Speaking to a roomful of business owners and local dignitaries at last week's Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting, former chamber President Matt Sherrill took the opportunity to officially hand over the organization's leadership reins to incoming President Curtis E. Wollitz.
In attendance at the dinner was state Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, who presented Sherrill with a citation honoring his years of community service and commitment to Amesbury, and a number of local community leaders who gathered to recap some of the chamber's contributions to the community and to talk about its future.
Wollitz serves as president of Amesbury's Rotary Club and on the town's Planning Board. He is the acting CFO of Amesbury Sports Park. Speaking for the first time in his new role, Wollitz told the membership his priorities as president will be to maintain the chamber's mission and build upon the organization's current initiatives to make Amesbury a great place to live, work, shop and dine. He stressed the importance of the Member to Member Discount program and the Amesbury First campaign.
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The Amesbury Municipal Council began hearings on the town's property tax rate last week at a Finance Committee meeting, and will debate the matter further at a public hearing tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.
The town is proposing an increase of $1.24 to the property tax rate, moving it from $16.53 to $17.77 per $1,000 of assessed value, which it said is needed to cover the budget approved by the council last June.
The Municipal Council will also consider various options in setting the tax rate, such as adopting a residential exemption that shifts more of the tax burden onto higher value homes, and a split rate, which shifts more of the tax burden onto businesses and industry. The city has never adopted a residential exemption. The city briefly split its tax rate in 2006 returning to a single rate last year. The mayor is advocating the city retain a single tax rate for residential, commercial, industrial and personal property rates.
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The Senior Center is hosting a breakfast meeting with Mayor Thatcher Kezer Friday at 8:30 a.m., where seniors can feast on a free breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, fruit, bagels and coffee, and talk with the mayor about current issues. To register for this event, seniors should call 978-388-8138 by Wednesday. Amesbury Village is sponsoring the breakfast.
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It's time to sign up for the Senior Center's 24th Annual Holiday Luncheon at Holy Family Parish Hall, coming up on Dec. 10. The fare will be a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings, with doors opening at 11:30 a.m. for guests hoping to enjoy some good food, good company and entertainment by John Mansfield.
Raffle prizes will be awarded throughout the lunch, and holiday cheer will abound. Tickets cost $6, and should be purchased by Friday. The event is sponsored by the Amesbury Rotary Club, Maplewood Care & Rehabilitation Center and Amesbury's Council on Aging.
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Amesbury Middle School students will treat seniors to a special holiday concert next Friday, Dec. 11 at the Center. A light breakfast will be served at 8 a.m., followed by some holiday musical compilations by the school's band and chorus at 9 a.m. Transportation will be offered, as long as seniors sign up by this Thursday, Dec. 3. For more information contact the Senior Center at 388-8138.
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Amesbury, Newburyport and Salisbury will be holding H1N1 clinics tonight for healthy children ages 2 years to 9 years old, using the flu mist nasal application vaccine. Locations and times are:
9-11 a.m., Newburyport Emergency Operations Center, 59 Low St.
12:30-2:30 p.m., Amesbury Town Hall, 62 Friend St.
5-7 p.m., Salisbury Fire Station, 37 Lafayette Road
Residents of the three communities may attend any of the available clinics, but vaccines will be given by reservation only. To make a reservation call the Newburyport Health Department at 978-465-8562 or Amesbury at 978-388-8161.
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The community is invited to bring their children out to the Whittier Home Saturday for "Pictures with Father Christmas." Parents hoping for a photograph of their youngsters with a traditional Santa should bring their own cameras to the festive event between the hours of noon and 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call 978-388-1337.
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Amesbury's Annual Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Saturday beginning at 3:30 p.m. The parade begins on Greenleaf Street and marches down Sparhawk Street into downtown Amesbury, and will be followed by the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Santa will be on hand to help the town ring in the holiday season.
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The following meeting is scheduled this week and is open to the public:
Tuesday
Municipal Council, 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.
