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George Smith, former FOMT President and current Board Member, greeting one of the guests.

Friends of Manchester Trees Hosts Native Plant Trust Speaker

On July 18th, the Friends of Manchester Trees (FOMT) held its annual “Member Soiree” with special guest speaker, Uli Lorimer, the Native Plant Trust's Director of Horticulture and author …

Inventory Uptick Welcomed by Local Real Estate Agents

Real estate is a universal currency, carefully watched by locals of all stripes.  And over the last five years, observers have become accustomed to shrinking inventory and increasing prices …
“Decade finds the starting line.”  Decade, John Gero’s Crocker designed boat, that won Class E in this year’s S.S. Crocker Race.

S.S. Crocker Memorial Race – 57th Edition

Sailors fear very few things.   Among these are fog, lightning, dismasting, fire at sea, and running out of rum.   The most prevalent of which is fog.   It is disorienting, unnerving, …
4EverFab playing at Masconomo Park in Manchester as part of the town's

We Love You (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah)

Last Tuesday’s "Concert in the Park" at Manchester's Masconomo Park featured the Beatle’s tribute band, 4EverFab.   The band entertained all with songs that were popular in the …
Renderings of Manchester's future Senior Center and Masonic Hall.
The Path to a New Senior Center
At this year’s Annual Town Meeting, voters enthusiastically approved funds to allow the Town to purchase a portion of the Masonic Lodge located near Town Hall.  Once the sale is completed, …
Operator inspection dimension of machinig parts by micrometer
NSCC Offering Free Machinist Training Program at Essex Tech
This week North Shore Community College (NSCC) in Danvers unveiled a new funded program that offers free advanced manufacturing training for local residents. The program is designed to respond …
Sen. Barry Finegold and Rep. Jerald Parisella of Beverly, co-chairs of the Joint Economic Development Committee, listen to testimony from Gov. Maura Healey on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
Senate Bringing Forward $2.8 Billion Eco Dev Bill
The Senate will dig into a massive economic development package Thursday after top Democrats on Monday morning released their own vision for how Massachusetts should pursue job and economic growth …

Chamber’s Festival-By-The-Sea in Manchester Set for Aug. 3

Festival-By-The-Sea 2022.  This year’s festival is set for August 3 in Manchester.

It’s that time again.  The Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce is anticipating big crowds for Manchester’s Festival-by-the-Sea, which has become a Cape Ann classic event hosted …

Senior Nite for Varsity Boys Basketball

Monday night the Hornets held Senior Night for the boys’ basketball team.   The seniors honored their parents for the support they provided during their athletic careers.   Kneeling, …

7 tips for avoiding food poisoning while traveling

It's time for a vacation. FoodReady compiled a list of tips for avoiding food poisoning while traveling so that you can enjoy a worry-free trip.

It’s “WIPEOUT” at Gloucester Stage Company

Cheryl D. Singleton, Karen MacDonald, Noelle Player, andThomas Billota in the Gloucester Stage Co’s production of WIPEOUT, playing now thru July 28.

This week the Gloucester Stage Company opened the second production of its 2024 season, WIPEOUT by Aurora Real de Asua.  As part of its rolling world premiere through the National New Play …

Obituaries
Ellen Harris
Ellen Harris, 73, of Manchester by the Sea, died at home this past March. Born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on April 1,1950, she received BA degrees from Goucher College, and from Taiwan …
Mary Ellen Crane
Tuesday, June 4th punctuated the inevitable end of life for a strong and loving wife, mother, and grandmother just two weeks shy of her 82nd birthday.  She had fought a five-month battle with …
Sandra Lee (Corbin) Gillis
Sandra Lee (Corbin) Gillis of Gloucester, formerly of Manchester by-the-Sea, passed away at Seacoast Nursing Home on June 8, 2024. Born in 1932 and raised in Lynn, Sandy was the daughter of the late …
Roberta Lee Marshall
Roberta Lee Marshall, aged 72, passed away on July 22, 2023, after a brief battle with cancer.  Born and raised in Manchester, MA, Roberta's passion for caring for others was evident from a …
John F. “Johnny” Bachman
John F. “Johnny” Bachman of Hull, formerly a longtime resident of S. Boston, passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2024.  He was 63. He was born in Manchester to Eileen (Curran) and …
Lifestyle
Captain Steve Douglass of Cape Ann Harbor Tours shuttling “Splashers” to cultural events on Rocky Neck and in Harbortown, 2023.

Gloucester's Culture Splash Thursdays Kicks Off Thursday, July 11th

Gloucester’s  Culture   Splash  is back and bigger than ever for its fourth annual celebration of the city’s rich offerings in the arts, with an expanded lineup that honors …
Study for Cape Ann Series #2, 1977, Acrylic 8

Gloucester's Culture Splash Thursdays Kicks Off Thursday, July 11th

Gloucester’s weekly summer “Culture Splash” begins this week, on Thursday, celebrating Gloucester’s two formally designated cultural districts of the Rocky Neck Art Colony and …

Gloucester Photographer Melissa Cox Featured in Exhibit Starting July 2

The works of local photographer Melissa Cox have been selected for a month-long exhibit at BankGloucester in Gloucester starting on Tuesday, July 2.  The show will continue through Friday, …
The official Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at Joli Ayn Wood Studio in The Farms this week.

Joli Ayn Wood, “I am an oil painter, and I paint what inspires me.”

Rockport’s loss was Beverly Farms’ gain when artist / painter / teacher Joli Ann Wood moved her studio from busy Rockport to her home town of Beverly Farms.   This week she …
Salem Willows, Salem.

Barbie and Taylor Swift at Salem Willows North Shore Concert Band

The North Shore Concert Band Salem Willows Summer Concert Series begins on Tuesday, June 25, at 7 p.m. at the Robert Hayes Concert Shell at Salem Willows in Salem.
Home and Garden
SENIOR LIVING

Our daughter's wedding is next month…it will break her heart if my Dad can’t go.

As August approaches, our family is filled with excitement and anticipation for our daughter's upcoming wedding.  It's a milestone event, a celebration of love and unity that we have been …

It’s early June and it’s one of my favorite times of year.  We’re in the middle of this summer’s Big Reveal, and it is presenting with a giant “Ta-dah!” …
Sports
Three wasn’t necessarily the magic number this time around. In a competitive match between two titans of the sport in Massachusetts, the Manchester Essex and Lynnfield girls’ tennis played to …
It's nearly time for the 57th run of this wonderful Manchester Classic, the S.S. Crocker Memorial Race, a 12-mile race in the waters between Baker’s Island and Eastern Point, Gloucester.   …
This week kicks off the Manchester Sailing Association’s summer season, with programs for young and adult sailors of all skill levels, from novices to racing champs. MSA reports that it …
It’s been a while, but it was certainly worth the wait. The Manchester Essex Regional High School boys’ tennis team won a dramatic, fiercely-contested match by a 3-2 score against …
It was a mirrored ending for both of Manchester Essex High School’s lacrosse teams. On June 5, both boys and girls’ teams faced an opponent from the same team on the same field in …
Pets and People

Hot Spots in Dogs

One of the most common problems I see at the Manchester Animal Hospital in the summer is a skin condition called “Hot Spots.”  Also known as pyoderma, acute moist dermatitis or …

Books

Discovering Peter Heller

A couple of weeks ago, my family took a quick getaway to our family camp in Maine and my 15-year-old announced that he’d forgotten his book. “It’s okay,” I announced. …

Columnists

What's New in Home Design for Cape Ann?

Lean into a non-neutral this year.  Jen Coles like jewel tones, like this.

Spring is finally starting to be sprung.  Those brave spring bulbs are sticking their skinny green necks out, and so far all I’ve wanted to do is wrap a scarf around them—but they …

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Extreme heat, wildfires and weather events: Prepare for the unexpected this summer, inside and outside the home
(BPT) - Wildfires and extreme weather conditions have brought greater attention to poor air quality, and while some areas may be more affected than others, air quality and pollution are still a major …
Standout college athletes competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics
BestColleges highlights several of the standout student-athletes who qualified to compete for Team USA at this year's Summer Olympics in Paris.
Marine Toys for Tots' Christmas in July Campaign Delivers Hope to Children in Need
Marine Toys for Tots' Christmas in July Campaign Delivers Hope to Children in Need
(NewsUSA) - Marine Toys for Tots, best known as the Nation's premier children's Christmastime charity, doesn't wait until the holiday season to support children in need. Toys for Tots has evolved …
The 5 most popular international summer travel destinations in 2024
Airalo compiled a ranking of the five most popular international summer travel destinations using information from Google Flights.
Give Your Grilling Game a Flavor Boost: 3 tips to make summer meals deliciously memorable
(Family Features) Make sure your grill game is on fire this summer. The right prepping, seasoning and grilling techniques can help you serve your favorite foods.