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December 5, 2009

Want to help take Census? Fed agency wants you

By All Hands

Every American will, in the most basic way, be a part of the 2010 U.S. Census.

But if you want to take a more active role in next year's once-in-a-decade count, the U.S. Census Bureau wants you to work as a Census taker, and it has set up a Gloucester station to test potential workers for the project.

The federal Census Bureau is doing "targeted testing" in Gloucester for people to work as census takers this spring and summer, Census spokesperson Marjorie Short said this week.

The tests are being given on the next three Mondays at Gloucester's Rose Baker Senior Center, with hours set for 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. this Monday, and then again on Dec. 14 and 21.

Those interested in being a Census taker will be given a 30-minute written test of basic skills. The census-taking jobs pay $17 an hour, and workers can have flexible hours while working close to home, Short indicated.

Anyone interested in taking the tests may sign up through the local Census office in Beverly by calling 978-993-4720. Anyone seeking more information, or looking to take a practice test, is invited to go to www2010censusjobs.gov.

Plum Cove auction in the works

The Plum Cove Parent Teacher Cooperative, the Plum Cove School-based organization that's been named PTO Today's Outstanding New Parent Group of 2009, is now in the midst of its second annual online benefit auction.

The grand prize up for grabs is a year of service from DirecTV, while other prizes include a jacket from donated by the group's "friends" from the fishing vessel Time Bandit that is regularly featured on TV's "Deadliest Catch," said PTC group member Kristin Michel.

The auction is running and will end Dec. 13. It can be found at www. plumcove.cmarket.com.

A 'virtual' Coppola visit

Francis Ford Coppola, the Oscar-winning director of the "Godfather" saga, will be on-hand — sort of — to answer questions from fans at Cape Ann Community Cinema at 21 Main St. in Gloucester today.

An Internet 30-minute Q&A, set for 4:15 p.m., will take place immediately following the 2 p.m. screening of the writer-director's latest film, "Tetro," an inventive drama about an Italian family living in Argentina.

"A digital pow-wow is a fitting kind of get-together considering we are a digital cinema," said Robert Newton, Cape Ann Community Cinema's managing director. For more information, visit www.CapeAnnCinema.com.

Collecting toys to music

Once again, state Sen. Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, and North Shore 104.9 will hit the road collecting toys for children on Cape Ann and the North Shore and broadcasting live all day. The Holiday Toy Drive will take place Thursday, Dec.10, from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The live broadcast will feature local entertainment, school choirs and bands, great food, interviews with local officials and even Santa Claus will be on the road helping the cause. Eastern Insurance and Safety Insurance have partnered with the radio station to present the toy drive broadcast.

This year's drive, the 14th annual event, is also Tarr's 14th since being elected in 1994.

The scheduled broadcast locations on Cape Ann are as (times are subject to change):

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Woodman's of Essex, 121 Main Street, Essex; toys being collected for Action Inc.

2 to 3 p.m. at Manchester Athletic Club, 8 Atwater Ave., Manchester; toys being collected for Pathways of Gloucester.

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Tuck's Candy, 15 Main St., Rockport; toys being collected for Action Inc.

5 to 6:30 p.m. at Cape Ann Savings Bank, 109 Main St., Gloucester; toys being collected for Action Inc.

The broadcast will begin at the Capitol Diner in Lynn at 6:30 a.m, and will end at the Cape Ann Savings Bank in Gloucester with refreshments and performances by school choirs and local musicians. The North Shore Holiday Toy Drive is looking for new, unwrapped toys or monetary donations.

In addition, Destino's Subs on Prospect Street in Gloucester, Azorean Restaurant on Washington Street in Gloucester, the Manchester branch of Cape Ann Savings Bank, Dunkin' Donuts in Manchester and on Eastern Avenue in Gloucester, and the Ipswich, Essex, Rowley, and Gloucester branches of First National Bank are welcoming donations.

For further information, please call either Troy Wall in Tarr's office at 617-722-1600 or Patrick Belmonte at North Shore 104.9 at 978-927-1049 x13.

Honored Veteran

The flag of the Veterans Center will fly this week in honor of World War 1 veteran John Alden Rice.

Born Sept. 2, 1894, he entered the U.S. Army Jan. 4, 1916, attained the military rank of corporal, and served in Company G 8th Infantry Regiment, Headquarters Company 104 Infantry 52nd. Brigade 26th Division, in France: Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, Saint Michel, Boucq Sector, Meuse-Argonne, Chemin des Dames, Toul, Pas Fini and Troyon.

He was discharged April 28, 1919, and died Dec. 7, 1937. The flag was requested to fly in his honor by the Office of Veterans.

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Want to help take Census? Fed agency wants you
by By All Hands , , Sat Dec 05, 2009, 05:30 AM EST
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