Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on May 16: Gala Event at Turner Hill to Benefit Acord

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

Today is Thursday, May 16. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Warm: The sun will return to the sky on Friday and the temperature will get up there – close to 80 degrees. Winds will also be gusty, especially in the afternoon with gusts up to 20 miles per hour. 2. Unemployment: As the economy continues to stagnate, we’ll hear on Thursday about the state unemployment rate for April. The state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development will release the latest unemployment rate, labor force data and jobs estimates for Massachusetts. 3. History: The Wenham Historic District Commission will meet on Thursday evening at 7 p.m. at Hamilton-Wenham Public Library. The commission has several items on its agenda, …

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Robert Gates

2:22 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013

This story has been updated to indicate that the Acord Food Pantry Gala originally scheduled for tonight has been cancelled.   more ›

Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on May 15: Grow-a-Row for Acord Food Pantry

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

Today is Wednesday, May 15. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Mix: Wednesday is forecasted to start out clear and cold, with a mix of clouds and sun through the day with a chance of a shower later in the day. The temperature will get to about 60 degrees. 2. Grow-a-Row: Acord Food Pantry is teaming up with Hamilton-Wenham Green to locally grow fruits and vegetables for the food pantry this summer in a program called Grow-a-Row. And the program gets going on Wednesday. Seedlings, plants and seeds will be given out for local residents to grow on Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at Acord, at the corner of Railroad Avenue and Union Street.     3. Guns: U.S. Rep. John Tierney, D-Salem, who represents Hamilton and Wenham …

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Letter Carriers and Acord Team up for Food Drive Saturday

Leave donated food items by your mailbox on Saturday to help local families in need.

This weekend once again mail carriers will come together to help those who need help putting food on the table in Hamilton and Wenham. Now in its 21st year, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will take place on Saturday, May 11. That day residents are asked to leave a nonperishable item like peanut butter, soup or pasta in a sturdy bag next to their mailboxes before normal mail delivery time. At some point this week, your mail carrier should have dropped off a plastic grocery bag, donated by Essex County Community Foundation and EBSCO Publishing of Ipswich, to place the food in. Mail carriers will collect the food, which will help stock Acord Food Pantry in Hamilton before the summer. Last year, letter carriers collected more than 70 million …

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Letter to the Editor: You Can Help Keep the Towns Strong

A member of the North Shore United Way board writes to say that all donations until the end of April will be matched.

To the Editor: We all receive lots of solicitations, but I believe for the residents of Hamilton and Wenham that the North Shore United Way really is a special case. NSUW deserves a share of your annual charitable giving. The NSUW provides essential funding for programs that support the youth and families in Hamilton and Wenham along with six neighboring towns. These include the Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School Student Assistance Program, HAWC, Wellspring House, the Y Financial Assistance Fund, the Acord Food Pantry, Harborlight Community Partners, Beverly Bootstraps and the Open Door in Gloucester. These charities do more than just provide a band aid; they open the door to life-changing opportunities to influence youth outcomes and …

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Winthrop Kids Club Donates Breakfast Food to Acord

The Winthrop School Kids Care Club recently made a donation to the Acord Food Pantry.

The Winthrop School Kids Care Club recently collected breakfast food for the Acord Food Pantry. Volunteers at the pantry will then use the donations to make up breakfast bags for distribution to Acord patrons. Club members are pictured above with their advisors Heidi Caccivio, Mark Williams and Jan Lee.

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Get Out

Sleigh Bells and Stage Production Top Pre-Thanksgiving Weekend Calendar

A look at local weekend events in Hamilton and Wenham and nearby areas of the North Shore.

Take a look at all sorts of locally handcrafted gifts at Wenham Museum and help the less fortunate in the two towns this weekend. There’s also a reception for a local artist on Saturday night and the YMCA is hosting a family-friendly stage production in Ipswich. Below, get the when and where for those events and other happenings in Hamilton, Wenham and the nearby area. Remember, each Friday Hamilton-Wenham Patch’s “Get Out” weekend planner brings you a quick guide to local events and activities. If you have great ideas of your own that you want to share, please feel free to add them in the comments section at the bottom. 1. SLEIGH BELL ARTISAN FAIR Where/When: Wenham Museum, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sunday, 12–4 p.m. Why Go…

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Letter to the Editor: First Responders to Collect Food for Acord on Saturday

For the 19th straight year, police officers, firefighters and dispatchers from Hamilton and Wenham will collect food on Saturday for the Acord Food Pantry.

To the Editor: On Saturday, Nov. 17, police officers, firefighters and dispatchers from Hamilton and Wenham will collect food for Acord Food Pantry. We have done this for 19 years and sincerely appreciate the response from the two communities. Acord needs our support during these difficult economic times. The clients are local people who may need some temporary help or may be some of our seniors whose Social Security check does not cover rising heat and medical costs. These people are our neighbors and Hamilton and Wenham have never failed to reach out and help. Please place your non-perishable, non-expired donation in your recycle box and have it out by 9 a.m. on Saturday. Acord composts all expired food items and recycles all the cans …

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Hill: Weekend Food Drive was 'Overwhelming Success'

State Rep. Brad Hill writes to say that the North Shore Food Drive he organized during the past weekend was a success, exceeding the goal of 50 boxes by collecting 130 boxes of food.

State Rep. Bradford R. Hill (R-Ipswich), the Minority Whip, said that the North Shore Food Drive that he recently sponsored was an overwhelming success. Over a period of two days Hill and many volunteers collected non perishable items. The event took place at the Market Basket in Rowley for the benefit of local area food banks, which are in constant need of donations for those who are not able to take their next meal for granted. “It was my goal to fill 50 boxes of food to donate to area food banks,” Hill said. “With the help of volunteers from the Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School Interact club, Ice Hawks Hockey Club, North Shore 104.9, First National Bank of Ipswich, Manchester Athletic Club, family, friends and the Demoulas Market …

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Letter to the Editor: Food Banks in Need of Assistance on Constant Basis

State Rep. Brad Hill, R-Ipswich, who represents Hamilton and Wenham, writes about a food drive he is organizing later this month.

To the Editor: Most of us are able to take for granted that there will be food in our refrigerators or dinner on the table when we come home from work. We do not think of hunger as a problem that runs rampant through our community, but it does and there are people and families all around us that do not take for granted their next meal. Currently, in the North Shore community, one in six people collect some type of food assistance and one in nine families seek services from one of the local food banks.  While during the Holiday season it seems we are likely to give, hunger is a problem that affects the community year round. Food banks are in need of our assistance on a constant basis, just as we all need to eat regularly. The Acord Food …

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Meet Your Neighbor

Meet the Next Oprah From Hamilton

"Meet Your Neighbor" introduces you to Pam Guyer of Hamilton.

Name: Pam Guyer Street: Boardman Lane, Hamilton Family: Husband, Charlie; Kaili, 13; Cameron, 11; Colby, 10 Occupation: Momprenuer, Author, Speaker and Executive National VP Arbonne Hobbies/interests: Yoga, running, food, family, home design, reading, writing, beach, wellness, travel an business/branding What are you passionate about? Family, work/life Balance, empowering others to find and follow their passions. What did you study in school? Undergrad: Education; Masters: Training and Development Are you utilizing this subject now? Yes, the Training and Development for training, speaking and program development. Best book: Tough one! There are so many so I am going to say "Living HIPP," the book I wrote. I like it because its message and …

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