Looking for one last chance to stroll the halls of the Manchester Essex Regional Junior Senior High School before the walls come tumbling down?

The Last Dance Event could give you that opportunity.

The school officially closes on Thursday, June 25, but next Saturday night, June 27, a dance will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. to give the old school on Lincoln Avenue a send off to remember. Two bands will play live music in the gym, there will be a barbecue under a tent in the courtyard and beer, wine, lemonade, and water will all be served.

Tickets are priced at $40, and come with a three-drink limit per person proper identification required at the door). Visa or MasterCard, checks and cash are all accepted.

You can even write your best, or maybe your worst, memories on the walls — and Assistant Principal Paul Murphy promises he won't throw you in detention.

This is a chance to meet and greet old friends, neighbors and faculty. The band is even slated to play Led Zeppelin's classic "Stairway to Heaven" at 10 p.m., for everyone who remembers its place at the end of every dance.

The Last Dance is sponsored by the Manchester-Essex Rotary Club and all proceeds will benefit the Rotary Club Scholarship fund, Student Assistance fund, and the Worth Peace & Understanding Library at the high school.

For tickets, call Dave Peterson at 978-524-4150, Lex Towle at 978-869-2424, Dave Singleton at 978-5614, or Paul Murphy at 978-526-2041. You can also purchase tickets at The Landing at 7 Central St., The Nantucket Chocolatier and the Beverly National Bank.

Essex board seeks candidates

The Essex Board of Selectmen is seeking candidates to serve on the Essex Personnel Board. The Personnel Board oversees the Town's Personnel Rules & Regulations and recommends the Wage & Salary Scale to the Town Meeting, among other duties.

"It's an important role that is simply left as another task for the board of selectmen to complete if the vacancies are not filled," said Town Administrator Brendhan Zubricki. "The selectmen are always happy to have thoughtful individuals engaged in these discussions and decisions."

Serving on the Personnel Board is a good way to get started in town government without a major commitment since the board only meets quarterly. Interested residents should send letters of interest to the Essex Board of Selectmen at its Town Hall address: 30 Martin St., Essex, MA 01929.

Ready for some flapjacks?

Pancakes coated with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream will be handed out to all comers at the annual Red, White and Blue Breakfast put on by the Manchester Rotarians.

The event is set for scenic Tuck's Point next Saturday, June 27, from 7:30 to 11 a.m. Scrambled eggs, bacon, orange juice, and coffee will also be available as other food choices.

There will be pony rides for the kids, which Debbie Marcus calls "a big hit" every year, and Gid's Giddy Gang will be playing all your Dixieland favorites. There are extra grills and volunteers this year, so waiting in line will be quick and painless.

Tickets for the event are $7, and you can get them from any Rotarian, any Red, White and Blue Club member, at The Landing at 7 Central St., the Nantucket Chocolatier, the Beverly National Bank or call Dave Peterson 978-524-4150.

It is sponsored by the Manchester Essex Rotary Club and the Red, White and Blue Club. Proceeds benefit the scholarship funds and community service projects of the Rotary Club and the Red, White and Blue Club.

Touch a Truck in Manchester

After the event was postponed last week due to inclement weather — when will the rain finally leave? — the Touch a Truck vehicle night in Manchester will be held on Tuesday, June 23, at 5 p.m. in the Town Hall parking lot.

There will be police cars, Department of Public Works dump trucks, ambulances, fire trucks and many more as the town celebrates the different Manchester departments. Children can touch a vehicle, climb inside some of them, talk to any available officers and drivers, and get up close with some of the most dedicated departments in town.

The Children's Room of the Manchester Public Library will provide cookies, lemonade and some enthusiastic volunteers to help make the event more fun. Throughout the years, many children have come to touch a police car, climb into an ambulance, watch the ladder go up, see the big scoop on DPW trucks, and put on a pair of firemen's boots.

Be sure to bring your camera. This is a great photo opportunity to get a fun picture of your child.

For more information, call the Children's Room at the library at 978-526-2016.

Cameron Kittle can be reached at gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.