ALMANAC

Friday, Aug. 13, 2004

Sunrise: 5:47 a.m. Sunset: 7:47 p.m.

Funeral Notice

Richard J. Manno

A memorial Mass for Richard J. Manno, 54, of Gloucester, formerly of Rockport, was held in St. Ann Church yesterday at 10 a.m.

The Rev. James J. Harrington, former pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Manchester, officiated.

The soloist was Thomas Misuraca, who sang the hymns "The Lord is My Light," "There is a Longing," "How Lovely is Your Dwelling Place," "I Know that My Redeemer Lives" and "The King of Love."

Scripture readings were given by longtime friend Jeanne Meister of Rockport.

The offertory gifts were brought to the altar by Jeanne Meister.

Burial will be held privately.

Funeral arrangements were conducted by the James C. Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St.

Man sentenced to prison for attack on ex-girlfriend

By Julie Manganis

Staff writer

SALEM -- A Gloucester man admitted yesterday to beating and choking his former girlfriend as their 7-year-old daughter watched -- an incident that so traumatized the girl that she still wakes up in the middle of the night to check the locks on her doors and windows, her mother said.

David MacDougall said he still doesn't know why he attacked his former girlfriend back on July 15, 2003, when she showed up to pick up their daughter.

"I wish I could explain it," MacDougall told a judge. "I really do."

MacDougall, 39, of 7 Springfield St., pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault and battery yesterday during a hearing in Salem Superior Court, where Judge Patrick Riley sentenced him to four-to-five years in state prison, followed by three years of probation.

Prosecutor Jessica Connors, who had asked for a five-to-seven year term, said police were called to MacDougall's home by his mother -- who had pulled MacDougall off his ex-girlfriend, who had gone unconscious from the attack, moments earlier.

The attack was witnessed by their daughter, who yelled, "Daddy, stop, Daddy, no, stop hitting Mommy," according to her mother.

Police found both women outside, MacDougall's former girlfriend bloodied, bruised, with fingernail marks on her neck. MacDougall had left, though he told his mother he would turn himself in.

"He tried to kill me," the woman told police. "He told me he was going to kill me."

MacDougall yesterday tried to explain: "I was trying to get my daughter to stay with me," he said. Earlier that day he had gone to the Essex Probate Court but a judge refused to change the custody order. Then he went to the Gloucester police station, asking there if he could keep his daughter and was told he would be in violation of a court order.

When his former girlfriend showed up to pick up their daughter, "I was stressed out," MacDougall told the judge. "I don't know what happened. It all blew up. I think I may have been suffering from delirium."

At the police station, he described pressing his thumbs into her throat, admitting that he almost killed her -- and, how, if given another chance, would do so.

After explaining to the judge that he had been up for about four days, he added, "I obviously wasn't in my right state of mind, for me to turn myself in and to say the things I said."

But his former girlfriend said the attack has had a lasting impact on both her and their daughter. Not only did the woman, 40, require physical therapy for damaged muscles and tendons in her arm, but her daughter has been in therapy ever since for the emotional trauma.

"My daughter doesn't want me out of her sight," said the woman, adding that the little girl often wakes up in the middle of the night to check on her and to check the doors and windows to make sure they're locked. "(She) will never forget what she saw," the woman said in her victim-impact statement to the court, which was read by Connors.

Though the woman, who sat in the back of the courtroom, had not wanted to directly address the judge, Riley ordered her to the witness stand so that he could question her.

Riley wanted to know the potential impact of removing MacDougall from the girl's life for a long period -- a question the woman said she couldn't answer.

"Is there any chance of restoration of a relationship?" Riley asked the woman, who again said she doesn't know. "Do you think he poses a threat to her?" the judge then asked.

"Yes, I do," said the woman.

Defense lawyer Andrew Benson asked for a prison term of three-to-five years, telling the judge, "I think the court can see his regret is very sincere."

Benson said MacDougall also hopes someday to have contact again with his daughter.

"Obviously on the day of this incident he lost control to such a degree that he almost killed a woman," Riley said. "What's before me is there was a violent attack on this woman, in front of her child. There were several victims here."

Yet Riley said he was considering a jail term instead of prison, questioning the prosecutor's recommendation.

"A typical sentence on a household abuse is not five to seven years," he told the prosecutor.

Connors spoke up, arguing that her recommendation was based on the facts of the case.

"He tried to take her life, and he got very close," said the prosecutor.

Riley went on to criticize the sentencing structure, which he said, gave him little discretion, before imposing a four-to-five year prison term. He then added that MacDougall's lack of a record was a factor in his decision.

New Jewish congregation emphasizes inclusiveness

By Richard Gaines

Staff writer

"Rabbi Judy to the rescue." That is how Rabbi Judith Epstein refers to herself and how the movement she embodies, known as Reconstructionist Judaism, encourages reference to its ordained leaders.

The informality reflects the focus of the offshoot of the Conservative tradition, embodied here in Temple Ahavat Achim, now celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Reconstructionist Judaism and the Congregation Keshet Yam that Epstein has formed aims to offer community to Jews without one -- those in interfaith families, those who honor the religious heritage but lack the connection to a Jewish culture and its civilization, those who don't belong to a temple or synagogue.

Epstein, a longtime Manchester resident, will lead High Holy Days services next month -- at Magnolia Library Center for Rosh Hashana and at the Manchester Community Center for Yom Kippur -- and is inviting unaffiliated Jews to attend.

Reconstructionist Judaism is a relatively new, fourth movement in the Jewish mainstream, joining the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements. The only movement founded in this country, in the 1950s, Reconstructionism emphasizes inclusiveness, especially to families and individuals who yearn for connection, tying religion to the culture.

"People are just out there looking for a foothold in the community," Epstein said. "A lot of people can be brought back to Judaism. We live in two civilizations, American and Jewism. We (Reconstructionists) came out of America. We think the two civilizations can meld."

She said the movement she represents honors the ritual -- she wears the kippah, or yarmulke -- but recognizes that she and other Reconstructionists live in a secular world, albeit with a uniquely Jewish self-understanding.

So, Congregation Keshet Yam (Rainbow by the Sea) is intentionally one "without walls," easing the accommodation of Jews in interfaith and unaffiliated families.

"I do interfaith marriages," she said. "You don't need to convert. You need to understand what it means to be part of a Jewish family."

Writing in "Reconstruction Today," Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit characterized the ideas behind the movement as "God-wrestling and a striving for authenticity and meaning" -- a moral and ethical curiosity aimed at the essence of Judaism, the culture, the civilization and the religion.

Epstein and Cantor Joel Davidson, who will conduct the High Holy Day services, previously served as clergy for a Reconstructionist synagogue of Duxbury and Marshfield.

She said Congregation Keshet Yam doesn't compete with the long-established Temple Ahavat Achim.

"I'm a link," she said. "I hope to be a bridge" for outsiders into the traditional Jewish practices.

Rabbi Myron Geller, whose congregation has about 200 families, said he recognizes the "open marketplace" for diversity of religious practices.

"I don't have a right to challenge her right to compete," he said.

Epstein said the fee structure at Congregation Keshet Yam has been "kept to a minimum" ($100 for the High Holy Days, $35 for an individual service) to allow as many people as possible to participate.

"No one will be turned down because they are unable to pay," she added.

For more information about Congregation Keshet Yam, call (978) 526-7655 or visit the Web site www.rainbowbythesea.org.

O'Maley skateboard park safe; School Committee looks elsewhere for bus maintenance facility

By Richard Gaines

Staff

The School Committee will not pursue what School Superintendent Christopher Farmer has called an "urgent" need to build a $250,000 school bus repair facility on the site of the city's skateboard park.

Farmer's view, expressed in a June memo, is that the park's location on the O'Maley Middle School campus "is not very appropriate" because it "is not readily accessible to young people."

But School Committee Chairman Jonathan Pope described Farmer's initiative as unauthorized and "unfortunate."

Pope announced a decision to look elsewhere for a place to maintain the city's two dozen school buses to the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee Wednesday night.

"Under no circumstances," he said, "will it be located on the skateboard park."

Pope was before the committee to seek a bond issue to finance construction of the bus maintenance facility.

The committee's written agenda for the meeting described the issue as "moving the skateboard park to build (a) bus maintenance building," although Pope and other School Committee members have insisted they took no vote to move the park and considered it only as a possible site for the repair facility.

"We took absolutely no action on removing the skate park," School Committee member Anthony Gross said Tuesday.

The agenda's connection between the relocation of the park and the School Committee's desire for a repair facility site does reflect Farmer's view, expressed in a July 22 memo.

"It is proposed," he wrote, "that the facility be built on the current site of the skateboard park, and that the latter be transferred to an alternative location to be determined." He went on to argue that "the present location of the skateboard park is not very appropriate in that it is not readily accessible to young people."

Farmer sent the memo to Mayor John Bell. He wrote to the mayor, "I would be grateful if you would place this matter before the City Council for its urgent attention."

Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Abdullah Khambaty read from the memo during Wednesday's hourlong discussion of the need for a bus repair facility and asked, "Did somebody tell him (Farmer) to send it?"

"No," Pope said.

Farmer yesterday acknowledged that his memo may have made a stronger link between the need for the repair facility and moving the park than the School Committee had intended. He said he wrote the memo before the School Committee took up the issue of where to build the repair facility.

"It's unfortunate (Farmer) put a lot more emphasis on putting (the repair facility) where the skateboard park is" than the School Committee intended, Pope said.

At the hearing, Pope, assistant superintendent Brian Tarr and Bell's administrative assistant James McKenna asked for a recess after Khambaty made clear the relocation of the park was not an option.

"If we're going to create a problem with the skateboard park, forget it," Khambaty said.

Pope returned from the caucus to announce that the skateboard park would not be moved and requested a continuance of the hearing "to pursue other locations" for the repair facility. The request was granted, leaving the School Committee without authorization to borrow $250,000 for construction of the garage and no place to put it.

"We are still without any place for our mechanic to work," he said.

The School Committee's dilemma emerged after it removed its buses from rented space on Eastern Avenue last November to the O'Maley campus with the expectation that its non-union mechanic would be able to service the fleet in a Department of Public Works garage.

But the DPW was unable to accommodate the additional rolling stock due to overcrowded conditions in its yard and garage, as well as the specter of a union grievance for allowing a non-union mechanic to work in their midst.

"If we are challenged by the union," McKenna said, "we have to deal with these issues."

Khambaty said it was clear the schools needed a site to service its buses.

But, he said, "The question is, how much (will it cost) and where (will it go)?"

McKenna held out hope the public works yard and barn could yet be made available.

riter

Two tropical storms expected to soak region

By Tim Wacker

Staff Writer

The North Shore isn't exactly Hurricane Alley.

The closest we've come to a big blow in recent years was when Hurricane Fabian kicked up the surf late last summer.

But back-to-back storms called Bonnie and Charley are heading this way over the weekend, and thunderstorms are predicted here until they arrive. That combination means something for which the region is better known.

"The big concern we have is the rainfall," said Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "You look at the thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday and then add two tropical storms on top of that ... I would hold off on putting down any grass seed."

If Bonnie and Charley take the paths that experts project, the North Shore will get soaked.

Moving up the Atlantic coast, Tropical Storm Bonnie will arrive tonight with a 70 percent chance of heavy rain, said Tracy McCormick, a National Weather Service meteorologist. A few inches of rain and winds of 15 mph are expected.

Hurricane Charley, in the Caribbean packing winds of 85 mph, is also expected to move northeast, crossing the Mason-Dixon line tomorrow night. It is expected to bring showers here early Sunday morning.

Still, it doesn't look as if winds from Bonnie or Charley will flatten anything, at least around here. By the time they reach the Northeast, the storms will likely be more rain than wind.

The weather system producing the thunderstorms could direct Bonnie and Charley out to the east, producing more wind, Dunham said. But if the storms move more to the west, rain will result.

"We're not discounting the fact that there may be some winds, but it's too early to tell," Dunham said. "I generally tell people that until storms are moving out to sea you want to keep track of the weather updates."

Meteorologist Mike Jackson of the National Weather Service gave a damp outlook for the weekend, saying flooding is possible.

"Right now, we're thinking we'll be dealing with the remnants of Bonnie and Charley," he said. "By the time they made it up this far north, I doubt they would be packing any tropical storm winds, but they do have tropical storm moisture."

The last serious hurricane here was Bob in 1991. It was predicted that it would be a busy hurricane season this year, like last, and late August is the time when they hit southern New England most, Dunham said.

"This is the time of year when it does happen, and these things form when and where they will," Jackson said. "Miami didn't take a hit for a long time, and then (Hurricane) Andrew came along and flattened everything, so be careful what you wish for."

A year late, Fort playground finally completed

By Lisa Arsenault

Staff writer

Two years and two contractors later, the Fort Square seawall and park is finally in the fianl stages of completion.

"The good news is it's substantially complete," said Greg Ketchen, the city's harbor plan implementation coordinator.

The $1.4 million Fort Square Park seawall project ground to a halt last fall after the city fired the previous contractor due to concerns about the slow pace of work.

Fiore Construction took over the project near the end of January and poured the final round of concrete for the seawall the first of August, city engineer Michael Hale said.

This week crews have been putting the playground set back together, and next week they will lay the pavement for the basketball court. Others odds and ends of the project -- like a railing along the seawall, a concrete walkway, benches and grass -- will be put in sometime before September, Hale said.

City officials had hoped the park would be reopened by June for St. Peter's Fiesta. People usually gather in the park to watch the seine boat races and greasy pole competition, but construction has kept residents out of the park overlooking Pavilion Beach for two years now.

If the first construction company, C & B Construction Co. of Peabody, had finished its work on schedule, the project would have been done a year ago. Last fall when they were taken off the project, only a quarter of it had been finished.

The state contributed money for four seawall reconstruction projects in Gloucester, including the one at Fort Square.

The Fort Square project ran into unanticipated problems when C&B Construction, which completed a similar project at Cripple Cove, struck ledge four feet below the harbor floor while attempting to drill pilings for the seawall. The contractor had to work around the high tides, and work eventually ground to a halt.

"It was a combination of their going bankrupt and not meeting deadline," Ketchen said.

Fiore was prepared for those challenges. The Fitchburg company rebuilt the seawall at Blynman Canal in eight months last summer.

"They did a great job there," Ketchen said.

Hale said the park should be ready for people to start using it again by late September.

Weather

Weather

LOCAL FORECAST: Today, cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of thunderstorms in the morning. Then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the mid-70s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. Tonight, showers and thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Humid with lows in the mid-60s. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. Tomorrow, partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow night, mostly cloudy. Showers likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

MARINE FORECAST: From Merrimack River to Watch Hill, R.I. - Today, southeast wind 10 to 15 knots. Increasing to 20 to 25 knots in the afternoon. Seas 3 to 5 feet. Areas of morning fog. A chance of showers and thunderstorms late in the morning. Showers likely in the afternoon with a chance of thunderstorms. Visibility 1 nautical mile or less. Increasing to 1 to 3 nautical miles in the late morning and afternoon. Tonight, southeast wind 20 to 25 knots. Decreasing to 15 to 20 knots after midnight. Seas 4 to 7 feet. Showers and thunderstorms likely. Visibility 1 to 3 nautical miles. Tomorrow, south wind 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet. A chance of showers early in the morning with visibility 1 to 3 nautical miles. Tomorrow night, southwest wind 5 to 10 knots. Becoming west after midnight. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Sunday, north wind 5 to 10 knots. Becoming northeast 10 to 15 knots in the

afternoon. Seas 1 to 2 feet. A chance of showers late in the afternoon. Sunday night, east wind 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. A chance of showers. Visibility 1 to 3 nautical miles. Monday, south wind 10 to 15 knots. Becoming west . Seas 2 to 4 feet. A chance of showers in the morning with visibility 1 to 3 nautical miles. Tuesday, southwest wind 5 to 10 knots. Seas 2 to 4 feet.

EXTENDED FORECAST: Sunday, mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers. Windy with highs in the upper 70s. Sunday night, mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows around 60. Monday, partly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning. Highs in the mid-70s. Chance of rain 40 percent. Monday night and Tuesday, partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs in the upper 70s. Tuesday night and Wednesday, partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s. Highs around 80.

Day in history

Today is Friday, Aug. 13, the 226th day of 2004. There are 140 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Aug. 13, 1961, Berlin was divided as East Germany sealed off the border between the city's eastern and western sectors in order to halt the flight of refugees.

On this date:

In 1521, Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captured present-day Mexico City from the Aztec Indians.

In 1624, French King Louis XIII named Cardinal Richelieu his first minister.

In 1704, the Battle of Blenheim was fought during the War of the Spanish Succession, resulting in a victory for English and Austrian forces over French and Bavarian soldiers.

In 1846, the American flag was raised for the first time in Los Angeles.

In 1910, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, died in London.

In 1932, Adolf Hitler rejected the post of vice-chancellor of Germany, saying he was prepared to hold out "for all or nothing."

In 1934, the satirical comic strip "Li'l Abner," created by Al Capp, made its debut.

In 1946, author H.G. Wells died in London.

In 1960, the first two-way telephone conversation by satellite took place with the help of Echo One.

In 1981, in a ceremony at his California ranch, President Reagan signed a historic package of tax and budget reductions.

Ten years ago: In his weekly radio address, President Clinton put Congress on notice that he wouldn't give up an assault weapons ban as the price to revive a crime bill stalled on Capitol Hill. NATO Secretary-General Manfred Woerner died at age 59.

Five years ago: Gunmen shot to death Colombian humorist Jaime Garzon in a killing that authorities later blamed on the leader of the country's right-wing paramilitary. Tennis player Steffi Graf retired from the sport she had dominated for two decades.

One year ago: Iraq began pumping crude oil from its northern oil fields for the first time since the start of the war. Libya agreed to set up a $2.7 billion fund for families of 270 people killed in the 1988 Pan Am bombing.

Today's Birthdays: Television evangelist Rex Humbard is 85. Cuban President Fidel Castro is 78. Actor Pat Harrington is 75. Singer Don Ho is 74. Former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders is 71. Blues singer-musician Son Seals is 62. Actor Kevin Tighe is 60. Actress Gretchen Corbett is 57. Opera singer Kathleen Battle is 56. Singer Dan Fogelberg is 53. Actor Danny Bonaduce is 45. Actress Quinn Cummings is 37. Country singer Andy Griggs is 31. Country musician Mike Melancon (Emerson Drive) is 26.

Thought for Today: "You should avoid making yourself too clear even in your explanations." - Baltasar Gracian, Spanish philosopher (1601-1658).

Town hopes to lose purple loosestrife

By Greg Cook

Staff writer

ROCKPORT -- Rockport conservation agent Suzanne O'Connell stood at the edge of Cranberry Marsh field off South Street yesterday. Butterflies flitted among the blooming, waist-high grasses.

"You can see little spots of purple," she said. "Those are purple loosestrife."

Purple loosestrife doesn't have much competition or many predators in North America. Its flowers spawn millions of seeds, allowing it to spread quickly across marshes, pondsides and ditches, crowding out native vegetation, which in turn drives away native critters that feed on these plants.

"So you loose the diversity of the wetland system and this grassland," O'Connell said.

Purple loosestrife only appears in small patches here and there at Waring Field and Cranberry Marsh off South Street, but to head off its expansion the Rockport Conservation Commission and Massachusetts Audubon Society are organizing volunteers to eradicate the plant from the fields from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. All are welcome to meet along South Street at Waring Field to help. The work will be canceled if there is inclement weather.

Scientists and historians believe purple loosestrife was imported purposely by northern European immigrants in the early 1800s for decorative gardening and as a medicinal herb, as well as accidentally on wool or among rocks and sand from tidal marshes used as ballast in ships leaving Europe and then dumped when they arrived here.

"I think it was one of those things people brought from home to remind them of home," O'Connell said.

Purple loosestrife has tall, spiky purple flowers that bloom from July to September and green leaves opposite each other or in whirls of three around the square stem. It has a deep tap root and grows five feet tall. This time of year it can be seen in spectacular purple swaths.

And that's just what the organizers of Saturday's event are trying to prevent from developing at the 8.4-acre Waring Field and behind it the 9.5-acre Cranberry Marsh, which are both owned by the town of Rockport. The front field is leased for haying and the back for grazing by horses.

"It's ecologically important because it's a grassland. There aren't too many left because of development pressures, and farming isn't happening," O'Connell said. As such, "there are a lot of plants and birds and insects you won't find elsewhere."

Bobolink, prairie warbler, eastern king bird, woodcock, brown thrasher and eastern meadowlark forage in the European pasture grasses as well as native grasses, sedges and wildflowers.

The area remains wet for most of the year because of ground water and runoff from the neighboring wooded hills. Short, dense mats of cranberry shrubs grow here and there. A great variety of butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies fly about. An abundance of lance-leaved violet supports a colony of silver-bordered fritillary butterflies. Deer can be spotted at dawn.

Some consider the fields the best example of early succession, wet meadow habitat on Cape Ann. Chris Leahy of the Massachusetts Audubon Society will attend Saturday's event to talk about the area's plants and insects.

Land managers have imported the European galerucella, a brown beetle smaller than a lady bug, to combat purple loosestrife at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Newburyport and at the Waring School in Beverly with mixed success, while raising the danger of importing another foreign species that could get out of control.

"We're going to come out here with shovels and pitchforks and dig it up," O'Connell said.

Organizers and volunteers aim to carefully dig out the roots and gather and bag the plants to be incinerated elsewhere so the flowerheads, which can contain a million seeds, don't spread. Organizers probably won't be able to gauge their success until they see what grows next year, and then they'll have to pull out more.

"I imagine it's going to be a couple-year endeavor," O'Connell said. "... But I think we can definitely pull it back some."

For more information about Saturday's purple loosestrife eradication, call the town's conservation office at (978) 546-5005.

Cold flame: Lighting the Olympic Flame hasn't always gone smoothly:

Cold flame

Lighting the Olympic Flame hasn't always gone smoothly:

- The most grisly blunder came in Seoul in 1988 when dozens of doves released earlier in the opening ceremony alighted on the Olympic cauldron. When the flame was lit, several of the birds were caught in the flames to the horror of watching spectators.

- Four years later, Spanish organizers recruited the services of an archer to fire a burning arrow into the cauldron. But the flame had lit automatically as the arrow missed its target, sailing yards wide.

- In 1996, organizers of the Atlanta Olympics recruited the services of boxing legend Muhammad Ali to do the honors. The appearance of the former world heavyweight champion - shaking uncontrollably through Parkinson's syndrome - electrified the fans.

Yet the torch lighting itself was a flop. A pulley used to haul the flame up to the torch bowl was tortuously slow, and to make matters worse the cauldron itself - derided as looking like a carton of McDonalds french fries - burned and blackened during the Games.

Source: www.iafrica.com

Stubblefield should fit in nicely

By Jared Pendak

Correspondent

FOXBORO - The Patriots have acquired a three-time Pro Bowler that could make a gigantic impact, and the player here referenced is not Corey Dillon.

Since arriving last Friday, Dana Stubblefield, New England's most recent free-agent signee, has not received all that much attention despite accolades that include three all-pro seasons (1993-'94, '97), an NFL Defensive Player of the Year award ('97) and a Defensive Rookie of the year award ('93).

Remember, this 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive lineman used to sack Troy Aikman and Stan Humphries during championship games in the mid-90s. And now, the 33-year-old confident veteran who still refers to himself in the third person remains certain of one thing:

"Dana Stubblefield and the New England Patriots have a mutual feeling and that's that I can still play at a very high level. I don't really hear or listen to what (speculators) say. I want to prove to my coaches, this organization and definitely my teammates that I'm going to go to battle with them week-in and week-out. I want them to know that they can count on No. 92. So the better I get, the more I can contribute to this defensive line and the more confidence that not only the coaches, but my teammates will have in me."

Before he arrived in New England, Stubblefield had already captured the confidence of the Patriots' youthful defensive line corps, which includes only one other player (13-year man Keith Traylor) who enters the season with more than three years of NFL experience.

"I watched Dana growing up," said 23-year-old rookie defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, New England's first draft pick (21st overall) in April. "I grew up playing defensive tackle so I really look up to him, and him being a vet I think I can learn a lot from him. Dana has been a heck of a ball player, and he'll continue that with us."

Stubblefield, a collegiate team captain at Kansas who has played two stints in San Francisco ('93-'97; '01-'02), three seasons in Washington ('98-'00) and spent last year in Oakland, is happy to be providing his veteran ability and presence in a new environment following a season with the Raiders full of misfortune and conflict.

An ankle injury limited the former 26th overall draft pick to just eight games last year. He finished the season with just 18 tackles while also failing to record a sack for the first time of his career. This while Oakland drudged through a 4-12 season despite entering 2003 as the reigning champions of the AFC.

To make matters even worse for Stubblefield, he was one of several Raider players punished three game's salary by the league for testing positive for THG, even though the drug had not yet been placed on the NFL's banned substance list when the tests were conducted.

However, just as the Patriots collectively are putting the celebrations of last February in the background and shifting their focus toward the year ahead, Stubblefield enters the new season unfazed by last year's rash of difficulties.

"Last year was behind me as soon as I walked out of Oakland and cleaned my locker out," he said. "I put that behind me right then and started my new thing. For me, the biggest part of my new thing is coming in here and helping out this defense as much as I can. We have some great young guys. Vince is out there pushing me and likewise with (rookie defensive end) Marquise Hill and the others. I think if we can jell together, we can all reach our goal."

Light my fireOlympic flame reaches Athens' famed Acropolis

By David Crary

Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece - With the 2,500-year-old Parthenon as a majestic backdrop, a modern-day Greek sports heroine lit a cauldron last night atop Acropolis Hill with the Olympic flame - home at last from a worldwide journey on the eve of the Summer Games.

Niki Bakoyianni, a silver medal-winning high jumper at the 1996 Olympics, raised her arms in triumph after touching the torch to the cauldron at the Acropolis, one of Athens' most celebrated landmarks.

She was handed the torch by nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis, who was cheered exuberantly by huge crowds as he ran through the cobblestone streets below the Acropolis.

"We welcome the Olympic flame back home ... it will shine in the hearts of all people on Earth, carrying the message of peace and brotherhood," Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni told a crowd that gathered on a balmy evening beneath the ancient floodlit columns.

"We are ready - let the games begin!"

The torch moves to the Olympic stadium today, when the opening ceremony kicks off the games. But for many Greeks, last night's lighting at the Acropolis trumped anything that will happen during the extravaganza to come.

"It was a very big mistake" to light the flame at the Acropolis before the opening ceremony, said Georgis Karalis, a spokesman for the Greek organizing committee, underscoring how deeply the imagery and symbolism stirred Greeks.

The Olympic flame wasn't part of the ancient games, and it didn't become a fixture in the modern Olympics until the 1936 Berlin Games, when it was part of the Nazi pageantry that promoted Hitler's beliefs of Aryan supremacy in the world of sports.

Its arrival at Acropolis Hill capped a final swing through Athens' suburbs after leaving the port of Piraeu, where it had spent the night after being carried on a replica of an ancient Athenian warship - or trireme - for a trip down the coastline.

Ferries blared their horns in a deafening welcome chorus as the flame went past newly built Olympic venues to the ancient Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion.

"It just feels great to be part of this. I am very lucky," said Greek weightlifter Valerios Leonidis, who carried the torch to the hilltop temple.

But the flame's arrival at the Acropolis was even more stirring.

"We welcome the flame at the sacred rock of the Acropolis," Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis said. "Today, Greece is totally ready. We welcome the athletes, the Olympic officials and the visitors with all our hearts."

As a band played the Olympic hymn and the Greek national anthem, Lewis praised the country for being a gracious host.

"Everyone in Greece has been really nice, and I think everyone's going to have a wonderful games," Lewis said.

Since it was lit March 25 by the sun's rays at Ancient Olympia - birthplace of the ancient games - the flame has traveled an unprecedented 46,800 miles through 26 countries on a chartered jet named "Zeus," including first-time appearances in Africa and South America.

Highlights included stops at the Great Wall of China, and a host of celebrities carried the wood-and-titanium torch, from Pele and Tom Cruise to Nelson Mandela. Supermodel Naomi Campbell was to help carry it to the stadium today.

The Greek leg through 29 cities and six major archaeological areas could provide a last-minute boost in Olympic enthusiasm, hurt by years of difficulties caused by construction delays and security fears.

Athens organizers said Wednesday they have sold half of the 5.3 million tickets available for the Olympics, following a surge in interest over the past two weeks.

"People really feel that the games have arrived. ... The torch relay has created a great atmosphere," said Marton Simitsek, a senior games official.

Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, the chief Athens organizer, called the flame's arrival at the Acropolis "a reminder to the world that Greece is the birthplace of democracy, philosophy and Olympism."

"The flame has united the world," she said.

On the Net:

Olympic Torch Relay: http://www.athens2004.com/torchrelay

Olympic opening ceremony to kick off Athens Games

By Larry McShane

Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece - The Olympics are returning to their birthplace, putting a new twist on old traditions for the extravagant opening ceremony: The last will be first. The first will be last.

And they'll all be Greeks.

Greece, as host of the inaugural games, traditionally leads the parade of nations into the Olympic Stadium. As the host team, the Greeks must also enter last out of the record 202 participating countries. And so, when NBC begins its Olympic coverage Friday night, the Greek flag will precede the world's athletes and the Greek team will arrive last.

The old and the new provide a theme for the ceremony, where organizers promise to unite elements of ancient Greece and the 21st century, unveil a bow-and-arrow toting centaur, and flood the Olympic Stadium with water - all in the name of good sportsmanship, if not always good taste.

"We have a brilliant opportunity to set the stage for a historic celebration of the modern Olympic Games, and of the ancient values and culture that gave them birth," said Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Athens organizing committee head.

The ceremony's artistic director, 38-year-old Dimitris Papaioannou, said the key to the presentation was the involvement of Greece's youth - teens and children who will recreate local life dating to 2000 B.C.

"This can only be done with people who are young," he said. "The sheer energy has left us all speechless."

Much of the attention, as always, focuses on the moment when the Olympic torch is lit as the world watches. Options range from something spectacular, like the flaming arrow launched at a cauldron 12 years ago in Barcelona, to someone spectacular, like Muhammad Ali and his wrenching 1996 Atlanta appearance.

There's no official word on this year's decision, and a veil of secrecy still surrounds some elements of the opening gala. But NBC Sports chairman Dick Ebersol promised viewers of the four-hour telecast would not be disappointed by the production, and the network will employ 61 cameras to bolster its boss' claim.

"It will really be breathtaking," said Ebersol, who attended the rehearsals. "They've taken a wonderful, young approach to some beautiful, historic yarns."

The ceremony returns the modern Olympics to where it began in 1896. The opening, before a crowd of 75,000, marks the first payoff on the organizers' mad scramble to prepare long-shot Athens for its 16-day Olympic encore.

Although the smallest country to host the Summer Olympics since Finland in 1952, Greece's preparations were big-time since its winning bid of seven years ago. Security ran around $1.5 billion at the first Summer Games since Sept. 11, 2001, with 70,000 law enforcers on the job.

The total price tag soared in last two years from $5.5 billion to more than $7.2 billion, with predictions it could break the $12 billion mark. But cash and criticisms are afterthoughts amid the pageantry that kicks off the quadrennial event.

The ceremonies were expected to begin with hundreds of drummers pounding to the rhythm of a heartbeat. Throughout the show, cameos were anticipated by performers as Eros, the ancient god of love, and Medusa, she of the serpentine hair.

More recognizable will be the Chinese delegation's flag-bearer: 7-foot-6 NBA star Yao Ming, who will lead the team of 407 athletes and 230 coaches and officials.

The U.S. team will be the 55th inside the stadium, rather than one of the last, because the Greek alphabet was used to assign slots. Two-time basketball gold medalist Dawn Staley will carry the American flag, leading a contingent that will include the men's basketball squad with coach Larry Brown.

The Caribbean island of Saint ("Agia") Lucia will follow the Greek flag into the stadium as the first delegation to arrive. And the South and North Korean teams will march together under the same unification flag, as they did at the 2000 Games, with a flag bearer from each nation.

Dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries were expected at the opening ceremony, including French President Jacques Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Once NBC's taped presentation of the ceremonies end, the games begin. For those suffering from the twin afflictions of insomnia and Olympic fever, CNBC will air live rowing competition - both men and women - beginning at 2 a.m. Saturday, followed by the first gold medal of the games: the women's air rifle.

-

On the Net:

http://www.nbcolympics.com

Olympian athlete: Athens is not Sydney

Jim Pedro

(Editor's note: Four-time Olympian Jimmy Pedro, of Methuen, will be competing in the 73 kg division for the U.S. Judo team on Monday. The former St. John's Prep star is rated by many as the greatest judo competitor the U.S. has ever produced. No U.S. team member has ever won a gold medal. The following is a personal account of his experiences in Athens for the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Today will mark one week in Athens for me and a lot of my teammates on the U.S. Judo team.

We got here early because we wanted to get acclimated to the time zone, which is seven hours later than it is back home in Methuen.

And a lot of us are competing right away. Alex Ottiano (of Lawrence) is competing on Sunday. I'm competing on Monday. And Ronda Rousey is competing on Tuesday. We didn't have a lot of time, so we all got here early.

The first thing people are asking me back home is about the accommodations: "What's it like there."

Well, if you like concrete and you don't like grass, then you would love the Athletes' Village in Athens.

To be honest, after going to Barcelona ('92), Atlanta ('96) and Sydney ('00), let's just say, you could tell they rushed to finish because there isn't much to do.

In Sydney, it was awesome. There were bowling alleys, an international meeting area, several dining halls, an IBM surf shack ... There was just so much to do.

Here there isn't much. There is a huge dining hall, which can hold several thousand people. But that is about a mile away from we're we are housed. There is a place for American athletes to send emails, but really, other than that, not much.

There really isn't a sense of community, no large gathering of athletes at these Games so far.

First of all, the Athletes' Village is about 20 to 30 minutes from downtown Athens.

You can't walk. If you take a cab, like we do to training every day, it takes about 45 minutes. And most cab drivers ask where you're going. When you tell them "Athletes' Village," they roll up their windows and take off. They don't like coming here.

Athens is a great city. We are working out at the American College of Greece. It's about 15 minutes outside the village. We've all been able to get good workouts over there.

Everything is new, which is nice. It's just there are no bells and whistles. We don't have TVs in our rooms like we did at the other Olympics. So we can't watch live feeds of other events like we could before.

My point is there isn't a lot to do. And that necessarily isn't a bad thing, because we're here to compete.

Security is another thing on peoples' minds back home, and it really isn't much different from any other Olympics I've been to. Security is always a big deal at the Olympics.

There are definitely more undercover police who are blending in with the masses, and we've got more police escorts when we take buses. And there are more checkpoints we go through. But the rest is the same. Every 100 feet there is an armed guard outside of Athletes' Village, which has always been the case.

I remember security checking underneath buses 12 years ago in Barcelona.

And the last question is usually about me and if I'm ready.

I really think I am. It's been a long, tough two years, but I think I'm in a better frame of mind than I've ever been in. My brother Mike is here as a training partner - each competitor was allowed to bring a training partner - and that's exciting. All of the training partners are staying the American College of Greece.

My father, (Jim Sr.), will be getting in today. I always look forward to his arrival. He's always got good advice for me. In essence, he's always been my coach.

My wife, Marie, and kids (Casey, A.J. and Ricky) are home. It would have been too much to have them come here. But I'm talking to them several times a day. This was a tough trip to make.

Well, I have to go. I've got to get ready for the Opening Ceremonies, which are really a highlight of the Games. You never get tired of it. It's an amazing way to open everything. It really gets you in the spirit, and a sense of pride really takes over.

Tiger goes off track

By Jimmy Golen

Associated Press

HAVEN, Wis. - With a touch of bravado - but not a lot of touch with his putter - Tiger Woods played himself into a desperate position at the PGA Championship.

Woods shot a 3-over-par 75 yesterday on the first day at Whistling Straits, leaving him 10 strokes behind Darren Clarke and needing a good round today to avoid missing the cut in a major for the first time in his professional career.

"If I go ahead and just putt normally, I can shoot a good round and get back in the tournament," Woods said. "I didn't hit the ball that poorly, but I sure putted badly. All of the short putts I missed, and I just putted atrociously."

Woods has been able to bounce back from bad opening rounds before - sort of. Since winning the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage, Woods has not broken 70 in the first round of a major; he managed to make the cut each time - but he hasn't won, a winless streak of nine consecutive majors.

Another round like yesterday's and it will be 10.

After practicing in Packer weather for three days on the 7,514-yard links-style lakeside layout, the players were prepared to be challenged on the longest course ever to host a major. But the sun came out and the winds died down for the opening round, and several tees had been moved up to cut 145 yards off the distance.

That gave the golfers a chance at low scores, and Clarke took advantage. But the No. 1 player in the world couldn't.

Always a big draw, Woods was matched with Vijay Singh and another crowd favorite, John Daly, guaranteeing huge galleries for the day. Woods and Singh started off with a birdie and headed into the par-5, 563-yard 11th hole with optimism.

"All three of the dudes you really want to see are right here," one fan said as he waited for the group to tee off.

But the lovefest was soon over.

A photographer took a picture as Woods began his swing on the tee, forcing him to back off. Woods' caddy, Steve Williams, who kicked a photographer's camera lens at the U.S. Open, gave the shutter-clicker a stern rebuke but opted against a more serious confrontation.

Woods appeared to settle himself, but he duck-hooked his shot into the rough. When he tried to dig himself out, he put the ball back in the left rough, about 100 yards up, and his third shot went over the fairway and into the high grass on top of a hill on the right side.

From there, he chipped it over the hole and to the fringe on the far side of the green, then three-putted for a 7.

He three-putted on the par 3 12th to fall to 2-over. On No. 13, a par 4, he put his second shot into a bunker left of the green and saw his recovery roll off a knob on the green and end up 40 feet from the hole. From there, he two-putted for bogey.

"I got off to a nice start and then ran into a little bit of a problem there for a little bit," Woods said.

Then he tried to change his luck with one swing on the par-4, 373-yard 14th hole.

After watching Singh play cautiously and hit an iron into a trap, Woods climbed a hill beside the tee to try to catch a glimpse of the flag. When he came back down, Woods pulled out his driver and let it rip; the ball bounced about six yards short of the green and rolled on.

Woods, back at the tee, was still unable to see what had happened, but he didn't need to. The cheer that came from the green told him all he needed to know.

Two putts for a birdie brought him back to 2-over. But Woods wasn't able to generate any momentum.

He strung together four consecutive pars, then bogeyed No. 1. He birdied the second and the fourth holes but gave those strokes back on Nos. 6 and 7, lipping out on the latter to fall to 3-over.

"You can get it going here, there's no doubt about that," he said. "The greens are soft, the balls are holding and if you're hitting the ball well you can get the ball in there close. ... You can be aggressive."

He'll have to be aggressive today or he won't be listening to any more talk about his winless streak in majors this weekend.

Or his record of making 127 consecutive cuts on tour.

He won't be around to hear it.

Low scores the big surprise at PGA

By Doug Ferguson

Associated Press

HAVEN, Wis. - So much for Whistling Straits leaving everyone in dire straits.

After three days of hysteria that this PGA Championship might be the toughest ever, Darren Clarke made short work of the longest course in major history yesterday with birdies on his first four holes for a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead over Ernie Els and Justin Leonard.

Yes, these guys are good.

But the course just wasn't so bad.

The PGA lopped off 145 yards by moving up three tee boxes. The hole locations were so generous that no one complained, a rarity in professional golf. And Mother Nature helped out, sending only a gentle breeze off Lake Michigan instead of whipping wind that had everyone so nervous.

"I didn't know what to expect coming in here," Jay Haas said after his 68. "It seemed like one of the hardest courses we ever played. If that was the case, (7 under) wouldn't be leading the tournament."

When Clarke polished off his round of nine birdies, he had the lowest score under par in the opening round of a major since Chris DiMarco also had a 7-under 65 at the '01 Masters. That was the year before Augusta National was beefed up.

"We got fortunate with the conditions," Clarke said. "The greens were holding. We were able to fire at flags that we were not able to do earlier in the week."

Remember all that talk about players desperate to shoot par? Thirty-nine broke par in the first round - including 21 rounds in the 60s - and 21 others shot even par.

Tiger Woods was not among them. He was 3 over after his first four holes, had an "astrocious" time putting and wound up with a 75, leaving him in a tie for 104th in the 155-man field.

Winless in his last nine majors, Woods now has another streak to worry about. With a double bogey on his second hole and 32 putts in his round, Woods failed to break 70 in the first round of a major for the 10th straight time, and starts the second round in serious jeopardy of ending his streak of 127 consecutive cuts.

Vijay Singh, playing with Woods and John Daly (81), got himself into position to end an 0-for-18 drought in the majors with a 5-under 67, putting him in a large group that included Ryder Cup hopefuls Scott Verplank and Luke Donald, along with Briny Baird.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson opened with three straight birdies in the afternoon and shot 69, a good start in his bid to become the first player to finish in the top 3 in all four majors in the same year.

"Without wind, all that trouble - all those bunkers you see - aren't really in play for us," Mickelson said. "The course played very susceptible to low scores, to birdies."

British Open champion Todd Hamilton shot 72.

"The course wasn't as bad as advertised," Hamilton said. "They were pretty easy on us. You can tell by the scores."

Singh, who slipped out a side door to avoid speaking to reporters after his 67, later told a PGA Tour official that he thought the tournament went soft.

"I think they kind of went a little too easy," Singh said. "I enjoyed playing it, and I think it's going to get tougher from here in."

The PGA champion has been under par 41 times in the 46 years since the tournament switched to stroke play, and most everyone figured Whistling Straits would be one of those exceptions. The wind can be wicked off Lake Michigan, the greens are enormous with severe slopes and it's not easy to get the ball close to the hole.

But it didn't take long to realize this wasn't the monster course that had been predicted.

"I think 2-under yesterday morning would have looked unbelieveable," Charles Howell III said after his 70. Instead, he was tied for 22nd.

Clarke, the 35-year-old from Northern Ireland, wasted no time quieting all the talk that players would be begging for mercy.

He hit a lob wedge into 12 feet for birdie on the opening hole and was off to the races. He just missed the par-5 second hole in two shots for an easy birdie, hit 8-iron into 18 feet for birdie on the third and followed that with a driver and a 9-iron on the 493-yard fourth hole to 12 feet for another birdie.

"The greens were soft, and some of the pin positions were ... I would not say generous, but reasonable," he said. "There were birdie opportunities out there. Fortunately, I made the most of them."

He didn't have much choice. The biggest threat came from his own group - Leonard and K.J. Choi, who birdied his first five holes and wound up with a 68. They combined to shoot 17 under par.

Els, seeking redemption at the PGA from a season of major heartache, also warmed up quickly by hitting 8-iron to 2 feet on the par-3 12th and making birdie on two other par 3s - a 15-footer on the menacing 17th, a 5-footer on No. 3.

"If we have decent conditions, we can score," Els said.

An example of how the conditions changed came on the par-4 18th, listed as one of three 500-yard par 4s. The tee box was moved up 51 yards to play at only 449 yards, and the wind was at the players' backs. During a practice round, Els smashed a drive and still had to hit a 3-wood to reach the green. Yesterday, he hit a 3-wood through the fairway, and an 8-iron to the green.

"It's a very tough layout," Els said. "I just felt that we had a break today in the weather."

Nothing seems to help Woods, who once dominated the majors but now saves them for his worst putting. He started with a birdie, but fell apart by hitting into the left rough twice, the right rough once and three-putting from the fringe for a double bogey. He followed that with two more bogeys and was 3 over just four holes into the final major.

The only bright spot?

He hit driver on the 373-yard 14th hole, and a huge cheer that started from around the green and filtered all the way to the tee told him he was on the green, some 30 feet away for a two-putt birdie.

Still, the focus today will be on whether he makes the cut, not whether he contends.

And the curiosity continues. Whistling Straits is still a beast, and all it takes is a little wind, firmer greens, some tougher pins and tee boxes returned to their regular positions, and everything could change.

"About the time this is over, I don't think the scores are going to be all that low," Verplank said. "But they're not going to have to do something idiotic like the USGA did" at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

Stripers, bluefish not as finicky as others this month

Where the fish are

Frank Dwyer

Marblehead: Anglers fishing sea clams, worms and cut bait have done well with bass off Devereux Beach, mostly in the evening. Bluefish have been plentiful again this week, with boat and shore anglers landing fish from 3 to 12 pounds. Fly and spin fishermen have done well in pursuit of bass near the lighthouse on the neck.

Salem: Surface feeding bass with birds overhead were seen this past week in Salem Sound. The Kernwood Bridge and Route 1A/127 bridge have presented shore fishermen with opportunities for striped bass catches. Clam strips and cut bait have been the most productive baits. Fishing around Winter Island has continued to produce striped bass for both fly and spin anglers.

Beverly: Beverly Harbor has been home to surface-feeding bass over the last week, and it's great to have this type of action in August. Bluefish are still around, but those with boats have done better as the fish seemed to move into deeper water. Anglers patrolling the beaches at night are finding striped bass, mostly with cut bait and live eels. Flounder still around the shoreline for those who want them.

Cape Ann: Manchester anglers continue to report decent action for striped bass as well as bluefish. Bluefish have not been as prevalent over the last week, but sporadic pods are around. Anglers fishing around Thacher Island have done well as well as near Halibut Point. School bluefin tuna are on many anglers minds as these fish have been seen from all throughout the area.

While seeing and catching are certainly two different things, there have been quite a few of these fish landed. Anglers trolling Green Machines have done well, while casting spin fishermen have been using Hydro poppers and jigs. Some savvy fishermen have even landed these speedy fish on large mackerel or herring imitation flies.

Party boats continue to return with good catches of market sized cod and haddock.

Ipswich: Bluefish and striped bass activity has been good off Ipswich Neck. Some bigger blues - up to 15 pounds - have been landed. The mouth of the Ipswich has had good action over the past week, with bluefish and stripers both in the mix. Shore anglers have had decent action from Pavilion Beach as well as the beaches around the Crane Mansion. Small popping plugs like Chub Creeks or Skitter Pops have attracted blues and stripers, and fly anglers have also done well with floating lines and popping flies.

Newbury: The Parker River and Plum Island Sound remain home to many bluefish. Striped bass activity seemed a bit better this week, with most of the action on schoolies, but some bigger fish have been in the mix. The reservation beaches continue to produce bass for anglers, mostly those using bait, although a few surface blitzes have been reported. Shore anglers fishing the Parker River near the Route 1A bridge have also reported decent striped bass activity.

Newburyport/Plum Island: Striped bass fishing has been fairly consistent around Joppa Flats. The outgoing tide over the last several days has produced good sized schoolies and several keeper-sized bass. These fish have been taking sluggos rigged on lead heads, popping plugs and needlefish, as well as flies stripped fast on a sinking line.

The beaches have also produced fish, but surfcasters have found them to be somewhat finicky over the last week. Plum Island Point continues to attract crowds of anglers who have been landing good numbers of striped bass. Fly anglers fishing the sandbar off the Point have done well with stripping clousers and deceivers on sinking lines in the fast moving current. Upriver, Deer Island remains popular with shore-bound anglers in search of striped bass.

Bait fishermen seem to be outscoring all others here. Fishermen in search of tuna have found these fish all throughout Ipswich Bay out to the Isle of Shoals. Party boats have continued to reward their patrons with cod numbers of cod and haddock.

Salisbury: Salisbury Beach is really only an option early in the morning or in the evening as beach goers have certainly taken over. That said, surfcasters working this stretch of beach have had luck with both bluefish and striped bass, with relatively little company from other anglers. Sea worms rigged on a fishfinder rig work very well, as do swimming and popping plugs and metal lures. Much like Plum Island Point, anglers fishing the river from the state reservation have continued to land good numbers of striped bass.

Seacoast, N.H.: Fishing the seacoast has been somewhat spotty, but anglers fishing the Rye coastline off Route 1 have found striped bass in low-light conditions. Anglers working the Hampton marsh and bridges have also found fish, but have had to work a bit harder and longer to find them. The Piscataqua has been somewhat spotty with schoolies being landed here and there, but the fish seem to be spread out. Anglers fishing further off shore and out to the Isle of Shoals have reported decent pods of bluefish and some school bluefin tuna activity as well.

Frank Dwyer is a fishing and outdoor columnist for Eagle Tribune Publishing and is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. E-mail him at dwyer.f@comcast.net.

Sports in brief

Ferriero's team falls

The 2004 United States Under-18 Select Team lost its first game of the Under-18 Junior World Cup, falling to host Czech Republic, 5-1, in front of thousands of pro-Czech fans in Breclav, Czech Republic, yesterday. After registering a 5-0-0 record to win the title last year, the U.S. was undefeated in its last seven Junior World Cup games heading into the game. Essex native Benn Ferriero and the U.S. finished 2-1 in their division and await their fate for the weekend's semifinals.

Gloucester High School sports

Football mini-camp starts Monday, Aug. 23, at 6 p.m. at Gloucester High School. Players will need a physical form signed by a doctor and a $75 user fee check they can bring to the high school. All other sports start Aug. 26. Cross Country is a $50 user fee. All other sports are $75. All athletes need a physical form signed by doctors.

Youth track

The last youth track clinic will be Monday night at 6 p.m. at the O'Maley Middle School track for ages 5-8, 9-10 and 3-4 (and no one younger). There is no charge. Officials will sign participants when they show. For returnees, note the change in nights for the program, and that the program is at O'Maley and not the high school. It is sponsored by Gloucester Beach and Recreation.

Gloucester High School boys track and field coach Jim Munn will conduct a series of Saturday morning clinics for boys and girls in grades 4 through 8 who are interested in running cross country in the fall. Participants should bring their their own water bottles, come dressed to run and meet at the bandstand at Stage Fort Park by no later than 9 a.m. The clinics are free and open to all Cape Ann area youngsters. For more information, call Coach Munn evenings at (978) 281-0266.

Native to play in Boston

Gloucester native Mike Francis, who now lives in Florida, will be playing in the Boston Open for golf professionals Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Franklin Park Golf Course in Dorchester.

Youth football/cheering registration

The Hampden Hill Tigers: At 21 Hampden St. on the following days: Friday, Aug. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Aug. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Registration is $65 per child, with a family cap of $120.

The Chargers Youth Program: The Scout House on Concord Street on the following dates: Friday, Aug. 13, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to noon. Children in grades 2-8 are eligible to play. Fees are $45 for first child, $35 for second child, with a family cap of $100.

The Riverdale Rockets Youth Program: the Masonic Hall on 27 Eastern Ave. on the following dates: Friday, Aug. 13, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Children in grades 2-8 are eligible to play. Any questions, call Anthony Saputo at (978) 283-6970.

The East Gloucester Vikings: Aug. 11 and Aug. 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gloucester High School atrium/front lobby. Registration fee is $75 per child with a maximum of $150 per family. Any questions, contact Bill Normand at (978) 283-6145 or Pam Murray at (978) 282-3132.

The Gloucester Raiders: At the Gloucester Police Station: Friday, Aug. 13, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Cost is $65 per child with a $100 cap per family. After Aug. 14, there will be a $10 late charge. Children ages 7-14, grades 2-8 are eligible. With questions, call Mary-Alice at (978) 281-1087 or Mary Ellen at (978) 281-5057.

Gloucester High School football

Equipment will be issued for juniors and seniors Monday, Aug. 16, at 4:30 p.m. at the high school; freshmen and sophomores Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 4:30 p.m. Mini-camp will start Monday, Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. at Gloucester High School.

Gloucester Field Hockey Camp

It will be held Aug. 23-27 at the O'Maley School field. The camp is for girls age 8-15. The field hockey program begins daily at 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Fee for the camp is $45. Players should bring sneakers and cleats if they have them; also a mouthguard. Sticks will be available. If it rains we will be inside the O'Maley Rink. Registration information can be obtained by calling Kim Patience at (978) 281-3765.

The Gloucester High school field hockey team will start practice at Fuller School field on Monday, Aug. 30, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. It will break for lunch and meet again from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone interested in joining, including incoming freshmen, must have completed physicals and authorization form at this time and also a user fee. Players can pick up forms at the high school. Practice will be rain or shine.

Cape Ann Youth Hockey

Cape Ann Youth Hockey is looking for Mite players to fill out their 2004-2005 roster. Any player born 1996 or after is eligible. Contact Paula Fulford at (978) 281-3442 if interested by Aug. 15. Players need no prior hockey experience.

Cape Ann Youth Hockey is also having a fund-raising cruise aboard the Hurricane II on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased from any board member or by contacting Donna Balestraci at (978) 546-7857. It will have a 50/50 raffle. Music is provided by D.J. Scotty Mac.

Youth soccer

Fishermen Youth Soccer still has some openings for the fall soccer season for many age groups. The U7 group in particular has many openings for players and for coaches. Go to www.fishermenyouthsoccer.org for details or call (978) 525-3389. The season begins in September after school starts.

New road race

The "Seacoast Seven," a seven-mile road race and mile fun walk, will take place Saturday, Aug. 14, at 10:30 a.m. It starts and finishes at Stage Fort Park and benefits Seacoast Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. For more information, contact Art McCann at (978) 281-5715 or visit www.coolrunning.com.

Manchester Essex field hockey coach

Manchester Essex football needs a junior varsity field hockey coach. If interested contact athletic director Hardy Nalley at (978) 526-2066 or e-mail Chris Horne at hornec@mersd.org.

Rugby

North Shore Rugby is looking for new players for the upcoming fall season. Players are needed for both the men's and women's clubs, and no experience is required. See www.NSRFC.com for more information or call (781) 771-1127.

Swimming

The YMCA of the North Shore Sharks will be holding registration for new swimmers for the Fall/Winter team on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 7, and Sept. 8, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 pm at the Ipswich, Salem and Beverly (Sterling Center) branches, and on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 14, and Sept. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Marblehead/Swampscott branch. Interested swimmers should bring a swim suit and towel to registration. The Marblehead/Swampscott, Salem, Ipswich and Beverly/Cape Ann teams all have openings for boys and girls from the ages of 5 to 18. For more information, call Anthony Sakakeeny at the Salem YMCA at (978) 744-0351, Susan Guertin at the Marblehead/Swampscott YMCA at (781) 631-0870, Adam Memont at the Ipswich YMCA at (978) 356-9622 or Kevin Tyrrell at the Beverly YMCA at (978) 927-6855.

Sports schedule

Friday, Aug. 13

Summer Leagues

CAPE ANN WOMEN'S SOFTBALL LEAGUE: Playoffs: Steelers vs. Two Sisters (6:15 p.m., Mattos); SuDees vs. Capt. Carlos (7:45 p.m.)

Saturday, Aug. 14

Summer Leagues

ROAD RACE: Seacoast Seven (10:30 a.m., starts at Stage Fort Park tennis courts); INTERTOWN: Championship, best of five: Game 1: Manchester at Rockport (2 p.m., Evans)

Sunday, Aug. 15

Summer Leagues

INTERTOWN: Championship, best of five: Game 2: Rockport at Manchester (2 p.m., Hyland); CAPE ANN INDUSTRIAL SOFTBALL: Poliskey's vs. Galante's (9 a.m., Burnham's I); Bresnahan's Enterprises vs. C.A.P. Construction (10:30 a.m., Burnham's I); Coopers Bulldogs vs. Giacalone's Construction (10:30 a.m., Burnham's II)

Newcomers Dillon, Owens play in preseason opener

By Howard Ulman

Associated Press

FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- Two of the NFL's most controversial and productive offensive players, Corey Dillon and Terrell Owens, make their debuts with new teams in an exhibition opener Friday night.

Dillon is the starting running back for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots after seven seasons in Cincinnati. Owens will line up at wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles after eight seasons in San Francisco. Both were obtained in trades.

Dillon, often at odds with Bengals management, is happy in is new home.

"That's what a championship team is, people with heart who still have the desire to go out there and compete and win," said Dillion, who's been to three Pro Bowls. "That's the type of organization you want to be a part of."

Owens, who has been to four Pro Bowls, also feuded with team management and was known for his flamboyant antics in San Francisco, where he once took pompoms from a cheerleader to celebrate a touchdown.

Now he's concentrating on a different offensive system.

"The things we're doing in practice, we obviously want to carry them over to the games," he said. "Obviously, there are going to be mistakes. We can correct those."

The game matches two of the NFL's best teams over the last three seasons. The Patriots won the Super Bowl in 2002 and 2004, and the Eagles lost the NFC title game in each of the last three seasons.

Quarterback Tom Brady, the MVP of those two Super Bowls, has been given more responsibility to call plays at the line of scrimmage and wants to cut down on his fumbles and interceptions.

"I've made some progress in the last couple of weeks," Brady said, "but I'm still not really where I want to be" for the regular-season opener on Sept. 9 against Indianapolis.

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb doesn't think there's any pressure on his team just because it lost the last three NFC title games.

"The team that has the most pressure is pretty much New England," he said. "When you win the Super Bowl, expectations are so high, everyone expects you to do it again. If you don't come back and do it again, then they're going to say you had a down year."

The Patriots have won their last seven exhibition games, including all four last year. They ended the season with 15 consecutive victories, including the playoffs.

That's three short of the NFL record of 18 set by the Miami Dolphins when they went 17-0 in 1972 and won their opener in 1973.

Neither team has much competition for starting jobs. For Philadelphia, Jeremiah Trotter eventually could beat out Mark Simoneau at middle linebacker. Trotter spent the last two seasons with Washington after parting with Philadelphia on bad terms, then rejoined the Eagles after last season.

New England's depth at positions like wide receiver and linebacker means backups should get plenty of playing time Friday night.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said he wants to use the game "to reassess veteran players," while Philadelphia coach Andy Reid wants to focus on rookies.

"I'm very curious to see how the young guys play," Reid said. "If it comes down to (them) winning the football game then that's what we expect (them) to do."

Reid plans to use his first-stringers for a quarter and a half. Belichick is expected to do about the same.

That could mean that fans wanting to see Dillon, who should boost one of the NFL's worst ground games, and Owens, who has averaged 93 catches the past four seasons, had better show up on time.

"When you bring in a guy like T.O., you're able to do a lot more different things," McNabb said.

And Dillon should add a ground attack to Brady's passing game.

"There are new teams, new expectations," Brady said. "For us to accomplish our goal we are going to have to play better than we did last year."

Better with age: Baughn is oldest club champ at Rockport

By Dom Nicastro

Staff writer

Peter Baughn was the spoiler at the Rockport Golf Club's Men's Championship last weekend.

He beat George Hobbs in the semifinals of the match-play tourney, preventing Hobbs the chance to face his son, Jeff, the defending champion, in the finals. He then topped the younger Hobbs, shattering his foe's bid for a sixth title.

And at 55, Baughn bucked a recent trend of young champions, many of them in their 20s.

Baughn is the golf club's oldest men's champion. He drained a 35-foot putt for birdie on the 30th hole, clinching the final match over Hobbs, 7 and 6.

It capped a weekend of consistent par-type of golf for Baughn, a Salem native who has lived in Rockport for 20 years and works as a pharmacist at Brooks on Eastern Avenue.

Baughn has played in the championship about 10 years and knows, at his age, he can't compete with the driving ability of the younger golfers, like Hobbs, 27. Hence, his goal was to at least par each hole and simply "hit the ball down the middle."

Baughn led by four after the first 18 of the final match. He led by as many as six before finishing the job on the 30th.

"Those young guys, they hit it a long way, and they score very well," Baughn said. "One of the matches I won, I had 14 pars and birdied the 15th to win 4 and 3. I told myself to keep hitting it down the middle and make pars. If the guys hit a drive farther than me, I have the second shot first and am the first to put it on the green. Then you make them do it. It seemed to work well for me."

The championship was held over the last two weekends. Baughn got to the finals by beating Jeff Davis in the first round (5 and 4), Peter Carlson in the quarterfinals (4 and 3) and past champion George Hobbs in the semifinals (4 and 3). The younger Hobbs beat Fred Frithsen 2 up in the first round, Tony Conigliari 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals and Chris Nelson in the semifinals (4 and 3).

Despite the youth resurgence in Rockport, Baughn said many golfers in their 50s held their own, such as Hobbs and Bill Johnson.

"With the equipment and technology of today, guys like us in our 50s can play with the big boys," Baughn said. "You have to keep up with the technology: the drivers, golf balls, irons and all the high-tech equipment. It's not like it was when I was a kid."

First as a caddy at Kernwood in Salem when he was 8-years-old, Baughn stayed involved with the sport as a player for St. John's Prep. He went to college, married and had two children and had already given up golf in his early 20s.

He did not return to the links until about 20 years later, when he saw his golf clubs aging in his basement and decided to break them out.

"When you play when you're that young, it comes back pretty quickly," Baughn said.

He now plays regularly in local tournaments, such as Essex Country Club Four-ball and tournaments at Bass Rocks. He's played at Rockport for about 14 years and won a few senior championships. He's now eligible for Massachusetts Golf Association Senior tourneys and may enter some starting next year.

Prior to this season, the closest he came to a men's title at Rockport was a third-place in a medal-play format. Rockport alternates its format for the club championship each year.

As for his play last weekend, "It was just one of those weekends," Baughn said. "For a guy my age, it doesn't happen often."

Women's: Dragonas nets fifth

Dani Dragonas won her fifth women's title. She came from behind to beat Margaret Hale by one stroke in the Marge Curtis Women's Club Championship.

Trailing by five shots at the start of the second round, Dragonas fired an 83 for a 36-hole total of 175 in the rain-shortened event. Hale, the two-time defending champion, closed with an 89 for a two-day total of 176.

Lauria Waddleton won the Gladys Smith 1st Flight Championship with a net score of 156. Pat Dagle finished second in the 36-hole event.

Better with agePeter Baughn broke a trend of 20-something champions in the Rockport Golf Club Men's Championship

Staff

Better with age

Peter Baughn broke a trend of 20-something champions in the Rockport Golf Club Men's Championship

Year Champion Age

2004 Peter Baughn 55

2003 Jeff Hobbs 26

2002 Jamie Kerepka 22

2001 Mike McCarthy Jr. 23

2000 Mike McCarthy Jr. 22

1999 Jeff Hobbs 22

report

Sox fans go nuts over plays at platesc and read by km12.2 inches

By John Tomase

Staff Writer

BOSTON - The cheers refused to subside, so Dale Sveum did the only sensible thing. He tipped his cap and smiled.

Unfortunately for the Red Sox third base coach, he was being acknowledged with a mock cheer for stopping a runner at third before he could be cut down at the plate.

It was one of those days for Sveum, who watched Devil Rays center fielder Rocco Baldelli throw out two straight runners at home in Boston's 6-0 victory yesterday.

Coming on the heels of a poor road trip - Sveum waved three runners to their doom, including one at the hands of Baldelli - Sveum knew he was going to hear it from the fans, and he did.

"I'm going to go over all this in my head, trust me," Sveum said. "But when it's going to take a perfect throw to get the guy, you send him."

Baldelli threw out Kevin Millar by a wide margin on a Jason Varitek single in the fifth. Varitek took second on the throw, then tried to score on Orlando Cabrera's single to center.

Once again Baldelli came up firing, his throw beating Varitek to the plate by half a step. Varitek plowed over counterpart Toby Hall, who held on to the ball for another out.

The Red Sox had just taken a 5-0 lead, but Sveum heard boos all the way off the field.

"It seems like the people I sent in the first 100 games were safe, because a throw was off a little here or there," Sveum said. "It's a no-win situation. You don't get credit for sending guys when they're barely safe. But you're going to get chastised when they're out by two feet on a bang-bang play."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona, who hired Sveum, said the rough patch will pass.

"I know he can handle it," Francona said. "His nickname is Nuts for a reason. He won't shy away from this atmosphere. He's OK."

DAMON SEES ERROR OF HIS WAYS

Red Sox center fielder Johnny Damon took the unconventional step of asking that a Tino Martinez double to center on Wednesday be changed to an error.

The ball hit a leaping Damon in the heel of the glove and bounced away a millisecond before Damon hit the center field wall. It cost Derek Lowe two earned runs in Boston's 14-4 victory.

"It hit my glove. I should have caught it," Damon said. "I'm not a selfish kind of guy. I thought it was an error."

Official scorer Chaz Scoggins of the Lowell Sun agreed and changed his scoring decision yesterday.

ODDS AND ENDS

The Red Sox have won five of their last six and seven of their last 10 to improve to 13 games above .500 for the first time this year. … Pedro Martinez hadn't thrown a shutout in 106 starts dating back to 2000. … Boston's last shutout came from none other than John Burkett, who turned the trick on July 27, 2002 against the Orioles. … Martinez' 10 strikeouts gave him 2,590 for his career. He passed Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Warren Spahn on the career list. … David Ortiz knocked in two runs to set a career high in RBIs with 102.

Pedro throws blanks for first time in four years

By Howard Ulman

Associated Press

BOSTON - Pedro Martinez likes the hot weather, and his record proves it.

On a sunny afternoon at Fenway Park, he struck out 10 in his first shutout in almost four years and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-0 yesterday for their fifth win in six games.

Martinez improved to 9-1 since losing in Toronto on May 16. He got off to a slow start early this season, when it was still chilly.

"The weather was worse than I have ever faced before. You can't feel the ball," Martinez said. "But as the weather has gone along, I've gotten better. And, hopefully, it can carry over to the end of the season."

With a gametime temperature of 82 degrees, Martinez (13-4) gave up six hits, no walks and did not allow a runner past second base.

"When it heats up, he seems to heat up," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "Right now is when we need him to be strong."

Martinez hasn't missed a start all season for the Red Sox, who moved a season-high 13 games over .500 and hold a slim lead in the AL wild-card race with 49 games left.

"He's not the power guy he used to be, but he pitches," Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said. "He was in full control out there."

Martinez threw 109 pitches in his 42nd career complete game and first since last Sept. 16 against Tampa Bay. His 16th shutout was his first since he beat the Devil Rays 8-0 on Aug. 29, 2000.

He also passed Bob Feller and Warren Spahn for 21st place in career strikeouts with 2,590.

"I don't pay attention to those numbers, but it's always great to find out," said Martinez, who lowered his ERA from 3.94 to 3.72.

He struck out at least 10 for the third straight game, fourth this year and 97th time in his career, tying Sandy Koufax for fourth place on the all-time list.

Carl Crawford led off the game with a single and went to second on a sacrifice before the next two batters grounded out. In the fifth, Julio Lugo singled and Aubrey Huff was hit by a pitch with none out, but Rocco Baldelli popped out, Tino Martinez struck out and Jose Cruz Jr. flied out.

In the ninth, Huff led off with a double but was stranded when Martinez retired the next three batters, ending the game by striking out Cruz.

"First and second, man on second in the ninth, what's the difference?" Piniella said.

Martinez got plenty of support as the Red Sox had 15 hits for the second straight game. On Wednesday night, they beat Tampa Bay 14-4. Yesterday, every starter had at least one hit.

David Ortiz and Bill Mueller each had three hits and Ortiz had two RBIs, giving him a career-high 102. He had 101 last season.

Boston took a 5-0 lead with two runs in a bizarre fifth inning. The last five batters got hits, but two were thrown out at the plate by Baldelli, who leads AL center fielders with nine assists.

Kevin Youkilis grounded out leading off the inning before Boston put runners at first and second on singles by Manny Ramirez and Ortiz. Kevin Millar's double scored Ramirez and sent Ortiz to third.

Then Baldelli's strong arm got two runners at home on consecutive batters. Jason Varitek's single scored Ortiz, but the slow-footed Millar was thrown out at the plate.

Orlando Cabrera singled and, again, third-base coach Dale Sveum waved the runner home. But Baldelli's throw beat Varitek to the plate.

"They were both perfect throws," Sveum said. "If you have a lead, you're more likely to send (runners) than when you're three runs behind."

In the sixth, Sveum held three runners at third, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Only Mueller, who doubled, scored when Ortiz singled him home.

The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first against Mark Hendrickson (8-11) on Youkilis' seventh homer of the season.

"Every inning was kind of a battle," Hendrickson said after allowing five runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.

Boston added two runs in the third on RBI singles by Gabe Kapler and Ortiz.

Notes: Baldelli is 0-for-15 against Martinez after getting his first major league hit off him, a double on opening day last year. ... RHP Scott Williamson went to Cincinnati, where he played before coming to Boston last year, for a second opinion on his sore right forearm. Williamson, on the disabled list since July 25, was to be checked by Reds medical director Timothy Kremchek. ... Boston CF Johnny Damon received his first day off after playing in 18 consecutive games.

Pedro pitching way into Cy Young racesc and read by km19.9 inches

ON BASEBALL

John Tomase

BOSTON - Here's a crazy thought - could Pedro Martinez be entering the Cy Young race?

Ian Browne of MLB.com posed the question in the press box yesterday. At first it seemed silly. But the more you think about it …

"It'd be a long shot from where he was a month ago, but I wouldn't be surprised if he won it," said Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo. "He's definitely going to be on the ballot, at least. That's for sure."

For the longest time, we've viewed this as Pedro's transitional season. He lacks the blazing fastball of yore. He has allowed at least seven earned runs in a start as many times (3) as he has zero. His ERA has spent most of the season on the wrong side of 4.00, let alone 3.00. He supposedly ceded the mantle of ace to Curt Schilling sometime around opening day.

And yet after his first shutout of the season yesterday against Tampa Bay, Martinez looks every bit the ace, even if he'll never approach his transcendent form of 1999 and 2000.

He improved his record to 13-4 and dropped his ERA to 3.72, blanking the Devil Rays on six hits and striking out 10 for his first shutout since Aug. 29, 2000, also against Tampa. That was the memorable Gerald Williams brawl game, when Martinez took a no-hitter into the eighth.

With Schilling struggling, Martinez has regained his place as the staff stopper, a title he held by unanimous acclaim for his first six seasons in Boston.

"He's throwing the ball unbelievable," said Red Sox outfielder Kevin Millar. "It's tough to throw a shutout in the big leagues and he's doing it striking out 10 and walking nobody."

Martinez received a huge ovation for taking the mound to start the ninth, acknowledging the crowd with a small wave of the glove.

He allowed a leadoff double to Aubrey Huff on a ball that would have left any other park in baseball, then retired Rocco Baldelli and Tino Martinez. With two strikes on Jose Cruz Jr. and the crowd roaring, Martinez blew a 93 mph fastball past him for strike three.

Just like old times.

"The fans are always there for me," Martinez said. "Old times, new times, in the future. It will always be that way."

As far as Cy Young candidates, the American League's surprisingly thin. Schilling seemed like a contender until his recent struggles. The leader's probably Oakland's Mark Mulder, who paces the league with 15 victories, though the hands-down best pitcher right now is Minnesota's Johan Santana, who looks more and more like a left-handed Martinez with each start.

"You couldn't go wrong with either one of them," said first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz, a longtime teammate of Santana's in Minnesota. "Pedro's been doing this for a long time. Johan's in his first full season as a starter. They're both phenomenal. You're never going to have a long losing streak with either one.

"It'd be a neat race to see. I wouldn't want to have to vote on it, put it that way."

Mulder gets points for starting the All-Star Game, leading the league in wins, and being part of Oakland's fabled Big Three. Barry Zito beat Martinez for the 2002 Cy, one of the greatest crimes of the last decade, and there will likely be sentiment to reward Mulder.

"I played with Mulder and he's outstanding," said Red Sox closer Keith Foulke. "But Pedro's pitching great. My theory on that is you do your job all summer, then sit back and let the awards take care of themselves."

Mulder will doubtlessly benefit from the myopic view that the guy with the most wins is the best pitcher. Santana will get his share of votes for what's turning into a dominant second half.

Martinez? He's holding his own with both of them.

"A guy that's done what Pedro's done deserves all our, not just patience, but backing," manager Terry Francona said. "A guy like that is not supposed to show up on March 4 throwing 95. He's a smart guy and he works hard and he's doing what he's supposed to do."

Martinez has now entered his own personal stretch drive. Free agency beckons, and a dominant final eight weeks would go a long way towards securing him the kind of contract he feels he deserves.

Adding another Cy Young Award to the mantle wouldn't hurt his cause, either.

"Look at his track record. August and September are always good months for him," Arroyo said. "He's capable of running off five or six games in a row like today's. That would put his ERA in the top five, and he's already there for wins and strikeouts.

"People think he's not throwing as hard or this that and the other thing, but he puts his work in every four days, starts every fifth and puts zeroes on the board. That's all that matters."

John Tomase is an Eagle-Tribune writer. E-mail him at jtomase@eagletribune.com

Hospital's lifeline a blessing, for now

The state Legislature's renewal of a financial lifeline to Addison Gilbert Hospital this week, with a second $500,000 grant for emergency surgical services, may be a mixed blessing.

Clearly it is a great relief in the short term. The Gloucester hospital, part of Northeast Health System Inc., had been in danger earlier this year of losing its 24-hour emergency services until the arrival of the first grant, awarded in the spring. If its emergency services had been reduced to part-time, that might have jeopardized Addison Gilbert's status as a full-service, acute-care hospital.

The second grant takes even more pressure off, and Northeast administrators and Mayor John Bell were full of praise for Senate Majority Leader Frederick Berry of Peabody and Assistant Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr of Gloucester who wrote an amendment that earmarked the money for Northeast. Even the grassroots Task Force for the Preservation of Addison Gilbert Hospital has cut the frequency of its meetings - a clear sign that its members believe the crisis is past.

But everybody sighing with relief should keep in mind that unless the Legislature votes to make this grant a permanent part of the state budget, it is a temporary fix. The costs to maintain emergency services will continue and are likely to grow, especially in an era of rampant inflation in health care costs.

If, as is more likely, those grants cease, Northeast will then have to "find" that money somewhere else.

They should also take note of how this money came to Northeast. Tarr's comment that the grant affirms the Legislature's belief that the hospital is "strategically important" in the state's public health system is true enough. But the Legislature's belief may not necessarily reflect that of the state Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees health care statewide.

Gov. Mitt Romney had sought to strip a list of politically favored hospitals from an amendment sending $33 million to "distressed" health care facilities, arguing that the money instead should be passed out based on formulas set by state health care officials. But the Legislature rejected the idea, keeping its priority list of hospitals attached to the money.

Political pull in the Legislature is nice, but it can be fleeting as well. So it remains imperative that those with a stake in Addison Gilbert's survival use this breathing space to address its financial stability.

There may come a point when the state lifeline will no longer be there. By that time, Addison Gilbert must be able to stand on its own.

Patriots win but get preseason shrugs

One team is league champ - for the second time in three years, no less. The other hasn't won a championship since those of us under the age of 86 were born.

Yet still the start of another Patriots season fails to elicit the kind of excitement among New Englanders that attends the Red Sox as they leave for Florida every February.

Perhaps it's the fact that the baseball season is in full swing when the Pats report for training camp in July. Traditionally, it's about this time of year the Sox make their charge for a postseason berth, convincing everyone that, by golly, this could be the year they finally gain the title that has eluded them since 1918.

The start of the Red Sox season, on the other hand, often finds the Celtics and Bruins entering their late-season swoons, so fans are primed to focus their attention elsewhere.

And, of course, tonight when the Patriots play their first preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Foxboro, they will also be competing with the opening of the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Still, they don't call this "Red Sox Nation" for nothing. They've been playing baseball in Boston for well over a century while professional football is a relative newcomer to the region. And the start of another baseball season signals the return of summer, while we tend to associate football with days that are cold and dark.

Given the level of talent, both on the field and the sidelines, Feb. 6, 2005, could well find Patriot fans celebrating another Super Bowl victory down in Jacksonville. After which everyone can get on the bus for Fort Myers, where the talk will no doubt be how 2005 will indeed be the year that the Red Sox finally win the World Series.

Letters to the editor

Media, Moore not

telling whole story

To the editor:

The left is becoming increasingly out of line as the November election approaches. The lingering complaint from Democrats that continues to amaze me is their constant denouncing of the war in Iraq as an unnecessary endeavor, as well as a disaster. This is far from the truth, and hopefully in November the American public can see that the liberal media presents the negative 10 percent of Iraq and not the positive 90 percent.

There are still many who continue to question President Bush's motives in the Iraq invasion, most notably the gullible movie-goers taking the flawed propaganda film "Fahrenheit 9/11" as absolute truth. While one could go on and discredit every production Michael Moore has ever been behind, I will continue to focus on the impression this movie sets.

The constant jabs taken at me by my fellow peers calling the President a "murderer" who sent out people in Iraq to enrich his business partners is the most ridiculous claim of all. Someone does not become president of the United States for the money.

Iraq was a humanitarian mess that would continue to be an escalating threat to American interests for decades to come. Are people forgetting this regime would not end with Saddam? His two sadistic sons were to follow in his path, a pair possibly more frightening than the Butcher of Baghdad himself.

Even after the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, as well as other independent inquiries into intelligence failures, repeatedly cleared the Bush administration of lying to the American public, I have yet to hear any apologies from Democrats. In fact, to this day they continue to call him a liar.

John Kerry and John Edwards continue to attack the president for going to war in Iraq, yet they both originally supported and voted for this war. Have they forgotten they came to the same conclusion that Saddam was an imminent threat to world security based on the same intelligence that our president read? Oh yes, that's right, Mr. Kerry did not take the time to read the intelligence report before voting on the war. He admits that himself.

For those who say Saddam's regime was not connected to terrorism, their argument can be shot down with widely known facts about these connections. President Bush never came out and claimed that Saddam had a direct connection to Sept. 11, but there are plenty of instances connecting him and al Qaida. Take the example of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who continues to terrorize innocent Iraqis today. While fighting alongside bin Laden in Afghanistan, Zarqawi was injured during the American invasion. From here he sought and received refuge under the curtain of Saddam's government in Iraq. He recovered from his injuries at a hospital administered by Uday Hussein and orchestrated terrorist attacks back in Jordan, where he was wanted for previous terror attacks.

If you do not believe Saddam was involved in terror, I ask you to tell that to the families of suicide attack victims in Israel. It is a known fact that Saddam sponsored Palestinian suicide bombers by supporting their families after their murderous acts. If you can look these families in the eye and tell them Saddam was not involved in terror, maybe there is more wrong with you than your opinions.

Others continue to claim the Iraqi people hate Americans. A letter from David Figurido, of the U.S. Marine Corps, posted at Annie's Variety in West Gloucester, tells a story about Iraqis he has met that say life under Saddam was much worse than it is now. With Saddam gone, Iraqi citizens have a sense of hope. No longer are they predestined to lives of poverty while Saddam steals the country's riches. No longer do they have to live under his tyranny. He says that while American media shows revolts against the Americans, most want us there and look forward to a free Iraq.

The fact of the matter is a majority of the Iraqi people appreciate what we have done in their country. But these are the news stories that you will never see.

Josh Silva

Gloucester

'Jam' did not violate

city requirements

To the editor:

I am writing to respond to the Gloucester Daily Times article of Aug. 10 headlined, "Owner denies he's holding illegal concerts." I feel it mischaracterized the nature of my business and contained errors while omitting some important points that I tried to make in a telephone interview with your reporter.

Since last March I have operated Harbor Village Business Center at 72-74 Rogers St., a location previously used as corporate offices of the former Gloucester Bank and Trust. I saw an opportunity here to relocate my own business and rent the remaining space to like-minded entrepreneurs. Among my tenants are a retail establishment and musicians who rent rehearsal studios.

The July 28 event that resulted in a cease-and-desist order was a private show, organized by the son of a friend. Their goal was to raise money to record a CD. They invited friends, asking for a donation to attend, and did not advertise to the public. At least a dozen parents were involved, making sure only invited guests were admitted. This was a very well-behaved group of young people and, I reiterate, it was a private affair.

After meeting with city officials, including Building Inspector William Sanborn and Fire Chief Barry McKay, it quickly became clear that although this event was private, state codes needed to be observed and that I would need to go through specific channels if I were to operate a place of public assembly. I respected this requirement completely.

In the article, the Times quotes Mr. Sanborn as having been informed of a sign in front of my business on Aug. 8 saying, "Blues Concert 7-11." The sign that drew the attention of the authorities was a used piece of plywood with the words, "Blues Jam, 4-7" scrawled in blue spray paint. There is a vast difference between a "jam," a casual meeting of musicians, and a concert, which clearly implies an audience. In fact, a tenant of mine was simply directing several friends to this location, where they were planning to play together.

There was no attendant at the door. The gentleman who met the authorities is a friend on whom I rely to keep an eye on the facility when I am not there.

Apparently the city officials expected to discover a "concert," but in fact found only seven or so guitarists innocently practicing their riffs. No audience was involved. Nobody was in violation of the cease-and-desist order. The offending sign was put away and the musicians carried on as they were. Hardly front-page news.

I have not rented the space to anyone for a concert. I must emphasize that a "concert venue" is not what I envision for Harbor Village Business Center. My goal is to take a potentially useful location in downtown Gloucester that had lain idle for several years and create a space that offers unique and creative business opportunities. I intend to work closely with city officials to make that happen.

Walter Peckham

Harbor Village Business Center, Rogers Street

Politics, not speech,

behind Tarr's removal

To the editor:

Regarding Ted Tarr's ongoing quest for reinstatement on the Rockport Conservation Commission, I must say that the words of attorney Gregor McGregor, as printed in last Wednesday's Gloucester Daily Times, rang true in my ears. To wit: "Exercise of free speech most definitely is not a valid cause for removal. The stated reasons [for Mr. Tarr's removal from the Conservation Commission] were a subterfuge ..."

In the relatively short period of time I have been a resident of Rockport, I have noted a marked tendency on the part of our town administrator to attempt to demonize people who do not agree with him. Therefore it is reasonable for me to believe, as Mr. Tarr has argued, that Michael Racicot pushed selectmen to remove him because he had been critical of Racicot.

I have not yet had the opportunity to get to know Mr. Tarr well, as I have only met him recently. However, in what dealings I have had with him I have found him to be very helpful in answering questions and resolving issues concerning town matters. I am sorry to say that I have not always had the same experience when I have brought these same matters to the attention of some others more directly involved with our town's government.

Bard-Alan Finlan

Francis Way, Rockport

Town should exercise

adult judgment

To the editor:

It is probably too much to ask for the leaders and the people of Rockport to exercise good, adult judgment. The issue concerning Ted Tarr could project so far out, that much time could be lost in dealing with issues that are of genuine concern to the town. And what Rockport doesn't need is another lawsuit that it could conceivably lose.

What I propose will please some and upset others. But, at least for now, let the town get on with business.

Mr. Tarr has apologized; he has handled himself well in a series of humiliating situations that are tough for a proud man to acknowledge. Therefore I propose a quid-pro-quo: Return Mr. Tarr to the commission seats from which he was forced to step down, provided the lawsuit is dropped.

Allow Mr. Battistelli consideration for another term on the board, which he has faithfully served.

And, finally, instead of tying up the town attorneys in assessing a lawsuit, let them draw up a sufficient code of ethics that will allow the Board of Selectmen to make informed decisions should such situations arise in the future.

Let's be adult.

Herb Wescott

Allen Avenue, Rockport

Town should be

grateful for Tarr

To the editor:

After reading the letters in defense of Ted Tarr, I felt I should weigh in on the matter. I sat beside Ted for four years while we were on the Board of Selectmen for the town of Rockport. As the saying goes, I didn't always agree with him, but I knew he had Rockport's best interest in his heart.

To me it is sad to see him demonized for a remark made in jest. The town should be grateful to have a Ted Tarr. My thanks to Nick Barletta for having the courage not to go along with the rest of the board.

Katherine M. Murphy

Pleasant Street, Rockport

This Princess is an ugly duckling

By Anthony Breznican

Associated Press

Movie review

1 1/2 out of 4

Three years ago, "The Princess Diaries" fused the classic "ugly duckling" story with "Cinderella" and made it both funny and endearing.

It was a tale about beauty emerging from within an awkward American teenage girl after she learns she is heir to the European kingdom of Genovia.

"The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" arrives with a different message.

It reveals that a cute premise and two terrific performers -- Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews -- can be exploited and wasted by filmmakers motivated by little more than snatching dollars away from little girls.

This time the story leaves America and takes place entirely in Genovia, a fictional European kingdom that looks like a storybook in one special-effects flyover. That's about all we see of it.

From the sets to the story to the direction to the way-too-obvious stunt doubles, director Garry Marshall's film comes across as a halfhearted effort.

Princess Mia (played again by Hathaway) and her grandmother the Queen Clarisse (Andrews) inhabit a gigantic castle -- yet practically all the action takes place either in Mia's bedroom or one large foyer with a double staircase that we see again and again and again.

It makes the movie look like a crummy sitcom.

The plot involves Princess Mia's efforts to find a husband in 30 days, lest she lose her claim to the crown to the no-good (but handsome) nephew (newcomer Chris Pine) of a backstabbing member of Genovia's parliament (John Rhys-Davies, who was Gimli the dwarf from "The Lord of the Rings").

But there are no surprises, no twists. Everything works out exactly as you expect. Happily ever after was never so blah.

Hathaway and Andrews do their best with shoddy material. It is hard to fault them when they are so fun to watch, especially together.

Which brings up the movie's low-point ...

During a sleepover scene, some of the girls get up and sing pop songs. Eventually they goad the queen into taking the stage. This will be Andrews' first big-screen musical performance since a 1997 throat surgery that spoiled her four-octave voice.

The audience is waiting, the song is "Your Crowing Glory," and Andrews makes it magical.

Then, midway, the filmmakers thrust another person onstage. Mia, right? Grandma and granddaughter will sing a tune. Wouldn't that be sweet? And Hathaway is a soprano singer, so it makes sense, too.

Nope. Doesn't happen.

Instead Marshall throws the microphone to Raven, the star of the Disney Channel show "That's So Raven" and a pop star on the Disney record label. The princess sits in the audience and watches this out-of-nowhere character steal her spotlight.

Pathetic.

This Walt Disney Co production is rated G. Running time: 115 minutes.

Essex police notes

ESSEX -- Police arrested an Ipswich man about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday on drug charges after stopping him on Eastern Avenue for having an expired registration.

Christopher Babson, 42, of 22 Central St., was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a class B drug and driving an unregistered vehicle. Patrolman Ted Gallivan made the arrest.

• Police arrested David Thompson, 27, of 119 Western Ave., and charged him with violating a restraining order after a woman called the station to report a possible violation at 8:08 p.m. Wednesday.

Patrolman Ted Gallivan and Inspector Michael French made the arrest.

Ambulance Notes

• A Western Avenue woman was taken to Beverly Hospital by ambulance at 12:39 p.m. Wednesday.

• A Martin Street man was taken to Beverly Hospital by ambulance at 12:52 p.m. Wednesday.

Essex goings on

Goings on and calendar announcements should be sent to the Gloucester Daily Times, Whittemore Street, Gloucester, MA 01930. The fax number is (978) 281-5748.

Lobster feast

St. John the Baptist Parish, 52 Main St., Essex, will host the annual lobster dinner Saturday, Aug. 28. Tickets will be for sale at the entrance of the church after each Mass: Saturdays at 4 p.m. and Sundays at 7 and 10 a.m. Tickets are also available by calling the rectory at (978) 768-6284 until Tuesday, Aug. 24. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Outdoor movie night

The Essex Youth Commission will offer a free viewing of the movie "Monsters Inc." today at 8:30 p.m. on the field behind Town Hall, Martin Street. Bring bug spray and a blanket. Soda, candy and popcorn will be available for $1.

Essex Music Festival

The Essex Division of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 11th annual Essex Music Festival Saturday, Aug. 28, from noon to 7:30 p.m. at Centennial Grove, Essex, Route 22. Cost is $5 for adults, free for children. The festival is wheelchair-accessible. No pets. All proceeds go to restoration of Centennial Grove. For more information, visit www.essexmusicfest.com.

'Manet and the Sea'

The Essex Shipbuilding Museum will present a talk titled "Manet and the Sea" Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m. in the Waterline Center. The guest speaker will be Ann Smallidge McPhail of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Admission is $6. Light refreshments will be served. The center is handicapped-accessible. Call the museum at (978) 768-7541 or e-mail info@essexshipbuildingmuseum.org for directions or for more information.

Vacation Bible School

North Shore Bible Church, 65 Eastern Ave., Essex, will host Vacation Bible School for children ages 5 to 10 the week of Aug. 16 through 20. The program will run from 6 to 8:15 p.m. each day. All are welcome. Parents are encouraged to attend. Call Pastor Jack Brown at (978) 768-3539 for more information.

Travel Club trips

The following Travel Club day trips offered by the Friends of the Essex Council on Aging are sold out: Kennebunkport, Down River Cruise and the Rockettes at the Wang Center. Space is still available for the following trips: Sept. 9, Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory, Deerfield. Cost is $49 per person. Departure at 7:15 a.m., return at 6:30 p.m.; Oct. 5, Winnipesaukee train trip and turkey dinner. Cost is $50 per person. Departure at 10:30 a.m.; and Nov. 10, Lantana's Randolph and dinner. Broadway Revue with Scott Wahle and Suzanne Lobel. Cost is $56 per person. All trips are available on a first-come, first-served basis. All checks should be made payable to the Travel Club. Call the Senior Center at (978) 768-7932 to register or for more information.

Public notice

As required by state law, the Manchester-Essex Regional School District is providing notification to parents and students who attended Manchester or Essex schools and graduated in 1997; that all temporary records will be destroyed on August 27, 2004. Anyone wishing to obtain records prior to destruction should call (978) 768-1192 by Aug. 16.

Striders for Sarah

The Lufkin Family is looking for team members to join them for the 16th annual Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk on Sept. 19. The walk is a fund-raising event for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Institute. The team, "Striders for Sarah," consists of family and friends of Sarah Lufkin, who lost her battle with leukemia in April 1997. Call Kim Lufkin at the Essex Marina at (978) 768-6833 for more information or to join.

File of Life

File of Life packets are available at the Essex Senior Center on Pickering Street. File of Life is a red envelope ready to be attached to the hinge side of a refrigerator door. The envelope contains a card with medical information, which would be readily available to emergency personnel responding to a call. Each household member should have a card. File of Life packets are a free. They are sponsored by the Essex Fire Department, Essex Fire Company and the Essex Veteran Firemen.

Pathways for Children seeks volunteers

Pathways for Children needs volunteers to come in and share their time and talents with children enrolled in the program. Volunteers are needed to help support staff in the classroom, to share a special interest or skill with the children, or to help with homework. Contact Beth Parsons at (978) 281-2400, Ext. 154, to find out more about the many volunteer opportunities at Pathways.

Meals on Wheels drivers

SeniorCare Inc.'s Meals on Wheels program, which delivers daily lunches to elders who cannot leave their homes, is in need of drivers in West Gloucester, Magnolia, Essex and Manchester. Donation of an hour or so one day a week or more would be greatly appreciated. The hot meals are prepared and packaged for delivery in Manchester at Newport Park. Anyone able to help is asked to call Jane Militello at (978) 281-1750 or (978) 927-1046.

Cuvilly Photo Collection

The Cuvilly Arts and Earth Center is celebrating 20 years of educating North Shore children and adults about the earth and our place on it. The center is collecting pictures from the past -- of students, gardeners, and artists -- who have attended, worked, and volunteered at Cuvilly and made it the vibrant place it is. Those willing to share should call Annie Cameron at (978) 356-4288 or (978) 768-3826.

Rotary Club

The Manchester-Essex Rotary Club meets Wednesday mornings at 7:15 for breakfast, fellowship, to hear interesting speakers a