On Monday, Lorraine Hardy-Wyatt, 97, was honored as the town’s eldest resident by Essex Board of Selectmen and State Sen. Bruce Tarr who presented her with the coveted Boston Post Cane, the ferruled, 18-ct gold-tipped walking stick made of mahogany that’s been a tradition since 1909. The ce…
Board of Selectmen’s Meeting of March 13, 2023Report covers from February 25, 2023 to March 10, 2023Removal of Host ServerAs the Board may recall, we recently migrated all our virtual servers from the server room in Essex to the datacenter infrastructure in the Town of Danvers. Danvers also…
Story Hour Wednesday Mornings with April9 a.m. for Wee Ones, ages 0-2 with a caregiver10 a.m. Preschool, ages 3-5 with a caregiverStories, fun, storyboards, songs, and rhymes! Register at www.essexpl.org
Conservation Commission Stone Piers and Apple Street Project HearingsGiven the sensitive nature of the environment surrounding the two stone piers at Conomo Point and the portion of Apple Street that the Town is proposing to elevate, it was necessary for each project to come before the Conse…
Board of Selectmen’s Meeting of February 6, 2023Report covers from January 21, 2023, to February 3, 2023Continued Preparation for Federal Funding for Apple Street ProjectAt the last meeting, the Board agreed that specific easement packages for easements sought from all seven Apple Street Roa…
On Thursday, a fundraiser was held by the ME Regional Middle High School gym. The event was to raise money to support the Doyon family of Essex that suffered a total loss in a house fire on the 6th of February. The successful fundraiser collected over $2,000. (Photo Paul Clark)
In this week's Town Hall Notebook we tune in to Town of Manchester budgeting, Essex zoning, the state's housing district mandate for commuter rail towns, the Fire Dept's challenges with the FinCom, and Cell Signaliing's request for a MassWorks grant application to connect Manchester's Limite…
Route 133 Essex River Bridge Replacement Project UpdateAs reported previously, the contractor had left the job site for the winter at the end of the week of January 9, 2023, after tying in the Town’s sewer crossing over the new bridge on January 10, 2023. National Grid continues to work on …
Economic Development Committee Tracking TemplateAt the last meeting, the Chairman of the Essex Economic Development Committee (EDC) discussed with the Board the concept of a tracking template that the EDC would like to put in place to coordinate its initiatives across all Town departments. …
Some big items this week, with the ME Regional School District Committee approving a final FY24 district budget to present to voters and the Manchester Select Board agreeing with a recommendation by the Manchester Affordable Housing Trust to pull a key property from a joint plan with the Man…
The forecast for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4, calls for extreme cold in Essex with wind chills below zero by mid-afternoon Friday, and wind chills as low as minus 20 degrees overnight into Saturday morning. Essex Chief of Police Paul Francis and the Essex Police Department are warning loc…
Further Discussion with Respect to Town Hall Bell Tower Roof RepairAt the last meeting, Chairman Pereen indicated that she was working to line up a roofing contractor to repair the storm damage to the bell tower roof on Town Hall. She has now had the chance for a contractor to look at the j…
This week at the Essex TOHP Burnham Public Library in Essex, there will be a program on the history of the American kitchen, book club, and a fantastic children's STEM workshop. And of course, it's the library, which means there's something new every day. Check it out.
Manchester-Essex Softball Association (MESA) registration will be open from February 1 through March 1, 2023, for all participants Kindergarten through Eighth Grade.
In this week's Town Hall Notebook, the Manchester Essex Regional School District Committee held a public hearing with town boards to discuss the draft FY2024 in its last meeting before a final vote February 6, and the Manchester Affordable Housing Trust expands its successful mortgage and re…
Economic Development Committee Meeting SummaryThe Town Administrator (TA) attended the subject meeting along with Chairman Pereen and the Town Planner on January 19, 2023. The meeting featured a discussion regarding the ongoing efforts in Essex working toward the establishment of a new sens…
MONDAY, JANUARY 169:20 a.m. Southern Ave., male unconscious, unresponsive, other.12:08 p.m. Main St., motor vehicle stop, verbal warning.6:55 p.m. Eastern Ave., disturbance, transported.9:38 p.m. Southern Ave., motor vehicle stop, citation issued.
Board of Selectmen’s Meeting of January 9, 2023Report covers from December 10, 2022, to January 6, 2023Manchester Essex Regional School Dist. Tentative FY24 Budget HearingThe TA attended the subject hearing along with the Essex Selectmen, members of the Essex Finance Committee, and the Town …
Frost Faerie CrafternoonFriday, January 20 at 3:30 p.m. for ages 7-12 years. Registration required.Musical Storytime with RuthanneTuesdays, beginning January 24 at 10:30 a.m. Come sing, play instruments, and have fun for all ages.
Well, that holiday sparkle is now over and it’s back to my old salty self and business as usual in New England. But it’s a funny space, isn’t it, these bleak and unpopular months that land between the charms of spring and fall. Let’s call it our Winter Session. I know, it’s sort of a cute …
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2510:55 a.m. Chebacco Terrace, fire other, assisted as needed.4:45 p.m. John Wise Ave., motor vehicle accident, no personal injury, vehicle towed.8:49 p.m. Forest Ave., traffic hazard, notification made.9:12 p.m. Eastern Ave., male fall, transported to hospital.
Frost Faerie CrafternoonFriday, January 20 at 3:30 p.m. for ages 7-12 years. Registration required
At the last meeting, the Essex Board of Selectmen agreed that the remaining seawall grant money and associated Town match money should be used to renovate the two stone piers that the Town owns at Conomo Point. The piers are related to the seawall system but the State grant project did not …
The holiday gave boards in Manchester and Essex a bit of a slowdown before opening 2023 and tackling big issues like budgets, schools, capital initiatives and zoning. But just before the break, at a heated December meeting of the Manchester Select Board, Alexander Westerhoff of 3 Colburn Ro…
MONDAY, DECEMBER 56:50 a.m. Southern Ave., motor vehicle stop, citation issued.2:21 p.m. Story St., unconscious, unresponsive male, transported to hospital.5:09 p.m. Western Ave., disabled motor vehicle, assisted as needed.9:37 p.m. Spring St., directed patrol, secured/checked.
There's plenty to do this week at the TOHP Burnham Library in Essex. Author David Sobel (“Best Bike Rides in New England”) will reveal some of his favorite rides, and then there's the library's annual Gingerbread workshop!
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 289:22 a.m. Southern Ave., motor vehicle stop, verbal warning.4:22 p.m. Southern Ave., male with stroke, transported to hospital.7:01 p.m. John Wise Ave., motor vehicle complaint, erratic operation, citation issued.9:46 p.m. Story St., directed patrol, secured/checked.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1412:38 a.m. Centennial Grove Rd., directed patrol, secured/checked.2:14 a.m. Spring St., directed patrol, secured/checked.2:31 a.m. Main St., directed patrol, secured/checked.6:37 a.m. Southern Ave., selective enforcement, no action taken.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 79:44 a.m. Story St., directed patrol, no action taken.12:15 p.m. Southern Ave., disturbance, report to follow.2:43 p.m. Main St., fire hazmat, assisted as needed.6:49 p.m. Southern Ave., motor vehicle stop, verbal warning.
Dueling Special Town Meetings Monday in Manchester and Essex offered different experiences for voters this week. MBTS residents approved an amended recall provision and a series of Planning Board articles. In Essex, voters supported an 11-acre land purchase. Read about it all.
On Thursday, a fundraiser was held by the ME Regional Middle High School gym. The event was to raise money to support the Doyon family of Essex that suffered a total loss in a house fire on the 6th of February. The successful fundraiser collected over $2,000. (Photo Paul Clark)
In this week's Town Hall Notebook we tune in to Town of Manchester budgeting, Essex zoning, the state's housing district mandate for commuter rail towns, the Fire Dept's challenges with the FinCom, and Cell Signaliing's request for a MassWorks grant application to connect Manchester's Limited Commercial District to municipal sewer.
Route 133 Essex River Bridge Replacement Project Update
As reported previously, the contractor had left the job site for the winter at the end of the week of January 9, 2023, after tying in the Town’s sewer crossing over the new bridge on January 10, 2023. National Grid continues to work on gas line relocation/replacement to align with the new bridge and is expected to be in that process through late-February (schedule has slipped).
Economic Development Committee Tracking Template
At the last meeting, the Chairman of the Essex Economic Development Committee (EDC) discussed with the Board the concept of a tracking template that the EDC would like to put in place to coordinate its initiatives across all Town departments. The Board asked that the EDC Chairman share that draft document with the individual Board members and that occurred during the week of January 30, 2023. The Board has now had some time to review the concept and the Town Administrator (TA) have completed my review and have made some suggestions.
Some big items this week, with the ME Regional School District Committee approving a final FY24 district budget to present to voters and the Manchester Select Board agreeing with a recommendation by the Manchester Affordable Housing Trust to pull a key property from a joint plan with the Manchester Housing Authority to renovate and expand senior and affordable housing on existing sites in town.
The forecast for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4, calls for extreme cold in Essex with wind chills below zero by mid-afternoon Friday, and wind chills as low as minus 20 degrees overnight into Saturday morning. Essex Chief of Police Paul Francis and the Essex Police Department are warning local residents about the incoming arctic blast and sharing tips for staying safe amid extreme cold.
Further Discussion with Respect to Town Hall Bell Tower Roof Repair
At the last meeting, Chairman Pereen indicated that she was working to line up a roofing contractor to repair the storm damage to the bell tower roof on Town Hall. She has now had the chance for a contractor to look at the job and will be able to update the Board on what is required.
This week at the Essex TOHP Burnham Public Library in Essex, there will be a program on the history of the American kitchen, book club, and a fantastic children's STEM workshop. And of course, it's the library, which means there's something new every day. Check it out.
Manchester-Essex Softball Association (MESA) registration will be open from February 1 through March 1, 2023, for all participants Kindergarten through Eighth Grade.
In this week's Town Hall Notebook, the Manchester Essex Regional School District Committee held a public hearing with town boards to discuss the draft FY2024 in its last meeting before a final vote February 6, and the Manchester Affordable Housing Trust expands its successful mortgage and rental assistance program launched during COVID.
Economic Development Committee Meeting Summary
The Town Administrator (TA) attended the subject meeting along with Chairman Pereen and the Town Planner on January 19, 2023. The meeting featured a discussion regarding the ongoing efforts in Essex working toward the establishment of a new sense of place, or a “brand”. These projects included a Placemaking Plan, an off-season themed downtown event, and the installation of decorative streetlights (with the majority of funding coming from State grants).
MONDAY, JANUARY 16
9:20 a.m. Southern Ave., male unconscious, unresponsive, other.
12:08 p.m. Main St., motor vehicle stop, verbal warning.
6:55 p.m. Eastern Ave., disturbance, transported.
9:38 p.m. Southern Ave., motor vehicle stop, citation issued.
Board of Selectmen’s Meeting of January 9, 2023
Report covers from December 10, 2022, to January 6, 2023
Manchester Essex Regional School Dist. Tentative FY24 Budget Hearing
The TA attended the subject hearing along with the Essex Selectmen, members of the Essex Finance Committee, and the Town Accountant on December 14, 2022. Town of Manchester personnel and officials were also present and School District personnel and officials presented the tentative FY24 operating budget. Generally, the District’s proposal is still to assess a 3.5% overall increase in the apportionments to the two towns, with a $756,000 additional gap added on to that regular increase. Such an arrangement translates to an 8.6% increase to Essex from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024 (just over $780,000).
Frost Faerie Crafternoon
Friday, January 20 at 3:30 p.m. for ages 7-12 years. Registration required.
Musical Storytime with Ruthanne
Tuesdays, beginning January 24 at 10:30 a.m. Come sing, play instruments, and have fun for all ages.
Well, that holiday sparkle is now over and it’s back to my old salty self and business as usual in New England. But it’s a funny space, isn’t it, these bleak and unpopular months that land between the charms of spring and fall. Let’s call it our Winter Session. I know, it’s sort of a cute name to attach to the few months that are marked by such short daylight hours and often prohibitive weather. But it’s a good time to both hunker down and to try to get something done.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25
10:55 a.m. Chebacco Terrace, fire other, assisted as needed.
4:45 p.m. John Wise Ave., motor vehicle accident, no personal injury, vehicle towed.
8:49 p.m. Forest Ave., traffic hazard, notification made.
9:12 p.m. Eastern Ave., male fall, transported to hospital.
Frost Faerie Crafternoon
Friday, January 20 at 3:30 p.m. for ages 7-12 years. Registration required
At the last meeting, the Essex Board of Selectmen agreed that the remaining seawall grant money and associated Town match money should be used to renovate the two stone piers that the Town owns at Conomo Point. The piers are related to the seawall system but the State grant project did not include their renovation in the original scope of work.
The holiday gave boards in Manchester and Essex a bit of a slowdown before opening 2023 and tackling big issues like budgets, schools, capital initiatives and zoning. But just before the break, at a heated December meeting of the Manchester Select Board, Alexander Westerhoff of 3 Colburn Ro…
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5
6:50 a.m. Southern Ave., motor vehicle stop, citation issued.
2:21 p.m. Story St., unconscious, unresponsive male, transported to hospital.
5:09 p.m. Western Ave., disabled motor vehicle, assisted as needed.
9:37 p.m. Spring St., directed patrol, secured/checked.
