TTC_01_20_21_Vol.17-No.13

Page 8 www.TheTownCommon.com
January 20, 2021
Community
Community Announcements,
from page 7
adaptability. It is smart, beneficial
and by its presence, gives
“wild” back to our wild lands.
Viewers will have an opportunity
to pose questions to the
presenter. The presenter, Chris
Schadler, M.S., Conservation
Biology, is a wild canidecologist
who has been involved in
wolf and coyote research for
more than 30 years. She is also
the NH/VT representative for
Project Coyote.
To register for this program,
send an email to parkerriver@
fws.gov and write “coyote program”
on the subject line. Be
sure to include your name in
the body of the email. This
program is being offered in
conjunction with the Merrimack
River Eagle Festival.
Online Lecture: Nature and
Wildlife Photography in Winter
– Tips, Tricks & Techniques
Sunday, February 14, 1:00 –
2:00 p.m.
Winter presents both challenges
and opportunities
for the nature and wildlife
photographer.This program
will provide an overview of
time-tested tools, tips, and
techniques for creating more​
successful images at a time of
year when many have stowed
their cameras away until the
arrival of warmer weather. Presenter
Matt Poole, who serves
as the visitor services manager
at Parker River NWR, is a passionate
outdoor photographer
and experienced instructor. To
register for this program, send
an email to parkerriver@fws.
gov and write “winter photography”
on the subject line. Be
sure to include your name in
the body of the email. This
program is being offered in
conjunction with the Merrimack
River Eagle Festival.
Town of Ipswich
Urges Continued
Vigilance as
COVID-19 Risk
Remains High
IPSWICH — Director of
Public Health Colleen Fermon
urges residents to remain
vigilant against the spread of
COVID-19 as the community
remains at high risk for the disease.
According to public health
data released on Thursday, Jan.
14, the Town’s designation remains
at “Red,” indicating a
“high risk” of spread in the
community. The average daily
incidence rate for the Town of
Ipswich is 55.9 per 100,000 residents,
up from 45.3 last week.
Ipswich officials report that
there are currently 84 active
cases of COVID-19 in the community.
There have been a total
of 477 cases in Ipswich since the
start of the pandemic.
Approximately 6.67% of
COVID-19 tests in the community
have been positive over
the past week, up from 5.7%
last week.
Residents are strongly encouraged
to avoid high risk activities,
especially indoor social gatherings,
and all Massachusetts residents
are under orders from the
Governor to wear masks at all
times while in public.
"We knew the winter season
would be a real challenge as this
pandemic wears on, and implore
everyone to do everything
they can to stop the spread and
stay healthy," Director Fermon
said. "Avoiding private, in-person
social gatherings is a big
step to reducing the spread, but
it's equally important that we all
continue wearing a mask, practicing
social distancing, washing
and sanitizing our hands regularly,
and staying home when
sick."
Residents are reminded to always
take the following precautions
to prevent further spread
of COVID-19 in the community:
• An infected individual can
spread COVID-19 before they
have symptoms, which is why
social distancing — maintaining
a minimum of 6 feet from
others — is critical.
• Those who must go out are
urged to:
• Avoid gathering in groups
• Maintain 6 feet from people
outside your household
• Do not shake hands or hug
• Wash your hands often
• Those who are at a high risk
for COVID-19, including those
over the age of 65 and with underlying
health conditions, are
advised to stay home and avoid
non-essential tasks and errands
• Wear a mask in indoor and
outdoor spaces at all times.
• Face coverings should:
• Cover the nose and mouth
• Fit snugly and comfortably
against the side of the face
• Be secured with either ties or
ear loops
• Permit breathing without
difficulty
• Be able to be washed and
machine dried without damage.
Face masks should be washed
regularly depending on the
amount of use.
Rowley Police
Announce
Closure of Glen
Street and Glen
Street Bridge
ROWLEY — Glen Street and
Glen Street Bridge are closed to
traffic until further notice.
The Rowley Highway Department
has closed the bridge
due to unsafe conditions. Glen
Street will be closed from Newburyport
Turnpike (Route 1)
to Hillside Street to all traffic
except residents until necessary
repairs can be made.
Motorists are asked to seek an
alternate route until further notice.
An exact day for the repairs
to start has not yet been determined,
but could begin as early
as this week.
“How Can I Keep
From Singing?”
Newburyport
Choral Society
Announces
Online Spring
Music Series
NEWBURYPORT – After
a very successful venture into
a virtual music program offered
on Zoom this past Fall,
the Newburyport Choral Society
(NCS) has announced
its Spring virtual music series
“How Can I Keep from Singing?”
The weekly sessions are
open to all who are interested
in learning a variety of choral
music and good vocal techniques,
and interacting with
contemporary composers and
conductors on current topics in
the world of choral music. The
music series begins on Tuesday,
February 2nd, and runs weekly
through May 4th, 2021. Each
of the thirteen 90-minute sessions
starting at 7:30 p.m. via
Zoom.
“Our Fall music series taught
us much about remaining positive,
searching for possibility in
a very challenging situation, and
staying connected as a musical
organization,” says NCS President
Mary Ann Lachat. “Our
Spring music series will continue
this musical connection, and
offer a virtual program that reflects
input from Fall program
participants.”
There will be lots of singing
opportunities with music
ranging from Mozart’s Ave
Verum Corpus and Aaron Copland’s
At the River and Simple
Gifts, to contemporary
pieces such as Gerald Finzi’s
My Spirit Sang All Day, Ralph
Vaughan Williams’ Toward the
Unknown Region, and Sarah
Quartel’s arrangement of How
Can I Keep from Singing.
Choral selections will also include
music by African-American
composers including Undine
Smith Moore’s We Shall
Walk Through the Valley and
Margaret Bonds’ The Negro
Speaks of Rivers.
Participants will also learn
singing tips and techniques
from NCS Music Director
Ryan Turner. “What we try
to do is build a foundation of
‘the basics’ of proper singing—
from posture, to breathing, to
vowel quality and phrasing,”
says Turner. “Even though I
might not be able to ‘hear’
what people are doing, we are
creating a kind of ‘vocal technique
vocabulary’ that we can
use when we are able to safely
resume rehearsing together in
person.”
Additionally, several prominent
guest artists will lead a
number of interest sessions on
various topics. For example,
one artist will conduct a vocal
“master class.” Other artists
will explore themes of diversity,
community engagement, and
social justice in the world of
music.
NCS invites anyone in the
community to join us for the
Spring music series. “We have
people of all music experience
levels, as well as all ages from
high school age on up,” says
President Lachat. “It’s a wonderful
community of singers
who share the joy of singing and
learning together.
For details about how to register
online, as well as additional
details about the Spring music
series, visit: www.newburyportchoralsociety.org
Community Announcements,
page 9