Groveland Police to Summons Man who Allegedly Followed Woman in his Vehicle

pentucketporta on July 2, 2020

GROVELAND — Chief Jeffrey T. Gillen reports that the Groveland Police Department will seek a criminal summons against a resident following an investigation into his allegedly following a woman in his vehicle earlier this week.
A 65-YEAR-OLD MAN, OF GROVELAND, will be charged with Disorderly Conduct and Disturbing the Peace.
On Monday, June 29, a Groveland resident reported to police that they had responded on Monday afternoon to an ad on a Groveland community Facebook page where a resident was giving away excess dog food. The resident drove to the house, located approximately one mile from her own home, and picked up the free dog food. As she turned to head back home, she reported to police that the GROVELAND MAN in a vehicle turned around multiple times in an obvious effort to follow her.
Through their investigation, which was led by Detective Steven Petrone, Groveland Police determined that the man had disturbed neighbors during the incident, and another motorist reported having to drive off the roadway to avoid him while he was allegedly engaged in a verbal altercation with the woman he followed.
Police subsequently identified the man, interviewed him and he will be summonsed to Haverhill District Court at a later date for a Clerk Magistrate’s hearing.

Town of Groveland Issues Statement Regarding Incident in which Resident was Followed 

pentucketporta on July 1, 2020

GROVELAND — Town Finance Director Denise Dembkoski, on behalf of the Town of Groveland, expresses her sincere support for the resident who bravely spoke out after she was followed home by another resident and accused of being suspicious for driving in their neighborhood. The Groveland Police Department has opened a criminal investigation into the mater.

“This situation has given us all a collective pause,” Dembkoski said. “Groveland seeks to be a safe and welcoming community for all. Anyone should be able to drive or walk on any street without being made to feel like a criminal. I join in the outrage and collective anger felt by our residents but am moved by the support offered to the victim in this case.

“It is my sincere hope that our community will see this moment for what it is and come together to participate in a dialog about how we treat one another. It is unacceptable that a young Black woman should have the presumption of wrongdoing for driving in her own hometown–or anyone else’s hometown, neighborhood or street for that matter.  No one should be made to feel unsafe or unwelcome when they have done nothing wrong, and I am pleased that the Groveland Police Department and Chief Jeffrey Gillen have acted swiftly and aggressively.”

Added Michael Wood, chair of the Groveland Board of Selectmen:

““A vital conversation has been brought to the forefront in the Town of Groveland, and it is imperative that the conversation continues. By working together, the true story of what Groveland represents will not be the actions of one person but of the many, who came together to support the victim in this case.”

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Pentucket Art Department Hosts Virtual Art Exhibit for Middle and High School Students

pentucketporta on June 19, 2020

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Fine & Performing Arts Chair Marcia Nadeau are pleased to announce the virtual Pentucket Regional Middle and High School Art Festival is now live.

The virtual art gallery became available for viewing on Tuesday, June 16 and features over 280 pieces created by students in grades seven through 12. The art exhibited includes paintings, digital art, photography and 3D sculptures. To view the online gallery, click here.

Guided and self-guided virtual tours are available for those who wish to explore the student projects. The exhibit is organized by grade and class, and clicking on the art allows you to see which student the project belongs to.

“I started looking for a format to have a virtual exhibit once I realized that we would not be able to host our Annual Arts Festival at school due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Nadeau said. “It’s amazing to see what these students create and we love to be able to share their incredible work with community members.”

This is the second virtual art exhibit held this June by Pentucket students. On Thursday, June 4, the Virtual Senior Art Exhibit was published and continues to remain available online. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, community members and the media can access all of the exhibit through two viewing options: via slideshow or by visiting the Pentucket TV YouTube channel.

Each senior designed their own exhibit and chose meaningful pieces from art classes taken throughout their time at Pentucket Regional High School to display. Some seniors also chose to include a short biography, information on their inspiration and artistic process, and/or their plans for the fall. 

Graduating seniors featured in the virtual art exhibit include: Lydia Baldini, of Groveland; Samantha Bellville, of Groveland, Alexa Berkley, of West Newbury, Samuel Bissitt, of Merrimac, Madeline Conover, of West Newbury, Nathan Conway, of Groveland, Brooke Daniels, of Groveland, Sasha Davis, of Merrimac, Molly Forget, of Groveland, Kayla King, of Merrimac, Grace McIntyre, of Haverhill, Maggie Peterson, of Merrimac, Katherine Rosa, of Groveland, and Mikayla Tilden, of Groveland. 

“I’m blown away by the creativity of our students when looking at the art they’ve made and am grateful all the art teachers, including Marcia, were able to create this opportunity for students to showcase their work,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “While we unfortunately aren’t able to showcase students’ projects the way we normally do, I’m grateful for the work everyone did to allow this event to be held remotely.”

Pentucket Regional School District Announces Changes to History and Social Studies Curriculum

pentucketporta on June 18, 2020

WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Assistant Superintendent Brent Conway are pleased to provide an update on the development of a new, more culturally responsible and inclusive history and social studies curriculum for the entire Pentucket Regional School District.

Over the past year, members of the district have been working to update the curriculum in order to meet the new history and social studies standards set by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The new standards create an added emphasis on teaching students civic responsibility; focus on including more diverse materials and discussions to create a more accurate representation of different genders, races and cultures; and include more lessons on local history and indigenous groups. These changes by the state were the first revisions since 2003, though much of the content still reflected the original 1997 version even after the revision.

Using the new standards as a foundation, district officials and teachers from all Pentucket schools met to review the current curriculum to find the gaps and needs in order to align with the new guidelines. The group was co-chaired by Assistant Superintendent Conway and John Siegfried, History Department Chair for grades seven through 12. A survey was also completed by staff and families in the district.

“Our goal is to help shape students into ethical and morally responsible community members by focusing on teaching them civic responsibility and important historical periods that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve in the past, including ones that bear particular importance for people of color and women,” said Superintendent Bartholomew. “These updates to the curriculum for all of the district’s students will help us to achieve that goal and ensure they are receiving an in-depth and thorough education in world history.”

 Some of the key changes include:

  • Helping students from kindergarten to second grade develop a sense of self and their role in the local and global community by teaching them civics and promoting a global understanding of different cultures.
  • Updating the curriculum for third through fifth grade students and providing professional development opportunities for those teachers to present content and guidelines on how to discuss topics such as racism and the historical treatment of indigenous people.
  • Purchasing biographies and accessible texts for grades one through three on historical figures and world cultures that represent greater diversity and match content standards.
  • Performing an equity audit of texts and materials for grades three through 12 for content connections and diverse representations of factors such as race, gender and culture and to build broad content knowledge.
  • Ensuring that all high school classes use the practices of Social Studies, such as organizing and using information from primary and secondary sources, so that students have thorough exposure and expectations to those practices throughout their four years.
  • Creating cross-curricular connections to English language arts from kindergarten through grade 12 to help bolster students’ writing and research skills for both subjects, including the adoption of Modern Language Association (MLA) 8 format for all research projects and papers.
  • Training staff in restorative justice practices and circles to facilitate broader conversations around social justice, equity and other challenging topics in current events.

To view a full summary of the committee’s report, click here.

Over the next approximately 16 months, work will be done to implement the curriculum, starting with the purchasing of textbooks and e-editions of textbooks for students.

“These new materials will support a critical step forward for our district, and provide our students with the knowledge and support they will need to become informed and thoughtful citizens,” Assistant Superintendent Conway said. “It is vital for our children to know and understand the history of all people and cultures, and we’re especially proud to include more lessons about the indigenous groups of Massachusetts and the Pentucket region.

Assistant Superintendent Conway gave a presentation about the new curriculum to the Pentucket School Board on Tuesday, June 16. To view the presentation, click here.

Pentucket Names Terry Conant New Middle School Principal

pentucketporta on June 16, 2020

Terrence “Terry” Conant has been selected to become the new Pentucket Regional Middle School Principal beginning July 1. (Courtesy Photo Pentucket Regional School District)

Superintendent Justin Bartholomew is pleased to announce that Terry Conant has been named the new Principal of Pentucket Regional Middle School.

Conant will assume his new role on July 1, and replaces Ken Kelley, who has been selected as the new principal of the Donaghue and Sweetsir Elementary Schools.

“I could not be more excited to be joining the Pentucket family,” Conant said. “I am looking forward to meeting students, families, and staff in the upcoming weeks to learn about the traditions that make PRSD a great place to be. I would like to thank Dr. Bartholomew and the selection committee for allowing me the opportunity to lead the PRMS community as we enter the next phase in teaching and learning. I can’t wait to get work.”

Conant most recently served as the assistant principal at the newly built Beverly Middle School in Beverly. Prior to working in this new building he served as an assistant principal at the Briscoe Middle School, the now closed middle school building in Beverly, since 2011. During his 20 years in Beverly he has facilitated a professional learning community (PLC) focused on social emotional learning and school climate. He also collaborated with the creation of a grade five through eight middle school building and program with the grand opening in September of 2018.

During his tenure in Beverly, he served on multiple teams to bring educational success to the district.  He helped build the school culture, was a member of Beverly Public Schools’ data team, collaborated with content teams to discuss curriculum, facilitated the student support team, organized the sixth grade trip to Nature’s Classroom in Charlton, Mass. and was appointed as the middle school representative on the School Committee’s Curriculum, Instruction and Student Life Sub-Committee.

He was also selected to be the head facilitator of the STEAM and Technology specialists at the elementary level at Beverly Public Schools from September 2014 to June 2015 to transition to the Next Generation Science Standards and to align and develop curriculum. From 2005 until 2020, he served as the Professional Development Instructor at Beverly Public Schools.

“Terry has a truly remarkable resume– he brings with him a wealth of experience and insight, and we’re excited to welcome him to the Pentucket team,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “His background demonstrates that he’s a well rounded, thoughtful educator, and we’re confident he’ll be a wonderful asset to our district moving forward.”

Conant also worked as a technology instructor at Briscoe Middle School from 2010 to 2011 and as a sixth grade science teacher at Memorial Middle and Briscoe Middle Schools from 2002-2010. He also served as the equity coordinator at Briscoe Middle School from August 2010 to June 2011. 

From 2000 to 2011, Conant worked as the assistant varsity football coach at Beverly High School, and as the head freshman baseball coach from 2002-2011.

He’s also played in the school band, and highly values the skills and knowledge learned from the arts.

From 1996 to 2010, Conant additionally worked as the camp director for the City of Beverly Recreation Department’s Adventure Camp.

Prior to working at Beverly Public Schools Conant was a middle school math and science teacher at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish from 2000-2002. While there, he also served as the school’s athletic director.

Conant has also volunteered previously for the Beverly Little League, North Shore Flag Football League and Beverly Babe Ruth Baseball. 

Groveland Water & Sewer Begins Spring Flushing Work

pentucketporta on May 5, 2020

The Groveland Water and Sewer Department has begun its spring flushing program, which it conducts every year to eliminate the buildup of naturally occurring iron and manganese buildup in underground pipes. Residents should be mindful that flushing in their neighborhoods could have an impact on water pressure and clarity, and that discoloration can be reduced by running a high flow faucet.

2020 Spring Tentative Hydrant Flushing Schedule

This schedule reflects normal flushing operations. Given the current Public Health Emergency and precautions that must be implemented, scheduled time slots may change without notice.

5/5 DAY

Upper Gardner St., Elm Park, Main Street from the Square to the Pines Rec Area. , Marion St., Summer St., Union St.Manor Dr. , Town Hall , River Pines, Main St. from King to Broad St, Outlook dr, Juniper terr.

5/6 DAY

Main St. from the Square to Town Line, Pleasant St. , Park St. , Lower Gardner St., Philbrick, Sylvan, Pecker St., Dewhurst St, Wharf Dr. Esty Park

5/7 Day

School St. at Gardner St. to Carlida, Baldwin Terr. , Merrit Ave. , Abbott St. , Blueberry Hill, View Hill, Highland Ave. , Birchwood, Stocker and Hardy

5/7 NIGHT

School St. from Carlida to Center St., Ann St., Georgia St. , Alyssa Dr. , Dianne Cir., Carlida Rd. , Parker Rd. , Burke St. , Clark St. , Cherry tree , Apple Blossom , Wilbert Ave. , Doris St., Deer Run, Dianne Circle

 5/11 DAY

Salem Street from Tea Garden Georgetown Line, Federal Way, Apple Blossom, Center Street to Stickney’s Boulder, Pheasant Lane, Stonebridge, Pike, Ashcroft Circle, King st from Center St to top of the hill

5/12 DAY

165 King St. to Rocky Woods, All of Rocky Woods Development, Center St. from Washington to yale, Staunton, Matheau, Salem St between Tea Garden and Stevenson Way, Bagnall School

5/13 DAY

Pineau, Hales Ct. Yale St. Harvard Ave, Murray, Washington St from main to center, Madison Ave., Center St from Washington to Salem St, Hillview

5/13 NIGHT

Abbot Cir., Lannen Ave, Salem from washington st to Haverhill Town Line, Benjamin, Washington from Salem to Boxford Town Line, Coleman, Lee and Carlton

Chesterton

5/18 DAY

Wood St, Nichols Village, Main St.  to West Newbury Line, Pentucket Middle and High Schools, Dwinnel, Cranton, Lindsay Way

5/19 DAY

Groveland Commons, Marjorie, Benham, Fairview, Garrison, Seven Star from Broad st. to wood st, Fairway Drive and Balch Ave.

5/20 DAY

Garrison, Governors Road, Francis, Homestead, Cannon Hill Ave, Cannon Hill Ext, Muriel, Briscoe, Alpha, Rollins, Wyka, Amber, Bare Hill, Center from Rollins to Seven Star, Seven Star from Center to Wood St.

Reminder;  

You could experience low water pressure, even NO water during this time. Your water could be cloudy and discolored for a few hours, during and after flushing. Using a high flow faucet (ie Tub, utility sink or outside sill cock), that is close to where your water service enters the home, run COLD water clear before use. This protocol should help mitigate any discolored water from running throughout your plumbing system and into your hot water tank. This schedule is a guide and subject to change, watch our website for any updates.

 

Town of Groveland Receives $15,000 Grant for Elm Square Revitalization Project

pentucketporta on April 15, 2020

The Town of Groveland was recently awarded a $15,000 grant from the Massachusetts Downtown Initiative Technical Assistance (MDI) Program.

Town officials were notified on Friday, April 10 that they would receive the funding.

The grant will fund consulting services as the Town develops a parking management strategy for Elm Square, which will examine the options available to the Town to potentially increase the number and location of parking spots as part of the revitalization of that area.

Last year, the Town was able to use grant funding awarded from the same program in order to conduct an economic development study about the types of businesses residents would like to see in Elm Square and the current characteristics of the area. The majority of participants in the survey cited parking as an issue, stating that there is not enough parking in the area and that the parking there is far away from the core businesses in the square that people wanted to visit.

This new study will provide a more comprehensive plan on how to address this issue and include an overall assessment, management plan and zoning review.

Town Planner Rebecca Oldham spearheaded the town’s application for the grant, and is overseeing the Elm Square initiative.

“We’re grateful to receive this funding for a second year in a row and look forward to using it to take this next step in the Elm Square revitalization efforts,” said Town Planner Rebecca Oldham. “We’ve heard the feedback community members have provided as this project has continued to gain momentum and are excited about the future possibilities for this key area in Groveland.”

For more information about the Elm Square redevelopment, click here.

The MDI program provides funding to towns and cities throughout Massachusetts as a way to encourage and support downtown redevelopment and revitalization.

More information about the MDI program can be found here.