MA Curfew Backlash, Mail Voting Here To Stay: Patch Weekender

PEABODY, MA — Happy warm weekend on the North Shore.

With the Patriots off today, and early sunsets cutting down on afternoon raking time, here are some Patch stories across the North Shore you may have missed this week.

'Restaurants Are Not The Problem': New MA Curfew Reaction

When Gov. Charlie Baker announced Monday that all restaurants in the state will have to close at 9:30 p.m. starting Friday as part of his stay-at-home advisory amid a rise in coronavirus cases, Champions Pub of Peabody co-owner Kevin Houlden's feeling was more along the lines that it could have been worse.

"I figured it was going to be some type of restrictions," Houlden told Patch. "The tricky thing is if they shut down indoor dining entirely, and go back to 100 percent takeout, and go back to curbside, then you have to cut staff and reduce hours.

"That isn't good for anybody."

For other restaurants — and bars transformed into restaurants — the curfew will further hamper businesses that have been hit hard throughout the pandemic, with shifting restrictions on hours, capacity and what type of food people need to get to order alcohol.

"Restaurants are not the problem," Steve Clark, Massachusetts Restaurant Association Director of Government Affairs told Patch.

Peabody Election Praised; Mail-In Ballots Could Be 'Here To Stay'

Peabody City Clerk Allyson Danforth said she believes "mail-in ballots are here to stay" after what many considered a smooth election cycle despite a contentious presidential campaign and a pandemic.

Massachusetts allowed no-excuse, mail-in ballots for the first time in 2020 due to the coronavirus health crisis with many saying that the combination of mail-in voting, voter drop boxes, early voting for 14 days prior to Election Day allowed for lesser crowds and a hassle-free process on Tuesday.

Swampscott 2020 Election: 82 Percent Voter Participation

A record 6,816 early voters helped Swampscott to an 82 percent voter turnout as residents cast their ballot in the 2020 presidential election.

Swampscott Town Clerk Susan Duplin said an average of about 450 residents voted per precinct at the polls and "everything, thankfully, went smoothly."

She said the 82 percent turnout was virtually the same at the 2016 figure.

No More 'Snow Days' For Salem Public Schools

Snow days could be a thing of the past in Salem. At least for one winter.

Salem Superintendent of Schools Stephen Zrike said he plans to make a recommendation to the Salem School Committee to make any traditional "snow days" remote learning days in the district this school year.

Coronavirus Test Lab To Open At Liberty Tree, Northshore Malls

A coronavirus testing company is setting up shop at the mall.

QuestCap announced it will conduct COVID-19 testing at nine Massachusetts malls or outlets, including the Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers and the North Shore Mall in Peabody.

Winter MA School Sports Will Get A Shot With Modifications

New state guidance allows for interscholastic athletics this winter in most sports with what will likely be significant rules modifications because of the coronavirus health crisis.

Under the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental affairs guidelines released on Friday, all towns in step two of phase three of reopening will be allowed to play "higher risk" sports, such as basketball and ice hockey, games against schools from other towns under modifications to be determined.

Sports that are deemed to require a high degree of contact indoors — such as wrestling, competitive cheer and pairs figure skating — will be allowed only in-team practices among cohorts of less than 10.