Salisbury Town Notebook
Angeljean Chiaramida
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It's been just over a year since the Bridge Road's Leeward Light Thrift Shop opened its doors in Salisbury, and according to its owner, Rob Werner, the year has been rewarding.
"When we first opened, I had lots of concerns: Would customers accept us, would we get enough donations, would volunteers help us with the work load," Werner said recently. "Well, I can't tell you how awesome it has been. Customers love us, the donations are fantastic, we have 17 incredible volunteers ,and we have donated $60,000 in cash and $20,000 worth of merchandise to local food pantries, home heating assistance programs and neighbors needing a little help."
Opened last June at 126 Bridge Road, the Leeward Light is Werner's second store of its kind, the first opening in York, Maine. This project was supposed to be a second, slower-paced career for the former software salesman who spent 25 years in the fast world of marketing and sales.
A love of thrift store shopping developed in his youth, he said. Werner and his wife, Shauna, selected Salisbury for a number of reasons, he said at the time, one of which was its loss off its longtime Salvation Army Thrift Shop, which had been well patronized prior to its closing.
His idea to open a thrift shop that could offer gently used products at substantial savings was magnified by his wish to take the proceeds from his stores and donate their profits to local food pantries and fuel assistance programs. The York store had made donations since its opening, and within three months of opening, the Leeward Light made its first $1,500 donations to Pettengill House and Amesbury's Our Neighbors' Table. It's been continuing its practice ever since.
But Werner said he found more than a great place for his thrift shop in Salisbury; he found a new hometown.
"Shauna and I have bought a house in Salisbury, and we have wonderful new friends," he said. "If you told me this would happen a year ago, I wouldn't have believed you ... it's been so great."
For more information on Leeward Light, contact Werner at 978-465-1141, or visit the website at www.leewardindustries.org.
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Joseph Robinson, a 23-year old Salisbury engineering student at Northern Essex Community College is spending his summer conducting engineering research at Northeastern University as part of a program funded by the National Science Foundation, according to Ernie Greenslade, public relations director at NECC.
A native of Byfield, Robinson attended Triton Regional High School through his freshman year when he was involved in a devastating four-wheeling accident. After years of rehabilitation, he earned his GED and pursued carpentry. After realizing the physical demands of the trade were too much for him because of the aftermath of the accident, Robinson turned to Northern Essex and made a discovery that changed his life and aimed him toward a new career in engineering.
"I found a deep passion for science and math that cannot be expressed simply with words. To sum it up, it changed my ultimate objective in this life substantially," he said.
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Salisbury Public Library has a number of upcoming library events that are open to the public with no signup required, said library director Terry Kyrios.
Tonight at 6:30 p.m., the Friends of the Salisbury Public Library meet at the library.
Tuesday, July 20, at 6 p.m. YoYo People return and offer an interactive event for all ages.
Pumpernickel Puppets will be the attraction at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 21.
The next book discussion club meets at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27. This month's book is the classic "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
And to help support its programs, the Friends of the Salisbury Public Library are collecting books for the annual book sale to take place in the fall. Donations may be dropped off in the library during regular hours.
For more information, call 978-465-5071.
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Last July, the lifeguards at Salisbury Beach State Reservation did the town proud by winning the New England Lifesaving Championships held at Old Orchard Beach in Maine. Not surprisingly, lifeguards at the reservation have been winning trophies since the 1950s.
As part of the winner's duties, this year, the New England champs will host the competition right here at Salisbury Beach, according to head lifeguard Fletcher Wasson.
The event takes place at the reservation on Tuesday, July 27. Beginning at 10 a.m., lifeguard teams from all over New England will compete in numerous events that exhibit skills needed in the profession that saves lives on the region's beaches.
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Angeljean Chiaramida covers Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport and can be reached at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com or at 978-462-6666 ext. 3271.
