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Annual Summer Concert Series a hit at Leather City Common
978-777-6397
City Council enforces Higgins traffic policy By Christopher Roberson
the Police Department’s recommendations. oing into the 2018-2019 “I have heard from parents school year, parents of who drop off their children at students at Higgins Middle the Higgins that there have School will face significant been traffic issues,” he said. “I fines should they drop their think that the School Departchildren off outside of the ment and police handled this school’s designated zone. issue appropriately to ensure In a May 23 email to City that traffic runs safely and Clerk Timothy Spanos, Police smoothly.” Capt. Scott Richards said parSchool Committee Member ents “continuously disregard Joseph Amico reinforced that the traffic pattern and drop- “student safety is paramount.” off zone rules.” “The City Council, School He said that instead, parents Committee, School Departhave stopped in the middle ment and police and fire all of the school’s driveway to let work as a team to insure stutheir children out. dents, staff and visitors are “As a result, the kids are safe,” he said. “Traffic patterns running between cars to get and rules are part of the Safeto the school and it is only a ty Plan.” matter of time before a child School Committee Member is struck,” said Richards. Beverley Griffin-Dunne said However, without a traffic she was“very pleased”that the ordinance from the City Coun- council passed the ordinance. cil, Richards said his officers “It had to be done,” she said. could only “verbally admon- “The potential for serious ish folks.” harm is very real when peo“That simply does not work,” ple refuse to follow the traffic he said. rules at our schools.” Therefore, the council Although there are relativeamended Section 19-36 of ly few parents who do not adthe city’s Motor Vehicle and here to the traffic policy, she Traffic Code to read: “It shall said action from the councilbe unlawful for the driver of lors was still warranted. any vehicle, except on signal “For the most part, the mafrom a police officer or in ac- jority of drivers follow the trafcordance with posted regula- fic patterns at each school, but tion(s), to drive same over or there are a few drivers who through a safety zone.” continually refuse to follow Anyone caught in violation the rules,” said Griffin-Dunne. of the new ordinance will be “These people endanger nufined $50 for a first offense, merous students as well as $100 for a second offense and staff and police when they ig$150 for a third offense. nore the safety zone rules. In “A sliding scale is a good many cases these drivers igway to go about it,” said Police nore the directions of the poChief Thomas Griffin. lice time and time again – Although the penalties are they feel the rules don’t apply large enough to get parents’ to them.” attention, he said an infracShe also said the fines will tion could not be reported to serve as a solid deterrent. the Registry of Motor Vehicles “Putting additional teeth as it would stem from a city or- into the ordinance will, hopedinance. fully, ensure that people drive Griffin said the school’s traf- on school property in a safe fic policy was initially imple- manner,” said Griffin-Dunne, mented last fall without get- adding that the speed limit ting the council involved. is five miles per hour at every “Originally, people cooper- school. “It’s frustrating that ated 100 percent, then they problems at Higgins reached started to deviate,” he said. the point where the police Councillor-at-Large Ryan needed to request these Melville said he agreed with fines.”
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Shown enjoying the latest installment of Peabody’s Annual Summer Concert Series at the Leather City Common on July 29 are, from left to right, Nancy Charest, Samantha Charest and Kristy Santa Anna. The event was headlined by Lisa Love and her band, the Lisa Love Experience. See more photo highlights on page 7.
N.H. restaurateurs bringing hop + grind to Northshore Mall
Jessica DeMarco
Robert Buivid
Robert Marcotte
By Christopher Roberson
go for aspirations in their own lives,” said Buivid. Buivid said hop + grind is expected to open late this fall next to Bancroft & Co. and Caffè Nero. “We’re passionate about finding needs within a community, and when we looked around the North Shore, we thought an experience-driven craft burger and beer joint was a great fit,” he said. “We listen to our guts, they don’t lie. The North Shore just feels right for
our next evolution.” He also said Jessica DeMarco of Middleton was chosen to manage the new Peabody location. Yet, Buivid and Marcotte are hardly desk generals. “We believe in being immersed in our concepts, as such you’ll find Bobby and I cooking, running food and infinitely high-fiving our guests and team,” he said. Buivid said the idea for hop +
L
ess than a year after establishing the hop + grind restaurant in Durham, N.H., owners Robert Buivid and Robert Marcotte decided to expand their operation to Peabody with plans to open a second location at the Northshore Mall. “Hopefully, seeing the Northshore Mall location come to life from start to finish will inspire people to take risks and
RESTAURATEURS | SEE PAGE 10
Friday, August 3, 2018