FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2021
VOL. 134, NO. 13
PRICE: $1.25
CRUISING WITH THE CLUB T
he Manchester Club’s 115th Anniversary Cruise Saturday aboard the Beauport Princess was a night to remember. Open bar, great music, and a delectable feast, with a picture-perfect summer evening as a topper. And this past weekend, the fraternal organization’s gala included the plus ones, the women who are not typically a part of its monthly culinary meetings at the American Legion. It was a night of dancing, and allaround joviality, organized perfectly by the club’s executive board and led by Craige McCoy and Bob Ryan). The Club, founded in 1905, to enroll “75 of the best men in town,” according to its original announcement in the Cricket to get together regularly at space in the old “Pulsifer Block” on Union Street to play billiards, eat together and steer clera of “the influence of the grog shop.” Oh my. Back to Saturday’s fete, at left, Bill Dodge, Sheila Logue, Tim Logue, Sally Scott, Connie McNulty and Ray McNulty were among the 175 onboard for the fun. See photos and a write up, Page 3.
BRIEFLY
Local BOH Update for COVID Cases: August 18 Report The Manchester Essex Rotary Despite rises in the Delta variant, weekly COVID levels have remained relatively stable in both Manchester and Essex. That said, the two local Boards of Health reported this week that the town of Manchester has 258 residents who tested positive for COVID-19, with five categorized by the town as “active.” That’s pretty much the same as last month when there were 241 positives, and no active cases. In Essex, Health Administrator Erin Kirchner reports a similar picture of the town’s COVID numbers. They stand at 204 overall total, 116 so far year to date, and six currently active cases. Kirchner attributes this to a high overall town vaccine rate, with more than 75 percent of Essex residents age 12+ who have received at least one dose. Manchester’s vaccination rate is also high, with more than 80 percent. Great job for us locals. Stay vigilant.
Art In The Park: It’s Here! After an enthusiastic run up of support, the Friends of Manchester Essex Performing Arts, devoted to supporting the Performing Arts in the Manchester Essex Regional School District, is hosting “Performing Arts in the Park”, to be held at Masconomo Park on Tuesday, August 24, from 6 to 8 pm. This event will showcase some of the fine talent we have in our district’s student body. The group has been looking for students to perform at this event, so come down and enjoy music, some poetry, dance, and acting, some solo and some as an ensemble. Info in this week’s Scott Energy Bulletin, Page 4.
Manchester Affordable Housing Trust’s Pandemic Rent And Mortgage Support Continues Since 2020, the Manchester Affordable Housing Trust (MAHT), in collaboration with Action, Inc., a Gloucester-based human and social services agency, has been offering shelter-oriented financial support and homeowner mortgage assistance – to be combined in its program that offers short-term rental housing payment assistance – to income eligible Manchester residents in response to job and income loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic. That program continues. Consistent with its mission to support and promote community affordable housing, the MAHT is looking to assist income eligible residents who are experiencing housing rent and mortgage payment issues. The MAHT can and wants to help during this difficult and uncertain time. For further information please contact Action, Inc. at 978-2821000 or go to actioninc.org.
Lessons Learned and Priorities Moving Forward By Gregory T. Federspiel
T
he Selectmen met for their annual workshop this past Saturday, 8/14, during which they review how the past year or so has gone and identify new initiatives for the new Fiscal Year. These sessions allow for some self-reflection as well as thinking more strategically about the future. The past 18 months have been especially challenging. For weeks on end COVID and the Town’s responses to the pandemic dominated the Board’s time. We did amazingly well in the transition to remote work and meetings. Town services have continued without interruption despite all the changes the pandemic has imposed. Staff deserve high praise for their efforts. Getting up to speed and dealing with the initial round of the proposed 40B project on Upper School Street and the hours spent in negotiations with the developer in public was another unusual and timeconsuming effort. So, too, has been the question of how best to provide public safety dispatch services. While the latter should be decided within a couple of months we will have to see if the state allows the 40B project to move into hearings before the ZBA. We face many months of hearings if the project is allowed to proceed to the Comprehensive Permitting stage. Long, involved meetings on Zoom have at times tried everyone’s patience. But the virtual platform has allowed many more people to easily attend Board meetings and provide input. The Board is
committed to using the virtual platform even when they start meeting in person again. The Chairperson will continue to strive for that “sweet spot” of conducting efficient and crisp meetings while allowing time for public input from residents. Toward this end, going forward the Board often will be hosting hearings and other public forums separate from their regular meetings. The thought is to dedicate one Thursday evening a month to these types of meetings. And to better inform the public, agenda materials will be posted along with the actual agenda. There is a long list of projects that are in the works – the new floats at Tuck’s, water and sewer pipe replacements, the reconstruction of the dam and culvert on Central Street, determination of the status of the Water Resource Protection committee, the renovation of Sweeney Park to name a few. Many of these are well underway and are being managed by the appropriate department. The Selectmen also identified new initiatives
for the coming months. This includes: 1. Reviewing and expanding Community Policing efforts and Traffic Calming measures; 2. On-going COVID management coupled with Economic Recovery efforts for our local businesses; 3. Expanding our housing diversity/affordability; 4. Training Board and Committee members including creating a new Code of Conduct; 5. Deciding on where to build a new DPW facility; 6. Working on Climate Change resiliency and adaptation measures. In the months to come, you will hear much more about each of these initiatives as well as the usual slate of topics ranging from annual liquor license renewals to zoning amendments. Hopefully the coming months will not be quite as challenging as the past year and a half has been. No doubt there will be surprises that will pres-
Farmer’s Market Coupons for Manchester Seniors
M
anchester senior citizens are invited to participate in the Massachusetts Farmer’s market Coupon Program, hosted by SeniorCare, Inc. and the Manchester Council on Aging. This program is designed to provide an opportunity for older adults to shop at Farmer’s Markets, eat more locallygrown fresh vegetables and fruits, enjoy the health benefits and delicious flavor of fresh fruits and vegetables, and support local farmers. Income eligible seniors can receive $25 in coupons that can be used to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, cut herbs and unprocessed honey at the Cape Ann Farmer’s Market.
The Cape Ann Farmer’s Market is held on Thursdays from 3-6:30 p.m. at Harbor Loop in Gloucester. Coupons are available now in the Council on Aging office at Town Hall. Coupons are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. To qualify for this program: be at least 60 years of age, have a monthly income at or below $1,986 for a one-person household or $2,686 for a two-person household or participate in at least one of the following means-tested programs: food stamps/SNAP, fuel assistance/ low-income home energy assistance, MassHealth, Medicaid, transitional assistance, or emergency aid.
ent new challenges – there always are. But we adjust and keep working toward building the community we desire. As I recently commented at my mother’s funeral, I believe the over-arching arc of history is one toward a more just and equitable world, despite our shortcomings and the many setbacks along the way. Each of us has a role to play in mending the imperfections. Like Mom, we will be doing well by focusing on making our small corner of the world a better place. Her lesson is one that sustains me.
It’s In Person, Fulltime Back To School, With Masks
S
tudents will return to fulltime, in person schooling on September 1, and the Manchester Essex Regional School Committee met Tuesday and voted 6-1 to carry through the same mask mandate established last Spring when the district brought back in-person schooling. The move is consistent with CDC guidelines on universal masking for students in school, and offers the best environment to manage safety. The district made the recommendation after consulting local health teams in Essex and Manchester, as well as the school pediatrician Joanne Graves, MD and all three school nurses are onboard. Students will continue to use their MedBot app for daily monitoring of COVID symptoms. In another move adopted for safety, all schools will be equipped with rapid antigen test kits for students, teachers and staff. “The overarching goal is to keep kids in school,” said Sarah Wolf, School Committee member.
Weekly Weather Chart Saturday 21 Aug
72°
68°
Sunday 22 Aug
76°
68°
Monday 23 Aug
75°
70°
Tuesday 24 Aug
71°
63°
Wednesday 25 Aug
69°
63°
Thursday 26 Aug
67°
62°
Friday 27 Aug
67°
64°
Gavel to Gavel This Week’s Town Meetings Manchester Town Hall is Open to the Public: Masks and social distancing are required. Public hours are 9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. - 6:15 p.m. on Thursday. Essex Town Hall opened without restrictions on June 1. All board and committee
meetings continue to be conducted virtually. Details on thecricket.com MERSD SC Meeting Tuesday, August 17 6-8 p.m. Essex ConComm Tuesday, August 17 7:30 p.m.
IN THIS ISSUE Briefs...........................................................................1 MBTS Police Notes ...................................................2 Manchester Club Cruise ...........................................3 Library & Letters.......................................................4 At Home Now.............................................................7 Essex Echo..................................................................9 Real Estate............................................................6, 12