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OCTOBER 28, 2021<br />
WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 7<br />
City to accept state-recommended re-precincting<br />
BY SAM MINTON<br />
The maps that Peabody uses<br />
for voting are getting a (slight)<br />
update.<br />
The city’s re-precincting<br />
working group, under the oversight<br />
of City Clerk Allyson<br />
Danforth, presented the new<br />
map at the latest Committee of<br />
the Whole meeting on Monday<br />
and recommended that the city<br />
proceed with the same map that<br />
was prepared by the Secretary<br />
of the Commonwealth’s office.<br />
This new map will closely resemble<br />
the map that Peabody<br />
currently uses.<br />
The motion passed 10-0,<br />
with Ward 4 Councilor Ed Charest<br />
choosing to vote present.<br />
“As a ward councilor, again<br />
I feel it’s like you are asking me<br />
to vote for which child I’m going<br />
to give up,” he said during<br />
the meeting.<br />
Ward 4 and Ward 5 appear<br />
to be the most affected by the<br />
changes, with multiple neighborhood<br />
blocks changing their<br />
designations. Neighborhood<br />
areas by Peabody Veterans<br />
Memorial High school, as well<br />
as near McCarthy Elementary<br />
School, have been altered.<br />
The updated map is a routine<br />
event that takes place after the<br />
U.S. Census numbers are released;<br />
the city’s re-precincting<br />
working group was provided<br />
census numbers via the Secretary<br />
of the Commonwealth’s<br />
office, as well as working with<br />
estimated numbers that were<br />
provided by the Donohue Institute.<br />
According to census numbers<br />
provided by the Secretary<br />
of the Commonwealth, Peabody<br />
has a population totaling<br />
54,481. That is an increase of<br />
“upwards of 3,000” according<br />
to Owens, since the last census.<br />
Danforth, as well as the rest<br />
of the re-precincting group,<br />
were lauded and thanked for<br />
their hard work in creating the<br />
new map.<br />
There were some questions<br />
about the changes at Monday’s<br />
meeting, as rumors were reportedly<br />
circulating around multiple<br />
councilors getting crowded into<br />
the same ward under the new<br />
precinct map. Danforth said that<br />
is not the case.<br />
Charest added that he was<br />
also concerned about when the<br />
updated precincts would take<br />
effect, referencing the upcoming<br />
city elections on Nov. 2.<br />
Michael Owens, the re-precincting<br />
community engagement<br />
director for the Secretary<br />
of the Commonwealth’s office,<br />
explained that the new map for<br />
Peabody will not take effect until<br />
the next election.<br />
“When residents vote this<br />
November, they are voting for<br />
the current representation they<br />
have,” said Owens. “That will<br />
remain their representation until<br />
an election (occurs next).”<br />
For clarity’s sake, multiple<br />
councilors also took the time to<br />
ensure that fellow councilors, as<br />
well as constituents, knew that<br />
these changes would have no<br />
effect on the current election.<br />
When the changes do occur,<br />
there are plans to ensure that<br />
voters are aware of their new<br />
ward designation, should they<br />
have one. Owens stated that a<br />
list will be provided to the city<br />
with the names of the affected<br />
voters so the city can then inform<br />
them of their new ward or<br />
precinct.<br />
The melting-pot history of Peabody at 5 Little’s Lane<br />
FROM THE PEABODY<br />
HISTORICAL SOCIETY<br />
History is all around us.<br />
Today, tucked off Main Street,<br />
stands at 5 Little’s Lane. This<br />
brick building was originally<br />
part of the Eben Sutton Estate<br />
on Main Street. It was a carriage<br />
house and horse stable.<br />
Congregation Anshe Sfard,<br />
formed by recent Russian immigrants,<br />
purchased the property<br />
in 1913. It served as their<br />
shul (synagogue and school)<br />
for many years. As membership<br />
declined, Congregation<br />
Anshe Sfard combined with<br />
nearby Congregation Sons of<br />
Israel in 1978.<br />
Today in Peabody, there<br />
are four active synagogues<br />
and a Chabad house (a community<br />
center/place of worship).<br />
There are also various<br />
community organizations,<br />
including a Jewish nursing<br />
home and health complex<br />
on Lynnfield Street. Larry<br />
Levine's, located at 474 Lowell<br />
Street, is the only kosher<br />
meat and deli business north<br />
of Boston and south of Montreal,<br />
Canada.<br />
Peabody is truly a melting<br />
pot. From the first Jewish<br />
settlers in 1896 onward, each<br />
new group has added to the<br />
fabric of our city.<br />
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