Carolers to Help Light Christmas Tree, Gazebo on Thursday Evening

The Christmas tree and gazebo in Hamilton will be lit on a Thursday night for the first time this year.

The gazebo at Patton Park and Christmas tree outside People's United Bank in Hamilton will both be lit on Thursday night with the help of Christmas carolers. And everyone is invited. The event is free and open to the public and starts at 6:30 p.m. There's two big changes this year - it has been moved from a Sunday night to a Thursday night and will include "Music Man" Brian Doser as the master of ceremonies. "It's different this year because we have Brian," said Peter Stewart, who will help lead everyone in Christmas carols. Stewart and Joe Scuderi will join Doser for a caroling sing-a-long at the Community House before moving on to the lighting of the gazebo and later the Christmas tree. The evening will start with Arbella Brass playing …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Nov. 23: Meals on Wheels Needs Volunteer Drivers

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

Today is Friday, Nov. 23. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Mild: A cloudy start on Friday is forecasted to make way for sun with temperatures getting up into the 50s for another mild day. 2. School: Friday marks day No. 2 of a four day long weekend for students. They will all return to school on Monday. 3. Christmas Trees: As soon as the final piece of apple pie is eaten, some families start the search for their Christmas tree. In the two towns, there’s Burnett’s plus seasonal operations at Dodge Tree and Patton Park, run by the EdFund. Where are you going to buy your Christmas tree this year? Or do you an artificial tree? Tell us in the comments. 4. Meals on Wheels: SeniorCare is looking for new volunteers …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Nov. 15: Free Flu Shots

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

Today is Thursday, Nov. 15. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Repeat: Thursday’s weather will largely be a repeat of Wednesday – a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 40s. 2. Flu Shots: The second of two flu shot clinics happens on Thursday at The Meetinghouse in Hamilton for residents of both towns. It runs from 3-6 p.m. and is open to all ages. The Boards of Health from both towns, which are sponsoring the clinic, recommend that people wear short sleeves or loose-fitting sleeves and bring your insurance card. 3. Patton Park Bricks: The effort to raise money to build a new playground at Patton Park has added brick sponsorships to its efforts. And Wednesday has been set as the final day to contribute…

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Viewfinder

PHOTOS: Kids Fun Run Helps With New Patton Playground Effort

A fun run raised money for the effort to build a new playground at Patton Park.

Kids raised $892.20 on Wednesday for the Friends of Patton Park in the effort to install a new playground at Patton Park. They races about a quarter mile across the park and paid $5 each to enter the race. Some children paid the entrance fee themselves toward the effort. The group plans to break ground in the spring for a new playground at the park. The idea started with an idea that came from the children of the chairwomen of the fundraisng effort. The children said that their parents had been working so hard to raise the money for the playground they wanted to do something to help them. "We are so proud of our community for all of the hard work that has gone into the Patton park project. At this point, we are only $25,000 from our …

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Meet Your Neighbor

This Hamilton Mom Keeps a 'Bliss List" with the Things That Bring Joy

Get to know Heather Tripp of Hamilton, the 50th local resident profiled in the "Meet Your Neighbor" column.

Name: Heather Tripp Street: Postgate Road, Hamilton Family: Husband, Drew; Two kids - Joshua, 10 and Allie, 7 Occupation: Freelance graphic designer Hobbies/interests: Art, photography, cooking, reading, exercising, I'm addicted to Pinterest - it's a problem. Favorite quote/mantra: I adore Abraham Lincoln and his quote “Whatever you are, be a good one” is a favorite. Something you do often that brings you joy: I keep a “Bliss List” where I write down the things that make me happy, however small. I add to the list every day and refer back to it often. Things that bring me joy can be as simple as a really good cup of coffee or how the sun looks coming into my kitchen. It's a reminder that the small things are the big things. So, keeping the …

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Jennifer Flynn

1:44 pm on Friday, October 5, 2012

I love these too!!! Heather motivated me to start a thank you/bliss list:)   more ›

Police Log

5-Year-Old Bitten by Dog at Patton Park

A roundup of activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department for Sept. 6-9. Where charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

The following activity for the Hamilton Police and Fire Department comes from the Hamilton-Wenham Emergency Center log for Thursday, Sept. 6 through Monday, Sept. 9. Thursday, Sept. 6 1:45 a.m. A disabled vehicle was assisted on Bridge Street. 6:07 a.m. Assistance was rendered taking the ballots from Hamilton Town Hall. 8:53 a.m. A fire call was handled at an unspecified location in Hamilton. 11:13 a.m. Community policing was conducted on Walnut Road. 1:01 p.m. Somebody was transported to the hospital after an ambulance call an Essex Street address. 1:31 a.m. A car stop was conducted on Greenbrook Road. 1:39 p.m. Information was given out after an animal call at an unspecified address in Hamilton. 2:39 p.m. Assistance was rendered on …

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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 ›

Get Out

Duathlon, Concert and Shakespeare All Part of Weekend Fun

Here's a quick look at some of the events coming up this weekend in Hamilton and Wenham and the nearby area.

Evening oceanside performances and a walk through newly preserved land in Hamilton are two of this weekend’s events. Plus, Asbury Grove’s duathlon returns on Saturday and the Old Ipswich Days runs all weekend just up Route 1A – that’s all part of this week’s weekend events preview. 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. OLD IPSWICH DAYS Where/When: Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day; South Village Green, Route …

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Michelle Bailey

7:11 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

This week-end also kicks off the Beverly Homecoming and Yankee Homecoming. The calendars are on-line. One highlight is the tour of Hospital Point in Beverly on Sunday. If you've never been, this is a great opportunity. http://www.beverlyhomecoming.com/calendar.html   more ›

You Ask...Patch Answers

Where Can I Pick Up Compost?

Compost is now available, for free to participants in the two town's curbside organics collection program, at the Wenham Highway garage.

The compost from the organic material collected as part of the trash collection program in both towns is now available in Wenham. The Departments of Public Works in both Hamilton and Wenham announced on Tuesday that the compost is now available at the Wenham Highway Department garage at the Iron Rail property on Grapevine Road. Since the organics collection program started more than two years ago, compost was available for free to program participants at Patton Park in Hamilton. Hamilton DPW Director John Tomasz said in an e-mail that the amount of compost “taken (from the Patton Park site) has been significantly greater than anyone expected.” The move to the Wenham Highway Department means it will be “under a more watchful eye.” The …

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Michelle Bailey

4:55 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012

Compost: according to the press release residents can pick-up one cubic yard, roughly 40 five-gallon buckets.   more ›

New Playground Headed for Spring Groundbreaking, Fundraising Two-Thirds Complete

The new playground at Patton Park is one step closer to reality after earning approval from the Zoning Board and continues it fundraising, working toward a spring groundbreaking.

The project to build a new playground at Patton Park is about two-thirds of its way toward its fundraising goal. The Friends of Patton Park group is hoping to raise $150,000 to build a new playground at the Hamilton park, and plans to break-ground on the project next spring. So far, $97,000 has been raised toward the project, according to Holly Regan of the Friends group. If fundraising goes as scheduled, Regan said the project would be put out to bid this fall and construction would begin, weather-permitting, in the spring. And this week, the Hamilton Zoning Board of Adjustment released a decision granting its approval for the installation of new playground equipment. “The new playground is going to go in the same footprint of the …

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Michelle Bailey

7:59 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012

Cheers to Holly and the other women working to make the park a community asset.   more ›