FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021
VOL. 134, NO. 23
October Nor’easter
BRIEFLY
Local BOH Update for COVID Cases: Oct. 27 Report Local Boards of Health reported this week that the town of Manchester has 284 residents who tested positive for COVID-19 since the town began tracking in March, 2020. Currently, three are “active.” In Essex, Health Administrator Erin Kirchner reports 245 overall positives, 157 so far year to date, and five currently 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 81 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 Halloween The Manchester Halloween Committee will be passing out the Goodie Bags to those who signed up for the bags from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 31 at the American Legion parking lot. Town officials are suggesting trick or treating take place from 5 to 7 p.m. the day of Halloween, and the town Police Department urges all to use the sidewalks and be safe when crossing the streets. The message? Have a fun and safe Halloween.
Leading Ladies Sponsors Women Vets Event
Women veterans are twice as likely to be homeless as their male counterparts and two to three times more likely to be homeless than any other group in the US adult population. “The Unseen Struggle of Homeless Women Vets” is a free event at The Cabot in Beverly at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2 and will include a short film and a discussion with a panel that includes EasterSeals Massachusetts Veterans Program Coordinator Adam Costello; US Rep. Seth Moulton’s Veterans Liaison Steve Bohn; and Lynn native and US Army veteran Nicole Mcclain. Leading Ladies, a nonpartisan North Shore group committed to fighting for social justice issues and was founded by Manchester resident Therese Melden. More information is available at thecabot.org and leadingladiesvote.org.
PRICE: $1.25
Tuesday night’s nor’easter was predicted, yet it came on with surprising ferocity, bringing hurricane-force winds and rains to Massachusetts and Cape Ann. In the end, more than 600,000 homes in New England had power outages. That included of course, Cape Ann, where many in Manchester and Essex went without power and internet through the day on Wednesday. Above, a great old sidewalk tree was downed on Brook Street in Manchester, just missing the home it abuts. In Magnolia, waves were still pounding the shores at midday.
Behnke, McGinn Among Those Tapped For National Awards For Writing, Design
E
nvironmental writing and reader engagement were the highlights of four awards won by the Cricket as part of the National Newspaper Association‘s 2021 Better Newspaper Contest, announced earlier this month at its 134th annual convention in Jacksonville, Florida. There were two big highlights. First, Jim Behnke and Kris McGinn won for Best Environmental Story Series, for Behnke’s series, “The Wildlife of Cape Ann.” Behnke has covered all manner of interesting local species, from starlings and striped bass to ospreys. This year’s awards focused on three pieces, two of which Benhke wrote with Cricket features editor Kris McGinn on crows and bees. The pair won second place among newspapers with a circulation of 9,000 and under. “This is an amazing series of articles about wildlife, the environment creatures live in and the varied threats they face,” wrote one of the judges. “It’s
notable that this series was elevated to a higher competitive class for editorial writing,” said Cricket Editor Erika Brown. “Behnke and McGinn rose among hundreds of other papers across the country, because their work was excellent.” In all, judges reviewed 1,300 articles, photography, and layout designs published in 2020, and the Cricket was among more than 500 awards won by 96 newspapers in 35 states. Another big win came with a first-place win Best ReaderGenerated Campaign among all non-daily newspapers for “Postcards Home,” the Cricket’s travel feature of personal journeys from our readers. Judges highlighted Christy King’s trip to Kenya; the Wares stalled sailing trip around the world (when COVID parked them outside the Panama Canal); and Bailey Buchanan’s weekend hiking journeys to find social distancing on a section of the Appala-
chian Trail. (Spoiler alert: our own veterinarian Larry Lamb will feature his trip to Big Sur in the coming weeks.) The Cricket also won Best Serious Column (third place), for Jess Yurwitz for “This Superhero Needs A Mask,” her lovely piece chronicling PPE challenges facing her husband, an ER doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital in the early days of COVID. And the paper won “Best Double Truck,” (third place) for the newspaper’s Holiday 2020 double page spread supporting area retailers during COVID with the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. Judging was performed primarily by active community newspaper editors and publishers, as well as retired university journalism professors and retired newspaper professionals. The National Newspaper Association is one of the largest and the oldest newspaper associations in the country, started in 1885.
MBTS Planning Board Reduces Scope In First Step To Proposed Zoning Changes
T
he Planning Board at its meeting on October 11 voted to limit its original proposal to have the Town Meeting consider four warrant articles to only two articles. The decision was made jointly with
Town Moderator Alan Wilson in order to reduce the time for discussion that might be required. The Board is advancing two warrant articles that should hopefully be considered with minimum discussion.
ME Hornet, Philipa Shea Spingler, high steps it as she moves towards the goal against her Georgetown Royals opponent during Monday night’s game at Hyland Field. Photo: Paul Clark
Weekly Weather Chart Saturday 30 Oct
61°
53°
Sunday 31 Oct
60°
52°
Monday 1 Nov
60°
49°
Tuesday 2 Nov
57°
51°
Wednesday 3 Nov
51°
46°
Thursday 4 Nov
50°
46°
Friday 5 Nov
50°
46°
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. The Board of Health is requiring employees and the public to wear masks in Town of Essex municipal facilities. All board and committee meetings continue to be conducted virtually. Details on thecricket.com
MBTS Open Space & Rec Comm Monday, November 1 6:30 p.m. Essex BOS Monday, November 1 Check Calendar MERSD SC Meeting Tuesday, Nov 2, 6-8 p.m. MBTS Special Primary Tuesday, November 2 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
IN THIS ISSUE Briefs...........................................................................1 MBTS Town Meeting Warrant...................................2 Town News .................................................................3 Library & Letters.......................................................4 Out & About...............................................................5 Sports..........................................................................6 Let the parade begin as these folks lead the way followed by dozens of adorable, handsome, cute, scary children (and parents) during the Annual Woblin’ Goblin event on a beautiful Saturday morning. Photo: Paul Clark. More at facebook.com/themanchestercricket
Essex Echo..................................................................7 Real Estate..........................................................10, 12