News

Amesbury Days kicks off with Block Party on Wednesday

Amesbury Town Notebook
Lynne Hendricks
Published: June 22, 2009

Yesterday marked the official start of summer, and the official start of Amesbury's biggest summer celebration isn't far behind. Amesbury Days kicks off Wednesday, when the annual Chamber of Commerce Block Party takes to the downtown with live music, activities for the children and a sampling of food from Amesbury's finest restaurants. The 110-year old celebration is a local tradition begun in 1899 as a party for area mill workers, and today it attracts guests from across the region who partake of sidewalk sales, craft stations and the Fourth of July fireworks at Woodsom Farm that serve to cap off the 10-day celebration.

Amesbury Days offers something for everyone, from beach parties, free concerts, Kids Day in the Park, the town-wide Yard Sale, museum tours, art festivals and cookouts. Most events are free, including the annual fireworks finale — one of the few remaining fireworks displays still featured on the 4th of July.

For a complete listing of events visit the city's Web site at www.Amesburyma.gov and click on the Amesbury Days link. From there follow the link to the Amesbury Days calendar.

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The Amesbury Days 2009 Seniors Cookout will take place Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at Holy Family Parish-St. Joseph's Hall. The menu will include grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, pea beans, kidney beans and Dick Bowley's potato salad, as well as cole slaw, dessert and a beverage for a total cost of $5 per person. Dinner will be served at 4 p.m., and guests planning to sit outside are reminded to bring their own lawn chairs. The deadline for purchasing tickets for the barbecue is today. Those needing transportation should call 978-388-8138.

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The Friends of the Council on Aging will sponsor a breakfast feast Saturday in honor of the town-wide Amesbury Days celebration. The breakfast will take place from 7-9 a.m. at the Senior Center, and will feature scrambled eggs, mini-muffins, bacon or sausage, coffee, tea and milk. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children.

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Congratulations are in order for Amesbury's Spirals Dancers, who on May 25 stole the show at Cathy Roe's Ultimate Dance Competition held in Chelmsford. Dancing an array of art-inspired pieces and competing against other dance studios from as far away as New York and Vermont, Spirals A and B companies won first place overall, platinum, and best choreography with "Masterpiece," a Vincent Van Gogh-inspired piece. They also took fifth place overall, platinum and Junior High Score with "Impression of Monet." The studio's B Company also earned judges' choice for "Beat Poets," a dance set to their own poetry and cool jazz from the 1950s. The Best Storyteller Award went to soloist Kate Jones for "Soul of the Statue." Spirals' youngest dancer of the day, Nina Pelaez, won High Score in the Petite Division with her lively Spanish solo, "Red."

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The general public is invited to visit Amesbury's "Treasures" Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of the annual Amesbury Days celebration.

Amesbury's many historic treasures, which are well maintained by nonprofit organizations, will be opened up for the day to allow residents to acquaint themselves with the town's heritage. The open houses around town are meant to encourage families and friends to visit the following sites: Lowell's Boat Shop, Alliance Park, Mary Baker Eddy Historic House, The Bartlett Museum, The Macy Colby House, Golgotha Burial Ground, The Captains Well, Pattens Pond, Amesbury Public Library, The Whittier Home, The Amesbury Hat Museum, The Salisbury Point Railroad Historical Society Museum, The Powder House, The Training Field and the Rocky Hill Meeting House, which will open at noon Saturday.

The Amesbury Treasures umbrella organization was formed to provide the public with information and the member organizations with mutual support. Brochures detailing each of Amesbury's Treasures will be available at each site, as well as in the public library and in a distribution box at Alliance Park.

For more information contact www.amesburytreasures.org, or call the individual sites, or Chairman Peter Bryant at 978-388-8888.

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Downtown's Envelop the Moment is offering every Amesbury High '09 graduate a signature quotable magnet if they bring in a photo of themselves dressed in cap and gown. Grads can choose a card as well, as congratulations for reaching this important milestone.

The offer is good for one graduate through June 30 while supplies last.

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The following meetings are scheduled this week:

Monday

Conservation Commission, 6:30, Town Hall

Wednesday

Design Review Board, 5:15 p.m., Cultural Center

Thursday

Zoning Board of Appeals, 7 p.m., Town Hall

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Lynne Hendricks covers Amesbury for The Daily News. She can be reached at lhendricks@newburyportnews.com, or call 978-462-6666, ext. 3254.