Today is Friday, Sept. 27. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Gas: After weeks of rising gas prices, the American Automobile Association said in the past week that prices actually dropped. In recent days, though, we have seen the price tick back up again. The lowest price in the two towns on Thursday was at G & M Motors at $3.77. It was $3.81 at Oliver Gulf and Hamilton Convenience and $4.09 at Fallon’s Auto. 2. Coffee: Friday is National Coffee Day. All week, McDonalds – including the one on Route 1A in North Beverly - has been giving out free small coffees. On …

Today is Thursday, Sept. 27. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Biker Poetry: K. Peddlar Bridges is a “Biker Poet” who will be featured in a program at Hamilton-Wenham Library on Thursday evening. The program runs from 7-8 p.m. and is billed as being about “stories, poems and memories from the days when Hot Rods, Custom Cars and Stock Cars were the rulers of the road and our dreams were wrapped in sheet metal and chrome and our music was Rock n' Roll and duel exhaust." 2. Debate: The race for the Sixth Congressional District seat has really become one of the …

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 26. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Early Release: It’s Wednesday, which means it is early release day for the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District. Elementary schools get out at 12:45 p.m. and the high school and middle school get out at 1:30 p.m. 2. Topsfield Fair: Wednesday is the last day to buy discount tickets for the 2012 Topsfield Fair, which starts on Friday. There’s nowhere in the two towns where the discount tickets are sold, but you can buy them at the Fairgrounds on Route 1 in Topsfield. The closest place is likely …

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 25. Here are five things you need to know: 1. 70s: Temperatures return to the 70s again on Tuesday, with the forecast calling for sunny skies and increasing winds. 2. Mt. Washington: The world’s worst weather is said to be at the summit of Mt. Washington in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and Eric Pinder, who worked at the Mount Washington Observatory for seven years, brings some stories of working at the summer to the Hamilton-Wenham Library on Tuesday night. The free programs runs from 7-8 p.m. and is best for ages 8 and up. 3. School Committee: The Hamilton-…

Today is Monday, Sept. 24. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Sun: The sky is forecasted to be full of sun on Monday with temperatures hanging in the 60s. 2. Wenham Museum: The new executive director at Wenham Museum, Kristen Noon, starts on the job Monday. Noon, an attorney who lives in Wenham, takes over for Lindsay Diehl, who retired earlier this year because she wanted more time to take care of her dad. 3. ARC: The 43rd annual Mike Frangos Commodore Invitational Golf Tournament happens on Monday at Myopia Hunt Club golf course. All proceeds from the tournament go toward Northeast …

Today is Friday, Sept. 21. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Sun: Friday’s weather should include plenty of sun in the sky and typically September temperatures – in the 60s and possibly getting into the lower 70s. 2. Summer: Friday is the last full day of summer 2012. Autumn officially starts at 10:49 a.m. on Saturday. 3. Five Boards: The Board of Selectmen and Finance Advisory Committees from both Hamilton and Wenham will meet with the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School Committee at 4 p.m. on Friday at Buker Elementary School to discuss the plan for the bonding of several capital …

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 20. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Book Sale: Thursday is the final day for the Friends of Hamilton-Wenham Library’s book sale. It is open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the library. 2. Senior Basketball: It is the final day to register for Senior Basketball on Thursday. The league, for players age 35 and up, is taking registrations online at HWSBL.org for the 2012-12 year. 3. Recreation: The Master Plan for the Hamilton-Wenham Recreation Department and recreation facilities and offerings will be unveiled in a public presentation on Thursday evening. The plan will …

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 19. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Clearing: After the wind and rain moves out on Wednesday morning, forecasters say we will see the sun poke through by the afternoon with temperatures in the 70s. 2. Texting: Wednesday is designated as “No Text on Board - Pledge Day” and here on the North Shore, Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett is scheduled to appear with Attorney General Martha Coakley at Beverly High School, where they will ask students to commit to not texting while driving. It is part of a program sponsored by AT&T called “It Can Wait…

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 18. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Wet: By Tuesday evening, a rainstorm with gusty winds is expected to move in. Before that, it will be cloudy with temperatures in the 70s with a chance of a shower on Tuesday. 2. Gas: Gas is selling in Hamilton for three cents less than the area average. A gallon of regular gas is selling for an average of $3.92 in the area, and three gas stations in Hamilton – G & M Motors, Hamilton Convenience and Oliver Gulf – were all selling a gallon of regular for $3.89 per gallon on Monday. At Fallon’s Auto in Wenham, gas is selling …

Today is Monday, Sept. 17. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Dry: Monday will be a dry day, so enjoy it before a soaking storm moves in late Tuesday and is expected to last into Wednesday. The temperature on Monday will get into the 70s. 2. Sound of Music: Adult auditions for the Community House’s upcoming performance of the Sound of Music will be held on Monday and Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. Performances of the show are scheduled for March 1-3 and 8-10, 2013. 3. Rosh Hashanah: Sundown on Sunday night marked the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. The celebration of year 5773…

Today is Friday, Sept. 14. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Repeat: Friday will shape up looking much like Thursday weatherwise. There will be sunny skies and temperatures close to 80. 2. Book Sale: The Friends of Hamilton-Wenham Library’s book sale officially starts on Friday at the library, but members of the Friends group get a special sneak preview on Friday night from 6-8 p.m. And if you want to take part in the sneak preview you can become a Friends member at the door. 3. Brad Hill: State Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, represents both Hamilton and Wenham on Beacon Hill. And he’s …

Today is Thursday, Sept. 13. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Sun: Thursday is shaping up to be a classic sunny day, with a high temperatures of about 80 degrees. 2. Cub Scouts: Sign ups for Cub Scouts in Hamilton for the coming year happens at Winthrop Elementary School on Thursday night. Cub Scouts are open to boys in grades 1-5. The signs run 5:30-8 p.m. 3. Mosquitoes: Spraying for mosquitoes will happen in Wenham on Thursday night along Grapevine Road, including the Iron Rail property and Gordon College. 4. Curriculum: Wednesday night was curriculum night for parents at Hamilton-…

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 12. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Summer Is Coming Back: Forecasters say that a summer feeling will return on Wednesday, with sunny skies and temperatures getting into the lower 80s. In short, the day is expected to be “gorgeous.” 2. Legos: Wenham Museum’s public Lego art display called “It’s a Snap” opens on Wednesday. More than 60 pieces of Lego art by amateur and semi-professional artists will be on display through Oct. 21. 3. Trails and Sails: The Trails and Sails event – which will span all of Essex County with hundreds of free events later this …

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 11. Here are five things you need to know: 1. More Sun: Tuesday is forecasted to be a sunny day – another great fall-like day with temperatures in the upper 60s getting close to 70. 2. Cantemus: Cantemus Chamber Chorus is holding tryouts on Tuesday, either by making an appointment or showing up at the open rehearsal at 7:30 p.m. at Miles River Middle School. The chorus, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, will be preparing for its December program “Twilight in New England.” 3. Gas: The least expensive gallon of regular gas was on sale for $3.79 on Monday at G & …

Today is Monday, Sept. 10. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Sun: Monday is forecasted to be a sunny day, albeit a cool day. Temperatures are not expected to get much above 70 degrees. There will also be a strong northwest wind. 2. Up With People: The two shows by Up With People this past weekend are behind us, and one performer tweeted on Sunday that about 2,000 people attended the shows at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. 3. Low Number License Plates: If you were one of the 7,500 people that applied to get a low number license plate, Monday is the day you’ll find out if you get…

Today is Friday, Sept. 7. Here are five things you need to know: 1. 80s: Temperatures should get into the 80s and the sun will be out for most of the day on Friday. It will also be muggy and there will be a chance of a passing shower too. 2. Trash: Our final reminder of the week that trash pickups is delayed by a day all week after the Labor Day holiday last Monday. Residents in Hamilton that typically have pickup on Thursday morning should have their trash out this morning and those with typical Friday pickup should have trash out on Saturday morning. Only trash in a town bag will be picked …

Today is Thursday, Sept. 6. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Sun: The sun remerged on Wednesday afternoon and is forecasted to stick around on Thursday with temperatures in the 70s. 2. Equestrian Classic: The Boston Equestrian Classic gets started on Thursday at the Myopia Hunt Club Schooling Fields with warm-ups. 3. Apples: September has been officially declared “Apple Month” in Massachusetts. “The harvest is ahead of schedule,” said Bar Weeks, executive director of the New England Apple Association. Massachusetts is the 12th largest producer of apples in the country. The state …

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 5. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Rain: Wednesday will be a rainy day – plain and simple. The temperature will be in the 80s. 2. Mary Maione: Mary Maione is being honored on Wednesday for her years of volunteering. The event runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hamilton Council on Aging building, also known as The Meetinghouse or old library. State Senator Bruce Tarr and state Rep. Brad Hill plus the Hamilton Board of Selectmen and Town Manager have all been invited. After years of volunteering in a number of capacities throughout the town, Mary is retiring …

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 4. Here are five things you need to know:  1. Rain: A rain storm – the remnants of Hurricane Isaac – will move into the area on Tuesday night and last into Wednesday. It will be the first rainstorm in quite a while and is expected to drop more than an inch of rain. 2. Mosquitoes: An area of Hamilton will again be sprayed for mosquitoes on Tuesday night. The area will be east of Essex Street on the east end of the town, near Chebacco Lake. The spraying will happen between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. The spraying will be conducted after a discovery at the end of last week that a …

  1. HOW IT ALL BEGAN The origins of the holiday were anything but celebratory. In fact, the first Labor Day "celebration" was actually a protest in which 10,000 workers marched to Union Square Park in New York City to support the idea of a holiday for workers. It was not until 1894, 12 years after that protest, that President Grover Cleveland signed into law a bill designating the first Monday in September, Labor Day. Several states had already passed legislation by that time recognizing the holiday. 2. FEW WERE WORKING FOR THE WEEKEND In the late 1800s the average American worked 12-hour …