Lifestyle

Manchester goings on


Published: November 7, 2009

Sports equipment sale

This afternoon, Manchester Community Center will host its annual used sports equipment sale from noon to 3 p.m. All types of sports equipment items are welcome. Drop-off of any gently-used sports equipment will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Donations and consignments are limitless, as long as the equipment is in usable, decent condition. Inappropriate items will be turned away. Thirty percent of the consignment fee will go directly to the Community Center. Any items that have not been sold will need to be picked up by the appropriate donor between 3 and 5 p.m. Uncollected items will be discarded. All proceeds benefit children and teen programs sponsored by the MCC. Call 978-526-7626.

Thanksgiving Food Drive

Manchester Troop 3 Boy Scouts will hold a "Drive By" food drive for the Cape Ann Food Pantry on Saturday, Nov. 21, and Sunday Nov. 22, at the Scout House, 74 School St. Just drive up to the Scout House and a Boy Scout will be there to take your food donation. You don't even need to get out of your car. Canned goods like tuna fish &vegetables, boxes of pasta & rice, jars of peanut butter, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

Museum passes

Manchester Public Library offers passes for reduced entry fees to Cape Ann Historical Association, Children's Museum of Boston, Institute of Contemporary Art, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, JFK Presidential Library and Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, Peabody Essex Museum, and Wheelock Family Theater. The library also offers a Massachusetts State Parks parking pass. Passes may be reserved in person, by calling 978-526-7711, or online at www.manchesterpl.org. The pass program is sponsored by the Friends of the Manchester Public Library.

Business counseling

Cape Ann Chamber offers free small-business counseling at its office, 33 Commercial St., Gloucester, on the first and third Thursday of each month. Anyone who is considering starting a business or has questions about an aspect of his or her current firm can make an appointment with a representative from the Small Business Development Center of Salem State College. For an appointment, call 978-283-1601 or e-mail info@capeannchamber.com.

Food pantry

The Open Door food pantry, 28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, serves residents of Manchester, Essex, Gloucester, Rockport and Ipswich. The full-service pantry offers choices of milk, eggs, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, and a variety of dry and canned goods. The pantry can be used once every seven days. Valid identification required. For hours and more information call, 978-283-6776 or visit www.foodpantry.org.

Florida Cape Ann Day

Reservations and payment are required by Feb. 15 for the Florida Cape Ann Day buffet and luncheon to be held on March 2 at the Best Western Waterfront Inn, 300 Retta Esplanade, Punta Garda, Fla., from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu will feature prime rib and chicken cordon bleu. Residents of Gloucester, Manchester, Rockport and Essex are welcome. Cost is $28 per person, and checks should be made out to: Florida Cape Ann Day 2010, and sent to Cape Ann Day, c/o Gasper Lafata, 6A Birch Grove Heights, Gloucester, MA 01930. Call Gaspar or Sue Lafata at 978-283-5250 (in Florida, 941-639-3507) or Jim and Judy Melanson at 978-283-6435.

Collection for troops

The Manchester Council on Aging and the Manchester Essex Regional High School PALS group are collecting goods for a National Guard unit serving in Iraq. Collection bins are located in the Council of Aging office at Town Hall and throughout the Middle and High School. Donations such as magazines, games, DVDs, long distance calling cards, writing paper, pens, batteries, playing cards, tea bags, granola bars, plastic ware and soups are a few examples of what can be sent. For a complete Soldier Care Package list, call 978-526-7500.

Spaulding Fund

The Spaulding Education Fund, a private, nonprofit organization established to provide financial assistance to Manchester Essex public schools, relies entirely on private donations. Contributions are tax-deductible and may be made online at www.spauldingeducationfund.org or mailed to The Spaulding Education Fund, Box 192, Manchester, MA 01944.

Rotary Club

Manchester-Essex Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at 7:15 a.m. for breakfast, fellowship, to hear interesting speakers and plan community service projects. Call Lex Towle at 978-869-2424 or Dave Peterson at 978-524-4150.

Library home delivery

The staff of Manchester Public Library will make house calls. If you or someone you know is housebound, call the library and arrange for a librarian to drop off and pick up books, whether it is a temporary or permanent situation. Call Mike O'Connor at 978-526-7711.

Manchester Singers

Manchester Singers meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Congregational Chapel on Chapel Lane. New members, men and women, are welcome. Community chorus is led by Fred Broer. Call 978-283-9021; e-mail feb3@earthlink.net; or visit www.manchestersingers.org.

BNI meeting

The Yankee Networkers Chapter of BNI, a business referral organization, meets every Wednesday at Periwinkles restaurant, 74 Main St., Essex. Business breakfasts are served 7 to 8:30 and visitors are invited.

VNA clinic

VNA Care Network offers free health care clinics for residents 60 and older. The local clinic is at Congregational Chapel, Chapel Lane. It is open the first and third Thursday of every month, 10 a.m. to noon. Call 888-663-3688, ext. 5603 or 978-283-2020, ext. 5603.

Overeaters Anonymous

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Monday at 4 p.m. at Manchester Community Center, 40 Beach St., and every Tuesday at 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church on School Street. Call 978-667-9998.

Holiday decorations

Now through Nov. 20, the West Parish Fifth Grade fundraiser is accepting pre-orders on holiday decorations. You may also stop by West Parish Elementary School on Dec. 5 to purchase your decorations. For information, e-mail lmcrae@gloucester.k12.ma.us.

Christmas Shop trip

On Thursday, Nov. 12. The Manchester Council on Aging will offer a trip to the Christmas Tree Shop in Lynnfield. The van will pick up seniors at 11 a.m. and return around 3:30 p.m. A $3 donation is requested were able. Lunch will be on your own. To register, call 978-526-7500.

The Lace Reader

On Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m., Brunonia Barry, the author of "The Lace Reader" will be at the Manchester Public Library for an author's night discussion. The Salem-based writer will be of special interest to Cape Ann readers, who may learn more about her in advance by visiting her website: http://www.lacereader.com/.

Low Vision Seminar

The Manchester Council on Aging will offer a presentation on Low Vision and related visual issues on Monday, Nov. 9 at the Plains Community Room at 1:30 p.m. Andrea Schein, Bridge Elder Blind Program for the Commission for the Blind will provide information and answer all questions regarding low vision and other disorders. This program kicks off the council's monthly "Low Vision Support Group Meeting". Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 978 -526-7500.

Meet the author

On Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m., Marblehead writer Roberta Kalechofsky returns to the Manchester Public Library to discuss her new book "The Poet Physician and the Healer Killer: Vivisection and the Emergence of a Medical Technocracy." For more information about the writer and her work, visit http://www.micahbooks.com/meetrobertakalechofsky13.html.

School open house

On Nov. 12, from 8:45 to 10:30 p.m., there will be an admissions open house hosted by Brookwood School in Manchester for parents of children entering pre-kindergarten through eighth grade to learn about the school. Visitors will tour the campus, meet faculty and administrators, learn about the school's curriculum and arts and athletics programs and collect a range of information. Admissions Director Lindsay Murphy and Headmaster John Peterman will answer questions. The school is located minutes from Exit 17 off Route 128. For more information, visit http://www.brookwood.edu.

Holiday Fair

On Saturday, Nov. 14, the First Parish Church Manchester will hold its holiday fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Chapel Building, located behind Sovereign Bank off Route 127 in downtown Manchester. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be a Santa, live music, a silent auction, a raffle, and a variety of holiday items on sales, including Manchester Advent Calendars, wreaths, baked goods, books, jewelry, kissing balls, Children's White Elephant, and new items. For information, call 978-526-7661.

Senior mall trip

On Friday, Nov. 13, the Manchester Council on Aging will take seniors to the Peabody and Danvers malls. Seniors can pick between the Northshore and Liberty Tree malls. A $3 donation is requested. The van will start picking up seniors at 9:30 a.m. To reserve a seat, call 978-526-7500.

Holiday meal baskets

The Open Door Food Pantry needs help to provide holiday meal baskets to local families this year. A donation of $30 provides a turkey, potatoes, butternut squash, apples, stuffing, cranberry sauce and more. Make checks payable to: The Open Door, 28 Emerson Ave., Gloucester, MA 01930, and write "turkey" in the memo line. Visit www.foodpantry.org.

Recovery program

An AA open speaker meeting is held every Thursday from 8 to 9 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 69 School St.

Chili Cook-Off!

On Saturday, Nov. 14, from 7:30 to 11 p.m., the Manchester Mother's Club will hold its annual chili cook-off fundraiser at the Rhumbline Bar and Restaurant, 40 Railroad Ave., Gloucester. Sample the best chilis of the North Shore, relax with live band music and a cash bar, and take a chance in our great raffle. Admission is $10 per person, and anyone wishing to enter their own chili should e-mail Amber Bazdar at chiliparty09@gmail.com. Funds raised will benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. To attend, send a check to the MMC, P.O. Box 1424 , Manchester , MA , 01944. If you can't attend but want to make a donation, please memo the check as "Donation for JDRF."