Have a Happy Thanksgiving! ECRWSS PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
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PERMIT #67
Peabody, MA POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vol. 2, No. 47
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Wednesday, November 22, 2017
A memorable meal Peabody and Saugus senior high school players break bread at Lions Club dinner By Mark E. Vogler
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eabody Tanners’ Matthew Raposa – a linebacker and special teams player who won’t be starting in tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day rivalry game with Saugus High – shared center stage last Wednesday night at Prince Pizzeria with the Sachems’ star running back, Ricky Martinez. Raposa and Martinez – their team’s respective recipients of the “Heisman Trophy” – were among the seniors on both teams who sat down together for a special pre-Thanksgiving Day game meal for the 45th time. Peabody Tanners’ Coach Mark Bettencourt – naming a third string linebacker who plays mostly on special teams as his
team’s first-ever winner of the “Heisman Trophy” – was one of the highlights of the special event that’s been sponsored annually by the Saugus Lions Club. And this year, for the first time in many years, the Peabody Lions Club joined its Saugus counterparts in cosponsoring an event it plans to host next year. The pre-game meal has become almost as traditional as the rivalry game, which kicks off at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Stackpole Field on Summer Street in Saugus. The Tanners go into the game with a 5-5 season, aiming to finish off with a winning record. The Sachems hope to improve on their 4-6 record after a
MEAL | SEE PAGE 6
Tanners prepare for Turkey Day showdown against Saugus
LEADING THE WAY: Tanners Captains Cam Powers, Noah Freedman, and Eric DeMayo, ready to lead the way against Saugus.
By Greg Phipps This is the 72nd year of the traditional Thanksgiving Day high school football game between Peabody and Saugus, and Peabody head coach Mark Bettencourt said anything can happen on Turkey Day. At this year’s annual Peabody-Saugus Lions Club Football Banquet, Bettencourt said he expects both teams will bring their “A” game at Stackpole Field in Saugus on Thanksgiving morning – a scheduled 10 a.m. kickoff (af-
ter press deadline). “Throw the records out; it will be a great football game,” Bettencourt said. Senior co-captains Eric DeMayo, Cam Powers, Noah Freedman, Nolan Murphy and Dariel Canela lead the Tanners, who have won four of their last five games and just missed making it five in a row. They came up just short in a tough 26-20 overtime loss to 8-2 Lynn Classical two weeks ago.
TANNERS | SEE PAGE 3
2017 Saugus Lions Club Heisman Award winners Ricky Martinez of Saugus (second from left) and Matthew Raposa of Peabody (second from right) are shown holding their awards with SHS Football Head Varsity Coach Anthony Nalen (left) and PHS Football Head Varsity Coach Mark Bettencourt at the Lions Club dinner. (Advocate photo by Ross Scabin)
Murtagh gets a super promotion By Christopher Roberson
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ssistant Superintendent of Schools Cara Murtagh beat out four other finalists, three of whom have doctorates, to receive a unanimous vote from the School Committee to enter contract negotiations to become the district’s next superintendent. During the committee’s Nov. 14 meeting, Member Beverley Ann Griffin Dunne said hiring Murtagh will provide the district with a “seamless transition.” Griffin Dunne also spoke about Murtagh’s “immeasurable” dedication to public education in Peabody. “We all know Ms. Murtagh works 28 hours a day,” she said. “She has dealt with some very difficult situations that our system has gone through – she has learned under fire.” In a follow-up interview, Member Jarrod Hochman explained why he favored Murtagh. “There’s a lot that impresses me about Cara,” he said, adding that she consistently invites colleagues to assist her with projects. “There’s so many positives with her hire.” Hochman also said it is beneficial to already have Murtagh in the district. “She’ll hit the
Cara Murtagh Superintendent
ground running seven or eight months before she even takes the position,” he said. Member Joseph Amico said he made his decision before the committee even interviewed the final three candidates on Nov. 13. “After the first round of interviews, I made up my mind – I was ready to select her as superintendent,” he said. “Ms. Murtagh has the knowledge, compassion and work ethic to lead our district for many years to come. She knows the kids, the families, the system and the staff. This gives her an advantage to keep the momentum going.” Amico said that since 2015, additional adjustment counsel-
ors have been hired; the Guidance Department has been restructured and a one-to-one Chromebook program was launched at the new $90 million Higgins Middle School. “Cara Murtagh has been a big part of these system-wide upgrades and many more,” said Amico. He said the next challenge going forward will be finding a new assistant superintendent. “A huge decision will be who will replace her in her current role – she is such a dedicated assistant superintendent,” said Amico. “Most districts, if not all our size, have two assistant superintendents. At some point, I would like Peabody to make this upgrade as well.” Prior to becoming the assistant superintendent in 2012, Murtagh had been an elementary school principal in Peabody. During her tenure, Murtagh served as the district’s homeschooling coordinator and the coordinator for MCAS testing. Murtagh has also been responsible for Title I grant writing and supervising math and literacy specialists under Title I. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree from Emmanuel College. Murtagh is expected to begin her new position on July 1, 2018.