contingencies,

don’t be surprised

to see that your offer got rejected

by the seller and accepting

a lower price. If you

are in a competitive offer situation

and the seller has excluded

the washer and dryer

why are you making your offer

contingent on the seller

leaving those items behind?

Please do not misunderstand

me. There is nothing wrong

with standard contingencies

(home inspection and financing

for example), I am

talking about things that

make the seller say “do they

really want the house?” Remember

you are competing

with another offer; the idea

is to get the house. Factor in

what it will cost you to buy

a washer and dryer. Do you

want this contingency to

cost you the house?

Market conditions will dictate

whether more or less contingencies

are likely to be accepted

by the seller. We are in

a competitive, sellers market.

If we are in buyers market the

seller is much more likely to

leave a refrigerator behind to

get the sale done.

Reason #4: The sellers have

unrealistic expectations

Unfortunately, some sellers

see their home in a different

light than even their REAL-

TOR®; “We must have priced

our house wrong now that

we are getting all these offers,

let’s put it back on the market

at a higher price. I know

this home will sell for what

we are asking even though my

REALTOR® and everyone else

told me it was overpriced.”

Your offer to purchase a

house might be at full asking

price, without any unreasonable

contingencies, yet the

seller may reject it or try to

put you off. Frustrating, but

try to be patient. Find out

why they are stalling. They

may just be nervous about

the whole process, or maybe

the house they want won’t be

ready for another few months.

Your REALTOR can try to

get creative and find a solution

such as closing on the

deal and renting back to the

current seller.

Reason #5: No Preapproval

Letter

If I had a nickel for every

time I heard the buyer

say, “I’m all set. I won’t have

an issue getting a loan”. Get

pre-approved before you start

looking at houses. The bank

or mortgage company won’t

charge you and it doesn’t take

you long to go through the

pre-approval process. Most

importantly if you are competing

with someone to buy a

home, which offer would you

accept if you were a seller? The

first one being an offer at full

asking price, yet without any

pre-approval, and the second

one being slightly below asking

price, but with a pre-approval

letter. If you are “all set”

on your financing why risk

losing the house you want.

Would a seller risk accepting

the offer at full asking price,

but whose buyer still has to go

through the mortgage approval

process? Another big upside

of getting pre-approved is that

you’ll have a very good understanding

of how much you

can borrow.

Reason #6: Timing

You have been renting from

your parents, in-laws, friends,

enemies, etc. and you can’t

wait to get out and into your

dream home. But maybe the

seller hasn’t found anything

yet and doesn’t want to move

out for 2-3 months. Can you

wait? If you can, it may make

you a better buyer to that

particular seller. If the seller

wants to get out quickly as

they are buying something

soon and don’t want to carry

two mortgages, or they are

being transferred out of state,

maybe a quick close has benefits

to them. Do you care

when you close? If not, let the

seller decide (within reason).

Also, if you are competing

with another, make sure the

dates on your contingencies

aren’t extending past normal

time frames. For example you

shouldn’t need more than 7

days for a home inspection period;

you shouldn’t need more

than 3 weeks to get financing

from the signing of the Purchase

and Sale document. I

can’t tell you how many times

I have seen these dates pushed

way out. The seller doesn’t truly

know a deal will go through

until these contingencies are

met, so work with a bank or

mortgage company that will

give you realistic dates. Your

REALTOR® should be a resource

to you here.

Finally, hopefully it won’t

take you dozens of showings,

open houses and offers on

one house after another before

you get an offer that is

accepted.

The key is to try to look

at your offer from the seller’s

point of view. Is the house

worth what they are asking? If

so, why offer 5 % less if you

know there is competition?

In this crazy market finding a

comparable sale may be difficult

so you need to figure out if

the house is worth it to you. If

you were to read in the newspaper

that a house listed at

$399,900 sold for $450,000

what would your reaction be?

Would it be “phew, that buyer

paid way too much or it was

worth at least $450,000 to us,

we should have offered that or

more.”

Most of all, learn from your

previous rejected offers. Why

it was rejected will hopefully

result in you making your

next offer more attractive!

Make sure you understand

the seller’s situation so that

your next offer has a better

chance of being accepted.

If you have any questions

about this article, real estate in

general or are looking to buy or

sell a home please contact me,

John McCarthy at Rowley Realty,

165 Main St., Rowley,

MA 01969, Phone: 978 948-

2758, Cell 978 835-2573 or

via email at john@rowleyrealestate.com


February 24, 2021

ARIES (March (March 21 to April 21 19) to April Whatever 19) decisions You

you're might faced be with a this bit week, shaken rely on by your a strong friend’s Aries

instincts, request. and But base before them on the your Lamb honest feelings, leaps to not

necessarily conclusions, what insist others might on a expect full you explanation.

TAURUS You still (April might 30 to say May no, 20) but Your at sensitive least

to do.

Taurean you’ll spirit know is pained what you’re by what saying you feel is no an to. unwarranted

TAURUS attack (April by a miffed 20 colleague. to May But 20) your

sensible Seeing self red should over see those it as proof nasty that remarks you must

be by doing someone something with right. an ax to grind? Of

course GEMINI you (May are. 21 So to June get 20) out More there fine-tuning

and

give

might

your

be in

supporters

order before you

the

can

facts

be absolutely

they

certain that you're on the right track. Someone

need to get the truth out.

close to you might offer to help. The weekend favors

family get-togethers.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A

changing CANCER (June situation 21 to should July 22) The get week you continues

reassess to be your a balancing vacation act 'twixt plans dreaming and make and

to

doing. any adjustments But by week's as end, soon you as should possible. have a

much And better don’t idea fret of what — you the actually change plan most to do

and likely how will you plan turn to out do for it. the better.

LEO CANCER (July 23 (June to August 21 to 22) July Changing 22) Don’t your

plans put off can dealing be risky, but with can any also negative be a necessary feelings

Recheck that might your facts be left before over you act. from Tense a

move.

encounters recent confrontation. should ease by The midweek, sooner and all is all

should resolved, be well the by sooner the weekend. you can move forward

VIRGO with (August fewer 23 complications.

to September 22) You

might LEO still (July be trying 23 to to adjust August to recent 22) changes. Leos

But things should improve considerably as you get

and Leonas might feel the urge to

to see some positive results. An uneasy personal

redecorate their dens, and that can turn

into a good opportunity to strengthen

family ties by putting the whole pride

to work to make it happen.

VIRGO (August 23 to September

22) Look for the most efficient way to

get The a job Suit done of quickly Wands represents well. Taking

more time than you need to make it

look more challenging is a short-sighted

move you might regret later on.

matter calls for more patience.

LIBRA (September 23 to October

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Congratulations.

Your good intentions are finally rec-

22) A pesky problem should be dealt

with immediately so you can put your

ognized, and long-overdue appreciation should

time follow. and Keep effort working into toward something improvements more

important. wherever you think Someone they're necessary. from your past

could SCORPIO have significant (October 23 news to November for you. 2) Try

to SCORPIO look at your options (October without 23 to prejudging November any of

21) them. A Learn workplace the facts, situation and then becomes make your a assessments.

bothersome Spend weekend than you’d enjoying expected. films, plays

lot

more

Be and careful musical events. not to be pulled into all that

anger. SAGITTARIUS Look for (November support among 22 to December others

who 21) Someone also want might to want avoid to trouble. take advantage of the

Sagittarian's SAGITTARIUS sense of fair (November play. But before 22 you to ride

off to right what you've been told is a wrong, be

December 21) Cheer up, lonely lovers,

sure of your facts.

wherever you are. Just when you thought

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19)

you’d been deleted from Cupid’s database,

the chubby cherub proves that’s

You might be surprised to learn that not everyone

agrees with your ideas. But this can prove to be a

just good not thing. so. Go Congratulations.

over them and see where improvements

CAPRICORN can be made. (December 22 to January

AQUARIUS 19) A casual (January relationship 20 to February 18) could After

take taking a advice more on serious a number turn. of Are matters you in ready recent

for months, it? Your expect stars to be say called you on are. to Paired return the Sea gesture.

And, also by will the way, find you a renewed might be richness surprised at

Goats

in who their makes relationships.

the request.

AQUARIUS PISCES (February (January 19 to March 20 to February 20) Reassure

18) everyone Meeting concerned a collaborator that a change with of mind new isn't

ideas necessarily seems a change to be of heart. a dream You might come still true. want

to pursue a specific goal, but feel a need to change

But for both your sakes, be sure all your

the way you'll get there.

legal i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed

BORN THIS WEEK: You are able to make

before you start working together.

room in your heart for others, and that makes you

a very PISCES special (February person in their 19 lives. to March 21)

A romantic overture flatters the usually

unflappable (c) 2020 King Features Fish. But Synd., since Inc. it’s

a sincere from-the-heart gesture, go

ahead and enjoy it. A minor health

problem responds well to treatment.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have the

warm heart of a Taurean and the sensitivity

of a Gemini. You would make

a wonderful leader. So go ahead: Run

for office.

Tarot Card for Week of February 24, 2021

spiritual energy, intuition, passion, and

creativity. The Ten of Wands depicts a

man carrying a heavy, burdensome load.

While he has control over the Wands he

carries and his destination is in sight, his

head and back are bowed with the effort.

This week, look at your “load” - are

you carrying too much by yourself ?

Are you feeling overworked and

underappreciated? Did you agree to

take on a task that has proven to be

too much? Though you may feel that

the Wands you carry are your passion

or your calling, you won’t be able to

handle them appropriately if you are

overloaded. It’s time to let go of the

things that no longer serve you so you

can concentrate on what fulfills you.

© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

Ten of Wands

Readings by Amelia

To book a private Tarot or

Mediumship reading,

please visit:

www.readingsbyamelia.com

or call 978-595-2468

PUZZLE

ANSWERS

February 24, 2021

Pratt

Hobby Shop

COINS AND ITEMS WANTED

U.S. Coins, silver, gold,

foreign world money.

Old pocket watches,

wrist watches and costume jewelry

Wheat pennies, Pre-1958

The Town Common

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5 Bare Hill Rd Boxford, MA : East Boxford Detached 3 2 6 $535,000 $570,000

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