We took a ride up to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge about a week ago and noticed that it appeared work had begun at the famous Pink House in preparation for demolition. We had learned that an anonymous donor and Gov. Healey had taken steps to pause the demolition plans. Indeed it seems the house is sitting there awaiting its own fate. I’ve rarely seen it as “spiffed up” as this with the roof completely clear of debris.

I am by far not the only one interested in how this proceeds. Several people have spoken to me about the last minute Hail Mary pause.

Fatal Attraction…

Thursday • 4 PM — 8 PM
Willowdale Estate • Topsfield MA
$8 Admission • www.NorthShoreEmporium.com

A celebration of local food + gifts,  the North Shore Food & Gift Emporium is back! Instead of a holiday craft fair, think of them more as a vibrant marketplace nestled in the rooms of a beautiful historic mansion. With their selection of carefully curated vendors, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list (including you).

Situated within the historic Willowdale Estate enjoy an intimate and luxurious shopping experience. A cash bar with savory snacks will be available for all to enjoy.

Admission is $8 with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to Beverly Bootstraps. Created + organized by two friends who share a deep love for the North Shore and all things local:

Lauren Guley
&
Jessica Brand

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★ LOCAL COOKBOOK AUTHOR MEET & GREET ★

North Shore favorite, Chris DeStefano, will be there to share his inaugural cookbook/memoir, “Misfit Chef”. Purchase a signed copy of the book and get to know the author. Emporium guests will receive a 20% OFF discount, too! Fans of the former Christopher’s Table in Ipswich will love seeing many of their favorite recipes featured in the book.

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★ JOIN OUR FOOD DRIVE ★

In addition to a monetary donation, they’ve organized a food drive in partnership with Beverly Bootstraps. Just in time for Thanksgiving, let’s come together to contribute as much pantry and home essentials for local families in need. Donation bins will be lined up inside the entryway. Thank you for contributing what you can!

To learn more about their specific needs, visit their Donate page on Beverly Bootstrap’s website. Also, check their social media for recent updates on donation requests.

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★ BONUS ★

Emporium Tote Bag for Everyone!

All guests will receive an Emporium tote bag . . . perfect for placing all your goodies into as you shop.

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Due to the limited amount of tickets, be sure to reserve yours as soon as possible.

This sounds like fun…..breakfast items in a dory! Next time you go to the store, perhaps consider picking up an item from this list.

“New” lighthouse along the river in Ipswich…….

With Maureen Aylward from TownGreen and Sam Cleaves from the City’s Clean Energy Commission talking about the Community Electricity Aggregation program.

Here’s the link to enroll-https://gloucester-cea.com/enroll-in-the-program/

I personally opted for the cheapest rate, Gloucester Basic for our household.

You’re crazy not to lock in this very inexpensive rate compared to everything else I’ve found out there.

Community Electricity Aggregation 

Gloucester Community Electricity Aggregation (CEA) is an electricity supply program organized by the City of Gloucester. With Gloucester CEA, National Grid continues to deliver electricity, repair poles and outages and manage all electricity billing. The only change is the source and options for your electricity supply. By visiting the Gloucester CEA website, residents, business owners, and other ratepayers can:

• Learn how the program works;
• Get current information on program rates and how they compare to National Grid’s Basic Service rates;
• Easily enroll in one of Gloucester CEA options or leave the program;
• Read the aggregation plan and other program documents;
• Learn about the benefits of supporting renewable energy generation.

Please keep in mind that future savings cannot be guaranteed because National Grid Basic Service rates change every six months for residential and commercial customers and every three months for industrial customers. Eligible customers will receive a Customer Notification letter detailing the program and, for those who choose to, ways to leave the program (opt out); those who choose not to opt out will be automatically enrolled. Customers who have chosen a third-party supplier are not eligible for automatic enrollment and will not receive an opt-out package. They can join the program voluntarily at any time, however, they may be subject to penalties or early termination fees from the third-party supplier if they switch to the electricity aggregation program during the term of their contract with their chosen supplier.

More Ways to Manage Your Electricity Costs 

Find more ways to manage your electricity costs here: Utility Support Available to Gloucester, MA Residents

Protecting Yourself from Potential Scams

PROTECT YOUR NATIONAL GRID ACCOUNT NUMBER. No one should ever come to your door or call unsolicited and ask for your National Grid account number, or to see your bill. It is strongly recommend that Gloucester residents periodically check the Supply section of a recent National Grid electricity bill to ensure that they are fully informed of their electricity supplier and current service rate.