Country's Best Frisbee Players Arrive in Hamilton This Weekend

The New England Open Ultimate Frisbee tournament this weekend in Hamilton will draw top teams from as far away as California and Michigan.

They're back. Some of the top collegiate Ultimate Frisbee players from across the country will arrive in Hamilton this weekend for the largest tournament of its kind in New England. It will run all day on both Saturday and Sunday on 13 Ultimate Frisbee fields at Myopia Hunt Club. The tournament started in Hamilton three years ago almost by happenstance. Organizer Tim Spittle's father, Tom, runs Roy Spittle Electric of Gloucester, which does work at Myopia. Tim Spittle, who played Ultimate Frisbee at Northeastern University before graduating last spring, approached the club about using the fields for an Ultimate Frisbee tournament. The answer was "yes" and the New England Open tournament has just grown. "Now we are attracting teams from …

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William Joseph Whelan, 82, Avid Golfer, Business Owner, Grandfather to 19

Obituary for William Joseph Whelan, 82, of Hamilton and Vero Beach, Fla.

William Joseph Whelan, 82, born and raised in Lynn and a 55-year-resident of Hamilton died peacefully Saturday evening, Feb. 9, 2013 in Vero Beach, Fla. surrounded by family. He leaves behind his cherished wife of 59 years, Jean (Mullen). He will be deeply missed by his six children, their spouses and his adoring grandchildren: William J. Jr. (Natalie), and their children Amanda, Kevin, and Jack; Terrance (Michele), and their children Alexandra, Christopher and Megan; Ellen Shaughnessy (Keith), and their children Megan, Michael and Kari; James (Francine), and their children Allison, Annie, William and Kailee; Mari Schoder (Thomas), and their children Katie, Thomas and Ginny; and Thomas (Jule) and their children Molly, TJ and Teddy. He also…

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Myopia Hunt Horses and Hounds to Highlight Saturday's Downtown Harvest Festival

Saturday's Harvest festival will also include a parade of foxhunters including horses and hounds.

A parade of Foxhunters and hounds will highlight Saturday’s Harvest in the Village festival in downtown Hamilton. The idea comes from Middleburg, Va. where a similar event in its downtown kicks off the holiday shopping season. But the foxhunting season starts earlier in Massachusetts and kicks off in late September and runs through Thanksgiving. “This is something that I have been wanting to do,” said Nick White, a member of the Hunt committee who is organizing the parade. “(In Middleburg) it is something people look forward to.” The parade also comes in the Hunt’s 13oth year, making it one of the oldest hunts in the country. While its shares the same names at the club, White said members of the Foxhunt do not need to be members at Myopia …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: Sept. 6

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

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 Department of Agricultural Resources runs a website with a lookup for farms that sell apples this fall, which includes Connors Farm, just over the Wenham …

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Hurricanes Compete in All-Star Meet Versus Area Country Clubs

The Hamilton-Wenham Hurricanes compete against other area country clubs out of their home at the Patton Park pool.

The Hamilton-Wenham Hurricanes recently took part in the final all-star meet at the YMCA Sterling Center in Beverly. The outdoor swim program runs 6-8 weeks every summer at Patton Park's pool. It is a town Recreation Department program for children age 6-15. Head Coach Melissa Waugh led the Hurricanes against five other country clubs in the area: Myopia Hunt Club in Hamilton, Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Ipswich Country Club, Manchester Bath and Tennis and North Andover Country Club. Hamilton is the only town on the North Shore with a town pool, which Waugh said is "truly as asset to the whole Hamilton-Wenham community."

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Michelle Bailey

3:15 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The Patton Pool, home of the Hurricanes is a gem! CPA funds are badly needed. Without attention in the near future (maybe as early as next spring) the pool will not pass inspection. Losing the pool would be a large loss to the community. Encourage the Community Preservation Committee to hold hearings so this issue can be voted on at the fall town meeting.   more ›

Tell Me Something Good

Donald V. Little Grand Prix to be Part of Myopia's Equestrian Classic

Named one of the top 25 horse shows in the nation by North American Riders Group, the Boston Equestrian Classic blazes on despite the loss of its founder, Donald Little.

You can’t keep a good man down. And if that man creates something good, you can’t keep that down either. The proof is in the Boston Equestrian Classic. Don Little may have gone on to greener pastures but the show - his show - goes on. Little died on Feb. 29 at age 77 from injuries sustained after an accident while competing in the Masters Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. This year’s first competitors at the Equestrian Classic will warm up their mounts in the early morning of Thursday, Sept. 6 and as afternoon shadows lengthen on Sunday, Sept. 9 Grand Prix riders will be packing their saddles for home. Over $110,000 of prize money will leave in the pockets of the event’s winners. “(It’s) business as usual,” said…

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: June 13

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

Today is Wednesday, June 13. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Wet: Wednesday will be a mostly rainy day and temperatures won’t get out of the 60s. 2. Block Party: The last chance to buy discounted tickets in advance of Friday night’s Block Party is Wednesday. The deadline is 6 p.m. to get tickets for $25 for adults and $15 for children and seniors. The prices go up to $30 and $20, respectively, as the door. The 4th annual event runs 5-8 p.m. on Friday and includes live entertainment and plenty of food. 3. U.S. Open: The U.S. Open gets underway at the Olympic Club in San Francisco on Thursday. But more than 100 years later, the highest (i.e. worst) round ever shot in the tournament still stands from 1898 when the championship was …

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Myopia's Master of the Foxhounds, Little, Dies From Fall Injuries

Donald V. Little Sr., a man synonymous with Myopia Hunt Club for years, died on Wednesday from injuries he suffered while jumping in competition on Sunday in Florida.

Donald V. Little, the Master of the Foxhounds at Myopia Hunt Club who made a name for himself in the equestrian world here in Hamilton and across the country, died on Wednesday afternoon. Little was seriously injured on Sunday when he fell off his horse during the $10,000 Masters Jumper Classic at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. An announcement of Little’s death was made in a press release issued on Wednesday afternoon by Equestrian Sports Productions, the Winter Equestrian Festival's producer. "I will miss him so much,” said Little’s wife of 57 years, Judith A. Little, in Wednesday’s statement. “Donald died doing what he loved. He was loved and respected by so many people, including his fellow competitors, partners and …

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Myopia's Master of Foxhounds Seriously Injured in Show Jumping Accident

Donald Little suffered a serious injury in a show jumping accident in Florida on Sunday.

Donald Little, Master of the Foxhounds at Myopia Hunt Club, suffered a serious neck injury in a show-jumping accident in Florida on Sunday, the Daily Form reported on Monday. Little, beyond his position at Myopia, is the founder and president of the Putnam Boston Equestrian Classic, which has been put on at the Myopia Scooling fields for the past two summers. It its first year it was known as the Putnam Investments Boston Jumper Classic and was run in conjuction with the Myopia Horse Show. Daily Racing Form reported on Monday that the accident occurred at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Fla. The “bible of thoroughbred racing” reported that the injury was serious but offered few other details. The Racing Form said the injury …

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