Essex has hit the small screen seven months before it hits the big screen next summer.
The promotional trailer for Adam Sandler's upcoming movie "Grown Ups," filmed extensively this past summer at Centennial Grove and Woodman's Restaurant in Essex, as well as at other various Cape Ann locations, can now be seen at www.grownups-movie.com.
"Grown Ups", starring Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek and others, is a comedy about five friends and former teammates who reunite 30 years later to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach. With their wives — Hayek, Maria Bello and Maya Rudolph — and kids in tow, they spend the Fourth of July holiday weekend together at the lake house where they celebrated their championship years earlier, according to the movie's Web site.
The 92-second trailer starts with a sweeping image over Chebacco Lake at night with a view of a boat house that was constructed for the movie and the Grove Cottage. There are also scenes of the five guys playing basketball at the court constructed at Centennial Grove specifically for the movie — a court that has been left to the town.
The town received $150,000 from renting the property and many improvements were made to Centennial Grove by the production company on top of that. Many local officials and business owners say the movie has pumped close to $1 million into the local economy during this recession. Antique stores, restaurants, local builders and saw mills have all indicated they benefitted from having the filming in town.
"Grown Ups" is scheduled for a June 25 release.
Selectman Ray Randall has said he is looking forward to seeing the movie.
"I want to see what the cottage will look like," said Randall, "and how Essex will look on film."
The last movie to be largely shot in Essex before this summer was "The Crucible," starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder, filmed on Hog Island in 1995.
Alumni invited to Open House
Alumni of the Manchester Essex Regional School District are invited to tour the new high and middle school next Saturday, Nov. 28, from 4 to 6 p.m.
The event is hosted as a fundraiser for the new Enrichment Fund, an endowment effort designed to raise additional money within the district. Money raised will be used for programs and projects beyond what the operating budget can provide.
Those interested are invited "renew friendships" at The Land Restaurant on Central Street that same evening, from 6 to 8. A percentage of the sales will be donated to The Enrichment Fund.
'Making Music' at Manchester library
"Making Music," a program for young children created in 1993 by Ellen Hoffman, combines rhythm and reading, music and movement and instruments and imagination. And it is back at Manchester Public Library.
The library will be hosting the class for children ages 2 to 5 on Friday, Dec. 4, at 10:30 a.m. The program lasts for 45 minutes, and includes six or seven different imaginative, musical, language and learning activities.
Blurring the lines between storytelling and music, rhythm and reading, music and movement, and instruments and imagination, preschool music teacher Hoffman brings her guitar plus bags of instruments, books, and props for interactive fun. Hoffman aims to not only entertain, but to provide parents with ideas on how to make story time more magical.
The program is sponsored by the Target Foundations grant for family literacy to the Children's Room. Parents can register their children with Sara Collins, youth services librarian of Manchester Public Library, 978-526-2016 or scollins@mvlc.org. Space is limited.
Schools offer ski program
The Manchester Essex Regional Schools Ski Program will be offered again this year to third- throough 12th-graders from Manchester and Essex.
Lessons in skiing or snowboarding will be given at Bradford Ski Area in Haverhill on six consecutive Mondays this winter starting on Jan. 4. The bus will leave Manchester Memorial at 2:45 p.m. and travel to Essex Elementary. Students will return to Essex Elementary by 6:45 p.m. and then Manchester Memorial by 7 p.m.
All students must choose between skiing and snowboarding. Class dates are slated for Jan. 4, 11, and 25, and Feb. 4, 8, 22.
Registration is ongoing and will continue until the program is filled; there are just 46 spots available. There are forms that parents must complete in addition to the registration form and will be provided at registration.
The cost per student for six Mondays of skiing or snowboarding is $275 for lift and lessons, not including rental equipment.
All forms can be found http://www.staff.mersd.org/magers/ under "Ski & Board Program."
Jonathan Phelps compiles information about events, services and programs in Manchester and Essex for the weekly Town Talk column. If you have a news tip or submission for this column, you can reach him at 978-283-7000, x3447 or gt_reporter@gloucestertimes.com.
