Small Brewery Sunday, Football Tradition Missed: Patch Weekender

BEVERLY, MA — Hope everyone on the North Shore is enjoying some nice weather this Sunday ahead of an expected stormy start to the week and December.

Here are some good reads you may have missed amid all the Thanksgiving preparation and feasting the past days:

MA Craft Brewers Pour Their All Into Making It Through Winter

For Justin Negrotti, and his fellow owners of Channel Marker Brewing of Beverly, the business of operating the craft brewery and tap room has gone from month to month, to week to week, now down to day to day checking weather forecasts and gauging viability for patio seating as temperatures drop amid the coronavirus health crisis.

Negrotti told Patch that sales have actually been up seven percent for the two-year old brewery this year despite the pandemic as Channel Marker has nimbly hedged its new canning operation, shifted toward sour beers from its traditional New England IPAs and secured a license to serve hot dogs to fulfill the state's food-purchase requirement for on-site consumption when a catering company or other food service is not available.

"These are the cards we've been dealt," said Negrotti, who owns Channel Marker along with business partners Tim Corcoran and Jake Crandell. "We have to roll with the punches. We have as many hedges in place as we can."

A Massachusetts Thanksgiving Football Tradition Interrupted

Because of the coronavirus health crisis, and the postponement of the season toat least late February, the quintessential New England experience that is Thanksgiving morning high school football did not happen in Massachusetts in 2020.

So, for the first time in his life, Beverly High coach Andrew Morency was planning to cook a turkey.

"It's definitely surreal," Morency said of not preparing his team to face Salem on Thanksgiving morning this year. "It is something that you can probably not prepare for as much as you think you can."

Proposed MBTA Weekend Service Whack Worries North Shore

The potential elimination of weekend commuter rail service to the North Shore — and its effect on tourism next spring and summer as conoranvirus concerns possibly ease due to vaccines and other therapies — was a main debate topic at the MBTA's "Forging Ahead" virtual public meeting Tuesday night to discuss drastic proposed budget-related cuts to the region's services.

Both Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) and Rep. Brad Hill (R-Ipswich) both also asked if some of the proposed cuts could be modified in the short term to include at least one route per weekend day and one later-night service for workers who have no other way to get in and out of Boston with the current proposal to stop weeknight service at 9 p.m.

Several people offering comment worried those looking to get out and about in the nicer weather months from now will bypass the North Shore without weekend rail service.

Salem Star Athlete Earns One Of 5 NE Triple-Impact Scholarships

A Bishop Fenwick senior from Salem is in some select company after earning one of five scholarships across New England for her leadership on and off the track.

The Positive Coaching Alliance chose Benoit as one of five recipients out of 15 finalists for the $1,000 award. She was honored at a virtual ceremony on Nov. 19.

Beverly Police To Hold Toy Drive In Honor Of Late Officer

The Beverly Police Department will honor a late member of the department with a toy drive to benefit North Shore children in need this holiday season.

Beverly police will hold the Sean R. Connolly Memorial Toy Drive on Dec. 12 at the North Beverly Plaza from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Essex North Shore To Go Fully Remote Learning After Thanksgiving

Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School will go to fully remote learning for the two weeks following Thanksgiving because of coronavirus concerns.

Salem Letter Campaign Aims To Comfort Seniors This Holiday Season

Salem residents can do their part to remind isolated seniors someone is thinking about them during the holidays this year.