A Letter from the Co-Presidents |
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As we approach the end of our 2020-2021 ‘season’ (for those who don’t know, we take a break from events for the summer in July and re-engage late August/early September), we reflect on a year that was far (far, far) from perfect, but that somehow brought us together despite it all. We are so thankful for our membership and the incredible participation and support we received from all of you this year. As a council, we committed from the start to putting on as many events and opportunities for connection as possible – despite our limited ability to do so in person – and to providing as much of a ‘community’ feel as we could despite the restrictive nature of the pandemic. Looking back, we are gratified by the number of faces we saw on Zoom, moms gathered around fires for book club, parents and kids braving weather of all sorts at playgroups, and comments and connections on Facebook. Looking forward, we are so happy to be able to ring in the summer with some great, in-person events and are excited to be able to gather and celebrate in larger capacities and with eased restrictions. We’re excited to see each other smile! We’re excited to say cheers from less than 6 feet apart! And we’re excited to meet new members “in real life” (as my 5-year-old would say about non-virtual events). The Mom’s Lawn Party in June should afford us all of these opportunities and we CANNOT WAIT!
In closing, I want to extend a larger-than-words thank you to Mugsy, co-president extraordinaire, and our entire club council. This year was a big pivot. So much effort went in to completely reorienting the way we operate, and I’ve been so fortunate to work with such an amazing team of women.
We hope to see many of you in June!
Emily & Mugsy
Co-Presidents, 2020-2021
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Note: Due to added content this year, some email clients may clip or shorten how the newsletter appears in your inbox. Please check to confirm you are viewing the newsletter in its entirety. The final section of the newsletter is now titled "Civic Engagement" and ends with a sub-section on Beverly Schools District Events and Info. You may need to scroll to the end of the email and click "View entire message." As a reminder, a link to the newsletter is also posted on our Facebook page.
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Upcoming Event Dates
6/10 @7:00pm - Enrichment's Cooking Club Meets**
6/12 @6:00pm - Mom's Night Out Lawn Party
6/24 @6:00pm/7:30pm - Enrichment presents an in-person outing to the Gloucester Stage for dinner/ drinks and an outdoor performance of Tiny Beautiful Things
6/29 @TBD - Book Club discusses “The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi
**Check the Enrichment Section to get involved and/or click HERE for the repeating Zoom link
Recurring Group Meet-Ups
Tuesdays: Toddler Group Meets (get on the list, see details below!)
Wednesdays: Tight Tush Group Hikes (get on the list, see details below!)
Wednesdays: Baby Group Gathers (get on the list, see details below!)
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SAVE THE DATE, Saturday June 12th, we’re throwing ourselves a Lawn Party. This will be an outdoor event with food, lawn games, music, plenty of vino, and a couple surprises.
Please note, we have had an overwhelming response and are SO excited to see so many of you in person. If you're joining us, please consider carpooling or ridesharing as parking will be limited on the street. Questions? Reach out!
Cheers!
-Courtney & Kelly
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Enrichment Events
Thank you for joining our May Enrichment programming – we hosted Valerie McCormack, who shared her Estate Planning expertise with us. If you missed us live, please feel free to tune into the recording of the Zoom (passcode: o0!3m!wc). It’s a must watch for all parents.
We have some fun events planned in June, which I hope you’ll join.
Thursday, June 10th - 7pm - Virtual Cooking Club will be grilling up lamb burgers. I’ll be testing out my new-to-me kitchen and cooking up some yummy summer fare. Look for an email with ingredients and prep instructions later this week. This is the Zoom link if you’d like to join!
Thursday, June 24th - 6pm Dinner/Drinks 7:30pm Showtime - Join us for our first IN-PERSON enrichment event of the year. We will be headed to Gloucester Stage for drinks and a picnic dinner (bring your own food or enjoy a box catered by Willow Rest), which will be followed by an outdoor performance of Tiny Beautiful Things by Nia Vardalos, based on the book by Cheryl Strayed. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be sold on site. Gloucester Stage has offered to provide each Mothers’ Club guest with a free drink ticket. Look for more information and a link to buy your ticket in an email this week! The Biergarten will open at 6pm for lounging and eating and the outdoor show will start at 7:30pm.
-Molly
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Book Club News
Thanks to everyone who came out to discuss “The Lions of Fifth Avenue” by Fiona Davis. It was great to see so many of you! Our book pick for June is “The Henna Artist” by Alka Joshi, discussion date Tuesday 6/29. We plan to continue meeting outdoors for the spring and summer. We’ve had a great turnout over the past few months - so please feel free to join the fun if you haven’t already! The official invitation with time and location details will be sent shortly so please reach out to me if you are not currently on the list and would like to stay informed.
As always, email me at hwmcbooks@gmail.com with any suggestions for future books.
Read on, book nerds!
Becky
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Children's Corner
Hi Mamas!
As summer approaches us, we are reflecting on the past year with gratitude for the extra time we got with our kiddos, but are very eager for things to finally get back to normal-ish. We missed having children's events this year for our kids and are optimistically looking forward to holding them again come fall.
In the meantime, check out these fun summer activities to keep your wild ones busy. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer and we can’t wait to see you all at future children’s events!
Enjoy!
-Katie & Julie
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Happy June, Moms!
We are extending our Spring Diaper Drive until June 15th and are also now including wipes and diaper creams! These donations will go to help babies in local foster care through The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Citizens Inn, The Community Giving Tree and more! For convenience, there is an Amazon Wish List for those that wish to purchase and have them shipped directly to us. You can also drop items off at either Hadley or Di’s homes (addresses posted on our private Facebook page - just search for our Diaper Drive post). We can also accept opened diaper packages!
As always, let us know if you have any questions!
Thanks,
-Hadley and Di
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Toddler Playgroup
Happy June!
As summer break approaches, we’d like to thank everyone who joined us for a playgroup this past year. While we are excited for all that summer brings, we will miss our Tuesday mornings with you and your kids!
Toddler group will continue to meet weekly on Tuesdays at 10am through June 15th if the weather permits. We plan to have something special for you and the kids at our last playgroup and hope you can join and close out an amazing year with us! Be on the lookout for a reminder email every Monday with playgroup details.
As always, we are asking that everyone follow current MA state mask guidelines.
See you on the playground!
-Sarah & Tanya
Baby Group
Baby Group continues to meet weekly on Wednesdays at 11 am for either a socially distanced walk or for a backyard meet-up. We continue to welcome new members and hope you can join us!
If you would like to join the Baby Group please email me at hwmcbabygroup@gmail.com so that you can be added to the contact list and receive updates regarding our weekly meet-ups.
Hope to see you on Wednesdays!
-Erica
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Tight Tush
For those of you that don’t know about the Tight Tush hikes, it’s a weekly hike on Wednesday mornings at 9:30 that takes about one hour. Most of the hikes take place at Appleton Farms in Ipswich and require strollers with bigger wheels (like a BOB or other jogging stroller) or a hiking backpack if bringing your baby/toddler due to the terrain of the trails. Depending on the weather, sometimes the hikes take place at Woodland Mead loop in Hamilton, which is completely paved and any stroller will do. Babies & toddlers are welcome, but not required. Solo moms are welcome on the hikes as well. If your child is watched by a nanny, father or grandparent on Wednesday morning, they are also welcome to join the hike with your child.
**The HWMC continues to prioritize the safety of our members and children and are adhering to current Covid-19 guidelines. Please see visit HERE for current mask requirements/guidance for the Tight Tush hikes. **
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The spring baby boom continues into the summer with more new babies! And while we still are not doing home cooked meals for new moms, we are providing Honeycomb treats for a little something special for those mamas. If you recently had a baby (or know a member who has) please reach out to let me know (hannahdendas@gmail.com).
Best wishes to all the new mamas!
-Hannah
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Although the last year has brought some unexpected changes, families are continuing to find new homes on the North Shore! We welcomed some wonderful families this spring and can't wait to meet some more as the weather continues to get warmer! If you know a family who has recently moved to the area or is planning on moving soon, please let us know by sending an email to Katie Hashim at hwmcwelcomewagon@gmail.com. We would love to safely drop off a non-edible welcome gift and some information about the Mothers' Club.
If you aren't new to the area but would still like to view our list of family activities, please visit our website. The Things To Do section of the site includes suggestions from HWMC members on their favorite playgrounds, farms, kid friendly restaurants, and other indoor and outdoor activities on the North Shore.
Also, a big thank you to Northern Lights Farm Stand for donating jam and honey for our welcome gifts! Stop by and check them out on High Street in Ipswich or visit their Facebook page for more info.
Hope to meet you soon!
-Katie
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HAMILTON-WENHAM UPDATES
KINDERGARTEN:
For those of you with Kindergarteners entering the HWRSD, registration is currently open! If you haven't registered yet, see the below links for Kindergarten registration information and a recording of the Kindergarten information session held on March 11th:
Regional Public Health Partnership: new Public Health Nurse and Social Worker
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has awarded Hamilton, Wenham, Manchester-by-the-Sea and Essex funds to form a new Regional Public Health Partnership through the Public Health Excellence for Shared Services grant program to support a full time Regional Public Health Nurse and a part time Regional Social Worker. The Regional Public Health Nurse will be responsible for managing public health clinics, emergency preparedness planning, communicable disease follow-up, and all other nursing functions as required. The Regional Social Worker is expected to provide crisis intervention and information referral services for all residents, infants to seniors, as well as working with the two regional school districts as both an educational and mental health resource.
WENHAM EVENTS & UPDATES
May 2021 Election Results:
Board of Assessors: John W. Bucco
Board of Health: Gerald T. Donnellan
Board of Selectmen: Dianne K. Bucco
Moderator: Roger L. Smerage
Planning Board: Anne Brewster Weeks
Water Commission: Water Commission
Wenham Housing Authority: Suzanne D. Thomas
Wenham Housing Authority: Martha A. Carr
Pride Flag Raising Ceremony - Tuesday, June 1
Wenham Town Hall, 6:30pm
Openings include positions on the Conservation Commission, Cultural Council, Historic District Commission, and the Wenham Human Rights Commission.
100 Rain Barrels are available for purchase at a discounted rate of $34.50 (70% off the full retail price) to Wenham residents through The Great American Rain Barrel. Visit the Water Department page for more information on the rain barrel program details.
Pleasant Pond Beach Stickers are available for purchase in the Town Clerk's office.
- Mondays & Wednesdays: 1:00pm - 4:30pm
- Tuesdays & Thursdays: 9:00am - 12:00pm
- Fridays: Closed
To view the local Committee Meeting schedule, please click here.
HAMILTON EVENTS & UPDATES
May 2021 Election Results:
Town Selectmen, two positions: Shawn M. Farrell (597 votes) and William A. Olson (497 votes); Brian L. Shaw lost (484 votes)
Moderator: William F; Bowler
Board of Assessors: Steven G. Ozahowski
Planning Board, two openings: Frederick G. Mitchell and Jonathan F. Poore
Housing Authority: Sherryl L. Leonard
HW Library Trustees: Dianne L. Johnson and Cara A. Fauci
HW Regional School Committee: Julia C. Campbell and Jennifer A. Carr
Question 1: Debt Exclusion Town Hall Renovations: Yes (442) No (513)
The Patton Homestead will now include a new coworking space run by Inc.Ubate. Private and group work spaces are available, and membership rates range from $100-350/month.
New England utility customers are being warned about a new scam using a peer-to-peer app to steal money. Please remember: National Grid would never threaten immediate shut-off, and in fact, right now due to the pandemic, no residential customers are experiencing terminations. When in doubt, always phone National Grid’s Customer Service hotline at 1-800-322-3223. For additional information please visit ngrid.com/scam.
Vaccinations for Homebound Residents
For those of you who have family or friends in Hamilton who are homebound and not yet vaccinated REGARDLESS OF AGE: please contact the Public Health Nurse at 978-290-9618. Criteria for qualifying for a homebound vaccination include:
- Individuals who require an ambulance or two-person assistance to leave the home.
- Are not able to leave the home for medical appointments under normal circumstances
- Have considerable difficulty and or require significant support to leave the home for medical appointments.
To view the local Committee Meeting Schedule, please click here.
HAMILTON/WENHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT INFO
Helpful links:
BEVERLY IMPORTANT EVENTS
The City of Beverly is currently undertaking two coastal resilience projects – the first is for a feasibility assessment and conceptual designs for green infrastructure at Obear Park at 145 Livingstone Avenue; the second is to complete a vulnerability assessment and feasibility study for the Beverly Pump Station at 135 Water Street.
These feasibility studies are the first step in establishing long-term protections for Obear Park and the pump station. As the projects near completion, the City is holding two public forums – one for each project – in June. At these meetings, the City will share results of the studies, and again receive input from the community. The meetings are open to the general public, and community members or other interested parties are encouraged to attend both.
Additional information on both projects can be found on the City’s Climate Resilience and Adaptation webpage.
Obear Park (145 Livingstone Avenue): The public forum for the Obear Park coastal resilience project is scheduled for Thursday, June 10th, from 7:00-8:30 PM. The forum will be virtual, and will take place through Zoom. Meeting access information can be found on the City calendar. During this forum, community members will learn about the ongoing impacts that climate change has had on the park, and hear about short- and long-term solutions that have been identified as most likely to protect the park from additional impacts of storms, sea level rise, and more. The meeting will include a question and answer period when participants can discuss the project with City staff.
The Pump Station at 135 Water Street: The public forum for the South Essex Sewerage District (SESD) pump station coastal resilience project is scheduled for Wednesday, June 9th, from 7:00-8:30 PM. The forum will be virtual, and will take place through Zoom. Meeting access information can be found on the City calendar. During this forum, community members will receive a recap on how the sewer pump station serves Beverly and the surrounding community and the increasing risk of coastal flooding in the area, and will learn about the results of the feasibility study and what options the City and SESD have to ensure the pump station is protected from long-term climate impacts. The meeting will include a question and answer period when participants can discuss the project with City staff and SESD staff.
The walls of the Children's Room are vibrant and playful with a new collection of Christian Robinson prints. Illustrator and author, Christian Robinson grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt, and grandmother in Los Angeles. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. He illustrated Last Stop on Market Street written by Matt de la Peña, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and the Newbery Medal. His solo projects include Another, which was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2019, and the uplifting and inclusive picture book, You Matter.
BEVERLY SCHOOL DISTRICT EVENTS AND INFO
Helpful links:
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