TTC_03_10_21_Vol.17-No.20

The Town Common

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PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY FOR 17 YEARS

Wednesday, March 10, 2021 Vol. 17, No. 20

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High Tides Are Coming

By Stewart Lytle, Reporter

RING’S ISLAND – If you thought the

February snows and rain this year were

heavy, wait until 2070. With expected 40-

inch sea rise and heavy winter and spring

storms, the Merrimack River may flood

low-lying areas like Ring’s Island so much

residents would have to take a boat out for

weeks during the year.

Steve Roy, the resiliency manager at the

engineering firm of Weston & Sampson,

delivered that dire message last week to the

residents of this historic island. The risk of

droughts will also be greater in the summer

and fall. And the average temperatures will

increase by 10 degrees, making the North

Shore feel more like southern New Jersey,

Delaware and Maryland, Roy said.

Founded in 1642 as a fishing and farming

homestead, Ring’s Island offers spectacular

views of the river, the Newburyport skyline

and Plum Island. The 24-acre island features

homes that trace their origins to the

1600s. Five homes were built before 1750

and eight by 1800.

Until recently, the residents here thought

the primary threat to their island was real

Ring’s Island, page 2

By Stewart Lytle, Reporter

NEWBURY – For Laura Naismith

it was a perfect day. The

cardiac surgical nurse at Massachusetts

General Hospital spent the

morning on a day last week helping

end the Pandemic, administering

vaccines for the Covid-19 virus.

At 12:30 p.m., her shift over, she

left the hospital under a bright blue

sky. Despite freezing temperatures

and wind chills in the teens, she

drove here to Newbury to indulge

in her favorite new hobby, golf.

This time of year, many New

England golfers head south to

get in a few rounds of 18 holes

on pristine courses. But not Naismith,

who refers to herself as a

hardy New Englander. The Newburyport

resident headed to the

The Ring’s Island sign at First Street and Marsh Road.

new Newbury Golf Center and

Ice Cream where she relaxed for

an hour from her stressful job,

hitting a bucket of balls under

the watchful eye of her coach and

owner Erik Sorensen.

“It is so soothing to my soul,”

said Naismith, who comes to

practice and take lessons two or

three days a week.

An avid tennis player, Laura

started playing golf last September

when she was “bitten by the bug.”

She has not missed a week this

winter at the range, but admits, “I

come out wearing four layers.”

Naismith is typical of a growing

number of new players, adults

and teenagers, finding the game,

Sorensen said. Golf is enjoying a

resurgence after years of decline.

There is new excitement on the

PGA Tour, he said. It is also a

sport people can safely play during

the Pandemic.

At the Newbury range the players

wear masks, are outside and

spaced at least six feet apart.

In a barn-like, three-sided building,

there are 10 mats under heaters,

one over each mat. Golfers in

sweatshirts, long and short sleeves

and even a few wearing shorts hit

balls onto a range covered with ice

and snow that last week had only a

few patches of grass, harbingers of

spring and warmer weather.

“The barn and the heaters make

a huge difference,” said veteran

golfer Brian Wallace from Merrimack,

who came to the range Saturday

with Will, his 12-year-old

Golf, page 3

Brian Wallace practicing in the snow.

Stewart Lytle / The Town Common

Hardy Golfers Come to Play Even in Winter


Page 2 www.TheTownCommon.com

March 10, 2021

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High Tides

Are Coming

Ring’s Island, from page 1

estate developers who want to tear

down some of the older homes to

build expensive new homes. The

town, at the urging of locals, created

a neighborhood preservation

district to try to protect what the

group’s mission statement calls the

“unique” architectural character of

these homes.

In 50 years, climate change is

expected bring enough rain and

snow during the early months of

the year to make the two access

points — First Street and March

Road entrance from Rte. 1 and

Ferry Road that links the island

to the rest of Salisbury — impassable

eight to 10 times a year, said

Sampson & Weston project manager

John Sykora.

To provide access to the island,

the town planning department is

working with the engineers and

the Woods Hole Oceanographic

Institute on final design plans

to widen and elevate the access

roads to 9.3 feet at the center of

the roadways and 9 feet on the

edges. The roads range now from

a low of 6 feet on First Street in

front of the Inn at Ring’s Island

and the Portside Restaurant to 7

and 8 feet along Ferry Road.

The difference of as much as

three feet from the parking lot

for the inn and the restaurant

and First Street/March Road is

likely to require a ramp to tie the

two together. That design has not

been done, but Sykora said the

town does not plan to leave the

property owners with “a shelf”

instead of a driveway.

The roadways would be widened

to 30 feet with 11-foot-wide

lanes and 4-foot shoulders on

each side.

Several culverts, including one

8-feet by 8-feet, to flush the flood

water would be added under the

roadways. Flood gates would help

manage the flood waters.

The roadway shoulders would

not be designated as bike lanes,

but could be used for bicycle and

pedestrian travel. To the chagrin

of some residents who attended

the remote meeting last week,

there are no plans for sidewalks in

and out of the island.

“Sidewalks are tricky,” said

town planner Lisa Pearson. “I

would love to have sidewalks.”

Public Works director Lisa De-

Meo said adding sidewalks was

thoroughly assessed. The problem

is that Ring’s Land has extensive

wetlands, portions of which

would have to be replaced if sidewalks

were added to the roadways.

“That would be astronomically

expensive,” DeMeo said.

Estimates on the costs of making

Ring’s Island accessible range

from $5 to $6 million. To date

more than $400,000 has been

spent on the design, including

taking borings to assess the water

table.

The funds would come from

the Municipal Vulnerability

Preparedness (MVP) Program,

which Gov. Charlie Baker created

in 2017 to help cities and towns

identify climate hazards, assess

vulnerabilities and develop action

plans to improve resilience to climate

change.

Weston & Sampson will finish

the project design this spring, and

assuming the MVP grant funding

is approved, construction could

start in the fall. The project is

scheduled to be completed in

2023, Sykora said.

That schedule depends on

funding. Pearson said there is a

cap of $2 million on MVP grants,

so the project may have to be

divided into at least two phases,

which might delay the project’s

completion until 2024, she said.

March 10, 2021 www.TheTownCommon.com

Page 3


Will Wallace gets instruction from Eric Sorensen.

Hardy Golfers Come to

Play Even in Winter

Golf, from page 1

son and fellow golfer. “The temperature

becomes irrelevant.”

Sorensen, who opened the range

to North Shore golfers last fall, said

the center has been very busy all

winter. “If it’s 30 degrees, people

will be out.” Even on very cold days,

“I’ve been out here teaching all day

when the temperature was at zero,”

he said. “People are having fun.”

One reason is the range’s design.

He placed the barn-like structure

at the top of a hill facing west,

so the mostly easterly winds are

blocked. “When the wind is in

your face, it’s hard,” Sorensen said.

He also keeps the balls warm in

the shop. Warm golf balls make a

difference, he said. “A cold ball is like

hitting a rock. It can crack a driver.”

Shauna Pieniazek, a Newburyport

resident, comes to the golf

center to practice several times

a week, mostly participating in

women’s clinics. Sorensen teaches

three women’s clinics a week

with four players in each. In the

summer, the clinics are even more

popular and are expanded to eight

women in each.

Pieniazek and her husband are

members of the Newbury range

and play in the summer at Ipswich

Country Club and on New

Hampshire courses. She said she

loves coming to the range because,

“It’s good exercise, and I want

to get better,” she said. “This is a

great opportunity for those of us

who don’t get to go to Florida.”

Wallace, the principal of a kindergarten

to 12th grade school for

special needs students in Everett,

has been playing golf for 20 years

since he graduated from college.

“It’s very therapeutic,” he said.

To his frustration, his golf handicap

rose three strokes last summer

while playing in leagues. He heard

about Sorensen, who was named

one of the top PGA teaching

professionals in the country by

the Golf Range Assn. of America

(GRAA), and came to the center

for lessons over the winter. Wallace

is looking forward to testing

his improved skills this summer

at the Breakfast Hill Golf Club in

New Hampshire.

He praised Sorensen’s management,

saying the facility is always

clean and well organized. The

GRAA also named the Newbury

golf center a top 50 stand-alone

golf range out of more than 2,000

ranges in the country.

Wallace also said he loves hitting

balls at the Newbury center

because the balls are good. During

the winter, having enough good

balls can be a challenge. When

the snow on the range is 18 inches

deep, a lot of balls are lost as they

sink deep in the snow where they

may stay until the snows melt.

Because so many golfers are using

the new range, Sorensen had

to order new balls this winter.

“It’s a good problem to have,” he

said. “If a range tells you they have

enough balls for the winter, they

are not doing much business.”

This year he learned a trick from

“an old timer,” that helps him retrieve

a lot of balls. He uses two

snow mobiles after a storm to

pack down the thick snow, driving

them back and forth across the

range, hardening the snow.

When the balls land on the

packed snow, they stay on top

where the picker can collect them.

“We’ve been doing a lot of picking.”

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NEWBURY – Between 1999 and 2006, at the

height of his career, Tiger Woods lived across the

street from the Islewood 18-hole championship

club in Windemere, FL., where Erik Sorensen, a

young PGA teaching professional, worked.

“Tiger and I talked when he came out to practice,”

Sorensen said last week. He loved to work on

his short game. “That has always been his strength.”

Asked if he thought Woods would be back playing

tournaments after the car wreck, “Maybe not

this year. But he’ll be back,” Sorensen said. “We

haven’t seen the last of Tiger Woods.”

www.TheTownCommon.com


March 10, 2021

By J. Peter St. Clair, DMD

Are you stressed out? It seems

that stress levels in people are

high these days. We worry about

school, work, finances, illness,

children, relationships, and more.

Some of us even worry about

how much we worry. Not to add

to your stress, but you should be

aware that all that worrying could

have a negative impact on not

only your general health, but also

your oral health.

According to an article published

in the Journal of Periodontology,

there is a strong

relationship between stress and

Brighter smiles ...

periodontal disease (gum disease).

In addition to stress, other

psychological factors such as anxiety,

depression, and loneliness are

linked to an increased likelihood

of periodontal disease.

So how does stressing out

about your next car payment,

for example, lead to gum disease?

Researchers believe that

the hormone cortisol may be a

factor. Cortisol, also known as

the “stress hormone,” is secreted

by the adrenal glands and is

involved in many functions, including

proper glucose metabolism,

blood pressure regulation,

insulin release for blood sugar

maintenance, immune function,

and inflammatory response. An

earlier study published in the

same journal the year before

found that increased levels of

cortisol can lead to more destruction

of the gums and bone

due to periodontal diseases.

Behavioral factors may also

come into play. People who are

under extreme amounts of stress,

or suffering from depression, may

be more likely to disregard good

oral hygiene. We have seen the

effects of this over the past year.

They may even take on new behaviors

that could negatively impact

their oral health, such as the

use of nicotine, alcohol, or drugs,

all of which can affect the teeth

and gums.

Your gums are not the only oral

victims of stress. Another oral side

effect is teeth grinding or clenching,

which often occurs during

sleep. This may lead to headaches,

earaches, or toothaches. Facial

muscles can become sore, and jaw

joints tender. Besides causing discomfort,

grinding and/or clenching

can lead to severe tooth wear,

loosening of teeth, and cracked or

COVID Stress

fractured teeth. Dentists have seen

an overall increase in this over the

past year.

It is important to find healthy

things that help relieve stress. A

regular exercise routine can do

wonders for relieving stress, as well

as having a balanced nutritious

diet, and getting enough sleep.

If you find it difficult to manage

your stress you should talk to your

physician. You should also make

your dentist aware of your stress

level to discuss any recommendations

to help your dental health,

which ultimately affect your overall

health.

I’ll leave you this week with

a quote from A. Cornelius Celsus's

DeMedicina. He wrote this

around the birth of Jesus Christ,

2000 years ago. He was a Roman

author and medical historian.

Live in rooms full of light.

Avoid Heavy food.

Be moderate in the drinking

of wine.

Take massage, baths, exercise

and gymnastics.

Fight insomnia with gentle rocking

or the sound of running water.

Change surroundings and take

long journeys.

Strictly avoid frightening ideas.

Indulge in cheerful conversation

and amusements.

Listen to music.

Still good advice 2000 years later.

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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We Offer:

• Personalized and

Traditional Funerals

• Cremations

• Graveside Services

• Memorial Services

• Advance Planning Options

Jeffrey E. Megna, CFSP

Owner,

Licensed Funeral Director (Type 3)

March 10, 2021

www.TheTownCommon.com Page 5

Community News

World Water

Day March

22 celebrates

cleaner rivers for

Massachusetts

By Julia Blatt, Executive Director,

Massachusetts Rivers

Alliance

As Massachusetts observes

World Water Day this year,

our state’s communities have a

particular reason to celebrate.

The Massachusetts legislature

recently enacted (and Governor

Baker signed into law) a

state sewage notification bill.

This important new law has

been a long time coming.

World Water Day falls on

March 22nd of each year.

Since it first became a United

Nations Observance Day

in 1993, World Water Day

has served as a time to think

about, and take action to address,

the water crisis. In 2021,

World Water Day focuses on

the environmental, social and

cultural value people place on

water. The day provides Massachusetts

residents an opportunity

to consider the importance

of clean water. Clean

water is not something to take

for granted.

On this year’s World Water

Day, Massachusetts Rivers

Alliance, the Voice of Massachusetts

Rivers, is celebrating

a major step the state has taken

toward ensuring safer rivers.

For years, Mass Rivers led

advocacy efforts with many

partners to pass a state law requiring

sewer operators to establish

a notification system.

The goal was to let the public

know when there is a sewage

discharge into a public waterbody,

so residents could avoid

contaminated waters.

Fecal bacteria poses many

public health threats, including

ear and eye infections,

skin rashes, hepatitis, and inflammation

of the intestines.

Emerging research also suggests

that fecal bacteria can

spread COVID-19.

Many cities in the Northeast

combine sewage and

stormwater collection systems,

a relic of long-ago urban

engineering. These systems

are designed to bypass

wastewater treatment facilities

if the volume of water is too

much for the facilities to handle.

For these aging systems,

heavy rain sends a mixture of

untreated sewage and stormwater

into local waterways.

Until now, there was no way

for the public to know when

these discharges occurred,

leaving people downstream at

risk of contact with contaminated

waters.

In 2018, an especially large

volume of sewage pollution

was discharged into the Merrimack

River. As a downstream

community, Newburyport

bore the brunt of

all this sewage winding up in

their waters.

The problems experienced

in Newburyport, however, are

not unique. Sewage discharges

regularly harm water quality

in our state. In Massachusetts,

there are 181 combined sewer

overflow (CSO) outfalls, and

24 CSO permittees. In a typical

year, Massachusetts' waterways

receive almost 3 billion

gallons of untreated and

partially treated sewage mixed

with stormwater from CSOs.

These outfalls are concentrated

in urban areas, like Fall

River, Lawrence, and Lowell,

making CSO pollution an environmental

justice issue, as

the closest waterways to residents

of urban neighborhoods

may be contaminated without

their knowing.

The Massachusetts sewage

notification bill was filed

during five consecutive legislative

sessions. Finally, in

the summer of 2020, the

bill passed the Massachusetts

House of Representatives

unanimously, and was sent to

the Senate, where it sat until

the final hours of the legislative

session in January 2021.

In quick succession that

night, the Senate voted to

pass it, and the House agreed

to Senate modifications, sending

the bill to the Governor's

desk. Governor Baker signed

the bill on January 12, 2021.

Raw and partially treated

sewage should never be discharged

into our waters. Public

notification of sewage discharges

is an important first

step, and Mass Rivers hopes

the new law will lead to a

greater public willingness to

invest in much needed water

infrastructure, including separating

these combined sewer

systems. These are expensive

projects, but these investments

are critical to protecting

our environment, public

health and safety, and ensuring

environmental justice and

climate resiliency. On World

Water Day 2021, Mass Rivers

encourages all Massachusetts

residents to pledge themselves

to the goal of clean, safe water

for all.

Georgetown

Fire Captain

Graduates from

Call/Volunteer

Firefighter

Training

Georgetown Fire Department

Capt. Matthew McKay

is one of 29 graduates from

the MFA’s Call/Volunteer

Firefighter Training Class 89.

He officially completed the

program on Saturday, Feb.

27. During the 16 week training,

firefighters learned the

basic skills they need to respond

to fires, including how

to contain and control them,

public fire education, hazardous

material incident mitigation,

flammable liquids,

stress management, firefighter

self-rescue and vehicle extrication.

In order to graduate, firefighters

completed 240 hours

of training, all on nights and

weekends, while demonstrating

proficiency in life safety,

search and rescue, ladder operations,

water supply, pump

operation and fire attack in

situations ranging from mailbox

fires to multiple-floor or

multi-room structural fires.

“Congratulations to Capt.

McKay for completing this

rigorous training,” Chief Fred

Mitchell said. “We are grateful

for his commitment and

dedication to this field, and

for always striving to provide

the highest quality service to

our residents.”

Capt. McKay has worked

for the fire department for

the last 19 years and was promoted

to his current rank in

2018. He is a member of the

Erie Fire Company Association

as well.

The other graduates represent

the fire departments of

Boxford, Dunstable, Essex,

Hamilton, Haverhill, Lincoln,

Lynnfield, Merrimac, Middleton,

Newbury, Newburyport,

Topsfield, and Wenham.

“Congratulations to Capt.

McKay for completing this

rigorous training,” Chief

Mitchell said. “We are grateful

for his commitment and

dedication to this field, and

for always striving to provide

the highest quality service to

our residents.”

Capt. McKay has worked

Community Announcements,

page 6

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March 10, 2021

Community News


from page 5

for the fire department for

the last 19 years and was promoted

to his current rank in

2018. He is a member of the

Erie Fire Company Association

as well.

The other graduates represent

the fire departments of

Boxford, Dunstable, Essex,

Hamilton, Haverhill, Lincoln,

Lynnfield, Merrimac, Middleton,

Newbury, Newburyport,

Topsfield, and Wenham.

A WORLD ON

THE WING

The Global

Odyssey of

Migratory Birds

On Tuesday, April 20 at

7pm, ornithologist, naturalist,

and Pulitzer finalist Scott

Weidensaul will be at The

Music Hall’s historical stage

in Portsmouth as part of the

Innovation + Leadership series.

Weidensaul will discuss his

new nature book A WORLD

ON THE WING, an exhilarating

exploration of the science

and wonder of global

bird migration in the face of

climate change.

“Weidensaul’s writing on

the extraordinary journeys

birds take around the world

makes this book the ultimate

guide,” says Jameson French,

CEO of Northland Forest

Products and the evening’s

moderator. “As a lifelong birder,

I’m looking forward to the

knowledge he will share with

us about migration patterns

and the challenges birds face,

and we’re lucky to have him

as a resident of New Hampshire!”

The 7pm event includes an

author presentation and interview

with Jameson French,


Products, naturalist, and

birder, followed by an audience

Q&A. This event will be

held at The Music Hall at 28

Chestnut St., in Portsmouth,

New Hampshire. The theater

is following state and local

guidelines including requiring

masks, social distancing, and

contactless concessions, in

addition to utilizing a brand

new HVAC system. More

information on The Music

Hall’s safety protocols visit:

https://www.themusichall.

org/visit-us/covid-19-protocols/

In the past two decades,

our understanding of the

navigational and physiological

feats that enable birds

to cross immense oceans, fly

above the highest mountains,

or remain in unbroken flight

for months at a stretch has

exploded. What we’ve learned

of these key migrations—how

billions of birds circumnavigate

the globe, flying tens of

thousands of miles between

hemispheres on an annual

basis—is nothing short of extraordinary.

These and other

revelations convey both the

wonder of bird migration

and its global sweep, from the

mudflats of the Yellow Sea in

China to the remote mountains

of northeastern India

to the dusty hills of southern

Cyprus. This breathtaking

work of nature writing from

Pulitzer Prize finalist Scott

Weidensaul also introduces

readers to those scientists,

researchers, and bird lovers

trying to preserve global migratory

patterns in the face

of climate change and other

environmental challenges.

Drawing on his own extensive

fieldwork, in A World on

the Wing Weidensaul unveils

with dazzling prose the miracle

of nature taking place over

our heads.

Scott Weidensaul is a writer

and researcher specializing in

birds and bird migration. He

is the author of nearly thirty

books on natural history, including

Living on the Wind:

Across the Hemisphere with Migratory

Birds, a Pulitzer Prize

finalist; and The Ghost with

Trembling Wings, about the

search for species that may or

may not be extinct. A native

of the Appalachians of eastern

Pennsylvania, he now lives in

New Hampshire.

The event moderator,

Jameson (Jamey) French, is


Products and is a founding

trustee and ex officio member

of The Music Hall's

Board of Trustees. Jamey

has led numerous local and

statewide arts and conservation

organizations, including

the Strawbery Banke

Museum and the Society

for the Protection of NH

Forests. Nationally, Jamey

chairs the Washington DCbased

Land Trust Alliance

and is a board member of

the American Forest Foundation

and the National

Wildlife Federation Action

Fund. His lifelong environmental

awareness started

when his dad and grandparents

taught him the common

New England birds at age 6.

His activism started at age

16 when he co-chaired the

first Earth Day (1970) in his

hometown. He has lived in

Portsmouth for the past 40

years with his wife Priscilla.

The ticket package for Innovation

+ Leadership: Scott

Weidensaul with A World on

the Wing on Tuesday, April

20, at 7pm is $46. In addition

to a reserved seat, the package

includes a signed copy of A

WORLD ON THE WING

($32, hardcover), author discussion,

and audience Q+A.

Tickets can be purchased online

by visiting: https://www.

themusichall.org/events/

scott-weidensaul/ or through

the B2W Box Office over the

phone at 603.436.2400.

For further information

contact: Brittany Wason, Literary

Producer, at bwason@

themusichall.org.

The Music Hall has expanded

its programming to focus

on issues critical to our time.

The Innovation + Leadership

series was first launched nearly

five years ago to serve our

local business community,

bringing together the best and

the brightest in technology.

The series has since broadened

to showcase opinion leaders,

authors and all variety of educators,

and to serve audiences

from a tri-state region and beyond—all

who are interested

in bettering the worlds they

live in, at work and at home,

locally and around the world.

These lively and informative

conversations feature experts

in their field sharing experiences

and providing participants

practical tools for making

meaningful advances in

their lives. From demonstrations

in the art of all things

digital to special forums featuring

regional and global

leaders in sustainability, from

book discussion-demonstrations

on the positive effect of

meditation to awareness-raising

events led by today’s

champions in philanthropy,

feminism, and family matters,

each Innovation + Leadership

event is memorable and

impactful. The Music Hall

is committed to community

building and personal flourishing.

Our Innovation +

Leadership series delivers on

that commitment. The presenting

sponsor for this event

is University of New Hampshire.

The series sponsors are

Atlantic Orthopaedics &

Sports Medicine; Bangor Savings

Bank. The Season sponsors

are The Labrie Group;

Carey & Giampa Realtors;

Portwalk Place. The box office

sponsor is B2W Software.

The Music Hall is an active

and vital cultural center in

downtown Portsmouth, New

Hampshire, dedicated to the

advancement of the tri-state

region’s cultural life through

the performing arts, literature,

and education. A community-supported

501(c)3 nonprofit

organization, it presents

entertainment from around

the world and around the corner—the

greatest musicians,

writers, and performers of the

time, extraordinary films, and

award-winning documentaries.

Its 600 yearly events delight

an annual audience of

130,000 (including 20,000

children) in two theaters—an

1878 Victorian-era Historic

Theater and the modern and

intimate Loft space. The Music

Hall was recently named

Editors’ Choice “Best All-

Around Entertainment” by

Yankee Magazine and is a designated

“American Treasure

for the Arts.” Through innovative

community partnerships,

it subsidizes thousands

of tickets each year to make

the arts accessible to all.

Appreciation

letter to the

community from

Firehouse Center

for the Arts

This past weekend marked

365 days since we held a live

event inside the Firehouse.

This weekend marks 365 days

since we officially closed our

doors. A lot has happened

over this past year - but thanks

to you, we can see the light

at the end of the tunnel. We

look forward to this intermission

coming to an end with a

Grand Reopening in September

in celebration of our 30th

year.

As we prepare for a safe return

to indoor performances,

let us focus on what we have

up our sleeves this spring.


page 7

March 10, 2021


Community News


from page 6

Keep an eye out for our successful

virtual programming

to continue, and our plan

to bring back – and expand

- our outdoor live musical

theatre experiences which we

pioneered “drive-in style” at

Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm

last summer. Building upon

the programming successes

of 2020 and borrowing from

previous experience, these offerings

will provide the community

with a much-needed

artistic outlet and will help set

us up for a successful reopening.

But we need your support

to help us realize these goals.

Please consider a gift, whether

it is $10 or $10,000, and

know that every dollar goes

towards ensuring that we

can continue to enrich and

entertain all segments of the

Greater Newburyport region

by providing high quality visual

and performing arts experiences.

Together, we will

accomplish this and revitalize

our amazing community.

With deep appreciation and

gratitude,

John Moynihan

Executive Director

MassWildlife

proposes

changes in

hunting and

freshwater

fishing license

fees

For the first time since 1996,

the Massachusetts Division of

Fisheries and Wildlife (Mass-

Wildlife) is proposing changes

in hunting and freshwater

fishing license fees to ensure

the continued conservation

of wildlife, fish, and plants in

Massachusetts.

MassWildlife has scheduled

additional information

sessions in March about the

proposed license increase.

The public can ask questions,

make comments, and learn

more about MassWildlife’s

programs, how MassWildlife

is funded, and why a license

increase is needed by attending

a virtual information session:

• Wednesday, March 17

at 6:30 p.m. Join the Zoom

session using your computer,

tablet, or smartphone by

visiting: https://us02web.

zoom.us/j/84848421647?p-

wd=aDZYOEFkSzhwQV-

VZbUtzSG12ckdMQT09#-

success with Passcode

2STLk1, or you can join by

phone by calling 1-929-205-

6099 and entering the Webinar

ID: 848 4842 1647

and Passcode: 856477when

prompted.

• Thursday, March 25 at

6:30 p.m. Join the Zoom

session using your computer,

tablet, or smartphone by

visiting: https://us02web.

zoom.us/j/83467142939?p-

wd=MktDZWQrcVZZN-

FZQNkZ1YXArS0ww-

Zz09#success with Passcode

1WWptf, or you can join

by phone by calling 1-929-

205-6099 and entering the

Webinar ID: 834 6714 2939

and Passcode: 420963 when

prompted.

You can also provide input

using this form by visiting:

https://form.jotform.

com/210471807212143 or

by mail to: MassWildlife Re:

License Fee, 1 Rabbit Hill

Road, Westborough, MA

01581. MassWildlife anticipates

scheduling and holding

formal public hearings later in

the spring.

Rowley Town

Clerk Susan G.

Hazen updates

for the Annual

town Election

The 2021 Street List/Census

forms have been out and

now they’re due. The clerk’s

office hopes to be able to wrap

up the information collection

part of the process by mid

March.

• Have you returned your

SIGNED Census form?


page 8

Prepare for unexpected

power outages with a

Generac standby generator

REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!

844-957-1494

FREE

7-Year Extended Warranty*

A $695 Value!

Offer valid February 15 - June 6, 2021

Special Financing Available

Subject to Credit Approval

*To qualify, consumers must request a quote, purchase, install and

activate the generator with a participating dealer. Call for a full list

of terms and conditions.


March 10, 2021

Community News

Whittier Tech Sophomore

Chosen as Winner of SkillsUSA

Massachusetts State Tee-Shirt

Design Contest

HAVERHILL — Amely

Hussein, a sophomore graphic

communications student

from Haverhill, was chosen

as the winner of the SkillsU-

SA Massachusetts State Tee-

Shirt Design Contest.

Hussein’s design was chosen

as the top choice out of over

100 entries submitted by students

from across the state. It

features the skyline of the City

of Boston, gears to represent

technical shop programs, and

the colors from the SkillsUSA

Massachusetts website and

logo. Hussein's creation was

inspired by research she did

into the organization and important

symbols in the state

that she incorporated into her

sketches.

“I felt really happy and

almost cried when I found

out I won,” Hussein said. “I

feel really proud to be chosen

and I know my family is

just as excited for me.”

“Amely is a very hard

working student who shows

pride in her work,” Cate

Cashman, a Design and

Visual Communications

teacher at Whittier Tech,

said. “I was very impressed

Courtesy of Whittier Tech

Sophomore Amely Hussein's design was chosen as the winner of the SkillsU-

SA Massachusetts State Tee-shirt Design Contest and will be featured on the

shirts worn by participants at a state conference in the spring.

with her design. When I

found out that she won, I

was so excited and happy -

my eyes welled up. I’m so

proud of Amely!”

All students attending the

State Leadership and Skills

Conference in the spring will

receive a shirt with Hussein’s

design on it. The annual

conference is an opportunity

for competitors, industry

partners, and teachers/advisors

to come together to

showcase their talents.

“Congratulations to Amely

for this well-deserved recognition,”

Superintendent

Maureen Lynch said. “We

are proud to be involved in

a program that allows our

students to showcase their

incredible talents and can’t

wait to see Amely’s design

worn by all conference attendees

in the spring.”

SkillsUSA Massachusetts

is the state chapter of the

national SkillsUSA organization,

both of which

support students in middle

school and beyond who

are studying to work in the

trade, technical and skilled

service fields.


from page 7

• If not, please do so ASAP

• Voter registration may

NOT be established or

changed via the St. List form,

contact the clerk’s office for

more details.

2021/22 Shellfish License

Applications are now being

accepted

• The Shellfish Constable

will start processing them on

or about March 15th

Remember to include a

self-addressed stamped envelope

with your application

• All applications for COM-

MERCIAL permits must be

received by the clerk’s office

by March 31st – no exceptions!

2021 Dog License renewals

are now being accepted

• Visit: https://www.townofrowley.net

for online payment

options

Town Election Update:

• The Annual Town Election

is Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Noon to 8 PM at St. Mary’s

Hall located at 202 Main

Street.

• The last day to pick up

Nomination papers is noon,

Friday, March 19th

• The Last day to submit

Nomination Papers is 5PM

Tuesday, March 23rd

• A minimum of 33 certified

signatures of registered

voters is needed to qualify as

a candidate.

The Following offices will

be listed on the ballot:

• One 3 yr term on the

Board of Selectmen

Papers taken out by Incumbent

Cliff Pierce

• One 3 yr term as Moderator

Papers taken out by Thomas

Amoroso of 35 Green Needle

Lane

• One 3 yr term as Town

Clerk

Papers taken out by:

· Catherine McClenaghan

of 8 Longmeadow Drive

· Jacqueline Thistlewood of

63 Central St.

• One 3 yr term as HIghway

Surveyor


Patrick Snow

• One 3 yr term as Assessor

Papers taken out by incumbent

Jami Snow

• One 5 yr term on Planning

Board


David Jaquith

• One 5 yr term on Rowley

Housing Authority


Kathy Olmsted

• One 3 yr term on Municipal

Light Department

Papers taken out by Michael

Correale of 264 Dodge Rd

• One 3 yr term on Municipal

Water Department

Papers taken out by incumbent

John Manning

• One 3 yr term on Cemetery

Commission

• One 3 yr tem on Shellfish

Commission

• Three 3 yr terms on the

Library Trustees

• One 3 yr term on the Triton

Regional School District

Committee

Greg McDonough of 90

Weldon Farm Road

• One 2 yr unexpired term

on the Triton Regional School

Committee

Created by the resignation

of current School committee

member Tina Tzortzis

Town Clerk Susan G. Hazen,

Moderator Joan C. Petersen

and Cemetery Commissioner

David Petersen

have announced they will not

be seeking re-election in May.

As of March 2, the only set

of Nomination papers that

have been returned and certified

are Catie McClenaghan’s

for The Town Clerk’s position

No one has taken out papers

for the following seats:

• Cemetery Commissioner

• Shellfish commissioner

• Any of the three seats on

the Library Trustees

• The 2 yr unexpired term

on the School Committee

Absentee Ballots vs Nofault

Vote by Mail Ballots

The state has not yet extended

the legislation which

would extend the No-Fault

Vote by Mail option through

June 30th. The only option

available at this time is the

traditional Absentee Ballot,

application available on our

website by visiting: townofrowley.net

The clerk’s office is hopeful

the No-fault option will be

extended, stay tuned for further

developments.

Essex Tech

Announces New

Portal to Track

Admissions,

Enrollment Data

DANVERS — Superintendent

Heidi Riccio wishes to

inform the public that Danvers

- Essex Tech has launched

an interactive dashboard that

will allow the school district

and community to track general

admissions, current enrollment,

and waitlist data.

The dashboard is the result

of three years of work by Essex

Tech’s Leadership Team,

Admissions Department, and

Technology Department.

“We, as a school community,

are looking at data to

inform our decisions,” Superintendent

Heidi Riccio said.

“This information will assist

us as we look at enrollment

and areas of need. Our team

has done a great job setting up

the school for future success.”

The dashboard includes:

• Breakdowns of applicants

in the Classes of 2022, 2023

and 2024.

• Breakdowns of applicants

in the Class of 2025, which


page 9

March 10, 2021


Community News


from page 8

will be updated regularly. This

does not include information

about demographics or about

individual student needs, because

the application process

is blind, and applicants are

not asked those questions.

• Continuing Technical

Education enrollments with

partner high schools in Beverly,

Peabody, and Salem, New

Liberty Innovation School

and Salem Prep.

• Enrollment trends by district

community, starting in

2014.

• Enrollment breakdowns

of Essex Tech and other high

schools in the district.

• Enrollment by program

for students from Gloucester,

Peabody, and Salem.

Data also is available for the

350 students in the district’s

unique agricultural program.

Users can view data about

the school population, sending

communities, and individual

school disciplines. Users

will be able to sort tables,

and filter by specific admissions

statuses, by city/town,

by special populations, and

by demographic information.

To view the dashboard visit:

https://essexnorthshore.org/

admissions-dashboard/

The Rowley

All-Scout

Paper Drive

The Rowley All-Scout Paper

Drive will be held Saturday,

March 13, from 9:00 A.M. to

12:00 P.M. behind the First

Congregational Church of

Rowley at 175 Main Street.

The Scouts will be collecting

newspapers,books, cardboard,

and magazines. The

Boy Scouts will be collecting

redeemable bottles and cans.

The paper drives are held the

second Saturday of odd numbered

months. If you have any

questions call George Pacenka

at (978) 948-7918.

Non-perishable items including

diapers, paper towels,

toilet paper will also be

collected at this time for the

Rowley Food Pantry.

Remaining dates for the

2021 Paperdrives:

March 13, 2021

May 8, 2021

July 10, 2021

September 11, 2021

November 13, 2021

The Scouts are asking all

people to stay in their cars

with masks on while unloaded.

If you do not feel well

please do not go to the drive.

Salem Five Bank

offers tips to

avoid Romance

Scams

This time of year reminds

us of how common romance

scams are in the world of financial

fraud, especially in a

time where people are spending

more time than ever online.

Scammers are ready to

take advantage, becoming

increasingly more sophisticated

and brazen. They will

weave stories of tragedy and

hardship to fool victims into

sending money or providing

access to accounts. With the

FTC reporting that median

loss for romance scams is 7

times higher than other types

of fraud, here are some tips to

protect you and your money:

• Never provide your bank

account or online banking

information to anyone you

meet online and never loan

money to them, or allow

them to use your accounts to

transfer funds.

• Do not send money to

anyone you meet online for

any reason. Some common

requests are travel expenses,

acquiring travel documentation,

medical expenses, and

paying off debts.

• Do not blindly believe

online stories of severe life

circumstances, tragedies, family

deaths, injuries, or other

hardships geared at keeping

your interest and concern.

And remember, scammers

commonly request payment

by wiring money, instant

money transfer, or reload debit/gift

cards because they can

get cash quickly and remain

anonymous. And with access

to your online banking, they

may use your online banking

to deposit counterfeit checks

and instantly transfer money

out before the check is returned.

Unfortunately, these

transactions are almost impossible

to recover.

If you are involved in an

online exchange and have

been asked for money, STOP

contact immediately. If you

are in doubt, talk to someone

you trust, and pay attention if

your friends or family are concerned.

Salem Five is also here to

help. If you believe you have

been a victim of a scam or

have provided your online

banking information, contact

us at 800-850-5000, or stop

by your nearest branch location.

Newburyport

Bank Donates

$2,500 to

Wentworth-

Douglass

Hospital’s Golf

Tournament

Newburyport – Through

a donation of $2,500, Newburyport

Bank became a

“Golf Cart Sponsor” for the

hospital’s 27 th Annual Charity

Golf Classic, to be held on

June 22, 2021 at the Cocheco

Country Club in Dover, NH.

The Wentworth-Douglass

Charity Classic was created

in 1994 to honor the memory

of Peter Gabarro, who lost

his battle with cancer. This

year, funds raised will be in

support of pregnant women,

newborns and families.

“We’re proud to sponsor

the Wentworth-Douglass

Golf Classic,” stated Lloyd L.

Hamm, President & CEO of

the Bank. “Their work is essential

to the health of scores

of women, children and families

in need – we understand

and support that.”

Newburyport Bank is a

state-chartered mutual savings

bank headquartered in

Newburyport. The Bank was

founded in 1854 and currently

has 11 locations in

both Massachusetts and New

Hampshire, and over $1 billion

in assets. Deposits at

Newburyport Bank are federally

insured by the Federal

Deposit Insurance Corporation

(FDIC), with excess

insurance provided by the

Depositors Insurance Fund

(DIF). As the premier full-service

community bank in the

Greater Seacoast Region,

the Bank offers a complete

range of personal and business

products and services,

as well as the most advanced

technologies in online and

mobile banking. In addition

to its ongoing commitment

to the needs of the community,

in 2003, the Newburyport

Bank Charitable Foundation

was created to further carry

out the Bank’s long history of

community involvement by

providing grants to local nonprofit

organizations.

MassWildlife

launches a new

online portal

called Heritage

Hub

MassWildlife launched a

new online portal called “Heritage

Hub” which allows users

to report observations of animals

and plants, natural communities,

and vernal pools.

The system can be used to

report any species and Mass-

Wildlife is especially interested

in reports of animals and

plants listed under the Massachusetts

Endangered Species

Act. The Heritage Hub is

replacing the Vernal Pool &

Rare Species Reporting System

(VPRS) and makes electronic

reporting easy. Many

citizen scientists, consultants,

and researchers have contributed

21,537 observations to

VPRS over the years. Visit:

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/overview-of-theheritage-hub

to learn more

and register for an account.

The Heritage Hub is a more

user-friendly application,

improving the functionality

from VPRS and offering several

new features, including:

• Updated plant, animal,

and vernal pool observation

reporting

• A natural community form

• Enhanced user interface


page 10

Page 10

Newburyport – Throughout

the entire pandemic, Newburyport

Bank has been an

important resource for small

businesses in the Seacoast Rewww.TheTownCommon.com

March 10, 2021

Community News

Successful Lower Merrimack Valley COVID-19

vaccine clinic held recently

Courtesy photos

Volunteers staff the check-in stations at Saturday's COVID-19 vaccination clinic

WEST NEWBURY —

Amesbury Fire Chief Ken

Berkenbush and West Newbury

Health Agent Paul

Sevigny, on behalf of the

nine-community Lower

Merrimack Valley Regional

Collaborative, report on another

successful COVID-19

vaccine clinic held recently.

The organizers and their municipal

government leaders

announced that the clinic

will continue, with approximately

3,000 more doses

allocated to this local, volunteer-driven

effort.

The most recent session,

a "second dose clinic" held

Saturday, March 6 at the Dr.

John C. Page School in West

Newbury, saw 346 people receive

a Moderna vaccine in

less than four hours. Those

vaccinated were a mixture of

75+ residents of the nine communities

and some remaining

first responders who had yet

to receive their second dose.

The successful session

comes on the heels of Governor

Charlie Baker's recent

announcement that the

Lower Merrimack Valley

Regional Collaborative Vaccine

Clinic will be allowed

to continue in an expanded

role. Approximately 3,000

new doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech

COVID-19 Vaccines

have been allocated

to the clinic, with plans to

run full-day weekend clinics

through March.

The expanded clinic sessions

are scheduled to be held

at Amesbury High School

moving forward, with additional

sites being utilized in

the region as needed.

"We are extraordinarily

grateful to Governor Baker

and the Department of

Public Health for recognizing

and rewarding a true

example of both municipal

government efficiency and

the spirit of volunteerism,"

Chief Berkenbush said.

“Our communities have

proven that we can run efficient

and successful vaccine

clinics here, said Amesbury

Mayor Kassandra Gove.

"I’m grateful that the State

has recognized our efforts

and will continue to provide

the vaccine to us. Amesbury

has been working with many

of these communities closely

since the start of the pandemic,

and it feels right that

we should be able to continue

our collaboration and be

able to provide the vaccine

to our residents directly.”

Saturday's clinic finished

the group's first round of

vaccine doses on an extraordinarily

efficient note: With

32 vials and 320 expected

doses, clinic officials drew

346 doses and did not waste

a single syringe.

In six clinic sessions during

the past eight weeks, the

Lower Merrimack Valley

Vaccine Clinic has wasted

zero doses and boasts

103 percent usage rate of

the allocated doses in partnership

with the pharmacy

team from Beverly Hospital,

whose skills resulted made

this utilization level possible.

"We are so pleased to be

designated as a regional site

to provide vaccines in the

Merrimack Valley to provide

greater access to residents in

this area of the state," said

Newburyport Mayor Donna

Holaday. "Our community

collaborative has worked very

Clinical volunteers staff the eight vaccination stations set up at Saturday's

Lower Merrimack Valley Vaccine Clinic session in West Newbury.

well in vaccinating our First

Responders and we look forward

to receiving increased

doses to continue this effort.

I would like to thank Amesbury

for taking the lead role

and the many staff and volunteers

that are helping to

ensure a successful rollout of

this regional clinic.”

"This regional collaboration

draws from local capacity

built over many years,"

said West Newbury Town

Manager Angus Jennings.

"In supporting these clinics

as a continuing contributor

to the overall vaccination effort

in Massachusetts, Governor

Baker has recognized

the capabilities of our cities

and towns as among the

great strengths of our Commonwealth."

Additional details about

the expanded clinic sessions

will be announced in the

coming days.

The Lower Merrimack

Valley Regional Collaborative

comprises Amesbury,

Georgetown, Groveland,

Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport,

Rowley, Salisbury,

and West Newbury and will

also offer open appointments

on the state's vaccination

website.

Those eligible for a vaccination

can visit: https://www.

mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine

Residents can also search for

a vaccination location near

by them by visiting: https://

www.mass.gov/info-details/

covid-19-vaccination-locations#find-a-location-usingthe-zip-code-search-

and entering

a zip code.

As always, seniors in the

nine communities should

contact their local council

on aging for appointment

assistance.


from page 9

via a new mobile-responsive

platform

• Streamlined account creation

• Electronic signature capture

• Organization accounts

management

• Reporting requirements

front-loaded for easier navigation

• Improved document upload

functionality

• Streamlined negative data

reporting

• Enhanced copy report

functionality

• Modified bulk upload capabilities

To see a list of plants, endangered,

threatened, and special

concern species included in

the Massachusetts Endangered

Species Act visit: https://www.

mass.gov/info-details/list-ofendangered-threatened-andspecial-concern-species

Reports made through Heritage

Hub help MassWildlife’s

Natural Heritage and Endangered

Species Program protect

rare animals and plants across

Massachusetts. The Heritage

Hub was built in collaboration

with the Office of Energy

& Environmental Affairs IT

department.

Newburyport

Bank Continues

Support of Local

Businesses with

Nearly $107

Million in PPP

Loans


page 11

March 10, 2021


Community News


from page 10

gion by being a major provider

of SBA PPP (Payroll

Protection Program) loans.

Through rounds 1 and 2 of

the loan program, the Bank

has made 899 loans totaling

nearly $107 million.

“We’ve been meeting the

needs of businesses in the Seacoast

community through all

economic conditions since we

opened in 1854,” said Lloyd

L. Hamm, President & CEO

of the Bank. “While the current

pandemic is certainly an

unprecedented event, so is

our response to it. We’re doing

everything in our power to

provide the vital funds necessary

for sustainability for local

business of all types. Regardless

of economic conditions,

we will always remain loyal

and responsive to the needs of

our communities.” Newburyport

Bank is a state-chartered

mutual savings bank headquartered

in Newburyport,

MA. The Bank was founded

in 1854 and currently has 11

locations in both Massachusetts

and New Hampshire,

and over $1 billion in assets.

Deposits at Newburyport

Bank are federally insured by

the Federal Deposit Insurance

Corporation (FDIC), with excess

insurance provided by the

Depositors Insurance Fund

(DIF). As the premier full-service

community bank in the

Greater Seacoast Region,

the Bank offers a complete

range of personal and business

products and services,

as well as the most advanced

technologies in online and

mobile banking. In addition

to its ongoing commitment

to the needs of the community,

in 2003, the Newburyport

Bank Charitable Foundation

was created to further carry

out the Bank’s long history of

community involvement by

providing grants to local nonprofit

organizations.

Groveland

Names Rebecca

Oldham Director

of Economic

Development,

Planning and

Conservation

GROVELAND -The Town

of Groveland has established

an Economic Development,

Planning and Conservation

Department, and named Rebecca

Oldham as its director.

The Board of Selectmen established

the department on

Jan. 19, which will provide

support services, general administration

and oversight

of the development and redevelopment

of land within

the Town of Groveland, including

but not limited to

planning, zoning, and conservation.

The department will

provide general interpretation

and administration of Zoning,

the Planning Board rules

and regulations, Section 8-19

Wetlands Protection of the

General Bylaw, and any other

relevant local ordinance as

well as all relevant state and

federal statutes relating to said

local bylaws.

Rebecca Oldham, who has

served as Groveland's Town

Planner since September

2018, was also appointed by

the Board of Selectmen as

the Director of the Economic

Development, Planning and

Conservation Department

on Feb. 1.

"I am really excited about

this new role," Director Rebecca

Oldham said. "My

mission is to provide a coordinated

and comprehensive

Photo courtesy of Town of Groveland

Rebecca Oldham has been appointed

as the first Director of Groveland's

newly established Economic Development,


Department.

approach to the town's land

use management, economic

development, and future objectives.

The Department will

provide technical planning

guidance and assistance and

enhance public outreach and

engagement. Groveland has


page 12

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March 10, 2021

Community News


from page 11

many assets and my goal is to

promote these strengths and

provide opportunity."

In her new role, Oldham

will direct long-range planning

and the updating of

the Town's Master Plan. She

will establish planning goals

and priorities and develop,

recommend and implement

policies and procedures in

conjunction with the Planning

Board. As Director of

the Economic Development,


Department she will additionally

solicit grants to

support planning-related activities,

develop the department's

operating and capital

budget, employ and supervise

full or part-time staff as

needed and assess the performance

of such personnel,

and participate in regional

and statewide planning efforts

through work with the

Merrimack Valley Planning

Commission and other agencies.

The department works

directly with the Planning

Board, Zoning Board, Conservation

Commission,

Community Preservation

Committee, Elm Square

Committee and Open Space

and Trail Committee. As

Director of Economic Development,

Planning and

Conservation, Oldham will

work to increase efficiency,

enhance communication,

and streamline efforts of the

above groups.

Oldham will report to the

Board of Selectmen, and will

be responsible for various

duties including reviewing

development proposals for

the Planning Board, Zoning

Board of Appeals and Conservation

Commission as

well as performing planning

studies related to zoning issues

and meeting with developers

and citizens regarding

development issues.

She will also provide support

services and direction to

the Conservation Commission

for the management of

Veasey Memorial Park, and

will oversee all personnel of

Veasey Memorial Park.

"Rebecca is a tremendous

asset to the Town of Groveland,

and has been the driving

force behind several significant

initiatives over the

past two years," Financial

Director Kevin Paicos said.

"She has secured multiple

grant awards to allow the

town to better plan for its

future and implement needed

improvements. We're

confident she will thrive in

this new role and that this

marks the beginning of a

great chapter for the community

and planning for the

future of the town."

Over the past two years,

Oldham has helped the

Town of Groveland receive

several grant awards, most

recently a $29,590 grant

from the Massachusetts Department

of Transportation

(MassDOT) to fund efforts

to improve pedestrian and

bicycle safety near the Bagnall

Elementary School.

Oldham was also a driving

force behind the town's

Municipal Vulnerability

Preparedness Community

Designation for its efforts to

prepare for climate change

and extreme weather events.

She wrote the grant application

for which the town

was awarded $25,000 by the

state to conduct a resiliency

report and community resiliency

building workshop to

support efforts to obtain the

MVP designation.

She also spearheaded the

town's applications for Massachusetts

Downtown Initiative

Technical Assistance

Program awards. As a result

of her efforts the town was

awarded $15,000 in 2020

and $15,000 in 2019 to support

efforts to study and revitalize

the Elm Square area.

Oldham also helped the

town obtain a $10,000 Municipal

Americans with Disabilities

Act Grant from the

Massachusetts Office of Disabilities

in March 2020 to

improve access for persons

with disabilities in all townowned

facilities.

Prior to joining the Town

of Groveland as its first Town

Planner, Oldham previously

served as the senior planner

for Methuen, where she was

involved with the construction

of the city's rail trail,

obtaining a Green Communities

Designation and the

development of a Complete

Streets policy. She also previously

served as the community

development program

coordinator for Methuen and

staff planner for North Andover.

She holds a bachelor's degree

in political science and

a master's degree in public

administration, state and local

government. Both degrees

are from Suffolk University.

Pre Listing Inspection

By John McCarthy, Rowley Realty

I recently had a birthday, and

when I was asked what I wanted

I said, “Nothing, I have all I want

and I really don’t want…a surprise

party”. My mother recently told

me “no surprises for my birthday

either!” Nobody seems to appreciate

surprises anymore, myself

included. Sellers are no different

when it comes to surprises. A

homeowner is never happy when

I call after a home inspection and

surprise them with “overall it went

well, but the hot water heater is

leaking” or “the home inspector

found evidence of termites” …

Surprise!

One way to combat these surprises

is to hire a professional

home inspector to perform a presale

or pre-listing inspection.

You may be thinking, Isn’t the

inspection something a buyer

does, why should I pay for my

own home inspection? You should

have one done to detect and remedy

issues that may be raised by the

buyer’s inspector to avoid surprises.

Anything your inspector finds

can be fixed or disclosed prior to

a buyer’s home inspection and prior

to an offer being made. Most

importantly you can avoid every

seller’s nightmare: a deal that falls

through after a home inspection

due to unexpected problems.

Once a buyer does a home inspection,

often times they will ask

the seller to make repairs or give

them a monetary credit. If you

have your own inspection prior

to putting your home on the market,

you can make the repairs on

your terms and find your contractor.

Many times a buyer will walk

away from a deal because there

“are just too many issues”. These

issues may not be big ones, but the

volume of them can turn a buyer

off. If you detect these issues prior

to putting your home on the market

and fix them, then this is less

likely to happen. Even items that

are cosmetic can be identified by a

home inspector and fixed prior to

listing your home.

If you choose not to make all

the repairs, a buyer is going to be

impressed that you took the time

and money to do an inspection.

By spending the money and having

an inspection you indicate

to a buyer that you are serious

about selling and are genuinely

concerned about the condition

of your home. An inspection that

shows no major issues will also impress

a buyer. Buyers will still most

likely want to do their own home

inspection. You aren’t having this

presale inspection to prevent the

buyer from having their own, but

to head off any unexpected issues

that come up in the buyer’s inspection.

Please know that a home inspector

is going to find something.

Even in the most meticulously

cared for home something

that needs to be remedied will be

uncovered. The key is not to take

it personally, and simply use the

information to make repairs or to

simply disclose the issue. Sellers

can rest easy knowing that when

the time comes, the buyer’s inspector

will not find any surprises.

By having a pre-sale home inspection,

you eliminate the surprise

out of the selling process, and that

is something everyone can appreciate.

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

March 10, 2021


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ARIES ARIES (March (March 21 21 to to April April 19) 19) Consider

moving beyond the usual methods

You

might be a bit shaken by a friend’s

request. But before the Lamb leaps to

to

conclusions,

find a more

insist

creative

on a

means

full explanation.

You a difficult still might on-the-job say no, but situation.

least

of handling

Avoid you’ll confrontation know what you’re and, saying instead, no aim to.

for TAURUS cooperation. (April 20 to May 20)

Seeing TAURUS red (April over those 20 to nasty May 20) remarks Seasonal

by someone change creates with an a new ax to look grind? for the Of

outdoors. course you It are. also So inspires get out Taureans there and to

redo

give

their

your

own

supporters

environments,

the facts

and this

they

is

need to get the truth out.

a good week to start redoing both your

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A

home changing and workplace. situation should Enjoy. get you to

reassess GEMINI your (May vacation 21 to plans June and 20) make A

misunderstanding any adjustments needs as soon to as be possible. straightened

And out don’t so the fret wrong — the impression change most isn't

allowed likely will to stand. turn out If for necessary, the better. offer to

support CANCER the use (June of a 21 third to July party 22) to Don’t act as

an put impartial off dealing arbitrator. with any negative feelings

CANCER

that might

(June

be

21

left

to July

over

22)

from

A career

a

recent confrontation. The sooner all is

resolved,

change

the

offering

sooner

what

you can

you

move

want

forward

with and fewer responsibilities complications. could in-

in

money

volve LEO moving (July to 23 a new to August location. 22) Discuss Leos

this and with Leonas family might members feel before the urge making to

a redecorate decision. their dens, and that can turn

into LEO a good (July opportunity 23 to August to 22) strengthen Feeling

miffed family over ties by how putting you believe the whole you pride were

treated

to work

is

to

understandable.

make it happen.

But before

VIRGO (August 23 to September

you decide to "set things straight," make

22) Look for the most efficient way to

sure get the a job whole done thing quickly wasn't and just well. a misinterpretatioing

more time of the than facts. you need to make it

Tak-

look VIRGO more challenging (August 23 is to a short-sighted

move Showing you you might care regret makes later it on. easier

September

22)

to build trust and gain an advantage in

handling a delicate situation. What you

learn from this experience also will help

you understand yourself better.

LIBRA (September 23 23 to to October

22) Planning A pesky for problem the future should is fine, be especially

with if immediately you include so the you roles can that put family your

dealt

members time and may effort be into asked something to play. Don't more

be important. surprised Someone if some hidden from your emotions past

are

could

revealed

have significant

in the process.

news for you.

SCORPIO SCORPIO (October (October 23 23 to to November November

21) A workplace situation becomes a lot

21) Making choices highlights much

more bothersome than you’d expected.

of Be the careful week, not and to you be pulled have a into head all start that

here, anger. thanks Look to for your support ability among to grasp others

facts who of also a situation want to avoid and interpret trouble. them in

a clear-cut SAGITTARIUS manner. (November 22 to

December SAGITTARIUS 21) Cheer (November up, lonely 22 lovers, to

December wherever you 21) are. Carrying Just when a torch you thought can be

a you’d two-way been situation: deleted from It can Cupid’s either keep database,

the chubby cherub proves that’s

you tied to the past or help light your

just not so. Congratulations.

way to the future. The choice, as always,

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January

to be 19) yours. A casual relationship could

has

take CAPRICORN a more serious (December turn. Are you 22 ready to

January for it? Your 19) stars Your say you watchwords are. Paired this Sea

week Goats are: also "Focus." will find "Focus." a renewed "Focus." richness

Don't in their let relationships. yourself be distracted from

what AQUARIUS you set out (January to do. 20 There'll to February be

time 18) Meeting later to look a collaborator over other with possibilities.

new

ideas seems to be a dream come true.

But for both your sakes, be sure all your

legal AQUARIUS i’s are dotted (January and 20 t’s to are February crossed

18) before A workplace you start working opportunity together. might require

PISCES changes (February you're not 19 keen to March on making.

A romantic Discuss overture the plusses flatters and the minuses usu-

21)

with ally someone unflappable familiar Fish. with But the since situation

a sincere before you from-the-heart make a decision. gesture, go

it’s

ahead

PISCES

and

(February

enjoy it.

19

A

to

minor

March

health

20)

problem responds well to treatment.

Love and romance are strong in your aspect

this week. If you've already met the

BORN THIS WEEK: You have the

warm heart of a Taurean and the sensitivity

person, of a expect Gemini. your You relationship would make to

right

grow. a wonderful And if you're leader. still So go looking, ahead: odds Run

are for you'll office. soon be finding it.

BORN © 2020 THIS King WEEK: Features Synd., You approach Inc.

life in a wise and measured manner,

which gives you an edge in many areas.

(c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

King Features Weekly Service

May 11, 2020

PUZZLE

ANSWERS

March 10, 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

FREE APPRAISAL

Call 978-352-2234

WANTED TO BUY

Gold Scrap, Gold Coins,

Sterling Silver

U.S. Silver Coins pre-1965

.999 Silver Bars

U.S. Silver Dollars

Wartime Nickels 1942-1945

U.S. Clad Half Dollars 1965-1969

HOBBY SUPPLIES

Remote Controlled Vehicles

ESTES Rockets & Supplies,

Plastic & Wood Models / Supplies

Autos, Trucks, Planes, Ships,

X-Acto Sets, Paints & Much More

20 E Main St, Georgetown, MA

Hours:

Monday-Friday 10:30-6

Saturday 10:30-5

Sunday 12-5

Phone: 978-352-2234

The Town Common


SERVICES

AMERICAN HOME

IMPROVEMENT CARPENTRY

- Repairs & Additions. Interior/

Exterior Painting. Fully Insured.

30 years experience. Free Estimates.

Excellent Referrals. 978-465-2283

Gary’s Just Stuff MECHANICAL

ITEMS BOUGHT / SOLD &

Repaired! Generators, Outboards,

Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Tune

ups, etc., pick-up and delivery

available, Call Gary at (978) 376-

4214

PAINTING INTERIOR,

EXTERIOR, smoke and water

damage ceilings stain killed, repaired,

or replaced, carpentry interiorexterior

repairs, windows repaired and

replaced, gutters cleaned, repaired or

replaced, clean outs and clean ups of

all kinds. General masonry, all brick

work, chimney work, walkways, etc.

(cell) 978-376-4214, (home) 978-374-

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UPHOLSTERER NEEDED.

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Ipswich, MA 01938


Classified Ads

TILE INSTALLATION

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professional installation for new

construction and remodels: Kitchen

backsplash, Bathroom walls,

Showers/Bathtubs, All floors,

Fireplaces, etc. All types of tile.

Residential or Commercial. Offering

custom design ideas. Call today for

your free estimate: 978-484-2437

WALLPAPER REMOVAL

Professional wallpaper removal.

Residential or Commercial. Call today

for your free estimate: 978-484-2437

FOR SALE

Household goods, beds, chairs,

tables, dressers, desks, lamps,

baskets, mirrors, trunks, porcelain,

bookcases, dish ware, decorative wall

shelving, medical equipment: walkers,

wheelchairs, ramp. Call Tim at 978-

312-6729 for details.

FOR SALE:

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RTE 1 ANTIQUES ANNUAL SALE

March 1-15

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106 Lafayette Road

Hampton Falls, NH

603-601-2554

978-465-5831

ADDRESS TOWN TYPE BED BATHS DOM LIST SALE

6 Democracy Dr Amesbury, MA Detached 4 2 46 $425,000 $416,000

35 North St Georgetown, MA Detached 4 2 96 $425,000 $420,000

14 Linebrook Rd Ipswich, MA Detached 3 2 21 $429,000 $477,500

235 Main St Rowley, MA Detached 3 1 13 $475,000 $550,000

2 Kimball Rd Amesbury, MA Detached 4 3 15 $479,900 $480,000

84 High St Ipswich, MA Detached 3 2 16 $495,000 $615,000

32 Childs Ave Amesbury, MA Detached 4 2 14 $499,000 $538,000

18 Cannon Hill Ave Groveland, MA Detached 3 3 13 $510,000 $535,000

14 Nancy Ann Ln Merrimac, MA Detached 3 3 18 $524,900 $524,900

29 Merrill St Newburyport, MA Attached 3 2 15 $550,000 $580,000

32 Newbury Rd Ipswich, MA Detached 4 2 16 $600,000 $710,000

6 Doyle Dr Newburyport, MA Detached 3 3 14 $629,900 $629,900

Lot 7 Billis Way Groveland, MA Detached 3 4 22 $719,900 $726,000

5 Doyle Dr Newburyport, MA Detached 4 3 47 $749,900 $764,900

6 River Meadow Dr West Newbury, MA Detached 4 3 22 $770,000 $810,000

198 Country Club Way Ipswich, MA Detached 3 3 21 $825,000 $850,000

8 Abraham's Way U:Lot 5 Ipswich, MA Detached 4 3 10 $829,900 $910,105

1 Boyd Dr Newburyport, MA Detached 4 3 101 $899,999 $875,000

65 Haverhill Rd Topsfield, MA Detached 4 3 10 $935,000 $982,500

24-A Balmoral Rd Boxford, MA : East Boxford Detached 4 4 83 $939,000 $930,000

85 Hill Street Topsfield, MA Detached 4 4 338 $1,145,000 $1,100,000

Classified Ad Form

Circle A Category

• For Sale

• Wanted

• Services

• Free

• Child Care Needed/Avail.

• Rental Auto

• Boat

• Help Wanted

• Animals

• Rental

• Yard Sale

• Other ____________________

1. ____________ 2. ____________

3. ____________ 4. ____________

5. ____________ 6. ____________

7. ____________ 8. ____________

9. ____________ 10. ___________

11. ___________ 12. ___________

13. ___________ 14. ___________

15. ___________ 16. ___________

17. ___________ 18. ___________

19. ___________ 20. ___________

Name: ______________________

Address: ____________________

Town: _______________________

State/Zip: ___________________

Tel: _________________________

Nr. issues or Dates: _________

How to

Place an ad

Options:

1. TEXT Greg at

978-618-9453

2. E-MAIL Greg at

greg@thetowncommon.

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3. FILL OUT this form

and mail it in.

Questions?

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will call back shortly.

Cost per

20 word ad

1 - 3 weeks ............$10

4 weeks ..............$7.50

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Contact Greg for details

Email: ___________________

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Expiration Date: ____/____

Mail To: The Town Common, P.O. Box 2, Rowley, MA 01969

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