Folk Pop Quartet appears next in the STC Music & More Series April 9

Called “a genre unto itself” by the Boston Globe, the group takes the stage for one night only at Salem Theatre Company’s STC Theater, 90 Lafayette Street on Saturday, April 9, at 7:30PM.  Tickets are just $15 and are available now at www.salemtheatre.com/tickets, or you may reserve tickets for pick-up at the door by calling 978-790-8546 or e-mailing info@salemtheatre.com.  Only cash and checks are accepted at the box office.

Tripping Lily’s music has been featured on Showtime’s “The Big C” and went to #1 on WUMB in Boston.  The quartet also appeared at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2010. Described as a string band with pop music sensibilities, or perhaps a cutting edge vocal quartet with acoustic instruments, the group features Demetrius Becrelis (guitar/vocals/ukulele), Alex Becrelis (mandolin/vocals), Monica Rizzio (fiddle/vocals/ukulele), and Laird Boles (stringed bass).

Touted as fresh, energetic, and alive, Tripping Lily’s pop-rock groundwork is cross-fertilized with folk music and cutting edge vocal harmonies. The band’s unique ability to absorb traditional music while speaking to the here and now is proof of their versatility as contemporary musicians.

Most-promising Junior Tennis Players in the Northeast Hit Manchester Athletic Club this Weekend

Manchester Athletic Club will play host this weekend, March 18-21, to 24 standout junior tennis players from across the country’s northeast region. This marks the first camp of its kind held at Manchester Athletic Club since the club was named a Regional Training Center by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) this past December.

Players born between 1998 and 2003 who display the greatest potential in their age groups were hand-selected by USTA regional player development directors and national coaches to train together for this prestigious three-day session. Many players already have national rankings, with six of Manchester Athletic Club’s MAC Tennis Academy players in the mix, including: Priyanka Sundhar of Hopkinton, Sydney and Jordan Weinberg of Winchester, Tobin Clark-Goldfeld of Hamilton, Eliot Rozovsky of Brookline and William Barry of Beverly.

“It’s a big honor to be named as USTA Regional Training Center,” said Todd Carpenter, Director of Tennis at Manchester Athletic Club. “This weekend’s camp will bring together some of the most talented young players in the northeast with some of the top USTA coaches in the country. Local players and tennis enthusiasts are fortunate to have this kind of exposure to tennis at its most competitive levels.”

Leading the USTA RTC Camp this weekend are USTA National coaches Ricardo Acuna, a former Davis Cup player for Chile and Tim Mayotte, a former professional tennis player and Olympian from Springfield, MA.

Manchester Athletic Club’s MAC Tennis Academy includes the biggest pool of highly ranked tennis players in New England, including five #1-ranked players in New England and more than 15 players in the top 10 of their age group.

For additional information, contact Todd Carpenter, Director of Tennis, at Manchester Athletic Club: 978-526-8900 ext. 238 or tcarpenter@mactennis.com.

Please join us for an afternoon to design your new Spring look! This is your chance to be the first to check out our new fabrics, design your new Spring bag and shop for new Spring jewelry!! Join us for bags, baubles, and berries! Anna Street Custom Handbags and Cookie Lee Jewelry are teaming up for a Spring Soiree on March 27th! Please join us for an afternoon of bags, baubles, bubbly and berries! Raffles and Giveaways! FREE product could be yours!

When: March 27th from 1pm – 4pm

Where: Anna Street Studio, 655 Portsmouth Ave, Greenland, NH

Look forward to seeing you there!

http://www.yourannastreet.com/aenglish/ & http://www.cookielee.biz/esuite/home/loricoleman

Ready- get set- go- to the Marblehead Treasures Online Auction. There are all sorts of wonderful treats and treasures online. The auction opens at 10 am on April 3 and closes at 10 pm on April 17, providing two weeks to purchase great gifts for yourself or someone special. Marblehead Museum Auction chair Sharon Thibodeau, with Kim Downing and Pam Cassidy, have organized a fabulous shopping spree. All proceeds will benefit the Marblehead Museum & Historical Society and the Lee Mansion.

The auction has a Marblehead theme, offering many items that aren’t available anywhere else. How about an evening in the cupola of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, sipping champagne? Or a personal wine tasting in your home for 12 guests, complete with hors d’ouvres? A winter parking space in Marblehead is also for sale, that’s a treasure for sure. A sail boat ride, a B&B overnight, or guaranteed parking and personal shopper for the Marblehead Garden Club’s plant sale on May 14? Marblehead merchants have been very generous with jewelry, flower arrangements, gift certificates and Marblehead themed gifts. For collectors there are many great buys, paintings, prints, books and a set of 13 Marblehead Festival of Arts glasses- one from each year- in pristine condition.

Go online now at www.biddingforgood.com/mmhsauction and check out the great buys! More items are being added every day, and you won’t want to miss out on this unique and delightful auction. Sponsorship opportunities are available as well. Questions? Call 781-631-1768.

Renowned Photographer Kerry Hook to showcase “Our Paths to Enlightenment” and “Bought & Sold” Photography Exhibit Celebrated North Shore Photographer to be Featured at the Firehouse Center for the Arts ~ Newburyport MA

WHAT: Renowned photographer Kerry Hook of Kiki Larouge Photography will be showcasing two collections of work from May 11th thru June 12th at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport, MA. As a world traveler and acclaimed photographer, she has had several shows on Newbury Street in Boston, has been the Featured Photographer the past two years at North Shore Art Throb and recently has been published in the book “Art is Where You Find It.” This event is both an opportunity to view and purchase Hook’s work and to meet her in person at her Artist’s Reception on May 14th from 2PM to 5PM. Wine will be served and Newburyport’s Ceia Kitchen + Bar will be providing hors d’oeuvres.

The first collection, “Our Paths to Enlightenment”, embraces the faith and spirituality of the dominant religions of Hinduism and Buddhism that prevail in the regions. These images are meant to invoke introspection and meditation and honor the journey each individual takes to find their own happiness and enlightenment — from a Standing Sadhu worshipping Shiva during Shivararti at Pashupatinath Temple to the serene staircase in the early morning fog at the World Peace Pagoda in Lumbini (Birthplace of the Buddha).

The second collection, “Bought & Sold”, showcases Hook’s recent photojournalism work with Maiti Nepal (www.maitinepal.org), a non-profit organization that combats the sex trafficking of young Nepali girls and women from Nepal in to India brothels — the average age of a trafficked girl is 9 to 13. Nestled in the Himalayas between China and India, Nepal is one of the most impoverished countries in the world. Women are no longer considered part of the maternal family once married and the husband is deemed her God. Their literacy rate is estimated at 26%. Founded in 1993 by CNN 2010 Hero Anuradha Koirala, Maiti Nepal runs a shelter, hospices, schools, prevention homes, transit homes, half-way home and daily border surveillances at ten porous border crossings between India and Nepal. “Maiti” translates loosely to “mother’s home” and that is what Koirala’s NGO is for thousands of women and children who are rescued and come to her every day for safety, support, rehabilitation and love. Documenting and raising awareness about this human atrocity is Ms. Hook’s passion. Her approach is deeply personal and her images show not only the reality of trafficking but also the hope and strength of the survivors and those saving them.

WHEN: May 11th through June 12th, Artist’s Reception MAY 14th from 2 to 5PM, Gallery Hours: 12PM -5PM Wednesday – Sunday with extended hours on performance nights

WHERE: Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport MA 01950, 978.462.7336

INFO: For more information contact the artist directly at 617.875.7339 or via email at kikilarougephotography@gmail.com.

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce invites all to the 14th Annual Spring Home & Garden Show during the weekend of March 19th & 20th, 2011. The Spring Home & Garden Show will be held at Marblehead High School, 2 Humphrey St. with extended show hours – Sat. March 19 – 10am to 5pm and Sun. March 20 – 11am to 4pm. This year’s show will once again afford attendees opportunities to meet one on one with home and garden related vendors to discuss home improvement/enhancement needs in the areas of: Location & Finance, Planning & Design, Exterior Considerations, Materials & Products, and Special Home & Garden Needs. This weekend-long event also includes a silent auction, family entertainment and activities, and presentations. As in previous years, our theme is “Your Home is your Greatest Asset. Invest in it.”

About the Spring Home & Garden Show

What: 14th Annual Spring Home & Garden Show

When: March 19-20, 2011, Sat. 10am to 5pm and Sun. 11am to 4pm

Where: Marblehead High School, 2 Humphrey St. The High School is located in the same parking lot area as the Community Center (former Show location), and there is plenty of free parking for attendees.

Cost: Admission is $2, and Seniors and Kids are FREE.

NEW: “Taste of Marblehead” at the event. Some of our favorite local restaurants and caterers will be on-site throughout the weekend. Look for Every Little Breeze Catering, Hooked Seafood & Grill, The Landing Restaurant, and more…

Participating Businesses

GOLD SPONSORS

Gilbert & Cole Building Products, XFINITY, The Daily Item

SILVER SPONSORS

A&A Services, Inc., Eastern Bank, Marblehead Patch

ALSO PARTICIPATING

Billy Sweet Chimney Sweep, Camden Painting, Carpenter Costin, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, First Century Painting, Harborside Realty, Justin Epstein Masonry, Leahy Landscaping, Lifetime Exteriors, Management Design Associates, Marblehead Garden Center, Inc., Marblehead Patch, National Grand Bank, Newpro, Neutocrete Systems, Inc., Oceanside Cabinets, Olsen/Curtis Fence LLC, Owens Corning, Plants and, Pleasantrees, Rescom Interiors, Sagan Agency Realtors, Seaside Plumbing & Heating Co., ShelfGenie, Stone Pavers, William Raveis Real Estate

Performances and Presentations on Saturday, March 19th. Performances will be held in the High School Auditorium and can be accessed directly from the Showroom.

1:00pm – Marblehead native Jenny Johnson, NECN, will be featuring highlights from New England Dream House. Jenny Johnson has been the Executive Producer of NECN’s restaurant show, TV Diner, since 2007, and is the star of the TV Diner segment, The Jenny Cam. She is also NECN’s Culture and Lifestyle Reporter. Raised in Marblehead, Mass., Jenny graduated with honors from the University of New Hampshire where she majored in Communications. She spent a semester in Florence, Italy where she studied interior design and art history.

2:00pm – The Boston Ballet School presents Ballet Story Hour, featuring A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Join Boston Ballet and hear Children’s Faculty member Jennifer Scott read the story of a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Followed by viewing real Ballet costumes and learning a dance from the ballet. All participants receive a Boston Ballet goody bag.

Kid’s Activities

Face painting, temporary tattoos, and balloon twisting throughout the weekend.

“Kids Plant their Own Flowers” sponsored by Camden Painting

For more information, please visit www.marbleheadchamber.org or call the Chamber office at 781-631-2868.

Many patrons of Comida Mexican Taqueria like to accent their food with spice, and the owners of the new takeout restaurant on Essex Street in Salem are happy to oblige.

Comida will put on “Heat Night” on Sunday, March 20 from 6 to 8 p.m.This will be the second installment of the popular initiative.

According to Larry Claflin Jr., Comida’s manager, “Heat Night” is an opportunity for local hot-sauce enthusiasts to gather and sample sauces from Mexico and the United States and meet others who like to bring the heat.

Admission to “Heat Night” is free. Comida will sell food and bottles of hot sauce, which make creative gifts, said Claflin.

The restaurant will provide a variety of sauces and salsas, and information on different regions of Mexico and the flavors they produce. There will also be comment cards available, so attendees can rate the different sauces and mention others they would like to see for sale at Comida.

According to Claflin, the night came about partly from Comida’s window display.

“We placed a variety of hot sauces in our front window when we opened in September, and we noticed lots of people stopping to look at what we had,” he said.

After trying Comida’s fresh food, those customers became loyal, always asking to spice up meals with the eatery’s extra-hot habanera sauce, or its XXXtra-hot habanera. On the way out, they’d often sample from Comida’s hot-sauce bar, which includes such brands as Yucateca, Tabasco and Chulula,

“We have plenty of customers who love us for our food without the space, he said, “but a growing percentage of people, especially here on the North Shore, seem to love spicy stuff, so we want to provide it for them.”

On Sunday, March 6, 2011 Manchester Athletic Club hosted Spin for Hope.  The club has participated in the event for 7 straight years.  Spin for Hope began in March 2005 with a goal of raising $30,000. That year, six clubs participated, (Boston Athletic Club, Beverly Athletic Club, Manchester Athletic Club, Orchard Hills Athletic Club, Wayside Racquet & Swim, and Worcester Fitness) and raised $115,000 via online donations, cash/check donations, and corporate sponsorships. By 2010, the event has grown to nearly 50 clubs in New England, and has raised over $1.2 million.

At the event over 70 participants cycled on 50 spin bikes, used their training bikes on stationary trainers and ran on treadmills to raise money to fight Cancer.  The participants were led by 9 instructors over a 3 hour period.  Lindsay Norton, Group Fitness Director at the club and Nikki Parisi, group fitness instructor and personal trainer organized the event and every year the club is a top performer in fundraising.

Through Sunday, Manchester Athletic Club has raised over $27,000.  The club expects to raise $40,000 for the American Cancer Society.  All donations are welcome.  Donations for the American Cancer Society are accepted at Manchester Athletic Club, 8 Atwater Avenue, Manchester, MA, 01944, attention Lindsay Norton.  Donations can be sent through March 31, 2011.

Members of Quota International of Andover will be hosting a Story Time, for children ages 4-10, at the North Andover Steven’s Memorial Library on Saturday, March 19, from 1:00-3:00 pm. Sign language interpreters will be on hand to sign a selection of children’s books along with the Quota members who will be reading a variety of story books. Many children are interested in learning sign language at an early age and this is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn sign language in a comfortable setting. Refreshments will be available.

The service mission of Quota International focuses on deaf and hard-of-hearing persons and disadvantaged women and children. Together, local clubs provide hundreds of thousands of service hours and over a million dollars each year to help people in need in their own communities and worldwide. Many clubs provide scholarships for deaf persons or for students planning careers related to speech and hearing.

All are welcomed to attend. No pre-registration is required. Anyone interested in learning more about Quota International and the Andover Club may stop by to pick up information and to meet some of the members at the story time.

For more information on Quota service, visit www.wesharefoundation.org. To learn more about Quota International of Andover, contact June Braunlich, Membership Chair, junebraunlich@aol.com

The Robert Lehman Art Center at Brooks School is pleased to announce its latest exhibit, “Pulp Fiction Paintings: Selections from the Robert Lesser Collection.” The exhibit, which features 37 pieces that are part of a promised gift to the New Britain Museum of American Art, runs from April 7 through June 11.

The oil paintings were original created in the 1930s, ’40s and early ’50s as pulp fiction book covers. The best-known protagonists from the literary genre — which featured adventure, mystery, science fiction, war and westerns — are Tarzan and the Shadow.

Written during the Great Depression and World War II, the novels were specifically created as an easy and inexpensive escape for working class men. Overt heroism and stereotypes prevail: women are always victims; outsiders are always enemies; heroes are always muscular, handsome and squeaky clean.

“The covers of pulp fiction books, or ‘dime novels,’ are all so over the top — made even more graphic than the text to catch the reader’s eye on the newsstand,” said Marie Costello, director of the RLAC. “Great imagination went into the designs: a kind of short-cut narrative of what is inside and exaggerated for the greatest emotional impact.”

Lesser bought his first pulp fiction painting — which was made for the cover of the September 1933 pulp magazine, The Shadow — in 1972. He now owns close to 200 original paintings, matched by no other pulp fiction collector in the country. He’s also the author of Pulp Art: Original Cover Paintings for the Great American Pulp Magazines (Gramercy, 1997).

In conjunction with the gallery exhibit, film teacher Matt Grant will air a sampling of pulp fiction movies to students. Additionally, English Department Head Dean Charpentier will help students write their own pulp fiction stories, for which art students will design the book covers, with the aid of Arts Department Head Amy Graham. The pieces will be available to read in the school’s library.

Brooks’ connection with the New Britain Museum of American Art is personal in nature, as museum director Douglas Hyland graduated from the North Andover boarding school in 1967. Hyland will be on hand for the show’s opening reception on Thursday, April 7, as will collector Robert Lesser. Lesser will discuss his collection in the school’s Science Center Forum at 6:30 p.m., which will be followed by the gallery reception from 7 to 8 p.m.

The special events, along with the exhibit itself, are free and open to the public. Marie Costello, Robert Lesser and Douglas Hyland are available for interviews. Hi-res jpgs of the pieces are available, but a tour of the exhibit can also be arranged. For more on Lesser, go to: http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0856/features/hooked.shtml

List of Artists in Exhibition:
Allen Anderson | Rudolph Belarski | Frederick Blakeslee | Howard Brown | Richard Case| Rafael De Soto | A. Drake | Virgil Finlay | Eugene Frandzen | George Gross | Laurence Herndon | L. Raymond Jones | Milton Luros | H. L. Parkhurst | Frank R. Paul | Hubert Rogers | George Rozen | H. Winfield Scott | Malcolm Smith | James Allen St. John | Paul Stahr | Hugh Joseph Ward

Help Our Children Grow

The Girls and Boys Club of Lawrence is pleased to announce that the annual dinner-auction “Garden Party: Help Our Children Grow” will be taking place on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Diburros in Haverhill, Mass.  The Lawrence Boys and Girls Club has been the forefront of youth development in Lawrence for over 118 years and now, more than ever, is reaching out to community to join this event.

“The annual auction is the major fundraiser for the year.  We rely on the money raised this evening to keep the doors to the club open,” said Markus Fischer, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence.  “We have a committed team that runs this event each year but are still looking to the community to support.”

The auction committee would welcome volunteers, donations or new ideas.  One easy way to participate in this event is by purchasing a raffle ticket.  This year through a generous donation from Tiffany & Co., the club has a raffle for a stunning Diamond Three Row Metro Bangle. The winner will be drawn on Saturday, April 9 at the Annual Auction taking place a Diburros in Haverhill, Mass.  You do not have to be present at the auction to win.

The 18K White Gold Bracelet is beautifully set with 2 carats of brilliant round diamonds, and is valued at over $8,500. The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence are selling only 300 tickets at $100, so the odds of winning are high. The winner will be drawn at the auction, but their presence is not necessary.

The success of the raffle and the auction is critical to providing much-needed funding to support the educational and recreational programs that are offered at the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence. 25 percent of the organization’s revenue is generated from the Auction and summer golf tournament.   Take part in bettering the lives of so many young children while having the opportunity to win this exquisite prize.

For more information contact the Club at 978 683-2747 or check out the website to learn more about the Auction at more information about the raffle, auction or join the committee please contact Kathy Boshar at kboshar@lawrencebgc.com. or go to the website at www.lawrencebgc.com.

ItaliaOutdoors, a provider of private, personalized recreational vacations in Northern Italy, introduced today a unique program called “Chefs on Bikes,” one example of their active culinary tours for bikers, skiers and hikers who want to explore everything Northern Italy has to offer while enjoying their favorite outdoor activities.

Each ItaliaOutdoor program is individually designed and led by company founders Vernon McClure and Kathy Bechtel. Programs feature personalized guided tours tailored to each group’s favorite leisure activities, cultural interests and fitness levels. Unlike traditional biking and walking tour companies that offer standardized itineraries, ItaliaOutdoors caters to guests of all ages, interests and fitness levels to ensure everyone experiences Italy in a way that is most enjoyable for them.

This past bike season, ItaliaOutdoors kicked off a Master Chef program and hosted Master Chef Jody Adams of Rialto Restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts on two culinary bike tours of the Veneto region of Italy that includes the area of Northern Italy from the Dolomites to the sea, where guests explored the wine roads of Valpolicella and the cities of Verona and Venice.

Said, Jody Adams describing her experience with ItaliaOutdoors, “There are so many beautiful back roads and hidden treasures in this wonderful area of Italy. Exploring by bike with ItaliaOutdoors provided a nice pace that gave more opportunity for discovery and conversation. Each evening, we gathered around the table to create and share a wonderful meal, enjoy spectacular wines and plenty of laughter. This trip was the perfect mix of adventure and fun.”

Personalized Private Programs Are Designed Around You

ItaliaOutdoors Chefs on Bikes program is just one example of the personalized itineraries ItaliaOutdoors can create for small groups of bikers, skiers and hikers. ItaliaOutdoors offers bike routes for the more relaxed cyclist, or more challenging rides, including aggressive hill climbs and longer days in the saddle. The company accommodates all levels of bikers, with optional daily loops to keep even the strongest riders busy. Ski itineraries include lessons for all levels of skier or snowboarder, guided resort skiing or backcountry explorations, as well as alternate activities for the non-skier or a rest day. Hikers can enjoy a hut-to-hut trek across the spectacular Dolomites, or more leisurely day hikes with 4-star accommodations each night. On all tours, there is time each day to discover and enjoy the amazing culture and foods and wines that have made Italy a favorite destination for so many travelers.

ItaliaOutdoors culinary programming features everything from basic cooking skills to gourmet meals, with Master Chefs. Guests enjoy regional cuisine lessons ranging from fundamental cooking to more advanced techniques depending upon the group. Groups can also learn ways to address specific dietary needs, such as healthy cooking, vegetarian recipes, or salt-free or gluten-free diets. Or if guests just want to eat well during your vacation, ItaliaOutdoors will guide you to the best in the local cuisine. For those not able to make it to Italy, ItaliaOutdoors offers in-home cooking classes featuring the amazing regional cuisine of Northern Italy, paired with Italian wines.

Hosted by Recreational and Culinary Experts

Owner Vernon McClure is the recreational programmer and fitness expert for Italiaoutdoors. Vernon is an ex-army ranger and four-time ironman with 15 years of experience leading active tours of Northern Italy, including biking, skiing, snowboarding, climbing, scuba diving and sailing. Originally from Kentucky, Vernon has resided in Italy for the last 19 years, where he has instructed thousands of bikers, hikers and skiers of all levels and abilities. With a master’s degree in European literature, Vernon continues to be an enthusiastic student of the history and culture of Italy.

Co-owner Kathy Bechtel joined ItaliaOutdoors to share her culinary and wine expertise, passion for the outdoors, and love of Italy. A former Bell Lab telecommunications engineer with an MBA in Strategic Management, Kathy left the nine-to-five world to attend culinary school, where she graduated first in her class. An avid hiker, biker and skier, Kathy works as a ski instructor at Sugarloaf, Maine.

“By offering a unique blend of guided recreational and cultural activities, culinary classes and wine tastings we are able to provide personalized tours that take full advantage of our knowledge as well as the climate, beauty and distinctive character of the region” says Kathy Bechtel of ItaliaOutdoors. “Because we provide a multi-faceted experience, our tours are ideal for small groups of friends or families, or for corporate getaways searching for that very special vacation experience.”

For more information about upcoming trip itineraries and highlights from past trips, including guest comments, go to http://www.italiaoutdoors.com or check out photos on the Italiaoutdoors Facebook page.

About Italiaoutdoors

Italiaoutdoors is an owner-operated specialty guide service that offers individualized programs for small groups who want to explore the beauty and diverse culture of Northern Italy while hiking, biking and skiing.

Guests of Italiaoutdoors share a passion for a healthy lifestyle and an appreciation for the region’s history, beauty, culture, wines and culinary delights. Tours geared around hiking, biking, and skiing are adaptable to various fitness levels and interests of individual guests.

FREE Book Swap Saturday March 5, 2011; 10am – 1pm!

Salem- On Saturday March 5, help yourself at a Free Book Swap! This is the fifth book swap sponsored by SalemRecycles, the City of Salem Recycling Committee. The event takes place at the St. Anne’s Church school building, 9 Cleveland Street (right off 290 Jefferson Avenue) on Saturday, March 5th from 10am to 1pm. The book swap is a great way to recycle your unwanted books, and commercial CDs, DVDs and videos. Take home a whole new selection of commercial media items to chase away those winter blues. All books are accepted—even text books. No swap is needed–you can donate materials, take materials or both! Drop off will be held Friday March 4, from 6-7 pm, or just bring your books between 10 and noon on Saturday.

Specifics: Saturday March 5, 10 am until 1 pm, St. Anne’s Church in the school building, 9 Cleveland, Street. The school is on the side street next to the church which is located at 290 Jefferson Avenue.

To promote re-use and recycling of books, greeting cards and other commercial media items. Friday, March 4, 6 pm – 7 pm at the St. Anne’s Church School, 9 Cleveland St, or Saturday March 5, during book swap hours. Volunteers will be available to help. Salem City Hall – 93 Washington Street – Salem, MA 01970-3592 Ph. 978-745-9595 Fax 978-744-9327

Bring all your excess books, greeting cards, and commercial CDs, DVDs and videos. Items will be loosely categorized to help you in your hunt for free entertainment. All books are accepted, including text books, and no swap is needed–you can donate materials, take materials or both! All ‘unswapped’ items will be reused or recycled. SalemRecycles is the City’s volunteer recycling committee which works to increase recycling and encourage positive recycling practices through educational outreach and special events. Through the last four Book Swaps, SalemRecycles has hosted over 300 participants; recycled over 7,500 books, and avoided 4 tons of landfill disposal. For more information about SalemRecycles or the Book Swap, please call (978)-619-5679.

Do you have ancestors who fought in the Civil War? Or were involved in the war in other ways? The Marblehead Museum would like to know. The Museum has begun a Civil War in Marblehead project, designed to expand our local history resources, and to collect and record that information for future generations. Contact the Marblehead Museum at 781-631-1768 or by email at lynnep@marbleheadmuseum.org.

2011 is the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Many local and national commemorations are planned. The Marblehead Museum has several upcoming events directed toward honoring those who served in the Civil War. The month of April is significant in Marblehead history, as it was on April 16, 1861 that three regiments from Marblehead were the first in Massachusetts to report to fight in the Civil War.

On May 14 the Marblehead Museum and the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor will partner to present the Star Spangled Pops Concert. This year’s musical theme will be songs from the Civil War era. We would like to identify those with Marblehead Civil War history to be involved in the concert, Civil War activities, and to attend a special reception before the Star Spangled Pops Concert.

Salem Main Streets is looking for vendors for the Salem Farmers’ Market’s third season which will begin Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. The market which is held in Derby Square downtown Salem attracts between 2,000 – 3,000 people each market. The market runs Thursdays from 3 – 7 p.m. June 16 – October 20. The market typically includes produce from local farms, local seafood, fresh baked goods, goat milk soap and art. All items must be grown or produced in New England.

The market is currently looking for vendors for the 2011 season. Booth space is typically 10’ x 10’ and costs $25 a week. Applications are available on-line at www.salemfarmersmarket.org via email Jennifer@salemmainstreets.org or by calling (978)744-0004×15. The deadline to apply to the market for the 2011 season is March 31, 2011. The Salem Farmers’ Market, a project of the Salem Main Streets initiative, takes place at the location of the original Farmers’ Market of Essex County, in Derby Square behind Old Town Hall and the Salem Marketplace,

Jennifer Bell, Salem Main Streets Manager comments, “Supporting local farms and creating sense of community is a top priority at our market. In addition to local farms, we would like to offer a variety of cheeses, meats and locally made items.”

The SFM is committed to promoting regional agriculture to help ensure a continuing supply of fresh, local produce for residents by providing regional small family farmers with alternative opportunities to sell their fruits, vegetables and other farm products. Bell adds, “The support of Mayor Kimberley Driscoll, area farmers and area residents has transformed this market into a truly successful community event.”

The market is made possible through the generous support of Mayor Kimberley Driscoll and the City of Salem as well as numerous volunteers and the dedicated Salem Farmers’ Market Committee. The market participates in the SNAP program and will accept the EBT card at the market. The market is run as a community market by Salem Main Streets, a 501c3 non-profit organization. For more information contact Jennifer Bell, Salem Main Streets Manager (978)744-0004 or Jennifer@salemmainstreets.org or to keep current on Farmers’ Market news visit www.salemfarmersmarket.org follow the market on Facebook and Twitter or call 978-744-0004.

New Spring & Summer Additions to be launched at the Fancy Foods Show in San Francisco

Powell & Mahoney, Ltd. (Brian Powell and Mark Mahoney) announced that they introduced an expanded line of cocktail mixers at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. Riding on the coattails of a highly successful holiday season, the Powell & Mahoney team will be offering four new flavors, including: Peach Bellini, Red Sangria, Lemon Sour with Bitters, and Classic Simple Syrup.

Co-Founder, Brian Powell stated, “We are excited to be rounding out our offering on new flavors of classic cocktail ingredients. Powell & Mahoney will now offer almost anything you’ll need to mix a classic cocktail for your guests. Introducing the new flavors at the Fancy Food Show made perfect sense following success we had launching the brand at Fancy Food East, last June.”

Since it’s introduction at Fancy Food Show in New York, Powell & Mahoney has gained rapid distribution throughout the United States. In this short period of time, they have partnered with such distributors as Southern Wine FL, Southern Wine SOCAL, MS Walker, Kehe/Tree of Life, Quality, DOPS, Associated Buyers of New England, and Wythe Will.

Powell & Mahoney has a strong focus on listening to their customers, and the founders believe that in order to be successful with building their brand, this is a must. Mark Mahoney, co-founder, stated “Feedback is important to us, and after the successful launch of our first grouping of flavors at the Fancy Foods Show in New York, we listened to people, made some small changes, and feel confident in our product and know that we are filling a clear need within the segment.”

Marketing Director, Kati Enscoe, stated “I am so excited about these new flavors! I am a huge fan of our Bloody Mary mix, and with the addition of the Peach Bellini, I cannot think of a better combo for brunch. I am also thrilled with the Sangria! It is delicious, and so easy to mix and enjoy with friends.”

For more information, product samples, or to schedule an interview with the company founders, please contact Kati Enscoe at 978-922-4332 or by email at kati@creativejuicesnow.com.

About Powell & Mahoney

Powell & Mahoney, Limited is based in Beverly, Massachusetts and uses the finest all-natural ingredients to create true, vintage-style, original cocktail mixers. Find or ask for Powell & Mahoney, Limited at select gourmet specialty stores, liquor stores, and lifestyle emporia, nationwide. For more information, visit, www.powellandmahoney.com or call 978-922-4332.

Salem Film Fest 2011 — with a lineup of over 30 feature documentaries set to screen at three venues in downtown Salem — begins Friday, Match 4, and runs through Thursday, March 10.

Two exciting kick-off events on Thursday evening, March 3, include an Opening Night Screening at the Peabody Essex Museum and a High School Short Film Contest at CinemaSalem.

Finding its spirit in Salem’s rich history as America’s first great international city, the non-profit, all-volunteer festival expects about 20 filmmakers to attend, present their work, participate in forums and mingle with locals. The lineup is full of unforgettable characters and stories — a mix of bracing, funny, political and provocative works from around the world, many to be screened in New England for the first time.

As always, the majority of festival programming will be shown on two screens at CinemaSalem.

The Peabody Essex Museum – a major sponsor for this year’s festival – will host the Opening Night Screening of Bill Cunningham New York. The documentary is a portrait of the octogenarian New York Times street photographer whose snapshot montages of sidewalk fashion have graced the Times’ Sunday Styles section for decades.

Salem Film Fest 2011 showcases a rich and diverse collection of the year’s best documentary film work from around the globe. Come to Salem and see the world. For complete details on the films and screening schedule go to SalemFilmFest.com

Back Cove Park at Preble Street (New Location!)Portland, Maine, July 8, 9 & 10, 2011

Fact Sheet:

Be part of a unique community event. Build your own 12-foot skiff in 2 ½ days! The boat is yours to take home, donate or auction or raffle as a fundraiser!

Who: Families, corporate teams, youth organizations. Your team of five participants is one of 20 teams building 20 boats under a tent in Monument Square. No skills necessary – all materials and supplies are provided.

When: 3:00-6:00 pm on , July 8th , 9am-4pm Saturday, July 9th; and Sunday July 10th, 9am -3pm, ending with Celebration Boat Launching at East End Beach.

Help a good cause and have fun at the same time! Your participation in this event helps raise funds for Compass Project boat building and rowing programs for at-risk youth!

FMI: Call 774-0682 to register

The West Boxford Improvement Society is hosting a community live and silent auction to raise the final funds needed for our Gazebo/Bandstand Project, Saturday, February 26th at 6 pm at Lincoln Hall

Auction items include:

Passes to Sturbridge Village, Celtics Tickets, USS Constitution Museum, Carhartt Apparel, Drop Kick Murphys Memorabilia, Red Sox Memorabilia, Private Airplane Flight out of Beverly Airport ~ John F. Kennedy Library and Museum Family Membership, Hy-Line Passage to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket, Gift certificates to local restaurants, stores, golf, duck tours, river cruise, electrician services, yoga, ice cream sundae party for 25 people, and more!

We are still acceping items to auction off and all donations are welcome.  Small items can be dropped off at the West Village Art Café any time between now and the auction. Large items can be dropped off at Lincoln Hall on Friday, February 25^th from 11 am to 4 pm.  If you need us to pick up an item, please call Pam at the West Village Art Café to schedule pick up Thursday the 24^th or Friday the 25^th at 978-352-9711.

We are also seeking volunteers, as well as food items such as baked finger foods (cookies, brownies, cheese and crackers, etc.)  Please contact Debi Paisley at 978-352-2332 if you are willing to bring a food item. All donations are most appreciated

From left to right: Marblehead Rotary Club President, Marsha Christensen; Paul Crosby; Shogofa Amini and Dr. Robert McNulty.

The Marblehead Rotary Club hosted Shogofa Amini of Mazar Sharif, Afghanistan currently attending Salem State University, as guest speaker on Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Marblehead Rotary Club hosted Shogofa Amini, a twenty-two year old Exchange Student from Mazar Sharif, Afghanistan and who is currently studying at Salem State University as a guest speaker at its weekly luncheon at the Boston Yacht Club.  Shogofa Amini, who is staying in Marblehead, MA with her American Host Family: Paul and Claire Crosby, was born 1989 and raised in Mazar Sharif, Afghanistan.

Shogofa shared with the Rotarians her life as a woman in Afghanistan pre and post the Taliban invasion.  She recalled how her mother, a teacher, encouraged her and her two sisters to get a good education. She taught the girls that, ” education is a treasure, one can carry anywhere”.  At age seven, Shogofa experienced first hand the changes the Taliban brought to her country, by forbidding the girls to study and restricted boys’ education to the study of Islam.  She also experienced the culture of abuse and disrespect towards women the Taliban imposed.  Even today, since the Taliban lost its grip on Afghanistan, it is very difficult for females to get an education, as most females, who didn’t come from an educated family like she did, just give up and resort to begging on the streets of Kabul. Shogofa said she is very fortunate to have been selected to study English at the School of Leadership for Afghanistan (SOLA), the Afghanistan’s partner of Dr. Robert McNulty’s Applied Ethics Inc., which eventually led to her educational opportunity in the U.S.  Shogofi’s professional goals upon her return home are focused on: Women’s Rights and on the teaching of Women and Children’s rights to the people of Afghanistan!

Finz Seafood and Grill will host its first ever Champagne and Oyster Event: “Bubbles and Pearls.” The event will be held on March 1st and will begin at 6:30. Throughout the night there will be a shucking demonstration, wines provided by Moet Chandon, oysters prepared in a variety of ways and live jazz music.

The event costs $35 per person (tax and gratuity is not included) and you can make your reservations by stopping in the restaurant or calling 978-744-8485.

The Full Menu Includes:

On March 10, the Marblehead Museum will kick off a new concept in exhibits, programming and events that will span the next 3 years. Marblehead 101 is a comprehensive project that celebrates Marblehead’s role in both local and national history.

“We will follow three main themes- ‘The Growth of the Town’,  ‘Marblehead and the Sea’ and ‘Marblehead at War’, explains Museum Director, Pam Peterson. “Through exhibits, lectures and events, we are reaching out to Marbleheaders of all ages. This concept will apply to our adult lectures as well as programs for school and children’s groups.”

The 3-year plan launches in March and will focus on Marblehead’s early history and the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. Spring lectures will follow these themes. Next fall will feature Marblehead ships and their captains. 2010 will focus on the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, the U.S.S. Constitution and the sailors from Marblehead who fought in that war. 2013 will focus on Marblehead in the 19th and 20th century, and accomplishments in commerce, technology and the arts.

We hope that ‘Marblehead 101′ will foster a town wide sense of ownership and pride in our heritage. The Marblehead Museum has been asking “Who owns Marblehead history?”, and the answer is that we all do.  ”Marblehead 101″ is an important part of our upcoming membership drive.

http://www.kaleidoscopechildrenstheatre.com/

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said, “What good things we build end up building us.”

The Hawthorne Hotel has taken that to heart during this Valentine’s Day month, with a complete renovation of the guestroom bathrooms. Attached are the architect’s renderings of the bathroom upgrades. Lasting approximately three months, the work is being done to improve the quality and comfort of the rooms and the list of improvements include:

~Replacing pedestal sinks with a granite countertop and shelf, and a sink base with storage area.

~Replacing medicine chests with flat framed mirrors for more space above the sinks.

~Adding new lighting and makeup/shaving mirrors to each bathroom

~Replacing the showerheads with new state-of-the-art showerheads and replacing all of the shower valves

~Replacing all of the bathroom accessories with new ones

~Replacing shower curtain rods with curved rods for more space in the tub-shower combinations and replacing the shower curtains with a new design for better air circulation.

~Replacing all of the water supply pipes with new copper piping.

~Adding ventilation ducts to each bathroom to improve air evacuation from the bathrooms.

~Replacing the wall surrounds with wooden beadboard to just above chair rail height.

~Painting each bathroom

The work will be confined to the area of the hotel not occupied by guests and will begin at 8am and cease by 9pm daily.

The Hawthorne Hotel’s first priority is always the comfort of their guests, and they are very excited about this much-needed and anticipated work. Of course, the hotel is still open for business so please call 978-825- 4358 to book your meeting or event or call the Front Desk at 978-744-4080 for more information on the renovations or to make reservations!

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors & Staff invites all to dine with us at The Landing Restaurant on Tuesday, February 15^th between 5pm and 8pm.  This invitation is extended as part of the Non-Profit Tuesday Nights hosted at The Landing Restaurant, where 20% of diners’ food and beverage revenue will be donated to the hosting non-profit.  This series was developed and implemented in 2008 by Chamber President Robert Simonelli of the Landing Restaurant, and to date, our local non-profits have generated more than $10,000 in donated proceeds from these Non-profit Tuesday Nights.

February 15^th is the Chamber’s night to host, and all are welcome to join us.  This event is open to everyone, and if you live and/or work in Marblehead, this is your chance to help your local Chamber continue our important work in the community.  Call 781-639-1266 to make your reservations for Tuesday, February 15^th between 5pm and 8m, and thank you!

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce (MCOC) became the first organization in New England to sign the Electronic Waste Code Of Ethics, a global set of standards developed by environmental educator Christopher Swain.

The Electronic Waste (e-waste) Code Of Ethics includes a mandate to educate youth about the global problem of Electronic Waste as well as a pledge to prevent e-waste from being dumped or deposited into solid waste landfills or incinerators.  It also requires that electronics not be dumped in developing countries, or processed by child or prison labor.

MCOC Executive Director, Ann Marie, signed the Code of Ethics during a ceremony at the Chamber Offices. Casey said, “While we are a local organization, we also recognize that protecting and restoring the ocean is a global challenge. By signing this Code of Ethics, we hope to inspire New England and the world to join us in our commitment to capture toxic chemicals and heavy metals before they pollute our oceans.”

Over the last several years, in partnership with organizations from Vermont to Pennsylvania, Christopher Swain has staged Ethical Electronics Recycling Events that have diverted nearly 100,000 pounds of electronic waste from landfills, incinerators, and dumps in the developing world. After the signing ceremony, Swain said, “I am not surprised that the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce is the first organization in New England to sign the Electronic Waste Code of Ethics.  Marblehead has always been a leader when it comes to the ocean.”

On Saturday and Sunday, February 12 and 13, the Marblehead Chamber will put its new commitment into action.  From 11am – 2pm, both days–rain or snow or shine–the Chamber plans to collect thousands of pounds of used electronics from local residents and business owners in the parking lot outside their offices at 62 Pleasant Street (Masonic Lodge building). And, of course, all materials collected will be processed in accordance with the Electronic Waste Code of Ethics: the highest and most comprehensive set of electronics lifecycle standards in the world.

Materials that will be accepted include: old or used televisions, computers, monitors, phones, keyboards, drives, cables, cords, peripherals, copiers, printers, cartridges, fax machines, scanners, laptops, stereo equipment, speakers, cd & dvd players, telephones, remote controls, VCRs, projectors, digital cameras, PDAs, speakers, radios, answering machines, camcorders, electric typewriters, video game systems, pagers, microwaves, toasters, air conditioners, small “dorm-room” style refrigerators, ink cartridges, USB media, and magnetic media like Zip disks, audio tapes, and floppy diskettes.

Incoming electronics will be weighed, and attendees will be charged an Ethical Recycling Fee of $1 per pound. Those recycling their materials at the event will also be treated to free coffee and donuts.

In conjunction with this Ethical Electronics Recycling Event, the Chamber is also promoting its “Keep It Local – Shop Marblehead” initiative. Thanks to event sponsor, Marblehead Bank, recyclers will be offered a chance to win up to $500 worth of “Keep It Local – Shop Marblehead” Gift Checks, which can be redeemed at many participating local businesses. Says Casey, “While you’re here to recycle this weekend, we are also encouraging folks to go inside the Mason’s Building on Sunday, the 13^th, to start shopping at the Indoor Sidewalk Sale!”

Saturday, February 12th, at 7:30 pm, four female vocalists, members of the Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester and the Songbirds, will unite to perform a capella and acoustic songs of the ’60s and chartbusting doo wop songs for a St. Valentine’s Day “remember when.” The fireside show will be held in the sitting room of the historic Inn Magnolia at 18 Norman Avenue in Magnolia Village (Gloucester). It will be a coffeehouse atmosphere with desserts and hot beverages, and a raffle to win an overnight stay for two at the Inn Magnolia. Doors will open at 7:00 for seating and the show starts at 7:30 p.m..

The four Honky Tonk Women of Gloucester include fingerstyle guitarist & vocalist Sheila Jones Schrank, Barbara Jansson on harmonica and vocals, Caroline Haines from “Leven,” and Elaine Persons, the Patsy Cline voice of the group. They will bring back the classic songs of the ’60s era, especially those of the “girl groups,” and gold record hits from the Crystals, the Supremes, the Ronettes, the Angels, the Cookies, Brenda Lee, Bobby Darin, Connie Francis, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison, Johnny Rivers, the Beatles, the McGuire Sisters, and more. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Casual dress. A $10 donation will be requested at the door.

For more information or reservations, please contact the Inn Magnolia (978) 525-3642, InnMagnolia@gmail.com, or the Honky Tonk Women at (978) 281-3451

Marblehead Chamber of Commerce Welcomes New Chamber Member Wit and Whimsy Children’s Bookstore with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

On Wednesday, January 26th, the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce welcomed new Chamber member Wit and Whimsy Children’s Bookstore, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at their location, 60 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead.  Owner Nancy Oliver welcomed fellow Chamber members, friends and customers to the event, which was well attended and featured refreshments and special discounts for shoppers.

About Wit and Whimsy Children’s Bookstore

Wit and Whimsy is a bookstore solely dedicated to children.  The store has in stock 5,000 books for infants, toddlers, early and intermediate readers and teens/young adults.  Come to the many free monthly events for kids.  Scheduled for February are weekly storytimes for toddlers, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s birthday reading, Valentine’s Origami, a book club discussion of The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, a celebration of the 100th day of school, and a lantern festival to commemorate Chinese New Year.

For more information about  Wit and Whimsy Children’s Bookstore, call 781-631-1054, email info@witandwhimsybooks.com or visit them online at www.witandwhimsybooks.com.  Wit and Whimsy Children’s Bookstore is located at 60 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead.

About the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to the enhancement and development of the business community. We are a non-profit membership organization providing services to over 400 businesses including networking events, web site listings, seminars, health insurance, business & tourism promotions, & advertising opportunities. For additional information about the Chamber, please call 781-631-2868, or visit us on the web at www.marbleheadchamber.org and www.visitmarblehead.com. E-mail: info@marbleheadchamber.org.

The Salem Arts Festival promotes the arts in downtown Salem through a collaborative festival for residents and visitors providing opportunities to highlight the existing artist community and encourage general community participation in the arts.

The 2010 festival had over 4,000 visitors. The Festival is looking for art and performance for the sophisticated art patron as well as for the art novice including interactive events for children. It will engage participants of diverse backgrounds and ages by reaching out to current art patrons, local students, and the community at large.

The Salem Arts Festival, June 3 – 5 will celebrate all the arts: painting, photography, sculpture, dance, music, writing, film, new media, performance, theatre, poetry, culinary and visual art. We are looking for artists of all mediums to exhibit and/or perform.

Did you ever want to:

Create art en plein air – with an audience?

Lead a workshop or an artist’s demonstration?

Draw with chalk on the sidewalk?

Play your instruments by a fountain?

Create an installation in a public space?

Display your artwork in a Salem coffee shop or retail business?

Use your imagination! Submit a proposal as an individual or as a group to help us celebrate the Arts all over Salem! Various venues are available throughout the city from traditional gallery space to outdoor performance spaces. Let us know what would work best for you and/or your group.

For more information contact Jennifer at (978)744-0004 or Jennifer@salemmainstreets.org. The festival website is www.salemartsfestival.com

About the Salem Arts Festival

The Salem Arts Festival promotes the arts in downtown Salem with a festival for residents and visitors. This festival provides the arts community an opportunity to showcase their talents.

The Festival will run June 3-5, 2011 in Salem at a variety of venues from juried exhibitions and demonstrations to live performances. It will appeal to the sophisticated art patron, the art lover, the art enthusiast, and the art novice, and will include interactive events for children. People of all ages and backgrounds will find something that will delight and educate them by reaching out to current art patrons, local students, and the community at large.

What place in Salem gives you inspiration to create? Use your imagination and think of Salem as your canvas, submit a proposal today! Volunteers are also needed to help organize the festival!

JOIN US AT BIBA HAIR SALON AND BOUTIQUE FOR IT’S GRAND RE-OPENING WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND ~ 6 P.M. TO 10 P.M

(Snow Date ~ February 9th, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.) 271 RANTOUL ST. ~ BEVERLY, MA 01915

Biba has moved to a larger location at 271 Rantoul Street in Beverly, MA. Biba has a brand new look! We’ve continued our Concepts Salon but added a beautiful and unique Boutique. We approach Beauty not only from the outside, but the inside as well.

At this grand Re-Opening toast, you will get a sneak peek at our new and unique Boutique featuring clothing, vintage pieces and accessories~ an unimaginable and ever changing menu where ‘Unique’ is not only encouraged but celebrated.

Of course you will also get to meet the stylists and see our beautiful Concepts Salon which offers Precision Cutting and Coloring, Advanced Foiling techniques, and Make-up Application/lessons. Unique to Biba is our in-salon or on-location Hair and Make-up offerings for your special event.

We have also added an in-house Health Professional (RN) for your complimentary Life Style assessment. Health and Wellness from the inside out- promotes the best Beauty of all.

Don’t miss it – come take a peek!

Organizers Salem Main Streets, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, and local retailers, restaurants and businesses invite you to attend the 9th annual Salem’s So Sweet, Chocolate & Ice Sculpture Festival, held on Saturday, February 5th & Sunday, 6th. Over 35 downtown businesses will offer discounts and free chocolate during the weekend. The festival officially kicks off with a scrumptious Chocolate and Wine Tasting event in Hamilton Hall in Salem, MA February 4 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Don’t miss Salem’s sweetest event of the year, a decadent tradition of delectable chocolate, sparkling ice sculptures and Valentine’s Day shopping…! More than ever before…20 sparkling ice sculptures will grace downtown Salem and Pickering Wharf starting February 5 as part of the 9th annual Salem’s So Sweet Chocolate and Ice Sculpture Festival. Sculpture Themes will range from the Rapunzel, the Salem Witch, a Mermaid, a Fish, a Dragon and Champagne Glasses, and the Museum Place Mall is dedicating their Ice Sculpture to the memory of Pep Cornacchio (featuring a football). Maps showing the locations of the ice sculptures can be picked up at participating retailers and restaurants.

For the first time this year, Salem Trolley will be offering free trolley rides around the festival route weather permitting on February 5 & 6 from 12 – 4. The Trolley will pick up at the Salem Visitor Center on the hour and half hour. Stops will include: Pickering Wharf by Finz, Cinema Salem and Washington Street (near Rockafellas).

The festival kicks off with a Chocolate and Wine Tasting, on Friday, February 4 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm, at Hamilton Hall, 9 Chestnut Street. This luscious tasting event features wine and chocolate samplings from restaurants, stores and sweet shops. The Chocolate and Wine Tasting is sponsored by the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites. Participants include 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, Adriatic Restaurant & Bar, Busa Wine & Spirits, Café Polonia, Café Valverde, Caffe Graziani, Capt.’s Waterfront Grill & Pub, Captain Dusty’s Ice Cream, Coffee Time Bakeshop, Coven Artisanal Market, Finz Seafood Restaurant & Grill, Great Escape Restaurant, Green Land Café, Gulu-Gulu Café, Maria’s Sweet Somethings, Milk & Honey Green Grocer, Pamplemousse, Rockafellas, Salem Waterfront Hotel, Salem Wine Imports, Victoria Station, and Ye Olde Pepper Co. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at the Salem Chamber of Commerce, 265 Essex Street.

In celebration of the chocolate weekend, many of Salem’s finest restaurants will feature special chocolate offerings on their menus, including desserts, cocktails, and inventive sauces. Participating Salem retailers will offer in-store promotions, innovative displays and items geared toward chocolate and Valentine’s Day. Several businesses and organizations are offering special events such as the North Shore CDC which will host a Polar Plunge at Dead Horse Beach on February 6 at 11 a.m. to benefit the NSCDC and River House. Once again, Golden Tickets will be available in downtown Salem. Pick up your Golden Ticket and have it validated at participating businesses (no purchase necessary) then enter to win a Salem’s So Sweet gift basket. The Salem’s So Sweet gift basket features many fine items from area retailers.

For more information please contact Salem Main Streets / Salem Chamber of Commerce at T. 978-744-0004 or visit www.salem-chamber.org or www.salemmainstreets.org.

On January 20, 2011 at 6pm, author Justin Kramon will be on hand to read from his recently published book, “Finny”.  A book signing will immediately follow.

Finny is an enchanting debut novel with an original and moving love story at its core, from award-winning writer Justin Kramon.   Readers are immersed in Finny’s wonderful and strange adventures as she moves through boarding school and college, into her adult life.  Along the way, she meets an array of lively and eccentric characters, including a dorm-mother with tastes for exotic Asian fruits and Irish fiddle music, a seductive New York heiress, and a sun-tanned spice entrepreneur.  As Finny learns to navigate the treacherous waters of adulthood, she is forced to rethink her devotion to Earl and her loyalties to both family and friends. Finny introduces us to an unforgettable heroine, a charmingly intricate world, and a gifted young novelist. 

Justin Kramon is a graduate of Swarthmore College and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.  His work has appeared in Glimmer Train, Story Quarterly, Fence, Boulevard, and Triquarterly. He has received honors for his fiction from the Michener-Copernicus Society of America, the Hawthornden International Writers’ Fellowship, The Best American Short Stories, and the Bogliasco Foundation. He lives in Philadelphia.

Established in 1998, the award-winning River’s Edge is located at 15 Market Street in downtown Ipswich. The Book Nook at River’s Edge offers an eclectic collection of quirky and classic books. For more information about the store and upcoming events, please call (978)356-2363, email Paul Allen-Webber at paul@riversedgegift.com or visit www.riversedgegift.com.

A local volunteer group called Team Haverhill has received notification from the Massachusetts Cultural Council that it was selected to receive a 2011 Commonwealth Award, in the category of “Creative Community.” According to the Council’s Executive Director, Anita Walker, Team Haverhill is being recognized for its “extraordinary efforts to make Haverhill a better place to live, work, and visit.”

“Team Haverhill is both surprised and honored to receive statewide recognition in our fifth anniversary year,” said Team Haverhill Chairwoman Alice Mann. “It’s not easy to play a role in our city’s life that is both independent and collaborative, but we seem to be hitting our stride.” Major projects over the last three years include a successful push for curbside pickup of all recyclables; the 2009 “Soles of Haverhill Shoe-la-bration” public art project; the 2010 “River Ruckus” downtown event; and the recent launch of the Haverhill Youth Mentor Network, whose first phase pairs adult mentors with twenty-five fourth-graders at the Tilton School.

Given every two years, the Commonwealth Awards are a means by which the Massachusetts Cultural Council may “shine a spotlight on the extraordinary contributions that arts and culture make to education, economic vitality, and quality of life in communities across the state.” Past Commonwealth Award winners include cellist Yo-Yo Ma; historian David McCullough; the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival; and the Peabody Essex Museum.

The award ceremony will take place on February 9, 2011 at the State House. Representative Brian Dempsey is expected to present Team Haverhill’s award. Boston native John Slattery—an accomplished stage and screen actor and a star of the critically acclaimed TV show “Mad Men”—will deliver the keynote address. This free event runs from 1-4 pm is open to the public; registration opens in January. For more information, visit www.teamhaverhill.com, or visit Team Haverhill on Facebook.

On Thursday, January 6, 2011, Dr. Marjorie Empacher, who holds a PhD from Boston University, shared with fellow Rotarians, her long standing work as a tutor for illiterate adults on the North Shore of Boston.  Dr. Empacher spoke at length about a case study she conducted, while teaching a twenty-seven years old woman how to read, and how she used her analysis of the factors contributing to this particular illiteracy case, for her PhD dissertation.  Dr. Empacher’s research concluded that the lack of language stimulation before formal schooling and the subsequent endless social promotion contributed to the development of an adult with debilitating inferiority complexes.

In this particular case, what made things worse, according to Dr. Empacher, was the fact that the whole town discriminated against this woman’s family.  Dr. Empacher noted, that while Marblehead schools have been effectively addressing this particular problem for the past ten-fifteen years, the Massachusetts Rehabilitation in Salem, MA continues to uncover similar adult illiteracy cases throughout the North Shore.  For further information about how to improve your own literacy skills or how join the fight against adult illiteracy in our area, please contact Dr. Empacher at 781-631-7467.

(from left to right):  Marblehead Rotary Club President, Marsha Christensen with club member, Dr. Marjorie Empacher.

Title: Chamber to Host “State of the City” Breakfast
Location: Peabody Marriot Hotel, Peabody
Link out: Click here
Description: The Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with our sponsor, North Shore Bank, will host a breakfast forum with Mayor Michael Bonfanti for the annual State of the City address. Now entering his sixth term as Mayor of Peabody, Michael Bonfanti has been faced with many difficult fiscal decisions for our community. Business owners and residents alike are invited to hear first hand the Mayor’s views on the business climate, flooding issues, public education and more.

The breakfast with Mayor Bonfanti will be held on Wednesday, January 26th from 7:30-9:00am at the Peabody Marriott Hotel on Centennial Drive in Peabody. A full American breakfast will be served. Special thanks to North Shore Bank for sponsoring this event.

All local businesses and residents are invited to attend. Tickets are $25 for Chamber members ($30 for non-members) or $300 for a table of eight and can be purchased by contacting the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce at 24 Main Street, Peabody, MA, telephone: 978-531-0384 or via email at pcc@peabodychamber.com

Tickets for this popular event go fast — reserve before January 20th to guarantee availability. Advanced reservations required.

Start Time: 7:30
Date: 2011-01-26
End Time: 9:00

The Peabody Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Salem and Beverly Chambers of Commerce will host the seventh Annual Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday, March 5th from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the Northshore Mall.

The Health & Wellness Expo offers a unique opportunity to speak directly to consumers about how your product can save them time, money or stress at the start of the New Year! Take advantage of the incredible Saturday foot traffic of one of New England’s largest shopping centers to locate new prospects, generate leads, set up appointments and build customer relationships.

From health care organizations & professionals, physical fitness experts, nutritionists, child and senior care, health insurance, homeopathic solutions, emergency services, financial planners, and alternative therapies – all are encouraged to participate in this unique opportunity.

Exhibitor fees for PACC members $250, Non members $325, electricity is available at additional charge.

For more information contact Deanne Healey, President & CEO, Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce for more information at 978-531-0384 or events@peabodychamber.com.