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Good morning, Beverly. Monday was the first day of the meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. We’re about to start flirting with single-digit temperatures, and the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice, falls on December 21. Load up on Advil before the shoveling begins.

In today’s Beverly Buzz:

• Beverly Seeks Your Input on Former Family Dollar Site's Future 🏢

• Beverly Main Streets Director to Leave After 2025 🏙️ 

• Historic Beverly Acquisition Announcement: Revolutionary War Privateering Document ⚓️ 

• Upcoming events 💃 🍺 🎶

Let’s get to it.

— Chase Nussbaum

THE DIGEST

Beverly Seeks Your Input on Former Family Dollar Site's Future 🏢

City officials are hosting a second public meeting on December 11 to gather community ideas for redeveloping the former Family Dollar location in downtown Beverly. The December session at City Hall builds on September's forum, where residents suggested everything from a boutique hotel to artist studios, low-income housing, and retail space.

The city purchased the property and 108 adjacent parking spaces for $7.4 million two years ago, initially planning to use it as a temporary City Hall during renovations. However, the $1.8 million retrofit costs were too high compared to commercial alternatives.

Beverly Main Streets Director to Leave After 2025 🏙️ 

Erin Truex will leave her role as executive director of Beverly Main Streets at the end of the year, as announced in a community message last week. Truex, who took the executive director role in January 2024, said it's "simply the right moment to pass the baton to the fearless leader who can continue the work we've started together."

She highlighted several major accomplishments in her email, including driving $300,000 in revenue to independent artists through vending opportunities and advancing the Downtown 2030 initiative. Under Truex’s leadership, Beverly Main Streets also launched a public-facing art gallery and strengthened the local business coalition. "None of this happened because of a single person — least of all me," Truex said, crediting community support and volunteer efforts.

Historic Beverly Acquisition Announcement: Revolutionary War Privateering Document ⚓️ 

Historic Beverly has announced the acquisition of a rare two-page manuscript, dated March 25, 1779, detailing the operation of the Revolutionary War privateer True American. This financial account, signed by Captain John Buffinton, provides valuable insight into the North Shore’s pivotal maritime economy. It records the sale of captured goods and clearly illustrates the local financial partnerships—including those involving the prominent Cabot family—that fueled the American cause. To view this piece of history, visit their new exhibit, Built on Cod: The Fish that Fed a Revolution and Crowned an Aristocracy, which opens at the John Cabot House on Saturday, December 13.

What else is buzzing 🐝 

• 🏈 Beverly topped Salem in the 127th edition of "The Game" to finish above .500 for the first time in seven years. (Note: This article is behind a paywall.)

• 🍂 Leaf pickup is ongoing this week on your trash day. It’s the last scheduled leaf pickup this year.

• 🧸 Beverly Credit Union is collecting toys for its annual Salvation Army toy drive, which will run until December 12.

• 🏛️ The next office hours with Mayor Cahill will take place next Thursday, December 11, at 5:00 pm at the Mayor's Office.

• ✈️ Massachusetts air travelers without REAL IDs will face a $45 fee starting February 1 for alternative identity verification at airports.

• ⚠️ The Registry of Motor Vehicles is warning residents about text scams demanding payment for fake traffic violations. The RMV never texts residents for payment and only accepts payments in person or through their official website.

• 🍗 Flip The Bird is hosting a "Dine Out For Dari" fundraiser on December 9 from 3 to 8 pm to support 15-year-old Darianna Ruiz. The restaurant will donate 5 percent of all sales to help the teen who is recovering from a gunshot wound that led to a stroke and seven surgeries.

• 🪞 Do people really look younger than they used to?

Your body will thank you.

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PET OF THE WEEK

Meet Mister Misty, a gentle 3-year-old soul in search of a very special kind of home. This sweet boy was surrendered after his owner had to move and couldn't bring him along. Mister Misty is hoping for a quiet, calm environment-ideally a single-person home where he can take his time and one day build a deep bond with one special human. He has previously lived with another cat, and may do well in a single-person home with a calm feline companion he can eventually befriend. Learn more and apply for adoption here.

WEATHER

4-Day Weather Forecast

Wednesday

36°/27° 🌡️ | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 6%

Thursday

37°/9° 🌡️ | ☁️ Cloudy | 21%

Friday

25°/20° 🌡️ | 🌤️ Mostly Sunny | 1%

Saturday

34°/23° 🌡️ | ⛅️ AM Clouds/PM Sun | 24%

UPCOMING EVENTS

🎄 A Christmas Carol: 12/4 - 12/21

North Shore Music Theatre | 2h 20m; Includes intermission | $40 - $100 | Info

Wednesday, 12/3

👂 Relaxing Sound Bath | Holistic Therapies 4 Life | 6 pm | $35 | Email [email protected] for more info

🍪 Holiday Cheer Cookie Decorating with La Messy Baker | Beverly Senior Center | 6:30 pm | $65 | Info

🧝 $1 Movie – Elf | The Cabot | 6:30 pm | Info

👥 Bingo Night for Beverly Bootstraps | Delphine's Kitchen | 7 pm | Info

🏠 Panel Discussion: The Myth of Affordable Housing: Refreshments will be provided | Second Congregational Church | 7 pm | Info

Thursday, 12/4

📷 Pieces of Local History from the Beverly Room Series | Sohier Room, Main Library | 2-3 pm | Info

🍴 Cookbook Club: Spanish | Sohier Room, Main Library | 6 pm | Info

🪖 Revolution, Up Close: A Slow Looking Experience | Cabot House | 6:30 pm | $5-$10 | Info

🎸 The Doors: When You’re Strange | The Cabot | 7 pm | $20.50 | Info 

🎶 Live Music: BluNote Soultet | Sala Restobar | 7-10 pm | Info

🎼 Music Bingo | Coastal Mass Brewing | 7-9:30 pm | Info

🎵 Live Music: Backyard Jazz Jam | Backbeat Brewing | 7-10 pm | Info

😀 Comedian Jackie Flynn | The Cut | 7:30 pm | $65 | Info

🎩 Alchemy: Magic in The Grand Salon | Off Cabot | 7:30 pm | $31.47 | Info 

Friday, 12/5

🐟 First Fridays: Behind the Scenes of Built on Cod | Cabot House | 2 pm | Free | Info

🎶 Live Music: Mike Miksis Trio | Sala Restobar | 7-10 pm | Info

🍜 Adult Cooking Class: Ramen Bowls | Taste Buds Kitchen | 7 pm | $140 | Info

🎵 Live Music: Dexter Handy Organ Trio | Backbeat Brewing | 7-10 pm | Info

🎸 Studio Two: The Early Beatles Tribute | Larcom Theatre | 8 pm | $34.50-$38.50 | Info

🎤 The Berklee College of Music Bob Marley Ensemble | The Cut | 8 pm | $20-$32 | Info

😂 Comedian Chris Franjola | Off Cabot | 8 pm on 12/5, 6:30 pm on 12/6, or 9 pm on 12/6 | $41.74 | Info 

Saturday, 12/6

🖼️ Open Studios | Coastal Mass Brewing | 12-5 pm | Info

🍅 Backyard Growcery - A December Market Pop Up | The Cut | 12-3 pm | Info

🎄 Arpeggione Ensemble: Miniature Nutcracker | The Bower | 2 pm | $25 | Info

🎨 Paint Your Own Nostalgic Christmas Tree Ceramics | Hammer & Stain | 3pm | $65-$135 | Info

🎵 Live Music: Jazz Jam | Backbeat Brewing | 4-8 pm | Info

🧑‍🍳 Adult Cooking Class: Tasty Thai | Taste Buds Kitchen | 7:30 pm | $140 | Info

🎶 Live Music: Whose Muddy Shoes | Sala Restobar | 7:30-10:30 pm | Info

🎸 Beck-Ola: Celebrating the Music of Jeff Beck | The Cut | 8 pm | Info

🎵 Crystal Ship: A Tribute to the Doors | Larcom Theatre | 8 pm | $32.50-$36.50 | Info

🎤 Darlene Love: Love For The Holidays 2025 | The Cabot | 8 pm | $47.50 - $149 | Info 

Sunday, 12/7

🖼️ Open Studios | Coastal Mass Brewing | 12-5 pm | Info

Monday, 12/8

🎥 Free Matinee Film – Miracle on 34th Street | The Cabot | 1 pm | Info 

Tuesday, 12/9

🧑‍🎨 Who Gives a Craft? | Conrad Room, Farms branch | 7 pm | Info 

KID AND FAMILY EVENTS

Wednesday, 12/3

🎼 Music & Movement | Conrad Room, Farms branch | 10:45 am | Info

📗 Graphic Novel Club: Grades 3-5 | Sohier Room, Main Library | 4 pm | Info

Thursday, 12/4

📕 Book Buzz: Story Time | Conrad Room, Farms branch | 12 pm | Info

Friday, 12/5

🎵 Music with Dara | Conrad Room, Farms branch | 10:30 am | Info

📱 North Pole Calling 2025 | 12-1 pm | Info

🍕 Fuel Up Fridays! Free dinner program | McPherson Youth Center | 3:30-8 pm | Info

Friday, 12/6

🧑‍🍳 Caregiver & Me Cooking Class: Gingerbread House Decorating | Taste Buds Kitchen | 9 am | $60 | Info

🧑‍🎄 Open Paint & Crafting with Santa | 10 am - 2 pm | Hammer & Stain | Info

📸 Sensory-Friendly Photos with Santa | Long Hill | 10 am - 12 pm | $28-$35 | Info

📗 Sensory-Friendly Family Story Time | Story Hour Room, Main Library | 10:30 am | Info

🍔 Kids Eat Free | A&B Burgers | 11:30 am - 3:00 pm | Info

🧑‍🎨 All-Ages Wreath Decorating | Sohier Room, Main Library | 1 pm | Info 

Sunday, 12/7

🧑‍🍳 Caregiver & Me Cooking Class: Gingerbread House Decorating | Taste Buds Kitchen | 10:30 am | $60 | Info

🧑‍🎄 The Polar Express: Meet Santa, play games, and watch the movie! | The Cabot | Doors at 12 pm, Movie at 1:30 pm | $35.75 | Info

🫖 The Nutcracker Tea | Farms branch | 1-3 pm | Info 

Monday, 12/8

❄️ Drop-in Kids' Arts & Crafts: Doily Watercolor Snowflakes | Arts & Crafts Room, Main Library | 3:30 pm | Info

Tuesday, 12/9

🧑‍🎨 Make Your Own Ugly Sweater | McPherson Youth Center | 3-7 pm | Info

🎨 Decorate a Mug: Grades 6-12 | Sohier Room, Main Library | 3:30 pm | Info

TRASH AND RECYCLING

Visit the 2025 City of Beverly Holiday and Leaf Pickup Schedule for more information on each icon.

THANKS!

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