Less than two weeks after Gloucester's city elections, the local election officials are already gearing up for another round of voting that's now just three weeks away.

And as the race for the late Edward M. Kennedy's seat in the U.S. Senate drawing more and more interest, local residents should be aware of an important deadline looming next week.

The primary election for the Senate seat is Dec, 8, and that means the deadline for voter registration for the Dec. 8 primary is next Wednesday — Nov. 18. And Joanne Senos of the clerk's office noted that the office will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day to give as many people as possible the chance to be a part of the election process.

The general election for the Senate seat is slated for Jan. 19.

Mayor wants 'Pledge' mulligan

Mayor Carolyn Kirk joined some prestigious political company (Supreme Court Justice and presidential oath flubber John Roberts comes to mind) when she lost her bearings in the home stretch of the Pledge of Allegiance at Wednesday's Veterans Day celebration.

"I really want a do-over on the Pledge," Kirk said, apologizing, moments after leading the pledge, but needing the audience at the high school field house to pull her through somewhere between "and to the republic" and "with liberty and justice for all."

Actually repeating the entire pledge was not on the program — Kirk's own address to the collation was up next and she gamely moved on with remarks about her daughter's thoughts on Veterans Day.

"I just have a lot on my mind," she said yesterday. "Maybe I need a vacation."

Kirk will get a small shot at redemption when she takes the oath of office again in January and after that might get her next crack at the pledge on Memorial Day.

Hooping it up for DECA

With many of Gloucester's young athletes now putting away their gear and looking toward the games of winter, Gloucester High School's businesses and marketing club is looking to give them a running start today — all the while hoping to raise money for an upcoming competition of its own.

The Gloucester High DECA Club is hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament this morning in the school's Benjamin A. Smith Field House, with boys and girls' teams in Grades 2-8 all welcome to participate.

Players and teams in Grades 2-3 should register at 8:45 a.m,, while those in Grades 4-5 can register at 10 and those Grades 6-8 should register at 11. Each age group will have some 90 minutes for its tournament, beginning right after its registration, said DECA program public relations leader Christopher Frontiero.

The fee is $40 a team for three or four players, Frontiero said, adding that, while just three play on a team at a time, teams are welcome to include a fourth player as a reserve.

All of the money raised from the tournament — and from concessions that will be set up in the school's Atrium — will go toward the DECA Club's trip to its own New England Regional DECA competition in Boston Dec. 14.

Honored veteran

The flag at the Veterans Center will fly this week in honor of World War II, Korea, Vietnam War veteran Joseph Anthony "sky" McGillivary, Jr.

Born March 4, 1924, he entered the U.S. Navy and Air Force on July 10, 1942. A parachute rigger during World War II, parachute fabrication specialist during the Korean War, and data processing machine operator during the Vietnam war, the technical sergeant served with the U.S. Navy and Air Force, and served in the European African Campaign, Korea, Vietnam.

McGillivary was awarded the WWII Victory Medal, European African Campaign Medal, American Theatre Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with 4 Bronze OakLeaf Clusters and the Good Conduct Medal with 4 Bronze Loops.

He was discharged on June 30, 1966, and died June 5, 1995.

The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his brother Kenneth McGillivary.

Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans' Services at 978-281-9740.