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Friday, September 21, 2018
Schools’ admission fee policy to stand through Oct. 10 By Christopher Roberson
and that your staff is treated fairly,” he said. Bua also said the McVannhe School Committee recently voted 4-1 to O’Keefe Skating Rink was hit extend the current admis- especially hard last year. He sion fee policies for sport- said the rink has an equity ing events as well as theatri- clause, which states that if free cal and musical performanc- admission is available to Peaes. The policy, as it stands, al- body students, free admission lows free admission for stu- should be available to everydents enrolled in the Peabody one else. “They didn’t collect any of the revenue for any of Public Schools. Athletics Director Robert the Peabody games last year,” Bua and Performing Arts Di- he said. School Committee Memrector Jon Simmons reported some loopholes in the ber John Olimpio said he atpolicies during the commit- tended the Sept. 7 football tee’s meeting on Sept. 11. Bua game and observed a female said that during the past two student from another district years, the Athletic Depart- trying to get in for free. “I was ment has lost approximately really amused by what she $10,000 in admission fees. He was trying to do,” he said, addsaid this was primarily caused ing that she was ultimately by students from other school turned away without incident. School Committee Chairdistricts successfully getting into games without paying man, Ex-Officio, Mayor Edfor admission. “Their friends ward Bettencourt said that from Peabody have told them in the scheme of things, the what to say so they can get in,” School Department can withstand the $10,000 loss in adsaid Bua. He has instructed the tick- mission fees. “I would rather et collectors not to engage in lose that little extra money,” arguments with students over he said. “We make up for it in school spirit, and we do genwhere they go to school. In response, School Com- erate some goodwill.” Speaking about the Permittee Member Jarrod Hochman said protections should forming Arts, Simmons said be in place for Bua’s staff. “We his department hosts conneed to maybe work harder certs and fundraisers as well on the procedure to ensure | SEE PAGE 7 that your staff isn’t abused
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(EARLY) SEASON’S GREETINGS: Susie Turner of Christmas On The River is shown with some of her many handmade crafts on sale at the International Festival on Main Street in Peabody on Sunday, September 16. See more photo highlights on page 4. (Advocate photo by Laura Jolly)
City turns page to next chapter By Christopher Roberson
She said there are now a series of Pop-Up Pubs every year, with City officials recently met with each one drawing at least 800 real estate developers and busi- North Shore residents to Peaness owners at City Hall to pres- body Square. Councillor-at-Large David ent Peabody’s Next Chapter, an update on the city’s “plans and Gravel spoke about the city’s potential for additional growth.” age-old problem of flooding
That was when Mayor Edward Bettencourt came forward with a better idea. Gravel said Bettencourt’s proposal included cleaning the culverts on a regular basis, repairing broken culverts and implementing a Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan.
ADMISSION
Lady Tanners Soccer shutout Magicians Curt Bellvance
David Gravel
Kenneth Goode
Community Development Director
Councillor-at-Large
Sr. VP. Business Development at MassDevelopment
During the Sept. 13 presentation, Deanne Healey, president of Peabody Main Streets, said that four years ago, foot traffic in downtown Peabody was negligible at best. “There was no reason to come downtown,” she said. “Even if you did, there was no place to park.” Healey said one of the ways her organization responded was to host its first Pop-Up Pub. “We were pretty happy to get 35 people to come out on a Saturday night and hang out on the sidewalk,” she said.
during rainstorms. “The elephant in the room is always the flooding,” he said. Gravel said that although Peabody is not below sea level, the convergence of three rivers, culverts not being maintained and the narrowing of the North River have collectively made the city susceptible to flooding. He said the Army Corps of Engineers suggested installing additional infrastructure to release the water back into the ocean. However, such an endeavor would cost between “$35 million and $40 million.”
Since then, Gravel said, the flooding has been reduced as well as the media attention it used to attract. “We no longer see Channel 5, Channel 7 or Fox News in downtown Peabody – they’re gone,” he said. Community Development Director Curt Bellavance said his office has been working with Jacobs Engineering to develop an action plan to establish trolley service downtown. “We’ll be implementing that, hopefully,
NEXT CHAPTER | SEE PAGE 7
Lady Tanners celebrate a first-half goal against Marblehead on Monday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Playing solid defense and taking advantage of their opportunities on the offensive end, the team took home an important 2-0 Northeastern Conference victory over the Magicians. See story and photos on page 8. (Advocate photos by Greg Phipps)