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PHOTOS: Gazebo and Tree Aglow After Sunday Night Festivities

The gazebo at Patton Park and Christmas Tree at People's United Bank in Hamilton were lit on Sunday night after singing carols and the arrival of Santa.

It was standing room only at the Community House of Hamilton and Wenham for the caroling on Sunday night. Santa visited and on the way out he was given a cookie and cocoa. Then everyone headed over to Patton Park to light the gazebo and then down to People's United Bank to light the Christmas tree.

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Cookies, Cocoa and Caroling to Ring in Holidays Sunday

The gazebo and Christmas tree in downtown Hamilton will be lit on Sunday night, with cookies and hot chocolate being seved.

The holiday season officially begins on Sunday night in Hamilton with Christmas carols and the lighting of the Patton Park gazebo and Christmas tree at People’s United Bank. Organizer Peter Stewart said he began the tradition about 15 years ago with the idea of adding the lighting of the gazebo to the evening activities. “It makes the gazebo look real great,” he said. It starts at 4:30 at the Community House with cookies and hot chocolate and carols, led by Stewart and Joe Scuderi. The caroling is designed for all ages, Stewart said. Stewart said Paul Reigle of the Hamilton Department of Public Works and Frank Williamson at People’s United Bank are a help in lighting both the gazebo and tree. The entire event will last about an hour, …

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 2

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 2. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Weather: There’s a great day in store for Wednesday with sun and temperatures in the mid 50s. 2. Danversbank: Danversbank officially became People’s United Bank a few months ago but this week the bank began to take on a new look in Hamilton. The signs have been switched over from Danversbank to People’s United, the Connecticut-based bank that bought out Danversbank earlier this year. It’s the second name change for that bank building in the past few years – it went from Beverly National to Danversbank just a few years ago. 3. You Ask: What have you been wondering about? Let us know and we’ll hunt down the answer. In recent months, we have periodically heard people asking…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Oct. 19

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 19. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Rain: Forecasters have been talking about it for several days – a rainstorm is moving in to the area on Wednesday. The heavy rain is expected to arrive by midafternoon and temperatures will be around 60 degrees. 2. Potholes: Maybe you remember the huge potholes that cropped up at the entrance to the parking lot at the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing last spring. Well, those potholes should be a distant memory after a repaving job completed this week put a brand new layer of “hot top” over the problem area. 3. Gluten free: We keep hearing about it and you probably hear about it often too – gluten-free cooking. And on Wednesday there’s a chance to find out more at Hamilton-…

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Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: Sept. 20

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, Sept. 20. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Weather: Some rain is expected to re-enter the weather picture on Tuesday. The forecast calls for a cloudy day with a chance of rain with temperatures near 70. 2. Canter Brook: At one point earlier this summer, today was set as a deadline for the Hamilton Planning Board to make a decision about the senior housing project planned for the Canter Brook Equestrian Center property. But that has now been pushed back as the issues surrounding water runoff and the soil on the property, among other issues, continue to undergo scrutiny by the board. A decision is now expected by November. 3. High School Football: If you missed the Generals' big win on the gridiron at home over …

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New Danversbank Owner Wins Verdict in Account Hacking Case

People's United Bank, which earlier this year bought out Danversbank - which has a branch in Hamilton - recently won a ruling from a federal judge saying it was not responsible for more than $300,000 that was hacked from an account.

Patch Facts

Five Things You Need to Know Today: July 21

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Thursday, July 21. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Hot: There’s one thing that everyone will be talking about for the next few days – the heat. Temperatures will get into the mid-90s with bright sun on Thursday. 2. Manga: Teenagers can learn to draw their favorite cartoon or Manga character on Thursday afternoon at Hamilton-Wenham Library. Local artist Peter Simeti will be on hand from 2-3:30 p.m. and paper, pencils and pens will be available - just bring a picture of the character you want to draw. There’s a 20 person limit so make sure to sign up this morning at the reference desk or call the library. 3. Art Grows Here: Here’s another friendly reminder that this week we are in the middle of the “Art Grows Here” outdoor…

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Social Media Saturday

Looking Back at Local Social Media This Week

Each Saturday, Hamilton-Wenham Patch takes a look back at the past week on social media - whether it's on Patch or other pages from local businesses and groups.

Here at Hamilton-Wenham Patch, social media is a big deal. It's how we interact with you, answer your questions and get to see what's on your mind. Social Media Saturday is a weekly feature where we highlight your questions and thoughts you've shared on Facebook and other social media throughout the past week. We'll also point you to some new and interesting pages you may not have known about before. Overheard Poll Results On Tuesday, we asked how the recent buyout of Danversbank by People’s United Bank of Connecticut has affected people’s banking decision. While voters participating was very low, each respondent said that buyouts have affected their banking decisions and they are sick of seeing local banks bought out by larger banks. …

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Facebook Poll: Bank Buyouts Affecting Banking Decisions

In this week's poll question on Hamilton-Wenham Patch's Facebook page, respondents said that bank buyouts have affected their banking decisions.

Some local residents have moved their money as a result of bank buyouts, according to respondents in Hamilton-Wenham Patch’s unscientific Facebook poll. Each Tuesday, Patch posts a local poll question and on Thursday we bring you the results. This week, with the recent sale of Danversbank to Connecticut-based People’s United Bank – plus the town of Hamilton’s decision to move money from Danversbank to Salem Five – we asked if it was affected your banking decisions. While the poll drew very few votes, every respondent said that they have made a move as a result of being unhappy about bank buyouts. Check back on Hamilton-Wenham Patch and our Facebook page next Tuesday for another poll question. In addition, keep your eye on various future …

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Facebook Poll: Have You Changed Banks?

This week's Hamilton-Wenham Patch Facebook poll asks you to let us know how, if at all, the buyout of Danversbank has affected your retail banking decisions.

Danversbank announced in January it would be bought out by People's United Bank of Connecticut. The sale closed on June 30. After hearing about the purchase, the town of Hamilton started shopping around, eventually deciding to move some of its money to Salem Five. Has Danversbank's buyout - or other changes in the retail banking industry in recent years - caused you to change banks? Let us know in this week’s Facebook poll. There's a variety of answer choices, from saying that buyouts do not bother you and your money is staying put to saying that you do not have money in Danversbank. Others may be fed up about the buyout and moved their money to a bank with closer local ties. Others may not have even known the buyout happened. In addition …

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