The Stories That Defined Danvers In 2020

DANVERS, MA — A year that brought unprecedented challenges to Danvers residents and small businesses also brought out the resolve and fighting spirit of the North Shore town.

As we all look forward to the hope of a brighter 2021, here are some of the stories of how Danvers battled through the coronavirus health crisis and social justice debates with innovation, resilience and a collective eye toward a better tomorrow.

Getting The Danvers High Band Back Together Again

The Danvers High marching band was gearing up for what was expected to be one of the biggest days of the year amid the storied history of the celebrated program.

In less than a month, the 80 members of the band were scheduled to march out on to the Fenway Park diamond and play the national anthem in front of nearly 40,000 fans at an April Red Sox game. It was to be one of the highlights of a spring season set to include a spring concert and, for some members of the band, proms, awards nights and graduations.

"Obviously, that didn't happen because baseball didn't happen," Danvers Band Director Jeff Daniels told Patch.

A Plea For Danvers Unity Amid 'Thin Blue Line' Flag Dispute

Danvers town leaders reaffirmed support for law enforcement, while pledging to create a better understanding for residents who feel marginalized, in a joint statement in September.

The statement came amid a persistent and often emotionally heated month-long debate over whether the 'thin blue line' flag should be allowed on town property.

"It has been an emotional and educational few weeks for our community, as we've discussed the meaning and power of symbols, how best to make our first responders feel supported, and how best to make every member of the Danvers community feel included," the joint statement said.

Danvers Catering Company Owner Creates Connection Amid Chaos

Colleen Boland achieved what she said was a "lifelong dream" in February when she took over Fresh Food Catering of Danvers after three years working for the company.

Over the next 10 months, the Beverly resident and Endicott College graduate turned what could have been a nightmare as a new small business owner amid the coronavirus health crisis into a continually evolving mission to stay connected to her customers and provide them with the food that makes them smile, while keeping her own new company viable in a drastically different landscape than she could have ever imagined.

"I was looking forward to making it a company of my own, changing it, pivoting in certain ways and doing some new things," she told Patch. "There is enough to learn starting a new business as it is. Putting this into it too added a whole lot of new things as well."

Danvers Restaurant Offers Toilet Paper With Takeout Orders

A Danvers restaurant tried to solve two problems at once by offering a free roll of toilet paper with every takeout order placed in early April amid the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Ron Supino's Facebook post about his restaurant's promotion drew immediate likes and cheers, as well as some predictable bathroom jokes.

A New Kind Of Familiar Feeling For Danvers Schools This Fall

It wasn't as much about the first day of school this year in Danvers as it was about the first days of school.

There was the first day of school that Danvers students reengaged in September — which was a day all students attended school remotely under the district's hybrid-learning system.

Then there was the first day of school that Thursday when Danvers welcomed students back in the buildings for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus health crisis in March when "Cohort B" was in the classroom.

The next Monday, there was yet another first day of school when "Cohort A" is set for in-classroom learning for the first time.

Danvers Coronavirus Update: Schools Offer Yoga As Anxiety Relief

Danvers Public Schools partnered with a former student to begin offering stress and anxiety relief amid the emerging coronavirus crisis to elementary school students and families through a yoga and mindfulness program.

Julie Campilio offered her first Zoom class last week and had 125 families register in April.

'Kind, Big-Hearted Person': Danvers Local Hero

Pamela Ames, who works in education in Danvers, was nominated for her dedication to bringing meals services and transportation to Danvers children and students during the coronavirus health crisis.

Danvers Holds Virtual 'Celebration Of Hope' Event

For the past five years, groups of Danvers students and residents have "lit the night purple" as part of a "Celebration of Hope" walk and ceremony in support of those battling, and recovering from, addiction.

Only this year, when some of those friends, classmates and neighbors needed support more than ever, the event typically held in May has to be first postponed, then canceled, due to the coronavirus health crisis.

In September, DanversCARES held a virtual "Celebration of Hope" to show that support until the group can gather and walk again.