Newburyport’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church to Benefit from Shaw’s Re-usable Bag Program
NEWBURYPORT − The St. Basil’s Meal Ministry of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church has offered a weekly free Monday meal for many decades. The program has been selected as a nonprofit partner in the Shaw's GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag Program for August 2026. This means the St. Basil’s Meal Ministry will receive $1 for every $3.00 GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag sold throughout the month of August 2026 at the Shaw's at 45 Storey Avenue in Newburyport. The meal is offered every Monday from...
GROVELAND Statement of Robert E. Valentine Retiring Fire Chief
GROVELAND – “In November of 2024, during a visit to my doctor for a seasonal respiratory infection, my doctor found inconsistencies with my chest X-ray, and I was referred to a pulmonologist. At the follow-up appointment, which included scans and blood testing, I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a chronic, incurable progressive lung disease. After serving for nearly 50 years as a firefighter, my body was starting to show the telltale signs of my career. “I informed the Town of Groveland of my...
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: ROWLEY’S Magic Dogland
This series of local businesses to encourage customers to shop local, and make people aware of the services, and talents, that we have surrounding us! Please shop local! by Kay Lee Ogden This week's business spotlight: Magic Dogland of Rowley, Mass, run by owner Kim Lewis and her daughter Desiree Lewis. Kim has a passion for the love of dogs, and to make them happy. Four years ago, Kim envisioned owning her own business and decided that she wanted a dog care center for dog sitting – a loving and caring space for...
A New Use for West Newbury’s Middle Street Bridge Granite
WEST NEWBURY – Pickleball courts seem to be springing up at any vacant spots as this sport solidifies its popularity with North Shore residents. But none of them have a granite wall reclaimed from the historic Middle Street Bridge, which connected Newburyport and West Newbury over the Upper Artichoke Reservoir since the 19th Century. The granite repurposed as a wall outside the new courts “is probably more valuable than the courts themselves,” Town Manager Angus Jennings said. The two new courts, at Action Cove...
Newburyport Public Library August Events
Monday, August 10th at 7 PM: "Act Worthy of Yourselves" with author Salina B. Baker (VIRTUAL). Author Salina B. Baker will be discussing her book, "Act Worthy of Yourselves: A Novel of Dr. Joseph Warren and an American Rebellion". This historical biographical novel brings Bostonian Dr. Joseph Warren to life in vivid, intimate detail. Virtual registration required. Tuesday, August 11th at 5:30 PM: Charcuterie Basics (IN PERSON). This hands-on workshop will teach the components of charcuterie, how to choose...
Newburyport Chamber Music Festival 25th Anniversary
The Newburyport Chamber Music Festival (NCMF) proudly announces its 2026 Summer Festival, marking 25 years of bringing world-class classical music to the North Shore. This milestone season features a repertoire balancing canonical masterpieces by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich with the contemporary creative brilliance of new works by Composer-in-Residence Jon Deak. The milestone season features a distinguished roster of guest artists, including the Grammy Award-winning Miró String Quartet, legendary...
‘Forced-Out’ ConCom Staff Cry Out for Change in Town Leadership
GEORGETOWN – For much of the last five years, there has been almost continuous turmoil in the staffing of one of this town’s most critical regulatory body – the Conservation Commission. The commission, known as the ConCom, protects the town’s natural resources, including endangered species; regulates wetlands ‒ ponds, lakes, rivers ‒ and manages open space. This volunteer board oversees environmental health through permitting, planning, and land stewardship. Orlando Pacheco has been the Georgetown Town...
Timothy Southall
Timothy Southall, 89, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Tim was born on October 12, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent his childhood growing up in several communities throughout Pennsylvania. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Barbara. Their friendship blossomed into a lifelong partnership, and they were married in 1959, sharing 67 years of love, faith, and devotion. Tim attended Gordon College before he and Barbara settled in Rowley, where they built...
North Shore Musical Theater Opens Doors for Future Stars
REGIONAL − Olivia Riley caught the acting bug at Amesbury Middle School, when she performed in The Little Mermaid, the school musical. She sings in its choir and plays the trumpet in the school band. This summer she got an extraordinary opportunity to be a cast member in the North Shore Music Theater’s production of JOSEPH AND THE TECHNOCOLOR DREAMCOAT. The sixth grader is one of 24 young people from the North Shore who make up the choir and are on stage at the award-winning theater for about one-third of the...
New Plum Island Gateway
PLUM ISLAND – Residents and visitors to Plum Island next spring will have a new gateway to the beaches when Cobalt Development finishes building two-story condominiums at 2 Plum Island Blvd., designed for year-round living. The two luxury condos, built on the site of the old Plum Island Grille, will be 2,040 square feet with three bedrooms and two and a half baths each. To take advantage of some of the best island’s best views, each condo will have two covered porches overlooking the Great Salt Marsh. One deck is...
Kayakers Cautioned: Weed Entanglement Conditions!
GEORGETOWN − Kayakers and paddleboard users are again cautioned to stay clear of the extensive weeds that are growing in Pentucket Pond. Last summer, Katelyn Barusso alerted the town that a kayaker had become entangled in the overgrowth and a near life-threatening incident occurred. "My husband and I were sitting on our deck when I noticed that a kayaker suddenly was not on his kayak any more. I went to get binoculars to take a closer look when he started screaming for help," she related in an e-mail to...
Parks and Recreation and Highway Department Work Together to Deliver Interim Swimming and Fishing Docks at American Legion Park
GEORGETOWN — Georgetown Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Mike Donahue announced this week that an interim solution is now in place at American Legion Park on Pentucket Pond, restoring usable public docks for both swimming and fishing. Parks and Recreation Commission successfully worked with Peter Durkee and the Georgetown Highway Department in combining sections of the existing older docks with the newly purchased smaller docks to create separate, functional areas for swimmers and anglers. The interim...
Feds May Help River Sewage Problem
REGIONAL – After years of banging on crumbling sewer pipes to get Washington’s attention about the sewage in the Merrimack River, the disaster this month of dumping millions of gallons a day of raw sewage into the river just before the 250th anniversary of Independence Day seems to have been what was needed. The disaster occurred when Haverhill hired a contractor to replace two collapsed portions of a 42-inch concrete line with two 24-inch mains. An accident released 8 million gallons of raw sewage into the...
Ucoming Maudslay Arts Center Concerts
Ucoming Maudslay Arts Center Concerts “Summer is just a brief season here in New England,” MAC Director Nicholas C. Costello said, “so come out and enjoy wonderful music at affordable prices in a spectacular natural setting.” Saturday evening at 7 p.m. come hear the Ken Clark Organ Trio (KCOT), which has been performing around New England and the eastern U.S. for the past 32 years. “Organist Ken Clark, guitarist Mike Mele, and drummer Steve Chaggaris lean on the beat, they build dynamic climaxes sprinkle in jazz...
Groveland News: Valley Screw Part 2
by Mike Dempsey GROVELAND NEWS Last year we featured a story about the former Valley Manufacturing Products facility at 64 Washington Street known locally as Valley Screw. The facility stopped production in the 1990’s and eventually was abandoned. The company still owns the site and building. The site and surrounding properties were the subject of a Superfund cleanup by the Environmental Protection Agency. As we reported, the owners of the company allowed hazardous waste and organic chemicals to be regularly...
ROWLEY: Timothy Southall, FORMER TEACHER, BASEBALL ORGANIZER – WAKE THURS – F.S. Roberts Funeral Home
Timothy Southall, 89, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Tim was born on October 12, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent his childhood growing up in several communities throughout Pennsylvania. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Barbara. Their friendship blossomed into a lifelong partnership, and they were married in 1959, sharing 67 years of love, faith, and devotion. Tim attended Gordon College before he and Barbara settled in Rowley, where they built...
James Lloyd Johnston
James Lloyd Johnston, 82, died peacefully at his home in Newbury, Massachusetts, on July 20, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, on December 21, 1943, Jim was the beloved son of James Aloysius Johnston and Rita (Latreille) Johnston. He later became a proud citizen of the United States, where he spent the latter chapters of his remarkable life. Jim graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1969 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Throughout a career spanning more than five...
Robert C. Ash, Jr.
Robert C. Ash, Jr., 64, of Haverhill, MA, passed away on July 8, 2026, in Bridgeton, ME, surrounded by family after a short, yet courageous battle with lung cancer. Bob was born on December 31, 1961, in Beverly, MA, the son of Patricia (Nicoll) of Beverly and Robert Ash, Sr. of Topsfield. He graduated from Masconomet Regional High School in 1980. In 1988, he purchased a home in Haverhill, MA with his former wife, Barbara Ash, where he built a welcoming home for his family. Bob dedicated his career to the optics...
Donald L. Kent
Donald L. Kent, lifetime resident of Rowley, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2026, at the age of 94 with his children at his side. He was the devoted husband of 67 years to Virginia Ann lglehart Kent, who preceded him in death just one year ago. This loss was soon compounded by the passing of his beloved youngest daughter, Mary Katherine Kent Cierpich. Donald was born in Ipswich, MA on September 23, 1931, son of the late Anna O. and Howard L. Kent. He began publishing the Rowley News, a small weekly newspaper,...
Newbury Honors Advocate Geoffrey H. Walker
NEWBURY − The Town of Newbury is deeply saddened to share the passing of longtime public servant Geoffrey H. Walker, 79, whose decades of leadership, environmental stewardship and unwavering dedication left a lasting mark on his community. Walker began his service to the Town of Newbury in 1997, serving on numerous municipal boards and regional organizations. He served on the Newbury Select Board, Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Merrimack River Beach Alliance and Merrimack Valley Planning Commission....
Sons & Daughters of the First Settlers of Newbury Annual Meeting
The 99th Annual Meeting of the Society of the Sons & Daughters of the First Settlers of Newbury will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Hope Community Church, 11 Hale Street, Newburyport. Public, members and guests are welcome. The non-profit organization’s mission is the preservation of the history of Old Newbury and the pioneer families that created its Yankee traditions and community. The organization owns and maintains the historic Jackman-Willett House on Cottage Road in Newbury. In addition to...
Georgetown Light Receives National Achievement Award
Georgetown Municipal Light Department (GMLD) received an American Public Power Association (APPA) E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award during APPA’s National Conference held recently in Boston. The award honors APPA member systems that have enhanced the prestige of public power utilities through sustained achievement and customer service. GMLD has demonstrated unwavering commitment to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power delivery for its approximately 3,500 customers. The utility’s “Georgetown Goes...
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
WED. JULY 22 Rowley Library lawn 6:30PM Concert: The Radio. Bring a blanket or chair and relax on their beautiful front lawn while enjoying great local musicians. Free frozen treats will be provided. In case of inclement weather, the events will be held indoors at the library, 141 Main St. Georgetown 6 PM: This concert will take place outside on the library lawn so please bring lawn chairs or blankets. If the weather does not cooperate, the concert may be moved to another Wednesday night or canceled....
No-Bid Contracts Cost Town More for Charging Stations
GEORGETOWN – Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco awarded no-bid contracts in 2022 and 2023 to install electric vehicle charging stations at Town Hall, the Library and American Legion Park to a private company at a price significantly higher than the charging station the town installed at the Perley School through a bidding process by the Light Department. Pacheco disputed the characterization of these contracts as no-bid. He wrote in an email, “These are not ‘no bid’ as you have described but part of a specific...
WHITTER REGIONAL $ – HAVERHILL AGREES TO PAY MORE…
REGIONAL – After being the elephant in the room as 11 North Shore communities argued over how to pay for a new Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, the mayor of the city of Haverhill has decided it would be better to pay a higher percentage of the construction and operating costs if the school is built on the Northern Essex Community College campus in Haverhill campus. “To move forward, we may have to give up our advantage,” Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett told the City Council last week. For...
‘Exit Interview’ of a Firebrand: Long-Serving Conservation Commissioner Rachel Therrien – Part Three
GEORGETOWN – Rachel Therrien, the Chair, Vice Chair and long-time member of the Conservation Commission (ConCom), will no longer bring her extensive knowledge and experience on conservation issues to benefit the town. She was ousted on a vote of four to zero with one abstention. She was replaced by a former SelectBoard Chair who has never served on the ConCom. Therrien was the only person present out of the three candidates, but not invited to speak to the board to advocate for her reappointment, which she wanted...
– Georgetown Peabody Library – Artist Mary Carvill Reception
The Georgetown Peabody Library is pleased to host an art exhibit by Mary Carvill for the months of July and August. An artist reception will be held on Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30PM. For more information on Mary Carvill and her work, you can check out her Instagram: www.instagram.com/hartthatspeaks Mary Carvill is a local artist whose work has been exhibited extensively at the Newburyport Art Association. Her thoughtful, evocative pieces invite viewers to discover beauty, meaning, and connection in the...
Upcoming August Events at West Newbury G.A.R. Memorial Library
G.A.R. Memorial Library West Newbury, MA 01985 submitted by Rebecca Shea Assistant Librarian Come Read & Create with Camille Monday, August 3, 4:00 - 5:00 PM Join us for story time with playwright and children’s book author, Camille Garro. Camille will read her latest children’s book, “Little Lucia and Her Terrible Day at the Beach”, and present her original illustration boards. She will demonstrate her tissue paper illustrating technique and let participants try. A free copy of “Little Lucia and Her Terrible...
Groveland News by Mike Dempsey
New CPA Projects to Start Several Groveland Community Preservation projects approved at our annual town meeting in May are set to begin in July. Two of the most notable are new bathrooms for Shanahan Field and Washington Park. The bathroom structures will be permanent and replace the porta-johns at Washington Park and the outdated bathrooms at Shanahan Field. The facilities will provide users with a cleaner and safer environment and will be maintained by the town. Requests for proposals will be available for...
West Newbury Signs Interim Town Manger
The Select Board is pleased to announce that a contract has been signed with Sean Fitzgerald to be our Interim Town Manager. Sean was one of three candidates presented to the Select Board for consideration by our Town Manager Search Consultant - Community Paradigm Associates. After interviewing, he was chosen based on his extensive experience in municipal government, his knowledge of West Newbury finances and operations, and his down-to-earth demeanor. His background and experience were fully vetted by our...
AMESBURY Merderi Bodyworks
This series of local businesses to encourage customers to shop local, and make people aware of the services, and talents, that we have surrounding us! Please shop local! by Kay Lee Ogden This week's business spotlight: Merderi Bodyworks, located at 30 Merrill Street Amesbury, of Rt 95 North, take right after Wall's Dealership, follow Merrill, located, in the Fowler Chiropractor Building, right over the Amesbury line. Merderi Bodyworks is a professional business in massage therapy and wellness therapeutic services...
North Shore Musical Theater Opens Doors for Future Stars
By Stewart Lytle, Sr. Reporter REGIONAL -- Olivia Riley caught the acting bug at Amesbury Middle School, when she performed in The Little Mermaid, the school musical. She sings in its choir and plays the trumpet in the school band. This summer she got an extraordinary opportunity to be a cast member in the North Shore Music Theater’s production of JOSEPH AND THE TECHNOCOLOR DREAMCOAT. The sixth grader is one of 24 young people from the North Shore who make up the choir and are on stage at the award-winning...
Hand Tub Muster in West Newbury
By Richard Baker The West Newbury Veteran Firefighters Association is holding its first Hand Tub Muster in decades from noon until late afternoon on Saturday, July 18th at Burnham Field / Cammett Park on Bachelor Street in West Newbury. Food will be provided by the West Newbury Fire Company. A Hand Tub is an antique fire engine operated by human power. Teams of ten to forty men lift and lower long, parallel wooden rails called brakes. They rock the brakes up and down in a rapid, synchronized motion to power the...
Frank Bertolino Wins Prestigious Award
REGIONAL – Veteran Realtor Frank Bertolino has been awarded the prestigious ICON award by his company, eXp Realty, for his exceptional success in selling North Shore real estate. Bertolino, whose Salisbury-based firm, The North Shore Realty, has 37 agents, including his daughters, Jenna Noone and Jamie Koulouras, who manage the eXp Realty affiliate and help clients buy and sell homes. “Congratulations on achieving eXp Realty ICON status! This incredible accomplishment is a testament to your hard work, dedication,...
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
WED. JULY 15 Rowley Library lawn 6:30PM StraightJacket (90s rock cover band): Bring a blanket or chair and relax on their beautiful front lawn while enjoying great local musicians. Free frozen treats will be provided. In case of inclement weather, the events will be held indoors at the library, 141 Main St. Georgetown 6 PM: This concert will take place outside on the library lawn so please bring lawn chairs or blankets. If the weather does not cooperate, the concert may be moved to another Wednesday night or...
Mello Transfer Station by the Numbers
Mello Transfer Station by the Numbers In only the first four months of operating the new solid waste transfer station located at 20 Carleton Drive in Georgetown, the Mello team continues to manage area solid waste and recycling safely and efficiently with proven results. Notably, the transfer station has received, processed, and transported for disposal 10,453 tons of solid waste through the month of June. The transfer stations continued focus on recycling has achieved positive results. Mello transfer recycling...
Lighthouse Thrift Store – SALISBURY
Lighthouse Thrift Store - SALISBURY SALISBURY, MASS. − The First Parish Newbury Food Pantry and Lighthouse Thrift Shop (Previously Leeward Light) partner together to support neighbors in our community. From left to right in photo: Beverly, Jane (from First Parish Church), Herb, Jonathan, Morgan, Kate, and Jane outside of the Lighthouse Thrift Store on Rte. 1., 126 Bridge Road, Salisbury. Store hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10 am - 5 pm, Sunday 10 am - 4 pm (Photo by Julianne DeSantis)
‘Exit Interview’ of a Firebrand: Long-Serving Conservation Commissioner Rachel Therrien – Part Two
GEORGETOWN – Rachel Therrien, the Chair, Vice Chair and long-time member of the Conservation Commission (ConCom) was not reappointed to serve the town. She is being replaced by a former SelectBoard Chair who has never served on the ConCom. Therrien was not invited to speak to the board to advocate for her reappointment, which she wanted to do, although she was present and requested to speak. Chair Doug Dawes said it was his decision not to let Therrien speak because he did not want “controversy.” The Town Common...
Changing Tides Café In New Hands
NEWBURYPORT – The popular Pleasant Street coffee shop Changing Tides has changed owners and is transitioning to be more than a coffee shop. Anne and George Potts, who spent their careers in corporate finance, strategic planning and marketing, purchased the shop and its lovely back patio from Kimberly Dillon. George grew up in New York City and Anne in Connecticut. They have already extended the hours, serve donuts three days a week instead of just on Fridays and are creating new signage to capitalize on the...
Newburyport’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church to Benefit from Shaw’s Re-usable Bag Program
NEWBURYPORT − The St. Basil’s Meal Ministry of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church has offered a weekly free Monday meal for many decades. The program has been selected as a nonprofit partner in the Shaw's GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag Program for August 2026. This means the St. Basil’s Meal Ministry will receive $1 for every $3.00 GIVE BACK WHERE IT COUNTS Reusable Bag sold throughout the month of August 2026 at the Shaw's at 45 Storey Avenue in Newburyport. The meal is offered every Monday from...
GROVELAND Statement of Robert E. Valentine Retiring Fire Chief
GROVELAND – “In November of 2024, during a visit to my doctor for a seasonal respiratory infection, my doctor found inconsistencies with my chest X-ray, and I was referred to a pulmonologist. At the follow-up appointment, which included scans and blood testing, I was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, a chronic, incurable progressive lung disease. After serving for nearly 50 years as a firefighter, my body was starting to show the telltale signs of my career. “I informed the Town of Groveland of my...
LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: ROWLEY’S Magic Dogland
This series of local businesses to encourage customers to shop local, and make people aware of the services, and talents, that we have surrounding us! Please shop local! by Kay Lee Ogden This week's business spotlight: Magic Dogland of Rowley, Mass, run by owner Kim Lewis and her daughter Desiree Lewis. Kim has a passion for the love of dogs, and to make them happy. Four years ago, Kim envisioned owning her own business and decided that she wanted a dog care center for dog sitting – a loving and caring space for...
A New Use for West Newbury’s Middle Street Bridge Granite
WEST NEWBURY – Pickleball courts seem to be springing up at any vacant spots as this sport solidifies its popularity with North Shore residents. But none of them have a granite wall reclaimed from the historic Middle Street Bridge, which connected Newburyport and West Newbury over the Upper Artichoke Reservoir since the 19th Century. The granite repurposed as a wall outside the new courts “is probably more valuable than the courts themselves,” Town Manager Angus Jennings said. The two new courts, at Action Cove...
Newburyport Public Library August Events
Monday, August 10th at 7 PM: "Act Worthy of Yourselves" with author Salina B. Baker (VIRTUAL). Author Salina B. Baker will be discussing her book, "Act Worthy of Yourselves: A Novel of Dr. Joseph Warren and an American Rebellion". This historical biographical novel brings Bostonian Dr. Joseph Warren to life in vivid, intimate detail. Virtual registration required. Tuesday, August 11th at 5:30 PM: Charcuterie Basics (IN PERSON). This hands-on workshop will teach the components of charcuterie, how to choose...
Newburyport Chamber Music Festival 25th Anniversary
The Newburyport Chamber Music Festival (NCMF) proudly announces its 2026 Summer Festival, marking 25 years of bringing world-class classical music to the North Shore. This milestone season features a repertoire balancing canonical masterpieces by Haydn, Mendelssohn, and Shostakovich with the contemporary creative brilliance of new works by Composer-in-Residence Jon Deak. The milestone season features a distinguished roster of guest artists, including the Grammy Award-winning Miró String Quartet, legendary...
‘Forced-Out’ ConCom Staff Cry Out for Change in Town Leadership
GEORGETOWN – For much of the last five years, there has been almost continuous turmoil in the staffing of one of this town’s most critical regulatory body – the Conservation Commission. The commission, known as the ConCom, protects the town’s natural resources, including endangered species; regulates wetlands ‒ ponds, lakes, rivers ‒ and manages open space. This volunteer board oversees environmental health through permitting, planning, and land stewardship. Orlando Pacheco has been the Georgetown Town...
Timothy Southall
Timothy Southall, 89, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Tim was born on October 12, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent his childhood growing up in several communities throughout Pennsylvania. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Barbara. Their friendship blossomed into a lifelong partnership, and they were married in 1959, sharing 67 years of love, faith, and devotion. Tim attended Gordon College before he and Barbara settled in Rowley, where they built...
North Shore Musical Theater Opens Doors for Future Stars
REGIONAL − Olivia Riley caught the acting bug at Amesbury Middle School, when she performed in The Little Mermaid, the school musical. She sings in its choir and plays the trumpet in the school band. This summer she got an extraordinary opportunity to be a cast member in the North Shore Music Theater’s production of JOSEPH AND THE TECHNOCOLOR DREAMCOAT. The sixth grader is one of 24 young people from the North Shore who make up the choir and are on stage at the award-winning theater for about one-third of the...
New Plum Island Gateway
PLUM ISLAND – Residents and visitors to Plum Island next spring will have a new gateway to the beaches when Cobalt Development finishes building two-story condominiums at 2 Plum Island Blvd., designed for year-round living. The two luxury condos, built on the site of the old Plum Island Grille, will be 2,040 square feet with three bedrooms and two and a half baths each. To take advantage of some of the best island’s best views, each condo will have two covered porches overlooking the Great Salt Marsh. One deck is...
Kayakers Cautioned: Weed Entanglement Conditions!
GEORGETOWN − Kayakers and paddleboard users are again cautioned to stay clear of the extensive weeds that are growing in Pentucket Pond. Last summer, Katelyn Barusso alerted the town that a kayaker had become entangled in the overgrowth and a near life-threatening incident occurred. "My husband and I were sitting on our deck when I noticed that a kayaker suddenly was not on his kayak any more. I went to get binoculars to take a closer look when he started screaming for help," she related in an e-mail to...
Parks and Recreation and Highway Department Work Together to Deliver Interim Swimming and Fishing Docks at American Legion Park
GEORGETOWN — Georgetown Parks and Recreation Commission Chair Mike Donahue announced this week that an interim solution is now in place at American Legion Park on Pentucket Pond, restoring usable public docks for both swimming and fishing. Parks and Recreation Commission successfully worked with Peter Durkee and the Georgetown Highway Department in combining sections of the existing older docks with the newly purchased smaller docks to create separate, functional areas for swimmers and anglers. The interim...
Feds May Help River Sewage Problem
REGIONAL – After years of banging on crumbling sewer pipes to get Washington’s attention about the sewage in the Merrimack River, the disaster this month of dumping millions of gallons a day of raw sewage into the river just before the 250th anniversary of Independence Day seems to have been what was needed. The disaster occurred when Haverhill hired a contractor to replace two collapsed portions of a 42-inch concrete line with two 24-inch mains. An accident released 8 million gallons of raw sewage into the...
Ucoming Maudslay Arts Center Concerts
Ucoming Maudslay Arts Center Concerts “Summer is just a brief season here in New England,” MAC Director Nicholas C. Costello said, “so come out and enjoy wonderful music at affordable prices in a spectacular natural setting.” Saturday evening at 7 p.m. come hear the Ken Clark Organ Trio (KCOT), which has been performing around New England and the eastern U.S. for the past 32 years. “Organist Ken Clark, guitarist Mike Mele, and drummer Steve Chaggaris lean on the beat, they build dynamic climaxes sprinkle in jazz...
Groveland News: Valley Screw Part 2
by Mike Dempsey GROVELAND NEWS Last year we featured a story about the former Valley Manufacturing Products facility at 64 Washington Street known locally as Valley Screw. The facility stopped production in the 1990’s and eventually was abandoned. The company still owns the site and building. The site and surrounding properties were the subject of a Superfund cleanup by the Environmental Protection Agency. As we reported, the owners of the company allowed hazardous waste and organic chemicals to be regularly...
ROWLEY: Timothy Southall, FORMER TEACHER, BASEBALL ORGANIZER – WAKE THURS – F.S. Roberts Funeral Home
Timothy Southall, 89, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Tim was born on October 12, 1936, in Baltimore, Maryland, and spent his childhood growing up in several communities throughout Pennsylvania. In 1955, he met the love of his life, Barbara. Their friendship blossomed into a lifelong partnership, and they were married in 1959, sharing 67 years of love, faith, and devotion. Tim attended Gordon College before he and Barbara settled in Rowley, where they built...
James Lloyd Johnston
James Lloyd Johnston, 82, died peacefully at his home in Newbury, Massachusetts, on July 20, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, on December 21, 1943, Jim was the beloved son of James Aloysius Johnston and Rita (Latreille) Johnston. He later became a proud citizen of the United States, where he spent the latter chapters of his remarkable life. Jim graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1969 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Throughout a career spanning more than five...
Robert C. Ash, Jr.
Robert C. Ash, Jr., 64, of Haverhill, MA, passed away on July 8, 2026, in Bridgeton, ME, surrounded by family after a short, yet courageous battle with lung cancer. Bob was born on December 31, 1961, in Beverly, MA, the son of Patricia (Nicoll) of Beverly and Robert Ash, Sr. of Topsfield. He graduated from Masconomet Regional High School in 1980. In 1988, he purchased a home in Haverhill, MA with his former wife, Barbara Ash, where he built a welcoming home for his family. Bob dedicated his career to the optics...
Donald L. Kent
Donald L. Kent, lifetime resident of Rowley, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2026, at the age of 94 with his children at his side. He was the devoted husband of 67 years to Virginia Ann lglehart Kent, who preceded him in death just one year ago. This loss was soon compounded by the passing of his beloved youngest daughter, Mary Katherine Kent Cierpich. Donald was born in Ipswich, MA on September 23, 1931, son of the late Anna O. and Howard L. Kent. He began publishing the Rowley News, a small weekly newspaper,...