NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA
News
Newburyport City Notebook: Longtime downtown shop headed to Amesbury
Published: July 14, 2008
Longtime Pleasant Street furniture retailer Ashley and Barnes will be moving across the river in the next month, a change that co-owner Steve Martin says has nothing to do with high rent costs, illness or the imminent arrival of developer Stephen Karp's grand downtown plan.
Martin has owned the business with his wife, Joanne Barnes, and thinks of himself as a fixture on the North Shore.
"We have been in business 15 years," Martin said. "I remember the time before Newburyport was one shop after another and before it was viable. I think the same thing is happening now in Amesbury."
Currently, the furniture store is having a moving sale, which will last through the beginning of August.
Martin will then move their merchandise to 206 Elm St. in Amesbury. It's a building they already own and have been using as a warehouse for receiving furniture deliveries.
"I will do there what I've done here, grow the business with the community," Martin said. "I'm a big believer in the downtown. I am putting everything on the red and spinning the wheel. I hope it comes up as a winner."
Martin hopes to have the new Amesbury location open around Labor Day.
"There will be even more antiques and a small design studio, it will be lovely," he said.
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Mayor John Moak and the city's Health Department is asking residents to volunteer for the Newburyport Emergency Response Volunteers (NERV) group.
Over the next couple of weeks, residents will receive information about the emergency group as it forms and can sign up to volunteer to respond in the event of an emergency.
The city has been planning for emergency response to pandemic flus, bio-terrorism attacks, explosions and many other man-made and natural hazards or disasters.
During a large-scale emergency, hundreds of volunteers will be needed to respond and to staff Emergency Dispensing Sites. Without the correct amount of volunteers, the city's ability to respond will be compromised.
NERV will be taking all volunteers regardless of background or expertise.
Visit the city Web site at www.cityofnewburyport.com for more information regarding NERV.
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John "Jack" Pramberg, 53, a former city councilor, has been temporarily suspended from practicing law by the Massachusetts Bar Association. Pramberg was sentenced to 150 days in jail for his third drunken-driving offense and leaving the scene of an accident earlier this year.
The 21-day suspension is pending further order of the court and compliance of the terms of the suspension.
Pramberg, of 2 Turkey Hill Road, was also sentenced as part of a hit-and-run in Salisbury.
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The following meetings are scheduled for this week:
Today
r Finance subcommittee meeting in the conference room of the Superintendent at 12 p.m.
r License and permit meeting in City Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.
r Public Safety Committee meeting in City Council Chambers at 7:30 p.m.
r City Council meeting in City Council Chambers at 7:30 p.m.
r Local Historic District Study meeting at 7:30 in the Police Department conference room.
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Tomorrow
r Design review meeting at the City Planning office at 10 a.m.
r Water Commission Board meeting at 16A Perry Way at 5:30 p.m.
r Trust Fund Committee at the Newburyport Public Library at 5:30 p.m.
r Conservation Commission meeting in City Council Chambers at 7 p.m.
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Wednesday
r Planning Board meeting in City Council Chambers at 7 p.m.
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Thursday
r Bartlett Mall Commission meeting in the second floor City Hall conference room at 7 p.m.
r Board of Health meeting in the City Hall basement at 7 p.m.
r Parks Commission meeting in the City Hall auditorium at 7 p.m.
r Historical Commission meeting in City Council Chambers at 7:30 p.m.
Katie Curley covers Newburyport schools for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666, ext. 3238 or by e-mail at kcurley@newburyportnews.com.
