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The Essex school community welcomed new Essex Principal, Mrs. Kimberly Provost.

EES First Schoolwide Meeting with New Principal, Mrs. Kim Provost

The Essex Elementary School community has happily welcomed a new, permanent principal this school year, after two years with an interim principal.   Mrs. Kimberly Provost, comes to EES with a …
A strong showing of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum board braved the rain last Thursday for the official ribbon cutting of the museum’s new portico, which restored an original exterior element of the Trask House that had been missing for more than 100 years.  From left, board members Axel Magnuson, David Lumsden, Suzanna Thompson, Rebecca Campbell, John Round, Marianne Coons, Mary Minott, Carol Bundy, Tom Durken (museum president), Constance Leahy, Alison Anholt-White, Matt Genta, and museum associate director Matthew Swindell.

Manchester by the Sea Museum: New Portico, No to Trolleys

The Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum officially kicked off its 2024-2025 lecture season last Thursday with a presentation on the 19th Century proliferation of—and Manchester’s successful efforts to …
ME girls cross country team heads out at the start of a match with Ipswich.

Fast Starts, Close Calls for ME Cross Country Teams

The Manchester Essex girls’ cross-country team is off to a fast start, while the boys just missed on picking up victories in their first two meets of 2024. The girls beat Ipswich by a 22-37 …
Hornet quarterback Zach Hurd celebrates ME’s first touchdown against Rockland at home on Friday night.  Under the lights and with a packed stadium the Hornets delivered a 38-18 win.  They are 2-0 this early in the season.

ME Football Runs All Over Rockland to Improve to 2-0

With a more condensed regular season and an expanded postseason schedule with the change to the format for high school football a few years ago, each victory and loss seems to carry more weight than …
Fresh energy at SEF, promoting the 2024 “Night of the Stars” fundraiser.  From left, Alicia Palmer, Maile Madigan, Sarah Conway, Ryann Hilton, Lindsay Banks, Kate Taylor, Veronica Wu, Lisa Manganiello, and Betsy McKeen.  (Not pictured: Brooke Orr, Sarah Wolf, Wendy Brady, Sarah Chamberlain, and Jen Mayer.)
Fresh Energy at the Spaulding Education Fund
With all the challenges surrounding public school district budgets, it’s hard to zero in on the very particular line that separates the funding required for basic school district operations and …
Paula Sullivan-Reggio and Kate Glidden Join Beauport Financial
Gloucester-based Beauport Financial Services this week announced two additions to its firm, including financial services professional Kate Glidden and administrative assistant Paula Sullivan-Reggio. …
Massachusetts Oyster Project
Oysters in Manchester
Earlier this year, the Manchester Harbor Boat Club (MHBC) partnered with the Massachusetts Oyster Project to install an oyster upweller as an experiment to grow oysters in local waters to stem …

Perfectly Offbeat: “Simon Says” at the Larcom Opens Oct. 16

The cast of the paranormal play “Simon Says,” opening Oct. 16 in Beverly.  From left, Molly Chiffer, Kayode Akinyemi, and award-winning Gloucester actor Malcolm Ingram.

Just in time for Halloween, the critically acclaimed play, “Simon Says,” will open at the historic Larcom Theater in Beverly on Oct. 16. Described by the New York Times as “exciting,” the …

Carolyn J. Cassidy

Carolyn J. Cassidy, formerly of Ipswich who for more than 41 years served as a Grade One teacher in Essex, passed away Friday, September 27, 2024, at the Brooksby Village Retirement Community. Daughter of the late Thomas and Janet (Rae) Cassidy, Carolyn was …

A Big Night Celebrating American Blues with Barrett Anderson in Manchester

Boston-based Blues singer and guitarist Barrett Anderson will host an  evening of story and song in Manchester later this month with a program of telling the story of early Blues music, the …

Sports
After the Manchester Essex football team suffered its first loss of the season, Joe Grimes says it’s time for his team to use the circumstance as a springboard to bigger and better things. “We …
There's a lot going on with ME Regional High School sports this week in the Hornets Nest, inlcuding Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Field Hockey, and Golf ...
While they may be new to each other, the returning members of the Manchester Essex girls soccer team and new coach Scout Grifoni have one crucial element in common: experience.  This is …
It was supposed to be a soccer game, but by the end of regulation the Manchester Essex boys’ soccer team turned it into a game of “Keep Away.” The Hornets beat Pentucket by a …
The best may be yet to come for the Manchester-Essex golf team. Hornet golfers should be pretty encouraged after coming out of the first few matches of the 2024 season with a winning record, some …
Lifestyle

Violinist Scott Moore Kicks Off 2024-2025 Music Series in Annisquam

This month the Annisquam Village Church (AVC) will kick off it's 2024-2025 music performance series on Oct. 19 with "Devil's Box and Glory of God The Soul of the Violin from Paganini to Bach, Bluegrass, and Beyond," featuring AVC Artist in Residence and violinist Scott Moore.

Oct. Rocky Neck Art Colony Exhibit: Abstractions for Unsettled Times

The Rocky Neck Art Colony (RNAC) is proud to present ELEMENTAL: Abstractions for Unsettled Times, a new exhibition curated by Meredith Anderson and Ginger Myhaver at the Cultural Center at Rocky …
In 2023,  a “Plein air” demonstration during CAPA Week by artist Charlie Shurcliff at Manchester’s Sharksmouth Estate was a big hit in 2023.  This year’s festival expands its weeklong programming in early October.

Demos, Collector’s Preview Party, And a $20K Purse Kicks Art Festival Up a Notch

Maybe it’s the $20,000 in prize money for the winners.   Maybe it’s the packed week of public events, the opportunity to see a future master artist at work, or maybe it’s the …
The band Over the Bridge is in the line up of this year's Blackburn Brewfest.

Second Annual Blackburn Brewfest Returns to Stage Fort Park

It’s time for the annual Blackburn Brewfest. The second annual event is back and, organizers say, it’s better than ever and scheduled to take place from 1 - 5 p.m. Saturday, September 21 at …

Calling All Shipbuilders

Salt Marsh Dory Building is Back at the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum. Once again comes the opportunity to experience the timeless art of boatbuilding. The Essex Historical …
Home and Garden
Ozobot (Courtesy Photos)

Manchester Library Notes | Oct. 4

This week at the library, Ways to have a Green Holiday Season, Hearthside Book Club, Author Katherine Howe and much more! Open Sundays | Beginning October 20th, the library will be open Sundays …

Reconciling an historic home with modern living can be tricky. These properties are beautiful house with solid bones, but it's important when you tackle this type of design renovation to proceed with a healthy dose of caution ...
Pets and People

Cancer In Pets

Sadly, cancer is a condition commonly diagnosed at the Manchester Animal Hospital.   Many tumors can be diagnosed simply by palpation.  Others require biopsy and histopathological …

Books

Best Non-Fiction Picks for Fall

Last week it was Hannah Harlow's picks for Fall fiction releases, and this week, the owner of The Book Shop in Beverly Farms offers the best non-fiction book releases of the season. ...

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 …

Obituaries
Mary-Lou O’Brien
Mary-Lou O’Brien, 89, passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, and is now reunited in spirit with her beloved husband Carl. She grew up in Manchester-by-the-Sea and was the daughter of …
Gordon Q. MacDougall
Gordon Q. MacDougall's life was a vibrant journey, marked not only by his longevity but by the depth of his connections and the strength of his spirit.  At the remarkable age of 101, Gordon, …
Natalie ("Nat”) E. Glovsky
Natalie ("Nat”) E. Glovsky died peacefully in Beverly, on September 19, 2024, at the remarkable age of 104. Natalie was born on January 10, 1920, in Brockton, one of five children of Aaron and …
Josephine Swan “Jody” Blagden
Josephine Swan Blagden, née Josephine Cutler Stearns Swan and known as, “Jody”, formerly of Manchester by-the-Sea, MA and Blue Hill, ME died peacefully at age 93, on Monday, September 2, 2024, in Nashua, NH. Josephine Swan Blagden, née Josephine Cutler Stearns Swan and known as, …
William A. MacDonald
On September 6, 2024, Mr. William A. MacDonald of Peabody, MA died at Salem Hospital, Salem, MA. Mr. MacDonald was born in Manchester-by-the-Sea in 1935 to Alice MacDonald of York, ME and …
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5 simple ways to harvest your health this fall
(BPT) - Fall is here and it's time to cozy up with healthier habits! If you're looking to refresh your routine and embrace healthier habits this season, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Dawn …
The Importance of Medicare Options for America’s Seniors
The Importance of Medicare Options for America’s Seniors
(Mark Gibbons, President/CEO of RetireSafe) - With the start of Medicare’s open enrollment period, it’s important that older Americans explore their healthcare options to make the best choice …
Filling up an electric vehicle? It's easier than you think
(BPT) - What’s holding you back from buying an electric vehicle? You’ve likely heard a lot of myths and misconceptions about electric vehicle ownership, especially when it comes to how …
Building Your Best Financial Future: Tips to Making the Most of Financial Planning Month
(BPT) - By Christian Lau and Gene PerkinsOctober marks the beginning of Financial Planning Month, bringing attention to an important issue in the lives of many individuals and their families. …
5 spooky reads perfect for a dark and stormy night
(BPT) - As Halloween approaches, it's the perfect time to curl up in front of a crackling fire on a dark and stormy night with a spooky read. Here are five spine-tingling books from National …