Local News
Teague receives group's highest honor
NEWBURYPORT — The Odd Fellows' most prestigious award for outstanding service, the Meritorious Service Jewel, was presented to Bro. Charles Henry Teague Jr. on July 16 at Masonic Hall, 31 Green Street, which serves as Quascacunquen Lodge #39 for the Odd Fellows of Newburyport.
Teague has amassed an impressive record of service to the International Order of Odd Fellows in his nearly 50 years of membership. He has served as Noble Grand of the lodge five times, held the office of secretary for more than 33 years, served many years as a District Deputy Grand Master for the Grand Lodge, held membership in Merrimack Encampment #7, IOOF, where he served two terms as the Chief Patriarch and a dozen or more years as the Scribe before joining with Summit Encampment #41 of Beverly. He joined Asoka Sanctorum #132, Oriental Order of Humility & Perfection in 1964, now know as the Ancient, Mystic Order of Samaritans.
He is the Secretary of the Veteran Odd Fellows Association of Massachusetts, and in 2008, along with Bro. Edward Joseph Carroll, Past Grand Master, formed a new association known as the Odd Fellows of the North Shore. This association joined together the 10 lodges of the North Shore to enable them to address charitable endeavors too large to be handled by one lodge alone. The results have been a great success as the organization has already raised thousands of dollars for worthy programs on the North Shore, such as the Children's Center for Communication and the Annual Arthritis Walk at Lynch Par, both in Beverly and serving the North Shore area.
In 2001, when his lodge was suffering the losses of membership, Teague wrote a program entitled the "Five Point Plan" to rebuild a failing lodge. That plan is now the blueprint for the survival of lodges across the jurisdiction and beyond.
Adopting the Five Point Plan has breathed new life into the Odd Fellows of Newburyport. From a handful of members in 2001, to a 10-fold increase in membership, the lodge is now credited with being one of the fastest-growing lodges in the state. Teague has sponsored 21 of the new members.
In 2005, he wrote the Odd Fellows of Newburyport Scholarship Program, which, as of this year, has awarded 23 $1,000 Scholarships to local area students.
At the program, Bro. Samuel Chapin White PGM, District Deputy Grand Master, performed the solemn ceremony investing Teague with the Jewel. Two associate members of the lodge have previously received the Meritorious Service Jewel, but Teague will be the first regular member of the lodge to be so honored in the 165-year history of the lodge.
At the event, the Masonic Hall was filled to capacity with an estimated 130 in attendance.
Odd Fellows of Newburyport hosted the Grand Master Neville J. Richen PG and the Grand Board of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, IOOF, as well as Grand Patriarch Pauline LaBorde and officers of the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts, President Kathleen Richen and the Rebekah Assembly of Massachusetts, and Vice President Lt. Col. John G. Slaney and the Officers of the Patriarchs Militant of Southern New England.
In addition, Past Sovereign Grand Master, Bro. George E. Shaw, PSGM of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows International, attended.
There was also a large delegation from the Odd Fellows Lodges of the North Shore, local area dignitaries, family and friends present. Local dignitaries included Marshal Thomas H. Howard of the Newburyport Police Department, Chief James E. Mulligan of the Georgetown Police Department, Robert E. Horne, President of the Newburyport Pioneer League with officers of the league, and Worthy Master Warren D. Hodgdon PM, St. Mark's Masonic Lodge AF&AM.
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Waves, rescues surge
SALISBURY BEACH — There has been little downtime for Salisbury Beach lifeguards over the past few days, as massive waves have led to frequent rescues and injuries to beach-goers.
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Tuesday set a notable record: Lifeguards conducted at least 18 rescues, about half of all the rescues they have conducted this summer. Lifeguard supervisor George Nigro said a combination of warm water, hot temperatures, high surf and a high volume of swimmers led to the busy day. -
MEMA: Earl's impacts still unclear
NEWBURYPORT — As Hurricane Earl spun toward North Carolina's Outer Banks, local officials were preparing for the worst yesterday, though forecasters continued to expect the storm to veer to the northeast sometime today.
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Chief: Flaggers 'not a good arrangement'
AMESBURY — As the state embarks on a long-awaited widening of Amesbury's Route 110 roadway, local police are expressing some disappointment that the Massachusetts Highway Department is choosing to use flagmen instead of the town's police force to handle increased traffic during construction.
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Councilors balk at $10K for charter consultant
NEWBURYPORT — The City Council hesitated this week when faced with a request from the Charter Commission for $10,000 to hire a consultant to assist in the charter review process, saying they needed more specific information about what the money will go toward.
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City wins $625K to fight youth substance abuse
NEWBURYPORT — The city has received a five-year federal grant totaling $625,000, which will ensure that the Beacon Coalition program will continue to flourish and grow.
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The Beacon Coalition was awarded a $125,000 annual Drug Free Communities Support Program grant for five years from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. - Heard Around Town
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Waves, rescues surge
