The One With My First DHC Board Meeting

 

 

This past month, I decided to fulfill my role as a Civics Teacher and take it to a new dimension. I decided to take part in a civic role in Danvers.

I joined that DHC - or Danvers Historical Commission. It is something that I had considered doing the past few years and because of some changes, they needed new members. And, I was excited to be a part of it.

Our first meeting was held in the Toomey Room at Town Hall. It is a pretty schnazzy room....but I found out we do not meet there regularly. Still, it was a neat way to join the board.

I learned a lot about the town and how it works in just the first meeting. We also got to approve a project and work on some other projects as well. All and all it was a good first meeting. I am glad I joined.

The One With The Danvers Tree Lighting

 

 

Each year, we try our best to take part in the annual tree lighting. And, on Saturday (Dec 2), we did it again. We went to the Danvers Tree Lighting.

This year, a new group in town, similar to the Friends of the Fourth of July Committee rebooted, called Falconfest, helped usher in the event. And, they did a pretty great job because this might be the biggest celebration yet.

In years past, we would go down with Kiff and Bri and visit the lighting, often stopping for some clam chowder at Cherry Street Fish Market and then grab some hot chocolate downtown or listen to carols at the Maple Street Church. However, this year, things were a little different. Kiff was hanging out with a friend, as was Bri. They seemed to enjoy their own time hanging out with buddies, so Emmie and I had our own little date night.

The tree lighting even had a mini Truck parade before it began. Then, the countdown was on, and the tree was lit! And it is a beauty (even if it is slightly tilted).

Another fun tree lighting!!!

The One With The First Football Game

 

This Friday, Bri and Kiff performed in their first football game together as members of the marching band. It was so phenomenal to see.

It was so much fun to see them performing together. And, it was a blast to see them enjoy the third quarter pause in the game as well.

Kiff did a great job with the trumpet. Bri was awesome as part of the color guard, especially with their new, competetive dance.

They are quite a duo.

The One With the Tree Lighting

Last night was Danvers annual tree lighting ceremony.

It was fun.

Emmie, Bri, Kiff, and I went down to watch. We got there just in time to see Santa arrive by a fire engine. Little did we know just how lucky we were.

We parked ourselves on the street side of the tree that is lit up. Unbeknowst to us, this is where Santa goes to hit the lights to light up the tree. So, as we were awaiting the countdown - viola - he was there.

We counted down and on ten, he lit the lights.

And beauty illuminated the night.

The One With the Parade

Yesterday was quite a day, filled with many things.

 But one that sticks out was the event that started out the day...the SoftBall Parade.

This is the first year Bri has decided to play softball and we started the day by heading to the center of town at 9:30 for the softball parade. There, the teams gathered to march with the Little League through the center of town to their prospective home fields.

Bri was nervous at first that we might be late - after all, this was a new event to her. But, was excited when we got there. She found a friend and together - with her team - held the banner and shouted "Let's Go Dukes" through town.

It was fun to watch the procession...which was long indeed....go through town, by Tapley Hall, cutting down Essex street before Gios, and heading to Pickering Street, past the YMCA, and to the school. But, they hung in there well.

There were many people we knew as well, which made it fun. But, what stood out was the past that it was like the passing of a tradition...I remember walking in the parade in Natick back in the 1980s...just like her.

Now, on with the season.

The One Where We Go on the Rail Trail

For those of you who know where Danvers is, score one for the Rail Trail.

Brief History - it took some time, but the rail trail was developed a couple of years back on old railway tracks that used to cross through Danvers and many other North Shore communities. While it may have taken a long time to make, it took us even longer to walk on it. I can count the dozens of times we have seen people walking, jogging, or biking on the trail and said "We've got to try it."

Well, we did...and it is quite a trail. Earlier this week (or last week actually) we took a hike on the trail. It was great. We only went down a small portion of it, during a cool winter's day. But we had a blast. It truly is a peaceful and serene walking experience.

Although it is a great path to walk, what was most interesting is "seeing" what you don't typically see - a bakery that dots it, an old wall, a stream. Things you never knew existed - and wouldn't have - came alive. It made me think even more about the town we live in.

So, if you haven't had a chance to try it, the North Shore Rail Trail is truly a good take!

First Day Skating

On January 1st, we did something we have never done before as a family. We went for our first family skate.

We were originally hoping to do this at a rink last year, but that never quote materialized. So, we decided to give it a try on ice to start the year off right.

We went to the Meadows in Danvers. What a great take! Highly recommended.

What fun!

Bri seemed to get the knack of it pretty quickly...though she did stumble on the ice a ton. But, luckily, she has gone to the Roller Palace several times and has learned how to roller skate. So she was able to do the Frankenstein walk (that all new skaters have) across the ice pretty well.

Kiff had a little tougher time at first. The ice and the feel of the skates was a bit new. But, after a little while, and some practice, he was able to get the hang of it, too. He still needed someone to hold onto him - he didn't have the Frankenstein walk down, but he was well on his way.

A couple of things that stood out. First,  the new types of skates that they have are amazing. They are adjustable. Second, watching teaching that kids that "clear ice is slippery," proved fun because they wanted to see for themselves...did they learn.