Update
5/15/2007

CSC is pleased to announce

A Debate Between Candidates!

For the available seat on the Hamilton Board of Selectmen

David Carey and John Hamilton will debate the issues

Sponsored by Citizens for a Strong Community

To be aired on Hamilton-Wenham TV
 

Thursday is election day in Hamilton and Wenham.
Your Vote Counts - Plan on Voting!

More information available at the Election Section of the CSC website.

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Wenham Museum 85th Anniversary Legacy Gala - Saturday, May 19, 2007, 6:30pm

Wenham Museum celebrates it’s 85th Anniversary with a spectacular evening including incomparable gourmet fare and swinging jazz by Winiker Music and special guest Chicago chanteuse Chistine Ott. Museum legacies that have helped perpetuate the museum for more than eight decades will be honored. Tickets available by calling the museum at 978-468-2377 or at the door.

Girl Scout Awards Ceremony will be held at the Gordon Seminary Chapel, 130 Essex Street, Hamilton, on Tuesday evening, May 29 from 6:30-7:30. Come recognize Hamilton Wenham Girl Scouts receive recognition for awards earned this year. Please bring a non perishable food item for Acord Food pantry. Contact Steph Moffat at 978-468-5234 for info.

Hamilton Council on Aging - Senior Center on Bay Road

Wednesday, May 16th at 10:00am - Event with the Hamilton-Wenham Garden Club. They will teach the seniors how to create a red, white and blue arrangement for the holiday. Bring a 6-7" container, and scissors. The HW Garden Club will supply the rest. Have some fun, enjoy coffee and friends. Free and open to the public!

Wednesday, May 23rd at 10:00am - Senior Center will present "River Run" the outdoor education classroom at The Winthrop School. J.P. Goodwin, Landscape Designer and Susan Tomases will be on hand to explain the project. Enjoy coffee and friends. Free and open to the public!

Wednesday, May 30th, at 12:00pm - Join the Senior Center on Bay Road for a box lunch of turkey, potato salad, chilled fruit, brownie and juice. Sponsored by COA and Senior Care. Cost is $3.00. Bingo will be offered after lunch. Register May 23rd at the Senior Center 10am-12Noon.

For more information please call Madelyn Liberti at 978-468-1839.

Math Independent Inquiry Project Presentation and Recognition Ceremony, Wednesday, May 24, at Miles River Middle School, 4-6 PM. Seventh grade students at MRMS have completed their independent inquiries of a mathematical idea of their choice. Come see their presentations!

The CSC website (www.hwcsc.org) is the only place that offers condensed calendars for the towns of Hamilton and Wenham, the H-W Public Library and the H-W School District, all in the same location!  It's always advisable to check the calendar before attending a meeting.  Just click on any event listing and you will be taken directly to the official calendar for more information. 

Update
5/8/2007

Hamilton's town meeting made it through all spending proposals last night with hardly an objection.  The biggest discussion centered around line items for the Community Preservation Fund, including $1,200 for a laptop computer to be used by the Conservation Commission, and $35,000 to pay for materials to build a new building to house Hamilton's first mechanized fire truck.

Warrant articles approved by voters included:

Question 1: Town Operating Levy Limit Override

$121,582 to fund the Town's net operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007

Question 2: School Operating Levy Limit Override

$340,121 to fund Hamilton's share of the net operating cost of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007

Question 3: Capital Expenditure Exclusion

$28,500 to fund the purchase of a Police Department cruiser and related equipment for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007

Question 4: Capital Expenditure Exclusion

$54,000 to fund the purchase of two Department of Public Works pick-up trucks for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007

Town Meeting continues tonight at 7:30.  The first item on the agenda will be the controversial Senior Housing bylaw.  As you know CSC has a new Community Forum, which has many topics to choose from, but the one that has generated a terrific response (18 posts and over 400 page views in about a week) is focused on the Senior Housing bylaw [view the Senior Housing Bylaw (pdf)].  Although some of the replies got a little testy, there is a lot of good information available. The direct link to the Senior Housing bylaw discussion is http://www.hwcsc.info/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,8.0.html.

As you know, in years past we have had problems getting a quorum on the the second night of Town Meeting.  Last fall's Town Meeting never got off the ground, even though we tried two nights in a row to get a quorum.  As it is now, we require a minimum of 150 voters.  If we achieve the quorum tonight, one of the articles under consideration is to reduce the quorum.  Please do your best to attend the meeting.

View the Warrant for Hamilton's Town Meeting, General Information.

Also under consideration is and amendment to the Right to Farm bylaw, and some more minor issues.

Wenham's town meeting and election occurred on Saturday.  All warrants articles presented were passed with very little discussion. 

The CSC website (www.hwcsc.org) is the only place that offers condensed calendars for the towns of Hamilton and Wenham, the H-W Public Library and the H-W School District, all in the same location!  It's always advisable to check the calendar before attending a meeting.  Just click on any event listing and you will be taken directly to the official calendar for more information. 

[Not emailed to our list]
Update
5/5/2007

Ballot Questions for consideration at Hamilton's Town Meeting:

Question 1: Town Operating Levy Limit Override

Shall the town of Hamilton be allowed to assess an additional $121,582 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding the Town's net operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007?

Question 2: School Operating Levy Limit Override

Shall the town of Hamilton be allowed to assess an additional $340,121 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding Hamilton's share of the net operating cost of the Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007?

Question 3: Capital Expenditure Exclusion

Shall the town of Hamilton be allowed to assess an additional $28,500 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding the purchase of a Police Department cruiser and related equipment for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007?

Question 4: Capital Expenditure Exclusion

Shall the town of Hamilton be allowed to assess an additional $54,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding the purchase of two Department of Public Works pick-up trucks for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007?

Even if there are motions at Annual Town Meeting to try to change any of the dollar amounts on any of the questions, the ballots have been printed and cannot be changed.

Update
5/4/2007

The 2007 Elections section is now open at the CSC website, and looking for your attention!  It includes:

• A summary page that has all the dates, locations, etc. that you need at this point.

• Ballots for Hamilton and Wenham, which includes School Committee

• Budget, and Warrant Information for Hamilton, Wenham and the School District which includes links to lots of pdf files that you may find helpful

• A Q & A session with Hamilton Selectmen candidates David Carey and John Hamilton

Did you miss Candidates Night sponsored by the League of Women Voters?  Would you like to view a Discussion of the Town Warrants for Hamilton and Wenham?  Just tune into Hamilton-Wenham TV, (Comcast channel 10 or Verizon channels 36 and 37) at the following times:

Candidates Forum 2007	Hamilton Town Warrant Discussion	Wenham Town Warrant Discussion
5/5/2007 at 5:36 PM 5/6/2007 at 4:12 PM 5/6/2007 at 7:30 PM 5/10/2007 at 2:30 PM	5/9/2007 at 1:30 PM 5/11/2007 at 1:00 PM 5/11/2007 at 8:00 PM	5/10/2007 at 11:30 AM 5/11/2007 at 11:30 AM

Wenham Election and Town Meeting Tomorrow 5/5/07 (Saturday). 

Town Election is at the Buker School, 8:00 to Noon.
Town Meeting is at the Buker School, starting at 1:00pm

View the Wenham Ballot, General Information, View the Warrant for Wenham's Town Meeting

Hamilton Town Meeting to run TWO Nights, starting Monday night 5/7/07 at 7:30 and continuing Tuesday night 5/8/07 at 7:30  View the Warrant for Hamilton's Town Meeting, General Information.

Candidate Statements for Hamilton and Wenham Selectmen races available at the H-W Chronicle website:

Candidates for the Hamilton Board of Selectmen:

• John Hamilton, Lee Park, Hamilton

  I have been involved in Hamilton town service for more than 10 years now and I have had several duties. I joined the Conservation Commission 10 years ago and for six years have served both as chairperson and co-chairperson. I have been assistant chairman of the Road Safety Committee for nine years. I am a member of the recently formed Miles River Collaborative in which officials from four communities are working together to solve the problems of the Miles River. I have been chairman of the Miles River Task Force, also a four community agency, since it was founded with the assistance of our legislative delegation in 2001. I have been actively involved for many years in seeking solutions to Hamilton’s groundwater / drinking water / flooding problems, problems that are sure to increase as a consequence of global warming. I'm a member of the Board of the Friends of the Hamilton Wenham Public Library.  I have served on a number of other ad hoc committees. [Read full statement online]

• David Carey, Arabian Way, South Hamilton - Candidate for Hamilton Board of Selectmen

  Over the last five years, Proposition 2 ½ has begun to have a major impact on many cities and towns in Massachusetts, including Hamilton. It has been extremely difficult just to level fund town and school budgets and the result has been significant cuts and overrides. Although Proposition 2 ½ was implemented back in the early ‘80s, cities and towns were able to get by, drawing down reserves and cutting costs. But recently, the combination of reduced state aid, partially funded state mandates (student transportation, Special Education, etc.) coupled with sharply increasing health insurance and energy costs, have made level funding impossible.

  What is the solution to this problem?  We are very limited in our ability to raise property taxes because many residents simply can’t afford the increase. [Read full statement online] (Please note:  The Chronicle made a mistake with Dave Carey's statement, cutting it short.  They will re-print all the statements on Thursday 5/10)

Candidate for the Wenham Board of Selectmen (Running unopposed):

• Lawrence D. Swartz, Conrad Circle, Wenham

  The issues confronting Wenham and many other communities today are both large and varied. We need the involvement of many community members to share their ideas and efforts to address these issues. I would like to help in this effort and ask for your support to allow me to do so as your selectman for the next three years.

  As a member of the Finance Committee for seven years through last June, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with dedicated and thoughtful fellow members, elected officials and volunteers on other committees. We all learned a lot about the attributes, needs and limitations of our community. We disagreed at times, but much more often than not we came to similar conclusions because we had the same information base. I believe that sharing information is a critical element to having an informed and cohesive community, [Read full statement online]

CSC new Community Forum off to a good start!

We are very pleased to see that the Community Forum is getting a lot of visitors with most activity currently focused on the Senior Housing bylaw, the direct link to it is http://www.hwcsc.info/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,8.0.html.

For now we are experimenting with the registration rules:

You can register using your name or you can use an alias.  The only person that knows who is registered is the administrator who is sworn to secrecy!  Do you want to comment on something but would rather not have your neighbor know it's you?  It just takes a minute to register.

Visit the Community Forum

Send me your comments/suggestions - What topics do you think we should add to the Community Forum?

Bach to Beatles and Bach Again - The Hamilton Foundation brings local musicians together for a springtime concert:

On Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m., some of Hamilton’s most talented musicians will be performing at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Chapel. However, they will not be onstage merely to display their musical talents. They will be using their gifts to help their Hamilton neighbors.

Proceeds from the concert will go to The Hamilton Foundation (THF), a privately funded municipal trust that helps Hamilton residents who are facing job loss, death, divorce, illness and other traumatic events. Severe economic and personal distress—both short term and sometimes long term in nature—does exist here in Hamilton. THF has helped Hamilton families and individuals with mortgage and rent partial payments, emergency home repairs, fuel and utility bills, grocery gift certificates, and medical expenses. The singers, pianists, and players of stringed instruments performers are: Diane DiSanto, Richard Einhorn, George Hughen, Mark Retallick, Joe Scuderi, Tony Walsh, Lou DiSanto, Kevin Rich, and Bill Bowler. The music is billed as Bach to Beatles and Bach Again. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has generously offered the use of its beautiful hilltop chapel for the concert. The Seminary will also be providing delicious fruit, pastries, and other desserts for intermission refreshments.

Everyone is invited to enjoy the Bach to Beethoven to Bach Again concert at the Gordon-Conwell chapel on Saturday, May 5. The doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for a $25 donation (includes refreshments). They can also be purchased in advance (and will be available for pick-up at the door) by sending a check to The Hamilton Foundation, P.O. Box 2217, South Hamilton, MA 01982.

It's Spring Cleaning time!

The Friends of the Hamilton Wenham Preschool invite residents to recycle their children's items by donating them to their 4th annual yard sale to be held May 5th at the Winthrop Elementary School at 325 Bay Road, Hamilton.

The organization will collect toys, games, puzzles, children's books, videos, baby gear, sports equipment, maternity and children's clothing, climbing structures, and children's furniture. No Stuffed Animals Please. All ready to sell donations can be dropped-off at 7 Ricker Circle in Hamilton, (off Asbury Street) weekdays April 10, 12, 24, 26 May 1, 3 between 9-9:30 am and Saturday April 28th from 10am to noon. Donations can also be delivered to the Winthrop Elementary School on May 4th from 3:30 - 7:00.

Unsold items will be delivered to a children's charity. They will not end-up in the trash. The kids of Hamilton-Wenham win. The children's charity wins. The environment wins.

Contact: Heather Schatz, President, 978-468-0552 heatherschatz@yahoo.com and Jennifer Woodin, VP 978-468-6252, jlwoodin@excite.com

Farm Day at the Library! - Join us for haystacks of Fun!

Saturday, May 12th at 10:30am - Come and hear farm stories, meet & talk with real farmers and a chicken.  Plant a sunflower seed and bring it home. All ages welcome. No registration required. 

For more information, please call 978-468-5577 or visit our website at www.hwlibrary.org. Co-sponsored with Green Meadows Farm of Hamilton, MA.

Update
5/1/2007
Return to top of page

Tonight at the Library:

The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library is pleased to present a dramatic narrative of the 1912 “Bread and Roses” labor strike described by storyteller Sharon Kennedy on Tuesday, May 1 from 7pm to 8pm. Incorporating actual testimonies made in 1912 by 14 year-old mill workers before the U.S. Senate into her performance, Sharon Kennedy will bring their stories to life while recreating the sights, sounds and emotions of this landmark event in American history. This work was originally created for the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence, MA (where the original strike occurred 95 years ago) and is intended for young adult and adult audiences, ages 11 years old and up.

The “Bread and Roses” Strike of 1912 was ground-breaking in two ways: women played a major role in organizing and mobilizing the strike; and immigrant workers from more than a dozen ethnic backgrounds - with different languages, customs and religions – put aside their prejudices and united for the first time in a common effort to demand decent living and working conditions. 

Please join us May Day for this powerful remembrance of the immigrant women, children and men who asked not just for survival (bread) but for dignity (roses) in their daily lives.

For more information, please stop by the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, call or email Michele Augeri, Young Adult Librarian at 978.468.5577, ext. 14 or maugeri@mvlc.org.

Please Note: Feng Shui in Nature due to be held on May 9th has been cancelled

Candidates Night!

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Hamilton-Wenham, Candidates Night is scheduled for May 2 at 7:30 PM, at the Miles River Middle School.   Candidates from both towns take part in this annual forum where league members and the audience get a chance to see where the candidates stand on the issues.  Includes School Committee candidates even though they are running unopposed.

Residents can e-mail questions for the candidates anytime before the event - hwlvw@yahoo.com

Bach to Beatles and Bach Again - The Hamilton Foundation brings local musicians together for a springtime concert:

On Saturday, May 5, at 7 p.m., some of Hamilton’s most talented musicians will be performing at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Chapel. However, they will not be onstage merely to display their musical talents. They will be using their gifts to help their Hamilton neighbors.

Proceeds from the concert will go to The Hamilton Foundation (THF), a privately funded municipal trust that helps Hamilton residents who are facing job loss, death, divorce, illness and other traumatic events. Severe economic and personal distress—both short term and sometimes long term in nature—does exist here in Hamilton. THF has helped Hamilton families and individuals with mortgage and rent partial payments, emergency home repairs, fuel and utility bills, grocery gift certificates, and medical expenses. The singers, pianists, and players of stringed instruments performers are: Diane DiSanto, Richard Einhorn, George Hughen, Mark Retallick, Joe Scuderi, Tony Walsh, Lou DiSanto, Kevin Rich, and Bill Bowler. The music is billed as Bach to Beatles and Bach Again. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary has generously offered the use of its beautiful hilltop chapel for the concert. The Seminary will also be providing delicious fruit, pastries, and other desserts for intermission refreshments.

Everyone is invited to enjoy the Bach to Beethoven to Bach Again concert at the Gordon-Conwell chapel on Saturday, May 5. The doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for a $25 donation (includes refreshments). They can also be purchased in advance (and will be available for pick-up at the door) by sending a check to The Hamilton Foundation, P.O. Box 2217, South Hamilton, MA 01982.

Farm Day at the Library! - Join us for haystacks of Fun!

Saturday, May 12th at 10:30am - Come and hear farm stories, meet & talk with real farmers and a chicken.  Plant a sunflower seed and bring it home. All ages welcome. No registration required. 

For more information, please call 978-468-5577 or visit our website at www.hwlibrary.org. Co-sponsored with Green Meadows Farm of Hamilton, MA.

Coming Soon!

For the 4th year in a row the CSC website will offer a special section of the website devoted to our local elections, the override requests by the schools and towns, and warrant articles under consideration - Look for it soon!

It's Spring Cleaning time!

The Friends of the Hamilton Wenham Preschool invite residents to recycle their children's items by donating them to their 4th annual yard sale to be held May 5th at the Winthrop Elementary School at 325 Bay Road, Hamilton.

The organization will collect toys, games, puzzles, children's books, videos, baby gear, sports equipment, maternity and children's clothing, climbing structures, and children's furniture. No Stuffed Animals Please. All ready to sell donations can be dropped-off at 7 Ricker Circle in Hamilton, (off Asbury Street) weekdays April 10, 12, 24, 26 May 1, 3 between 9-9:30 am and Saturday April 28th from 10am to noon. Donations can also be delivered to the Winthrop Elementary School on May 4th from 3:30 - 7:00.

Unsold items will be delivered to a children's charity. They will not end-up in the trash. The kids of Hamilton-Wenham win. The children's charity wins. The environment wins.

Contact: Heather Schatz, President, 978-468-0552 heatherschatz@yahoo.com and Jennifer Woodin, VP 978-468-6252, jlwoodin@excite.com

CSC offers a new Community Forum!

There's a new message forum sponsored by CSC devoted to all things related to our two towns.  Anyone can read the messages, and registered members are welcome to comment on existing topics, or can post something new. 

Hamilton residents might be interested to see two posts about the proposed Senior Housing bylaw, the direct link to it is http://www.hwcsc.info/joomla/smf/index.php/topic,8.0.html. 

For now we are experimenting with the registration rules:

You can register using your name or you can use an alias.  The only person that knows who is registered is the administrator who is sworn to secrecy!  Do you want to comment on something but would rather not have your neighbor know it's you?  It just takes a minute to register.

Visit the Community Forum

Send me your comments/suggestions

Update
4/26/2007
Return to top of page

Fiscal 2008 Budget Presentation:

The Towns/School Budget Process Committee will present the FY2008 budgets for Hamilton, Wenham and the Regional School District,  April 26 (tonight!), 7:00 at the Buker School multi-purpose room.

Coming Soon!

For the 4th year in a row the CSC website will offer a special section of the website devoted to our local elections, the override requests by the schools and towns, and warrant articles under consideration - Look for it soon!

At the Miles River Middle School:

Miles River Middle School's Production of Rodger's & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music

WHEN: Friday April 27, 7:00 PM and Saturday, April 28 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM

WHERE: Ferrini Center for the Performing Arts, 775 Bay Rd, Hamilton, MA 

Tickets $12. for adults, $10. for students and seniors
Tickets can be reserved by e-mailing soundofmusic@hwschools.net

Candidates Night!

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Hamilton-Wenham, Candidates Night is scheduled for May 2 at 7:30 PM, at the Miles River Middle School.   Candidates from both towns take part in this annual forum where league members and the audience get a chance to see where the candidates stand on the issues.  Includes School Committee candidates even though they are running unopposed.

It's Spring Cleaning time!

The Friends of the Hamilton Wenham Preschool invite residents to recycle their children's items by donating them to their 4th annual yard sale to be held May 5th at the Winthrop Elementary School at 325 Bay Road, Hamilton.

The organization will collect toys, games, puzzles, children's books, videos, baby gear, sports equipment, maternity and children's clothing, climbing structures, and children's furniture. No Stuffed Animals Please. All ready to sell donations can be dropped-off at 7 Ricker Circle in Hamilton, (off Asbury Street) weekdays April 10, 12, 24, 26 May 1, 3 between 9-9:30 am and Saturday April 28th from 10am to noon. Donations can also be delivered to the Winthrop Elementary School on May 4th from 3:30 - 7:00.

Unsold items will be delivered to a children's charity. They will not end-up in the trash. The kids of Hamilton-Wenham win. The children's charity wins. The environment wins.

Contact: Heather Schatz, President, 978-468-0552 heatherschatz@yahoo.com and Jennifer Woodin, VP 978-468-6252, jlwoodin@excite.com

CSC offers a new Community Forum!

There's a new message forum sponsored by CSC devoted to all things related to our two towns.  Anyone can read the messages, and registered members are welcome to comment on existing topics, or can post something new.  For now we are experimenting with the registration rules:

You can register using your name or you can use an alias.  The only person that knows who is registered is the administrator who is sworn to secrecy!  Do you want to comment on something but would rather not have your neighbor know it's you?  It just takes a minute to register.

Visit the Community Forum

Send me your comments/suggestions

At the Library:

The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library is pleased to present a dramatic narrative of the 1912 “Bread and Roses” labor strike described by storyteller Sharon Kennedy on Tuesday, May 1 from 7pm to 8pm. Incorporating actual testimonies made in 1912 by 14 year-old mill workers before the U.S. Senate into her performance, Sharon Kennedy will bring their stories to life while recreating the sights, sounds and emotions of this landmark event in American history. This work was originally created for the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence, MA (where the original strike occurred 95 years ago) and is intended for young adult and adult audiences, ages 11 years old and up.

The “Bread and Roses” Strike of 1912 was ground-breaking in two ways: women played a major role in organizing and mobilizing the strike; and immigrant workers from more than a dozen ethnic backgrounds - with different languages, customs and religions – put aside their prejudices and united for the first time in a common effort to demand decent living and working conditions. 

Please join us May Day for this powerful remembrance of the immigrant women, children and men who asked not just for survival (bread) but for dignity (roses) in their daily lives.

For more information, please stop by the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, call or email Michele Augeri, Young Adult Librarian at 978.468.5577, ext. 14 or maugeri@mvlc.org.

Please Note: Feng Shui in Nature due to be held on May 9th has been cancelled

Update
4/24/2007
Return to top of page

Hamilton and Wenham made headlines in 2003 because one town voted yes while the other voted no on two consecutive override requests to fund our regional school system’s fiscal 2004 budget.  In order to avoid a state takeover of our school district, we held a unique meeting open to all voters in both towns in the district where we finally approved a budget, which required elimination of 40 FTE (full time equivalent) positions in the district.   Various community groups hastily raised and contributed $312,000 to the school district, which cut the number of layoffs to 12% of district staff.   The largest sum of money came from a grass roots campaign called Save Our Schools (SOS) which raised $210,000 from concerned individuals.   

Each year since, we have had to contend with additional overrides, and each year the school district has been forced to eliminate even more staff, and to cut more programs.  

For the fiscal year 2008 (the 2007-2008 school year), the School Committee has approved a $24,625,610 budget (click for details) which is up 4.19% from last year.  It includes the layoff of 31.6 FTE positions which will have far reaching affects on school programming.

There is an override request of $494,938 (click for details). 

Hamilton’s share of the override equals $340,121 ($124/median household)
Wenham’s share of the override equals $154,817 ($103/median household)

If the FY 2008 override request passes we will have 22 FTE layoffs
If the FY 2008 override request does not pass we will have 31.6 FTE layoffs

More to follow on the: school budget; the override requests by the schools and towns; the local elections and warrant articles under consideration. 

Save Our Schools (SOS) is back!

SOS is reforming and invites concerned residents to attend a meeting this week to examine potential alternate school fundraising efforts.  Please come to a meeting to explore ways to help save our school's integrity.

WHEN: April 24, 2007 at 7:30 PM and or April 27, 2007 at 10:00 AM

WHERE: Community House downstairs conference room

At the Miles River Middle School:

Miles River Middle School's Production of Rodger's & Hammerstein's The Sound of Music

WHEN: Friday April 27, 7:00 PM and Saturday, April 28 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM

WHERE: Ferrini Center for the Performing Arts, 775 Bay Rd, Hamilton, MA 

Tickets $12. for adults, $10. for students and seniors
Tickets can be reserved by e-mailing soundofmusic@hwschools.net

At the Library:

The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library is pleased to present a dramatic narrative of the 1912 “Bread and Roses” labor strike described by storyteller Sharon Kennedy on Tuesday, May 1 from 7pm to 8pm. Incorporating actual testimonies made in 1912 by 14 year-old mill workers before the U.S. Senate into her performance, Sharon Kennedy will bring their stories to life while recreating the sights, sounds and emotions of this landmark event in American history. This work was originally created for the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence, MA (where the original strike occurred 95 years ago) and is intended for young adult and adult audiences, ages 11 years old and up.

The “Bread and Roses” Strike of 1912 was ground-breaking in two ways: women played a major role in organizing and mobilizing the strike; and immigrant workers from more than a dozen ethnic backgrounds - with different languages, customs and religions – put aside their prejudices and united for the first time in a common effort to demand decent living and working conditions. 

Please join us May Day for this powerful remembrance of the immigrant women, children and men who asked not just for survival (bread) but for dignity (roses) in their daily lives.

For more information, please stop by the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, call or email Michele Augeri, Young Adult Librarian at 978.468.5577, ext. 14 or maugeri@mvlc.org.

Update
4/4/2007
Return to top of page

As reported to you in January (time flies), I've been working on a new CSC website.  Although it's not ready for prime time, there is a new message forum that's fully functional and already has it's first posting from a CSC member.   With local elections and overrides under consideration, there's plenty to discuss.  The Community Forum currently has 5 major sections with a total of 8 topics.  Today's posting is in the section for the Fiscal 2008 School Budget.  The Community Forum is hosted by CSC as a place for members of the community to exchange ideas, information, etc.  The views presented are not those of CSC; we simply provide the soap box for you to stand on, and will venture to keep it clean and respectful.   In order to post to the site, you will have to register and during the registration process you will need to provide some basic information which will be kept private and will not be shared with anyone.  Your email address will not be available to view on the forum, which should lead to more frank discussion (post your opinion without your neighbor knowing it's you!).  The direct link to the Community Forum is www.hwcsc.info/joomla/smf/

The new website is taking a while to complete because I've got bigger fish to fry (paying work).  Feel free to browse around, it's at www.hwcsc.info/joomla.

You may have noticed that I haven't sent any updates since January.  My extra time has gone into the website leaving no time to assemble the newsletter.  In an effort to keep you up to date I'm going to try doing it in a quicker but less attractive format.  I'll paste the information into the Update as plain text, clean it up a little and send it. 

                                                                                                                        - Tom Rogers

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At the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library:

• April 6, 10:15 AM - Luau with Pineapple Pete. (Peter Stewart) New hula moves, incredible food and fun festivities. Spring is here!

• Movie Matinee, Wednesday, April 11, 2:00pm, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Curse of the Black Pearl, Starring, Johnny Depp. Popcorn will be provided.

• April 2007: Haitian Artist Carey Dardompre will exhibit artwork by the Haitian Community throughout the library.

• Artist Talk: Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 7:00 p.m. “The Colors, Themes and History of Haitian Art” by artist Carey Dardompre. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about Haiti and its culture.

Children's Programs

• Museum of Science Traveling Program Science Magic Thursday, April 19, 2007 2:00 pm
  A balloon becomes fireproof. A piece of solid metal appears weightless. Is it magic or science? Come see the grand finale involving an instructor and a bed of nails!
  This program is designed for children ages 7 and up. Children as young as preschool age are welcome to attend with an adult.
  Sponsored by a grant from the Museum of Science. Free and open to the public!

• The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library is pleased to present a dramatic narrative of the 1912 “Bread and Roses” labor strike described by storyteller Sharon Kennedy on Tuesday, May 1 from 7pm to 8pm. Incorporating actual testimonies made in 1912 by 14 year-old mill workers before the U.S. Senate into her performance, Sharon Kennedy will bring their stories to life while recreating the sights, sounds and emotions of this landmark event in American history. This work was originally created for the Bread and Roses Festival in Lawrence, MA (where the original strike occurred 95 years ago) and is intended for young adult and adult audiences, ages 11 years old and up.
  
  The “Bread and Roses” Strike of 1912 was ground-breaking in two ways: women played a major role in organizing and mobilizing the strike; and immigrant workers from more than a dozen ethnic backgrounds - with different languages, customs and religions – put aside their prejudices and united for the first time in a common effort to demand decent living and working conditions.
  
  Please join us May Day for this powerful remembrance of the immigrant women, children and men who asked not just for survival (bread) but for dignity (roses) in their daily lives.
  
  For more information, please stop by the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library, call or email Michele Augeri, Young Adult Librarian at 978.468.5577, ext. 14 or maugeri@mvlc.org.

The Library offers so much more in the way of programming, go to www.hwlibrary.org for more information.

At the Wenham Museum:

Attic Treasures Sale – April 14^th and 15^th

Wenham Museum to host its popular Attic Treasures Sale, Saturday April 14^th and Sunday April 15^th from 10am-4pm. Never before has this sale been held on such a grand scale. Bargain hunters of the North Shore know the treasures to be found at this event include high quality, costume jewelry, contemporary and vintage couture, accessories, linens, silver, ceramics, small furniture, crystal, prints, home decorations, books and toys. It's a bargain-hunters haven - not to be missed!
While at the museum visit the exhibits, Merry Train, International Doll and Family Discovery galleries. Donations are gladly accepted by calling the museum at 978-468-2377.

Exhibits

Around the World with Miss Columbia: A Cultural Journey Through Toys and Tales

March 23 through July 8, 2007

Join Wenham Museum as they celebrate the 85^th Anniversary of their World Renown International Doll Collection in Around the World with Miss Columbia: A Cultural Journey Through Toys and Tales.

Walk through a door-sized storybook and visit all seven continents while exploring world cultures through selected contemporary children’s stories, folktales, and poetry. Displays combining colorful book shadow boxes with paper pop-up designs, native toys, costumed dolls, and cultural artifacts from the museum’s collections, all set against a background of world maps, will introduce children to cultural history and bring geography to life. Family reading areas and related hands-on activities will invite adults and children to engage in play reinforcing the lessons inherent in the exhibit. Through comparisons of every day people’s traditions, cultures, and histories, museum visitors will discover similarities among seemingly distinct cultures. East Meets West an exhibit of Asian and Western traditional and contemporary clothing compliments this exhibit displaying how world cultures influence fashion. 

School vacation week there will be a Family Kite Building Workshop scheduled for April 18^{th and}

a Victorian tea and story-hour with Miss Columbia’s owner, Mrs. Horton on April 19^th  to extend the exhibit experience beyond the gallery. Exhibit-related international children’s literature and toys will be available in the Museum Shop.

For more information about the Wenham Museum and Miss Columbia, visit www.wenhammuseum.org

A copy of Miss Columbia’s travel diary is available on-line.

East Meets West

Open through May 13, 2007

Fashion lovers are inspired by Wenham Museums’ East Meets West exhibit of brilliantly colored silk and embroidered garments. A mix of costumes from China, Japan and India along with artifacts like fans and accessories demonstrate how Eastern fashions influenced Western design. Explore Western interpretations of Eastern textile traditions and displays of European-style clothing made in Eastern styles and exotic fabrics from a draped Indian sari juxtaposed with a 1970’s evening gown made from sari fabric to a 1930’s silk jumpsuit emblazoned with dragons.  East Meets West compliments Around the World with Miss Columbia: A Cultural Journey Through Toys and Tales exhibiting Asian influence in Western culture.

Family Programs

 

*Miniature Kite Building Workshop
Wednesday, April 18, 3:00 pm

Come to a family kite-building workshop, during school vacation week, with Glenn Davison, master kite designer, builder, author and Director of Kites Over New England Kite Club. This award-winning kite flying champion will show us how to build miniature kites. Marvel at many of his colorful kite designs on display. Come early and visit Around the World with Miss Columbia: A Cultural Journey Through Toys and Tales and East Meets West exhibits. Free with admission. To continue your museum experience beyond your visit, exhibit-related international children’s literature, hand-crafted gifts and toys from around the world will be available in the Museum Shop.

*A Victorian Tea with Miss Columbia

Thursday, April 19, 2:00pm

Join us for tea and story hour during school vacation week with Miss Columbia’s owner Elizabeth Horton as she tells tales of her adventures as a young Victorian girl, shares dolls and toys from the museum’s collections and reads a story or two from the Around the World with Miss Columbia exhibit. Appropriate for children ages 4 and up. $6.00 per person - does not include museum admission. Pre-registration required as space is limited. Call the museum at 978-468-2377 or email info@wenhammuseum.org

 

*School Vacation Week Program – Complimentary gift with $20 purchase in museum shop - Quantities limited

History Alive Summer Programs

The History Alive Summer Programs are unique to the North Shore, and give children the opportunity to experience firsthand what it was like to live in early America, the Colonial era or the Civil War era.  This season we will be focusing on and contributing to the preservation of local historic treasures including Civil War Battlefields, cemeteries and historic homes even the Wenham Museum! Each week-long program includes activities such as campfire cookouts, Native American storytelling, authentic period cooking, dog tent/long house building, colonial & Civil War costumes, learning songs and dances, crafts and games, and marching and drills. See the enclosed brochure for detailed descriptions of all summer programs. You may register by phone or mail.

Early Americans - Date July 9- 13 Ages 7 – 12

Colonial New England: Daily Life - July 16-20                          Ages 7 – 12

Civil War Encampment Life - July 30 – August 3                     Ages 7-10

Civil War Heroes & Heroines - August 6 – 10                            Ages 10-13

Program hours are 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily, and children should bring lunch.  Snacks and drinks are provided, including authentic period cooking.  Fees per session $220 for members and $250 for non-members, and a 10% sibling discount is available.  Early bird registration discount: Members $200.00 , non-members $230 by April 15^th. Call the Museum at 978-468-2377 to request a brochure and registration form or to register over the phone.

Pre-School Programs

Members $6, Non-members $12; One adult free with child

Ages 2.9 to 5 years, Choose 9:00 – 10:15 am or 12:45 – 2:00 pm

April

Journey to Japan - April 6 -   Starting off in the international exhibit, we will look at Japanese Toys and clothes, read some stories from Japan, taste some Japanese food and make cool origami helmets.

Catch a Kite Tail – April 20 -Colorful kites reach across all cultures, in stories and celebrations. In honor of kite month and the first Wenham Kite Festival, come make a kite painting and look at some beautiful kites on display.

May

Fairies and Folks- The Tales We Love to Tell - May 3 -We will listen to different versions of favorite old tales, and make some wooden play figures to go along with them. Come dressed as your favorite character. 

What’s in a Name? -  May 22 - Who are you named after? Does your name have a meaning? How do you say your name in another language? We will read about some kids with interesting names and make a name plaque to bring home for your room.

Dig in to the Garden -  June 5 - Join us for a time of planting and  puttering in the soil. Be prepared to get down and dirty and come away with something nice for your own garden.

June

Summer Fun Celebration - June 13 - Learn about why the days get long, read about how kids had summer  fun in days of old and make an old-fashioned summer toy. Then we’ll eat a frosty treat.

The Wenham Museum is a family-friendly museum of social history exploring how we have lived, worked, dressed, and played from the 17^th century to today. The museum features the Claflin-Richard House c.1690, a world-renowned doll collection, dollhouses, costumes and textiles, model trains, toys, historic photographs, the interactive family gallery as well as special exhibits. 

The Museum is located at 132 Main Street in Wenham, MA, (978) 468-2377, www.wenhammuseum.org.

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for seniors, and $4.50 for children ages 2-16.

 

Update
1/11/2007
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The Hamilton-Wenham School Committee will conduct a Public Forum tonight on the High School Athletic Program Study from 7:00 to 8:00.  This is an opportunity to hear from the public about suggested changes to the athletic program.  The regular School Committee meeting will continue from 8:15.  Buker Elementary School Multipurpose Room (See agenda below)

More information and detail can be found in the attached links.

Hamilton Wenham Regional High School Athletics Report

Hamilton Wenham Chronicle News Article

Hamilton Wenham Chronicle Editorial

New CSC website in the works!  As I find the time, I've been working on a new website.  It's a database driven Content Management System (CMS) called Joomla! which will allow us to designate editors who can manage their own sections of the site.  As an example, an organization such as the Library could have its own section where they can post announcements, schedules, etc., whenever they want.  I can easily move things around on the page/site to boost the focus to certain events or discussions.  People who are now on the Update mailing list will be able to register via the site, and maintain their own preferences.  It's got a ways to go before it's ready, in fact if you or someone you know would be interested in helping, please give me a shout.  Take a peek at www.hwcsc.info/joomla/

                                                                                                                        - Tom Rogers

At the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library:

Adult Programs

Cribbage, Thursday, January 11 and January 25 at 10:00am. All levels welcome!

Interested in knitting and handcrafts? Come to the library on Wednesdays at 1:30pm and sit in our comfortable Bibliotech Cafe and enjoy your craft while meeting some new people. All ages welcome. Free and open to the public. Just bring your yarn and needles! For more information, please call Julie at 978-469-5577.

Author Presentation -Do you love boats, adventure and travel?  Then join us to hear Heather Ryan present her father’s book On Wits and Wind by William W. Vickers, on Saturday, January 20 at 2:00p.m. Learn the story of a man who traveled around the world in 1949 on a 65 foot barkentine with some mates and a dog named Scuppers. This is the actual Scuppers who was the inspiration for Margaret Wise Brown’s children’s book, The Sailor Dog!  Don’t miss this unique program!

Children's Programs

Story programs begin the week of January 22 and continue through the week of March 12, 2007. This winter session is planned for children aged birth through fifth grade. Please choose a story program that best suits your child’s behavior and readiness. All programs begin promptly at the stated time. Please come to the Children’s Room EARLY, so that there will be ample time for removing coats, getting drinks, using the bathroom, etc. Most programs are drop-in; however you must pre-register for our Music & Movement Program.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO STORY PROGRAMS FEBRUARY 19-24, public school vacation week.

NEW PROGRAM: TEA FOR YOU AND ME, enjoy stories, tea, cookies and art with local author Sally Lee, on Saturday, January, 20, 2007 at 11 a.m.

4th Annual MARDI GRAS EXTRAVAGANZA, a music by DJ Rosco, dancing, crafts and fun food. Come celebrate this Cajun tradition with us, on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 1 p.m. Free and open to the public. Everyone welcome. Feel free to come in costume.

We are pleased to offer the following Saturday morning drop-in crafts from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.:

February 10: Hearts Aplenty! celebrating Valentine’s Day
March 10: Green ‘n Great, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day

BABY BOOKWORMS: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Led by Sue Shepard, this 30 minute program is intended for newborns – 18 months and will include stories, songs, and finger plays.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. This hour long story time is presented by Lisa Davis of Cape Ann Early Intervention and is for children aged 18 – 36 months. Caregivers must accompany children and alternate care for siblings is encouraged. THIS STORY PROGRAM HAS LIMITED SPACE AND MUST BE REGISTERED FOR IN PERSON IN THE CHILDREN’S ROOM BEGINNING AT 10 AM ON JANUARY 17th & 20th, RESPECTIVELY. PLEASE CHOOSE ON E GROU P TO ATTEND.

RHYTHM & RHYME: Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. This is a 30-minute story program for children 2.5 – 3 years old and will include stories, songs, finger plays and games. Caregivers must accompany children.

LOVELY LISTENERS: Thursdays at 11 a.m. This 45-minute story program for children who are 4 - 6 years old will include stories, songs, finger plays and games. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to attend.

PAJAMA STORYTIME: Mondays at 6:30 p.m. This 45 minute story program geared toward preschoolers and kindergartners includes stories, songs, finger plays, and games! Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas!

EAGER READERS: Tuesdays at 4:30pm. This hour-long story time is for children in grades 1 – 3. Includes stories, poetry, games, and a craft! Parent s and caregivers are invited to attend.

**SCHOOLYARD SCHOLARS: Thursdays at 6pm. This hour-long Book Club is for kids in grades 4 & 5. The books that we will begin with are: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Folk Keepe r by Franny Billingsley. **The first 10 kids to sign up and attend will receive a special prize.**

The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library is now offering museum passes that can be reserved online. To see what passes are available and to reserve your pass go to www.hwlibrary.org/museumpasses.htm.  If you have any questions please call the Reference Department at 978-468-5577 ext. 19. Museum passes are provided by the Friends of the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library.

On the Same Page - Residents of Hamilton and Wenham will be reading "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder: a very readable account of Dr. Paul Farmer's work to bring health and hope to parts of Haiti, Peru and Russia.  In March there will be a "Meet the Author Reception" held in the President's Dining Room at Gordon College.  The project will culminate when Tracy Kidder, a Pulitzer prize winning author, speaks about his book at the Gordon College Chapel in Wenham.  Tickets for this event will be $15.00 and available at the library and online starting in November.  Many events will center around this book, more details go to www.hwlibrary.org/on_the_same_page.htm.

The Library offers so much more in the way of programming, go to www.hwlibrary.org for more information.

At the Wenham Museum:

Music in America Lecture Series at Wenham Museum, Burnham Hall.  Explore the rise of American musical tradition with three expert and entertaining speakers.  Purchase your series ticket now and save! $10 per lecture or 3 for $21

The New England Singing School and the Rise of Vernacular Sacred Music in America
Stephen Marini
Tuesday, February 13, 7 pm

Stephen Marini, the Elisabeth Luce Moore Professor of Christian Studies at Wellesley College speaks on the New England Singing School Movement (1720–1820), which began when a group of Harvard-trained ministers became alarmed at the poor quality of singing among their congregations. The movement sought to train people to sing by reading music, using a manual of tunes and instructions on the "rudiments." It was extremely successful and by 1820 the movement had spread throughout New England and into the South. Because of the social interaction it afforded, the singing school was particularly popular among young people, eventually leading the older generation to view the music with contempt, insisting that “the practice creates disturbances and causes people to behave indecently” and “the names given the notes are bawdy, yea blasphemous.” Learn more about early American music from this learned lecturer.

 

Update
11/14/2006
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Just a quick note - Hamilton held its fall town meeting last night, but was unable to reach a quorum.  The meeting will resume tonight (Tuesday) at 7:30.  The meeting was not a complete waste of time as various town boards and committees made 5 minute presentations.  With that out of the way the business at hand should proceed quickly.

Did you know - Hamilton has 5,458 registered voters?

The quorum for tonight's meeting is just 150 (less than 3% of the registered voters):)

The warrant is available at the: Town Hall, Library, Police/Fire Station, both Hamilton Post Offices and the Gordon Conwell Post Office, or you can download it as a pdf file here (335KB - 11 pages).

To any music lovers out there who are available Wednesday evening at 7:00: there will be a free concert entitled "Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving" at Christ Church in Hamilton. Performers include the Miles River middle school Chorale, the Cantata Singers, The Solstice Singers, and Tony Walsh. The concert is in memory of Regina (Gina) Bowler--music lover and active member of our community--and a good will offering will be taken to benefit the scholarship in her name.

At the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library:

The Hamilton-Wenham Public Library is now offering museum passes that can be reserved online. To see what passes are available and to reserve your pass go to www.hwlibrary.org/museumpasses.htm.  If you have any questions please call the Reference Department at 978-468-5577 ext. 19. Museum passes are provided by the Friends of the Hamilton-Wenham Public Library.

On the Same Page - Residents of Hamilton and Wenham will be reading "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder: a very readable account of Dr. Paul Farmer's work to bring health and hope to parts of Haiti, Peru and Russia.  In March there will be a "Meet the Author Reception" held in the President's Dining Room at Gordon College.  The project will culminate when Tracy Kidder, a Pulitzer prize winning author, speaks about his book at the Gordon College Chapel in Wenham.  Tickets for this event will be $15.00 and available at the library and online starting in November.  Many events will center around this book, more details go to www.hwlibrary.org/on_the_same_page.htm.

Workshop: "A Course in Meditation" by Lou Beaulieu, Meditation Practitioner.

Saturday, November 18, 10am - 12pm. All are welcome. The workshop will include a question and answer session regarding the personal benefits of daily meditation. It will also include a half hour instructional sitting meditation session.

Please wear loose clothing and bring a cushion or pillow for sitting. For more information, please contact Lou at 978-473-2889.
 

Pastel Workshop with Greg Maichack, December 6, 6:30 pm - Well-known artist Greg Maichack will be teaching a pastels class.  Experience not necessary.  There is a limit of 20 students.  Registration is required.  This program combines lecture, demonstration and hands-on experimentation by participants.  Greg brings professional grade pastels and paper for participants to use.

Art Film - Wednesday, November 15, at 7:30pm

Frida by Miramax Films; Directed by Julie Taymor; starring: Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Antonio Banderas and Edward Norton; 2002; Rated R. This film is not for children.  This explores the life story of painter Frida Kahlo in this acclaimed bio-pic.  Tickets although free, are required for admission.