Plenty Of Help Wanted All Across North Shore: Patch Weekender

SALEM, MA — Welcome to one really nice weekend — for a change — to launch August on the North Shore.

The weather is looking good for most of this week too, so that means great things for the return of Beverly Homecoming and Salem Heritage Days after coronavirus-related cancellations in 2020.

But while businesses gear up for what they hope will be a strong end to the summer and fall Halloween season in Salem, finding workers to meet demand remains a challenge for many.

Plus, Peabody Olympian Heather MacLean is set to run in the 1,500 at the Tokyo Games Sunday night and you can watch at an outdoor viewing party on the Leather City Common.

Catch up on those and other stories you may have missed on Patch this week as you wind down your Sunday and get ready for the next work week.

North Shore Workers Now In Demand Have Plenty Of Options

It's hard to drive anywhere along the North Shore these days without seeing those "Now Hiring" signs in window after window on block after block.

Bars, restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, garages, warehouses and landscaping companies are all vying for the same pool of employees who may have been out of work for months because of the coronavirus health crisis and who are now very much in demand.

And who will likely very much be in demand for the foreseeable future.

Opposition Remains As Proposed Peabody Generator Project Proceeds

Citizens and environmental advocacy groups opposed to the planned surge capacity generator at Peabody's Waters River substation are pressing their hopes of halting or altering the project even as the utility company pursuing the generator resumes the funding process through the state's Department of Public Utilities.

Federal Boost Helps Peabody Brewery Weather Coronavirus Impact

Some long-awaited help finally arrived for dozens of North Shore bars and restaurants that had struggled through the punishing coronavirus health crisis restrictions for more than a year when Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants were released late in the spring.

Peabody To Host Heather MacLean Olympic Outdoor Viewing Party

Peabody residents can come together and watch a hometown hero represent her country at the Tokyo Summer Games Sunday night when the city holds an outdoor viewing party at the Leather City Common to cheer on Heather MacLean in the 1,500 meters.

Younger Students, High-Risk Residents Urged To Mask Up In MA

Updated state guidance released Friday recommends — but does not require— unvaccinated students and fully vaccinated adults with a compromised immune system, or those who live with someone at heightened risk of severe coronavirus symptoms, mask up while indoors in response to the emerging highly contagious Delta variant.

Beverly Homecoming Poised For Triumphant Return

When the Beverly Homecoming Committee finally got the go-ahead to bring back the city showcase event this spring it was definitely go-time to make sure all the planning that typically takes place over a full year could be crammed into three months.

But the crazy rush of activity will all soon be worth it for those involved starting Wednesday when the five-day event kicks off in earnest with the traditional Lobster Festival and concludes Sunday night with fireworks over Lynch Park.

Salem Heritage Days Return To Witch City Starting Monday

In another welcome sign that things are approaching normal on the North Shore, Salem Heritage Days return for a week of activities in the Witch City.

The Heritage Days kick off with concerts at the Salem Willows shell starting Monday night and run through Aug. 8. The highlight of the week should be the Derby Wharf fireworks — canceled for the previous two Fourth of July celebrations.

Cabot Theater To Resume Full Schedule For First Time Since 2020

The Cabot Theater's slow return to life will kick into high gear in August with the resumption of a full indoor programming schedule for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus crisis forced it to close its doors in March 2020.

Swampscott Resident New Executive Director of Marblehead SPUR

Swampscott resident Lynne Krasker Shultz will guide the Marblehead-based community nonprofit SPUR as its new executive director.

The organization — whose mission is to create volunteer opportunities for North Shore residents to make an impact in Lynn, Marblehead, Salem and Swampscott — said Krasker Shultz will take over for founder Jocelyn Cook, who is remaining on the Board of Directors and will focus her efforts on fundraising and development.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)