Talk of the Times
By All Hands
—
Two weeks ago, the "Gran Prix of Gloucester" brought hundreds of bicyclists to Stage Fort Park for a cyclocross competition.
Today, hundreds of motorcyclists are expected to visit the park as well — for a poignant tribute, and for a good cause.
The 12th annual "Nelson's Ride" event kicks off at 9:30 a.m., with staging, vendors and live music at Stage Fort.
After some awards and safety briefings, the motorcyclists will then leave on the actual ride at noon sharp.
The ride is the annual fund-raiser for motorcycle safety and awareness — donations go to the Massachusetts Motorcycle Survivors' Fund.
But the "slow ride" also stands as a tribute to the late Nelson Selig of Essex, who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 2000.
The route heads out of the park and up Essex Avenue (Route 133), following that route through Essex into Ipswich, and past the roadside memorial that marks the site of Selig's accident.
The riders will then swing right onto Route 1A, left onto Topsfield Road, onto Route 1, left onto Route 97, and finally onto Route 127, bringing everyone back to Stage Fort Park.
Non-riders are welcomed to attend to check out the motorcycles and enjoy the day with their riding neighbors and friends.
For more information, including the Ride Route and Schedule, see NelsonsRide.org
Campaign debates in works
Gloucester's city election campaign is about to step into the debate phase next weekend.
A special forum hosted and moderated by Ward 4 Councilor and City Council President Jackie Hardy is set to be held next Saturday, Oct. 22, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Lanesville Community Center at 8 Vulcan St., in that northern Gloucester village.
The candidates for mayor — incumbent Carolyn Kirk and challenger Ken Sarofeen — have committed to participate in debate form, with the at-large City Council candidates to follow in a question-and-answer format, according to Hardy, who is unopposed in her own Ward 4 re-election race.
While all candidates and the general public are invited to attend, the event is geared to those candidates whose names will be on the ballot in Ward 4 on Election Day, Nov. 8, Hardy said.
The debate is the first of several being planned in the run-up to Election Day.
The League of Women Voters of Cape Ann will be hosting a closed-door forum for city candidates in the studio of Cape Ann TV on Oct. 24, while the Times is in the process of putting together plans for its debates involving the contested city races on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 at Gloucester Stage Company in East Gloucester.
As in the past, the Times debates will be free and open to the public, with questions based on the submissions of Times readers. More details regarding all of the debates are expected to be announced next week. Stay tuned.
Honored veteran
The flag at the Veterans' Center will fly this week in honor of World War II veteran John Urban Barry. Born May 23, 1918, he entered the U.S. Army on April 14, 1942.
The anti-aircraft machine gun crewman served with Battery C 796th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion attached to the 10th Armor Division in Germany and France. He served during the Battle of the Bulge.
Barry was awarded the Good Conduct Medal; the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device/Clasp for Bravery, Valor and Combat Heroism; the American Theatre Campaign Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal.
He was discharged Dec. 3, 1945, and died Sept. 22, 2010.
The flag was requested to fly in his honor by his children, Pat and David, and grandchildren, Avery and John Barry.
Anyone wishing to fly a flag in honor of a deceased veteran can call the Office of Veterans' Services at 978-281-9740.
