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Vol. 2, No. 24
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Friday, June 16, 2017
Bridgewell moves to Peabody By Melanie Higgins ridgewell, the organization that provides support services to people with disabilities and other challenges, has moved to Peabody. Newly located at 10 Dearborn Rd., the organization celebrated its move with a ribbon-cutting at its new location last week. Mayor Ted Bettencourt and other city officials joined in welcoming the new service. The organization offers affordable housing, autism services, day services, homeless services and recreational services, among others, primarily to people with intellectual, developmental and psychiatric disabilities. It helps those people “direct their own lives, achieve personal and professional success, and remain active participants in society,” according to a Bridgewell press release. Formerly operating in Lynnfield, the organization will employ approximately 100 people at its new location. It has locations all across Massachusetts and employs approximately 1,400 people statewide. The company moved in
cally and eat in our local resMore info about Bridgewell taurants. We are thrilled to c a n b e f o u n d a t w w w. have them here.” bridgewell.org.
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Mayor touts city’s affordability s he prepares to submit his Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal to the City Council on Thursday, Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. confirmed that Peabody will once again boast the lowest average residential property tax bill of any city in Essex County. “We continue to invest in areas that are vital to Peabody’s long-term growth and prosperity – as well as to the quality of life of our residents,” said Mayor Bettencourt. “And we continue to do so while maintaining the affordability which has long been our city’s calling card.” Indeed, despite overseeing several major infrastructure projects, including construction of the $93 million Higgins Middle School and nearly $6 million in downtown revitalization efforts, Mayor Bettencourt lauded Peabody’s financial strength. He pointed to the city’s healthy reserve of free cash, Aa1 Bond rating, excess levy capacity and its large and diverse tax base. Bettencourt noted that Peabody consistently ranks among the hottest real estate markets on the North Shore because of its well-earned reputation as an affordable place to raise a family. “Our residents have come to expect a level of municipal services which meet or exceed those of nearby cities and towns but with property tax bills that are on average hundreds and even thousands of dollars less than those communities,” said Mayor Bettencourt. “In terms of public safety, road and sidewalk maintenance, no-fee trash pickup, snowplowing, new parks, playgrounds and recreational venues, Peabody offers a tremendous value for homeowners.”
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Peabody Councillor-at-Large Dave Gravel (center) helps cut the banner signifying the company’s opening at its new Peabody headquarters. Left to right: State Senator Joan Lovely, Peabody Mayor Edward Bettencourt, Jr., Bridgewell Interim CEO & President Kelly Martin, David Gravel, Peabody Ward 4 Councillor Edward Charest and Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce 2nd Vice President Chris Feazel. (Courtesy photo)
order to consolidate and centralize its operations. “It’s always great when businesses move to Peabody,”Ward 4 Councillor Ed Charest, who was present at the ribbon-cutting, said in a phone call with The Advocate. “It shows that Peabody is the place to be to work and live.” He also praised the “great service” that the or-
ganization will provide. “Bridgewell’s consolidation and relocation of their offices to Peabody is a great win for the city,” Councillor-at-Large Dave Gravel said in an e-mail. “Not only do they employ a significant number of Peabody residents, but their presence will help improve our local economy as they shop lo-
City honors fallen firefighters at annual ceremony By Melanie Higgins ast Sunday morning friends, family and members of the Peabody Fire Department honored its fallen firefighters in the annual Firefighters Memorial. Gatherers attended the Cedar Grove Cemetery to pay respects
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and then returned to the headquarters for breakfast. According to Chief Steve Pasdon, the department honors the 10 firefighters who have fallen since Peabody was incorporated as a city. Pasdon, in a telephone interview with the Advocate, called the event
“solemn.” The department, in a statement, called the ceremony a “nice showing of active and retired members” and said that the ceremony “honored those who have gone before us.” Local dignitaries, including Mayor Ted Bettencourt and
Fire Chief Steven E. Pasdon (standing) and Captain John Hosman at the breakfast ceremony at Headquarters The Peabody Police Honor Guard
City Councillors Jon Turco, Pete McGinn, Jim Moutsoulas, Joel Saslaw, Tom Gould and Anne Manning-Martin and candidate for City Council Ryan Melville, attended the ceremony. Current and former Peabody firefighters led the procession and honored the fallen with a play-
ing of taps. Jim Rice, the last Peabody firefighter to fall in the line of duty in 2011, was notably on everyone's minds. Rice was honored just recently with the distinction of having the future new Middle School fields named after him.
Active firefighters march from the entrance of Cedar Pond Cemetery to the memorial site.