'Racist, Hate-Filled' Protests Condemned In Swampscott: PM Patch

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Today is Wednesday, Nov. 11. These are the stories Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts.

The Swampscott Select Board spoke out against protesters in the town brandishing "the Confederate flag, other intolerant and racist signs, and a megaphone spewing hate" in a condemnation of what they called some of the persistent and often-confrontational rallies of recent months.

The Select Board members said in a joint statement Wednesday that while they welcome political speech in the town common "there is nothing normal — or acceptable — in these protesters' rhetoric."

"It is racist, hate-filled and ignorant," the statement said. "It is unwelcomed in our town."

Read the full story here.

Also on the North Shore

Reliving History At Beverly's Cabot Theater As It Turns 100

The Cabot Street Cinema Theater opened nearly 100 years ago as a response to a nation in crisis.

The country was slowly recovering from the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. Troops were returning home from the ravages of World War I. It was a country full of pain, political division and social detachment.

"It's something I think about almost every day," Cabot Executive Director J. Casey Soward told Patch. "The timing of the Cabot's original opening was the result of the flu of 1918. They built theaters then to bring people back out in public after a war and a pandemic. We think of this as a crazy time. That was even more of a crazy time."

Danvers High Senior Honored With MASS Superintendent's Award

Danvers High is celebrating one of its students who was recently recognized as the recipient of a MASS Superintendent Association Academic Excellence Award.

Catherine Sadie Nemeskal received her award from Danvers Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lisa Dana and Danvers High Principal Dr. Jason Colombino.

Salem Schools Give Entry Tour With Students Set To Return Monday

As Salem students in the youngest grades — as well as sixth graders, ninth graders and some vocational students — prepare to head back to in-classroom learning next week for the first time since school buildings closed in March, school leaders are trying to help with videos showing students and parents what to expect when they arrive for opening day starting Monday.

Peabody Schools To Remain Hybrid Despite State Push For Full Day

Peabody Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala said district schools will likely remain in a hybrid learning model amid rising coronavirus rates despite the state's call last week to bring more students back to full-time, in-classroom learning.

Vadala told Patch on Tuesday that request is not feasible in the district based on the recommendations for at least 6 feet of social distancing, and that plans are to keep Peabody in the hybrid system he said has been "fairly successful" for nearly two months.

Across Massachusetts

MA Preparing For Field Hospitals As COVID Hospitalizations Surge

Massachusetts is preparing to bring back field hospitals as the state makes plans to handle the rising number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and worsening virus trends that Gov. Charlie Baker said show "no signs of changing."

Pike Wrong-Way Driver Critically Hurt After Crashing Into Ambulance

Four people were rushed to the hospital after a wrong-way driver crashed into an ambulance on the Massachusetts Turnpike early Wednesday morning.

Massachusetts State Police said a trooper spotted the driver going west, speeding andweaving in and out of traffic on the eastbound side of the Pike just after 3 a.m. in Newton.

Human Bones Unearthed At Winchester Home

Human bones were found buried in the yard of a Winchester home on Thursday afternoon.