FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021
VOL. 134, NO. 20
BRIEFLY
Local BOH Update for COVID Cases: Oct. 6 Report
PRICE: $1.25
In The Hornets Nest
Local Boards of Health reported this week that the town of Manchester has 277 residents who tested positive for COVID-19 since the town began tracking in March, 2020. Five are categorized as “active.” In Essex, Health Administrator Erin Kirchner reports 237 overall positives, 145 so far year to date, and five active cases. Vaccination rates in both town are strong. 72 percent of Essex residents over age 12 are fully vaxed. In Manchester, that number is more than 80 percent. Masks continue to be mandated by order of the MBTS Board of Selectmen for all buildings with public access (businesses, government buildings, schools). In Essex, masks are highly recommended in businesses, and required in all government buildings (Town Hall, Post Office, schools, etc.) Stay vigilant.
MBTS Chowder House Reservations Open For Summer 2022 Beginning at 5 p.m. Oct. 21 at Manchester Town Hall, summer reservations for the Chowder House at Tuck’s Point will open. As usual, it will be a lottery system. Manchester residents may show up no earlier than 4 p.m., and when the process opens they will be added to a list in the order in which they arrive. For details, contact the MBTS Parks & Recreation Department.
This Weekend, Clean Out Your Closets For Class of 2022 Thrifting Sale Every year, the ME High School graduating class schedules a big fundraiser for its prom and senior trip. Typically, it’s an auction. This year, the Class of 2022 got really creative and is putting on a community Show Up And Shop sale of gently worn fashion and accessories, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 at the high school, weather permitting. And the seniors are currently collecting your cast offs! Clean out your closets, pack up your items and a senior will come to your home and take them away! All for a great cause, and unsold items will be donated to Beverly Bootstraps. To schedule a pick up, email showupandshop@gmail.com. Oh yes, and the class also plans an auction.
Flu Vaccine Clinic In Essex
Earlier this week, Manchester held a public flu vaccine even. Next week it’s moving to Essex, where the Board of Health’s flu clinic scheduled for Saturday, October 16 at the Public Safety Building. Details on the town’s website or by calling Parks & Rec at (978) 526-2019.
Timeline Cape Ann: The Brothers Booth
Kory Curcuru is back with his history series, Timeline Cape Ann. This time, he tackles the unique Manchester story of the thespian Booth brothers, specifically Junius Brutus Booth, Jr. and his hotel, The Masconomo House, the 103-room grand (and grandly successul) establishment overlooking Singing Beach, built 12 years after his brother, John Wilkes Booth, assasinated President Abraham Lincoln. The Cricket partners with 1623 Studios for this feature. Page 5.
Manchester Essex netted 4 goals (Amy Vytopilova, Elsa Wood, Caroline MacKinnon, and Torrin Kirk) against the Georgetown Royals. Captain Amy Vytopilova played an incredible game and helped the hornets control the game. In a big match up against (formerly undefeated) Triton, the Hornets worked as a team to end their win streak and dominate possession. The first goal was scored by Amy Vytopilova off a corner shot, and in the third and fourth quarter Torrin Kirk and Ava Magnuson sealed the deal. A notable mention for Torrin Kirk and her work on the team’s defensive press, as well as Phileine DeWidt, Helaina Davis, Hadley Levendusky and Calista Lai for their solid defending on Triton’s quick transitions. On Friday, the MIAA released the D4 State Power Ratings and the Hornets are proud to be ranked at Number Two. The team faces Rockport and North Reading away this week.
Boys Soccer ME Hornet AJ Pallazola returns a punt for 44 yards in Friday’s 43-14 win over Cathedral high.
Football
Saturday afternoon, September 25 had the gridiron Hornets taking on the Lynn Tech Tigers at Manning Stadium in Lynn. The Hornets came out firing with a seven-play opening drive which ended with a 10-yd touchdown run by junior Jesse Oliver. Lynn Tech showed tremendous grit and scored back-to-back touchdowns to take the lead early in the second
quarter. But the Hornets we able to respond and scored two unanswered touchdowns to close out the half with a 1916 lead thanks to some great quarterback play by junior Brennan Twombly and remarkable performances by wide receivers sophomore Henry Thurlow and senior AJ Pallazola. The Hornets were able to subdue the Lynn Tech ground attack in the second half with great, tough
team play by the defensive line and linebackers who really excelled against a big and tough group from Lynn Tech. The play of the day was a 55-yard punt return for a touchdown from Pallazola, his second special teams’ touchdown in as many games and his eighth touchdown over all. The Hornets held on for a 32-22 victory to improve to 3-0 on the season. The JV Hornets also won
Photo: Mark DiPasquale
their game last Monday vs. Nashoba Valley Tech’s JV squad. The emergence of key freshman and sophomore leaders bodes well for the future of the football program as the JV Hornets improve to 2-0 with two convincing wins against Shawsheen and Nashoba Tech.
Field Hockey
Last week, Field Hockey won both games, Georgetown (4-1) and Triton (3-1).
It was a phenomenal week for the Manchester Essex boy’s soccer team with a 2 – 1 win over Burke and 8 – 0 win over Triton to bring their overall record to 6-3. On Wednesday afternoon the boys headed into Dorchester to play last year’s Division III State Finalists Burke. After two hours of traffic and an abbreviated warm-up, the Hornets somehow came out possessing the ball extremely well and creating some chances early. Burke’s goalkeeper was solid and Burke defended well early. ...(Continued on page 6)
Town Administrator’s Report
40B Project Enters Permitting Phase
By Gregory T. Federspiel
O
n September 27, Strategic Land Ventures (SLV) filed its application with the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a comprehensive permit for a proposed 136unit apartment complex on Upper School Street on property across from Atwater Avenue known as Shingle Hill. The ZBA has scheduled their first public hearing on the project for October 26, within the required 30 days of receiving the application. The hearing will be held virtually over Zoom. The link can be found on the agenda posting for the meeting in the calendar section of the Town’s website. As a 40B project, the applicant is proposing to deed restrict 34 units (25 percent) as permanently affordable per state guidelines and seeks waivers from our local zoning and wetland regulations to construct the project. The Board of Selectmen, after months of negotiations with the applicant in an unsuccessful attempt to agree on a so called “friendly” 40B project, submitted a list of significant concerns they have along with concerns expressed by other groups about the proposed project to MassHousing. Despite our request to the contrary, MassHousing
issued a project eligibility letter to the applicant, allowing the project to move forward with an application to the ZBA. MassHousing, in their project eligibility letter, requested that the applicant address the concerns raised as they present the project to the ZBA. In essence, MassHousing punted the project to the ZBA leaving it up to the comprehensive permitting process to work through the concerns. The ZBA has six months to complete its review of the project unless the applicant agrees to an extension. During the six-month period, numerous public hearings will be held by the ZBA. The Town has applied for technical assistance from MassHousing Partnership to provide guidance to the ZBA as they go through the permitting process. A specialist well versed in the 40B comprehensive permitting details will be assigned to the ZBA. Town Counsel will also help the ZBA navigate this new to them permitting process. The process will include hiring, at the applicant’s expense, various professionals who will review the applicant’s submittals regarding concerns such as traffic and public safety access, environmental impacts, including storm-
water runoff management and the adequacy of onsite wastewater disposal, and financial feasibility. The peer reviewers will Float winners of the 375th Parade in Manchester, Page 3. assist the ZBA in the more Weekly Weather Chart technical aspects of the proposal. Saturday 9 Oct 59° 49° During the ZBA hearings, testimony will be provided Sunday 10 Oct 64° 48° by the applicant, by the peer reviewers, by Town Monday 11 Oct Department heads and 63° 53° Town Boards and Committees as well as abutters and Tuesday 12 Oct 62° 57° possibly other concerned residents and groups. The Wednesday 13 Oct 57° 52° hearings are formal, quasijudicial proceedings and Thursday 14 Oct 58° 52° will unfold in a methodical manner. Friday 15 Oct 60° 52° At the conclusion of the hearings, the ZBA must issue a decision within 40 days. Three basic options exist: approving the projThis Week’s Town Meetings ect as presented, approvManchester Town Hall is Indigenous Peoples’ Day/ ing the project with various Open to the Public: Masks Columbus Day conditions/modifications, and social distancing are Monday October 11, 2021 or denying the project. required. Public hours are The ZBA’s decision is apTown Halls are closed 9 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. Monday pealable by the applicant through Wednesday to the State’s Housing ApMERSD and 9 a.m. - 6:15 p.m. peals Committee. Other School Building Meeting on Thursday. The Board aggrieved parties may apof Health is requiring Tuesday, October 12 peal to the Land Court or employees and the public 6 – 8 p.m. Superior Court. (A guide to wear masks in Town of to the 40B process is on Essex municipal facilities. MBTS Harbor Advisory the Town’s 40B page.) All board and committee Comm The proposed 40B repmeetings continue to be Wednesday, October 13 conducted virtually. Details resents an unusually large on thecricket.com 5:30 p.m. project for Manchester. Additionally, the proposed site contains numerous IN THIS ISSUE public safety and environmental challenges. As we Briefs ..........................................................................1 saw during the process of trying to negotiate a projObituaries...................................................................2 ect that the Selectmen Town News..................................................................3 could support, the issues involved are complex and Library & Letters.......................................................4 invoke strong reactions Timeline Cape Ann.....................................................5 from residents. As we enter this next phase, no Sports..........................................................................6 doubt these same issues and the strong opinions Essex Echo..................................................................7 surrounding them will Real Estate..........................................................10, 12 come back to the fore.
Gavel to Gavel