NEWBURYPORT — The Newburyport High School class of 1953 held its annual class picnic at Moseley Woods Pavilion on Wednesday, Aug. 3. The event was attended by 35 class members, spouses and guests, who enjoyed a summer day with laughs, memories, ceremonies and celebrations.
Yankee Homecoming town crier Zach Longley, dressed in official garb, greeted the class and got the festivities off to a good start.
Class President Carl Beal welcomed the group and recognized the following guests in attendance: Superintendent Marc Kerble, Newburyport High librarian Christine Dahlsen Bolick and Newburyport Education Foundation members John Elwell, Cindy Johnson and Marcia Samuelson.
Beal gave a financial report and updated the class on the recent successful Newburyport High library fundraiser and NEF Save-Your-Seat class project.
The library fundraiser had another record-setting year, raising $2,700, which topped last year's total by $400. Contributing to the success was the continued loyalty of longtime givers and other classmates becoming involved.
In addition, some friends, classmates and families of deceased class members contributed to have their names included in the Save-Your-Seat program. This trend is expected to continue next year, as some classmates and families have already pledged to "save a seat" for a deceased class member.
Russell Peirce read the names of the 27 new inductees for the seat project and presented a check for $2,700 to NEF President-elect John Ewell for the new seat tags.
Over the past three years of the Save-Your-Seat project, the class has named 57 seats in the high school auditorium for classmates and five for members of other classes.
Muriel Walters Cummings presented Bolick with a framed class of 1953 graduation picture and Norma Taylor gave her a ceremonial $1,000 check representing the class of 1953's annual contribution to the library.
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