Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor

• The Reception to Honor Bette Hunt - Holiday Pops Artist - at Abbot Library
• Tickets for December 10 Holiday Pops Concert Go On Sale

Ticket Order Form

Marblehead, Mass. -- Thursday, November 10 is a big day for Holiday Pops fans: concert tickets go on sale and a reception to honor 2011 Holiday Pops artist Bette Hunt and premiere her  “A View of Abbot Hall from Prospect Alley,” will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Abbot Library, 235 Pleasant Street in Marblehead.

The artist’s reception is free and open to the public and includes light refreshments catered by Linda Bassett.
In addition, balcony tickets for $35 each, raffle tickets for Hunt’s original art for $5 each or 3 for $10, giclee prints of the art for $50 each, and notecards featuring Hunt’s art in packets of 10 cards for $10 will all be available for sale at the reception.

While most people know Bette Hunt best as Marblehead’s official town historian and the high-energy guide who conducts witty and wonderful walking tours of the downtown, Hunt is also a trained artist. 

The one tradition of the Holiday Pops art is that it includes Abbot Hall, a subject Hunt knows extremely well.  In fact, in the many years she has created original art for the holiday cards she and husband Jack send to their closest friends, Hunt says she has probably only twice ever featured anything other than the iconic town hall. 

Hunt’s Holiday Pops painting is worked in pen-and-ink and watercolor, demonstrating her artist’s eye for fine detail and nuance. 

The Holiday Pops signature art has become an important tradition in promoting the annual concert, now in its 14th year, benefiting the work of The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor and VNA Care Network and Hospice.  As a side note, Hunt was a charter member of The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor.

Following the artist reception, the artwork will be on display at Arnould Gallery & Framery (November 11-19), National Grand Bank (November 21-25), Marblehead Bank (November 28-December 1) and Marblehead Historical Society & Museum (December 2-4), and The Sea Gull (December 5-9) in the weeks leading up to the concert.

Tickets go on sale November 10. Floor seats are $50 each and balcony seats are $35 each.

Tickets for balcony seats will be available in person in Marblehead at Arnould Gallery and Framery, 111 Washington Street; Marblehead Bank, 21 Atlantic Avenue; National Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant Street; and, Spirit of ’76 Bookstore, 107 Pleasant Street. They are also available in Danvers at VNA Care Network & Hospice at 5 Federal Street in Danvers.

The Holiday Pops concert will be Saturday, December 10 at Abbot Hall featuring Dirk Hillyer and The Hillyer Festival Orchestra.  Concert night will begin at 7 p.m. with a Dessert Reception; the concert will begin promptly at 8 p.m.  The raffle for Bette Hunt’s original painting will be held the night of the concert during the intermission.

Floor tickets can be purchased exclusively by mail using the order form in the November 10 issue of The Marblehead Reporter and at www.rcomh.org and www.vnacarenetwork.org.

In addition, order forms for logo art note cards, art prints, and raffle tickets for the original art will also be available on-line at www.rcomh.org and at www.vnacarenetwork.org on November 10.

For more information, contact Jodi Vigneron at 781-631-1900, ext. 1363 or at jvigneron@vnacarenetwork.org or Jessica Barnett at 781-639-0624 or at jdharbar@comcast.net. 

Penny Wigglesworth’s famous Penny Bears, which have been of enormous comfort for hundreds of reasons to thousands of people and children, have become this year’s flagship for the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor’s continuing efforts to help wipe out polio world-wide.
In an extraordinary act of generosity, Wigglesworth has donated any  number of her famous bears, needed by the club to raise this year’s $2,000 pledged contribution to Rotary International by the Rotary Club.

Over the years, Penny Bears have been provided for Hospice organizations throughout New England, New York and Florida. Shelters, camps for critically ill children and assisted living facilities have felt the hand of hope and friendship through the Marblehead home grown project. For the extraordinary outreaching efforts too numerous to list, please visit www.pennybear.org

The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor will debut a full crop of Penny Bears at the September 10th Farmers Marker at Marblehead Middle School. The $20 price per bear will go directly to the Rotary International effort to end polio worldwide.
The Club,  now celebrating its 15th anniversary in the Rotary year 2011-2012 will commemorate this important anniversary with 15 service projects this year.

Kim Carrigan from FOX 25 Morning News to MC  “Cheap and Chic” on the Harbor

Marblehead Harbor Rotary Scholarship fundraiser at the Eastern Yacht Club

Save the Date – Thursday, September 15, 2011        Cheap and Chic Tickets!

Mablehead, MA - Kim Carrigan, FOX 25 Morning News co-host will be the guest celebrity host for the Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club’s “Cheap & Chic” fashion show on Thursday, September 15.  The event, which is a fundraiser for the Marblehead Harbor Club’s scholarship programs, will take place on the picturesque terrace of the Eastern Yacht Club.  

“We are absolutely delighted that Kim Carrigan, one of the North Shore’s most popular news anchors and the epitome of chic, has again graciously agreed to help us with our fundraising event” said Cheap & Chic co-chair Vicki Staveacre.  “The show will feature a  selection of stylish and affordable clothes and accessories provided by fashion stores Madam Had’Em and DS Designs.   We have seven gorgeous models, most of whom run businesses in town and they will have hair styled by Moore & Moore, and make up by Euphoria Esthetics”.   
 
The event, now in it’s third year, will again be held at Eastern Yacht Club and music will be provided by local DJ and musician MichaelAngelo.  
The local residents who will be models for this year’s fashion show are Liz Garthe, Madam Had’em regular and healthcare and crash data analyst;  Jodi Gildea, co-owner of the Con$ignments furniture and home goods store on Atlantic Avenue; Lauren Comer, owner of Scuppers children’s store; Grooveback girls Molly Brown and Melissa Sherwood; Taj Tillah, owner of Taj Pilates; non profit consultant Linda Fairbanks Atkins and Marblehead High School freshman Holly Zmetrovich.

Cheap & Chic will start at 6 00 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar and conclude with a bucket raffle for prizes donated by club members and  local area businesses.  Tickets for the event priced at $40 each or $75 for two are available from DS Designs,  Madam Had’Em and Moore & Moore  or online at Cheap and Chic Tickets!

Marblehead Harbor Rotary Scholarship fundraiser at the Eastern Yacht Club

Save the Date – Thursday, September 15, 2011        Cheap and Chic Tickets!

The third annual "Cheap & Chic" fashion show of gorgeous and affordable clothes and accessories will be held on Thursday, September 15, from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  The event, which is a fundraiser for the Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club’s scholarship programs, will take place on the picturesque terrace of the Eastern Yacht Club overlooking Marblehead Harbor.
 
“Marblehead fashion stores DS Designs and Madam Had’em have again agreed to provide a selection of stylish and affordable clothes and accessories while Moore & Moore will provide hair styling and Euphoria Esthetics in Swampscott will provide make-up styling to ensure our glamorous models look their best,” said Becky Linhart, Marblehead Harbor Rotarian and co-chair of the event.  "We are also most grateful to the Eastern Yacht Club for providing us with a very stylish waterfront venue.  With the combination of gorgeous clothes and accessories and a venue with breathtaking views of the sunset over the harbor, we are again expecting a sell out event.”
 
Last year’s Cheap & Chic fundraiser raised almost $6,000 for the Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club's scholarship programs.  Every year for the past 10 years the club has awarded six $1,000 scholarships to graduating Marblehead High School seniors and the club’s long term goal is to raise enough money to make the scholarship offerings permanently sustainable.

The Cheap & Chic show will start at 6 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and a bucket raffle for prizes donated by club members and local area businesses.  The fashion show is slated to start at 6:45 p.m.  Tickets for the event are $40 for a single and $75 for two and are available On-Line Here or from DS Designs, Madam Had'Em and Moore & Moore in Marblehead. 

The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor has launched a campaign to send ShelterBoxes to Japan to provide emergency assistance and shelter to victims of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.
 
Ed Bell, RCoMH member and ShelterBox volunteer who led last year’s campaign to send ShelterBoxes to Haiti, said that a ShelterBox Response Team was on the ground in Japan within 24 hours of the disaster to assess the areas of most need.
 
“An initial shipment of ShelterBoxes is en route to Japan and there are a further 5,000 boxes on standby,” Ed Bell said. “These will be shipped in as soon as we have a transportation and distribution network in place.”
 
An international disaster relief charity that delivers emergency shelter, warmth and dignity to people affected by disaster worldwide, ShelterBox assembles and dispatches boxes which each contain emergency relief items for up to ten people.  This includes a tent, sleeping bags, blankets, stove, water purification equipment, basic tools and even an activities kit for children.

“Given what we know about the situation in Japan, it is clear that thousands of people have been made homeless and the need for emergency shelter is critical.  This is exactly what ShelterBox was founded for," Bell said.
 
Collection boxes for the ShelterBox campaign are at certain locations in the town, including at National Grand Bank and donations to the campaign can be sent directly to the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, PO Box 941, Marblehead, MA 01945.  Checks should be made payable to RCoMH with ShelterBox Japan in the memo line.
 
Bell and his fellow Rotarians last year raised a total of $146,543 to purchase 146 Shelterboxes for earthquake victims in Haiti.  As a result, Bell and  Steve Daly, who is a member of the North Andover Rotary Club, came in the  2010 top ten ranking of ShelterBox fundraisers in the US, according to ShelterBox USA.    

Bell was awarded a Paul Harris fellowship in recognition of his outstanding service leading the Marblehead ShelterBox appeal.  The Paul Harris Fellowship is the highest honor a Rotary club can bestow and represents a contribution of $1,000 given to The Rotary Foundation in the recipient's name.

Marblehead Museum & Historical Society partners with The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor to present 2011 Star-Spangled Pops Saturday, May 14  

Musical program to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of The Civil War

Marblehead, Mass – The Marblehead Museum & Historical Society will be partnering for the first time with The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor to present the 2011 Star-Spangled Pops featuring Maestro Dirk Hillyer and The Hillyer Festival Orchestra on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Abbot Hall.  Doors will open at 7 p.m.  

This year’s program is inspired by MMHS’s celebration of the 150 Anniversary of The Civil War.  

“On April 16, 1861, three regiments from Marblehead were the first in Massachusetts to report for duty in the Civil War. 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the Civil War,” said Pam Peterson, the museum’s executive director. “As part of a national initiative to commemorate that event, the Marblehead Museum has planned a variety of activities to honor those who served and supported the war effort. We are very pleased to include the Star-Spangled Pops as one of our special programs.”  

Tickets for Star-Spangled Pops will go on sale April 14.  Floor tickets will be available exclusively by mail through the order form which will be published April 14 in The Marblehead Reporter and downloadable on April 14 at marbleheadmuseum.org and at rcomh.org. 

 Those who would like to place business or tribute ads in the Star-Spangled Pops program book can find rate information on rcom.org or can call Jessica Barnett, 781-639-0624.  The deadline for sponsorship is April 10.

Star Spangled Pops Sponsorship Information and Form

Program Ad & Sponsor Size Chart

 Contact: Jessica D.H. Barnett, President, 2010-11 Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor 781-639-0624 or jdharbar@comcast.net

Photo Caption   Members of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor and Marblehead Museum & Historical Society are bringing plans together for 2011 Star-Spangled Pops on Saturday, May 14 at Abbot Hall with Maestro Dirk Hillyer and The Hillyer Festival Orchestra.  The group got a sneak preview of this year’s logo art, Ulrike Welsch’s photo, “Rigging of USS Constitution on Fourth of July.”  Raffle tickets for the framed photograph and tickets for the concert will go on sale April 14.  Visit www.marbleheadmuseum.org and www.rcomh.org for more information as plans unfold.    

Left to Right, front row: Marguerite Frank, Fraffie Welch, Jessica Barnett, Judge Joseph Dever, Pam Peterson, Becky Linhart, Pat Roberts, Don Doliber and Pam Nottingham.   Left to Right, back row: John Williams, Cyndi Kilbarger, Pam Foye, Mike Elkin and Al Arcuni.

Marblehead Harbor Rotary Scholarship fundraiser at the Eastern Yacht Club

Marblehead, MA, August 11, 2010 – Kim Carrigan, FOX 25 Morning News co-host will be the guest compere for the Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club’s “Cheap & Chic” fashion show on  Thursday, September 16.  This year’s event will take  place on the  picturesque terrace of the Eastern Yacht Club overlooking Marblehead Harbor.   

“We are absolutely delighted that Kim Carrigan, who is the epitome of chic, has graciously agreed to help us with our fundraising event”, said MarbleheadHarbor Rotary President Jessica Barnett.  “We knew last year that with our partners, Marblehead fashion stores DS Designs  and Madam Had’Em and hairstylists Moore & Moore, we had a pretty compelling offering.  This year, with Kim Carrigan, who is one of the North Shore’s most popular news anchors, and our stylish waterfront venue at the Eastern Yacht Club we anticipate another full house”.  Proceeds from the event will help fund the  Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor’s scholarship programs.

Kim Carrigan began her broadcasting career in St. Joseph, Missouri as weekend anchor and reporter at KQ-TV. She then anchored at several TV stations in the Midwest before moving to Boston in 1994.  Carrigan has established a reputation as one of Boston’s most trusted newscasters.  She’s led breaking news coverage, presidential election and special event coverage, and has traveled across the country to cover major stories. Carrigan has won an Emmy for her anchor work and was named ‘Best News Anchor’ for two consecutive years by Boston Magazine. Kim and husband Randy and their two children live on the North Shore.  She is a long time spokesperson and supporter of Boston Bakes For Breast Cancer, a grass roots organization which raises funds for the Breast Oncology Center at the Gillette Center For Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  She is also the recipient of the North Shore ARC’s Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to people with developmental disabilities.

Cheap & Chic will start at 6 15 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres  and a cash  bar and conclude with a bucket raffle for prizes donated by  club members and  local area businesses.  Tickets for the event  will go on sale on August  30, and will be available from DS Designs,  Madam Had’Em and Moore & Moore  in Marblehead.

About Kim Carrigan

Kim Carrigan joined FOX25 Morning News as co-host in October 2004.  She is one of the area’s most popular news anchors having held principal anchor posts in Boston since 1994.  

Kim began her broadcasting career in St. Joseph, Missouri as weekend anchor and reporter at KQ-TV. She then anchored at several TV stations in the midwest before moving to Boston in 1994.  Carrigan has established a reputation as one of Boston’s most trusted newscasters.  She’s led breaking news coverage, presidential election and special event coverage, and has traveled across the country to cover major stories. Carrigan has won an Emmy for her anchor work and was named ‘Best News Anchor’ for two consecutive years by Boston Magazine.      
 
In addition to her anchor duties, Kim has done extensive feature reporting.  She has gained the attention of viewers and peers for her interviews with high-profile newsmakers and celebrities.  Some of her favorite assignments have been one-on-one conversations with Boston originals like Bruins legend Cam Neely, Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, Senator Edward Kennedy and his wife Victoria, and Norman Bridwell, author and illustrator of the ‘Clifford’ children’s book series.
 
Kim grew up in Missouri and is a graduate of the University of Missouri.  She and husband Randy and their two children live on the North Shore.  Kim is long time spokesperson and supporter of Boston Bakes For Breast Cancer, a grass roots organization which raises funds for the Breast Oncology Center at the Gillette Center For Women’s Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  She is also the recipient of the North Shore ARC’s Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to people with developmental disabilities.

About The Rotary Club of Marblehead  Harbor

The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor is an organization of  business  and professional people drawn from all walks of life, bound  by their mission  of service to the community and the world.   Founded in 1996, it already  has an impressive track record of  supporting Rotary International initiatives  and serving the local  community with major fund raising events including the  Holiday Pops  and Star Spangled Pops  concerts.

For  more information contact:   
Vicki Staveacre (C)  781-249-7517 vicki.staveacre@gmail.com   <mailto:vicki.staveacre@gmail.com>   
Becky Linhart (C) 978-943-6393  rlinhart@comcast.net <mailto:rlinhart@comcast.net>

Marblehead, Mass June 28: Marblehead resident Donald A. Doliber Senior's service to Scouting was recognized at a ceremony at the Boston Yacht Club on June 22, when he was presented with The International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians (IFSR) Cliff Dochterman Award by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor.

The award is the IFSR's highest award for service to youth through the Boy Scouts of America, in recognition of exceptional service to Scouting and to Rotary. A Rotary Club may only nominate one individual for this award in any given Rotary year.

Donald A. Doliber Sr.'s 55 years of service to Scouting began when he was a charter member of Cub Scout Pack 11 chartered by St. Stephen's United Methodist Church. He was also a charter member of Boy Scout Troop 11 and was Troop 11's first Eagle Scout. He was a charter member of Explorer Post 11. A Vigil Member of The Order of the Arrow, and he also earned The God and Country Award.

Now retired after 41 years at Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, Massachusetts, latterly as Assistant Principal, Doliber is the Yankee Clipper Council's Vice President of Program. He is a founding member and a past-president of Yankee Clipper Council's Eagle Scout Association. He is a recipient of the District Award of Merit and The Silver Beaver. He is a James E. West Fellow, and has also been honored with the Daniel C. Beard Masonic Scouter Award.

Doliber is an active member of The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor where he now serves as Club Secretary. A graduate of Salem State College (BA) and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (MA), he lives in Marblehead with his wife, Linda.

About the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians

In the early 1990s, several Rotarians, who were also Scouts, met and discussed how to provide an outlet for both interests through a fellowship group within Rotary International. As a result, in 1991 the International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians was formed. This is a recognized Rotary Fellowship organization that now has over 700 members world-wide.

One of this organization's objectives is to recognize individuals who have provided exceptionally unique service to Scouting and to Rotary with the Cliff Dochterman Award, this organization¹s premier recognition award for Rotarians.

The award is named after Cliff Dochterman who was president of Rotary International from 1992 to 1993 and was actively involved in Scouting.

For more information about IFSR, visit www.ifsr-net.org

Marblehead, MA, April 22 2010 – Well known Boston and North Shore vocalists Rebecca Kenneally and Daniel Blake will be the guest performers at this year’s Star Spangled Pops concert in Marblehead’s historic Abbot Hall on Saturday, May 15.  A fund raiser hosted by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, the event is held on Armed Forces Day as a tribute to both active and retired servicemen and women who have and are helping to build and protect this nation.

An active choral director and singer in the Boston area, Rebecca Kenneally is Coordinator of Performing Arts at Endicott College, in Beverly, MA, where she is the director of choirs and music, theater and dance programs.  Daniel Blake has 28 opera roles to his professional credit and has sung throughout the United States. He currently has Private Voice Studios at Boston Children’s Theatre and in Beverly, MA.

A musical “Salute to Broadway” is the theme of this year’s concert  which will be performed by the Hillyer Festival Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Dirk Hillyer.  The event will open with eleven year old Marblehead resident and Village School 6th grader Paige Vigneron performing the Star Spangled banner.

The evening will feature popular selections from Broadway hits including Chicago, the King and I, Cats and Showboat and Rebecca Kenneally and Daniel Blake  will perform numbers including “ Whistle a happy tune” from the King and I,  and “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables.  George James Macdonald, a 4th grader at Marblehead Village School will join Kenneally and Blake to sing “Love makes the world go round” from Carnival and “If I loved you” from Carousel.

Proceeds from the Star-Spangled Pops will benefit the philanthropic projects of the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor.  Doors will open at 6.30 p.m. and the concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Balcony tickets are available from Arnould Gallery and the National Grand Bank. in Marblehead and will be available at the door.  Floor tickets can be ordered by mail and the order form can be found on the website www.rcomh.org.  Table tickets on the main floor are $30 each and balcony seats are $20 each.  For more information about the concert, contact Don or Linda Doliber at 781-631 6938.

Biographies:

Dirk Hillyer, who lives in Marblehead is well-known and respected by North Shore audiences for his full and rich programs, and maintains an active performance schedule as both a conductor and French horn player.   He founded The Hillyer Festival Orchestra in Peabody, Massachusetts in 1998 and has conducted over 100 concerts in Peabody, Marblehead, Salem, Lynn, and Boston (WCRB Esplanade Series for five years).  He was invited to participate in conducting workshops led by Pierre Boulez (2002) and Daniel Barenboim (2004) both at Carnegie Hall.  Hillyer played French horn in the Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Jacques Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffmann” under the direction of Keith Lockhart and he has also conducted The Bostonian Opera & Concert Ensemble’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “The Yeomen of the Guard.”

Rebecca Kenneally is an active choral director and singer in the Boston area. As Coordinator of Performing Arts at Endicott College, in Beverly, MA, Ms. Kenneally is the director of choirs and musical theater as well as overseeing the music, theater and dance programs. She directs the 70 voices of the Old North Church Youth Choirs, maintains a private voice studio, and is the choral director for Music at Port Milford Music Festival in Ontario, Canada. Previously, she was the Director of the Women’s Chorus and Assistant to the Director of Choral Activities at New England Conservatory of Music.
 
Ms. Kenneally was the Youth Ensemble Director for the Boston Early Music Festival productions of: Acteon by Charpentier, and Venus and Adonis by John Blow in 2008/9. Other directing credits include: Carnival (EC 2010); Kiss Me Kate  (EC 2009); The Last Five Years (MLT 2008); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying… (EC 2007); co-direction of the youth chorus in The Little Prince (Boston Lyric Opera Company); and New England Conservatory Light Opera Company, and Boston University opera scenes productions.

Daniel Blake has 28 opera roles to his professional credit and has sung throughout the United States including NYC, Seattle, Minnesota, Connecticut, Houston, Philadelphia, and Utah Opera Companies.  His roles include: Nemorino from L'Elisir d'Amore; Count Almaviva from Il Barbiere di Siviglia: Mr. Owen from Postcard from Morocco; Little Bat from Susanna; the Witch from Hansel and Gretel; and King Kaspar from Amahl and the Night Visitors.  Daniel's Oratorio and Early Music background is extensive including Tenor Soloist in the Messiah, Elijah, Mozart Requiem, Monteverdi Vespers, Carmina Burana, as well as many of Haydn's cantatas and 26 of Bach's Oratorios and cantatas including the Evangelist in both the St. Matthew and St. John's Passions. His Music Theatre credits include National Tours of Elder Patrick in Mame with Carol Lawrence, Evita, and Desert Song.
 
Daniel received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Washington State University,  Masters of Music Degree from Hartt Conservatory of Music in Connecticut and did post-graduate studies at Julliard School of Music in New York City where he studied with Enrico DiGiuseppe and coached with Joan Dorneman of the Metropolitan Opera.  He currently has Private Voice Studios at Boston Children’s Theatre and in Beverly.

Paige Vigneron is 11 years old and a 6th grader at the Village School in Marblehead. Currently, she sings three times a week in Boston with the Trinity Church Choir.  In addition to singing with Maestro Hilyer, she has sung the Star Spangled Banner at numerous other occasions including twice at the Boston Garden for the Celtics – once in 2007 and once last December.  

One of her favorite recent singing accomplishments was winning a trip to Chicago to see the Boston Red Sox by singing “Take me out to the Ball Game” for Jerry Remy.  Her next goal is to be invited to sing the National Anthem at a Red Sox game.   In addition to singing, she enjoys musical theater, playing piano, swimming and playing softball.

George James MacDonald is a 4th grader at the Village School in Marblehead. He began his singing career with the Old North Church Cecelia choir at the age of 6 under the guidance of Rebecca Kenneally.  George’s first stage performance was as the youngest of the King’s children in the 2006 Marblehead High School production of “The King and I” directed by Henry Dembowski. His biggest accomplishment to date was performing with the Boston Early Music Festival in two operas, “Venus and Adonis” and “Acteon” where he played a cupid, a wolf and a party guest.  His most recent role was as the March Hare in the Village School’s production of “Alice and Wonderland”. George also enjoys playing soccer, basketball and baseball as well as learning to play the trumpet.

MARBLEHEAD, MA March 23, 2010:  Marblehead and Swampscott parents with children aged between 6 and 11 are being encouraged to participate in this year’s Masonichip program which will be held at the Marblehead Community Center on Saturday, April 10, from 10am to 2pm.

The program, which is free, involves providing parents with an identification pack for each child which contains essential identification tools for use in the event that a child is missing or abducted.

“We know that the number of missing and abducted children is on the rise, both in the US and worldwide, said David Keiser, Junior Warden of the Philanthropic Lodge of Freemasons, “however the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children claims that Masonichip is one of the most comprehensive child recovery and identification programs available”.

The event involves parents signing a permission form for their child to participate and then going through a number of different stages where identification items, such as photographs, fingerprints and dental impressions are generated.  These are placed in a sealed bag and given to each child’s parents or guardian together with a safety education leaflet.

This year’s event is being organized by the Philanthropic Lodge of Freemasons, with support from the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor.  Further information about the Masonichip program can be obtained from David Keiser of the Masons on 781 639 9729 or Dan Hawthorne, Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor on 781 648 6570.  Information can also be found on the website: www.masonichip.org and in Massachusetts at www.mychip.org

 Complete Masonichip Identification packs include:

Mark your calendar: The third annual Star-Spangled Pops will be presented by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor on Saturday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. at Abbot Hall.

Maestro Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra will enthrall the audience with an evening’s “Salute to Broadway,” and Rebecca Kenneally will be the featured soloist. May 15 is also Armed Forces Day, and the men and women of our military and their families will be honored at this fabulous Star-Spangled musical evening celebrating American life.

Floor-table tickets will be available by mail-in reservation only, and the form will appear in the April 15 issue of the Marblehead Reporter.

Mail in Ticket Form for Floor Table Tickets

 Balcony tickets will be found at the Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St., and the National Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant St., after April 15.

Watch the Reporter and MHTV for more information.

Mark your calendar: The third annual Star-Spangled Pops will be presented by the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor on Saturday, May 15, 7:30 p.m. at Abbot Hall.

Maestro Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra will enthrall the audience with an evening’s “Salute to Broadway,” and Rebecca Kenneally will be the featured soloist. May 15 is also Armed Forces Day, and the men and women of our military and their families will be honored at this fabulous Star-Spangled musical evening celebrating American life.

Floor-table tickets will be available by mail-in reservation only, and the form will appear in the April 15 issue of the Marblehead Reporter. Balcony tickets will be found at the Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St., and the National Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant St., after April 15.

Watch the Reporter and MHTV for more information.