US Senate Democratic Candidates’ Forum on October 18

North Andover’s Democratic Town Committee has organized a Candidates’ Forum for the four candidates for U.S. Senate, to be held at the Rogers Center of Merrimack College on Sunday, October 18 at 2:30 pm.  All four declared Democratic candidates will attend the event.  The candidates will take turns on stage, each having five minutes for comments and then another 25 minutes for questions from the audience.  Steven Pagliuca will speak first, at 3 pm, followed in succession by Attorney General Martha Coakley, at 3:30; Congressman Michael Capuano at 4:00; and Alan Khazei at 4:30.

Boxford’s Democratic Town Committee is a co-sponsor of this event.

For more information, contact Mark DiSalvo, 508-633-3282, mdisalvo@sema4usa.com or Caroline Louise Cole, 978-204-1382, caroline.louise.cole@gmail.com

Tri-Town represented at Labor Day rally

Several Boxford and Topsfield progressives were among the more than 4,000 citizens who rallied on Boston Common in support of health care reform on the Labor Day holiday, Monday, September 7.  Cherie Hoyt, former chair of Boxford’s Democratic Town Committee, and Marianne Rutter, current chair,  joined Boxford Board of Health member Louise Kress and Heidi Fox, a member of Topsfield’s Democratic committee,  at the gazebo on Boston Common to hear remarks by state Attorney General Martha Coakley and several members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation (including our own Congressman, John Tierney).  Lively musical entertainment from two different ensembles got the proceedings going, then testimony was offered by leaders from labor and health care services groups.  John Spears, newly appointed Director of Organizing For America’s Massachusetts chapter, concluded the hour-long program by presenting the Congressmen with thousands of support petitions from their constituents in their districts, urging them to support the President’s plan to reform health care in America. 

 

 The rally then marched to Copley Square, most participants holding and waving handmade signs to show their support for the health reform initiatives now being debated in Congress.

View Cherie Hoyt’s wonderful pictures of the event in her photo album on Facebook.

“Health Care Can’t Wait” Boston Labor Day Rally

Honor Senator Kennedy’s commitment and passion for health reform on Labor Day in Boston.
Boston is one of only five cities in the country that will hold large rallies in support of healthcare reform on Labor Day.  On Monday, September 7, we have a chance to make it clear that supporters of health reform far outnumber those who oppose it.  

LABOR DAY HEALTH REFORM RALLY

Sponsors:  Organizing for America – Massachusetts (OFA-MA), Health Care for America Now (HCAN), SEIU 615, Jobs with Justice, and many more

Location: Park Square, at the intersection of Arlington St., Columbus Ave. and Stuart St., near the Arlington T stop.

Time: 11am-1pm

Agenda will include:  a tribute to Senator Kennedy;  4 or 5 speakers, including Congressman Mike Capuano and Boston Mayor Tom Menino; musical entertainment; a send-off delivery of thousands of support declarations for health care reform to the Massachusetts Congressional delegation in attendance.  You can sign one there.
The rally will end with a march from Park Square to Copley Square.

Click here to SIGN UP NOW!

First Annual Strawberry Shortcake Social

As part of its regularly scheduled meetings, on Thursday, June 18, the Boxford Democratic Town Committee held its first annual Strawberry Shortcake Social at 7 pm in the Boxford Community Center (4 Elm St., across from the library).    Ten members of the committee attended the event.  Boxford’s delegation to the state convention in Springfield on June 6 reported on the convention, and there were  brief reports on other activities.

New date for May meeting

The next meeting of Boxford’s Democratic Town Committee will be held on Sunday, May 17 at 11 am at Wayne’s Community Store in East Boxford center.  It will be a breakfast meeting (BYOB – buy your own breakfast!) with a brief agenda of business.    Our special guests at this meeting will be the two Masconomet seniors who are doing their State House Internships as we speak.  We’ll have a chance to meet one of our interns,  Kenneth Sargent of Boxford, in person and get his impressions of the program, which our committee is sponsoring again this year.

The State Party Platform

This year’s Democratic convention in Springfield will occasion the ratification of a new state party platform. Like the one drafted before the Denver Democratic National Convention last summer, our state party platform is a statement of the party’s mission, goals and most important issues.

The process by which the platform is drafted, revised and eventually voted upon is an open one, but one not widely known or understood by most Democrats.  This year, greater outreach is planned so that more people participate in the process and voice their views on what the platform should contain.

Platform hearings have always been a crucial part of the process, but this year many more platform hearings are being planned to further democratize the early stages of platform development.  In our area, the 1st Essex-Middlesex Coalition will hold a platform hearing at Ipswich Town Hall on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 pm.  Anyone with an idea to express for the platform is welcome to attend and voice your views.  For more information, email platform drafting committee member Elizabeth Kilcoyne at elizabethkilcoyne@hotmail.com.

Next meeting scheduled

The next meeting of the Committee will be on Tuesday March 10 at 7 pm in the meeting room at the Boxford police station, 285 Ipswich Road.

Caucus scheduled in Boxford

Saturday, February 7 at 1:30 pm is the date and time, and the Boxford Community Center is the place, where Boxford’s registered Democrats are invited to their annual CAUCUS. The purpose of the annual caucus is to elect Boxford’s delegation to the state party convention, to be held in Springfield this year on Saturday, June 6.  Boxford will elect three delegates and two alternates to represent the town’s Democrats at the convention.

In addition to voting on party initiatives and break-out sessions for training and discussion, another special incentive has been added this year to the state convention’s agenda:  Obama campaign manager David Plouffe, part of the inner circle of Barack Obama’s election-campaign team, will deliver the keynote address at the convention.

The only requirements to vote in the caucus are residency in Boxford registration as a Democrat no later than December 31, 2008.  for more information, send email to mariannerutter@yahoo.com with your questions. 

A brief meeting of the Boxford Democratic Town Committee will follow the caucus.  Light refreshments will be served.

Plan to join us on February 7.

“Yes We Can!” Dance Party

The threat of an impending snowstorm didn’t dampen inaugural spirits  as about 50 people from towns all over the North Shore tripped the light fantastic at Boxford Town Democratic Committee’s third annual dance party on Saturday January 10, 2009 at the Gould Barn in Topsfield.  An inaugural theme graced this year’s event:  the committee borrowed “Yes We Can!”  from the Obama campaign slogan.  Live rhythm & blues music from “2120 Michigan Avenue” rocked the house — including several songs with lyrics adapted for the Obama presidency.  On the menu were items like Chicago-style hot dogs and cookies in the shape of the Democratic donkey.   Several attendees posed for pictures with The President-Elect — a life-sized stand-up likeness of Barack Obama.  The raffle of a museum-quality print of the rock legend BB King, donated by committee member and band leader Charles Sawyer of Boxford, was won by Sandra Skinner, also of Boxford.

The annual dance benefits ongoing community services of the Boxford Democratic Committee, involving youth outreach and civic engagement.

Iraq-Themed Movie and Discussion Series Held March 23 and 31

The Boxford and Georgetown Democratic Town Committees together hosted a movie and discussion series beginning with a screening of The Ground Truth on Friday, March 23 at the Georgetown High School Auditorium, with about 25 people in attendance, and followed by a unique event Saturday, March 31 at the Boxford Community Center.  Approximately 30 people attended this second event, a discussion on the Iraq War billed as a “Citizens’ Circle”, and yes, all participants physically sat in a circle to have a face-to-face conversation about their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to this war.  People of all ages attended, including at least one teenage boy who came with his father.  Many towns besides Georgetown and Boxford were represented as well, including Topsfield, Middleton, and Ipswich.

The discussion was mediated by local attorney, Anthony Adamoupolos with most all voices agreeing that the war was a mistake and that the United States’ troops should come home.  There were; however, many differing viewpoints on how and when the troops should be removed from Iraq.  Interesting discussion also ensued about the role of media in the public’s understanding of the war and issues surrounding it.

The event was videotaped by Brad Sweet, and can be seen on Boxford’s local cable outlet (channel 10).   U. S. Rep. John Tierney was aware of the event and had planned to participate in the circle discussion but ended up having to miss it due to last minute travel plans that could not be changed.  His office has since asked for a copy of the tape for the Congressman to review.

Through both events, the Boxford and Georgetown Democratic Town Committees have given our citizens opportunities for civic engagement about one of the most important national issues of our time on a local and personal level.  And our citizens are responding!