AMESBURY — For the second winter in a row, volunteers with the Amesbury Carriage Museum are gearing up to transform Amesbury Town Park into a scene straight out of a Currier and Ives lithograph. With a number of volunteers signed on to help plow the rink and resurface it daily, a kick-off fundraiser is being planned for Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. to raise enough money to pay for some of the upkeep.
Richard Gale, who helped organize the reopening of the rink last year, after it laid dormant for twenty years or more, is again taking the lead role in getting the rink ready for the season. And if you enjoy skating under the stars, and the rink's outdoor lights, you can help too.
A percentage of all pizzas sold at Flatbread on the evening of the fundraiser will support the rink. So, all skating enthusiasts have to do is show up and eat pizza.
It's anticipated the skating rink will open as soon as conditions allow, and once ready, it will be open from dawn to 9 p.m. Last year, the weather got chilly enough for an early January opening. It's up to Mother Nature, though, Gale said.
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Are you at a loss to figure out the perfect gift for the person in your life who has everything? The Amesbury Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Foundation Inc. has just the gift for those loved one who are tough to shop for. For the third holiday season, Amesbury Chamber of Commerce gift cards are available, can be purchased in any denomination and are redeemable at a number of shops and restaurants in Amesbury.
Plus, purchasing one helps keep local businesses flourishing and the downtown vibrant. Businesses participating include Fiddlestix, Ristorante Molise, Greenery Designs, Essencia Spa and Salon, Realbodies of Amesbury, Crafters Quarters, Amesbury Skate and Sport, and many more. For more information on how to purchase a card, contact 978-388-3178.
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The Comcast Studio is hosting a Visit with Santa event on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 7 and 8, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to benefit the Toys for Tots program. Parents can bring their children by to deliver their Christmas wish list in person and bring a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need.
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You may have missed the first Amesbury Chamber of Commerce Holiday Shopping night in Amesbury, which took place last Saturday, but there are still two more special shopping events scheduled heading up to the holiday.
The Downtown Business District will be holding two more special holiday shopping dates on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 12 to 5 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 18 from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring refreshments, entertainment and special deals in each store.
These special hours are part of the Shop Local campaign being promoted by Amesbury businesses.
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Amesbury, Newburyport and Salisbury are continuing with their effort to protect their communities from influenza this year, by hosting a joint H1N1 clinic on Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Amesbury Elementary School, 20 South Hampton Road, Amesbury. This clinic is targeted to healthy children and young adults aged 2 to 23; pregnant women, immune-compromised children and primary caregivers to infants. No reservations are required.
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The Town of Amesbury will be conducting curbside leaf collection on Saturday, Dec. 12. If you want to get rid of your leaves and grass clippings, they should be placed in brown leaf bags or in marked barrels by 7 a.m. Twigs and limbs exceeding 1 inch in diameter and 1 foot in length will not be collected.
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Meetings this week
Monday, December 7
Historical Commission — 7 p.m., Senior Center
Planning Board — 7 p.m., Amesbury Health Center/Carriage Room
Conservation Commission — 6:30 p.m., Provident Bank Community Room
Wednesday, December 9
Design Review Committee — 5:15 p.m., Cultural Center
