The Salem News Online Plus Edition          Saturday-Sunday, August 14-15, 2004
Charley slams into Florida coast Associated Press PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (AP) - A stronger-than-expected Hurricane Charley roared ashore yesterday as a dangerous Category 4 storm, slamming the heavily populated Gulf Coast with devastating storm surges and 145 mph wind that snapped trees in half, ripped roofs off buildings and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people. The hurricane struck west-central Florida at Charlotte Harbor with a wicked combination of water and wind. A surge of sea water reached up to 15 feet high, the National Hurricane Center said. Winds blew off the roof of a hurricane shelter where 1,200 people had gathered and tore apart small planes at the Charlotte County airport. Two traffic deaths were reported in Florida. Earlier, Charley had been blamed for three deaths in Cuba and one in Jamaica. Gov. Jeb Bush said damage could exceed $15 billion but cautioned it was a preliminary estimate as the storm headed across the center of Florida toward the Orlando area. President Bush declared the storm-battered region a federal disaster area. "Our prayers are with you and your families tonight," the president said in Seattle." "This is the nightmare scenario that we've been talking about for years," hurricane center director Max Mayfield said of storm surges that ranged from 10 to 15 feet. Charley's eye reached land at 3:45 p.m. EDT when it passed over the barrier islands between Fort Myers and Punta Gorda, some 70 miles southeast of the Tampa Bay area. It struck the mainland 30 minutes later. "Happy yesterday the 13th," said Don Paterson of Punta Gorda, who tried to ride out the storm at his mobile home but got beaned by a flying microwave oven as his home was demolished. His refrigerator fell on him, and he spent the rest of the storm sheltering behind a lawnmower. As an airplane hangar at the Charlotte County airport flew apart around him and his wife, "it sounded like a calypso band gone crazy," said Jim Morgan. "There was crap flying around there - It looked like the inside of a blender," said Morgan, 66. "If you want to meet your maker, I got close on that round." In Arcadia, 20 miles inland, one wall collapsed at a civic center serving as a shelter for 1,200 people. Only one person was hurt, and her injuries were minor. The wall "started peeling back," said Alida Dejongh. "It lifted and you could just see more and more light. You could hear this popping and zipping noise like a giant Ziploc bag." At 7 p.m., the center of the hurricane was 65 miles south-southwest of Orlando, moving north-northeast near 25 mph and gaining speed. Maximum sustained winds had decreased to near 115 mph with higher gusts, with further weakening expected. Charley was forecast to strike the Daytona Beach area before reaching the Atlantic Ocean, where it could regain strength. Rain totaling 4 to 8 inches was expected along Charley's path, creating the risk of flash flooding. Tornado watches were issued for a wide swath of southwestern and central Florida. Small tornadoes associated with the hurricane were reported in Osceola County southwest of Orlando and Highlands County northwest of Lake Okeechobee, with no damage reported. Flights were halted at Orlando International Airport. Orlando theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando, had closed by early afternoon and Disney's Animal Kingdom did not open at all. The only previous time that the parks closed for a hurricane was in 1999 for Floyd. Guests remaining at hotels were urged to stay in their rooms. On the state's Atlantic coast, 10 Navy ships from Mayport Naval Station near Jacksonville were sent out to sea, the Navy said yesterday. At Cape Canaveral, traffic was bumper-to-bumper at noon as Kennedy Space Center employees left work early. All but a skeleton crew of 200 of the center's nearly 13,000-person work force was sent home, or told to stay home, and the space shuttle hangars and the massive Vehicle Assembly Building were sealed tight. About 340,000 homes and businesses were without power in southwest Florida, said Kathy Scott, spokeswoman with Florida Power & Light. That number was expected to grow as Charley cut across the state. The hurricane was initially expected to strike as a Category 2 storm, with sustained wind of 96 mph to 110 mph. But it strengthened rapidly as it swung across the Gulf of Mexico toward the Florida coast, largely sparing the Key West area, and was upgraded to Category 4, a storm capable of extreme damage with sustained wind of 131 mph to 155 mph. The storm was almost on par with Hurricane Andrew, which smashed into South Florida in 1992 with 165 mph wind, killed 43 people and caused $31 billion in damage. It even affected the nerve center of the war in Iraq, MacDill Air Force Base, where residents evacuated and only essential personnel remained. Amtrak canceled long-distance service between Miami and New York for today, and trains coming from Los Angeles were stopping at New Orleans instead of continuing on to Orlando. Charley was the strongest hurricane to hit Florida since the Category 5 Andrew hit south of Miami in 1992. Hurricane Mitch, which stalled over Honduras in 1998, also was Category 5 with sustained wind over 155 mph. Mitch killed some 10,000 people in Central America. South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency and ordered residents and vacationers in two coastal counties to evacuate. State troopers immediately started redirecting traffic on the main highway leading away from Myrtle Beach. - Associated Press writers Mark Long in Fort Myers, Ken Thomas in Key West and Vickie Chachere in Sarasota contributed to this report. - On the Net: National Hurricane Center: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov Gay couples unsure after court nullifies marriages By David Kravets Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO - With their same-sex marriages yanked away by the California Supreme Court, many gay and lesbian couples were left wondering yesterday what will happen to the benefits they briefly received, such as family insurance discounts and medical coverage. The court ruling came as many gay newlyweds were in the process of asserting legal rights to benefits only married couples enjoy. It means that the 3,995 same-sex marriages sanctioned by the city of San Francisco were never valid under the law. "I was planning on going to court and saying 'I am married' and now I can't say 'I'm married," Margot McShane said. "The court's decision, it gave me a feeling like you were kicked in the stomach." McShane worries that the court's decision will make it difficult, if not impossible, to be recognized as a legal parent of the twins that her partner gave birth to last month. McShane and Alexandra D'Amario, of Napa, were the fourth lesbian couple to get married in San Francisco, but the children's birth certificates have spots only for "mother" and "father." The pair had planned to go to court, marriage license in hand, demanding that McShane be legally recognized as having the same parental benefits as D'Amario. The couple may still have a case, said John Mayoue, who wrote "Balancing Competing Interests in Family Law," published by the American Bar Association last year. "I think it's going to create more litigation," he said of the Supreme Court's decision. "Someone has the right to say, 'I had a license issued by a municipality, by San Francisco, and I believe I had a constitutional right." California's justices ruled narrowly on the limits of a mayor's authority to interpret state law and did not resolve whether the state constitution would permit same-sex marriage, as Massachusetts' highest court found. Gay marriage opponents say the gay weddings violate both state law and a voter referendum barring same-sex marriages. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and gay and lesbian couples point to the higher authority of the state constitution, which prohibits discrimination. The resolution of these challenges will have to wait until a series of lawsuits over the San Francisco weddings, consolidated into one case, reach California's top court. The next step is the filing of legal briefs, due in San Francisco Superior Court on Sept. 8. The justices voted 5-2 to invalidate the marriages in the meantime, to avoid a legal quagmire. "Withholding or delaying a ruling on the current validity of the existing same-sex marriages might lead numerous persons to make fundamental changes in their lives or otherwise proceed on the basis of erroneous expectations," Chief Justice Ronald George wrote. Two justices dissented, saying the decision to void the marriages should have been put on hold pending a decision on the constitutional question. Valid marriages not only ensure parental rights - they are key to a wide variety of financial benefits, affecting taxes, inheritance, insurance, Social Security and retirement. And while neither the federal government nor California recognized the marriages in the six months before they were nullified, a host of lawsuits were filed asserting their legitimacy. Some of the gays and lesbians who joyfully got married under the ornate dome of San Francisco's City Hall quickly applied for marriage benefits. Others were more cautious. "I think many of the married were waiting the court's decision to see if they were still married before they sought benefits, and if they were denied, they may have gone to court," said Larry Levine, a professor at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. Negotiations to end Najaf crisis continue By Todd Pitman Associated Press NAJAF, Iraq - U.S. forces suspended a major offensive against militants in Najaf on yesterday, and aides to Muqtada al-Sadr told Iraqi negotiators that radical Shiite cleric was prepared to disarm his followers in exchange for a list of demands including an American withdrawal from the holy city and amnesty for all his fighters. The negotiations to end nine days of clashes in Najaf came as al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia appeared to stop most attacks in the city. Before the pause in the fighting, aides to the cleric said al-Sadr was slightly injured early yesterday, suffering shrapnel wounds to the face, chest and shoulder as he met with followers near the revered Imam Ali Shrine, where many of the militants were hiding. Secretary of State Colin Powell said he could not confirm that al-Sadr was wounded. U.S. troops and Iraqi officials want to ensure that any new truce would eliminate the flaws of the previous agreements, including one that ended a two-month uprising in early June. Al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia repeatedly violated that cease-fire, shooting at police and burying caches of weapons in Najaf's vast cemetery and using the time to regroup, according to U.S. officials and witnesses. In Washington, Powell said he hoped the insurgent leader would respond "in due course" to charges placed against him by Iraqi authorities. An Iraqi judge has released an arrest warrant for al-Sadr in connection with the death of a moderate Shiite leader, Abdul Maid al-Khoel, in April 2003, two days after the fall of Baghdad. Al-Sadr denies any role in the murder. Powell denounced al-Sadr and his militia as outlaws and said U.S. forces were "squeezing" Najaf in an effort to end the fighting. U.S. officials were not involved in yesterday's talks, Iraqi officials said. Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie and Defense Minister Hazem Shalan were among the officials negotiating with al-Sadr's aides. One of the cleric's assistants, Ahmed al-Shaibany, described the talks as "serious and positive, but difficult." Another, Sheik Ali Smeisim, said al-Sadr wanted a U.S. withdrawal from Najaf, the freeing of all Mahdi Army fighters in detention and an amnesty for the militants, among other demands, in exchange for his disarming his followers and ending the fighting. Despite the talks, al-Sadr lashed out at the United States, which he said was intent on "occupying the whole world." The fiery sermon was read on his behalf during yesterday prayers at the Kufa Mosque near Najaf. "The presence of occupation in Iraq has made our country an unbearable hell," he said, calling on Iraqis to rebel, "because I will not allow another Saddam-like government again." Najaf, which had rattled with explosions and gunfire since Aug. 5, was quiet by yesterday afternoon. U.S. tanks were seen pulling back from some streets, and no U.S. or Iraqi forces were visible in the city center. The U.S. military said it was maintaining a loose cordon around the Old City, the cemetery and the Imam Ali Shrine. The Americans had announced the start of a major offensive to rout the insurgents Thursday, and the fighting in the city had threatened to infuriate Iraq's Shiite majority. "We do not in any way wish to get involved with the mosque," Powell said. "It's a very holy place for all Shia." The U.S. military said it suspended offensive operations at 7 a.m. yesterday because of the truce talks. "We are allowed to engage the enemy only in self defense and long enough to break contact," said U.S. Maj. Bob Pizzitola. "That was a blanket order for everybody." "Hopefully the talks will go well and everything will be resolved peacefully," he said. Despite the tacit cease-fire, Iraqis held demonstrations yesterday in support of al-Sadr in cities across the country. In Baghdad, thousands of protesters, including some police officers, gathered outside the fortified enclave housing the U.S. Embassy and government offices and prayed in the street. Meanwhile, a series of airstrikes yesterday in the volatile Sunni city of Fallujah killed eight people and wounded 16 others, said Abdel Wahab Ahmed from Fallujah hospital. The U.S. military did not immediately comment, but U.S. forces have repeatedly hit the militant stronghold 40 miles west of Baghdad with airstrikes. Also yesterday, the new U.N. envoy to Iraq arrived in Baghdad to set up the international body's first official presence here since a series of deadly bombings forced it out last year. Ashraf Jehangir Qazi's primary task is to help Iraqis establish a constitutionally elected government by Dec. 31, 2005. He met yesterday with interim President Ghazi al-Yawer and interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and appealed for a peaceful resolution to the Najaf crisis. The violence in Najaf has spread to other Shiite communities in Iraq. In the southern city of Basra, militants briefly kidnapped British journalist James Brandon and threatened to kill him if U.S. troops did not leave Najaf. He was freed after al-Sadr's aides condemned the kidnapping. Brandon, 23, a freelance reporter, was abducted Thursday night when a group of masked gunmen stormed the Diafa Hotel and pulled him from his room. They beat him, threatened him and pretended they were about to execute him, pointing an unloaded gun at his head and pulling the trigger, he said. They sent out a video yesterday morning showing him scared and bare chested with a bandage around his head, but released him at al-Sadr's local office in the afternoon. "They just told me they realized I was a journalist and they said I was going to be let go," Brandon told The Associated Press. "I didn't quite believe it until it actually happened." Before Thursday, the U.S. military has estimated that hundreds of insurgents had been killed in the Najaf fighting since it began last week, but the militants dispute the figure. Six Americans have been killed, along with about 20 Iraqi officers, it said. Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who has called on all sides to end the crisis quickly, was in stable condition at a hospital outside London on yesterday following a procedure to unblock a coronary artery, his office said. The 73-year-old cleric had an angioplasty. - Associated Press writer Abdul Hussein al-Obeidi contributed to this report. Typhoon kills 115 on China's south coast By Christopher Bodeen Associated Press SHANGHAI, China - The most powerful typhoon to hit China in seven years roared inland yesterday after killing 115 people and injuring more than 1,800 others along the coast and leaving a path of destruction though farms, towns and fishing ports. Typhoon Rananim weakened to a tropical storm after crossing into Jiangxi province, where it brought heavy rain to China's central lakes region, meteorologists said. Sixteen people were missing in Zhejiang province, just south of Shanghai, where the typhoon made landfall Thursday night with winds of more than 100 mph, China Central Television reported. More than 1,800 people were injured, 185 of them seriously, while 42,000 houses were destroyed and tens of thousands more were damaged, various government reports said. Television and newspaper pictures showed people caught in the open crouching low to avoid being blown over by gales and flying rain. In the city of Wenzhou, two grabbed at a canvas-topped bicycle taxi that had been blown into the air. CCTV showed uprooted trees, fallen billboards, swamped bridges and a man trying to hold onto his bicycle but being dragged along the street by the roaring winds. Huge waves pounded fishing ports, which were reinforced by cement blocks, while ferries and small boats were tied up at the dock. Other boats were caught at sea, but there were no immediate reports of any lost. Most of the deaths were caused by collapsing houses, said an official at the Zhejiang Anti-Flood Headquarters in the provincial capital of Hangzhou. "Other deaths were caused by falling electricity poles (and) people falling into rivers," the official said. He wouldn't give his name. Authorities evacuated 410,000 people from the storm's path, many from rural villages where raging wind and rain destroyed huge swaths of cropland and killed thousands of livestock, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Power was knocked out in the city of Taizhou and millions of people lost water and phone service, it said. Rananim, which means "hello" in the Chuukese language spoken in Micronesia, hit the coastal Chinese city of Wenling on Thursday after killing one person in Taiwan. The city is about 90 miles south of Shanghai, where the storm caused little damage but helped break a heat wave. High winds and torrential rains were expected as far as 150 miles away in the provinces of Fujian to the south and Anhui to the northwest, Xinhua said. A series of natural disasters have severely strained China's emergency services this summer. On Tuesday, a strong earthquake destroyed thousands of dwellings in the southwestern province of Yunnan, leaving about 126,000 people homeless. Four people were killed in the quake, and emergency workers say the earthquake-prone region's tobacco-based economy was smashed and will likely take years to recover. China also has suffered from devastating floods in much of the center and south of the country, along with drought and unusually high temperatures elsewhere. Don't give up too easily on relationships By Barton Goldsmith Scripps Howard Couples who end their relationships without doing everything they can to save it will always have unanswered questions. I have worked with a number of people who told me they realized years too late that they didn't have to end their first marriages. They just gave up too easily. Every couple has issues, and it is always a choice whether to work through them or not. If one or the other in a relationship refuses to talk, compromise or just let it go, that issue can grow into a relationship-breaker. Choosing to work through your issues takes some strength and fortitude; it can be very hard work. The payoff is that if you do the work, you have a much stronger relationship and you keep your family together. Many people today feel that relationships are disposable, that they can find another partner easily, so why bother working on a relationship. The fact is that finding someone you truly bond with is not all that easy. If all you're looking for is companionship or someone to sleep with, that's different. If what you really want is commitment to a caring and communicative relationship, that takes effort. There are going to be tough times in a relationship no matter how great it starts out. The couples in successful relationships stick together through those difficult moments and are able to look back on them as turning points in their lives. Relationships cannot survive more than 20 percent discord. What that means to you is that if you're over your limit you need to start making things better. One of the most powerful things you can do is to take 100 percent responsibility for whatever it is that went wrong. However wrong either of you may be, forgiveness has to occur before healing can start, and it begins with someone saying, "I'm going to be responsible for fixing this." Healing a relationship doesn't require anything more than willingness. I recommend that the first thing a couple needs to do for and with each other is to remember that their relationship is in healing mode. That way all of their actions are governed by a little extra sensitivity. Next I advise them to simply be nice to each other. It's amazing how easily we forget the importance of simple kindness. Many couples can work out their problems by talking about them, but this shouldn't be a full-time occupation. Talk for an hour a night, and then relax together for the rest of the evening. If you find that you just cannot discuss things calmly, you need to find a third party to help you. Just making the decision that you are going to work on things before you throw the baby out with the bath water may be the turning point that keeps you together and lets you share the joy of having someone to grow old with. (Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D., has resided and practiced in Westlake Village, Calif., for a decade. Contact him at barton(at)emotionalfitness.net.) (Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.shns.com) Religious briefs DENVER (AP) - Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney has reportedly been planning a new initiative for strengthening ties between evangelicals and Messianic Jews - a move that could damage relations between conservative Christians and Jewish leaders. McCartney and the Rev. Raleigh Washington, an elder at a Denver church led by a Messianic Jew, plan to announce the campaign called "Road to Jerusalem" on Dec. 3 in Palm Springs, Calif., The Denver Post reported. Neither McCartney nor Washington would comment on the report. Messianic Jews believe Jesus is the Messiah, but consider themselves Jewish and observe Jewish rituals. Jewish religious leaders, however, consider them Christian and are offended by their efforts to evangelize Jews. While evangelical Christians have become strong supporters of Israel, they usually don't associate with Messianic Jews to avoid offending Jewish leaders, said Russ Resnick, executive director of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. Resnick said having McCartney's support would be "a significant thing." The Anti-Defamation League and other Jewish leaders have warned that any such alliance would make it impossible for them to work with evangelicals. McCartney has had previous ties to Messianic Jews. Leaders of the movement participated in a large Promise Keepers rally in Washington in 1997. McCartney founded the Christian men's organization in 1990, the same year he coached the University of Colorado to a share of the national football championship. He left the school in 1994 to run the ministry full time and resigned his post at Promise Keepers last September, saying he would devote more time to his family and his ill wife. - White House faith-based director vows to fight restrictive local government FALMOUTH, Maine (AP) - The head of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives says he'll fight local governments that block federal funding of religious groups. "Sometimes you see local governments that bully faith-based organizations and basically tell them that they have to compromise their religious beliefs and tenets if they want to partner with government," said Jim Towey, who met last week with Catholic Charities of Maine. "That may be their prerogative when it's state and local money," Towey said, "but when it's federal money that raises a whole different set of issues." Portland's domestic partnership ordinance restricts federal funding to the Roman Catholic nonprofit because it provides no benefits to same-sex partners of employees or unmarried heterosexual partners of staff members. The charity responded by suing the city in March 2003. Towey said ordinances such as the one in Portland "discriminate against faith-based organizations." Some objected to Towey's characterization of the law. "It is not bullying to tell a group that it has to obey the same laws as everyone else," said the Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, based in Washington, D.C. "Mr. Towey, although he talks about a level playing field, in fact wants to require secular groups to abide by civil rights laws but not religious groups. Frankly, they all should abide by basic principles of fairness and equality that we find in the Constitution, if they get federal funds." - U.S. Roman Catholic ordination class older, more educated WASHINGTON (AP) - Men who became American Roman Catholic priests this year were older and better educated than previous ordination classes, and more of them came from other countries, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said. The percentage who were not from the United States rose from 24 percent to 31 percent between 1998 and this year, and came mainly from Vietnam, Mexico, the Philippines and Poland. The average age rose from 35 to 37 in the same period. The share of men without a bachelor's degree before entering the seminary dropped from 30 percent to 22 percent, and the number with a degree beyond a bachelor's rose from 13 percent to 28 percent in the same period. The survey was conducted by Dean Hoge, a sociologist at the Catholic University of America who has studied the priesthood for three decades. He based his findings on interviews with 336 respondents from dioceses and religious orders. - http://www.usccb.org/ - New Southern Baptist president wants 1 million baptisms a year DECATUR, Ala. (AP) - As the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, the Rev. Bobby Welch says he will travel to all 50 states to push his goal of baptizing 1 million people a year. Welch and other convention leaders are concerned that the 16.3 million-member denomination - the nation's largest Protestant group - is stagnating. About 10,000 Southern Baptist churches held no baptisms last year. Welch has plastered a chartered bus with the slogan "Everyone Can!" and plans to travel more than 18,000 miles to spread his message. "The goal is not to fill the church house, but to empty it to go into the fields," Welch said last week, in an address at Decatur's Central Park Baptist Church. Welch insists the denomination can reach the 1 million baptism mark, even though it has never come close to such a large number in previous years. Southern Baptists have about 43,000 churches. They could reach Welch's goal if each church baptized two people a month for a year. Welch, pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla., said the idea isn't to get "scalps on our belts," but to let the world know that Southern Baptists represent Christ's love and forgiveness. - Hospital 'johnny' redesigned because of complaints from Muslim women PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Maine Medical Center has redesigned its hospital gown after discovering that Muslim women accustomed to being fully covered were skipping appointments to avoid wearing the immodest garment. The old "johnny," as the garment is known, leaves a patient's backside and legs exposed. The new gown, which became available this summer, fully covers patients. "This is a great example of a challenge raised by a specific community that can ultimately benefit all patients," said Dana Farris Gaya, manager of interpreter and cross-cultural services. Maine Medical administrators decided they had to act last November after the hospital identified a high no-show rate for Muslim women from African countries, particularly Somalia. As many as three out of 10 women were skipping their appointments, said Osman Hersi, a medical interpreter at the hospital. Tracked down at home, the women described the horror of being asked to wear the revealing gowns during outpatient procedures and while waiting in a hallway in the radiology department. Islam teaches modesty in dress, and the women said the gowns went against their religious and cultural beliefs. Correction Due to a typing error, the entertainment listings for the week of Aug. 12 to 18 at Dodge Street Bar & Grill, 7 Dodge St., in Salem, were incorrect. Saturday night features the Megawatt Blues Crushers; Sunday features Spirithouse; Monday is open mike night; Tuesday features Fats Hammond; and Wednesday features Capital "b" and The Elephant Men. Death notices By Debbie Strong Staff writer BAKER - Of North Reading, formerly of Salem, Aug. 12, Mildred Pauline (O’Connor) Cloutier Baker, 92, wife of the late William Baker and the late Arthur J. Cloutier Sr. Mother of Arthur J. Cloutier Jr. of Peabody, Rosemarie A. Cloutier of Reading, Robert M. Cloutier of Salem and Richard D. Cloutier of Reading; grandmother of Marie K., Michelle N., Stephanie A., Michael D., Gabriel A., and Alexander R.; great-grandmother of Kitana. Her funeral will be held from The O’Donnell Funeral Home, 46 Washington Sq. (at Salem Common), Salem, Tuesday at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass in the Immaculate Conception Church, Salem at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends invited. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Visiting hours Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information, inquire at (978) 744-2350. (8/14, 8/16) COMER - Of Salem, Aug. 12, Patricia A. "Pat" Comer, 57. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 17, 2004, at the First Baptist Church, Salem. A visitation will be held at the church from 5 to 7 p.m., prior to the service. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to either the Rebekah Assembly of MA, IOOF, c/o Barbara Moore, 11 Russell St., Hudson, MA 01749 or to the Salem Mission, 7 Crombie St., Salem, MA 01970. Funeral arrangements are by the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. For online guest book and other information, visit www.SalemFuneral.com. (8/14) DEAN - Of Beverly, Aug. 13, Jeanette (LeBlanc) Dean, 90, wife of the late Donald "Tom" Dean. Mother of Thomas S. Dean of Beverly. A private graveside service will be held. There are no visiting hours. Arrangements by the Lee, Moody, and Russell Funeral Home, 9 Dane St., Beverly. (8/14) HARTIGAN - Of Melrose, Bruce H., 42, Aug. 12. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Herbert St., Melrose, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours are Monday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. Burial in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hartigan Children’s Educational Trust, in care of Melrose Cooperative Bank, 638 Main St., Melrose, MA 02176. (8/14) HEALEY - Of Marblehead, Josephine (Canvan) Healey, 98, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, in the Lafayette Nursing Home in Marblehead. She was the wife of the late Daniel J. Healey. She is survived by two sons, William Healey and his wife Suzanne of Marblehead and Daniel Healey and his wife Pamela of New Hampshire; two daughters, Joan Champlin, wife of the late Ronald Champlin; and Mary Healey, both of Marblehead; five grandchildren, Christine Speliotis and her husband Greg of Salem, Darlene Currier and her husband Henry of Marblehead; Jackie Colbert and her husband Dan of Marblehead; Kimberly Breier and her husband Peter of Alexanderia, Va., and Dan Healey and his wife Jana of Springfield; and six great-grandchildren, Ashley and Gregory Speliotis, Samantha and Ryan Currier, and Danny and Kelly Colbert. A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004, at noon at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, followed by interment in Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. Visiting hours will be held Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Eustis-Cornell Funeral Home, 142 Elm St., Marblehead. Friends and relatives are kindly invited to attend all services. (8/14, 8/16) SHAUGHNESSY - Of Marblehead, Aug 13, Gertrude M. (Lee) Shaughnessy, wife of the late J. Robert Shaughnessy, M.D.; daughter of the late George W. and Josephine (Hyde) Lee; mother of Mary Shaughnessy and her husband Stephen Schroeder and Sara and her husband John Hart; grandmother of Laura, Eric, and Anna Schroeder and Sam Hart. Funeral Tuesday at 9:15 a.m. from the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St. (cor of North St), Salem to be followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours are Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, Salem. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Jimmy Fund, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Gift Processing, 1309 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02446 or Hospice of the North Shore, 10 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923. For more information call (978) 744-0497 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com. (8/14, 8/16) Obituaries By Debbie Strong Staff writer photo with comer: 040813_sn_obit_comer Patricia A. Comer, 57 SALEM - Patricia A. “Pat” Comer, 57, of Salem, died Thursday, August 12, 2004 at her home following a long illness. Born in Salem, she was the daughter of Marjorie (Pierce) Comer of Salem and the late Henry B. Comer, and was a lifelong resident of the city. She was a graduate of Salem High School in 1965 and received a bachelor's degree from Salem State College in 1970. Until the time of her illness, she was employed for 10 years as an accountant in the offices at Salem State College. Active in her community, she was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she had served in many ways over the years. She was currently serving as chairperson for the 200th anniversary of the church, which is being celebrated this year. She was a member and past president (1997-1998) of the Rebekah Assembly of Mass., IOOF. Through her involvement with the lodge and church, she helped organize and participated in the serving of monthly dinners at the Fairweather Apartments and the Salem Mission. She also was involved in scouting for over 40 years, starting with her memberships in the Brownies and Girl Scouts to her role as an adult leader. In addition to her mother, she is survived by two brothers, Robert Comer of Salem and Richard Comer of Elkridge, Md.; two sisters, Barbara Resnick of Salem and Debra Mallon of Beverly; one aunt and uncle, Rachael and Henry Garand of Seabrook, N.H.; eight nieces and nephews, Tina Moccia, Linette Moccia, Eva Oliveira, Thomas Mallon, Daniel Mallon, Samantha Comer, Lindsey Comer, and Benjamin Comer; and several grandnieces and grandnephews. Jeanette (LeBlanc) Dean, 90 BEVERLY - Jeanette (LeBlanc) Dean, 90, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at home following a long illness. She was the wife of the late Donald "Tom" Dean. She was born in Salem, the daughter of the late Joseph and Josephine (Fecteau) Dean. Mrs. Dean and her husband enjoyed being members of the North Shore Old Car Club for many years. She is survived by a son, Thomas Dean of Beverly; a granddaughter, Brianna Ward of Beverly; several members of her late husband's family; and other members of her son's family, Jason Terry and Tuesday Petrathelis. photo with baker: 040813_sn_obit_baker Mildred Pauline (O’Connor) Cloutier Baker, 92 NORTH READING - Mildred Pauline (O’Connor) Cloutier Baker, 92, of North Reading, formerly of Endicott Street, Salem, died Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004, in the Sunbridge Care Facility in North Reading. She was the wife of the late William Baker, who passed away in 1992, and the wife of the late Arthur J. Cloutier Sr., who passed away in 1959 and was a U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II. Born in Tewksbury, Oct. 11, 1911, she was the daughter of the late William O’Connor and Sarah O’Connor Schnare. She was raised and educated in Salem and was an honors graduate of Salem High School, class of 1930. Mrs. Cloutier Baker had been employed for many years at the former Salem Bleachery and the Ann & Hope Department Store. A lifelong resident of Salem, she was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Salem, where she volunteered by teaching C.C.D. and Bible classes. She and her late husband Bill enjoyed participating in many local political campaigns. She enjoyed dress-making, gardening, swimming, dancing, children, pets, and helping others. She is survived by her four children, Arthur Cloutier Jr. of Peabody, Rosemarie Cloutier of Reading, Robert Cloutier of Salem and Richard Cloutier of Reading; six grandchildren, Marie, Michelle, Stephanie, Michael, Gabriel, and Alexander; a great-grandchild, Kitana; a sister-in-law and lifelong friend, Anita (Cloutier) Carey of Sarasota, Fla.; her cousins, Mary Michaud and Gladys Neylon, both of Connecticut; and many nieces and nephews. She was also the sister of the late Catherine Crean, and cousin and lifelong friend of the late Gertrude C. Knowlton. photo with allen: 040813_sn_obit_allen Lawrence Allen Jr., 94 SALEM - Lawrence Allen Jr., a longtime resident of Marblehead and Topsham, Maine, died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2004, at Salem Hospital after a brief and unexpected illness. Born in Newton, he graduated from Phillips Andover Academy (1927) and from Dartmouth College (1931). He started his career in management with the Container Corp. of America in September of 1931, then joined Sylvania Electric in Salem in 1941 and worked there until his retirement in 1974. For several years, he was the general office manager, corporate clerk of Sylvania Electrical Products Division, and for 24 years was the clerk and director of the Sylvania Employee Credit Union. He was the administrator of compensation and benefits at the time of his retirement. Additionally, he was active in the National Office Managers Association (NOMA), serving as national director for two years and as president of the Boston chapter. He was actively involved in local activities in both Marblehead and Salem. In Marblehead, he was on the Marblehead Finance Committee, director of the Historical Association, and for many years taught Advanced Piloting for the U.S. Power Squadron. In Salem, he was director of the Salem Red Cross, the President of the Salem, Marblehead, and Danvers Community Fund, and an incorporator of Salem Hospital. He was an original incorporator of the Massachusetts Bay Community United Fund. He was an active member of the Salem Five Cents Savings Bank, serving as a trustee, member of the Board of Investment, director of Mutual Assistant Corporation, and treasurer and director of the North Shore Corporation. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Topsham, Maine for 23 years before returning to Salem. An avid boater, he spent a lifetime of summers "gunkholing" the waters around his beloved Boothbay Harbor, Maine. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Davis Allen; and two daughters, Julia McInnes of Salem and Nancy Giesberger of Andover. He also leaves two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services will be private. Bruce H. Hartigan, 42 MELROSE - Bruce H. Hartigan, 42, of Melrose died Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was raised in Melrose, graduated from St. Mary’s Grammar School, Malden Catholic High School, class of 1979, and from Bentley College in 1993. He also received his MBA in finance from Bentley College. He was vice president of finance and strategic planning for Sodexho USA of Lexington, where he worked for the past 20 years. Mr. Hartigan was a devoted family man, a lifelong resident of Melrose and a member of St. Mary’s Church in Melrose. He was the husband of Anne (Petmezakis) Hartigan. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three children, Paula, Katherine and Christina Hartigan, all of Melrose; three brothers, Brian Hartigan, Richard Hartigan and his wife Kerrie of Peabody, Robert Hartigan and his wife Kathleen of Maine; one sister, Mary Signor and her husband Doug of New Hampshire; his mother-in-law, Christine Petmezakis of Melrose; brothers and sisters-in-law, Elaine and Evan Kakis of Illinois and Joyce and Jay Powell of Woburn; and several cousins, nieces, nephews and godchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, Paul H. and Margaret M. (Hargreaves) Hartigan and his sister Susan. Josephine (Canvan) Healey, 98 MARBLEHEAD - Josephine (Canvan) Healey, 98, of Marblehead, died Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, in the Lafayette Nursing Home in Marblehead. She was the wife of the late Daniel J. Healey. Born in Ocghterard, Ireland Feb. 4, 1906, she was the daughter of the late Mark and Mary Canvan. She left Ireland in her early 20s and moved to Boston, where she lived and worked for a few years before moving to Marblehead. She married her husband, Daniel Healey, in 1933. A resident of Marblehead for more 70 years, she was employed as a housekeeper in Marblehead for many years. She was a devout Catholic and a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. A devoted sports fan, she enjoyed attending sports events since her children were young, and continued to attend her grandchildren's games well into her 90s. She is survived by two sons, William Healey and his wife Suzanne of Marblehead and Daniel Healey and his wife Pamela of New Hampshire; two daughters, Joan Champlin, wife of the late Ronald Champlin; and Mary Healey, both of Marblehead; five grandchildren, Christine Speliotis and her husband Greg of Salem, Darlene Currier and her husband Henry of Marblehead; Jackie Colbert and her husband Dan of Marblehead; Kimberly Breier and her husband Peter of Alexanderia, Va., and Dan Healey and his wife Jana of Springfield; and six great-grandchildren, Ashley and Gregory Speliotis, Samantha and Ryan Currier, and Danny and Kelly Colbert. photo with shaughnessy: 040813_sn_obit_shaugnnessy Gertrude M. (Lee) Shaughnessy MARBLEHEAD - Gertrude M. (Lee) Shaughnessy died Friday, Aug. 13, 2004, at home. She was the wife of the late, J. Robert Shaughnessy, M.D., for whom the Shaughnessy Hospital in Salem was named. She was the daughter of the late Josephine Hyde Lee and George Colbert Lee of Salem. Mrs. Shaughnessy, or "Goo Goo," as she was known to her grandchildren and many friends, was devoted to her family and friends. She supported her husband Rob throughout his life, helping in his office and getting to know his many patients, serving as a gracious hostess, and caring for him during his illness. She was artistic and had a sense of style, and enjoyed being a "fashion consultant" to others later in life. She also enjoyed her weekly bridge games with close friends, and she would eagerly report if she "won the berry dish." An avid reader, she could always be found reading the latest best sellers, and was always able to recommend her new "find" to friends. She will be remembered for being a great listener and for her sense of humor by her many friends, who spanned several generations. These friends gathered annually to celebrate the Fourth of July on her patio, overlooking the ocean and the Marblehead fireworks. She loved the ocean and prided herself on taking one last swim of the season as far into October as weather would permit. Not only a wife, mother, grandmother, "Goo Goo" was considered a "best friend" by many. She is survived by her two daughters and their families, Mary Shaughnessy and Stephen Schroeder of Acton and Sara and John Hart of Marblehead; and four grandchildren, Laura, Eric and Anna Schroeder of Acton and Sam Hart of Marblehead. She was the sister of the late Colbert Lee of Salem, Walter Lee of Peabody and Thomas Lee of Beverly and beloved cousin and friend to Honey Berry of Peabody. She is also survived by a number of nieces and nephews including Sally Donnellan of Marblehead, Betsy Merry of Salem and Terry Lee of Peabody, as well as several greatnieces and greatnephews. Deaths by town By Debbie Strong Staff writer BEVERLY Dean, Jeanette (LeBlanc), 90 MARBLEHEAD Healey, Josephine (Canvan), 98 Shaughnessy, Gertrude M. (Lee) SALEM Allen, Lawrence Jr., 94 Comer, Patricia A., 57 OUT OF TOWN Baker, Mildred Pauline (O'Connor) Cloutier, 92, of North Reading Hartigan, Bruce H., 42, of Melrose Pet of the Week By Robyn Day Staff writer Callie is a beautiful, tri-colored, 3-year-old spayed female who was found wandering around Ipswich. She loves getting attention and even comes to greet you. There are other adult cats and three kittens also living at the shelter. All are looking to be adopted. For more information about Callie or the other adoptable pets, call (978) 948-2181. You can also see them at www.ipswichhumanegroup.petfinder.com. Contributions to help these animals can be sent to: Ipswich Humane Group Inc., Box 873, Ipswich, MA 01938. British Muslim expert renders Quran in English By RICHARD N. OSTLING Associated Press When M.A.S. Abdel Haleem was a youngster in Egypt all the boys in his school were required to memorize the entire Quran and were tested annually to make sure they maintained this knowledge. The veteran University of London professor of Islamic studies says he obeys a promise to his father to read the Quran daily and the childhood training means he doesn't need a printed text. "I can do this anytime, even when I am walking or riding the Underground." Haleem has put his lifelong immersion in the Quran and the Arabic language to good use the past seven years, working on a new Quran translation in English that appeared last month: "The Quran" (Oxford University Press). It's hard to overstate the importance of the Quran, which defines the belief and conduct of a billion-plus Muslims, including a growing number of immigrants in English-speaking nations. Unlike Christians with their Bibles, Muslims believe the Quran is Scripture only in Arabic because it existed in that form in heaven before it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Only the Arabic is literally God's word and is always used in Quran quotations during rituals and sermons. In times past there were debates about whether it was even proper to translate the Scriptures. Early English versions came from non-Muslims (the subtitle of the very first, in 1649, called the Quran "the Turkish vanities"). No Muslim produced an English Quran till the 20th century. But nowadays even strict Muslims promote English editions to aid "dawah," Arabic for "call," meaning missionary work. Haleem says translations are essential so that Muslims in the West, including his own children and grandchildren, can remain knowledgeable. Georgetown University's Yvonne Haddad says most immigrants' children "cannot read the Quran in Arabic. They may recite it, but they don't understand it." As with the Bible, there are numerous English Qurans on the market, though experts say many have limitations. While most English Qurans retain old-fashioned, King James-style English, Haleem employs 21st century language. A reviewer for Britain's The Economist said he transformed the Arabic "into a form of modern English which reads easily and flows smoothly without taking liberties with the inviolable text." The most widely distributed English Quran - thanks to Saudi Arabian sponsorship - is probably the 1934 edition by India's Abdullah Yusuf Ali, as revised in 1989 at the International Institute of Islamic Thought in Herndon, Va. Yusuf Ali's terminology is notably fusty, for instance in this passage about the day of judgment: "...(then) shall each soul know what it hath sent forward and (what it hath) kept back. O man! what has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficient (sic)? - Him Who created thee, fashioned thee in due proportion and gave thee a just bias; in whatever Form He wills does He put thee Together. Nay! but ye do reject Right and Judgment!" (82:5-9). Compare that with Haleem: "...each soul will know what it has done and what it has left undone. Mankind, what has lured you away from God, your generous Lord who created you, shaped you, proportioned you, in whatever form He chose? Yet you still take the Judgment to be a lie!" Another modern-language version by Majid Fakhry of the American University of Beirut, "An Interpretation of the Quran" (New York University Press), boasts of approval from Cairo's authoritative Al-Azhar University. This 2002 book is costly because it includes both the Arabic and English texts, but an inexpensive paperback edition was issued this year. Abdulaziz Sachedina of the University of Virginia, who till now has favored a 1955 translation by A. J. Arberry of Cambridge University, hasn't yet assessed Haleem's rendition but thinks it's "potentially very important for non-Muslims as well as Muslims." The Quran is cryptic, often requiring addition of parenthetical words that are not in the literal Arabic to explain the meaning. Haleem also inserts "Prophet" in brackets so English readers can distinguish between God's directives to Muhammad and to people in general. And Haleem says the meaning of words can differ between classical and modern Arabic. That's only the beginning of the difficulties. Amila Buturovic of Toronto's York University says the Quran "is so rich, so complex, that even for Arabists and literary critics it is a phenomenal challenge," making any translation "highly problematic." Yusuf Ali's edition is especially influential due to its extensive commentary. Sachedina and Haddad say the 1989 edition made unwarranted changes in both Yusuf Ali's translation and the commentary to reflect the militant Saudi version of Islam. Unlike Yusuf Ali, Haleem provides only brief introductions to the chapters and limits footnotes to the most essential matters. But his introduction stresses that the Quran must be understood in terms of the context of the words in Muhammad's own time, for instance on the pressing issue of violence. Examples: -"Kill them wherever you encounter them" (2:191). Haleem says that meant only that Muslims had the right of self-defense, even if they were being attacked in the holy sanctuary of Mecca. -"Wherever you find the polytheists, kill them, seize them, besiege them, ambush them" (9:5). Haleem says the context shows such action was taken against unbelievers who repeatedly broke treaties and wanted to expel Muslims or force them back into paganism. -"Fight those of the People of the Book who do not (truly) believe in God" (9:29). Haleem says this applied only to Jews and Christians who broke treaties and refused to pay taxes. Haleem believes that in many instances, both Muslim extremists and outside opponents of Islam have seriously distorted the meaning of God's revelation. Feds will take over holdup case By Julie Manganis Staff writer SALEM -- A Peabody man who robbed a Newburyport bank, led police on a wild chase in a septic truck and was finally captured in a stolen camper the next morning will face federal charges, a prosecutor said yesterday. John DiFrancesco, 31, who lived at 7 Esquire Circle in Peabody before his arrest, was in Salem Superior Court yesterday, where he tried, unsuccessfully, to convince a judge to reduce his bail from the $500,000 cash set at his arraignment last month. He is charged with armed robbery while masked and a host of other counts stemming from the July 1 holdup of the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank on Storey Avenue. DiFrancesco, an ex-con who had served prison time for armed robbery in the mid-1990s, had been working for Wind River Environmental Services, driving and operating a septic truck, his lawyer, Lawrence McGuire, said yesterday. It was that truck that pulled into the bank parking lot, not far from Route 95, around 7 p.m. Prosecutor Jesse Dole said others in the lot noticed the driver putting on a mask before heading inside. A teller told police that the masked man paced back and forth between two teller windows pointing a gun -- DiFrancesco later told police it was a toy -- at them and demanding money. He made off with just over $10,000. But police caught up with the septic truck in Georgetown, and were about to pull it over when DiFrancesco crossed the median of Route 95 and began heading up the highway the wrong way. He eventually crashed into a wooded area in Byfield, then fled on foot -- leaving a trail of money and his wallet, containing his driver's license, behind in the truck. Police believe he hid in the mud of the banks of the Parker River overnight, then, early the next morning, stole a recreational vehicle that had been left with the keys in the ignition. He was spotted on Route 133 in North Andover by the husband of a state police trooper who had just passed along the camper's description. The robbery came after a series of setbacks for DiFrancesco, his lawyer said yesterday. After serving a federal prison term for holdups in five communities, including Salem, in 1993 and 1994, he was paroled, and went on to earn his associate's degree and find steady work in the septic pumping business. But, said McGuire, he suffered from hepatitis C, and had lately found that the medication he was taking no longer appeared to help. He also suffered severe pain, his lawyer said, leading him to return to using heroin, a drug he thought he had beaten after a rehabilitation program on Cape Cod. He was "driven to commit the robbery" by the pain and his addiction, McGuire said. DiFrancesco has resigned himself to the fact that he will be punished for what he has done, his lawyer said. But he asked for a chance to post a lower bail, saying he wants to enter drug treatment. Judge Patrick Riley, while expressing concern that DiFrancesco is not receiving his medications at the Nashua Street Jail in Boston, said he shared the prosecutor's assessment of the case as serious and the high bail is justified. Dole said the U.S. Attorney's office intends to present the case to a federal grand jury next month, meaning DiFrancesco could be heading back to federal prison within the next several weeks. Police searching for missing Lawrence clerk By O'Ryan Johnson Staff Writer LAWRENCE - The wife of ex-City Clerk James A. McGravey called police yesterday concerned about her husband's safety and asking police to stop him if they see him. "His wife was concerned about his state of mind," Police Chief John J. Romero said. "She contacted the police we put the word out." Romero said he told city police and police in surrounding towns to be on the look out for a green 1995 Saab shortly after the call came in between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. McGravey resigned suddenly one month ago, following a co-workers complaint that he was advising her and other female employees to look at Internet pictures of him and his mistress engaged in sexual activities. This was the second complaint Assistant City Clerk Jennifer E. Padellaro had filed. The first one in 2000 alleged that McGravey arranged for trysts with call girls using city computers. The ex-clerk's wife, Carol Hajjar McGravey was the city attorney at the time her husband was alleged to have arranged for dates with prostitutes. Romero said she called his office about 11:15 or 11:30 a.m. yesterday. He said in cases like this there is no set protocol for police when they stop someone who may be in danger. They want to ensure the person does not want to harm themselves or others. McGravey, 54, said he was ending his 22-year career for personal reasons when he left. He is the father of one son, a Philips Academy graduate, headed to college this fall. McGravey's wife left the city attorney's office in 2003 to work at a Boston law firm. At the time of this writing police had not located McGravey. By Robyn Day Staff write Auctions/Sales Saturday, Aug. 14 Annual Topsfield Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to noon. Main parking lot of Topsfield Fairgrounds, Route 1, Topsfield. (978) 922-1648. Asbury Grove Fair, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. front lawn of Asbury Grove, junction of Highland and Asbury streets, Hamilton. Rummage sale, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Parish Church, 225 Cabot St., Beverly. Clothes, kitchen items, toys and books. Call Ann Geikie at (978) 468-2082. Heritage Days Essex Street Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Essex Pedestrian Mall and downtown Salem. Includes music, street performers and entertainment. Free. Sponsored by Heritage Bank. www.salem-chamber.org. Sunday, Aug. 15 Heritage Days Essex Street Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Essex Pedestrian Mall and downtown Salem. Includes music, street performers and entertainment. Free. Sponsored by Heritage Bank. www.salem-chamber.org. Children/Families Saturday, Aug. 14 Haunted City Youth Triathlon, for kids ages 7 to 14, 10 a.m. at Dead Horse Beach. Cost is $20, and proceeds benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem. (978) 744-0180. Jazz for Kids Story Time program, 10:30 a.m. Make a musical instrument and sing along with Ella, Louis and Carmen. Free. All welcome. Borders Books and Music, 151 Andover St., Peabody. (978) 538-3003. Festival Saturday, Aug. 14 Sixth Annual Peach Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music, facepainting, balloon twisting, hayrides, wine tasting, and lots of peach goodies. Also "Circle of Songs," children's music by Hugh Hanley at 12:30, 1:30, and 2:30 p.m. Russell Orchards, Argilla Road, Ipswich. (978) 356-5366. Sunday, Aug. 15 Sixth Annual Peach Festival, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music, facepainting, balloon twisting, hayrides, wine tasting, and lots of peach goodies. Also music by Old Cold Tater from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Russell Orchards, Argilla Road, Ipswich. (978) 356-5366. Food Saturday, Aug. 14 Lobster Picnic and Auction, noon to 4 p.m., Gerry Playground (Stramski Park), West Shore Drive, Marblehead. Sponsored by the Marblehead Republican Town Committee. $20 adults or $15 seniors. Alternate menu available for $10 or $5 children. Call (781) 631-6360. Music Saturday, Aug. 14 Summer Jazz Series, 8 p.m. featuring Eric Alexander Quartet. Tickets $23.50 in advance, $25.50 at door. Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. (781) 631-1528. Hooper Mansion concert, 8 p.m. featuring the award-winning band All About Buford. The group will be joined by Full Frontal Folk of Philadelphia. Tickets $12, available at door. 8 Hooper St., Marblehead. www.allaboutbuford.com. Sunday, Aug. 15 Ensemble Chaconne concert, 4 p.m. "The Devonshire Treasures: A Musical Context" at Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem. Includes music by Handel and Vivaldi. Free with museum admission. (978) 745 9500. Summer Music at St. Peter's concert series, 5 p.m., featuring The Venetian Vespers. Includes period instruments from 16th and 17th century Venice. Admission $10 per person, $20 family maximum. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean St., Beverly. www.stpetersbeverly.org. Sundays in Patton Park, 5 p.m., featuring Quintessential Brass. Free. All welcome. Patton park Gazebo, Hamilton. (978) 468-4818 or www.pattonparkconcerts.org. Concerts in the Shell, 6 to 8 p.m., Chris & Meredith Thompson, Lynch Park, Beverly. Free. Reading/Signing Saturday, Aug. 14 Book signing, 3 to 5 p.m. with Valerie Carnevale, editor of "Poetry of Salem," and poets Claire Keyes and JD Scrimgeour. Open A Book Bookshore, 72 Loring Ave., Salem. Recreation Saturday, Aug. 14 "Snakes of the Farm and Massachusetts," 2 to 3:30 p.m. A live animal program presented by The Trustees of Reservations at Appleton Farms, off Route 1A, Ipswich. $5 for adults, free for children. Registration required. Call (978) 356-5728. Sunday, Aug. 15 Nature program, 1 to 3 p.m. hosted by Marblehead Trails Committee, "Drawing and Painting Nature" with Holly Jaynes at Camp Shore Lea, Marblehead. Opportunity to purchase a bat house. Free for all ages. (781) 631-4103. Guided Chebacco Woods trail walk, 1 p.m. Meet at main trail entrance on Chebacco Road in Hamilton. All welcome on 90-minute walk. (978) 468-7715. Theater Saturday, Aug. 14 "Seussical the Musical," 3 and 7:30 p.m., presented by Danvers Youth Theatre at the Maple Street Church, 90 Maple St., Danvers. $7. Benefits Danvers Art Association. For tickets, call (978) 777-9163 or visit www.danversyouththeatre.org. "The Scarlet Letter," 5 p.m. Tickets $6 and $8, Salem residents free. Pioneer Village, Forest River Park, Salem. Shakespeare in the Barn will present "Richard III" at 7 p.m. $16, advance purchase recommended. Castle Hill, The Crane Estate, Argilla Road, Ipswich. (978) 356-4351. Encore! youth performance, "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Girl," 7 p.m. $10 admission. Masconomet Regional High School Auditorium in Topsfield. (508) 246-9179. "Legacy of the Hanging Judge," 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Interactive play recalls Witch Trials. Presented by House of Seven Gables, 54 Turner St., Salem. "A Chorus Line," 8 p.m. performed by Salem State College Student Theatre Ensemble. Mainstage Auditorium, Lafayette Street, Salem. $15 general, $10 seniors/students. (978) 744-8478. Sunday, Aug. 15 Encore! youth performance, "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Girl," 1 p.m. $10 admission. Masconomet Regional High School Auditorium in Topsfield. (508) 246-9179. "Seussical the Musical," 3 p.m., presented by Danvers Youth Theatre at the Maple Street Church, 90 Maple St., Danvers. $7. Benefits Danvers Art Association. For tickets, call (978) 777-9163 or visit www.danversyouththeatre.org. Shakespeare in the Barn will present "Richard III" at 3 p.m. $16, advance purchase recommended. Castle Hill, The Crane Estate, Argilla Road, Ipswich. (978) 356-4351. Tours Saturday, Aug. 14 Free walking tour of Hawthorne's Salem, 11 a.m. to noon, presented by Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Meet at Hawthorne statue on Hawthorne Boulevard, Salem. (978) 740-1660. Tour First Baptist Church, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. View historic building and memorabilia from last two centuries. Tea party and desserts. 56 Federal St. (978) 744-3780. Sunday, Aug. 15 Free walking tour of Hawthorne's Salem, 11 a.m. to noon, presented by Salem Maritime National Historic Site. Meet at Hawthorne statue on Hawthorne Boulevard, Salem. (978) 740-1660. Tour First Baptist Church, 1 to 3 p.m. View historic building and memorabilia from last two centuries. Tea party and desserts. 56 Federal St. (978) 744-3780. Farmstead tours, 3 to 5 p.m. at Appleton Farms. Begins at Waldingfield Road parking area, Ipswich. $5 adults, reservations required. Presented by The Trustees of Reservations. (978) 356-5728 or www.thetrustees.org. Etc. Saturday, Aug. 14 "Fandango in Topsfield," a Paso Fino horse show, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entertainment and stallion parade. Free admission. Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield. Eighth Annual Tribute to the King, 8 p.m. to midnight. Includes music, dancing, amateur Elvis contest, raffles and prizes. Tickets $10, benefits North Shore Association of Retarded Citizens. St. Mike's Hall, 15 Endicott St., Peabody. (978) 532-4126. Sunday, Aug. 15 "Fandango in Topsfield," a Paso Fino horse show, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield. North Shore Old Car Club Show, noon to 3 p.m. Features live music of the '20s and '30s and antique cars. Stephen Phillips Trust House, Chestnut Street, Salem. (978) 744-0440. Kilborn calls it quits at 'Late Late Show' Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) - Craig Kilborn has decided to quit CBS' "Late Late Show" after five seasons, leaving the network to find a new host for the hour that follows "Late Show with David Letterman." "It was easily the greatest job I've had, and CBS was very generous in their offer to re-sign me," Kilborn told Daily Variety. "But I simply want to try something new. I can now focus on writing and producing different television projects I haven't had time for." Not one to pass up a gag, Kilborn added: "And this is cool: I will continue to wear makeup in my everyday life." Kilborn had drawn solid ratings for CBS since he took the time slot over from Tom Snyder. Since 1999, the audience had grown 34 percent to this season's average of 1.7 million viewers. He likely will wrap up his tenure within a month, according to a source close to the production, Variety reported yesterday. The program is produced by Letterman's company, Worldwide Pants. CBS, which learned of Kilborn's decision Thursday, had no comment on his replacement, a CBS spokesman said yesterday. There was immediate speculation that Conan O'Brien, whose contract with NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" has more than a year to run, might be a candidate - if he could eventually could end up with Letterman's job. Industry speculation has it that Letterman is likely to exit late-night TV before Leno does. Kilborn was the original host of Comedy Central's "Daily Show" and had a role in the 2003 film "Old School." State: disabled students may have skipped MCAS By Ben Casselman Staff writer State education officials are concerned that dozens of severely disabled students on the North Shore might not have taken the MCAS last year as required. The state Department of Education reported last month that it has no MCAS records for hundreds of students in special education collaboratives and private programs across the state. In a memo to special education program directors, Commissioner of Education David Driscoll said he was concerned some of the students might not have taken the MCAS. Among the missing records are those of more than a quarter of the students at the North Shore Education Consortium, which runs special education programs for severely disabled students from 14 local school districts, including Peabody, Beverly, Salem, and Danvers. The state is also missing records for nearly 20 percent of students at Beverly's Landmark School, a private school that educates mostly students suffering from the reading disorder dyslexia. Robert Gass, executive director of the North Shore Consortium, said all of his students took the MCAS as required - and if any did not, he said, it was not intentional. "As far as I know, every kid who was supposed to take the MCAS took the MCAS. We were very diligent about it," Gass said. "There is no intent here to somehow thwart the attempt at MCAS. If anything, the North Shore Consortium stands for the inclusion of all these kids." Landmark School Headmaster Robert Broudo could not be reached for comment. School superintendents have often complained that special education students can drag down their districts' test scores, and as state and federal regulations push districts to improve their results, incentives grow for districts to allow disabled students to opt out of the MCAS. Not all students have to take the MCAS. Some severely disabled students are exempt from MCAS and instead compile a portfolio of work known as an Alternative Assessment. Whether the student takes the MCAS or the Alternative Assessment, schools are required to send documentation to the state to ensure that the tests are being administered. Gass blamed record-keeping errors either at the state or local level for the problem, and he criticized the state for not discussing the issue with him and other directors before making accusations. He said he still did not know the names of the students who supposedly did not take the test - making it impossible for him to figure out whether they missed it or whether their records were simply misplaced. "There seems to be a big jump here to noncompliance instead of 'let's work it out,'" Gass said. "I think the memo was too heavy handed, but I also understand the department is very, very conscientious about the MCAS." Department of Education spokeswoman Heidi Perlman acknowledged that record-keeping problems could be to blame, unlike earlier comments by Driscoll that suggested the errors may have been intentional. "I think that there's a bit of a misunderstanding out there that there are 1,400 students who were not tested," Perlman said. "There's a huge possibility that there could be enrollment issues, there could be records issues ... . We're trying to figure out exactly what happened. Were they simply not tested at all, or was there a misunderstanding?" Staff reporter Ben Casselman can be reached at (978) 338-2529 or by e-mail at bcasselman@ecnnews.com. Missing records Organization Enrolled* Took MCAS Took Alt-Assessment** No records Percent missing North Shore Consortium 123 37 52 34 43% Landmark School 101 82 0 19 19% Statewide 5433 3099 907 1427 26% * "Enrolled" number indicates publically-funded students who should have taken the MCAS. ** Some severely disabled students are exempt from MCAS and instead compile a portfolio of work known as an Alternative Assessment. Source: Massachusetts Department of Education r> Let us know Anthony Pasquale of Danvers is one of 30 people in the world taking The Ultimate Black Belt Test. One of the requirements for the year-long test is to commit 1,000 random acts of kindness, and encourage others to perform 50,000. Instead of 50,000, Pasquale's goal is to have people perform 1 million good deeds. The Salem News and its sister newspapers are helping him count. If you have committed a good deed, or seen one, or had one done to you, send us an e-mail at actsofkindness@ecnnews.com. Please describe where, when and how it happened, and include your name, community and telephone number for verification. North Shore residents log their good deeds By Salem News Staff Last week, The Salem News introduced readers to martial arts instructor Anthony Pasquale and his mission to record one million acts of kindness by next May. Here's a sample of good deeds we've heard about so far: On July 19, Karen Hodgson of Beverly reports, her husband fell and broke his arm on his way to work on Causeway Street in Boston. "A woman saw him fall and went over to him," Hodgson wrote "She told him to sit for a minute and calm down. Then she asked if he wanted her to call an ambulance. "He said, 'No, but I think I need to go to the hospital.'" She hailed a cab for him, collected his belongings and helped him into the cab. She rode with him to Mass General Hospital and got him some help. She then left, never leaving us her name. We'd like to thank her. She was a true angel that day and never asked for anything in return." nnn Nancy Savageau of Beverly sent the following list of kind acts: 1. Listened to a supermarket employee vent about another employee, both unknown to me personally, Aug. 7, Beverly. 2. Sent sister flowers to her workplace just because she's special, Aug. 7, Beverly. 3. Let a man with small amount of groceries go ahead of me in line when no express lanes were open, Aug. 7, Beverly. 4. Complimented a woman (stranger) about her son's enthusiasm during a martial arts lesson, Aug. 7, Danvers. 5. Picked up litter, Aug. 7, Danvers. 6. Let vehicle into line of traffic ahead of me, Aug. 7, Beverly. 7. Let son use my car while his was being serviced, Aug. 11, Beverly. 8. Helped my instructor carry items from a demo at the mall, Aug. 11, Peabody. 9. Received a gift certificate from my instructor to thank me for participating and helping with a demo at Peabody mall, Aug. 11. 10. Yielded right of way to car trying to make a right turn, Aug. 12, Beverly. nnn Salem's Laurie Austin was walking her dog on a recent Saturday morning when she happened upon another neighborhood dog loose in the street. "Knowing she was prone to running away, I removed my dog from his leash and attached her," she wrote. "I walked her around the block to her house, and when no one answered the unlocked door, I simply opened it and returned her. "As I was walking back home with my dog, the owner drove by and asked if I had seen his dog because he'd been looking for 45 minutes. I told him I had returned her just moments ago!" nnn Kelly Loiselle of Beverly wrote to recognize her fellow employees at Danvers Savings Bank for their "Jeans Day" contributions. Every Friday, bank employees are encouraged to wear jeans for a $5 donation to a different charity. Whether the charity is a well-known cause or another fellow employee in need, the donations have always been there. nnn Cody and Clay Michaud, two students at United Martial Arts in Danvers, were at Stop & Shop with their mother when a man in wheelchair cart accidentally knocked over a stack of paper towels on an endcap. "He looked very troubled, thinking about how he was going to pick all of these paper towels up," they wrote. "We went over to him and said, 'Don't worry about it, we'll pick them up'. "This man was very friendly and thanked us for the help. It felt really good to make his day a little easier." r> Police Log Salem Friday * Anthony Stiefel, 17, Bridge Street, Salem, was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle without a license, leaving the scene after property damage and failure to display license plates. Police said the Salem High student was arrested after the car he was driving struck a utility pole on Beacon Street. He was not seriously injured. * Edgar Rodriguez, 37, 96 Congress St., Salem, was arrested on Derby Street for two outstanding Salem warrants for assault and battery and various motor vehicle offenses. * Giovanni Rosario Jr., 21, 35 Buffum St., Salem, was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery after allegedly hitting his girlfriend during a fight. * Sheri Gray, 22, 103 Newbury St., Danvers, was arrested and charged with driving with a revoked license. Danvers Thursday * Paul Martins, 18, 20 Gemma Drive, Peabody, was arrested for shoplifting. Police said a Homegoods employee was charged with stealing from his Newbury Street employer. Beverly Thursday * Michelle Kuhn, 40, 62 Water St., Beverly, was arrested on an outstanding Beverly warrant for shoplifting. Peabody Thursday * Eric McKinnon, 25, 57 Northend St., Peabody, was arrested on outstanding Peabody warrants. Police were called after McKinnon allegedly threatened a taxi dispatcher with a sword. Charges from that incident are still pending. Friday * Gregory Comeau, 27, 86 Walnut St., Peabody, was arrested and charged with domestic assault and battery. * Neighbors on Pine Street called police to report a large snapping turtle blocking the street that "appeared hurt." The animal control officer was called in, and the turtle was removed from the street. Topsfield Friday * Todd Thibodeau, 46, 3 Parkview Lane, Peabody, was arrested and charged with driving to endanger, possession of a hypodermic needle, leaving the scene of property damage, leaving the scene of personal damage and possession of marijuana. According to police, Thibodeau led officers on a brief chase before he was taken into custody. Marblehead Friday * Joanne Kapnis, 49, 19 Amburg St., Georgetown, was arrested and charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, second offense. According to police, she was arrested after the car she was driving struck a parked car. No one was injured in the accident. Saugus couple arrested at Motel 6 By Melissa Beecher DANVERS - A Saugus couple that police believe are tied to a rash of house breaks were arrested yesterday after an alert hotel clerk contacted authorities. Brendan Bates, 29, of 38 Magnolia St., and Danielle Bucklin, 21, of 2 Jennifer Drive, were both arrested at the Motel 6 on Newbury Street at 9 a.m. yesterday. A hotel worker had called police because a credit card that was used to pay for a room came back as stolen. According to police, patrolmen Robert Sullivan and Jason Skane found Bates in the room and caught Bucklin, who had climbed out the hotel room window, hiding on the balcony. A variety of drugs were found in the room, including marijuana, OxyContin and Percoset pills. In addition to the drugs, numerous drivers licenses, identification cards, traveler's checks, cameras, cell phones, jewelry and checkbooks were found. According to police, an investigation revealed that a majority of the items could be tied to house breaks in Saugus and Lynnfield. Other items found in the room were reported stolen from gym lockers at local health clubs. Bucklin, who police believe was involved in the majority of the thefts, was charged with forgery, uttering false checks, larceny under $250, identity fraud, 20 counts of receiving stolen property under $250, fraudulent use of a credit card, and three counts of possession of a stolen credit card. Bates was charged with possession of marijuana, OxyContin and Percoset, possession of a stolen credit card and five counts of receiving stolen property. br> Staff writer Priest says farewell to church he helped expand By Anna Scott Staff writer IPSWICH - John Hooker stumbled into the priesthood by chance. His career as a concert organist was just taking off when a debilitating muscular disease cut it short. Friends at an Arizona church where he was music director suggested he become a priest. Armed with a deep faith, and faced with the pain of never playing the organ again, he gave it a try. "I was losing control of my feet and ankles, and my hands didn't always do what I wanted them to do," Hooker said. "When I couldn't meet my own standards, that's when the whole ordination thing opened up." He graduated from Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge in 1992, and stayed on as a teacher there until 1998. He came to lead Ipswich's Ascension Memorial Church in 2000. It is his first position as a full-time rector, and it will be his last. On Sunday, his parish will celebrate both his 60th birthday and his going-away party. His disease is forcing him to retire early and return to Arizona, where the dry weather is expected to help ease his muscle pain. While his stay in Ipswich has been short, his trail of accomplishments is long. During his years at the helm, attendance at Sunday Masses increased 44 percent, up to about 155 people every Sunday. He created a family Mass just 30 minutes long, drawing up to 80 newcomers each week. He held healing ceremonies every Tuesday for sick parishioners. In turn, he found a community of friends who embraced him and his partner David Bucchiere. The two married this summer after gay marriage became legal, and celebrated with church friends. "Obviously it's not something everyone is comfortable with, so from the beginning I tried not to push it. I said my family structure doesn't have to have an impact on the church," Hooker said. "They said, 'Don't be silly. Your family is important to us.' They made it obvious to us from the beginning we would be accepted." Stable leader Before Hooker arrived in Ipswich, the County Street parish had been without a full-time minister for more than five years. The last minister was traditional, recalls 69-year-old Gini Player, who has been a member of the church since birth. "(Hooker) brought stability," Player said. She said he brought a unique experience to the church, unlike other ministers who treated the congregation more formally. He often invited people to his home for dinner. When the church hosted brunch after service, Hooker was there to set up the tables, bake the coffee cake, and clean up afterward. And when parishioners needed to talk, Hooker always had time. "He really is a people person," Player said. Peg Whittier, a church member since 1950, called him "the most caring rector we've ever had." The search committee selected Hooker from a dozen applicants. They liked that he wasn't a career priest. "He sent a copy of a piece of music he wrote that had been played at a national church convention," said Kathy Hirbour, who chaired the committee. "He struck us as someone out of the ordinary." Though he once played with famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Hooker's health has allowed him to play the parish organ only twice. Now, he cannot play at all. "People say, 'How can you stand that?' I tell them I have no choice about it," Hooker said. "Because I know real disappointment, I think I have something to say about that. It's been a gift." A different type of Mass Barbara DiLorenzo began attending Hooker's family Mass with her husband and 2-year-old son in January, after neighbors told her the rector was "very talented." What she found was a Mass where Hooker often acted out the Bible stories, and rambunctious children were welcome. "I'm just so worried they're going to get a minister who is ho-hum, nothing too earth shattering," she said. "In some of his sermons I felt he was breathing life into things I knew before." Parishioners praise Hooker's sermons for their ability to link ancient stories with modern living -- a trait Hooker said he learned by going to church his whole life. "I've heard an awful lot of (sermons)," he said. "I try to think what's going to help you get up on Monday morning and put one foot in front of the other. If it doesn't do that, why are we bothering?" Hooker plans to leave Ipswich in September, after selling his home. His going away party starts at 9:40 a.m. tomorrow after the family Mass. It will be held at the parish center on County Street. Staff reporter Anna Scott can be reached at ascott@ecnnews.com or by calling (978) 338-2664. It's the stupid economy By Dan K. Thomasson Scripps Howard WASHINGTON -- The Clintonian warning that when it comes to presidential elections "it's the economy, stupid" actually was a transposition that should have read: "It's the stupid economy." Since 1932 (at least), the re-election hopes of incumbent presidents have hinged to a large extent on something over which they have little or no control - the nation's economic well-being. A good economy on Election Day is a leg up to another four years in the White House, and one that is not so good is just the opposite. It is that simple in American politics - even during times of war. Now and then a candidate can blow the advantages of a long period of prosperity during an incumbent administration, as then-Vice President Al Gore managed to do in 2000. But most of the time voters are willing to forgive any number of other presidential shortcomings or indiscretions as long as they feel safe about the current and future status of their pocketbooks. That is, of course, what George W. Bush faces as he tries to convince voters that he deserves an extended tour in the Oval Office despite an economy that once again seems to be slowing and a situation in Iraq that appears always to be going from bad to worse. This election clearly will be decided on whether Americans believe that his claimed strengths as a fighter of terrorism override his alleged deficiencies as a fiscal leader; whether the tax cuts that he instituted were the lasting antidote for a faltering economy or merely a relatively short-lived shot of feel-good medicine. At the very least, the reductions pumped some blood back into the system when the dot-com vein ruptured. The chances are good that if voters answer that question negatively and elect John Kerry, they will soon find that he, like Franklin Roosevelt, had no more solutions to the economy than his predecessor did. Jobs, for instance, are still going to go to the cheapest bidder overseas without a major overhaul of global policies, and that will require some dangerously draconian trade and tariff measures. The Federal Reserve, by raising the interest rate a quarter point, has come down on the side of those who argue that oil prices mainly have caused only a temporary glitch in the economy's continuing growth mode. But that hasn't stopped Democrats from pointing out that Bush probably will be the only president since Herbert Hoover to end his first term with fewer jobs than when he began it. Like most things in American politics, the truth rarely catches up with the myth. Running against Hoover has been at the forefront of Democratic strategy off and on for more than 70 years, so why should it change now? Never mind that FDR's New Deal programs failed to break the grip of the Depression. World War II finally returned the country to prosperity. There are those who believe Richard Nixon might have survived Watergate had the economy been better, and that Thomas Dewey probably would have won the 1948 election had not the country still been in the throes of a new postwar prosperity. Have Bush's chances been hurt by the latest job reports? There seems to be little doubt that a stronger recovery would have gone a long way in improving his standing in the rust-belt battleground states. On the other hand, Kerry has failed to propose any real solutions other than changes in the tax law that now encourages the exportation of jobs to cheaper overseas markets. The truth is, an economy the size of America's is pretty much unmanageable by anyone. All any president can do is establish a positive atmosphere, use the bully pulpit and hope for the best. Dan K. Thomasson is former editor of the Scripps Howard News Service. LNG shipment and storage not just an East Coast problem By Michael Fumento Scripp Texas-based Excelerate Energy LLC has proposed spending $200 million for the construction of an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal 10 miles southeast of Gloucester. The company is currently building a similar facility more than 100 miles off the coast of Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico. While company officials say they hope to complete the North Shore facility by 2006, it must obtain permits from the Coast Guard and other agencies before work can begin. Elected officials including Gov. Mitt Romney and Congressman John Tierney, D-Salem, have said they need more information before weighing in on the project, but it has already drawn opposition from representatives of the fishing industry locally who have expressed concerns about its safety and potential impact on marine life. Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, one reason it provides almost a fourth of U.S. energy and heats over half our homes. But already North America can't meet the continent's gas needs. With America's growing energy requirements, the amount we'll need to import is expected to double within 20 years. If some people have their way, though, that supply - and we - will be choked off. For shipping, natural gas is liquefied through super-chilling. This reduces the volume by 600 times. LNG also doesn't burn. At the receiving terminal, it's warmed back into a gas and piped where needed. Currently, the United States has only four receiving terminals, none west of Louisiana. We need more and it's obvious where. California's population is huge and surging, as are its energy needs. It also has the nation's strictest environmental laws, thereby favoring natural gas. But although various companies have proposed terminal locations, over two-dozen environmental groups are fighting them all. Why? Environmental activists hate all affordable forms of energy, no matter how clean, because it's the lifeblood of industry. To them, Saddam Hussein may be bad, but industry is absolutely evil. Although not building a terminal "would be a recipe for unacceptable economic hardship for those who can least afford it," according to two true top-ranking California environmentalists in a recent op-ed, the activists in green paint couldn't care less. There are also the NIMBY groups, who recognize California's need for a terminal but Not in My Back Yard. They don't want any new industry near them that is heavier than, say, flower arrangement. But such ideas can't be sold to the broader public, so other reasons are concocted. Since fear sells, naturally, activists point out that natural gas can explode. In reality, LNG has a terrific safety record. There has never been a shipboard explosion, and while there are 113 active LNG facilities in the United States, only one has had an accident with outside fatalities. That was in 1944, caused by a holding tank that was improperly made because of a wartime shortage of materials. Further, safety technology continually improves. Algeria had a fatal LNG explosion last year attributed to a steam boiler, but boilers are only used at the shipping end. Over 40 LNG receiving terminals operate worldwide; none has had a significant accident. True, some proposals do have pitfalls. For example, Japan's Mitsubishi wants a terminal in Long Beach Harbor. That's a bad place for something to go boom because it's also the location of the nation's busiest port. Since Mitsubishi also has a nasty history of price fixing regarding such things as plastic wrap, fax paper and graphite electrodes, it's natural that Californians would be worried about giving it the state's first LNG terminal. ChevronTexaco of San Ramon, Calif., proposes a terminal near the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton, but it's still near a population center (the base), near a nuclear power plant, and it could disrupt the flow of goods and services along one of the state's major transportation corridors (Interstate 5). Sempra Energy of San Diego wants a terminal in Baja Mexico. That's certainly out of California's back yard. But placing it in Mexico runs the risk the government could nationalize it. It could then divert some or all of the gas or simply charge whatever it feels like. Californians are also distrustful of Sempra because of its role in the 2000 energy crisis. On the other hand, BHP Billiton plans to build a floating terminal 14 miles offshore so that there would be no impact on land, no interference with shipping - and the largest possible explosion wouldn't singe a single hair on the mainland. As one of the largest proposed terminals, it would supply almost a fifth of California's gas needs by 2008. Yet since environmentalists are dead-set against any terminal, they're fighting even this one. And, yes, NIMBYs oppose it, although by definition it's in no one's back yard. At some point, still another California terminal will be required. But if Ahnuld's state terminates even this one, surely the others have no chance. Then when the energy shortage hits, the consumers' fuel of choice may be burning activists at the stake. Michael Fumento is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and a nationally syndicated columnist with Scripps Howard News Service. His e-mail address is Fumento@pobox.com Howard The Internet: Blessing or curse for society? Riddle me this Question: What would you get if all of the military computers in the world crashed? Answer: Peace on Earth James Stanley Hale Beverly Both Just like the advent of the automobile, it's both a curse and a blessing. Yet who could live a productive life without a motor vehicle? Imagine our society without cars. Do cars cause death? Do some people use them irresponsibly? Yes, some do - not all. The business and communications opportunities that have cropped up because of the Internet are astounding. The Internet - like the automobile - is simply a vehicle allowing us to get from one place to another at previously unheard of speeds. The horse-and-buggy ride that took two days turned into a two-hour drive. Who would want to go back to those days? An e-mail takes a millisecond to travel as opposed to a stamped envelope that can take days. However, as with a car, the young and irresponsible should be kept at bay. Our children are growing up too fast as it is. Keith Roberts Rockport Users beware The Internet today is growing, thanks to a lot of Web sites, as well as our ability to find almost everything from A to Z out there in cyberspace. When you use the Internet, you have to be careful because you don't know who you are dealing with when you communicate via e-mail. If you do suspect anyone of using a computer to download child pornography, this person needs some form of psychiatric help. Michael A. Daley Jr. Danvers Computer Age great for kids Definitely a blessing. Though I do not have the Internet at my fingertips like I used to, I loved the days where I could post up a newly written poem on poetry.com or watch a stick-figure experience his demise in the most comical way on stickdeath.com. The Internet has made life so much easier for all of us in some way, shape or form. I'm not just talking about Bill Gates, who is laughing all the way to the bank with a big sack draped over his shoulder with a huge dollar sign on it, either. It's too bad the Internet didn't come out sooner. I'm envious of the way elementary and middle school kids have it now as opposed to when I was their age. A few clicks of the mouse and they've got what they need. I had to go to the library! I got to deal with a three-century-old woman named Delores who had Coke-bottle glasses and didn't know which way was up. I had to walk through aisles and aisles of 10-foot-high shelves and look through 55 books before I finally found what I needed. Lucky kids today. When I was their age, I had to walk through 3 feet of snow with no shoes ... . Christopher A. Pizzo Salem More trouble than it's worth As far as I'm concerned, it's more of a curse than a blessing. I personally know of a woman's daughter who left home for an "on-the-net" affair. She was underage and missing for a month. Thank God it ended well. I know of a lady who was scammed out of a small amount of money via the Internet. There are marriage problems because one spouse finds another's computer messages as happened with the mayor of Newburyport. Add on the scams such as the Salem couple that was selling stolen goods, and the beat goes on. One can get into another's bank account, etc. So it's a curse. It can be a blessing at times for shut-ins and friends keeping in touch from distances apart. But parents: Please check on kids' computer use! Terry McDonald Salem Big factor in U.S. job losses Yes, it's a shame that companies can operate on the Internet and do business from overseas, as do crooks, thieves and people who make threats via the Internet. It's not a blessing, we should tax those companies using the Internet to move jobs overseas. Mark Jones Beverly Internet isn't the problem, it's the people using it Most of the problems with the Internet mentioned in your question of the week are not really problems with the Internet. They are problems with the character of those using the Internet, including the mayor of Newburyport. There are far more benefits than problems with the Internet. I can sit here at home and read the news from my parents' hometown paper. I can read the Washington Times, the Washington Post, U.S. News, etc. I can read the Congressional Record. I can search library databases for books I want to read. I can communicate with family and friends. People with character flaws will still be there with or without the Internet. Barbara Bartholomew Ipswich Point of comparison When weighing its good and bad points, compare it to the automobile! Dan Killoran Lynn Mixed blessing I think that society itself has been both blessed and cursed by the Internet. I think the creators of the Internet must be absolutely horrified that they have produced a medium that has been taken over by society for pornography and pop-up advertising. Just like any other form of communication, the Internet has been used for the evil purposes of men such as scams and child predators. I can't understand where people get the idea that this electronic form of communication has the ability to filter out dishonesty in people. On the other hand, the Internet has been a blessing for cheap and instant communication for those who wish not to talk to others over the phone or meet to talk to them face to face. I'm from the old school of people who like to write with pen and paper, but I am slowly finding myself being sucked into the ease of e-mail. I think the use of the Internet can be likened to the use of a television. One can use them both to educate and entertain wisely or one can find that both sometimes have very little to offer. The biggest blessing of the Internet is online shopping and information at your fingertips. You can get anything you want and find out anything you want to know on a whim. Going back to curses would be the privacy issue. It's amazing how many cookies are inserted by Web sites and how much spam mail one can receive in a day. I view spam in the same way as those telemarketers who call during supper. I really don't need four ads for Viagra a day unless my computer is so smart that it knows something I don't. Dean Burgess Manchester-by-the-Sea Was sales tax holiday a good idea? Today, all day, you can purchase any item valued at $2,500 or less from a Massachusetts retailer and not have to pay the normal 5 percent sales tax. The proposal to have the Bay State become New Hampshire - where there is no state sales tax - for a day, was conceived on Beacon Hill last spring as a means of helping retailers through the summer doldrums and also attract back-to-school shoppers. Many stores were anticipating a healthy increase in traffic, with some adding staff and expanding their hours to accommodate the additional shoppers. State officials hope the sales tax holiday will help spur the economy and allow local retailers to grab some of the business that might otherwise have gone to their competition to the north. On the other hand, even as this big day approached, there was confusion as to how this program would work. Could consumers buy something today and pay for it later without having to pay the sales tax? (No). Does it apply to all purchases? (No. Motor vehicles, boats, meals and telecommunications services, including cell phones, are not exempted from taxation.) During the debate on this measure, objections were also raised to the fact that rather than encourage new purchases, the one-day tax holiday would hurt early-summer sales as people held off on major purchases in anticipation of the Aug. 14 tax moratorium. And some said the state could not afford to forego even a single day of sales tax revenue. What do you think? Was the sales tax holiday a good idea? Should the state be sacrificing money that would otherwise go to providing needed governmental services? Or should the sales tax be eliminated altogether? E-mail your thoughts to: nbenton@ecnnews.com Prominent golfer Carangelo dead at 73 By Mike Grenier Staff Writer Ted Carangelo was a seven-time club champion at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead. But his friends would say simply that he was a champion in life. A former president of the Massachusetts Golf Association and one of the most prominent golfers in North Shore history, Carangelo, 73, died of cancer Thursday night at his Swampscott home. "This is someone who gave so much back to the game that had given him so much," Bob Green, the longtime head pro at Tedesco, said of Carangelo yesterday. "He was a great champion, but it was never about Ted when he won. It was more about golf. "He'll always be known as Ted," added Green, "but he'll be best remembered for what he did for golf at Tedesco and throughout Massachusetts. He always knew the right thing to do. This is a great loss to the golf community and to his family." Carangelo remains the only man from this region to both win the Mass. Amateur and serve as president of the governing MGA, a responsibility he had, and relished, in 1982-83. Remarkably, he was also the president at Tedesco (1980-83) during the two years that he served as the MGA's president. He wouldn't say he was too busy to handle all the tasks the jobs required. Instead, he would talk about how fortunate he was to have the opportunity to have the dual roles. "It worked," Carangelo said in Gary Larrabee's book, "The Green and Gold Coast: the History of Golf on Boston's North Shore." "I loved the involvement at both levels and felt we got a lot done." A Hall of Fame inductee at Boston English High School and Colgate University, Carangelo last played competitively in May when he teamed up with Charlie Hartnett of Winchester to finish third in the senior member-guest tourney at Tedesco. A month later, he wasn't feeling up to par and had to withdraw from the Tedesco Cup. Given that Carangelo had such a young approach to the game, his passing hit Green particularly hard. He still played the game with a newcomer's passion even though he'd been a member at Tedesco for 44 years. "Every time Ted played it was like a new experience for him," said Green. "He had that kind of enthusiasm. He had a lot of love and a great respect for the game. He'll be missed very much at Tedesco. His love for the history and tradition of golf, and how he felt about the game, those are just some of the things (that you associate with Carangelo). Ted came out of East Boston as a kid and was introduced to golf at a caddie camp at Maplewood in New Hampshire. That caddie camp changed his life." Carangelo was an exceptional all-around athlete. He was offered a scholarship to Georgetown University shortly before the school dropped football. He changed gears and went to Colgate, where he played baseball on a team that made it to the College World Series. He also won the college's boxing championship three times and further pursued baseball, becoming a player in the Detroit Tigers' minor league system. But following a tour of duty in the Marines, he gravitated to golf. In 1960 Carangelo qualified for the first state amateur that was held at Salem Country Club two years later, and he ended up reaching the semifinals before he lost to eventual champion Joe Carr. But it was at Tedesco where he found his home and really blossomed. Carangelo collaborated with his good friend, Jack Nies, to dominate the Tedesco Cup gross division for two decades, winning the title 17 times. He was also moving up in a leadership capacity at Booma Oil, becoming the president of the company during that time, and was getting heavily involved with the MGA. "He loved baseball and boxing; he was just a real sportsman. He loved competing," said Green. Green recounted how Carangelo would show up at Tedesco for lunch every day and, ever curious, Ted would poke around and check out any new equipment. It became a ritual and Green got great enjoyment out of it. "Ted was a constant dabbler at the game," said Green. "He would try every golf demo club in the shop. I cherished his feedback on product demos." Mostly, however, Green cherished his relationship with Carangelo. "He was never afraid to stand up and express his opinion," said Green. "He was just always willing to give of himself." New 'field of dreams' at Ross Park By Jean DePlacido Staff writer Jean DePlacido A new field of dreams is almost ready at Lt. Ross Park in West Peabody thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, who took on the project and are still spending their free time putting the finishing touches on the dugouts and announcer's booth. When it is completed sometime this fall, the beautiful facility, complete with lights, will be home to the Peabody West Major Little League teams. "We had a sinkhole and had to dig down and put crushed stone to fill it in," said West president Alan Titelbaum. "We still have to redo the base paths, but we expect the field to be ready for fall baseball. The project was all done through donations and volunteers working hard to make it possible. And we couldn't have done it without the help of Wood Trucking." The site is on park land where the old salt barn stood, adjacent to the current field. The first order of business was to tear down that barn and remove the rocks. Scott Aulson, Paul Dewsnap, Jim Jeffries, Robert Wood, and Danvers Ford helped coordinate efforts. "Aulson has been working on it for the last three years, even in the rain and snow," said Titelbaum. "Without so many dedicated people this would never have been possible. It's the first new park in the city in years, and has been done without any city funding. We applied for CPA (Community Preservation Act) funding, but were turned down twice. "We're really close to finishing up now. We just have to shingle the roof, and close up the building. Between five volunteers and two hired carpenters, we've been working nights on getting the dugouts ready. We took out a three-year $25,000 loan for lights, and now we'll have two lighted ball fields in the city." Titelbaum said plans call for the existing field to be used for Little League AAA games. The new one will be a 200-foot major league field. The only drawback for hosting big tournament events is the lack of restroom facilities at Ross Park. "We hosted the 10-year old tournament this year (which Peabody West won), and so many kids were amazed to play on a field with lights and dugouts. We do have nice facilities here." Titelbaum would like the Veterans Council to raise the flag as part of the opening day dedication, and thinks it would be fitting to give all three fields names. Currently they are known as the A and B fields (the new one will be C). "This park is named for a war hero, and I think it would be fitting to name the fields for deserving individuals," said Titelbaum. While on the subject of those Peabody West 10-year old All-Stars, the group is now 13-0 the past two years. They captured the 9-year-old tourney a year ago, and topped that with a 6-0 mark, compiling 70 runs while allowing only 13 en route to another championship tournament. Stephen Girolamo, Tyler Finnegan, Kevin Church, Nicholas Turco and Jared Lewis handled the pitching chores while all 12 team members contributed to the torrid hitting. In the championship game West beat Peabody American, 16-2, behind great pitching by Girolamo and key hitting from Turco, Genaro Ciulla, and Finnegan. Peabody West started off with a 2-1 win over Salem National behind Girolamo's pitching and great defense. They then beat Manchester Essex, 16-4 powered by the combined pitching of Finnegan, Church, and Turco with key hits from Jared Lewis, Jordan Lewis and Ryan Courtney. Next to fall was Beverly West, 10-5 with Jared Lewis and Church on the mound and clutch hits from Bobby Losanno, Ryan Wall and Girolamo. Peabody West dumped the Gloucester Nats, 11-1, as once again Girolamo got the win with the offense sparked by Brady Doyle, Cameron Borrelli and Church. West then advanced to the championship by blanking Peabody American, 15-0, led by Turco, Ciulla, and Finnegan at the plate while Girolamo was unhittable. Frank Benea managed the team while Mark Lewis, Ed Aiello, Jeff Benea, and Fred Girolamo coached. Justin Lewis was the bat boy. ... The Soteropoulos family from Peabody departed for Athens last Wednesday to watch their son Peter play for the Greek baseball team in the Olympics. "We're all very excited about it," said Kate. "The whole family will be there, George and myself along with Amy and Cara. We're going to meet my father-in-law (Peter Soteropoulos) there. He left a week ago to see all the exhibition games, too. Greece has a few planned against Canada and Australia." Peter, who was selected to pitch and most likely come out of the bullpen, left for Athens on August 5 which happens to be his birthday. ... The St. John's Athletic Hall of Fame will induct eight new members at the annual ceremony and dinner on Friday, September 17. It will also be a special night with the 1979 state champion hockey and tennis teams honored on the 25th anniversary of their achievements. This year's illustrious class includes Richard Batchelder of Danvers (1951) for basketball and baseball; Jack Schylling ('68) of Essex for track; David Howell ('80) of Lynn for hockey; Andrew Veneri ('91) of Smithfield, Va., for hockey and baseball; Mark Peabody ('92) of New York for skiing; Capt. Benjamin Ring ('92) of Killeen, Texas, for wrestling and football; Jonathan Russell ('93) of Marina, Calif., for track; and Kristian Hanson ('94) of Salem for hockey. Paul "Buster" DiVincenzo ('50) of Beverly will be presented the Crystal Eagle award in recognition of his many years of dedication and service to the athletic program at St. John's. Tickets may be purchased from the Prep Alumni Office at (978) 774-6727. North Shore red hot in hockey showcase By Kevin Doyle Staff Writ NO. ANDOVER - Phase One has been successfully completed, capped by a scintillating overtime victory at Merrimack College's Lawler Arena late Thursday night. When 2004 Northeastern Conference MVP and Berkshire-bound defenseman Patrick Gunn of Winthrop blasted home the deciding goal just 30 seconds into overtime of a 6-5 win against South Shore, it allowed North Shore to complete the round-robin portion of Hockey Night In Boston's Summer Showcase as the lone unbeaten squad (7-0) in the 20-team tournament. As the newly-minted champion of the tournament's Massachusetts/New England North Division, North Shore begins its quest to win just its second tournament title - the other came in 1989 - tonight (Merrimack, 8:30) against the survivor of this morning's play-in game at Chelmsford Forum (11:30). Due to the parity of this year's 30th annual event, playoff match-ups were still being determined late last night. With a roster that includes 15 players who were performing in the state's Div. 2 and Div. 3 ranks last winter, North Shore's run - under the direction of Valley Jr. Warriors coach Larry Rocha - has been deadly efficient. Playing an aggressive brand of two-way hockey, North Shore ranks second in goals scored (51) behind Pacific, has allowed the fewest goals (21) and owns far and away the best differential (plus-30) in the tournament. The offense has been spread out with 17 players scoring at least one goal and all 20 skaters having a minimum of two points. Leading the way has been 2004 Cape Ann League Player of the Year Kevin Maresco of Lynnfield, who's off to Phillips Exeter for a post-graduate season and has eight goals and 15 points to rank second in tournament scoring. Northfield senior Alex Muse of Lynnfield (2-11-13), Tilton junior and former Lynn English flash Matt Johnson (7-5-12) and St. John's Prep senior sniper Rico Piatelli (2-8-10) of Danvers are also in double figures. Other key contributors among the forwards have been Pomfret junior Sean Driscoll of Peabody (5 goals), Lynnfield senior Brendan Cox (9 points) and Hebron PG Matt Gilman of Groveland. The former Pentucket ace has three goals and six points to his credit. The goaltending has been spectacular. Phillips Andover junior Matt Ward of Boxford (0.42 gaa, 4 SO) will begin the playoffs as the tournament's top-ranked keeper. Tyngsboro High junior Tom Cole (1.00 gaa, 2 SO) sits in a three-way tie for sixth while Tilton junior Jamie DiGiulio of Peabody (1.57 gaa, 1 SO) has been solid. With seven shutout periods to its credit, North's goaltending troika has kept the opposition off the board for fully one-third of the tournament - a startling accomplishment in such a freewheeling event. Clearly, a portion of the goalies' success is the result of the in-zone coverage applied by the defensemen. Gunn and fellow Winthrop product Dan Coughlin, a senior at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols; the Saugus quartet of post-grads Eric Quinlan (Avon Old Farms) and Bryan Hartigan (Salisbury) and seniors Rob Gannon and Craig Serino; Northfield senior Chris Powers of Lynnfield and St. John's Prep senior Andy Letarte of Salem form up that group. Let Phase Two commence. r Like mother, like daughterMerrimac mom lives Olympic dream through daughter By Alan Siegel Correspondent MERRIMAC - The lack of fanfare aside, Cheryl Treworgy was on top of the world. Then named Cheryl Bridges, she owned a world record in women's marathoning, earning the mark, 2:49:40, in only her second attempt at the 26.2-mile distance. She held the mark for nearly two years, from 1971 to 1973. Unfortunately for her, women's marathoning was a small blip on the screen until several years later when Rosie Ruiz strangely put the sport on the map. But there was one thing missing on top of the world more than 30 years ago. Treworgy, 53, never earned an Olympic berth. Thanks to her daughter, Shalane Flanagan of Marblehead, that will change next week. Flanagan is in Athens. And Treworgy, with cameras and lenses in tow, will be joining her on Monday. Flanagan one-upped her talented mother by qualifying for the 5,000-meter run. The Treworgys' 23-year-old daughter earned the berth by finishing third at the U.S. Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif., last month in a time of 15:10.52, losing out to the top two by only three seconds. "I'm living (the dream) with (Shalane)," said Treworgy, who will travel to Athens next week to watch her daughter compete. "I know that it may sound strange. I know how badly I wanted (to compete in the Olympics). I can only imagine how bad she wants it. As a mother and former athlete, I know how difficult it is. It's amazing to even know somebody participating. And to have it be your kid, it's even more poignant." The young University of North Carolina star has other track and field genes. Her father, Steve Flanagan, ran for the University of Connecticut and competed on three U.S. national cross country teams in the 1970s. Cheryl and Steve divorced when Shalane was young, but running still came naturally for a girl who would watch her parents go out for daily workouts. "Shalane thought everybody went for a run," Treworgy said. "We've seen a lot of people who did push their kids. We didn't try to make her anything that she wasn't." After picking up running in middle school, Flanagan became a star. But unlike her mom, she had a team to compete on. Growing up on the north side of Indianapolis in the 1960s, Treworgy wasn't allowed on her high school track team. It was for boys only. "One of the school board members saw me practicing and said, 'We can't have this,' and I was banned," she said. "I joined a club track team in the summer. I wanted to be involved as much as I could. The only way I could stay involved was for me to keep the books." Treworgy kept running and eventually took her talents to Indiana State University in 1966. Even without a women's varsity track team, she received a special scholarship. "It was from the 'talented student fund,' which basically was a slush fund for talented students," she said. "It could've been one of the first female athletic scholarships around." At Indiana State, Treworgy said, women still were not yet accepted as serious athletes. Females weren't supposed to be competitive. "When I went off to college I was on the volleyball team and I really adopted the guys' way of doing things," she said. "I would try to psych myself up and they thought I was being too aggressive." When the government passed Title IX in 1972, the nation took the first step toward gender equality in sports. More than three decades later, women's sports are flourishing across the country. Treworgy's world record would probably have earned her seven-figure contracts if it had come three decades later. "Even back in the '60s, the only cool sports for girls were gymnastics, swimming, tennis and ice skating," said the 53-year-old mother of two, Shalane and Maggie. She lives in Merrimac with her husband John. "That's just the way it was." Treworgy didn't compete for the fanfare. In fact, originally it seemed just a way to stay in shape. "I read an article by (coach) Bill Bowerman," she said. "He was talking about this concept called 'jogging' that was good cardiovascular exercise. That stuff that made an awful lot of sense. So I said, 'Well, shoot, I can do this.'" In 1976, Treworgy retired from competitive racing. But a few decades later, while still running on her own, she focused on Shalane's career, which has taken off like a rocket the last few years. Just this year, her daughter Shalane signed a 5<1/2>-year contract with Nike. "It's going to be a Nike Christmas," Treworgy said, laughing. Treworgy has no regrets about her track career in relative obscurity, which included five years on the World Cross Country team. Shalane is getting what women have always deserved. "I know that a lot of people weren't sure that Title IX was a good thing," she said. "It's only taken one generation for these girls to really shine." The Indiana State Hall of Famer runs prettysporty.com, a company that specializes in comfortable fitness apparel for women and showcases photos she takes at track meets. At the competitions, she focuses on every athlete participating, not just event winners. She estimates the site receives about 1 million hits a week. But in Athens she will be focusing primarily on one athlete, her daughter Shalane. "I've got seats in in the sixth row and some (special) lenses," said Treworgy. "I'm so proud. I'm finally going to the Olympics." By Doug Ferguson Associa HAVEN, Wis. (AP) - From top to bottom, the PGA Championship delivered some major drama yesterday. The two best players battled across Whistling Straits until Vijay Singh wound up in a share of the lead and Ernie Els settled in one shot behind. The No. 1 player fought just to make the cut. "I gave it everything I had," Tiger Woods said after three birdies over his final six holes spared him the embarrassment of going home early for the first time in 129 tournaments and the first ever as a professional in a major. Desperate to end an 0-for-18 streak in the majors, Singh kept his mistakes to a minimum on another mild day along the shores of Lake Michigan, shooting a 4-under 68 to join Justin Leonard atop the leaderboard. Despite blunders on the par 5s, Els and Darren Clarke stayed right on their heels. Briny Baird also was one shot behind, winless in 102 starts on the PGA Tour, which makes him a perfect candidate to win the final major. Thirteen of the last 16 winners at the PGA Championship had never won a major, and three had never won at all on tour. By the time thousands of fans staggered off the sand dunes lining the fairways on the links-style course, they surely anticipated what figured to be a wild weekend with so much at stake for so many players: -- For Singh and Els, a chance to supplant Woods at No. 1 in the world. -- For Leonard and Chris Dimarco, hopes of making the Ryder Cup team. -- For Woods, a shot - albeit a long one - to end his 0-for-9 drought in the majors. The leaderboard was loaded with big names, all of them on top of their games on a Whistling Straits course that again failed to scare them, despite playing all of its 7,514 yards. Leonard, who must win to have any chance of making the Ryder Cup team, holed a couple of 25-foot birdie putts in a solid round of 69 that put him at 9-under 135 and in the final group today with Singh. Els had control of the tournament with four birdies on his first 10 holes to reach 10 under, but he let it slip away with a couple of wayward drives on the par 5s, making bogey on both of them for a 70. Clarke was among four players tied for the lead at one point late in the round, despite misunderstanding his caddie and aiming at the wrong television tower on the par-5 11th, leading to a comical journey through some of Whistling Straits' 1,400 bunkers and giving him a double bogey. He wound up with a 71 and was at 136 along with Els and Baird (69). And while Woods was lucky to simply stick around, he wasn't counting himself out at even-par 144. "The leaders didn't go too far away," he said. "Hopefully, I can shoot one of the scores they shot and put myself back in the ball game." Even so, the guys he is chasing seem to be playing a different game. Singh, who has struggled the past two years when paired with Woods, beat him by eight shots in the opening round and showed him how to get it done again. He kept the ball in play off the tee, making his only two bogeys when his drives strayed into the bunkers and tall fescue. And he looks silky with the putter. Despite winning eight times in the last two years and again leading the PGA Tour money list, Singh has let chances slip away at the majors. He last won one at the 2000 Masters. "I've been in position to win majors, but I haven't finished the job," he said. "I feel my game is coming around because my putting has improved. This is another opportunity." It's also another chance for Leonard at the PGA. He was tied for the lead going into the final round at Winged Foot in 1997 but lost by five to Davis Love III. Two years ago at Hazeltine, he had a three-shot lead on Sunday and shot 77 to finish tied for fourth. "I tend to learn more in failure than I do in success," Leonard said. Els knows the feeling. Second at the Masters. A playoff loser at the British Open. An 80 from the final group at the U.S. Open. The Big Easy is back with another chance, this one looking as good as any. He holed 25-foot birdie putts on two of the first three holes and was cruising along when his sand wedge from the rough on No. 10 stopped 8 feet away from another birdie. A good break, however, led to a big mistake. After badly pulling his tee shot left on the par-5 16th, Els got a good lie and decided to go for the green. He hit it so far left it nearly went into the lake, catching a small bunker. He went into another bunker short of the green and took bogey to lose a share of the lead. Els is thinking only of adding the the third leg of the Grand Slam, not about another season of major disappointment. "I've never been scared of losing," he said. "I'm here to do as well as I can. If I play to my ability, I should have a chance Sunday." Clarke lost his first-round lead quickly on the par-5 11th when he followed his caddie's instruction and aimed his second shot at the television tower. Only when his ball was in the air did Clarke realize they were looking at different targets. "He said, 'You do know which TV tower I was talking about, don't you?'" Clarke said. "I said, 'Yeah, the one on the right.' And he said, 'No, it was the one on the left.' It was all my fault. I didn't really pay that much attention." Better yet, he didn't lose his cool after the double bogey and recovered with five birdies the rest of the way. DiMarco holed out from the 14th fairway and shot 70, putting him at 6-under 138 and making him the leader of the tournament within the tournament - making the Ryder Cup team. A two-way tie for eighth tomorrow and DiMarco is almost certain to qualify by finishing in the top 10 in the standings. K.J. Choi overcame a triple bogey on No. 4, his 12th hole of the round, when he lost his ball in the left rough. He still managed a 71 and was in the large group at 5-under 139. But some of the biggest dramatics belonged to Woods. He was off his game and could not afford any more mistakes. From just short of the 10th green, he hit a full flop shot that landed 3 feet from the flag to save par. Then he holed a 10-footer for par on the 11th. Still one shot over the cut after his birdie on the 13th, Woods needed to find the fairway on the par-5 16th and delivered his best drive of the day, setting up a two-putt birdie. And when he holed a bending, 25-foot birdie on the 17th for breathing room, he lightly tapped his fists as he walked toward the cup. The cut was at 1-over 145. Among those who won't be around are Love (79-69) and Mike Weir (73-73), who each missed a cut in a major for the second time this year. ed Press Rowand ends Sox streaksc by dd White Sox%8 Red Sox%7 BOSTON (AP) - Aaron Rowand hit two home runs, the second a tie-breaking shot in the seventh inning, to lead the Chicago White Sox to an 8-7 victory over the Boston Red Sox last night. It was Rowand's first career two-homer game and his four RBIs tied a career high. His big night helped Jose Contreras (10-5), making his third start for the White Sox since being acquired from the New York Yankees, earn his first career victory against the Red Sox. He entered the game with an 0-4 record and 16.43 ERA in six appearances, including five starts, against Boston. But Contreras allowed four earned runs and four hits in six innings in this game. Manny Ramirez and Kevin Millar homered for the Red Sox, whose three-game winning streak ended. Tim Wakefield (8-7), who allowed six home runs in his last outing at Detroit, gave up a one-out homer in the seventh to Rowand to give the White Sox a 5-4 lead. Ben Davis followed with a double and Mike Timlin came in and walked Joe Crede. Alan Embree relieved Timlin and struck out Timo Perez, but gave up a pinch-hit RBI double to Juan Uribe. David Ortiz's sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Johnny Damon to cut the White Sox's lead to 6-5. Davis singled in two runs in the eighth to make it 8-5. In the bottom of the inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with two outs but Shingo Takatsu came in to strike out pinch-hitter Jason Varitek. Takatsu issued a one-out walk to Ortiz in the ninth and Millar followed with a two-run homer before Takatsu got the last two outs for his 11th save in 12 chances. Contreras took a 4-3 lead into the fifth before surrendering a solo homer to Ramirez. It was Ramirez's 29th homer and the 376th of his career, tying him for 54th on the all-time list with Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk. The White Sox took a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Carl Everett singled, Jose Valentin hit a ground-rule double and Rowand hit an RBI single. Davis then hit a routine double-play grounder to short, but second baseman Bill Mueller made a costly throwing error that allowed Valentin to score. In the bottom of the inning, Mueller hit a run-scoring double, Doug Mirabelli had an RBI single, and with the bases loaded, Contreras walked Doug Mientkiewicz to force in a run to give Boston a 3-2 lead. Wakefield gave up a two-run homer to Rowand in the fourth to put the White Sox back on top 4-3. Sports briefs Baseball Gallant tourney results: Peabody opened up in strong fashion in the Gallant Tournament, taking a 4-2 decision over Gloucester. Mike Broughton went five innings for the pitching win, allowing two runs (both unearned) on three hits while striking out four and walking six. Peter Sucharewicz finished off the final two innings, giving up two hits and striking out four. Broughton was an offensive spark with two hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Ryan English had a double and an RBI, as did Brian Church. George Sessoms chipped in a single. Gloucester's Brett Cahill pitched well in defeat, going seven innings and allowing just two earned runs and five hits. He struck out 10 and only walked one. MacKenzie Quinn had a pair of singles and Cahill had a single. Santo Lograsso contributed a single. In the second game last night, Danvers was leading Marblehead, 4-2, in the sixth when the game was suspended because of rain at Salem's Forest River Park. The game was set to resume today at 10 a.m. Hockey Viking Hockey School revises schedule: The Viking Hockey School at Salem State College has announced a revised schedule. The camp will run from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 at the following times: Mite/Squirt, 3:30 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.; PeeWee/Bantam, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Midget/High School, 6:30 p.m. to to 8:20 p.m.. All sessions are $150. For more information, call (978) 542-6575. ... Cape Ann Hockey School: Two-week session will run August 16-27 at Peabody skating rink and will feature camps for players in mites, squirts, pee wees and bantams. Please call the rink at (978)535-2110 or director Bob Driscoll at (978) 531-6779. Basketball Salem State College Hoop Dreams Girls Basketball Camp: Salem State College women's basketball coach Tim Shea is directing Hoop Dreams, a preseason basketball camp for girls ages 9-18. The camp consists of six two-hour Sunday morning sessions from 9:00-11:00 a.m. beginning on Sunday, September 12 at Salem State. Shea, Charlie Maihos and Paul Enfanto will headline the camp and Enrollment is limited. For an application, please call (978) 542-6517 or (978) 542-7260. ... North Shore Board of Officials: Anyone interested in becoming a member of the North Shore Board of Officials for basketball can contact Chairperson Minnie Dakos at (978) 532-0665. Athletic meeting Beverly High School/Middle School Fall Athletic Meeting: There will be a mandatory informational meeting for all athletes and their parents interested in playing a fall sport at Beverly High School on Monday at 7 p.m. in the Beverly High School auditorium. Middle School cross country parents and their children are also required to attend. Track 10th Annual Crane's Beach Sand Stride 5K: The 10th Annual Crane's Beach Sand Strike 5K will be tomorrow night at 6:15 p.m. beginning at the Crane's Beach Refreshment Stand. Post entry is $15 with the proceeds benefitting the boys and girls track program at Ipswich High School. For more information call (603) 382-8958. Baseball Salem Baseball Clinic: The Salem Baseball Clinic will be held on Aug. 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at Palmer Cove in Salem. The clinic, run by the Salem High School coaching staff along with Salem State coaches, is open to players 13-17. The cost is $20. For more information call Salem High head coach Mike Ward at (978) 740-3730. Fund Raisers Peabody Police vs. North Shore Old Timers: The Peabody Police will play a group of North Shore Old Timers in the 48th Annual Labor Day Baseball Game to benefit the Jimmy Fund on Monday, Sept. 6 at Emerson Park. The North Shore Old Timers will feature former Major League Baseball pitcher John Tudor and former Boston Bruins goalie Reggie Lemelin among others. The day will begin with a Kids Clinic from 8:30 to 10 a.m. for players ages 8-12 with sign-ups beginning at 8 a.m. Donations can be made to the Jimmy Fund and all clinic participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The game will begin at 10 a.m. with raffles being held for autographed memorabilia and gift certificates for local restaurants. For more information contact Sgt. Rich Girolimon at (978) 538-6323. ... Swampscott American Legion fundraiser: The Swampscott American Legion baseball team will be holding a fundraising cruise on Horizon's Edge Casino Cruises on Thursday, Aug. 26. The ship leaves at 6:30 p.m. from 76 Marine Blvd. in Lynn. Tickets are $25, not including a $3 federal tax which must be paid prior to boarding. The Swampscott Mariners completed their season with a record of 21-3 and advanced to the state finals in Greenfield, Mass., where they finished sixth in the state. The team is attempting to raise money to defray the cost of participating in that tournament. For more information call either Paul Halloran at (617) 872-0384 or Jeff Newhall at (781)727-7623. Basketball Basketball Skills and Drills at Salem State College: Salem State men's basketball coach Sean Doherty is directing a six session pre-season basketball program for boys begining Sunday, September 12. The sessions run from 11:30-1:30 p.m. and consist of intense training in those skills and drills chosen by the player after consultation with the Salem State coaching staff. Enrollment is limited and there will be a player/coach ratio of 6 to 1. For an application call (978) 542-6564 or (978) 542-7260. Coaching vacancies Salem State College has openings: Salem State College is looking for head coaches in men's tennis and softball. Anyone interested should send a resume to athletic director Tim Shea by faxing him at (978) 542-2926, or by calling the athletic department at (978) 542-7260. ... Danvers High posts openings: Danvers High has several openings heading into the school year. The school is looking for a middle school field hockey coach for the fall season and needs coaches for girls indoor track and ice hockey cheering for the winter season. The spring season vacancies are for jayvee softball, freshman softball, jayvee boys lacrosse, freshman boys lacrosse and middle school track. Hall of Fame Salem High Hall of Fame nominations: Salem High Hall of Fame nomination forms for the 2004 inductions can be picked up at the high school athletic office from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 31. Golf Danvers High Alumni Tournament: The Danvers High School Hockey Alumni Golf Tournament will be held Monday at Far Corner Golf Course in Boxford. Shotgun start is at 8 a.m. Donation is $100 per player. Proceeds benefit annual DHS scholarships for a graduating hockey player and cheerleader. For more information, contact David Deluca (978-774-6671), Paul Munzing (978-774-2566) or Gary Munzing (978-922-9516). ... 2004 North Shore Amateur Championship: The 2004 North Shore Amateur Championship will be held on Aug. 24-25 at Far Corner Golf Course in West Boxford, MA. There will be two qualifiers from each club and the entry fee is $45 per person. Anyone interested should send entries to William Flynn, P.O. Box 429, Danvers, MA, 01923. Entries close Aug. 14 and must be made through your PGA Golf Professional. ... Johnson Jr. Open at Beverly G & T: The Johnson Jr. Open has been moved to Tuesday, August 17th at Beverly Golf and Tennis. The tournament is open to golfers ages 8-15 and the entry fee is $5 and includes greens fees and lunch. Registration will conclude Sunday, August 15 and you may call the pro shop at (978) 922-9072 ext. 111 to sign up. Fall practices Beverly High fall practice schedule: The Beverly High fall practice schedule is as follows: Varsity football, Aug. 23 at 8 a.m., fieldhouse; freshman football, Aug. 24 at 10 a.m., fieldhouse; girls tennis, Aug. 26 at 2 p.m., Beverly High tennis courts; golf, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m., fieldhouse; cross country, Aug. 30 at 8 a.m., fieldhouse; field hockey and girls soccer, Aug. 26 at 8 a.m., fieldhouse; and boys soccer, Aug. 26 at 6 a.m., fieldhouse. All student-athletes must have a physical examination. Any questions should be directed to the athletic office at (978) 921-6141. Danvers High fall practice schedule: The Danvers High School practice schedule for fall sports will be held as follows: Cheerleading, Thursday, Aug. 26 (8:30 a.m.); cross country, Aug. 26 (8:00 a.m.); field hockey, Monday, Aug. 30 (8:30 a.m.); football, Wednesday, Aug. 25 (9 a.m. for seniors, juniors and sophomores and 10:30 a.m. for freshmen); golf, Aug. 26 (6 a.m.) at Far Corner in Boxford; boys soccer, Aug. 30 (6:45 a.m.); girls soccer, Aug. 30 (8:30 a.m.); and girls tennis, Aug. 30 (9 a.m.). All student-athletes must have a physical examination annually to participate in sports. All proper physical forms, permission forms and activity fees must be brought to the Athletic Department during the two weeks prior to the first day of practice or tryouts. Coaches will not collect these forms and fees and no student will be allowed to participate in any school sport or receive equipment or uniform until obligations are cleared from the Athletic Department. Any questions can directed to the Athletic Office at 978-774-7133. ... Marblehead High School tryouts and practice schedule: There will be a meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. in the fieldhouse with District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, Principal Marilyn Hurwitz, and Athletic Director Rod Pickard. All coaches, athletes and parents are expected to attend. The tryout schedule is as follows: Boys/Girls Cross Country: Monday, Aug. 23, 8 a.m. at the high school field. Football Cheerleaders: Monday, Aug. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for an open clinic in the fieldhouse. Football: Monday, Aug. 23, meet at 2 p.m. and non-contact practice from 5 to 7 p.m. Girls Soccer: Thursday, Aug. 26, from 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. at the middle school field. Boys Soccer: Thursday, Aug. 26, from 7 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. at the middle school lower field. Field Hockey: Thursday, Aug. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Seaside Park. Girls Tennis: Thursday, Aug. 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. for freshmen and sophomores and 4 to 6 p.m. for juniors and seniors. Golf: Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 8 to 9 a.m. for a meeting in the high school cafeteria. ... Ipswich preseason meetings: The following is a list of preseason meetings for all of Ipswich High School's fall sports: Football - Aug. 9, seniors and juniors from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and sophomores and freshman from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m. at the Ipswich Gym for equipment issuing Cheerleading - Aug. 24, 9 a.m. in Middle School Gym Golf - Aug. 24, 1 p.m. at high school cafeteria Boys Soccer - Aug. 25, 6 p.m. at Mile Lane Girls Soccer - Aug. 25, 6:30 p.m. at Mile Lane. Field Hockey - Aug. 25, 5 p.m. at Bialek Park; Cross Country - Aug. 26, 11 a.m. in room B229 at Ipswich High No student/athlete will be allowed to participate until the school has received a valid physical examination which has been completed within the last 13 months. For more information contact Tom Gallagher at (978) 356-3137. ... Bishop Fenwick first day of practice dates: All fall athletes at Bishop Fenwick High School are asked to bring a copy of an updated physical exam to the first day of their team's fall practices and report behind the locker rooms at Fenwick. First day of fall practices, by sports, is as follows: Monday, Aug. 23: Football, 3 p.m. for grades 10-12. Friday, Aug. 27: Girls soccer, 8 a.m. for grades 10-12; Boys soccer, 3 p.m. for grades 10-12; Field hockey, 9 a.m. for grades 10-12; Volleyball, 9 a.m. for grades 10-12; Football Cheerleading, 9 a.m. for grades 10-12. Monday, Aug. 30: Cross country, 4:30 p.m. for grades 9-12. ... Peabody High fall tryouts: All athletes must have a valid physical, academic eligibility check and signed parental permission form to participate in Peabody High fall tryouts. The tryouts will be held on the following dates: Football - Aug. 23, 8 a.m. at the high school; Boys Soccer - Aug. 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m. at Kennedy; Girls Soccer - Aug. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. at Kennedy; Volleyball - Aug. 26, 9 a.m. at the high school; Golf - Aug. 26, 2 p.m. at Beverly Golf & Tennis; Cross Country - Aug. 26, 9 a.m. at the high school; Field Hockey - Aug. 26, 1 to 5 p.m. at the high school. Physicals will also be held on Aug. 19 from 3 to 5 p.m. at Sports Medicine North. Student/athletes under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Athletic Department is requesting all student/athletes with health insurance to make arrangements for physicals with their family physician. ... Salem High fall practice: Salem High fall practice begin shortly, but all students must have a physical examination to be eligible to participate. Forms can be picked up at the Athletic Department/Main Office from 8:00-2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Every student participating in high school athletics is required to pay a user fee of $100 per year and can be dropped off at the Athletic Office during business hours. For more information, please the Athletic Office at 978-740-1113. The fall schedule is as follows: Football, Aug. 22 (6:00 p.m.) in the field house; Boys Soccer, Aug. 28 (7:00 a.m.) at McGrath Park; Girls Soccer, Aug. 30 (8:00 a.m) in the field house; Field Hockey, Aug. 30 (8:00 a.m) in the field house; Cross Country, Aug. 26 (5:00 p.m.) at Gallows Hill Park; Girls Tennis, Sept. 1 (2:00 p.m.) at the High School Tennis Court; Golf, Sept. 2 (2:00 p.m.) at Salem Municipal Golf Course. Rested, ready Hamilton searching for breakthrough victoryread, sc by dd ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Tyler Hamilton's primary goal this year was unseating Lance Armstrong as cycling's ultimate warrior, king of the Tour de France. An early wreck quickly ruined those lofty aspirations. Now, recovered and rested, Hamilton is in Athens, where Olympic gold would be plenty of consolation. "I've won World Cups, been on the podium at the Giro d'Italia, been fourth in the Tour de France, won a tour stage," said Hamilton, who estimated the back injury that forced him from this year's Tour is about 95 percent healed. "But to win an Olympic medal - that'd probably be the ultimate." Hamilton's first of two chances at an Olympic medal comes today, when the men's road race is held on a jumble of new and ancient streets in downtown Athens. He'll also ride in Wednesday's time trial. Some of his earliest memories stem from watching his first love, the Winter Olympics. He was only 8-years-old at the time, yet still recalls details of the Miracle on Ice win in Lake Placid. He remembers watching two of his early idols, Phil and Steve Mahre, claim skiing medals in Sarajevo in 1984. "I've got a lot of good memories watching them stand on a podium and hearing the national anthem with a medal around their necks," Hamilton said. "If I could do that, it'd feel incredible." It would certainly make all the pain - the biggest constant in his cycling career so far - worth it. At 5-foot-8 and 134 pounds, Hamilton's body has taken tremendous punishment over a decade of long climbs, countless spills and marathon training sessions in searing heat. On occasion, that body simply gives out. A broken back suffered while training with Colorado's ski team in 1992 sent him to the bike, first as a rehab tool and eventually as his vocation. But he kept the penchant for major injuries; among them, a broken shoulder during the 2002 Giro d'Italia and a broken collarbone suffered in a 35-rider pileup in the opening stage of last year's Tour de France. He finished both races, coming in second in the Giro and fourth in the 2003 Tour - even winning his first-ever stage along the way. "Size has nothing to do with your mental capacity to fight fatigue, pain and the struggle of life," U.S. men's road coach Jim Ochowicz said. "He's able to overcome that because he has a strong mind. Physically, his body is prepared for this level. Tyler has one of the more unique personalities when it comes to battling injuries." This year's Tour wreck sent him home broken and battered. The left side of his back was one giant bruise following a fall in stage six; he completed six more before bowing out - a move that came two days after his dog was euthanized because of cancer. It's hard to tell which event pained Hamilton more. "July was a sad month for me," said Hamilton, who - like many elite American road riders - keeps a home in Spain, but returns to his Marblehead house for at least a few months each year. "The Tour de France was disastrous ... and my dog was my best friend. It was a crazy month." Hamilton rode with Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service team for six years, leaving in 2001 to become the leader of Team CSC, a Danish club that won the team competition at last year's Tour de France - in large part because Hamilton battled through the broken collarbone. Now riding for the Swiss-based Phonak team, Hamilton's still looking for that one breakout ride. He's won some one-day Classics races, including the prestigious Liege-Bastogne-Liege event last year, but never one that captures the world's attention like the Tour or the Olympics. It's time, he said, for his luck to change. "Last year I proved that if you keep fighting, good things will come," Hamilton said. "And I went on to finish fourth in the Tour and win a stage. This year I had to stop the Tour de France, but hopefully, good things are still on the horizon." Weddings, engagements and anniversaries photo: wdjulien Chelsea L. Julien and James A. Rosato Donna Julien and Arthur "Hawk" LeBlanc of Beverly announce the engagement of their daughter, Chelsea L. Julien, to James A. Rosato, son of Gelsomino "Jerry" and Maria Rosato of Danvers. Miss Julien is a graduate of Beverly High School and Johnson & Wales University. She is employed as an information technology solution analyst by Axcelis Technologies in Beverly. Mr. Rosato is a graduate of Danvers High School and Mount Ida College. He is employed as a licensed electrician by Danvers Electric. A September 17, 2005, wedding is planned. photo: wdbunker Deborah Ann Bunker and Kevin Joseph Caulfield Carlton and Donna Bunker of Acton, Maine announce the engagement of their daughter, Deborah Ann Bunker of Peabody, to Kevin Joseph Caulfield of Peabody, son of Angela Caulfield and the late James Caulfield. Miss Bunker is a graduate of Wells High School and Middlesex College. She is employed at the American Council for International Studies. Mr. Caulfield is a graduate of St. John's Preparatory School and Bridgewater State College. He is employed at State Street Corp. A November 6, 2004, wedding is planned. Photo: WDGRZIBOVSKA Milena Grzibovska and Todd Remis Milena Grzibovska, daughter of Viacheslav and Irina Grzhibovski of Riga, Latvia, and Todd Remis, son of Shepard and Judy Remis of Swampscott, recently married at The Castle on the Hudson in Tarrytown, N.Y. The bride earned both her bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of Iceland. She also completed the TESOL Certificate Program at Columbia University. She teaches English as a second language at Columbia University in New York. The groom is a graduate of Bowdoin College and the University of Chicago. He is employed as a partner of Hygrove Management in New York. Following a wedding trip to Hawaii, the couple resides in New York City. Photo: WDGREEN Amy Rankin Green and Todd Andrew Brown Deborah Green of Salem announces the engagement of her daughter, Amy Rankin Green, to Todd Andrew Brown, son of Dave and Marilyn Brown of Plymouth. Miss Green is also the daughter of the late William Green Jr. She is a graduate of McDowell High School and is employed by Banknorth in Beverly. Mr. Brown is a graduate of the University of Southern New Hampshire. He is employed as the manager of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin Robbins in Peabody. A Sept. 26, 2004, wedding is planned. Photo: WDVALENTINE Dawn Valentine and Gabriel Saffayeh Dawn Valentine, daughter of George and Mary Valentine of Boxford, married Gabriel Saffayeh, son of Jean and Maryet Saffayeh of Brooklyn, N.Y., July 4, 2004, at St. John's Church in Peabody. A reception was held at the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem. The bride is a graduate of Fairfield University and New York University. She is employed as an analyst by the Office of the Mayor in New York City. The groom is a graduate of Brooklyn College. He is employed as a partner in his stockbroker firm in Brooklyn, N.Y. Following a wedding trip to Puerto Rico, the couple resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. Photo: WDWILLIAMS Kimberly Faye Williams and William Richard Nolan Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Williams of Columbia, Ill. announce the engagement of their daughter, Dr. Kimberly Faye Williams, to Dr. William Richard Nolan Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. William Nolan of Hamilton. Dr. Williams is a graduate of Columbia High School, South East Missouri State College, and Logan College of Chiropractic. Dr. Nolan is a graduate of Bishop Fenwick High School, Norwich University, and Logan College of Chiropractic. The couple are co-owners of Health Care Complete and practice in the St. Louis, Mo. area. An Oct. 2, 2004, wedding is planned. Photo: WDBOSSIO Pamela Jane Bossio and Danial Hal Moormann Pamela Jane Bossio, daughter of John and Linda Bossio of Beverly, married Danial Hal Moormann, son of Randall and Regina Moormann of Georgetown, May 29, 2004, on Prudence Island, R.I. The bride is a graduate of Beverly High School and is employed by Vernon A. Martin Realtors in Peabody. The groom is a graduate of Northern Essex Community College and is employed by MEC Net in Billerica. The couple resides in Beverly. Photo: WDMATSUYAMA Naoko Matsuyama and Michael Joseph O'Flynn Mr. and Mrs. Noboru Matsuyama of Kobe, Japan, announce the engagement of their daughter, Naoko, to Michael Joseph O'Flynn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh O'Flynn of Ipswich. Miss Matsuyama is a graduate of Sofia University in Tokyo. Mr. O'Flynn is a graduate of Ipswich High School and Dartmouth College. He is employed by the United Financial Group. A Sept. 17. 2004, wedding is planned. ----- NO PHOTO ----- Heather J. Boudreau and Tim Smith Ed and Mary Boudreau of Danvers announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather J. Boudreau, to Tim Smith, son of Peter and Pat Smith of Buckinghamshire, England. Miss Boudreau is a graduate of Danvers High School, Suffolk University, and Arizona State University. She is employed by American Express in London. Mr. Smith is a graduate of Montfort University and is employed as a hotel broker. An Oct. 23, 2004, wedding is planned. Photo: WDBEE Mr. and Mrs. George Scott Bee Mr. and Mrs. George Scott Bee of Beverly recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a trip to Bermuda, followed by a surprise weekend celebration in Kennebunkport, Maine with their children and grandchildren. The couple was married April 18, 1954. They are the parents of Donald Scott Bee and his wife, Wendy, of Topsfield; Jeffrey Bee and his wife, Susan, of Severna Park, Md.; and Diane Bee Dooling and her husband, Barry, of Beverly. They also have five granddaughters. Jail camp aims to put teens on the right path By Michael P MIDDLETON -- Tracy Fuller's name began to show through a white patch on her 214-year-old marble headstone as four teens scrubbed away at the moss-coated monument with toothbrushes and rags. "These dead people better be thankful to us," said Ryan McWhorter, 13, as he scrubbed the monument at the Fuller Burying Grounds. He held his green-stained toothbrush up to the cluster of girls helping him. "I'd pay someone to brush their teeth with this," he joked. McWhorter and 11 other teenagers were bused from Haverhill to the small cemetery off Mt. Vernon Street on Thursday as part of the Essex County Sheriff's week-long Leadership Camp. They spent two hours cleaning tombstones and clearing brush before heading off to Richardson's Ice Cream for a treat. It was the fourth group of teens the day camp brought through the cemetery in as many weeks. The cleanup is this year's community service component. Open to children from Essex County ages 12 to 14, the free camp pairs anti-drug and violence lessons with fun activities. Camp organizers aim to set a good foundation for children heading into eighth grade and junior high, Sheriff's Department organizer John O'Connor said. "This is the most tempting time of their life, when friends are everything and peer pressure is at its worst," O'Connor said. "Maybe when they are with friends and someone offers them drugs or a drink maybe something from this camp will help them say 'Jeez, maybe not.'" O'Connor was picked by Sheriff Frank Cousins to lead the program last year. He's helped change it from a "boot camp" for troubled youth to a day camp with a lighter touch for children from all backgrounds. It makes his day when he watches some of the "tough" teens acting like carefree kids alongside children who have never had a run-in with the law. "You see their facial expressions when you do something like this for them," O'Connor said. "You know nobody else does stuff like this for them." Summer accomplishments The camp hosts seven, week-long sessions beginning in July. Each begins with a "scared straight" course at Middleton Jail, where inmates tell their stories to show teens what can happen if they get involved with drugs and alcohol. That message is reinforced with anti-drug and anti-violence classroom activities. But the camp isn't all hard lessons. Most days include field trips -- last Wednesday was spent at a Project Adventure ropes and orienteering course at Moraine Farm in Beverly. That was the highlight for most of the children. The teens at the cemetery said they have had a great time, though they began with misgivings about a camp run by the sheriff's department. "It was kind of uncomfortable," said 13-year-old Daniel Neary of Methuen. "It's like 'Oh, you're going to a jail.' It's gotten better through the week." Neary and two friends strolled through the cemetery, reading names on headstones dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. One of the smaller cemeteries in town, the Fuller Burying Grounds hadn't received any attention from the busy Department of Public Works in a few years. The first camp group had trouble passing the two stone pillars marking the entryway. Fallen trees had blocked the entrance and knocked down a few of the stones. The plot was overgrown with low brush and saplings. The three previous camp groups cleared brush from about two-thirds of the cemetery, and several of the stones had been washed completely free of moss. "It's a sort of pride thing," O'Connor told Thursday's group before they began. "You can look back and say, 'I did that.'" Parents interested in signing their children up for the free program next year should call John O'Connor at (978) 750-1900, Ext. 3315. ffer Staff writer Woman knocked down by deer in Salem By Melissa Be SALEM -- You've never seen Bambi behave like this. Taking a page out of "Ripley's," a displaced deer ran down a pedestrian in the center of Salem yesterday, as the 59-year-old woman was attempting to cross Washington and Lynde streets in front of the Post Office. The force of the impact threw the stunned woman to the ground as the deer continued to run through the downtown area. The woman suffered a cut to the head and was taken to Salem Hospital for treatment. Police refused to release her name, but said she is expected to be OK. Dozens of homeowners and motorists called the Salem Police Department to report deer sightings within minutes of the bizarre collision. Police said they tracked the animal though Ward 2, near the MBTA train station and near the site of the animal hit and run. "We had a lot of calls because people were, of course, surprised to see a deer running around a really congested area," Salem police Lt. Scott Englehardt said. "We called the environmental police and they said that we should leave it alone because it was getting dark and it would bed down for the night soon." As of last night, police had not located the animal, but were confident that the deer had returned to a wooded area. Police said they had no guesses as to where the animal might have come from. But they acknowledged that it is somewhat odd for a deer to be running around in the congested downtown area. "The only other incident I can remember like this is when that deer fell into the water on Bridge Street a few months back. But a deer downtown? I've never heard of that," Englehardt said. Witnesses on Washington Street told police that the deer appeared out of nowhere around 4:14 p.m., just as rush hour was beginning. Medical personnel responding to the scene initially thought a caller had misspoken and assumed that the woman had been struck by a car. The deer was not hit by any vehicles, and did not hit any other pedestrians. The victim, police say, will make a full recovery. "The female who was struck was stunned -- who wouldn't be?" Englehardt said. "I mean, now she has something to tell her grandkids. Not too many people can say they got struck by a deer walking through downtown." cher Staff writer Salem News obituary policy Obituaries are printed at no charge and include biographical information only. Death notices are paid ads and include information about services, Masses, burial, and memorial contributions. Cost is $37.65 per inch. If the deceased is a veteran, it can also include a flag logo for $5.25. All obituaries and death notices must be sent from or verified by a funeral home, otherwise a death certificate is necessary. Hours: The obituary clerk is on duty Sunday through Friday, 3 to 7 p.m. During the day, you may contact Suzanne Brown at (978) 338-2647. Deadlines: To have an obituary or death notice appear in the next day's paper, information must be received no later than 7 p.m. Phone: (978) 338-2656. Fax: (978) 927-4524. E-mail: obituaries@ecnnews.com, no attachments please Photos: Obituary photos should be e-mailed to snphotos@ecnnews.com. Color or black-and-white are fine. If photos are mailed or dropped off, and you would like them returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Billing: For billing information, call the Accounting Department at (978) 338-2510. Salem News access numbers To reach the newsroom with a news tip or request, please call the appropriate editor: Editor Karen Andreas, (978) 338-2671 for corrections or comments on overall editorial content and quality; e-mail kandreas@ecnnews.com. Metro Editor Helen Gifford at (978) 744-0600 for news coverage of Salem, Beverly and Peabody; e-mail hgifford@ecnnews.com. Assistant Metro Editor Linda Halfrey at (978) 338-2665 for coverage of Danvers, Marblehead, Swampscott, Ipswich, Hamilton, Wenham, Middleton, topsfield, Boxford and Manchester; e-mail lhalfrey@ecnnews.com Sports Editor Phil Stacey at (978) 338-2650; e-mail pstacey@ecnnews.com. Editorial Page Editor Nelson Benton at (978) 338-2670 for letters to the editor and guest columns; e-mail nbenton@ecnnews.com. Editorial assistant Suzanne Brown at (978) 338-2647 for obituaries, calendar items and briefs, weddings/engagements, births; e-mail sbrown@ecnnews.com Night Editor Bill Kirk at at (978) 338-2673 for late-breaking stories or news tips after 5 p.m. Features Editor Christine Gillette at (978) 338-2507, e-mail cgillette@ecnnews.com Photo Editor Amy Sweeney at (978) 338-2684, e-mail asweeney@ecnnews.com Alive with artStudents work brightens hospital By Diane Nolan Correspond If these halls could talk What: ARTS ALIVE! exhibit Where: Lobby of Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital, 1 Dove Ave., Salem When: Through August; daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. How: Open to the public; admission is free. SALEM - From volunteering to exhibiting, this group of Salem High School students has their own way of saying "get well soon." Last spring, a group of 19 Salem High School students began a program at Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem volunteering with patients who were going through rehabilitation. Students spent time with patients making crafts and doing paintings with them for two hours every other week. "It's such a great socialization, these kids are marvelous," said Shaughnessy-Kaplan Activities Coordinator Karen Gibbons, who added that patients were able to take away a physical object from these visits. Now, the Salem students who donated their time are donating their artwork for the hospital's lobby. The "ARTS ALIVE!" exhibit by the Salem High students will run through August and will feature many different media, including oil paintings, pastels and photographs. There are 12 of the student-volunteers involved with the August exhibit. All of them are National Art Honor Society students. The society was founded in 1978 by the National Art Education Association and was brought to Salem High School in 2001 by art instructor Karen Lehman. Students involved in this group must be nominated for membership by an art instructor. After their nomination, each student must write a letter to Lehman about why they are qualified to be part of the group. In addition to GPA requirements, students must provide a letter of recommendation from an instructor outside of the arts discussing the student's character. Lehman said that the purpose of this group is to inspire and recognize those students who have shown outstanding ability in the visual arts and who are also good peer advocates. There is no theme for the students' exhibit. Lehman said landscapes and portraits among the various forms of artwork are included. "We chose what seemed like the strongest work," said Lehman, who added that it was challenging getting artwork together during the summer months when most students are away. Members of the Shaughnessy-Kaplan team wanted to start a program to bring art to patients and improve their emotional well-being, according to Gibbons. They believe that this is just as important to their physical needs when beginning the healing process. "It's extremely therapeutic for patients and people visiting," Lehman said. "The audience in the hospital lobby cuts through every community." Gibbons worked to bring artwork to the second floor hallway between Salem and Shaughnessy-Kaplan from students all over the North Shore with Anne Brown, who was a member of the former Essex Camera Gallery. "It has been so nicely received by everybody," said Gibbons, who added that some people who are being taken through the hallway on stretchers will ask to stop so they can take a look around. "You can see people brighten up a little bit when they look around." Gibbons also said that three pieces of the students artwork have been sold while on display at the hospital. The exhibits are changed each month. St. John's Prep in Danvers is scheduled to exhibit on the second floor during the month of August. nt Love him tenderElvis lives at Peabody tribute show By Diane Nolan Correspondent The King, by the numbers * 1,510,000: Elvis Presley Web sites found on Google * 8,375: Elvis Presley memorabilia items for sale on eBay (includes purses, knife sets, and trading cards) * 500+: official Elvis fan clubs * 46: countries with official Elvis fan clubs * 27: years since Elvis died (Aug. 16, 1977) PEABODY - Elvis Presley's popularity seems to grow the longer he's gone, and the North Shore ARC couldn't be more grateful. This Saturday, St. Mike's Hall in Peabody will host the annual Tribute to the King night from 8 p.m. to midnight featuring an amateur Elvis contest, impersonators, raffles, a cash bar, karaoke, snacks and dancing. Peabody resident Randy Smith started the tribute event on the 20th anniversary of Elvis' death in 1997. "I've always liked Elvis. I told my friends I was either going to go to Graceland or rent out a hall and have a party," said Smith. All proceeds benefit the Peabody House, part of the North Shore ARC, formerly known as the North Shore Association of Retarded Citizens, where Smith's uncle resides. "They are very well cared for there ... this money is just for extras," said Smith. Smith doesn't dress as Elvis professionally, though he will be dressed up on Saturday night, but there will be a few professional impersonators taking part in the festivities as well. There is a $200 cash prize to the winner of the amateur Elvis contest but "most of them would do it for nothing," said Smith. Jim Holden will be taking part in the competition for his sixth time. Holden, who came in second last year, worked as a professional Elvis impersonator about 15 years ago and still does so as an amateur. "It's important to keep Elvis' name going," said Holden, who plans to continue to attend the event as long as he can. "You can count on me to be there." Smith and his wife will work with friends and family to turn St. Mike's Hall, use of which is donated for the event, into a Las Vegas-style stage. Elvis memorabilia will add to the atmosphere. The Tribute to the King has grown steadily in popularity since it began. The first year of the event, Smith just broke even with the cost of the event and ended up making a donation to the Peabody House himself. Now, the program raises about $2,000 annually. "It is a great fund-raiser and a fun fund-raiser," said JoAnne Wahl, director of residential services and creative housing coordinator for the ARC. "It has really blossomed." More than 100 people attend the event, according to Smith, who added that if people don't get to the hall right when the party begins or even a little early, they may not get a table. St. Mike's Hall is located at 15 Endicott St., Peabody. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling (978) 532-4126. Though it's not required, Smith said anyone who dresses up as Elvis for the party can forego the $10 entry fee per his discretion. The ARC presented Smith with a distinguished service award last year for all of the work he's done for the Peabody House. "We weren't looking for any type of fund-raiser," said Wahl. Smith approached the ARC with this idea himself. "It's special to me because it's my uncle," said Smith. "He loves it and it gives him something to look forward to." The ARC is now celebrating its 30th year of residential services, Wahl said. "It has grown so tremendously," said Wahl. The agency now runs 35 residential homes in addition to Peabody House and another is opening this fall. "Do something for any charity of your choice," said Smith. "It makes you feel good." Music for Little Children's Record Label Announces 3-Record Deal With Scholastic Entertainment Featuring Beloved Best Seller, Clifford The Big Red Dog Scripps Howard GARBERVILLE, CA -When was the last time you heard of a group of award-winning producers and songwriters collaborating on an album of music to honor their larger-than-life, very favorite pooch! Never? Sit back and open your ears as Grammy-nominated producer Leib Ostrow and acclaimed songwriter/producer Jody Gray present Music for Little People's first of three audio collaborations with Scholastic Entertainment, "Clifford The Big Red Dog(TM) -- A Really Big Musical Tribute." The CD features original songs written by Mike Himelstein ("Shrek," "102 Dalmatians"), Jody Gray ("Clifford's Really Big Movie") and Grammy and Emmyaward-winner Dennis Scott ("Sesame Street"). There are also featured audio clips by Clifford's best friends, Emily Elizabeth (Grey De Lisle), T-Bone (Kel Mitchell) and Cleo (Cree Summer), the television show's star characters. From the album's opening featuring the new revision of the television program theme song, "Clifford The Big Red Dog," written by Mark Motherspaugh (formerly of Devo), to the album's finale, "Once Upon A Lullaby," many of the lyrics (included in the CD packaging), center around the concepts and behaviors that have endeared Clifford to the world: Believe In Yourself, Be A Good Friend, Help Others, Be Kind. The lyrics on "Happy Being Who You Are" say it all: You gotta dance like there's no one looking Sing so they hear you near and far Making the most of every moment And be happy being who you are. Performed in a variety of upbeat musical styles, this celebration of Clifford's life, friendships and adventures will surely have the entire family howling and stomping their paws to the beat of everybody's favorite big red dog. The album concept was created in response to the popularity of Clifford TheBig Red Dog(TM) by Music for Little People and Scholastic and is being released in conjunction with the home video release of "Clifford's Really Big Movie" (featuring well-loved John Ritter in his last movie performance). With over 110 million books in print, his own television series, a new movie and a variety of videos, toys and plush on the market, "Clifford The Big Red Dog(TM) -- A Really Big Musical Tribute" is just what his fans have been waiting for. Salem Cutlines 040805_sn_out_wcal01-0812 'ITALY IN AUGUST' Music at Eden's Edge will present "Italy in August: Music of the Italian Baroque" featuring Aldo Abreu Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Northshore Unitarian Church in Danvers. 040805_sn_out_wcal02-0812 PARK CONCERT Quintessential Brass will perform a free concert Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Patton Park on Route 1A in Hamilton. 040806_sn_out_wcal05-0812 MARINE ARTS Marine Arts Gallery in Salem will present sporting and marine paintings by Richard Loud, including "Marblehead Harbor, 1920s." 040809_sn_out_wcal07-0812 SALEM POETRY Open a Book Bookstore in Salem will host a book signing with Valerie Carnevale, editor of "Poetry of Salem," Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. Poets in attendance will include Claire Keyes and JD Scrimgeour. 010912_0_lobsterbig ANNUAL LOBSTER FEST The Eighth Annual Rockport Rotary Club Lobster Fest will be held Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. at the American Legion Bandstand across from Back Beach in Rockport. 040802_GT_HAND_VISIONS REGGAE BAND The Rhumb Line in Gloucester will feature the sounds of Inner Visions, a five-piece reggae band, tomorrow night. The lineup also includes Dave Sag's Blues Party, today; Groove Therapy, Saturday; and Rocky and Keri, Sunday. Magical world of Dr. Seuss comes to life'Seussical the Musical' to play this weekend in Danvers By Diane Nolan Correspondent If you go What: "Seussical the Musical," performed by the Danvers Youth Theatre Where: Maple Street Church, 90 Maple St., Danvers When: Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. How: Tickets are available in advance for $7 by calling (978) 777-9163; a limited number will be available at the door. "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss DANVERS - The imaginative and colorful world of Dr. Seuss will come to life this weekend thanks to the Danvers Youth Theatre. The young actors, musicians and crew members will perform "Seussical the Musical" to benefit the Danvers Art Association. Having presented musicals such as "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Side Show" in recent years, the group's director and founder Tim O'Donnell said he's happy to be performing something lighter. "It's nice to do a family-oriented show rather than some of the edgy things we have done," he said. "Seussical the Musical" was conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Eric Idle and Stephen Flaherty. It was adapted from 16 stories written by Dr. Theodore Seuss Geisel. The entire two-hour show is set to music and about 30 songs will be performed. "I am excited to do a show that will bring kids back in. This whole show really is fun for all ages," said Michelle Sparr, an accounting major at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst who will be playing a bird girl this weekend. "It's stories that people have either read to their children or have had read to them as kids." Some of the familiar Dr. Seuss characters that play a role in the show include the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and Horton. O'Donnell, who will also be playing Horton, saw "Seussical the Musical" for the first time during his sophomore year at Adelphi University in New York. "I said that when the rights became available, I'd do that show. The rights became available in April," said O'Donnell, who has since graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine arts with a concentration in acting and directing. Each year, the proceeds from the group's performance go to a different organization. This year, O'Donnell said they chose the Danvers Art Association because it has always been so supportive of the theater group and donated rehearsal space for the summer. Meeting four times a week for three-and-a-half hours, rehearsals of "Seussical the Musical" began on June 22. "I am a perfectionist," O'Donnell said. "This show is going to be great," said Lauren Drapek, who plays Mayzie. "Things came together quickly so we had some extra time for fine tuning." "If we had to go up (on stage) two weeks ago we could have," Sparr said. The Danvers Youth Theatre was started six years ago by O'Donnell, then 17, during the summer before he went to college. He said that there was a lack of theater organizations around the area for the age group he targets, 16 to 23, so he decided to create his own. "Everyone is originally from Danvers," said O'Donnell of his 22-person ensemble. All of the work for the theater troupe is done by the students, from fund raising to performing. Some of the fund-raisers have included collecting money at various locations around Danvers, car washes and selling ads to local businesses. This money goes towards securing rights to a musical and to fund the creation of sets and costumes. Parents of the group help sew costumes and some are borrowed, according to Sparr. Besides doing the Danvers Youth Theatre, O'Donnell is also working at the North Shore Music Theatre in the education department. "I love working with kids," O'Donnell said. Kids are very underrated ... it is amazing what they can do. I really believe that theater education is essential to ensure that the culture in this world survives." Head for the waterfront next weekend By The Lookout Robyn Day The 24th annual Gloucester Waterfront Festival, sponsored by the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and produced by Castleberry Fairs and Festivals, will take place at Stage Fort Park Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival will feature the work of more than 175 juried artists and craftsmen from across the U.S. Exhibits will include fine jewelry, watercolors, pottery, custom signs, bird houses, quilts, floral arrangements, wildlife art, dolls, pressed flowers, antiques, photography, metal sculpture, western wear, sand stone, carved birds, fiber arts, stained glass, masks, candles, nautical crafts, shaker-style furniture and folk art. The event will also feature ethnic foods and live entertainment. A Rotary Club pancake breakfast will take place Saturday from 7:30 to 11 a.m. An old-fashioned New England lobster bake will take place Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., along with a large array of antique autos on display by the North Shore Old Car Club. Admission is free and parking is available at Stage Fort Park and Gloucester High School. For information, call (978) 283-1601. Last-minute listings • Annual Rockport Acoustic Music Festival - The 25th annual Rockport acoustic music festival will be held Sunday, Aug. 15 from noon to 6 p.m. in Millbrook Meadow, across from Front Beach, in Rockport. Admission is free and all are welcome. For information, visit www.RockportFestival.com. • Dune Detectives Family Program - Trustees of Reservations will offer a family program, Dune Detectives, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 10:30 a.m. to noon at Crane Beach in Ipswich. Participants will identify signs of wildlife and search for clues. Cost is $5 for adults and free for children. Registration is required. For information, call (978) 356-4351 or visit www.thetrustees.org. • Boogie-Woogie Bugle Girls performance - The Performing Arts Society of Middleton will present a youth cast in the production of "Boogie-Woogie Bugle Girls," Saturday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 15, 1 p.m. Performances will be held at the Masconomet Regional High School Auditorium in Topsfield. Admission is $10. For information, call (508) 246-9179. Birds of prey landing at Maudslay "Wingmasters" North American Birds of Prey flies into Maudslay State Park in Newburyport Sunday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Julie Collier and Jim Parks will present a live birds of prey (raptor) program at the park headquarters on Curzon Mill Road. They will focus on five different types of birds, and explain their hunting adaptations and their place in the environment. Participants should bring a blanket or folding chair for comfort. The presentation is being offered in conjunction with an ongoing Junior Ranger Program at the park for children ages 8 to 12. The Junior Rangers-in-training will meet following the program, with an activity on Native American culture planned from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Youngsters who participate will earn credit toward their Massachusetts Junior Ranger certificates. Both programs are open free to the public. Registration is not necessary in advance. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. All programs are cosponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Maudslay State Park Association. Call (978) 465-7223 for information. Children's dance party The grand finale of the Family Fare in the Seabreeze Air event series will be celebrated with a Children's Dance Party Sunday, Aug. 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Waterfront Park on the Lynnway. The event will include a DJ, dance routines, party props and costumed performers. Families are welcome to bring picnics and seating. For information, call (781) 598-1974. Salem Picks 040805_sn_out_wcal04-0812 PASO FINO HORSE SHOW "Fandango at Topsfield," a Paso Fino horse show, will be held tomorrow through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily at the Topsfield Fairgrounds. The Paso Fino horse is a combination of breeds: the Berber, the Spanish Jannet and the Andalusion. This Spanish horse was brough from Spain by Columbus and other explorers. Saturday's events include a Bradley Palmer State Park trail ride, a stallion parade, Largo races and a lobster festival. Admission is free. For information, call (978) 869-0932. 031215_NT_BEA_GIDDINGS PICNIC CONCERT IN IPSWICH The Trustees of Reservations will present a picnic concert today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. featuring the Orville Giddings Band at Castle Hill on Argilla Road in Ipswich. Concertgoers are welcome to bring seating and picnic dinners. Admission is $20 per car. For information, call (978) 356-4351. Calendar Art ARTS ALIVE! Artwork by Salem High School National Art Honor Society students through August. Shaughnessy Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital Lobby, 1 Dove Ave., Salem. (978) 420-0687. ARTSALEM. "Salem and North Shore Scenes" presented by ARTSalem through Aug. 15. Old Town Hall, Salem. (978) 744-1524. www.artsalem.com. BARN WORKSHOP. The Barn Workshop Gallery will feature "Sculpture 2004" through Sept. 17. Gallery located at 245 Maple St., Danvers. (978) 774-3042. BOXFORD LIBRARY. Watercolor paintings by Catherine Dullea on display through Sept. 18. 10 Elm St., Boxford. (978) 887-7323. BRYAN GALLERY. The Bryan Gallery features works by 19 artists. Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. 53 Rocky Neck Ave., Gloucester. (978) 282-0917. CALADAN GALLERY. "Modern Visionaries: Mind, Spirit, and the Imagination," an online juried group exhibition featuring 34 artists through Aug. 30. www.caladangallery.com. (978) 741-7979. CLOISTER GALLERY. Collection of etchings, silkscreens and other printmaking in "Journeys" by Sandra Rowland through Aug. 29. Church of St. Andrew, 135 Lafayette St., Marblehead. (781) 631-4951. COOL CREAM. Beverly streetscape photographs by Michael Hercher, "Point of View," on display through Sept. 1. Cool Cream Gallery, 280 Cabot St., Beverly. (978) 927-3131. DCAT. Danvers Community Access Television will display the works of Brother Edward Rice through Sept. 10. 10 School St., Danvers. ERLICH GALLERY. "Entranced by Water" by international marine artists through Aug. 20. 96 Washington St., Marblehead. (781) 631-1202. GALERIE LUNA. "From Light to Life...and This is My Son," collection of photography. Artists include Henry Zbyszynski, Sharon Shea and Gail Handelmann. 197 Derby St., Pickering Wharf, Salem. www.galerieluna.com. GALLANT GALLERY. "Sail Power," a portfolio of Joseph Flack Weiler's photographs of schooners and tall ships is on exhibit. 181 Essex St., Salem. GROSVENOR PARK. Fifth annual Art in the Park watercolor painting show through Sept. 7. 7 Loring Hills Ave., Vinnin Square, Salem. (978) 741-5700. HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. Photography exhibition, "New Photographs," by Simone Salvo, freshman at Phillips Academy, on display through August. Also exhibiting "A Singular Vision," paintings by Leon Kroll Aug. 14 through January. Opening reception Saturday, Aug. 14, 3 to 5 p.m. Cape Ann Historical Association, 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester. (978) 283-0455. IPSWICH ARTS. The Ipswich Arts Cooperative Summer Art Show features works by Robin Silverman, Pam Turnbull, Deb Citron-Stevens, Susan Sanford and others. 59 South St., Ipswich. (978) 356-0239. LOCAL COLORS. Paintings by Joan Bediz and Larry Martin, photography of Rob Martin, jewelry and fabric art by Kate Webster and watercolors by new member Margaret Laurie-Albramo through Aug. 15. 121 Main St., Gloucester. (978) 283-2996. LYNN ARTS. The Greater Lynn Photographic Association juried member show through Sept. 3. Opening reception Thursday, Aug. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. Lynn Arts Gallery, 25 Exchange St., Central Square, Lynn. www.greaterlynnphoto.org. MARBLEHEAD ARTS. Marblehead Art Association will present watercolors of Carol DuMont and Judy Arnold through Aug. 29. Also exhibiting "Faces and Other Places" by Elissa Mandell, through Aug. 29. King Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St., Marblehead. MARINE ARTS. Sporting and marine paintings by Richard Loud. Includes yachting scenes of Marblehead and beach scenes of North Shore. Marine Arts Gallery, 135 Essex St., Salem. (978) 745-5000. MERCURY GALLERY. "Two of the Ten," works by the late Louis Schanker through Septemer. Includes paintings and wood-block art. He was a founder of the groups The 10 and American Abstract Artists. 20 Main St., Rockport. (978) 546-7620. MINGO GALLERY. Annual Summer Show through Sept. 3. Includes works by Chris Flynn, Paula Borsetti and Jane Dubrow. 252 Cabot St., Beverly. (978) 927-5964. MONTSERRAT. "Ocean View" through Sept. 25 features variety of mediums and more than 12 artists including Jon Imber, Jane Goldman and George Nick. Montserrat College of Art Gallery, 23 Essex St., Beverly. PEABODY INSTITUTE. Peabody Institute Library features works by Terry Tobey and Mary Ellen Mullins through Aug. 31. Sylvan Street, Danvers. RIVER GALLERY. Summer Show by gallery members through Aug. 29. 4 Market St., Ipswich. (978) 356-1559. SALTBOX GALLERY. Exhibit of new members' work "Bold, Bright and Brassy." Includes works of 18 local artists. "Sailing Into Summer" exhibit through August. Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 49 Main St., Topsfield. SAWYER LIBRARY. Photography exhibit "America the Beautiful" by Barbara Filo through Aug. 31. Sawyer Free Library, 2 Dale Ave., Gloucester. (978) 281-9763. TERI JO GALLERY. "Mother & Daughter Exhibition: 100 Years of Art" through Aug. 31. Works by Anne Byrd Smith and the late Eloise Pickard Smith. 15 Sewall St., Marblehead. (781) 990-1149. TOPSFIELD LIBRARY. Topsfield Town Library will present works by Miriam Gilman through August. Includes collage series "Tangible Memory Series." 1 South Common St., Topsfield. (978) 887-1528. WEILER GALLERY. August exhibit features "Seascapes of Cape Ann." All photos by Joseph Flack Weiler. Hours: Friday, 1 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 77 Rocky Neck Ave., East Gloucester. (978) 281-6443. WENNIGER GALLERY. August features "Miniatures" from around the world. Exhibit features "Bad Girls, Good Girls," small Hollywood prints and paintings. 19 Mount Pleasant St., Rockport. (978) 546-8116. Auctions/Sales ASBURY GROVE. Asbury Grove Fair Saturday, Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Front lawn of Asbury Grove, junction of Highland and Asbury streets, Hamilton. FARMERS MARKET. The Annual Topsfield Farmers Market Saturdays through Sept. 25, 7 a.m. to noon. Main parking lot of Topsfield Fairgrounds, Route 1, Topsfield. (978) 922-1648. OPEN STUDIOS. Wingaersheek Open Studios will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14 and 15, 2 to 6 p.m. Participating artists include Susan Daly, Susan White-Shaffer, Joann Phillips and Pat Lowery Collins. Maps available at 20R Bungalow Road or 2 Wyoma Road in Gloucester. (978) 283-2749. STREET FAIR. Annual Essex Street Fair Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14 and 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Music, street performers, and entertainment. Free. Sponsored by Salem Chamber of Commerce, part of Salem Heritage Days. Pedestrian Mall, Essex Street, Salem. www.salem-chamber.org. Children/Families BEGINNING BIRDING. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will host Beginning Birding for ages 3 to 10 Saturday, Aug. 14, 4 to 6:30 p.m. Must be accompanied by adult. Bring binoculars if available. Meet at observation deck of Parking Lot 1. 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. (978) 465-5753. JAZZ FOR KIDS. Borders Books and Music will present Jazz for Kids story time Saturday, Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m. Make a musical instrument and sing along to jazz classics. Free, all welcome. 151 Andover St., Peabody. (978) 538-3003. KIDS NIGHT. Salem Heritage Days will host a Kids Night Friday, Aug. 13, 5 to 8:30 p.m. Moon bounces, giant slides, crafts and games. $3 per child for unlimited rides. Salem Common. (978) 745-9595, Ext. 342. NATURE ACTIVITY. Marblehead Trails Committee will offer "Drawing and Painting Nature" Sunday, Aug. 15, 1 to 3 p.m. for all ages at Camp Shore Lea, Marblehead. Free. (781) 631-4103. NATURE STORIES. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will host "Between the Tides" as part of the Children Reading with Nature program Saturday, Aug. 14, 10 to 11 a.m. Meet at observation deck of Parking Lot 1. 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. (978) 465-5753. PLAY GROUP. North Shore Children's Museum offers play group for adoptive families and grandparents second Thursday of each month. Free with admission to museum. 209R Essex St., Salem. www.nschildrensmuseum.org. STORY TIMES. A selection of stories followed by a fun craft. Mondays, 10 a.m.; Fridays, 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St., Peabody. (978) 573-3268. Stories from new and classic picture books every Tuesday and Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Borders Books & Music, 151 Andover St., Peabody. Free. (978) 538-3003. YOUNG AT ART. Cape Ann Historical Association will present Young at Art for ages 3 to 5, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 10 to 11 a.m. Includes tour, story, and art activity. Free, reservations required. Adult must accompany child. 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester. (978) 283-0455. Clubs BANGKOK PARADISE. Live jazz every Saturday, 7 to 11 p.m. Aug. 14 features Anthony Weller and Maggie Galloway. 90 Washington St., Salem. (978) 825-9201. BAY BRIDGE. Restaurant features Eric Reardon and Friends, Friday, Aug. 13 ($5); Jet City, Saturday, Aug. 14 ($5); John Corcoran and Company, Sunday, Aug. 15, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Black Light Band, 9 p.m. 29 Bridge St., Salem. (978) 745-8881. CAPONE'S. Barbara and Al Boudreau Jazz Quartet every Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m. 147 Summit St., Peabody. (978) 977-0520. CONOMO CAFE. Music of Old Cold Tater most every Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. through Labor Day. Main Street, Essex. (978) 768-7750. CULTURAL CORNER. SoulKore Productions presents Flashback Sundays at Kevin's Cultural Corner with DJ Nomadik every Sunday, 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. 151 Central Ave., Lynn. (617) 306-7209. DOC RYAN'S. Pub features The Country Doctors and Sona Nyl, Friday, Aug. 13; and Count Me Outs, Saturday, Aug. 14. 109 Lafayette St., Salem. (978) 745-8927. DODGE STREET. Bar and grill features Northeast Rhythm Collective, Thursday, Aug. 12; Spike Emerson Society vs. The Vanilla Ninja, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 13 and 14; Megawatt Blues Crushers, Sunday, Aug. 15; Open mike night, Monday, Aug. 16; and Fats Hammond, Tuesday, Aug. 17. 7 Dodge St., Salem. (978) 745-0139. FRANKLIN. The Franklin Cape Ann will feature Anthony Weller Monday, Aug. 16, and the Herb Pomeroy Trio, Tuesday, Aug. 17. 118 Main St., Gloucester. (978) 283-7888. GLENN'S. Glenn's Restaurant and Cool Bar live music every Tuesday with Instant Soul. 44 Merrimac St., Newburyport. (978) 465-3811. JALAPENOS. Authentic Mexican restaurant features music of Russ Lawton and Wolf Ginandes every Tuesday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. 86 Main St., Gloucester. (978) 283-8228. THE LANDING. Weekend entertainment at 8:30 p.m. with the Michael Troy, Friday, Aug. 13, and Little Sister, Saturday, Aug. 14. 81 Front St., at State Street Landing, Marblehead. No cover. (781) 639-1266. LOBSTER TRAP. Pub features Divercity, Friday, Aug. 13, and World Premier, Saturday, Aug. 14. 127R Main St., Route 133, Essex. (978) 865-6840. LYCEUM. The Lyceum Bar and Grill will present The Catalinas, Friday, Aug. 13. 43 Church St., Salem. (978) 745-7699. MADFISH GRILLE. The Madfish Grille features live music by Fluffy Puppy, Thursday, Aug. 12; Thaddeus, Friday, Aug. 13; Chowda Heads, Saturday, Aug. 14; Jack Lee and Divercity, Sunday, Aug. 15; and Jesse Ciamataro and The Resodance, Wednesday, Aug. 18. 77 Rocky Neck Ave., Gloucester. (978) 281-4554. PALMER'S. Restaurant and tavern features Eclipse Trio Thursday, Aug. 12; Groove Authority Friday, Aug. 13; and Drivin' Blind, Saturday, Aug. 14. 18 Elm St., Andover. (978) 470-1606. RED ROCK. Bistro features Bruce Katz Band , Thursday, Aug. 12, and Cheryl Arruda and Bill Duffy, Sunday, Aug. 15. 141 Humphrey St., Swampscott. (781) 595-1414. RHUMB LINE. Features Dave Sag's Blues Party, Thursday, Aug. 12; Inner Visions, Friday, Aug. 13; Groove Therapy, Saturday, Aug. 14; Rocky and Keri, Sunday, Aug. 15; Open Jam, Monday, Aug. 16; and Open Mike with Fly Amero, Wednesday, Aug. 18. 40 Railroad Ave., Gloucester. (978) 283-9732. ROCKAFELLA'S. Restaurant and bar features Jack Lee and Divercity, Thursday, Aug. 12; New Life, Friday, Aug. 13; Jumpstreet, Saturday, Aug. 14; and Jesse C., Sunday, Aug. 15. 231 Essex St., Salem. (978) 745-2411. THE RUDDER. Restaurant presents the Mike Tucker Trio, Thursday, Aug. 12, 9 p.m. 73 Rocky Neck, Gloucester. (978) 283-7967. WHITE RAINBOW. Restaurant and martini bar features the White Rainbow Jazz Trio Thursday, Aug. 12; Talk of the Town Jazz Duo, Friday, Aug. 13; Steven Spungin Saturday, Aug. 14; Live filming of "Simply Grilling Cooking Show" and music by Steven Spungin Sunday, Aug. 15; and Linda Amero and Adria Smith Jazz Duo, Wednesday, Aug. 18. 65 Main St., Gloucester. (978) 281-0017. Comedy COMEDY ESCAPE. Dick Doherty's Comedy Escape featuring Kevin Knox, Chris Oake, and Aimee Tee Friday, Aug. 13, and John Turco, Chris Oake, and Aimee Tee Saturday, Aug. 14, at 9:30 p.m. $12 cover at The China Blossom, routes 125 and 133 in North Andover. (800) 401-2221. COMEDY STOP. Nick's Comedy Stop will present Joe Yannetty, Larry Miles, and Carolyn Plummer Friday, Aug. 13, 9 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 14, 8 and 10 p.m. $13 and $15. Kowloon Restaurant, Route 1 North, Saugus. (781) 231-2500. Dance RIVERSIDE SQUARES. Riverside Squares Dance Club final summer dance Tuesday, Aug. 17, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Mainstream with 2 Plus tips. $6 to dance, free to watch. Knights of Columbus, 35 Elm St., Danvers. (978) 774-8159. SWING DANCE. SeaSide Swing Dancing Monday nights, 7 to 11 p.m. Lessons 7 to 9 p.m. $10 before 9 p.m., $5 after 9 p.m. Rowley Country Club, 235 Dodge Road, Rowley. (978) 499-3958 or www.seasideswing.com. Fairs/Festivals ACOUSTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL. The 25th annual Rockport acoustic music festival will be held Sunday, Aug. 15 from noon to 6 p.m. in Millbrook Meadow, across from Front Beach, in Rockport. Admission is free and all are welcome. For information, visit www.RockportFestival.com. PEACH FESTIVAL. Russell Orchards' Sixth Annual Peach Festival Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14 and 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes live music, face painting, balloon twisting, hayrides, wine tasting, and lots of peach goodies. Argilla Road, follow signs to Crane Beach, Ipswich. (978) 356-5366. SEAPORT FESTIVAL. The fourth annual Gloucester Seaport Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Harbor Loop. Children's activities free. Includes educational programs and music. Focus on history and cultural diversity of Cape Ann. (978) 281-9079 or www.schooner-adventure.org. Films ART EVENING. Dr. Ludmila Pruner will lead an Evening with Art & Film Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. Includes documentary "Early on Sunday," women in Russian art and cinema. Discussion to follow. Free; all welcome. Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St., Beverly. (978) 921-6062. GHOST STORIES. "Ghost Stories of New England" every Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Witch Village, 288 Derby St., Salem and every Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at Danvers Art Association, 105 Elliott St., Danvers. Includes videos and photos. Donations accepted. For reservations, call (978) 777-2711. SCREENING ROOM. "Control Room," documentary about Al-Jazeera, Thursday, Aug. 12. "Bukowski: Born into This," documentary on poet and novelist Charles Bukowski. Friday, Aug. 13 through Thursday, Aug. 19. 82 State St., Newburyport. (978) 462-3456. Food LOBSTER FEST. Eighth Annual Rockport Rotary Club Lobster Fest Saturday, Aug. 14, noon to 6 p.m. Lobsters, chowder, corn, watermelon and live jazz. $20. American Legion Bandstand, Back Beach, Rockport. (978) 546-9694 or www.rockportrotary.org. Lectures TRAVEL PROGRAM. Travelog, "Mountain Adventures: Hiking in Peru, Italy, France, Iceland, and North America," Wednesday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. Free, all welcome. Sawyer Free Library, Dale Avenue, Gloucester. (978) 281-9763. Museums CAPE ANN HISTORICAL MUSEUM. Special 45-minute tours of adjoining home of Capt. Elias Davis built in 1804, containing many family items. Museum hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $6.50 general, $6 seniors, $4.50 students and under 6 free. 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester. (978) 283-0455. CUSHING HOUSE MUSEUM. Collections of the Historical Society of Old Newbury including furnishings and portraits representative of Newburyport's past. Special exhibit, "Antique Toys," in new toy room. Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday noon to 4 p.m., 98 High St., Newburyport. Free. (978) 462-2681. CUSTOM HOUSE MARITIME MUSEUM. Museum displays collection of Newburyport Maritime Society with exhibit annex at Lowell's Boat Shop, Amesbury. Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. 25 Water St., Newburyport. $5 general, $4 children/seniors. (978) 462-8681. ESSEX HISTORICAL SOCIETY. Ongoing tours of the museum and working shipyard with hands-on demonstrations in the school house and changing exhibits in the Waterline Center. Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m., Shipbuilding Museum, 66 Main St., Essex. $5, $3 seniors/students. (978) 768-7541. HEARD HOUSE. The Heard House Museum and Whipple House of Ipswich Historical Society features changing exhibit galleries. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. $7 adults, $3 children. 54 South Main St., Ipswich. (978) 356-2811. HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES. Site includes the House of the Seven Gables (Turner-Ingersoll Mansion) that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, his birthplace and other historic houses, Colonial Revival gardens designed in 1909 and costumed interpreters retelling the stories of the mansion's families. Open through Sept. 30. Daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., 54 Turner St., Salem. $10; $9 seniors; children 5 to 12, $6.50. Two-for-one admission for Essex County residents. (978) 744-0991. MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM. "Marblehead Pottery: 1904-2004 A Centennial Celebration." Museum also features J.O.J. Frost Folk Art Gallery. Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 170 Washington St., Marblehead. Free. (781) 631-1768. PAINE HOUSE. The Trustees of Reservations will offer tours of the 1694 Paine House at Greenwood Farm Sundays, through Oct. 10, 1 to 5 p.m. Focus on architecture, construction and Colonial Revival. $5 adults; $3 children. Ipswich. (978) 356-4351 or www.thetrustees.org. PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM. "American Fancy: Exuberance in the Arts 1790-1840," through Oct. 24. "Havana: Photographs by Robert Polidori," through Jan. 9, 2005. "Carved By Nature: Untamed Traditions in Chinese Decorative Art," through June 22, 2005. Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $13 adults, $11 seniors, $9 students and children 16 and under and Salem residents free. (866) 745-1876 or www.pem.org. SALEM MARITIME. National Historic Site operated by the National Park Service. Free 18-minute film on the Golden Age of Salem, "To the Farthest Port of the Rich East," every 30 minutes. U.S. Park Rangers lead tours of the 1819 Custom House, the 1762 Derby House and the 1672 Narbonne House, and the Friendship, a full-size replica of a 1797 merchant vessel. 193 Derby St., Salem. Tours $5 adults; $3 children and seniors. (978) 740-1660. SALEM WAX MUSEUM. Self-guided tour based on witch trials of 1692 and Salem maritime history with activity area where visitors create souvenirs. Salem Wax Museum of Witches & Seafarers, 288 Derby St., Salem. (978) 740-2929. SALEM WITCH VILLAGE. Tour developed by Salem's witch community talks about origins of real witchcraft to modern day practices and beliefs. 282 Derby St. (rear), Salem. (978) 740-9229. SARGENT HOUSE MUSEUM. The 1782 home was built for writer and education advocate Judith Sargent Murray. Furnished with a collection of New England antiques, decorative arts and original artworks by portrait painter John Singer Sargent. Guided tours Friday to Monday, noon to 4 p.m., 49 Middle St., Gloucester. $5, $4 seniors. (978) 281-2432. SPELLBOUND. The Spellbound Museum features authentic supernatural curios and oddities from around the world. Open daily at 10 a.m. 190 Essex St., Salem. (978) 745-0138. STEPHEN PHILLIPS. The Stephen Phillips Memorial Trust House, a Federal mansion styled after the early 1900's, open through Oct. 30. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with tours every half hour. Free. 34 Chestnut St., Salem. (978) 744-0440. WENHAM MUSEUM. The Wenham Museum will present "Forward Knight: George S. Patton Jr., From Boy Dreamer to Military Legend," through Oct. 17. 132 Main St., Wenham. (978) 468-2377 or www.wenhammuseum.org. Music BORDERS MUSIC. Borders Books and Music will present the music of Ryan & Ortolani Friday, Aug. 13, 7 p.m. Free, all welcome. 151 Andover St., Peabody. (978) 538-3003. COMMON CONCERT. Concerts on the Common 2004 Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. featuring the G. Ford Band. Free. Salem Common. EDEN'S EDGE. Music at Eden's Edge concert "Italy in August: Music of the Italian Baroque" Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2 p.m. Northshore Unitarian Church, 323 Locust St., Danvers. (978) 768-6229 or www.edensedge.org. HERITAGE CENTER. Northern Lights will perform Saturday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. Tickets $15. Gloucester Maritime Heritage Center, 23 Harbor Loop, Gloucester. (978) 281-0470. JAZZ SERIES. Summer Jazz Series Saturday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m. featuring Eric Alexander Quartet. Tickets $23.50 in advance, $25.50 at door. Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St., Marblehead. (781) 631-1528. KING HOOPER. King Hooper Mansion will host a performance by All About Buford Saturday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m. Band will be joined by Full Frontal Folk. Tickets $12, available at door. 8 Hooper St., Marblehead. MADORE CHORALE. Summer Sing Festival with The Paul Madore Chorale Monday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m. "Carmina Burana" with assistant conductor Amanda Shelly. $6 adults, $4 seniors/students. Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square, Salem. (978) 744-4898. MAUDSLAY MUSIC. Maudslay State Park will host a concert by The Fair Winds Trio, Saturday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. and a concert by The Innovata Brass Quintet of Boston, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2 p.m. $18 for patio seating, $14 for lawn, and under 12 free. Bring lunch/dinner. Newburyport. (978) 462-7335. OPEN MIKE. ideasAloft will present Slam at the Strand Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 to 9 p.m. Register to perform 6:45 p.m. Expressive extravaganza includes mime, step-dancing and poetry. $6 admission. The Strand Theatre, 15 Green St., Newburyport. (978) 462-0002. OPEN MIKE. Open mike every Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Performers must bring own equipment. $3 admission. Danvers Art Association, 105 Elliott St., Danvers. (978) 777-2711. PARK CONCERT. Patton Park concert featuring Quintessential Brass Sunday, Aug. 15, 5 to 7 p.m. Free, bring seating. Route 1A, Hamilton. (978) 468-4738. PICNIC CONCERT. Trustees of Reservations will present a Picnic Concert Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m. featuring the Orville Giddings Band. $20 per car. Castle Hill, The Crane Estate, Argilla Road, Ipswich. (978) 356-4351. PLAYHOUSE. The Amesbury Playhouse will host open mike nights the first and third Tuesdays of every month, 8 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. $5 per person; free for performers. 194 Main St., Amesbury. (978) 388-9444. RED ROCK. Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach present Series 23 Thursday, Aug. 12, 6 p.m. Latin favorites. Free; bring seating. Red Rock Park, Lynn. (617) 951-8862. RENAISSANCE MUSIC. Ars et Amici presents "Venetian Vespers: Music from San Marco" Sunday, Aug. 15, 5 p.m. featuring soprano Marth Crain and tenor Michael McDonald. $10 person, $20 families. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean Ave., Beverly. (978) 922-3438. SUMMER CONCERT. The Danvers Recreation Department Summer Concert Series presents Round About, Monday, Aug. 16, 6 p.m. and Barrel House, a blues band, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m. Free. Rotary Pavilion, Peabody Institute Library, 15 Sylvan St., Danvers. Reading/Signing JABBERWOCKY. Author Barry Miles will celebrate the publication of his latest book, "HIPPIE," Saturday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. with a Flashback Party. Prizes for best costume. Jabberwocky Bookshop, 50 Water St., Newburyport. (978) 465-9359. SALEM POETRY. Open A Book Bookstore will host a book signing with Valerie Carnevale, editor of "Poetry of Salem," Saturday, Aug. 14, 3 to 5 p.m. Poets in attendance will be Claire Keyes and JD Scrimgeour. 72 Loring Ave., Salem. Recreation METEOR WATCH. Trustees of Reservations will host a Perseid Meteor Shower Watch Thursday, Aug. 12, 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. for all ages. Free; registration required. Stavros Reservation, Essex. (978) 526-8687. SNAKE PROGRAM. Trustees of Reservations present "Snakes of the Farm and Massachusetts" in a live animal program Saturday, Aug. 14, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Appleton Farms, off Route 1A, Ipswich. $5 adults, children free. Registration required. (978) 356-5728. TRAIL WALK. Guided walk through Chebacco Woods held by Chebacco Woods Management Committee third Sunday of each month, 1 p.m., weather permitting, all year long. Meet at main trail entrance, Chebacco Road, off Essex Street, Hamilton. (978) 468-7715 or (978) 468-3451. TWILIGHT WALK. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge will host a Twilight Nature Walk Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 to 8 p.m. Meet at entrance to Hellcat Trail. 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. (978) 465-5753. Theater AMESBURY PLAYHOUSE. The Valley Players present "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," through Aug. 15. Based on novel by Mark Twain, music and lyrics by Don Schlitz. Tickets range $26 to $39; show only $15. 194 Main St., Amesbury. (978) 388-9444. BRITISH COMEDY. "Gods and Goddesses," a British comedy from England's O'Neil Award Winner, Thursdays to Saturdays, Aug. 12 to 14 and 19 to 21, 8 p.m. and Sundays, Aug. 15 and 22, 5 p.m. West End Theatre, 1 Washington St., Gloucester. (978) 283-2525. GLOUCESTER STAGE. The Gloucester Stage Company will present "Spinning into Butter" through Aug. 29. Clever drama by Rebecca Gilman. $30 adults; $20 seniors/students. Cape Ann Nights offer half priced tickets for Cape Ann residents, Wednesdays, Aug. 11, 18 and 25. 267 East Main St., Gloucester. (978) 281-4433. MYSTERY THEATRE. Mystery Dinner Theatre presents "Business is Murder" Saturday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. $40 per person, includes gourmet seafood dinner. Reservations required. Benefits Cape Ann Business Incubator. The Manor Inn, Essex Avenue (Route 133), Gloucester. (978) 282-7779, Ext. 5. PIONEER PARK. "The Scarlet Letter" will be performed every Saturday, 5 p.m. through August. Tickets $6 and $8; Salem residents free. Pioneer Village, Forest River Park, Salem. SEVEN GABLES. The House of the Seven Gables will present "Legacy of the Hanging Judge" every Friday and Saturday, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. through August. Interactive play recalls Witch Trials. 54 Turner St., Salem. SHAKESPEARE. Shakespeare in the Barn will perform "Richard III" Saturday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 15, 3 p.m. Castle Hill, The Crane Estate, Argilla Road, Ipswich. (978) 356-4351. STUDENT THEATRE. Salem State College Student Theatre Ensemble presents "A Chorus Line," Thursdays to Saturdays, Aug. 12 to 14 and 19 to 21, 8 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 22, 2 p.m. $15 general, $10 seniors/students. Mainstage Auditorium, Lafayette Street, Salem. (978) 744-8478. THEATER IN THE OPEN. Theater in the Open will present Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew" Saturdays and Sundays, through Aug. 15, 4 p.m. $8 adults, $5 seniors/children. Maudslay State Park, Curzon Mill Road, Newburyport. (978) 465-2572. VILLAGE PLAYERS. The Annisquam Village Players will present Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel" through Sunday, Aug. 15, at 8 p.m. $15 general, $25 reserved seating. Annisquam Village Hall, Leonard Street, Gloucester. (978) 283-2247. YOUTH THEATRE. The Danvers Youth Theatre will present "Seussical the Musical" Friday, Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 15, 3 p.m. $7, benefits Danvers Art Association. Maple Street Church, 90 Maple St., Danvers. For tickets, call (978) 777-9163 or visit www.danversyouththeatre.org. Tours FARMSTEAD TOURS. Trustees of Reservations will offer Farmstead Tours at Appleton Farms Sunday, Aug. 15, 3 to 5 p.m. Tour begins at Waldingfield Road parking area, Ipswich. $5 adults, reservations required. (978) 356-5728 or www.thetrustees.org. HARBOR TOURS. Yankee Clipper offers daily harbor tours and sunset cruises. Tickets range $6 to $18. 1 Merrimac Landing, Newburyport. (978) 462-9316 or www.harbortours.com. HISTORICAL TOURS. Salem Historical Tours through Oct. 31. Includes Cemetery and Witch Trial Memorial tours, 2 p.m. $5 to $7; Architecture tours, 4 p.m. $5 to $7; and Haunted Footsteps Ghost tour, 8 p.m. $8 to $12.50. 8 Central St., Salem. (978) 745-0666. HOLTEN HOUSE. Historic Danvers house open for summer tours Wednesdays, 2 to 4 p.m. 171 Holten St., Danvers. (978) 887-8215. MARITIME TOURS. Newburyport Maritime Society presents guided Maritime Tours every Saturday, 11 a.m. to noon through Aug. 28. $5 general, $4 seniors/children. Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St., Newburyport. (978) 462-8681. RIVER CRUISE. Essex River Cruises and Charters offers trips on Essex River through October. Weekdays 11 a.m., 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. and weekends 11 a.m., 1:30, 3:30, 5:30 and 7 p.m. $21 adults, $18 seniors and $10 children. Reservations accepted. 35 Dodge St., Essex. (978) 768-6981. SALEM STROLLS. Ninety-minute historical walking tours through October. Mansions and Mariners Tuesdays 10:30 a.m., Fridays 2 p.m., and first and third Saturdays 10:30 a.m. Meet at Armory Park, New Liberty Street, Salem. Midtown and McIntire Tuesdays 2 p.m., Fridays, 10:30 a.m., and first and third Saturdays 2 p.m. Meet at Lappin Park, Salem. $10 adults; $8 students. (978) 741-1154. SALEM TROLLEY. The Salem Trolley offers one-hour, narrated tours of Salem from through Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Use for recreation or transportation. Special Salem Village tour Fridays to Sundays, 7 p.m. through Sept. 5 and month of October. Narrated, 90-minute, historical tour. Tickets $10 adults, $9 seniors, $3 children and under 5 free. (978) 744-5469. WALKING TOUR. Salem Maritime National Historic Site presents free walking tours of Hawthorne's Salem Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 14 and 15, 11 a.m. to noon. Meet at the Hawthorne statue on Hawthorne Boulevard, Salem. (978) 740-1660. Etc. ANTIQUE CARS. North Shore Old Car Club Meet and Show Sunday, Aug. 15, noon to 3 p.m. Features live music of the 1920s and 1930s. Part of Salem Heritage Days. Stephen Phillips Trust House, Chestnut Street, Salem. (978) 744-0440. ART DEMOS. Rockport Art Association will offer Artists Demonstrations 2004 featuring acrylic with Eva Cincotta Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. $5 general, $3 seniors, $2 children and members free. Main Street, Rockport. (978) 546-6604. BENEFIT CRUISE. Cruise with Compassion Thursday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m. Boards at 6 p.m. Gloucester. Includes dinner and live entertainment. Tickets $30, free parking. Benefits North Shore AIDS Health Project. For reservations, call (978) 283-0101. KING TRIBUTE. The 8th Annual Tribute to the King will be held Saturday, Aug. 14, 8 p.m. to midnight. Features performance by "Elvis," dancing, amateur Elvis contest, raffles, and prizes. Tickets $10, benefits North Shore Association of Retarded Citizens. St. Mike's Hall, 15 Endicott St., Peabody. (978) 532-4126. PASO FINO SHOW. "Fandango at Topsfield," a Paso Fino horse show Friday to Sunday, Aug. 13 to 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield. (978) 869-0932. PLANETARIUM. The Dunn Middle School Planetarium presents "Ringworld" every Friday through Sept. 10, 7 p.m. Explore Saturn, its rings and its moons. Multimedia program produced by NASA. $2.50 per person. 62 Cabot Road, Danvers. (978) 774-1801. Plan Ahead ART DEMOS. Rockport Art Association will offer Artists Demonstrations 2004 featuring batik with Judith Goetemann Thursday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m. $5 general, $3 seniors, $2 children, members free. Main Street, Rockport. (978) 546-6604. AUTHOR SIGNING. Borders Books and Music will present Rob Bradford, author of "Chasing Steinbrenner," Thursday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m. Free, all welcome. 151 Andover St., Peabody. (978) 538-3003. COMMON MOVIE. Concerts on the Common 2004 present "The Princess Bride" Thursday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m. Free. Salem Common. LOBSTER ART. SEArts will present a lecture by Jeff Weaver, "Lobster Landings," Thursday, Aug. 19, 7 to 9 p.m. Focus on recent public art project sponsored by Pathways for Children. $5. North Shore Art Association, 197R East Main St., Gloucester. (978) 283-1694 or www.searts.org. PICNIC CONCERT. Trustees of Reservations will present a Picnic Concert Thursday, Aug. 19, 7 to 8:30 p.m. featuring Pick 3. $20 per car. Castle Hill, The Crane Estate, Argilla Road, Ipswich. (978) 356-4351. RED ROCK. Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach present Lois Lane and The Daily Planets Thursday, Aug. 19, 6 p.m. Rhythm and blues. Free, bring seating. Red Rock Park, Lynn. (617) 951-8862. Out of Town ARBORETUM TOUR. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University will offer a free walking tour Saturday, Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m. Begin at steps of Hunnewell building, 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain. No registration needed. (617) 524-1718, Ext. 100. CAR SHOW. Antique, Classic, and Street Rod Car Show Saturday, Aug. 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $10 per car, benefits Amesbury's Council of Churches. Raindate Aug. 15. Woodsom Farm, Lions Mouth Road, Amesbury. COLONIAL THEATRE. "Mamma Mia!" through Aug. 29. Tickets range $37.50 to $87.50. 106 Boylston St., Boston. (617) 426-9366 or www.mamma-mia.com. COMEDY CONNECTION. The Comedy Connection will feature Sue Costello of "Last Comic Standing" and the movie "Southie," Friday and Saturday, Aug. 13 and 14, 8 and 10:15 p.m. $21 to $22. 245 Quincy Market Place, Faneuil Hall, Bosont. (617) 248-9700. FINE ARTS. The Museum of Fine Arts presents "Games for the Gods: The Greek Athlete and the Olympic Spirit," through Nov. 28. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. (617) 369-3448. LOWELL MUSIC. Lowell Summer Music Series presents Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone Friday, Aug. 13, $10, and John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers Saturday, Aug. 14, $10. Lowell National Historical Park, French and John streets, Lowell. (978) 970-5200 or www.lowellsummermusic.org. OMNI THEATER. "Adrenaline Rush: The Science of Risk," through Sept. 6. "Forces of Nature" through Oct. 1. Features infamous disasters. Mugar Omni Theater, Museum of Science, Science Park, Boston. (617) 589-0250. www.mos.org. OPERA HOUSE. Broadway's award-winning best musical, Disney's "The Lion King," through Dec. 26. Tickets $44 to $132. The Opera House, Boston. (617) 931-2787 or (800) 347-0808. SCIENCE MUSEUM. New exhibit "The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy: The Exhibition," through Oct. 24. Museum of Science, Science Park, Boston. (617) 723-2500. TURTLE LANE. The Turtle Lane Playhouse will present "Grease" through Aug. 15. $24 general, senior/student discounts. 283 Melrose St., Newton. (617) 244-0169. WESTERN DANCE. High-energy country western dance instruction is provided every Tuesday night, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Melrose Highlands Church, 355 Franklin St., Melrose. $6 donation. (781) 665-1881. WHISTLER HOUSE. Art Quilts at the Whistler, a juried exhibition, through Sept. 17. Whistler House Museum of Art, 243 Worthen St., Lowell. (978) 452-7641. WINNEKENNI CASTLE. Winnekenni Castle will host a free concert with The 60's Invasion Sunday, Aug. 15, 2 p.m. 347 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill. (978) 521-1686 or www.winnekenni.com. Planting perennials can beautify a condo complex By NORTH SHORE GARDENER Barbara Barger Q: We have a small area here at our condo complex that needs some perennials. It is about 8 by 10 and is in front of an enclosure that covers the electrical box. We want to put in something that will bloom and is fairly easy to care for. Any ideas for us? It could be a mix of a few so that they will bloom at different times. I think roses might be too difficult to care for in this location. A: You didn't say whether the area is sunny or shady, wet or dry. For pure ease in a sunny area - and I believe you need tough plants, since maintenance personnel might need access to the box in all seasons - you might use daylilies, which come in all ranges of color and bloom, maybe mixed with another hardy perennial like echinacea, available in white, pinks, reds and yellows. Maybe you could put in some spring bulbs this fall. For shade, with moisture, maybe hostas, variegated ad blue leafed, mixed with annual impatiens next spring with strong color. If you use bark mulch, there would be little weeding. I agree that roses are harder to maintain, but you might reconsider if you have enough sun where you're planting. One of the many old-fashioned varieties of multifloras are relatively bug-free, long-blooming and a lot easier than hybrids. Q: My wife and I planted a set of male and female holly bushes about five years ago. They had been doing fine and grew to about 5 feet tall. We had quite a few trees taken down in an area bordering our lawn to clean it out and to make another garden out of part of it. Anyway, I got the bright idea to "transplant" the holly into this new area because the garden the holly was in was getting crowded. I carefully dug out both bushes, making sure I got most all of the roots, too. I then dug a large hole for them in the new garden and filled that hole with some very good quality new loam and replanted the holly there. The holly seemed to be doing just fine again for about the first six weeks after transplanting. Then both bushes started to turn brown. Now one bush has turned completely brown and the other is about 80 percent brown. Both look dead or dying. Are they dead? What did I do wrong? Is there any chance of saving them? A: I just happen to have a neighbor who is a holly guru. You didn’t say exactly when you moved the holly, but my neighbor tells me that the best time to move holly would be in the early spring, before the new growth begins. Did you keep the newly transplanted holly well-watered? Watering is crucial for any transplant - not for just a day or two but through the first season or two, right up until the ground freezes. Finally, are you absolutely sure that your holly is dead? Gently break a few branches to be absolutely sure before you replace the trees. The one that shows green sounds like it is only partially dead, but holly grows so slowly that the remainder of the bush, if you have to prune the really dead wood, could be very unsightly and it will take years to fill out with new growth. Q: I need help with teeny little ants that live in some portions of my flower border. When I kneel on my mat in my favorite weeding position and start digging, these little creatures climb onto my gloves, up my arms and legs, under my shirt and everywhere. I do not even know they are there until they have bitten me. Is there something I can spray on the soil before digging? It seems to not be quite as severe once the soil is disturbed. A: Wouldn’t you think that with all the rain we’ve had, at least some of the pests would have drowned? Try an Ortho product called Ant B-Gone. It’s primarily pyrethrum, which is considered nontoxic. Safer makes Ant and Crawling Insect Killer, which is even less toxic. Either should work well if you can find the anthills. What is happening is that you are disturbing the hill as you dig or pull a weed and they get mad and come to get you. There are also some herbal/natural substances that seem to repel surface ants: vinegar, cucumber skins, bay leaf, eucalyptus, citronella and orange peel to name a few. Many of the herbals could be rubbed on your skin or clothing. And any of the human insect repellants, like Off, that lists ants on the label would work, but I’d rather smell of orange peel. Be careful applying any herbals or any chemical product to your skin, if you think you might have sensitivity or an allergy. Q: I have three questions. What is red thread? How do you get rid of it? Can it transmitted from the bottom of a landscaper’s lawnmower? A: Red thread is a fungal lawn disease usually seen in the cool, damp spring weather. Sound familiar? It thrives between 68 and 75 degrees, in poorly fertilized (nitrogen-deficient) lawns, and in shady areas where lawns are constantly moist. Most gardeners, and lawn people, don’t bother to treat it, but chlorothalonil is most often used by the professionals. Red thread will disappear when the weather becomes hotter and drier. However, in the meantime, any changes you can make to your lawn environment - such as improving drainage, aerating, thatching, cutting back overhanging branches to promote better air circulation and allow more light in and watering deeply - will help the process. Also, mow correctly - not too short, but not so long that tall blades will shade the grass. There are some conflicting ideas on whether grass clippings should be picked up and disposed of during a severe outbreak. Don’t be too quick to blame the landscaper’s lawn mower. It is thought that red thread can be spread by mowing, but also by wind, animals and people walking though the lawn, or by running water (and we’ve had a lot of rain). It can remain dormant in your lawn for two to three years and can return when the conditions are right. This Week's Dirt Gardening is the second most popular leisure activity in the United States. Statistics show that 84 percent of Americans participate in gardening or yard work every year, but the scary thing is that 31 percent of tetanus cases reported between 1998 and 2000 came from garden, yard or farm injuries. Yet more than half of the adults in the nation are not adequately protected against both diseases, which are easily prevented by a combination tetanus/diphtheria shot called a "TD." Tetanus is serious stuff and the disease isn’t just for kids who step on rusty nails. Gardeners can be exposed through the bacteria in soil and it can be present in rusty implements, as well as from sharp objects in the soil or in bags of mulch and manure and potting soil. The bacteria enters the body through a cut and produces painful muscle spasms, which can necessitate a lengthy hospital stay. We used to get inoculated for it at the start of the school year and for summer camp, but as adults, we’ve forgotten that we still need it. Do it now and you’re protected until 2014. Preventing tetanus is as simple as getting a booster shot. As added protection, wear gloves while doing gardening and other household chores. * * * North Shore Gardener by Barbara Barger of Beverly is a regular feature of the At Home section. Reach Barbara by e-mail at nsgardener@comcast.net or write to her c/o Essex County Newspapers, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915. Sensible SarahPragmatic spouse is critical to new house's solid foundation By Steve Landwehr Staff w IPSWICH - If there's one thing Sarah Cummings can't stand it's a house with peeling paint and a messy yard. That explains why she regularly mowed the grass in the back of her home on Central Street this spring and summer, before it was torn up and became a construction site. It also explains why the two huge mounds of dirt she's staring at have her nearly beside herself. "They're like mini mountains," she says, with a tone of exasperation in her voice. "It really bothers me; my whole karma is off because of that pile." The dirt awaits completion of the foundation of the new house Sarah and her husband, Mat, are building behind their three-family home. The soil will be pushed back into the trenches alongside the concrete walls, and Sarah is more than a little anxious for it to disappear. Sitting in the living room, her hands clasped, she quietly contemplates this offense to her sense of order. "I want the foundation work done as quickly as possible," she says firmly, turning her head from the window as if to put the mess out of her mind. Then there's the paint on her home, which isn't just peeling, it's being completely stripped. The second and third floor of the house vacant since the tenants' leases ran out, Mat and Sarah decided to have the house deleaded. And because of the construction out back, the shed where she keeps her yard tools is gone. Sarah can find little solace no matter where she looks right now. "I'm just glad there's no one here but us for the summer," she says. Balancing act It's always been this way in her marriage, Sarah says. Mat, an architect, thinks on a grand scale. While he envisions incorporating his ideas about what he calls "living sculpture" into their new home, Sarah pays the bills. "I'm the cost person," she says. "Being an architect, his dream was bigger than mine. I want to be expressive, too, but is it going to cost me an extra $25,000? The mortgage payment is my bottom line." Sarah says she was raised to be responsible about money and embued with the belief that your own home, and its maintenance, were the most important things to spend it on. As careful as she might be, she did get caught up in the excitement as the new home took shape on paper. "I think my bottom line was $250,000," she says with a wry smile. Estimates on the work mounted to $280,000. There was give and take throughout the design of the house. Mat insisted on an octagonal turret that is a focal point in the center of the house; Sarah relented. "It wasn't necessary to me, but it was necessary to him," she says. "I'd be happy to have a master bedroom, a garage and a proper laundry room." Most of the time, this balancing act works itself out. There was one nonessential design element Sarah herself lobbied for - the massive brick fireplace, with openings into the family room and the backyard. "It's going to be a lot of money," she admits. Mat's design for the fireplace is quite fancy, which increased its cost, but Sarah says ornate details are what she likes most about the house. "I always wanted a historical-looking house," she says, "and this will fit right in in Ipswich." Bringing down the house Mat's creative involvement is just about over, but Sarah's is just beginning. "I do pretty much everything," she says cheerfully. "I'm pretty much the labor here and I enjoy it." Sarah, 32, worked as a house painter in college, and painted the couple's home after they bought it four years ago. She helped choose the colors for the new home, and when it comes time to paint it, she knows who'll be holding the brush. "He can't paint at all," she says of her husband. As the final drawings were being completed, Sarah was already at work in the old house, which is nearly being destroyed to make way for the new one. Hammer and crow bar in hand, Sarah ripped out the lath and plaster on the second floor, filling a large Dumpster with the debris. There's more demolition to come, but until the new foundation is completed and back-filled, there's no way to get into the old house. Besides, those banes of Sarah's existence, the dirt piles, leave no room for a trash container. A middle-school teacher in Lynn, Sarah worries that her summer, which could have been spent finishing this work, will soon come to an end. More frustration awaits. Already there have been delays finishing the foundation, and although Sarah is anxious for the next step, framing the walls, it's uncertain when that will begin. Some people who looked at Mat's design say it's the most complicated framing plan they've ever seen in a house this size, and Mat will only leave it in the hands of the best framer he knows, Timothy Reynolds of New Hampshire. But Reynolds and his crew are in the middle of a huge project that will take a long time to complete. Mat can't just ask him to walk away from that home - Mat designed it. With so much depending on weather and other things Sarah and Mat can't control, they're not sure if it will be weeks or months before the skeleton of their home starts taking shape. Sensible Sarah is also pragmatic. "There's no looking back, we've got to look forward now." iter Project highlights so far September 2000: Mat and Sarah Cummings buy three-family home in Ipswich. Fall 2002: Couple buys single-family home on lot behind theirs. Throughout 2003: Mat Cummings works on design of new home. July 2004: Demolition of old home begins; excavation for new one in progress. August 2004: Footings poured for new home. Shaking hands is rarely optional By EVERYDAY ETIQUETTE Judy Bowman Q: I was on an interview and the person meeting with me was picking his ears. At the conclusion of our time together, I knew I had to shake hands with him and didn’t want to. This has happened to me more than once where it is a problem for me. What should I do? Is there an excuse I can give? Do I have to shake hands? A: If you saw the interviewer pick their ears in front of you, one might only imagine what else may have gone one while not in view. Donald Trump prefers not to shake hands with people for this reason. Not shaking hands is not the answer. Handshaking is a form of greeting, saying farewell or sealing a bargain and is the most common form of greeting in the world today. Particularly in an interview situation, your handshake is being used to help "size you up" and your opportunity to size the other person up. My advice is to shake hands. However, tuck this information about this individual away and use it to further empower you, e.g. this person is a slob with poor hygiene and no manners. He is a representative of this firm. Do you really want to work for this company? If an individual was sick, however, this would be an entirely different situation. In this case, it would be incumbent upon that individual to say, "I am sorry, I would like to shake hands with you, but I am not well and I do not want you to get my germs." Saying this is thoughtful, considerate and respectful. I suggest you carry little alcohol wipes or those little bottles of disinfectant to use on your hands until you can wash your hands properly and thoroughly if you must shake hands with someone you would rather not. Q: When it comes to prices, I was always brought up not to ask. If you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. When I go out to eat lately, either with a date or a client, when the waitress says the special, she always mentions the price. This makes me feel uncomfortable. I want my dining companion to order whatever they want, without considering the price. What do you suggest I do to correct this in the future? A: Specials and their prices are an extension of the menu. Menus list prices, so your guests are certainly aware of the cost of a dish, which, by the way, is helpful to them in ordering as a responsible guest. If you are this sensitive to your guests knowing prices, then my suggestion is to go to restaurants that only give the price list to you, the host. Alternatively, when dining out, try this: While you are sensitive to the price for your own reasons, many others are sensitive to knowing the price in order to try to keep within certain dollar parameters. A responsible restaurateur will instruct staff to make prices known so patrons need not ask, as you were brought up, and appear gauche. Going forward, I encourage you to go with this and adjust the way you handle the situation rather than trying to change the system. As the host, it is your responsibility to make your guests feel completely comfortable. You might say, "You are my guest; I want you to order whatever you would like." Then you could specify select items in categories in various price points, so without actually saying, "You can order the most expensive item on the menu if you would like," you are subtly suggesting this. For guests, discretion is in order here and remember the rule: Do not order the most expensive or least expensive item on the menu - despite what your gracious host has said. Bon appetit! Q: When I shop, I have found a correlation in the way I am treated by sales associates when I am dressed and groomed nicely versus times when I am not. Do you have any suggestions regarding how to handle rude salespeople who literally ignore me when I am not at my best? A: Your question is reminiscent of what happened in the movie "Pretty Woman." Most sales associates work based on incentives and commission and might disregard you as a viable shopping candidate by your appearance. These days, with "casual" taking on an entirely new meaning, one can never tell by the way one is dressed if one might be a good prospect for a shopping spree where money might not matter. A wise sales associate will not discriminate. If you find you are being discriminated against, you might think twice about shopping at that establishment or be sure to visit your regular sales associates who know you to ensure that you get the attention you want. The way you dress, walk and carry yourself and your hygiene all reflect on you. The way we present ourselves to the world is a reflection of the way we are feeling about ourselves. If we want others to treat us with respect then, we should present ourselves to the world accordingly. * * * Judy Bowman is the president of Protocol Consultants International, providing etiquette training to corporate executives. Etiquette questions may be submitted to Everyday Etiquette, c/o Essex County Newspapers, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915. "Wide Angle" Follows the Punishing Sahara Marathon, an Annual Race Through the Desert to Highlight the Plight of Sahrawi Refugees Scripps Howard At a time when the world's attention is focused on the Olympics, PBS offers a look at another international sporting event that is demanding notice. Sahara Marathon, premiering Thursday, August 19 at 9 p.m. (check local listings) is the story of a unique marathon that is staged annually - in one of the world's most punishing deserts - in the hope of drawing attention to the plight of the Sahrawi people. Torn by years of bitter guerilla warfare fought against Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara in 1976, the Sahrawi are still waiting for the referendum on sovereignty promised in a UN-brokered cease-fire more than a decade ago. The story focuses on two competitors - Abdullah Mohammed, a Sahrawi self-trained runner aspiring to win the race for his people, and Jorge Aubeso, a top Spanish athlete sympathetic to the cause - who race through brutal heat and the infamous sirocco sandstorms with winds up to 60 mph. The filmmakers - ironically, one of only two media crews covering the event - have full access to this unusual race and to the all-but-forgotten story of 165,000 people who sense that the global spotlight is no longer theirs and fear that their problem may never be resolved without a return to armed conflict. This poignant story is representative of the aspirations of small, forgotten minorities, and former Cold War conflicts, throughout the world. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, who recently resigned his position as top U.N. envoy to Western Sahara citing "frustrations," is interviewed by series host Mishal Husain after the film to put the story into context, connecting the dots for American viewers. Says Baker: "This issue is really not unlike the Arab-Israeli dispute: two different peoples claiming the same land. One is very strong, one has won the war, one is in occupation - and the other is very weak." Sahara Marathon is part of PBS's acclaimed international documentary series WIDE ANGLE, which airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. through October 7. By exploring stories of real people affected by current events around the globe, WIDE ANGLE strives to present the humanity behind the headlines. Melon chicken salad is Asian-inspired Associated Press According to chef Martin Yan, acclaimed for his television cooking shows and cookbooks, Chinese cooking is essentially healthy and low-fat. That's the case with this recipe for melon chicken salad, a simply tasty dish to make for a summer meal. The recipe is among those featured in an article in Cooking Light's July issue, in which Yan demystifies traditional, healthful Chinese cooking techniques. His skill in balancing flavors and textures is evident in this main-dish salad -- sweet honey, salty soy sauce, tart vinegar, bitter daikon radish and savory chicken make an interesting interplay of flavors, while the crunchy walnuts and peanut butter contrast with the juicy melon. You can use leftover or rotisserie chicken to make the dish on a busy weeknight. Melon Chicken Salad <1/4> cup rice vinegar 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce 2 tablespoons chunky peanut butter 1 tablespoon honey <3/4> teaspoon dark sesame oil 3 cups (2-by-<1/4>-inch) strips honeydew melon 3 cups (2-by-<1/4>-inch) strips cantaloupe 2 cups (2-by-<1/4>-inch) strips daikon radish 1 cup (2-by-<1/4>-inch) strips peeled English cucumber 3 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions 2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast <1/4> cup chopped fresh cilantro 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts, toasted Combine vinegar, soy sauce, peanut butter, honey and sesame oil in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add honeydew, cantaloupe, radish, cucumber and onions; toss well to coat. Place 2 cups melon mixture on each of four plates; top each serving with <1/2> cup chicken. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cilantro over each serving; top each with 1<1/2> teaspoons walnuts. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings. Nutrition information per serving: 293 cal., 9.9 g fat (1.8 g saturated), 22.6 g pro., 32 g carbo., 3.7 g fiber, 48 mg chol., 383 mg sodium. Down to earth By Steve Land Mathew and Sarah Cummings are building a new home for themselves on the lot behind the three-family home they own in Ipswich. We're following them on their journey, with stories of the frustrations and successes every homebuilder experiences. On Aug. 4, we talked to Mat, an architect who designed the home of his dreams. This week, Sarah talks about keeping the project grounded, and the mess it is temporarily making in her ordered world. Although construction has just begun, the project is already on hold. The carpenter who will build the home's frame is tied up with another large project and can't get to the Cummings' home yet. On Wednesday, Sept. 8, we'll look at some of the practical matters Mat and Sarah have dealt with already, from getting a zoning variance for their new home to obtaining a construction loan. We'll offer advice that could make those things easier for you, whether you're just adding a deck or building the home of your dreams. ehr Staff writer Scalloping on tires is the mark of strut or shock problem By AUTO SCANNER Larry Rub Q: Is there any gasoline company other than Texaco (which is getting harder and harder to find) that puts a good detergent formula in its regular gas? Also, my 1999 Dodge Caravan with 150,000 miles on it - and has never had an alignment - just started to show minor scalloping on the outside edges of the tires. I am sure the mechanic will check the ball joints and struts when I bring it in, but if they are good, how long can they last? I know that an alignment is needed after either of these repairs. Are there any other front-end parts that should be checked before an alignment? A: That’s a great question. Scalloping on a tire is usually caused from a suspension component known as a Macpherson strut, or a shock, depending on the particular year make and model. A vehicle that has a severe toe-in problem will give a similar pattern but more of a scuffed appearance. If your vehicle has ball joints that are serviceable (have a grease fitting), they may last forever if properly maintained. As far as a good gas, most gas stations have excellent detergent packages. Some are very similar. I would say any of the major brands of gas will do your engine well. Q: I have a 1983 Ford F-250 truck. I recently changed the spark plugs, cap, rotor, wires, points and condenser. Also, I changed the battery, battery cables and starter solenoid. My problem is that now the truck does not crank over, have headlights or any accessories. I didn’t have this problem before I did the work. Do you have any idea what might be going on? A: It is great to hear you did all of that work on this workhorse of a truck. I would bet that the wiring at the starter solenoid got mixed up, especially since there was no similar problem before doing the work. The starter solenoid has three terminals on it that are important to us. The two big terminals are the battery-in power, and the second is the power out to the starter. The third is the wire from the neutral safety switch or key, which tells the solenoid to activate and send power to the starter. On the terminal that has the battery wire, there are several other wires with large hoops on the end that are bolted to that same stud. Disconnect your battery, move the wires to the proper stud, reconnect your battery, and the problem should be gone. Q: Our 2000 Mercury Marquis has a loud hum coming from the dashboard when the car is going fast, especially on long trips. As soon as the car slows down it stops. What causes this and how can we fix it? A: This car has a known problem with the air bypass valve or the IAC (idle air control) valve. This valve, when it goes bad, causes what is called "hooting." Usually turning the air conditioner on will get the noise started. The repair of this problem, if indeed it turns out to be the valve, involves replacing some tubes with the updated style. Any service facility with an information system such as AllData or Mitchells will be able to find the proper technical service bulletin. Of course, most Ford or Lincoln Mercury dealers can do this as well. Car Care Tip: If you follow the 100,000-mile, no-maintenance schedule, you will more than likely find yourself in the showroom at 105,000 miles. * * * Larry Rubenstein is a master technician who owns a North Shore service station. His column appears Tuesday in the Biz North section. Write to Larry at the Essex County Newspapers, c/o Auto Scanner, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915, or send e-mail to scanauto@aol.com. nstein Business calendar Wednesday, Aug. 11 Cape Ann Businesswomen sunset cruise, 6 to 8 p.m. on Essex River Cruises. Point of departure is Essex Marina, 33 Dodge St., Essex. Tickets are $25. Casual attire. (978) 283-1601. Thursday, Aug. 12 Salem Chamber of Commerce After Hours, 5 to 7 p.m. at Salem Waterfront Hotel, Pickering Wharf, Salem. Networking B4 Nine, 7:15 p.m., Peabody Chamber of Commerce, 24 Main St., Peabody. $5 for members. Call (978) 531-0384. Saturday, Aug. 14 Essex Street Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Salem. To reserve a spot, call the Salem Chamber of Commerce at (978) 744-0004. Sunday, Aug. 15 Essex Street Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Salem. To reserve a spot, call the Salem Chamber of Commerce at (978) 744-0004. Monday, Aug. 16 North Shore Networking Group, 2 to 4 p.m., North Shore Career Center, 70 Washington St., Salem. Topic is "Making the Most of Your Accomplishments: How to Create and Maintain a Professional Portfolio." Free. Call (978) 825-7299 for information or (978) 825-7200 to register. Wednesday, Aug. 18 Networking for Desired Results, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Cape Ann Business Incubator, 8 Blackburn Center, Gloucester. Free; all welcome. Call (978) 282-7779 or e-mail infor@businc.org. Thursday, Aug. 19 North Shore Women in Business Breakfast Meeting, 7 to 9 a.m. Holiday Inn, Route 1 North, Peabody. Executive coach Jean DiGiovanna will lead "Networking with a Twist." $15 for members and $30 for guests. For reservations, call (978) 741-3223 or e-mail info@NSWIB.org. Tuesday, Aug. 24 Exploring Franchise Business Ownership as a Career Option, 7:30 to 10 a.m., Enterprise Center at Salem State College, 121 Loring Ave., Salem. Free; reservations required. Call (978) 542-7528 or visit www.enterprisectr.org. Wednesday, Aug. 25 Ask the Expert, 3 to 5 p.m., Enterprise Center at Salem State College, 121 Loring Ave., Salem. Information on e-mail services available. Free; reservations required. Call (978) 542-7528 or visit www.enterprisectr.org. Thursday, Aug. 26 Writing Performance Appraisals, 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., North Shore Community College's ICTT, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 121E, Route 62, Elliot St., Beverly. Cost is $35 and includes breakfast. Limited space. Call (978) 236-1200. Beverly Chamber of Commerce After Hours, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Endicott College, Tupper Hall, 376 Hale St., Beverly. $5 members; $10 nonmembers. Call (978) 232-9559. Monday, Aug. 30 North Shore Networking Group meeting, 2 to 4 p.m., North Shore Career Center, 70 Washington St., Salem. Topic is "The Secrets of Marketing Yourself." Free. Call (978) 825-7299 for information or (978) 825-7200 to register. * * * Mail your upcoming business events to Suzanne Brown, Essex County Newspapers, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915. Call her at (978) 338-2647; or e-mail her at sbrown@ecnnews.com. AMG posts quarterly increase, predicts decline in yearly earnings BEVERLY - Affiliated Managers Group Inc. posted second-quarter profits of $30.4 million, or $1 a share, compared to $24.9 million, or 77 cents a share from the same time a year ago (minus depreciation), according to figures released by the company. Net income increased to $18.9 million from $13.8 million in Q2 of 2003. However, 2004 earnings are likely to be lower than expected, between $3.90 and $4 a share, because of weak stock and bond markets, the company said in a conference call with analysts last week. Assets managed by the company remained flat quarter to quarter, valued at $102 billion. The company - which holds equity interests in several investment management firms - is headquarted at 600 Hale St. and employs 822 people throughout its operations. Investors, markets await word today on interest rates NEW YORK (AP) - Anticipation over today's Federal Reserve meeting and expected guidance on the economy had stocks up but trading light yesterday. The Fed's Open Market Committee will decide today whether to raise interest rates by a quarter point Climbing oil prices, climbing wholesale inventories, and only 32,000 new jobs created in July have hurt the stock market in recent days and left investors and analysts wondering if the Fed should act to raise rates to slow the economy. Prior to last week, the Fed had been widely expected to raise rates at today's meeting. Cathy E. Minehan, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, is among the members of the Open Market Committee, which determine Fed monetary policy and sets federal fund rates that in turn influence interest rates set by banks. Business people Attorney Vincent E. Bonazzoli of Swampscott made a presentation to estate planning attorneys in Boston recently. Bonazzoli, principal and owner of the Vincent E. Bonazzoli Law Firm P.C. in Lynnfield, spoke about the regulations regarding minimum distributions from retirement plans. * * * Bruce Whear was elected president of the Hamilton and Wenham Business Council recently. The Hamilton resident is president of Wire 4 Hire Inc. in Salem. * * * photo: biz_campbell Glenn F. Campbell, director of Campbell Funeral Home in Beverly earned the certified preplanning consultant (CPC) designation. CPC certification is awarded by the National Funeral Directors Association to consultants upon successful completion of an exam. Certified funeral directors help families plan funeral services in advance. * * * photo: biz_temkin Beverly's Alan Temkin, an associate financial planner, was honored for outstanding achievement at MetLife's Annual Leaders Conference in Florida recently. Temkin is the principal of Temkin Financial Group in Danvers. * * * Salem State College appointed Steven Carter chairman of the English department and Amy Everitt chairwoman of the Sports, Fitness and Leisure Department. Both professors are Salem residents. * * * Paul Coco earned the foodservice management professionals certification by the National Restaurant Association. Coco is director of dining services at Brooksby Village, a retirement community in Peabody. * * * photo: biz_oeveren Rudy Van Oeveren president of Peabody Financial Services Inc., has earned the designations general securities principal and municipal limited principal. He was also named Massachusetts division manager for NEXT Financial Group. * * * Heritage Bank branches in Danvers and Beverly recently celebrated Customer Appreciation Days. Red Sox tickets were given to Chad Macomber of Marblehead and Ken Gelpey of Peabody. Salem's James Walsh won tickets to a Jimmy Buffett concert. * * * Beverly National Bank was recognized by North Shore United Way for service and commitment to that organization. Bank employees raised $12,637 for local services and a corporate gift raised the total donation to $17,000. * * * Danvers Savings Bank recently donated $15,000 to the North Shore Community College's School-Age Child Care Program, which will provide courses on how to care for children age 5 to 14. * * * Mail your business people news and photos to Suzanne Brown, Salem News, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915. Call her at (978) 338-2647; or e-mail her at sbrown@ecnnews.com. br> Sensitech makes third acquisition in 100 days By Diane Nolan Correspondent BEVERLY - Beverly-based Sensitech Inc. is expanding from national to global with its third acquisition in the past 100 days. The most recent deal came late last week with the acquisition of the owner of Temperature Data Systems for an undisclosed price. "This acquisition allows Sensitech to expand our cold-chain measurement and analysis services to a number of new markets and customers," Sensitech Chief Executive Officer Eric Schultz said in a written statement announcing the deal. The company acquired is Ryan Instruments International, which does business as Temperature Data Systems. Based in Holland, TDS is Sensitech's largest distributor and has been in business nearly 40 years. TDS employs 15 people and also has offices in Spain, France and Germany. Carel van Oosterzee - former director of TDS and current vice president and managing director for the company's operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa - said in a statement following the acquisition that customers can anticipate a smooth transition to Sensitech ownership and "a new level of analysis and insight." Sensitech is a leading independent provider of what is known as cold chain products and services. The company produces devices that monitor temperature during the transportation of perishable products, including medicines and food. Sensitech estimates that it has protected $200 billion of its customers' products in the last decade. "Our customers include most of the major supermarket chains and pharmaceutical companies," said Vice President of Marketing Susan Bonecci. "For supermarkets, it's mostly produce, although there are other perishable products as well ... and for pharmaceuticals, it's largely vaccines." The company also provides customers with database technology to manage perishables' temperatures during transport. The same tool allows Sensitech's customers to review data to ensure that products were not compromised. "We have a number of new products that are being launched this year," Bonecci said. In addition to Washington and California offices, Sensitech has service and distribution offices all over the world including Europe, Asia and Africa. Sensitech was founded by Beverly resident Ernest "Sandy" Santin in 1990 with a handful of employees, according to Bonecci. Since then, the Beverly headquarters has grown to 110 employees, the largest of the three U.S. offices. The two other recent acquisitions were competitor Cox Technologies Inc. of North Carolina, and distributor, Check-It, based in Denmark. A privately held company, Sensitech would not release details about the TDS transaction beyond that Adelphi Capital assisted with the transaction along with Key Bank, which has underwritten the company's last three acquisitions. "Business is growing steadily," Bonecci said. Sensitech is funded by a number of venture firms including Citizens Capital, GE Equity and Massachusetts Technology Development Corp. It was the recipient of a Smaller Business Association of New England award for innovation in 2002. SGPTV Marks First Anniversary - $20 million in sponsorships raised in inaugural year Sc BOSTON - The Sponsorship Group for Public Television (SGPTV) posted more than $20 million in sponsorship sales for public television programs during its first year of operation. Established at WGBH Boston in July 2003 to secure national sponsors for signature PBS programs, SGPTV exclusively represents WGBH's premier national sponsorship opportunities as well as series produced by other prestigious production partners. Its $20 million in sponsorships raised during its first year makes SGPTV the most successful national sponsorship organization for public television in America, offering a full-service team consisting of sales, client services, marketing and research. Suzanne Zellner, Group Director of SGPTV, credited flexible new sponsorship packages, SGPTV's experienced staff and its impressive portfolio of sponsorship opportunities for the organization's success during its first year. "We have the largest inventory of the highest-rated programs on public television--from primetime hits like Antiques Roadshow, Masterpiece Theatre, Nova and Frontline to many of the best kids shows, like Sesame Street, Zoom, Arthur and its new spin-off, Postcards from Buster," Zellner said. "Our top-notch client services, sales and marketing teams have also listened to the marketplace and tailored our opportunities to meet sponsor needs through shorter flights and customized packages." SGPTV sponsors are offered a robust package of on and off-air benefits. In addition to the on-air spots that appear in PBS' uncluttered media environment, sponsors receive such benefits as access to program talent, special events, and credit on a wide variety of program-related materials. "We pride ourselves on being a customer-focused operation," said Suzanne Zellner. "We work closely with our customers to create sponsorships that deliver a return on their investment." Recent changes to PBS on-air guidelines provide more flexibility to sponsors, said Zellner. Though PBS's non-commercial environment remains intact, certain rules have been revised to allow for people to speak on camera, to show people with products, and to have lyrics to music. "These changes to the on-air guidelines enable sponsors to sustain their messaging on-air," Zellner added. Sponsorship deals closed in the last year by SPGTV include the following: Ameriquest and Liberty Mutual for Antiques Roadshow; Subaru for The Victory Garden; Chick-fil-A for Between the Lions; the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for one episode of American Experience; Beaches Resorts for Sesame Street; Ocean Spray for Simply Ming; Olympus for They Made America, and Stanley Tools for MotorWeek. Recent sponsor renewals include Microsoft for Nova; Liberty Mutual and The Scotts Company for American Experience; Ace Hardware for Victory Garden; Minwax, Columbia Forest Products, Delta Machinery and Porter Cable for The New Yankee Workshop; McDonalds for Sesame Street; and Chuck E. Cheese's for Arthur. SGPTV recently launched a Web site, www.sgptv.org, developed specifically for ad agencies and corporate contacts. The Sponsorship Group for Public Television (SGPTV) is the exclusive representative for the best public television national sponsorships. SGPTV is based at WGBH Boston, the largest producer of primetime programs for public television. WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcasting producer, the source of one-third of PBS's prime-time lineup as well as many public radio favorites. WGBH-produced Web sites generate 25% of the traffic to pbs.org, the most-visited dot-org on the Internet. WGBH is a pioneer in educational multimedia and in technologies and services that make media accessible to the 36 million Americans who rely on captioning or video descriptions. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors: Emmys, Peabodys, duPont-Columbia Awards...even two Oscars. In 2002, WGBH was honored with a special institutional Peabody Award for 50 years of excellence. ipps Howard Tax holiday is boon for some businesses, headache for others By Kathleen McLaughlin and Christine Gillett If you're thinking about making a major purchase, you might want to wait a few days. That's because for one day, this Saturday, the state will let you buy nearly anything that costs less than $2,500 without paying sales tax. So you can't buy a new car, but other big-ticket items like furniture, appliances and electronics will cost you 5 percent less than it will the 364 other days of the year. Aaron Millett of Riverside Cycles in Newburyport said he didn't know that the tax-free day was coming up but now he plans to build a promotion around it. "Sales tax is insignificant, but there's a perceived savings for the consumer," he said. Massachusetts is the 10th state to declare a holiday on sales tax. Passed last year by the Legislature as part of an economic stimulus package, the tax-free day will cost the state $6 million to $10 million, the Department of Revenue estimates. While most states that have held tax holidays offer breaks just on clothing, school supplies and computers, the only exceptions in Massachusetts will be cars, boats, utilities and restaurant meals. Linens 'n Things is among the retailers getting aggressive about trying to capture sales on Saturday, with fliers posted around its Danvers store and being handed out at checkout lines to customers making purchases. While store representatives didn't want to speak on the record, the fliers and signs encourage shoppers to come in on Saturday ready to buy. Tri City Sales in Salem is also making its move with promotions - including calling past customers to let them know about the tax-free day - and expects as much as a 30 percent bump in sales Saturday on items from refrigerators to TVs and stoves, said Charles Hurley, sales manager. "We just found out last week (from a customer)," Hurley said, adding that the business, which also has an Ipswich location, will bring in extra staff and even tell customers to wait to make a purchase. "We're going to try to really promote it and if anyone's not in a hurry, we're telling them to come in Saturday." But not all local businesses were aware of the one-day pass on sales tax in time to mount campaigns of their own. "I didn't know anything about it," said Bob McDonald, service manager at Richard's Maytag, which sells appliances in Ipswich and Salisbury. McDonald said he's "very surprised" the state would waive sales tax on items less than $2,500 - which applies to most of Richard's inventory - for a day. "It might be an incentive enough to come in and buy something" for customers, he said. As a small business, McDonald said, Richard's is open on Saturday not to compete with Home Depot, Best Buy or Sears, but as a convenience for customers. "Unless we had some particular incentive or marketing or advertising, Saturday's not going to be a busy day for us," he said. "If we had put information out on this, it could be a busy day for us." For retailers that sell goods that usually aren't taxable, Saturday's tax-free holiday threatens to "siphon off" sales, said Mark Adrian Farber, owner of Mark Adrian Shoes in Gloucester. "We're not particularly looking forward to the tax holiday, because there's no tax on shoes anyway, and it's going to have the effect of...filtering people out from buying ordinarily tax-free products in favor of taxable products on that day," Adrian said. Saturday is usually the busiest day of the week for the Main Street shoe store, and Adrian said he'll be happy if he can make the usual number of sales this week but, he said, "I can't imagine people would be rushing in here." More foot traffic for other downtown retail businesses might help, he said, but "I don't expect people to use us as a destination store on that day." Department of Revenue spokesman Tim Connolly said the state has notified retailers through e-mail sent to tax professionals. Other than the personal-use certification, he said, there won't be any special forms to use. The department also issued a bulletin on how to deal with special circumstances, such as layaway purchases, coupons and taxes collected by mistake. "We've been in contact with the DOR, so we have all the personal-use forms," said Hurley. While the state is willing to take the loss for the day, the economic benefit is questionable, according to a retail consultant. Consumers tend to latch onto tax savings. But whether the holidays generate additional sales is unclear, and the red tape involved with the holiday can make it something of a headache for retailers. "It simply accelerates or delays purchases," Chicago-based retail consultant Diane Yetter said. "If you were not in the market for a big-screen TV, would you go out and buy one just because you could save 5 percent? It's probably more just shifting." Yetter said her clients, for whom she helps manage sales tax reporting, don't like the holidays because they aren't worth the hassle of reprogramming systems. She said the dollar-amount criteria in Massachusetts, instead of a list of specific items, might be easier to deal with, however. One drawback is that people buying items worth $1,000 or more will have to sign a statement promising that the purchase is for personal use, she said. Stores will have to keep those records for three years. "This is just one of many things that makes sales tax so confusing," said Jon Abolins, senior vice president of operations at Taxware, a Salem company that makes software to automatically calculate and remit taxes. Taxware's customers include Home Depot, Wal-Mart and other multistate businesses. "It is very gimmicky," Abolins said of the holiday. "This is a pretty cheap tax break to make for a state. People love to shop tax-free." The addition of Massachusetts to the list of states offering tax holidays was not enough to prompt any new software sales, Abolins said. The company will automatically update the software for its customers. * * * Information on provisions of the tax holiday, including the purchaser's personal-use certification form, are available online at www.dor.state.ma.us/ Staff Writers Beat the business survival odds with smart tax planning By Tax Time James Angelin Many people, at some time in their lives, contemplate starting their own business. Indeed, the backbone of our economy is made up of entrepreneurs who have taken this risk. Creating an idea, executing the idea and enjoying the fruits of your success can be one of the most satisfying events in a person’s life. However, starting a business is a high risk – high reward venture, and only for those willing to make the personal commitment. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, more than 50 percent of small businesses fail in the first year and 95 percent fail within the first five years. Apart from the personal challenges and commitment a business requires there are numerous tax considerations. Don’t even think about starting a business without legal, accounting and tax help. If you can’t afford these professionals then you are undercapitalized and should not start the business. The tax decisions you make up front can be crucial to the success of the business. Mistakes here can be very costly and very difficult to correct. There are many decisions to make but the important ones are: •What type of entity do you want to be? •Which assets do you want to transfer to the entity? •How will you finance the company (i.e. how much stock and how much debt)? It is easy to create an entity and often very difficult to change. Your choices are: • Self employed or sole proprietor • ‘C’ corporation • ‘S’ corporation • Partnership • Limited liability company Entities are either tax-paying entities or conduit entities. A conduit entity is one that passes all its income (or losses) through to owners. The entity itself does not pay tax, usually. There are only three types of entities subject to tax under the Federal income tax: • Individuals – sole proprietors (self-employed) file schedule C which is part of form 1040 • ‘C’ corporations; (file form 1120) and • Estates and trusts (fiduciaries) (file form 1041). Businesses are not normally operated in this form. There are also three conduit entities: • Partnerships (file form 1065) – Income or loss is passed through to the partners and is taxable to them. The partnership never pays any tax. • ‘S’ corporations (file form 1120S) – Income or loss is passed through to shareholders. The corporation usually does not pay tax, unless it was once a ‘C’ corporation and converted to ‘S’ status after the first year of its life. • Trusts (file form 1041) – Note that trusts are both tax-paying and conduit entities. Income is taxed to the beneficiaries if it is distributed to them. If it is retained by the trust then the trust pays the tax. • Limited liability companies (LLCs), if formed correctly, are usually taxed as partnerships for federal purposes, if you so choose, and if there are two members. Single member LLCs are allowed in MA. An LLC can also choose to be taxed as a corporation, via the "check the box" form 8832. The big advantage of a corporation (‘C’ or ‘S’) or LLC is the limited liability they afford. This means that creditors can take the assets of the entity but usually cannot take the owner’s assets. This protection is not available in a sole proprietorship. All corporations start out as ‘C’ corporations. They have to elect to be taxed as ‘S’ corporations within the first 75 days of the year (March 15 for most). If you miss this 75-day deadline (only 2<1/2> months) then you will be a ‘C’ corporation for the first year at least. This is a shame because often new businesses have losses and those losses are stuck in the ‘C’ corporation and are not deductible, rather than flowing through to an owner of an ‘S’ corporation, partnership or LLC, where they may be deductible. Missing this deadline is a common, but costly, mistake for new businesses. One note regarding the evil and ever growing Social Security (or self-employment) tax. There is a big difference between an ‘S’ corporation and a partnership in how this tax is imposed. In an ‘S’ corporation, the flow through of income, or payment of dividends, is not subject to self-employment tax. In a partnership the flow through of income is subject to this tax. This is a 15.3 percent difference on the first $87,900 and 2.9 percent after that. So, the ‘S’ corporation is preferable in this regard. A ‘C’ corporation pays tax on its taxable income. If a portion of that profit is distributed as a dividend, the distribution generally is taxed to the shareholder, but it is not deductible by the corporation. This represents double taxation of the corporate profits, once to the corporation and once to the shareholder when it is distributed as a dividend. ‘C’ corporations also pay twice on liquidation. When they liquidate, they pay tax at the corporate level on the gain on any appreciated assets, and then the shareholders pay tax again when they receive the liquidating dividend. So, try not to put assets that will appreciate, such as real estate, into a ‘C’ corporation. There are ways to avoid the double taxation of dividends by taking money out of the corporation as something else, such as rent or interest, which are deductible by the corporation. Electing to be an ‘S’ corporation will usually avoid this double tax also. The deductibility of company fringe benefits, such as health insurance, education, etc. is more restrictive for ‘S’ corporations and partnerships, than it is for ‘C’ corporations. This can be a major factor in the choice of entity decision. The second big decision you have to make early on in the life of a business is which assets to transfer to the entity and which to retain and lease to the entity. As mentioned, if you form a ‘C’ corporation you will avoid double taxation by taking rents out of the company, which are deductible, rather than non-deductible dividends. The other big advantage of extracting rents out of the business is that rents (of real estate) are not subject to payroll taxes. So you could reduce your salary and take out the difference as rent and save 15.3 percent Social Security and Medicare health insurance taxes right away. In addition, the real estate will generate depreciation deductions that are non-cash. The final big decision to make when forming the entity is how you will capitalize it. If it is a corporation, you can put the assets into the corporation in exchange for stock (equity) or stock and some debt (a note owed to you). The advantages of receiving interest on the debt, which is deductible by the corporation, are similar to the rent situation (no payroll taxes). Also, repayment of the principal is tax-free. However, debt is inflexible and many new businesses do not want to saddle themselves with too much debt, even if it is owed to the owners. Starting a business is exciting, yet risky. Don’t increase the risk unnecessarily by ignoring important tax issues. * * * North Shore resident James P. Angelini, Ph.D., MBA, CPA is s professor of accounting and taxation and director of the master of science in taxation program in the Sawyer School of Business at Suffolk University, Boston. Contact him at jangelini@adelphia.net. Schwarzenegger to 'girlie men' in Legislature: Lighten up By MIchael R. Blood Associated Press BURBANK, Calif. (AP) -- Hey "girlie men," it was a joke, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Friday. Speaking on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," the governor said his put-down of Democratic lawmakers last month was blown out of proportion by people who have trouble recognizing a dash of humor. "People are so serious, especially in the political arena," Schwarzenegger said. "Everything is interpreted, you know, attacking gay people and lesbians and all this stuff. I didn't even think about that. It was a joke," he said. Democrats in Sacramento weren't amused when the Republican governor, in the midst of a deadlock in budget negotiations last month, mocked them as gutless "girlie men" unable to break away from trial lawyers, unions and other special interests. Some Democrats grumbled that the remark was sexist and homophobic. The governor didn't apologize. "People call me 'girlie man' when I sit at the hairdressing salon and get my hair, you know, blown or get my fingernails polished," Schwarzenegger told Leno. "Who cares? They feel sensitive. I think maybe the truth hurts. I don't know," he added with a chuckle. The governor lifted the "girlie men" remark from an old "Saturday Night Live" skit in which two pompous weightlifters repeatedly use it to needle those who don't meet their standards of physical perfection. Schwarzenegger's "Tonight Show" appearance marked the one-year anniversary of his surprise entry into last year's historic recall election. It was on Aug. 6, 2003, that he startled even some of his own advisers by announcing on Leno's stage that he would become a candidate for governor. There was no dramatic announcement Friday. When asked by Leno if he would seek re-election, Schwarzenegger said to wait until next year. Schwarzenegger, considered a political moderate, is scheduled to deliver a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention in New York City, but that didn't stop him from lamenting the nasty partisan tone on the presidential campaign trail. "It's very divisive," he said. "It's really sad in a way. ... I think the country suffers because of it, rather than bringing people together and, you know, being more civil." Schwarzenegger also let Leno in on one secret: He can say "California" like everyone else. The governor, who was born and raised in Austria, has long pronounced his adopted state's name with a hard "K" and a lilt: "Kah-li-fornia," according to the phonetic description on a whimsical state billboard recently put up in several cities. But prodded by Leno, Schwarzenegger pronounced California with only a trace of an accent. "I think you're from Fresno and this whole Austrian thing is phony," Leno said. Plan now for safe, happy return to school By Healthy Kids Dr. Edwar As summer draws to a close, millions of American children begin to dread the thought of returning to the structure, expectations and demands of the classroom. Parents often experience mixed emotions: sadness at the rapid passing of the lazy summer days and extended time for family, and relief at the thought that, with the children safely confined to the classroom, they might find a few extra hours to work, run errands or pamper themselves. Realize that these mixed feelings are nearly universal and quite appropriate. Many kids greet new situations with enthusiasm, while others yearn for the familiarity and comfort of home, family and friends. It is important to openly ask your children how they feel about school. Let them know that most of their friends are nervous and excited about starting a new year, that you understand their fears, and that it is OK to feel that way. Many children fear failure, while others worry about bullying and teasing. Many kids have fragile self-images or worry about being too fat or too short. Some worry about using a school bathroom. Others lose sleep worrying that their teachers will be mean or like the other kids better than them. When parents talk about these issues with their children, getting to the root of their worries and openly discussing realistic expectations in a supportive way, they can make the first day of school more comfortable and get the year off to a positive start. In addition to these preparations, working parents who juggle their own active schedules with the responsibilities of getting the kids ready for school can plan now to be ready for the start of the year. Planning for a smooth transition might include addressing the following questions: * What time must the child be awakened to allow time for toileting, washing, dressing, eating, and effortless exiting from the house? Who is in charge and responsible? * Who will meet the child at the bus stop or be home to greet them? Have plans been made for after-school care? Even adolescents should not come home to an empty house. * If a child walks to school, have you traced the best route, assuring a safe trip with crosswalks and crossing guards, and if possible, a buddy? Has the child been counseled to avoid alleys, woods and isolated areas and to never talk to or go with strangers? * If the child takes the bus, do they know appropriate bus etiquette and that they must wait in a safe place, away from the street, until the bus comes to a complete stop and the driver signals them to board? Getting off the bus can be dangerous, as well, and they should take at least 10 steps away from the bus after disembarking so the driver can see the child is safely away. * What kind of a load is the child carrying? Overloaded backpacks cause countless back injuries to children each year. The pack should never exceed 20 percent of a child's weight. Rolling "backpacks" are a consideration, but remember that there are times when they too must be carried. With traditional backpacks, both straps and a harness that rests on the hips should be used to balance the load. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer, making the most of family time and good weather, and I wish for you an organized system, to ensure a pleasant return to school. * * * Dr. Edward Bailey is chief of pediatrics at NSMC North Shore Children's Hospital in Salem and the father of three. Send your questions or comments to features@ecnnews.com. Bailey Warding off food poisoningSummer poses special threat By Diane Nolan Correspondent Cooking safe and smart Temperatures of thoroughly cooked meats: * Ground beef, lamb, pork chops, whole fresh beef roasts - 160 degrees Fahrenheit * Rare whole fresh beef roasts - 145 degrees Fahrenheit * Whole poultry - 180 degrees Fahrenheit * Poultry breasts and roasts - 170 degrees Fahrenheit BEVERLY - As the warm summer weather brings more picnics and barbecues, the risk of food poisoning increases as well, experts say. Heat and humidity are almost always associated with New England summers, but this type of weather is also the kind that promotes the growth of the harmful micro-organisms that can cause food poisoning. "There is an increase in food poisoning in the summer," said Jennifer Morcone, a spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. "Meat, poultry and egg products are often left out or handled differently at picnics and barbecues than they normally would be." Of the 76 million people that the CDC estimates develop food poisoning each year, 325,000 require hospitalization and 5,000 die. "Being mindful of the way food is handled, stored and prepared greatly reduces the risk of experiencing the symptoms of food poisoning," said Lucas Wolf, a doctor who specializes in treating infectious diseases at Beverly and Addison Gilbert hospitals. Symptoms of food poisoning include fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. Restaurants share with families in the responsibility of paying special attention to cleanliness in the kitchen at this time of year. Jan Pellegrini, owner of Taste Buds on Hale Street in Beverly, said restaurants have to be careful with food preparation all year but acknowledged that the summer does call for extra precautions. Normally, food can be left out unrefrigerated for up to four hours before it reaches the "danger zone," or the time when bacteria will most likely strike, but in the summer, Pellegrini said she won't even give food that long. "When we take our soups off (the stove), we immediately submerge them in ice water during the summer," Pellegrini said. Also, Pellegrini said homemakers can take a cue from the restaurant business in terms of their food-cleaning techniques. "Submerge everything you get from the grocery store in a bucket of ice water," Pellegrini said. "It has been everywhere, and you don't know who has touched it." Pellegrini said the Board of Health told her iceberg lettuce picks up salmonella the fastest and easiest. "Core the head of lettuce and then submerge it in water," Pellegrini said. "After that, take the cored part and put it on the colander. Cantaloupe and honeydew (melon) should be washed too because they can also pick up bacteria from cutting boards really easily." The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health also have some tips to help prevent food-borne illnesses from ruining your summer parties: * When selecting foods, never choose meats that are in torn or leaking packages. From the deli, never choose any cooked products that are touching raw items. * To avoid cross-contamination, prevent juices from dripping onto fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw and keep meats in a plastic bag. * Stop at the grocery store last when running errands and do all of your shopping before selecting perishable items. Keep these items in the air-conditioned car rather than the trunk, and if your ride is more that 30 minutes from the store, bring a cooler to keep them in. * After the store, unload perishable foods first and leave these products in their original packaging. If planning to freeze meats for more than two to three months, wrap store packaging with aluminum foil. * When cooking outside bring soapy sponges and wet towelettes to clean cooking surfaces and hands. * To sanitize kitchen surfaces, wash first with hot, soapy water. Then leave a mixture of two teaspoons of bleach in one quart of water on the surface for a few minutes before rinsing clean with water and patting dry. * Keep food at a safe temperature by marinating meat and poultry that will not be cooked within one hour in a covered dish in the refrigerator. Keep the fridge at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler, and the freezer at zero degrees Fahrenheit. For more on summer food safety, visit www.mass.gov/dph/seasonal/sumfact.htm. Health Beat WARNING SIGNS: Landmark at OceanView Assisted Living, located at 3 Essex St., Beverly, will host a free program Tuesday, Aug. 10 at noon on the risk factors and warning signs of stroke. Light lunch served. Call (978) 927-4227 Ext. 11 to register. LECTURE: A free lecture on incontinence and the overactive bladder will be held Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Heritage at Danvers Assisted Living, 9 Summer St., Danvers. Dr. Zachareas, urologist, will speak and answer questions. Must register by calling (978) 774-5959. WEIGHTY ISSUES: A free information session on weight management and gastric bypass surgery will be held Wednesday, Aug. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the board room of the Beverly Hospital Hunt Center, 75 Lindall St., Danvers. Registration is required. Call (888) 253-0800. QUIT SMOKING: North Shore Medical Center will offer an eight-week smoking cessation program, "Quit and Quit for Good" beginning Aug. 16. Classes will be Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Salem Hospital. Cost is $140. Call (978) 741-4151. HEALING CHILDREN: The Hospice of the North Shore's Center for Grief and Healing and Marblehead YMCA will offer a summer camp for children who have experienced the loss of a loved one. The week-long program will be held Aug. 16 to 20 at the Marblehead YMCA for ages 4<1/2> through 7 and at Children's Island in Marblehead for ages 8 through 12. Call (978) 744-5100. ANSWERS ABOUT MENOPAUSE: Gynecologist David DiChiara, M.D. will speak and answer questions about menopause Wednesday, Aug. 18 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Escape Within Women's Fitness and Wellness Center, 131 Dodge St., Beverly. The program is free and open to all area women. Call (978) 236-1650. LOOK GOOD, FEEL BETTER: Beverly Hospital will host the "Look Good, Feel Better," program Friday, Oct. 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Garden Conference Room. The class, taught by professional cosmetologists, is free and open to all women undergoing cancer treatment and provides help in using makeup and skin care to counteract appearance-related side effects. Advance registration is required. Call Mary Ellen at (978) 922-3000, Ext. 2991. CPR PROGRAMS: Education Services at Northeast Health System conducts American Heart Association basic life support classes that are available to the public: n Heartsaver (basic class), both adult and pediatric, alternate monthly and are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. at Beverly Hospital. Cost is $35. n American Heart Association Health care Provider, both certification and recertification classes, are held monthly with occasional evening classes at Beverly Hospital. Cost for the initial certification is $50, and recertification is $35. Call Sally Kiesling at (978) 922-3000 Ext. 2236. MEDICATION MANAGEMENT: The VNA Care Network offers a free Medication Management Program to help seniors and their caregivers effectively manage seniors' prescription medications and reduce errors and adverse drug reactions. Participants must be age 60 or older and be a resident of Danvers, Marblehead, Middleton, Peabody or Salem. Call (800) 728-1862. HIV AND AIDS TESTING: Free HIV and AIDS testing is held every Wednesday from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at Health and Education Services, 156 Cabot St., Beverly. Testing is anonymous and confidential. Call Kate Perry at (978) 927-4506 Ext. 222. WOMEN IN NEED: VNA Care Network will provide financial assistance stipends to women in need with breast cancer. Stipends can be used for treatment, medication, child care, prosthetic undergarments, head coverings and transportation. For more information, call (888) 663-3688 Ext. 2429. PERSONAL THERAPY: The North Shore Heart and Wellness Center at NSMC Salem Hospital will continue to offer private sessions in personal fitness training, reiki therapy, hypnotherapy for smoking patients, and therapeutic massage for illness. To schedule a session with an expert, call (978) 741-4151. BREAST CANCER STUDY: The NSMC Cancer Center in Peabody is seeking local women to participate in one of the largest breast cancer prevention clinical trials ever undertaken in North America. The research will target postmenopausal women at increased risk for breast cancer. For information on the study or to take a breast cancer risk assessment, call (978) 573-5411 or visit www.breastcancerprevention.com. SEEING STRAIGHT: The Seniors EyeCare Program will offer free eye-care information for patients who qualify. The program is designed for those age 65 and older who have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years. Eligible patients will be matched with a nearby volunteer ophthalmologist. Call (800) 222-EYES (3937). MAKING A CHOICE: A free "Choosing Hospice" booklet answering common questions and providing a list of resources is available from the VNA Care Hospice. Call (888) 663-3688 Ext. 1206, or e-mail kstrogney@vnacarenetwork.org. HELP FOR STUTTERERS: Rehab Services at Northeast Health System provides a hotline to parents of children who stutter or who have other developmental problems. The phone line, (978) 777-3880, is open Friday mornings from 8:30 to 10:30 and is staffed by speech and language pathologist Kyle Kuboto. MOMS NEED PLAYTIME TOO: Mothertalk Too, a playtime for moms and babies 8 months and older, takes place every other Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Women's Health & Medical Arts Building on the campus of Beverly Hospital, Herrick Street, Beverly. Cost is $5 a class. Call (978) 927-9103. BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK: A free blood pressure clinic is held on the first Tuesday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Geriatric Care Center, 75 Lindall St., Danvers. MEN'S HEALTH: The Gay and Bisexual Men's Health Program has drop-in hours Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. at 156 Cabot St., Beverly, and offers free and anonymous HIV testing, free condoms and information on HIV, STD, hepatitis and other men's health issues. Call David at (978) 927-4506 Ext. 219. INSURANCE COUNSELING: North Shore Elder Services in Danvers has trained volunteers to counsel Medicare beneficiaries about health insurance and benefits, including Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Savings Programs, HMOs, Prescription Advantage Program and long-term care insurance. Volunteers provide seniors with free, confidential, unbiased information. Counselors are available Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. Appointments required. Call Kristin at (978) 750-4540 Ext. 231. YOGA CLASSES: Yoga classes for both beginners and experienced participants will be held at The Lifestyle Management Institute at the Hunt Center, 75 Lindall St., Danvers. Classes include Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Men and Power Lunch. Call (888) 253-0800. Drug use at an early age can lead to emotional problems later By TAKE THE FIRST STEP Dr. Michael Levy Q: Do you know whether children who use drugs at an early age are more prone to develop emotional problems as they get older? I have two grown nephews who as adults have many problems and when they were younger, they both smoked a lot of marijuana and did many other drugs as well. A: You ask an excellent and complicated question. It is complicated because it is possible that early drug use is a symptom of early emotional problems, and drugs are used as a way to cope. So instead of drugs causing later problems, the drug use, at least in part, was due to having some psychiatric difficulties. However, it is also possible that early drug use can be a catalyst to bring out a pre-existing vulnerability to emotional problems or even cause them. This can occur because of either the drugs' direct effects on the brain or due to the social problems and stresses that drug use can cause, which, in turn, can precipitate other emotional problems. There recently has been some research that has tried to shed light on this issue. Essentially, this research demonstrated that individuals who use drugs in their early years seem to be more likely to struggle with depression in adulthood. They are also more likely to suffer from alcohol and other drug problems. Researchers studied 700 people from early childhood into their late 20s. What they found was that the frequency of alcohol and substance use during the early years was related to later psychiatric problems, particularly depression. The researchers concluded that early drug and alcohol use should be taken seriously, and may be a signal for the eventual development of depression and other drug problems. Early drug use must be taken seriously, as whatever is going on, it will not help the situation in the long run. Q: I am looking for Al-Anon meetings in the area for my 9-year-old grandson. I would be attending with him. I know he is young but he needs to know how to cope with his father’s disease. A: Alateen meetings, which are like Al-Anon meetings, are designed for children who are affected by alcohol problems. Some Alateen meetings are geared for younger children and would be appropriate for your grandson. A national number that you can call to get a list of meetings is (888) 4AL-ANON. Also you can check out their Web site at www.al-anon.org/alateen.html. There is also a statewide Al-Anon number, which is (508) 366-0556. Hopefully this helps and I wish you the best. If I can be of further help, please contact me again. * * * Taking the first step is the hardest part of all. If you have a question about your own or someone else's behavior that might be a result of an addiction, or if you need help preventing problems associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs, write to: Take The First Step, c/o Essex County Newspapers, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA 01915; or send e-mail to michael_levy@cabhealth.org. Questions will be answered in confidence by a clinical team led by Dr. Michael Levy, director of clinical treatment services at CAB Health & Recovery Services in Salem. Movies take on medical mysteries By Michael Woods Two upcoming Hollywood films will spotlight a medical mystery that has puzzled and perplexed experts for more than 2,300 years: What on Earth killed Alexander the Great, the Macedonian general who used his father's well-oiled army to conquer much of the known world? The decedent's fame alone doesn't explain the enduring interest, as modern bio-historians and amateur medical detectives follow the footsteps of ancient scholars and propose new explanations. Experts also can't fathom the odd circumstances of his death. If accounts from historians like Plutarch are right, for instance, Alexander's body showed no signs of decay for weeks after his death. And the cause is totally up for grabs. The hypotheses range from assassination and accidental poisoning to malaria, typhoid fever and organ damage from heavy drinking. Alexander died at age 32 on June 10, 323 B.C. in Babylon, about 50 miles south of present-day Baghdad, Iraq. He was perfectly healthy until a night of heavy drinking, when he downed the equivalent of 6 quarts of wine. The next day he developed severe fatigue, with achy muscles and joints. After drinking another 6 quarts of wine that night, chest and stomach pains appeared, and then chills, sweats and fever. He eventually slipped into a coma and was dead within two weeks of the first symptoms. Enemies were lined up waiting for a chance to assassinate Alexander, who was bisexual. He had a male lover who had just died with similar symptoms. Who knows what spin movie directors Oliver Stone and Baz Luhrmann will put on those and other details? Stone's "Alexander," which stars Colin Farrell and Rosario Dawson, will open later in 2004, and Luhrmann's untitled Alexander film staring Leonardo DiCaprio and Nicole Kidman debuts in 2005. The newest hypothesis is that Alexander died from West Nile virus. Drs. John Marr and Charles Calisher proposed it late last year in a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publication. Plutarch tipped them off. As Alexander first approached the gates of Babylon, Plutarch wrote, a flock of ravens appeared and some fell dead in front of Alexander. Wild birds can carry West Nile. Marr and Calisher, who are with the Virginia Department of Health and Colorado State University, acknowledge that West Nile might not fully explain the situation. Why, for instance, did Alexander's body not decay, despite the hot weather? A 1998 article in the New England Journal of Medicine examined earlier theories, including the possibility that Alexander died as a of result of drinking wine contaminated with wood alcohol, or methanol. The body changes methanol, which is poisonous, into chemicals like those used to embalm the dead. r> Scripps Howard Health news By Robyn Day Staff writer 040805_sn_out_aloe OR 040805_sn_out_aloe2 Aloe vera found to improve blood flow Adding a minute amount of the aloe vera plant's polymers to the blood makes it slippery. That makes the blood easier to pump and improves its ability to squeeze through tiny arteries and capillaries where red blood cells do their work - supplying cells with oxygen and removing carbon dioxide. These properties of aloe vera gel may someday be used to treat heart attacks, strokes and circulatory problems from diabetes and vascular diseases, some bioengineers believe. Declining appetite for carbs? The hype surrounding the low-carb craze may fade sooner than expected, data from a recent Gallup poll suggests. Overall, the number of Americans who say they are actively avoiding carbohydrate-rich foods has risen from 20 percent to 27 percent in the last two years. But despite this shift in eating patterns, Americans' assessments of how healthy their diets are have not budged. This year, 24 percent of Americans rate their diet as "very healthy" - virtually the same as the 25 percent who did so in 2001 and the 23 percent in 2003. 040805_sn_out_cran OR 040805_sn_out_cran2 Multiple health benefits of cranberries The cranberry, long known for its health benefits, has recently received high ratings for its antioxidant levels. While the human body produces antioxidants naturally, conditions of stress can impair the bodies' ability to produce them. Stress can also deplete the antioxidants the body does produce, creating an additional need. Cranberries contain specific nutrients that can slow cancer cell growth, preliminary studies show. In addition, flavonoids, a compound found in cranberries, may inhibit bacterial adhesion in the body, preventing urinary tract infections and possibly ulcers and gum disease. Compounds in cranberries may also help prevent the progression of plaques that lead to heart disease. Genes help some fight hepatitis C Scientists may have figured out why some people infected with liver-destroying hepatitis C essentially cure themselves: Their genes seem to unleash a faster immune attack. The research may point to new ways to prevent or treat hepatitis C, widely considered the most serious of a family of liver viruses. The goal of researchers is to use the knowledge to develop treatments or vaccines for the disease. About 20 percent of people infected with hepatitis C somehow clear the virus from their bodies without treatment. But about 3 million Americans and 180 million people worldwide remain chronically infected, at risk of eventually developing liver cancer or failure. The virus claims 10,000 to 12,000 U.S. lives annually. North Shore support groups PARKINSON'S SUPPORT: A North Shore support group for those affected by Parkinson's disease will meet Monday, Aug. 9 at 1 p.m. at the Beverly Council on Aging, 90 Colon St., Beverly. For information, call (978) 887-2248. CANCER SUPPORT: The Cape Ann Cancer Support Group meets in the Longan Room at Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Call (978) 283-4001, Ext. 559. - Beverly Hospital hosts a breast cancer support group the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Herrick House. Call (978) 922-3000, Ext. 2405. - Beverly Hospital's general cancer support group meets the first Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Garden Conference Room at the hospital. (978) 922-3000, Ext. 2710. - The Men's Group, a support group for men who have or have had cancer, meets the first Wednesday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the North Shore Cancer Center, 17 Centennial Drive in Peabody. Call Dr. Robert Cross at (617) 362-3139. - The Social Work and Oncology Department at Beverly Hospital conducts a free cancer support group that meets on the first Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Garden Conference Room. Call (978) 922-3000, Ext. 2710. STROKE GROUP: The North Shore Medical Center Stroke Support Group will meet the third Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in Room D 102A on the ground floor of Salem Hospital. Meetings are free and feature speakers and camaraderie. Caregivers and family members are welcome. Call (978) 825-6286. LOSS SUPPORT: - VNA Care Hospice will continue to offer free bereavement support groups at the VNA Care Network, 5 Federal St., Danvers, for adults coping with the death of a loved one. A group will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: Aug. 10, Aug. 24, Sept. 14, and Sept. 28. Another group will meet from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on the following Mondays: Aug. 9, Aug. 23, Sept. 13, Sept. 27. Call (978) 777-6100, Ext. 1401. - The Center for Grief and Healing offers support groups for those who lost a spouse or partner, and for those interested in exploring spiritual questions after the death of a loved one. The meetings are free and are held at the Hospice of the North Shore, 10 Elm St., Danvers. For dates, times and details, call (978) 774-7566. - Loss Support Group for those with a loss due to death, divorce or separation and meets every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Mary of the Annunciation Rectory, 24 Conant St., Danvers. All are welcome. Call Doris Sevigny at (978) 282-7676. - A Bereavement Group meets on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., at St. Paul's Church Rectory, 50 Union St., Hamilton. To register, call Doris at (978) 282-7676. - An Infant Loss Support Group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Kauders Conference Room at Beverly Hospital. Registration is not required. - A Widowed Persons' Support Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Longan Room at Addison Gilbert Hospital, 298 Washington St., Gloucester. Call (978) 283-7102. FAMILY HELP: Family members of people diagnosed with mental illness may find support at the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program, sponsored by the Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Massachusetts. The 12-week course will meet from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at North Shore Children's Hospital beginning Monday, Sept. 20. For more information, call (978) 744-7491. ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT: - Beverly Hospital hosts an Alzheimer's support group for patients, caregivers, family, and friends every first and third Wednesday of the month from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the board room at the Beverly Hospital Hunt Center in Danvers. Call (978) 774-4400, Ext. 3064. - Heritage at Danvers, 9 Summer St., Danvers, holds an Alzheimer's support group on the first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. Call Anne at (978) 774-5959. - Support group for children, ages 8 to 12, at the Geriatric Care Center at the Hunt Center, 75 Lindall St., Danvers, on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Call (978) 774-4400, Ext. 4007. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: The MS Support Group meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Longan Room at Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester. Call (978) 283-4001, Ext. 131. LUPUS GROUP: The North Shore Lupus Group will meet the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Lahey Clinic North in Peabody. Call Nan Hardigan at (978) 468-3524. MOTHER'S GROUPS: - The social work department at Beverly Hospital hosts a free program for young mothers, Connecting With Your Moms, on Tuesdays, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., and Thursdays, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Women's Health Building at Beverly Hospital. Call (978) 922-3000, Ext. 2720. - The Mothertime Support Group meets Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to noon at the North Shore Birth Center at Beverly Hospital. Call (978) 927-7880. BABY/CHILD SAVER CLASS: Baby/child saver classes will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Beverly Hospital. The program helps parents, expectant parents and caregivers to recognize and cope with emergency situations involving babies and small children. Accident prevention and techniques are reviewed. Cost is $45. For upcoming dates, call the Parent Education Department at Beverly Hospital at (978) 927-9103. BATTERED WOMEN'S GROUP: Greater Lynn Senior Services is offering a weekly support group for women 50 and older who have experienced or are experiencing any form of abuse from a spouse or partner. The group is free for women living in the Greater Lynn area. Call Katie Galenius or Christine Elliott at (781) 599-0110. PARKINSON'S DISEASE: The Beverly Council on Aging hosts the North Shore Parkinson's Support Group meetings on the second Monday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Beverly Council on Aging, 90 Colon St., in Beverly. Call Peggy at (978) 887-2248. HIV/AIDS SUPPORT: The Visiting Nurse Association Care Network in Danvers will host a support group for friends and relatives of people with HIV/AIDS. These free meetings will be held at 5 Federal St. in Danvers, with dates and times to be announced. Call Mary McComish at (800) 457-8999, Ext. 1233, or at (978) 777-6100, Ext. 1233. DISABILITIES SUPPORT GROUP: A monthly peer support group for people with disabilities to share solutions and concerns with living independently will be held Thursdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Independent Living Center of the North Shore and Cape Ann Inc., 27 Congress St., Suite 107. Reservations are required. Call Mary Margaret Moore at (978) 741-0077, Ext. 10 or e-mail mmmoore@ilcnsca.org. PHONE REASSURANCE: Jewish Family Services of the North Shore will offer a telephone reassurance program for senior citizens who are homebound. Seniors who wish will receive two to three phone calls per week from a volunteer to ensure their physical and mental well-being. More volunteers are needed. Call (781) 631-2704. ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE: A support group for families of drug users and problem drinkers meets at CAB Health & Recovery Services Inc. outpatient offices in Salem every Tuesday at 5:45 p.m. The group will learn about enabling, trust and legal issues and the 12-step recovery process. Call (978) 740-1580 or (800) 334-5512, or e-mail info@cabhealth.org. PFLAG MEETING: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons (PFLAG) will hold its monthly support group for North Shore residents on the first Tuesday of every month at the Beverly Public Library, 32 Essex St. All are welcome to attend and meetings are free. Call Marty Langlois or Jim Lynch at (978) 927-2059. LA LECHE LEAGUE: La Leche League of Beverly offers a monthly information and support group for pregnant and breast-feeding women the second Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church in Peabody. Call Julie at (978) 745-5586. M.O.M.'s CLUB: North Shore Mothers Of Multiples, a nonprofit support group for mothers of twins and multiples, will hold monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Beverly Hospital Hunt Center cafeteria, 75 Lindall St., Danvers. Expectant mothers are welcome. Call Christine at (978) 646-9406. CHRONIC PAIN: A Fibromyalgia/Chronic Pain Support Group will meet the second Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Alternative Therapy Center, 24 Main St. in Peabody. Reiki and therapeutic massage clinic offered the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Call Dot at (978) 538-3692. DEMENTIA SUPPORT: An early stage dementia support group for patients is held from 3 to 4 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Geriatric Care Center at Beverly Hospital. Call (978) 774-4400, Ext. 4022. LOW VISION: The Danvers Council on Aging offers a Low Vision Support Group on the third Thursday of each month from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Danvers Senior Center, 25 Stone St. in Danvers. Call Gerry at (978) 762-0208. CARDIAC REHABILITATION: The Cardiac Rehabilitation Support Group, sponsored by Northeast Health System, is held on the third Wednesday of each month at noon in the Cardiac Conference Room at Beverly Hospital. Call (978) 922-3000, Ext. 2710. This weekend, it's All About BufordA cappella group melds funk and pop By Diane Nolan Correspondent If you go • Who: All About Buford and Full Frontal Folk • Where: Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St., Marblehead • When: 8 p.m. tomorrow • How: Tickets are $12 and available at the door; for more on the group, check out www.allaboutbuford.com MARBLEHEAD - An a cappella pop-funk band making a name for itself by playing at venues on the East and West coasts will return home this weekend. Amy Malkoff of Marblehead will get a chance to play at home tomorrow when she performs at the Marblehead Arts Association's Hooper Mansion with her band All About Buford. Malkoff's cat, Buford, is the band's namesake. "He's from Marblehead, too," said Malkoff, one of the band's vocalists. All About Buford members use only their voices as instrumentation. Malkoff started the band - which has performed in many locations including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and California - with fellow vocalists Taunia Soderquist and Shah Salmi in 2000. Vocal percussionists Wes Carroll and Ben Jackson joined Buford more recently. Soderquist said the addition of Jackson and Carroll has brought a new dimension to the band. "Wes is a very respected vocal percussionist," Soderquist said. "Ben is also very talented. He brings a playfulness to the stage ... a youthfulness." Jackson, who joined Buford last year, started vocal percussion while he was attending Harvard University as a linguistics major and a music minor. Jackson was a part of Harvard's a cappella group, The Harvard Callbacks. "Doing (vocal percussion) with a group is really the best practice," said Jackson. Carroll lives in San Francisco and performs with the band when he can, which Soderquist said is a few times a year. About 50 percent of the band's songs are covers, "but they are pretty obscure songs," said Soderquist, who said she tries to use "everyday things" as inspiration for her own songwriting. From lyrics to arrangements, each band member has had a role in putting songs together. "We all bring something to the table with that," Soderquist said. For Soderquist, who is also from Massachusetts, playing in Marblehead will give her friends and family who can't travel to other shows a chance to see her perform. "I know it sounds really cliche, but when I'm onstage, I feel like that's the real me," Soderquist said. The band's love of performing has led them to lots of positive feedback from their audiences. "The response has been excellent," Salmi said. "There are very strong performers in this group." Salmi was doing a solo act before joining All About Buford, but said that he enjoys the group atmosphere. "I have no worries about any of the members of the group. I trust them all," Salmi said. All the members agreed that they would like to increase their fan base and the number of shows they perform. "I would like to do this full time, ideally," Salmi said. The band's 2002 CD "Supercar" features songs like "Wolf at the Door," "My Funny Valentine" and "Car Wash." Its next CD is currently in the works. Buford released its first DVD early this year, which takes fans on a road trip with the band and to live concert performances. Full Frontal Folk, a contemporary folk band, will join All About Buford at the Hooper Mansion performance Saturday. Treasure troveGreat art from one of England's great homes at PEM By Alan Burke Staff writer SALEM -- They are collectors in the Cavendish family. But it's not the sort of collection found at your local garage sale. For one thing, this family has been at it for a very long time -- about five centuries. And they've had the money to do it right, a fortune earned through royal land holdings and shrewd investments, like shares in the East India Co. Of equal importance, generation after generation has consistently collected with a keen eye for beauty, filling a grand home, Chatsworth, including more than 100 rooms, with treasure. "They collected with a zeal," notes Dan Monroe, director of the Peabody Essex Museum. "Some of these things were collected to read," adds curator William Sargent. "Or to use -- like ice buckets. And some were collected as works of art." A stunning sampling of all will go on display from Saturday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Nov. 7 at the museum's presentation of "Treasures From Chatsworth, A British Noble House." It includes the works of masters like Rembrandt, handmade books from the Middle Ages, gleaming jewels, massive gold and silver containers, early scientific instruments, sculpture, furniture and even Henry VIII's oversized, carved wooden rosary beads. Today, sections of Chatsworth are open to the public, says Sargent. But some of what's on display in Salem is customarily locked away in the private quarters of the Duke of Devonshire. The only thing that ties all these wonders together is the family. Thus, the exhibit is organized chronologically, with information offered on each generation. Matriarch Elizabeth of Shrewsbury (1527-1608) built Chatsworth after amassing a fortune through a series of well-timed marriages. At the insistence of Queen Elizabeth I, her great home played a reluctant host to the captive Mary Queen of Scots. Shrewsbury and Mary quarreled and did needlework together. An amazing letter from Elizabeth Rex, on display at the PEM, urges everyone to get along. Later, the queen decided, in one fell swoop, to relieve Shrewsbury of her headache and Mary of her head. Although their home was deliberately set up away from cosmopolitan London, famous people flit in and out of the story of Cavendishes. Georgiana Spencer (1757-1806), who became the Beautiful Duchess, is an ancestor of the late Princess Diana. She was also one corner of a scandalous love triangle involving the Duke and the married Lady Elizabeth Foster. The latter would become duchess after Georgiana's death. Meanwhile, Georgiana's beauty is caught for all time in a famously unfinished Sir Joshua Reynolds painting featured in the exhibit. Nearby is a spectacular jewelry set created by her son, the sixth Duke, who "did not want his wife outshone on a trip to Russia," according to Sargent. The jewels include a tiara, stomacher, bracelets, headbands, necklaces, all in glittering gold, graced with gleaming gem stones and diamonds. During World War II, Kathleen Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy, married William Cavendish, who would have become Duke had he not been killed in action a short time later. She died too, after the war, in a plane crash. The 11th Duke, who died recently, had his portrait painted by artist Lucien Freud, son of the famed psychiatrist. In the mid-20th century, British socialism began to take its toll on great houses and great families. Some of Chatsworth's treasures had to be sold off or turned over to the government. One of the family's three Rembrandts was taken by the National Trust. It was the 11th Duke and his wife, Deborah Mitford - one of the famous, even notorious Mitford sisters (Nancy was a writer and supporter of leftist causes, Diana was rumored to be Hitler's lover) - who began working to restore the home to its former glory. One method for this was investing in racehorses, including the fabulously successful Park Top. The home's art collection grew and it includes a bronze of the mare, now on display at the PEM. Opening their home to the public has been an adjustment for the family, Sargent says. He recounts the time the Duchess overheard a group passing her in the hall. "That's the Duchess before she died," someone whispered. The family has had some disappointments -- what was long assumed to be a Da Vinci drawing turns out to be the work of one of Leonardo's students. "You often collect something as one thing," Sargent explains, "and then you find out it's something else." And in a twist that would have pleased Elizabeth of Shrewsbury -- who had her house put to use by the queen -- the government took a closer look at the Rembrandt taken from Chatsworth. It was a fake. ShipshapeModel boat builders gather in Peabody By Club News Cynthia Garb Like clockwork, every Monday at 12:30 p.m., a clever group of artisans gather at the Peter A. Torigian Community Life Center in Peabody to build model ships. And the ships these craftsmen turn out are nothing short of superior. Marc "Marcy" Consalvo, 69, of Peabody, the unofficial head of the group, said he is not new to shipbuilding. In fact, Consalvo has been building model ships for more than half a century. "My mother and father bought me a ship model kit when I was 12 years old and I failed miserably the first time I tried back then," said the grandfather of two, who is a retired General Electric engineer. "But I've always known that the only thing that works in life is persistence. So I kept at it. And now that I'm retired, I have the time to work at it. That's because building these models takes a long time - I would say each model takes between 1,200 and 2,200 hours." Consalvo, who is also an accomplished artist, said he has probably built a dozen models since he began coming to the center about 1990. "I've kept some of my models and I've sold some of them," he said. "My wife allows me to keep a couple of models on display at home and the rest I keep in mothballs, then I take them out and show them from time to time." Peabody's Bert Cressey, a 60-year-old retired airline mechanic, comes by model shipbuilding naturally. His father was a sea captain for 50 years. "I always worked on models with him but I didn't know that this group even existed until my wife, who does Meals on Wheels, told me about it," he said. "These people have made a big difference in my life. I've been coming here now for about a year and a half and it's been wonderful, not only because of doing the boats but these gentlemen have such wonderful stories to tell and such colorful histories to share." Cressey's current project is a boat that will actually go into the water. "My dad retired from Boston Towing and I'm making this boat for a gentleman who actually owns Boston Towing. It's a model of a brand-new boat that is 965 feet in real life. But this will be three-eighths scale and will be radio controlled," he said. "I've been working on it for about 2<1/2> months here and at home as well. It should be done in about four months. But the beauty of this place is that there are plenty of guys to help you if you need help." John Vdoviak, 77, said he makes models of just about everything that moves - planes, trains, cars and ships. The retired GE engineering manager hails from Marblehead but said that coming to the group is more than worth the ride even with the high cost of gas. He enjoys the opportunity to spend time with other like-minded modelers. "This is a three-season, mostly wintertime activity for me. I live near the water so in the summer I sail boats and in the winter I make models of them," he said. "This group is a great thing for everybody. It doesn't cost anything and anyone who is interested is invited to come and join us, both men and women, and if they don't know how to do it, we will teach them." And, that's just why Bruce Bateman of Danvers decided to join the group. The 70-year-old historian, who calls himself a "neophyte" when it comes to model shipbuilding, spent a recent afternoon working on what he describes as a "Mickey Mouse dory." "I've built models all my life but these guys can really build them and I wanted to learn. Since one of the stories I talk about in my lectures is the story of Howard Blackburn, the fingerless navigator of Gloucester, and his dory, I wanted to make a model dory of my own and that's what I'm doing," he said. "This is good therapy and coming here I've met a great bunch of knowledgeable guys." George Sipple, 78, a retired loss control manager for West Lynn Creamery, is a prime mover in the formation of the group and has been very much involved with the model shipbuilders for more than a decade. Sipple said he began building ship models about 1972. "What happened was that my sister-in-law bought me a kit. But I put it aside for a year or two until one day, I had nothing to do, so I started building," Sipple recalled, adding that that particular model was not the place to start. "It was complicated and it took me seven years before I finally finished the job. But I've been building them ever since. In fact, my wife once said that the only thing I care about is boats and grandchildren," Sipple said with a grin. One day, Sipple, said, he saw a notice about the center's shipbuilding group in The Salem News so he decided to give it a try. He ended up mentoring the class, which has grown to become one of the most popular groups meeting at the center. "We're funded by the Peabody Cultural Council and the Friends of the Peabody Council on Aging," Sipple said. "They supply the funds so we don't charge for the lessons or the lumber; it's all free. All you have to do is come and bring your body with you and we'll tell you how to do it. We've even had women in the class and we encourage more women to join. We have plenty of guys here to help even people who have never built a model before." The group is now preparing for a model ship exposition that will take place at the Torigian Senior Center, 79 Central St., Peabody, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 6 and 7. Handcrafted miniature ship models on display will range from Colonial schooners to World War II warships. And, if you would like to meet some very friendly and interesting people and learn more about model ship building at the same time, then consider coming to the Torigian Center any Monday at 12:30 p.m. where the model shipbuilders assure you of a warm welcome. * * * Though the more than 50-year-old Peabody Lions Club has long been involved in eye research, the club reaches out to the community in many other ways as well. The club welcomes new members, both men and women. Meetings, which include dinner and a program, are held the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Angelica's Restaurant, Route 114, Middleton. Anyone interested in membership is invited to attend a meeting. For information, contact club President Barry Feinstein at (978) 531-7450; fax (978) 531-7123 or e-mail: Barry@BarryFeinstein.com. * * * And don't forget to circle the date of Sept. 28 and the time of 1 p.m. - that's when the first meeting of the season of the Peabody AARP Chapter 4806 will be held at the Torigian Center. And in the meantime, check out the local cable TV Channel 22 at 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month when the chapter's "Senior Corner" program airs with co-hosts Bill Toomey and Ray Stoey. If you miss the live broadcast, don't despair - the program is repeated at 5 p.m. on subsequent Wednesdays. The Club News column appears every other Friday in Arts & Leisure. If your club or organization has news to share, call Cynthia Garber at (978) 531-5863; e-mail: cgarber@star.net or fax: (978) 531-5863. r Good causes BIG SISTERS: The Big Sister Association of Greater Boston seeks women older than 20 to become Big Sisters to girls between the ages of 7 and 15. An orientation will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 at noon at the Peabody office, 47-49 Central St. Call (978) 531-5405 or visit www.bigsisters.org. HABITAT HOUSE: Habitat for Humanity of the North Shore is currently renovating a house at 18 Crombie St. in Salem. Local families of four or five people with an income up to $33,000 may download an application at www.habitatforhumanity-northshore.com and send the completed forms to 215 Maple St., Lynn, MA 01904 by Aug. 30. SAVE LIVES: The local American Red Cross needs volunteer health and safety instructors to teach CPR, first aid, baby-sitting, and safety classes, which are held weekdays, evenings, and Saturdays at the Peabody office, 85 Lowell St. A commitment of six classes a year is ideal. An instructor's training course will begin in September. Call (978) 531-2280 for information. READING COACHES: SenorCare RSVP America Reads is looking for volunteers to coach children with reading both in school and after school in the Hamilton/Wenham area. Training will be provided and coaching will begin in the fall of the new school year. Call Joan at (978) 468-1193. HAVEN FROM HUNGER: The Haven from Hunger, 71 Wallis St., Peabody, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., for the distribution of groceries, and at 5 p.m. for dinner. All are welcome. Haven from Hunger is in need of the following food items: pasta, spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, and jelly. Call (978) 531-1530. HELP STUDENTS: Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry is in need of individuals willing to tutor high school students in math and English. The Pantry also seeks volunteers to help organize back-to-school items. Call (978) 927-1561. ANIMAL LOVERS: Peabody Animal Shelter is looking for volunteers to spend two to four hours per week caring for homeless animals. No experience necessary; training will be provided. Morning and evening shifts are available Sunday through Saturday. Call (978) 531-7478. CARS NEEDED: Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry, which offers many emergency services to local families in need, is looking for donations of vehicles. To donate a used car, call Cars Helping America at (866) 949-3668. DRIVERS NEEDED: The American Red Cross, located at 85 Lowell St. in Peabody, seeks volunteers to transport clients to and from medical appointments during business hours. Vehicle is provided; a current driver's license and clean driving record are required. Call (978) 531-2280. SENIOR SERVICES: Volunteers are needed at North Shore Elder Services, a Danvers-based organization that aims to make life easier for seniors in all North Shore communities. Those who wish can volunteer to visit and call, go food shopping, and/or provide transportation for a lonely senior citizen. Call (978) 750-4540, Ext. 288. HELP A CHILD: Due to a shortage of foster homes throughout the North Shore, children in need of help are sent to other communities, becoming separated from their schools, friends, family and other supports. To support a child in your community by becoming a foster parent, call (978) 825-3862 or (800) KIDS-508. HELP A NEIGHBOR: Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry seeks volunteers to pick up furniture donations and deliver them to needy families. Call (978) 927-1561. RED CROSS RECRUITS: The Greater Beverly Chapter of the America Red Cross seeks young adults ages 18 to 27 who are interested in becoming members of the NRPC-National Preparedness and Response Corps, a national young adult disaster response corps. Members receive an education award of $2,362 upon completion of the training program and a minimum of 900 hours of service. To apply, call (978) 922-2224. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: The Special Olympics Massachusetts is a rapidly growing organization, and the need for volunteers has greatly increased. It seeks people to help with mailing, phone calls, and other office work. Headquarters are located at 450 Maple St., Building 1, Danvers. Call (978) 774-1501, Ext. 221. MENTORS NEEDED: Children's Friend Mentoring Program is seeking volunteers for its mentoring program for children ages 7 to 14 in North Shore communities. Mentors and mentees spend about six hours per month together. Support for mentors is available. Call Sandi Fecteau at (978) 744-7905, Ext. 374 to register. VEHICLE DONATIONS: The Melanoma Education Foundation, a Peabody-based nonprofit that provides skin cancer education, is accepting vehicle donations. To donate a used vehicle or boat, call Cars Helping America at (866) 949-3668. MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS: The North Shore Children's Museum in Salem is seeking volunteers to share a hobby or talent, such as storytelling or craft making. Volunteers with administrative skills are also needed. Call Mary Sholds at (978) 741-1811. THRIFT STORE VOLUNTEERS: The Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to help staff the Beverly Bootstraps thrift store at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean St. The thrift store provides clothing and household goods at low prices. Volunteers will sort clothing, price items and assist customers. The hours of the store are Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call (978) 927-1561. HOSPICE SUPPORT: VNA Care Hospice needs volunteers to provide practical and emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families. Training, supervision and support are provided. Call Nancy Barcelo at (888) 663-3688, Ext. 3471. More information is available at www.vnacarenetwork.org. MONEY MANAGEMENT: Volunteers are need to assist senior citizens with bill-paying. You would visit an elder's home once a month to help write out checks, balance their checkbook and reconcile bank statements. Call Joanne Hogan at (978) 750-4540, Ext. 288, or e-mail jhogan@nselder.org. DRIVERS NEEDED: Volunteer drivers are needed for the American Cancer Society's "Road to Recovery" program, a free service offered to cancer patients who need rides to their cancer treatments. Rides are provided Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Patients are asked to call in advance to arrange for rides. To become a Road to Recovery driver, or arrange for transportation, call (800) ACS-2345. MEALS ON WHEELS: Drivers are needed for the Meals on Wheels program in the communities of Beverly, Gloucester, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Rockport and Wenham. Call Jane Militello at (978) 281-1750 or (978) 927-1046. Drivers also needed for the Topsfield Council on Aging program; call Judy Tucker at (978) 887-1523. SHELTER VOLUNTEERS: The Inn Between and Inn Transition shelters are seeking volunteers for the following: * Help with homework for school-age children, Monday through Thursday, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers' choice of days. * Transport excess donations once a month from the two shelters to another site where donations are accepted (Goodwill, Salvation Army). Vehicle required. Call Karen Hall at (978) 531-9775. PETLINK: North Shore PetLink is looking for volunteers in the North Shore and Cape Ann area to provide foster care for the pets of people in need of temporary assistance. Call Rita at (978) 927-0217, Ext. 208 or e-mail rlevin@chaos-inc.org. HELP FOR MARINES: The Marine For Life program acts to assist Marines leaving active duty as they transition back to civilian life. The Hometown Link for the Greater Boston area is Maj. Kevin Coughlin. For information, visit www.marineforlife.com or call Maj. Coughlin at (978) 360-5064 or e-mail boston@marineforlife.net. DONATIONS: CAB Health & Recovery Services, a drug and alcohol treatment agency, needs new, unopened toiletries for its women clients. Wish list includes sample-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, deodorants and others. Donations of new socks, underwear items, new or used bed linen (twin size), towels and comforter sets (adult and kids) are also needed. Call (800) 323-2224, Ext. 685, or e-mail info@cabhealth.org. ADULT TUTORS: North Shore Community College is seeking volunteer tutors for the Adult Learning Center, located at NSCC's Institute for Corporate Training and Technology, Route 62, 100 Cummings Center, Suite 121E, Beverly. Work with adult learners in GED preparatory classes. Help students to improve in reading, math, language arts and English as a secondary language. Orientation, training and support is provided. Call Irene at (978) 236-1226 or e-mail ichristk@northshore.edu. DRIVERS: SeniorCare RSVP is looking for volunteer drivers in the Beverly area to transport seniors to medical appointments in other communities. Call Elaine at (978) 927-1046. HOME SUPPLIES NEEDED: The Housing Assistance Program, a division of North Shore Community Action Programs in Peabody, is accepting donations of bedding and towels, kitchen utensils and dishes, and small furniture. These items will help local low-income families as they set up apartments. Donations should be in good condition and can be dropped off at 98 Main St., Peabody, between 9:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Call Lee at (978) 531-0767 with questions. COMPANION PROGRAM: The Beverly Council on Aging is looking for volunteers for its companion program. Volunteers would visit isolated Beverly senior citizens. Call Pat at (978) 921-6017. COMPUTER TUTORS: Salem CyberSpace, a community computer learning center in Salem, is looking for volunteer tutors for its after-school program for youths ages 11 to 14. Tutors are asked to commit at least two hours per week. The program runs from Tuesday to Thursday from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Call Juan Hernandez at (978) 771-3023 or e-mail jhernandez@salemcyberspace.org. HOTLINE VOLUNTEERS: Help for Abused Women and their Children (HAWC) is seeking volunteers for a 24-hour hotline service to help end family violence. Volunteers must complete 30 hours of training beginning in March on evenings and Saturdays. The hotline can be answered from the volunteer's home. Call Sara at (978) 744-8552. COMMITTEE MEMBERS SOUGHT: Beverly Coalition for Diversity (ABCD) is seeking new committee members to work on issues of tolerance, understanding differences and building community in the city of Beverly. ABCD is part of a statewide program sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League. Call Steve Hoy, ABCD chairman, at (978) 921-1335 or e-mail papawheelie50@juno.com. DONATIONS: The Housing Assistance Program, a division of North Shore Community Action Program, is seeking donations of bedding, housewares, clothing and small furniture. These articles will assist local low-income families with their new apartments. Donations should be in good condition an may be dropped off from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at 98 Main St., Peabody. Call Lee at (978) 531-0767. HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS: Hospice of the North Shore in Danvers has volunteer opportunities in areas such as nursing-home visitation and bereavement. Nursing-home visitation offers an opportunity for volunteers to visit with hospice patients who live in local facilities. Bereavement volunteers are needed to provide ongoing support to patients and their families by staying in touch via telephone or visiting. Call Judy Soroko at (978) 774-7566 or e-mail jbsoroko@hns.org. INN BETWEEN: The Inn Between, 25 Holten St., and The Inn Transition, 42 Washington St., both in Peabody, currently have volunteer opportunities in the area of child care. Call (978) 531-9775 or (978) 532-2372. HELPLINE VOLUNTEERS: Substance Abuse Helpline seeks volunteers for 24-hour, seven day a week information and education phone service for people affected by alcoholism and substance abuse. The helpline provides training, supervision, flexible scheduling and is accessible by public transportation. Call (617) 536-0501, Ext. 201, or visit www.helpline-online.com. HOMELESS CHILDREN: Horizons for Homeless Children is seeking volunteers to play with children living in homeless shelters in neighborhoods throughout Greater Boston. A two-hour weekly commitment for six months is required. Call (617) 287-1900, Ext. 306 or visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: MAB Community Services, formerly the Massachusetts Association for the Blind, is seeking volunteers to read and shop with blind neighbors and help them maintain their independence. Two or three hours per week needed, hours are flexible. Training and support provided. Call Donna Bailey, director of volunteer services, at (617) 972-9119 or (800) 852-3029. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers in the following areas: * Drivers for Motor Corps, drive residents of Cape Ann to medical appointments in Boston, one day per month or one day per week. * General Office Assistant: duties include data entry, telephone, filing, and assisting with office projects. * Disaster Services: join the chapter's Disaster Action Team and/or work on the chapter's disaster plan and receive training in disaster services and responding to emergencies. * Public relations and special events, write press releases, newsletters and work on special events. * Web site: Keep the chapter's Web site current with events, photos and news. Call (978) 922-2224. * * * Good Causes appears Fridays in Arts & Leisure. If you know of a nonprofit cause worthy of consideration - whether a car wash, a blood drive, or a fund-raising dance - let us know. Mail submissions, which should include a phone number, to Good Causes, c/o Suzanne Brown, Essex County Newspapers, 32 Dunham Road, Beverly, 01915, or e-mail to sbrown@ecnnews.com. Former North Shore resident dives into starring role By Suzanne Brown Staff writer Former Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School student Blanchard Ryan knows a few things about ocean swimming. The star of the new movie "Open Water" spent her childhood summers at Crane Beach in Ipswich and Singing Beach in Manchester. Last winter, the actress spent some time in Bahamian waters filming her most prominent leading role to date. Ryan, known as Susan by former classmates in Hamilton and at Andover High School, has strong ties to the area. Her aunt and uncle, Joan and Stephen Thompson live in Marblehead and she frequents Matty's for its "killer cocktails" when she visits. She has fond memories of going to the annual Beanpot hockey tournament and the Head of the Charles Regatta. "Open Water" tells the story of a couple abandoned by their dive boat miles from land. Instead of scripts, Ryan and her costar Daniel Travis were given extensive scuba diving lessons and wetsuits. The director then dropped them into the real ocean with very real sharks, filming the movie in a style similar to "Blair Witch Project." The result is 80 minutes of tense terror. Ryan talked with us recently about her experience and her brush with a barracuda. How much did you know about the part in "Open Water" before you auditioned? I knew quite a bit. Chris and Laura (Kentis and Lau, the director and producer respectively) didn't want to meet an actress they loved to find out she wasn't comfortable in the water. My agent really pushed me to meet with them. It's all improv. There is no script to read. Afterward, I couldn't stop thinking about the meeting. I loved talking with Chris and Laura and going to the Bahamas in winter was also appealing. I was afraid to go in the water with sharks, but I was also afraid to take off my clothes. (Blanchard has a full frontal nude scene in the movie.) Was there any hesitation about getting into the water with the sharks? There was. I didn't know if I could do it. And until you're standing near the edge of the boat, you don't know how scared you'll be. But I wanted it so bad. Did you have any diving experience before this role? I was already a certified SCUBA diver. But Chris and Laura paid for us to have an amazing certification course. I'm a pretty good little diver now. My instructor told me I didn't have to outswim the shark. I had to outswim my dive buddy. What's your favorite scary movie? Probably "Jaws." I hate to say it, but it is such a brilliant film. I really liked "28 Days Later," too. It scared the bejeezus out of me. You got bit on the hand by a barracuda during filming. Do you have a scar? I do and I am very proud of it. It stung. Their teeth are so sharp. What is most surprising about the popularity/acclaim for "Open Water"? We always knew we were doing something we were really proud of. We are just surprised that people care. It was just the four of us down there. To have others interested in the story has been amazing. It is hard when you feel misunderstood. Some people have characterized the movie as careless or a stunt. The sharks are only in the movie for about 60 to 70 seconds. It's not about them. What are your impressions of the North Shore? I think it's a great place to grow up. Boston is very cosmopolitan and a little safer, at least it was when I lived there, than New York. Were you involved in any local productions when you lived in the area? I wasn't acting then at all. I sang in choir and played in orchestra. I liked performing, but was involved more on the music side than the acting side. Is this role your first lead? It's the first time I was the lead in any film I have done that was purchased and distributed. I've had leading roles before but nobody ever saw them. If you weren't an actress, what would you do? I'd probably be a teacher. I still may be one day. My mom was a teacher and she found it so satisfying. 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