Advisory: Overnight Test Trains Along Rockport Commuter Rail Line

MassDOT and the MBTA are undertaking federally mandated Positive Train Control (PTC) infrastructure installation which will increase the safety of commuter rail customers and would like to advise the community of upcoming overnight test trains which will operate along the MBTA Rockport Commuter Rail Line (Beverly to Rockport). These overnight trains are necessary to test installed PTC systems along the tracks.

Starting as early as July 7, 2019, these test trains will be running, as needed, throughout the week during the overnight hours when passenger service Commuter Rail trains are not typically running along the line.

For further information regarding PTC including updates on weekly PTC activities please visit: mbta.com/ptc. Thank you in advance for your cooperation. We appreciate your patience as the MBTA takes this important step in making the railways safer for customers with the implementation of the PTC program. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact the PTC program at 617-721-7506 or PTCProgram@mbta.com.

Madam Varney’s Tea: Essex Bicentennial Celebration

We are blessed with a unique and interesting history here in Massachusetts; here is an interesting law adopted by the legislature in 1679 “No man shall build a meeting house at Chebacco.”

Thirty years after the founding of Ipswich in 1634, settlers in a section of the town known as Chebacco, now Essex, grew interested in founding their own meeting house – at the request of the leaders of Ipswich the new law made this a forbidden act. That’s when Madam Varney and her friends, all women, organized a plan and enlisted the help of men from Wenham, Gloucester and Manchester, who were not excluded by the new law. It is said that volunteers came from throughout the area and in just a single day the building was raised.

Lisa Clarke, who works at First Congregational, portrayed Varney during a tea and talk about the building of the meetinghouse this weekend. As part of the Bicentennial Celebrations, I presented a Senate Citation and a framed copy of the original state law that created the town of Essex.

Rowley Public Safety Complex Ribbon Cutting and Open House

Congratulations to the people of Rowley for opening their new public safety complex. The members of the Rowley Fire Department and the members of the Rowley Police Department along with local officials, and citizens shared in a grand celebration with a ribbon cutting ceremony, the presentation of State House citations from Representative Brad Hill and I, and building tours.

Fire Chief James Broderick and Police Chief Scott Dumas now have excellent facilities to use in contrast with the old spaces that they had - the old fire station dates back to the 19th Century with undersized garages for the trucks and the police department requiring the use old trailers for staff space.

The events were wonderful and I know that the men and women who will work in the Complex will give their best to protect and serve the people of Rowley.

 

Gloucester To Host International Dory Racing

Last night we celebrated the return of the Canadian Dory Racing Association to Gloucester. This reception, at the St. Peter's Club​, represents the opening of an international rowing competition between two maritime communities - Gloucester and Lunenburg, Nova Scotia that has been going strong for more than 60 years.  The reception was a great way for the teams to be introduced to each other, and in many cases get reacquainted.

Tomorrow, beginning at 10 AM in Gloucester's Inner Harbor, you and your family can watch this friendly, fun and fascinating competition. Come, and enjoy a free day on the waterfront and cheer on these great rowers.

The races feature men's, women's, mixed, masters, and senior divisions. See you there.

2019 ST. PETER’S FIESTA SCHEDULE!

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26TH
7:00–10:00 p.m. Musical Entertainment….St. Peter’s Park:
Entertainment featuring “BARRY MOONEY”

THURSDAY, JUNE 27TH
6:30 p.m. Fiesta 5K Road Race – with Cape Ann YMCA
Starting location Stage Fort Park, Finish line at St. Peter’s Park. For further details, contact the Cape Ann YMCA.

8:00–11:00 p.m. Entertainment, Live Music and Dance at St. Peter’s Park Featuring ….. “WILD FIRE”

FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH
4:45 p.m. Greasy Pole Contest…and…Women’s Seine Boat Races Pavilion Beach

6:30 p.m. Entertainment…. Before Opening Ceremony

7:30 p.m. Formal Opening …. St. Peter’s Square
Entertainment immediately following

8:30 – 11:30 p.m. featuring “MORENO FRUZZETTI”

SATURDAY, JUNE 29TH
10:00 a.m Pavilion Beach… Seine Boat Race:
U.S. Coast Guard vs Gloucester Fire Department and Gloucester Police Department

10:00 a.m. Gloucester Stage Company Playtime performance
of our Children’s story book “Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta?” (267 E.Main St., Gloucester

3:00 p.m. Children’s Games…. Beach Court

4:45 p.m. Sports Events… Pavilion Beach Seine Boat Races & Greasy Pole Contest

8:00–11:30 pm. Musical Entertainment…St. Peter’s Square
featuring “FRANCO CORSO”

SUNDAY, JUNE 30TH
10:00 a.m. Celebration of MASS OF ST. PETER at St. Peter’s Park

12:00 noon Procession following Celebration of Outdoor Mass

3:00 p.m Blessing of the Fleet… Stacy Boulevard.

3:00 p.m. Concert…St. Peter’s Park
Musical Entertainment

4:45 p.m. Sports Events…at Pavilion Beach
Seine Boat Races & Greasy Pole Contest

6:30 p.m. Children’s Pinata Contest Pascucci Court

7:15 p.m. Awards Ceremony
Trophies awarded to winners of the Sports Events

8:30 p.m. Musical Entertainment St. Peter’s Park featuring
“ GRAZIANA LAZZARO and AARON CARUSO”

11:00 p.m. Raffle Drawings and Closing Procession
St. Peter’s Fiesta Children’s Book Nonna, what is St. Peter’s Fiesta” will be on sale at the Main Stage Altar throughout the Fiesta weekend.
To purchase a copy before Fiesta, email http://www.stpetersfiesta.org

A very productive conversation about issues important to the survival and strengthening of the commercial fishing industry at today's annual meeting of the Northeast Seafood Coalition. Thanks to everyone involved for staying committed to the future of this vital economic sector.

The Northeast Seafood Coalition is a non-profit organization that works on policy issues impacting our fishery. They strive to find solutions to rebuild fish stocks while preserving family-owned fishing businesses and a diverse groundfish fishing fleet.

Meet Michael Neagle - "History Teacher of the Year"

Each year the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education honors select educators as Massachusetts Teachers of the Year for their areas of expertise. I am pleased to share with you that Michael Neagle of North Andover, a History and Civics Teacher at Pyne Arts Magnet School in Lowell, was announced today at a State House ceremony as the “Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year”.

Michael is committed to providing authentic and meaningful learning opportunities for all students. His colleagues refer to him as an “evangelist for civics education”. Rather than just learn about civics, his students engage in it. They’ve worked on district policies and engaged in advocacy for issues they care about, including access to world language education and teen suicide awareness and prevention training. This spring, Michael’s students worked to file legislation to address the youth vaping epidemic. Over the past seven years, his Service Corps club has volunteered more than 3,000 hours, collected 15,000 articles of clothing for children in need, and raised $20,000 for local and international charities. He also brings eight years of experience in the Marine Corps to his classroom.