Club News , Cynthia Garber
Kearsage Lodge No. 217, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, has quietly done charitable work for many years. Among the organizations aided by OddFellows has been My Brother's Table in Lynn, where the indigent and homeless find food and shelter."For so many years, this shelter has been a salvation and a lifesaver for many people," said Glover Preble, recording secretary of the Kearsage Lodge, said of My Brother's Table.Kearsage Lodge provides substantial gifts to local nonprofit organizations that it feels are worthy. Any local group can apply for the cash gifts. The lodge discusses the merits of each application and decides whether to fund it and how much money to provide.The Odd Fellows strive to improve and elevate the character of man and improve the world in general. Oddfellows has no political or religious affiliations; the group simply looks after the interests of its members and its local communities. Membership is open to everyone.But it's not all work and no play for the Odd Fellows, who manage to inject quite a bit of fun into things. Plus, the progress the group makes on different projects can be enjoyable to see as well.To become a member or to make a donation, contact Preble at 781-631-5106, write to 15 Elmwood Road, Swampscott, MA 01917, or e-mail kearsargelodge217@comcast.net.Local storyteller exploring slaveryStoryteller/historian Merrill Kohlhofer brings the struggle against slavery of bygone times to life in a program on Sunday for the Peabody Historical Society.Ttitled "Voices of Freedom: Memories of Anti-Slavery Days," the program starts at 2 p.m. at the Fire Museum on Felton Street.Kohlhofer will portray fugitive slaves and free citizens, African-Americans and white Americans, men and women, adults and children in her dramatic interpretation. The program is free to members. There is a $3 guest fee for nonmembers.The Peabody Historical Society plans a Patriots Day commemoration in April featuring the fourth annual wreath laying at the Lexington Monument, followed by a reception and open house. Details will be revealed shortly.Retirement will be topic of IAAP lectureKathleen Hess of UBS Financial Services will be the featured speaker when the North Shore Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals meets on Tuesday, March 13, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the The Richard E. Wylie Conference & Education Center, 295 Hale St., Beverly.Hess will talk on "Retirement: Will You Be Ready?" Members and nonmembers are welcome. Reservations are required, and there is a $20 meeting fee.For more, call Nancy Emmons, chapter president, at 978-390-2276 or Marcia Silverman, chapter secretary, at 781-913-8232 or visit www.iaap-northshore.orgAuditions for 'I Remember Mama'Auditions for the North Shore Players' production of "I Remember Mama" will be Tuesday, March 13, at 7 p.m. at Hogan Regional Auditorium in Danvers. Call-backs are planned for Wednesday, March 14, at 7 p.m.The cast will feature nine men and 13 women, plus some girls and boys. Rehearsals will be Monday and Wednesday nights from 7 to 10 and Sundays at a time to be determined. Performances will be on the third weekend in May at the Hogan Regional Auditorium.Visit www.northshoreplayers.org for more details on casting and directions.Ladies Sodality talks businessKaren Carney, vice president of marketing and business development for Hospice of the North Shore, will be the featured speaker when St. John's Ladies Sodality of Peabody meets Tuesday, March 13.The meeting will begin with Mass in the lower church at 1 p.m. The talk will be followed by a brief business meeting and refreshments. All women of the parish are invited to attend and are asked to bring a friend.Benefit breakfast at Danvers KiwanisThe Kiwanis Club of Danvers will host its 37th annual Pancake Festival and Fundraiser on Saturday, March 17, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Danvers High School cafeteria, Cabot Road, Danvers. Proceeds from the festival allow the Kiwanis to donate funds to the Danvers Community Council, Youth Sports teams, the Danvers Community YMCA, Family Festival Senior Picnic, Danvers D.A.R.E. Program, Danvers Police Explorers and other organizations and programs.There will be costumed characters and face painting from 9 a.m. to noon. Raffle baskets will be on display during breakfast, and the proceeds from the baskets will be donated to the Danvers Relief Fund to aid the victims of the November explosion.Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children under 12 and will be available at the door. For more information, call this year's festival chairman Dan Bennett at 978-774-0296 or visit www.danverskiwanis.org.Also, the Kiwanis Club of Danvers reports it will offer nine scholarships to graduating North Shore seniors who live in Danvers. Community service is the mission of Kiwanis and to exemplify this mission, the club is seeking applicants who have embraced community service as an important part of their high school experience. There are also scholarships in "law enforcement," "government/public service," and "band/color guard."Scholarship applications are available at school guidance offices. The deadline to apply is April 2.United Polish Organization scholarshipThe Scholarship Committee of the United Polish Organizations of Peabody will accept applications for the Regina Falkowski Scholarship until March 20.Applicants must be of Polish descent and a resident of Peabody, and his or her parents or grandparents must be active members of one of the member organizations of the UPO - Plav Walter Combrowski Post 63, Ladies Auxiliary Chapter 63, Daughters of St. Joseph, St. Michael's Society or St. Joseph's Faith Community.Applications are available from any of the organizations or from school guidance departments.Salem Garden Club seeks green studentsThe Salem Garden Club will give a $1,000 scholarship to a Salem student entering or already in college to study horticulture, forestry, environmental science, conservation, land management, biology, ecology or any allied subjects. For more information, call Jane Joza at 978-921-7881.Peabody Rotary hosts tasty eventThe Peabody Rotary will host the third annual Taste of the North Shore on Tuesday, March 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers. Proceeds will benefit local charities supported by the club.Many local and regional restaurants and caterers will participate, and Bedrock Music and Gregory Coles Latin Dance Company will perform. The event is sponsored by Bowen & deNapoli Group.Admission to the event is $35 per person. And if you'd like to enter the raffle for a $10,000 grand prize, the $100 ticket includes admission for two to the event, too. For tickets, call Tom Rowan at 978-531-4446 or mail a check payable to Peabody Rotary to P.O. Box 3363, Peabody, MA. The snow date is March 20.Peabody Rotary meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at Spinelli's on Route 1 south. New members are always welcome. Visit www.rotarypeabody.org for more.Find court records with genealogy society"Finding Your Ancestors in Essex County Court Records" will be the topic of discussion when Diane Rapaport speaks to the Essex Society of Genealogists at its next meeting on Saturday, March 17 at the Centre Congregational Church, Summer Street, Lynnfield Center.Bring lunch and join members at noon; beverages will be provided. Or attend the program at 1 p.m. In case of inclement weather, call Shirley Orr at 781-334-6584 or Edie Richard at 781-334-3874.Beverly Garden Club plans for springThe Friendly Garden Club of Beverly will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20, at the Beverly Public Library. C.L. Folanari will speak on "Pruning De-mystified." From hollies to hydrangeas, Folanari will teach the right way to prune trees and shrubs as well as when and where to do it.Patricia Kalinoski and Marcy Carr will be the hostesses for the meeting, and Mary Lou Ferriero will provide the centerpiece.nnnClub News runs every other Friday in the Life North section. If your club or organization has news to share, call Cynthia Garber at 978-531-5863; e-mail cgarber@star.net or csgarber@comcast.net or fax 978-531-6756.
