A hallmark of Summer on the North Shore! The Thursday night picnic concerts at Castle Hill - Crane Estate - in Ipswich, MA. This year's line-up looks fantastic with everything from the feel good vibes of Entrain to the 60's beats of Help! to our very own Orville Giddings and the country sounds of Herland Brothers and everything in between! Full details on Castle Hill Thursday Night Picnic Series 2017 here.

First the bad news - in New England 2016, there were 164 boating injuries and 37 boating fatalities – shocking statistics by any measure.

The good news – a primary goal for the US Coast Guard Auxiliary is to reduce this toll - a key element of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary mission is a focus on Recreational Boating Safety.  We provide instruction to boaters at all levels, from the basics to the advanced.  Our classes are taught by experienced and knowledgeable instructors committed to the highest standards of the U.S. Coast Guard.  

ABS - this beginner boating class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a boat license or safety certification in many states. Many boat insurance companies will offer discounts on boating insurance to boaters who successfully complete About Boating Safely.

Within this course, subjects range from a basic boating introduction through safety equipment, typical problems, trailering, fishing, navigation, river boating and boating laws.*

Starting June 19, this course will be delivered in 4 * 2 hour Monday evening classes – right now there are still a few places available at $50 / per person.  If you would like to register, 

– contact Justin Wright at uscg.aux.ipswich.ma@gmail.com

  *  For more course information http://www.cgaux.org/boatinged/classes/2011/abs.php
 **  For the Ipswich Bay Yacht Club location flyer click here
***  For more information on USCG Auxiliary http://www.cgaux.org/

Parades! Concerts! Fiestas! Sails! Many towns on the North Shore are celebrating with day-long, or week-long events to kick off summer and celebrate our independence. Here's a short list of local towns with links to their full event schedules for 4th of July. 

Amesbury Days    
Beverly Farms
Boston Harborfest
Burlington
Cape Ann
Danvers Family Festival
Gloucester
Hamilton
Haverhill
Ipswich
Lannon Fireworks Sail
Marblehead Fireworks & Illumination
Newburyport Rhythm & Roots
Rockport
Salem
Salisbury Beachfest
Swampscott
Wenham
West Beach Illumination Dedication
Wilmington

Please check with towns for any possible date/location/time changes. This list is subject change.

Where will you celebrate your independence?

This list will be updated periodically as we get closer to the first weekend of July. 

Important! This list could be a moving target, especially in the case of inclement weather. Check with town websites to confirm locations/dates/times. North of Boston towns, closer to the North Shore are highlighted below.

A
Acton 7/1/2017 9:00 PM Behind Nara Park – 25 Ledge Rock Way ( Rain Date 7/2/2017)
Agawam 7/4/2017 9:15 PM Town Common (No Rain Date)
Amesbury 7/3/2017 9:00 PM Woodsom Farm – 223 Lions Mouth Rd. (Rain Date 7/7/2017)
Andover 7/3/2017 Dusk Andover High School - 80 Shawsheen Road
Attleboro 7/3/2017 9:20 PM Parking lot at Cyril Brennan MS – Rathbun Willard Drive (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Arlington 7/4/2017 10:30 PM Robbins Park: *Fireworks broadcast on the Big Screen
Auburn 6/29/2017 9:30 PM Pappas Recreation Complex – 203 Pakachoag St.
Ayer 7/1/2017 9:00 PM Pirone Park – 36 Bligh Street 7/2/2017

B
Bellingham 7/4/2017 9:00 PM Bellingham H.S. – 60 Blackstone Field
Beverly 7/4/2017 9:00PM West Beach  Fee to enter West Beach
Boston 7/4/2017 10:30 PM Hatch Shell on the Esplanade
Burlington 7/4/2017 9:00 PM View from Burlington Town Common or Simonds Park

C
Carlisle 6/25/2017 9:30 PM Baseball Field – Church Street (Rain Date 7/8/2017)
Chatham 12/31/2017 Midnight Oyster Pond (No Rain Date)
Chicopee 7/1/2017 9:30 PM Szot Park – Front Street 7/2/2017
Conway 6/16/2017 9:00 PM Field across from 59 Shelburne Falls Rd (Rain Date 6/17/2017)

D
Dalton 6/2/2017 10:00 PM Legion Grounds – E. Deming Street
Dalton 6/3/2017 10:00 PM Legion Grounds – E. Deming Street
Dighton 6/3/2017 10:00 PM Rear of Dighton Town Hall – 979 Somerset Ave.
Dedham 6/17/2017 9:15 PM Memorial Field – Eastern Avenue

E
East Harwich 7/4/107 9:15 PM 3 Barges off Wequassett Inn – On Pleasant Bay (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Edgartown 7/4/2017 9:15 PM Edgartown Harbor – Oak Bluffs Ave. (Rain Date 7/5/2017) 

F
Falmouth 7/4/2017 Dusk Falmouth Heights Beach
Fitchburg 6/18/2017 10:00 PM Coolidge Park Baseball Field – 1000 John Fitch Highway
Fitchburg 7/3/2017 10:00 PM Rollstone Hill – access from Pratt Road 
Florence 6/24/2017 Dusk Look Memorial Park – 300 N. Main St. (Rain Date 6/25/2017)
Foxborough 6/10/2017 9:00pm 9:00 PM Army Field – South Street (Rain Date 6/11/2017)
Freetown 7/3/2017 9:30 PM Hathaway Park – Carleys Way

G
Granby 6/10/2017 9:00 PM Dufresne Park – 32 Kendall Street (Rain Date 6/11/2017)
Greenfield 7/1/2017 9:30 PM Poet’s Seat Tower – Mountain Road (Rain Date 7/2/2017)
Gloucester 7/3/2017 8:30 PM Fort Area – Stage Fort Park – 1 Hough Ave. (Rain Date 7/7/2017)

H
Halifax 7/1/2017 9:00 PM Halifax Elementary School Field (Rain Date 7/2/2017)
Hamilton 6/25/2017 4-9pm Patton Park Bay Rd & Asbury St (Rain date 6/26/2017)
Hanover 6/24/2017 9:00 PM Ball fields behind Center School – 65 Silver Street
Harvard 7/3/2017 9:15 PM Fruitlands Museum – 102 Prospect Hill Rd. (Rain Date 7/7/2017)
Haverhill 7/3/2017 9:15 PM Riverside Park – 163 Lincoln Avenue (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Holyoke 6/30/2017 9:15 PM MacKenzie Stadium – 500 Beech St.
Hyannis 7/4/2017 Dusk Lewis Beach (Rain Date 9/2/2017)
Hull 6/24/2017 9:30 PM Barge off Nantasket Beach – 109-125 Main Street

L
Lexington 7/3/2017 8:30 pm - 10:00 pm Center Field, Lexington
Lincoln 7/4/2017 9:15 PM Codman Field – Ballfield Road (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Lowell 7/4/2017 9:00 PM Pedestrian Walkway – Aiken Street (Rain Sate 7/5/2017)
Lynn 7/3/2017 9:00 PM Barge near Red Rock – 76 Marine Blvd. (Rain Date 7/6/2017)

M
Marblehead 7/4/2017 8:45:P.M. Fireworks and Illumination – Marblehead Harbor 188 Washington St.
Marion 7/2/2017 9:20 PM The Kittansett Club – 11 Point Road (Rain Date 7/3/2017)
Mashpee 6/30/2017 9:30 PM Mashpee H.S. – 500 Old Barnstable Rd
Mashpee 7/2/2017 9:30 PM Golf Course – 20 Red Brook Road 
Mashpee 7/4/2017 Dusk Willowbend Country Club – 130 Willowbend Drive
Methuen 7/2/2017 9:15 PM Barge on Merrimack River – Riverside Drive (Rain Date 7/7)
Middleton 6/24/2017 9:20 PM Town Transfer Station – Natsue Way (Rain Date 6/25/2017)
Milton 6/24/2017 10:15 PM 2 Barges in Neponset River – 1 Granite
Monson 6/24/2017 9:15 PM Quarry Hill School – 43 Margaret St. (Rain Date 6/25/2017)

N
Nahant 7/4/2017 9:00 PM Bailey’s Hill Park – Bass Point Road
Nantucket 7/3/2017 9:30-10 Jetties Beach (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Needham 7/3/2017 9:30 PM Needham HS Parking Lot, Admiral Gracy Dr (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
New Bedford 7/3/2017 9:00 PM Jetties Beach Barge – 7 Fish Island (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
North Andover 7/3/2017 9:30 PM Hayes Stadium – 495 Main Street (Rain Date 7/8/2017)
North Reading 7/4/2017 9:30 PM Ipswich River Park – 8 Central Street
Northampton 6/24/2017 9:15 PM Look Park Gazebo Area – Look Park Service Road 6/25/2017
Northbridge 6/30/2017 9:00 PM Lasell Field – 171 Linwood Avenue
Norton 6/17/2017 9:00 PM Norton High School – 66 West Main St.

O
Ogunquit, ME 7/4/2017 9:15 Beach Street – main beach (Rain date 7/5/2015)
Onset 7/1/2017 Dusk Onset Beach & Bay (Rain Date 7/8/2017)
Orleans 7/2/2017 Dusk Rock Harbor (Rain Date 7/6/2017)

P
Pepperell 7/1/2017 9:30 PM Nissitissit Middle School – Chase Ave. (Rain Date 7/2/2017)
Pittsfield 7/4/2017 9:30 PM Pittsfield Cemetery Property – 105 Wahconah St. (Rain Date 7/8/2017)
Pittsfield 7/21/2017 9:30 PM Pittsfield Cemetery Property – 105 Wahconah St. (Rain Date 7/29/2017)
Provincetown 7/4/2017 9:00 PM MacMillan Pier

Q
Quincy 6/10/2017 9:00 PM Pageant field Boat Landing – Vietnam Veterans Drive

R
Randolph 7/3/2017 9:30 PM Randolph HS baseball field – 70 Memorial Parkway (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Reading 6/17/2017 9:00 PM Baseball field at the Reading Memorial High School – 62 Oakland Road (Rain Date 6/11/2017)

S
Salem 7/4/2017 5:00-10:00 PM Derby Street, Derby Wharf
Salisbury 6/24/2017 9:30 PM Salisbury Beach (Rain Date 6/25/2017)
Salisbury 7/4/2017 9:30 PM Salisbury Beach (No rain date)
Salisbury 7/8/2017 9:30 PM Salisbury Beach (Rain Date 7/9/2017)
Salisbury 7/22/2017 9:30 PM Salisbury Beach (Rain Date 7/24/2017)
Salisbury 7/29/2017 9:30 PM Salisbury Beach (Rain Date 7/30/2017)
Sandwich 7/3/2017 9:00 PM Ridge Country Club – 70 Country Club Road
Sandwich 7/4/2017 9:00 PM Old Town Cemetery – Grove Street (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Sandwich 7/14/2017 9:30 PM Town Fair - 365 Quaker Meeting House Road  
Sandwich 12/31/2017 8:00 PM Sanwich Villag
Somerville 6/29/2017 9:15 PM Trum Field – Franey Road (Rain Date 7/8/2017)
South Hadley 7/3/2017 9:30 PM 100 Mosier Street (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Swampscott 7/3/2017 No further details available 

T
Turners Falls 7/29/2017 9:00 PM Franklin County Boat Club – Unity Park 

U
Upton 6/24/2017 10:00 PM Front field at Nipmuc Regional H.S. – Pleasant Street (Rain Date 6/25/2017)
Uxbridge 7/8/2017 9:00 PM McCloskey M.S. – 62 Capron Street 

W
Waltham 7/4/2017 9:00 PM Leary Field – 19 Athletic Field Road (Rain Date 7/5/2017)
Walpole 7/3/2017 9:30 PM Launched from the center pool area on School St.
Ware 6/24/2017 9:00 PM Ware High School – 4 Gould Road 
Webster 6/24/2017 9:00 PM Webster Lake – Memorial Beach Hillside Ave. (Rain Date 6/25/2017)
Wenham 6/25/2017 4-9pm Patton Park Bay Road & Asbury St (Rain date 6/26/2017)
Westborough 6/10/2017 9:00PM 2 Barges on Chauncy Lake – Chauncy Street Boat Ramp
Wilmington 7/2/2017 9:30PM – Wilmington Town Common (Rain Date 7/3/2017)
Winchester 6/3/2017 9:00 PM Manchester Field – 458 Main Street (Rain Date 6/4/2017)
Winthrop/Boston 7/4/2017 from Yacht Northern Lights 60 Rowes Wharf, Boston 8pm 617-951-2460
Woburn 6/17/2017 10:00 PM DPW Yard off N. Warren St. – North Warren Street
Worcester 6/25/2017 9:00 PM Worcester Country Club – 2 Rice Street (Rain Date 7/9/2017)
Worcester 6/30/2017 9:00 PM Bell Hill – 170 Belmont Street (Rain Date 7/1/2017)

Y
Yarmouth 10/8/2017 8:00 PM Seaside Festival - Seagull Beach, South Yarmouth

Click here for the MBTA's alternate weekday and weekend commuter rail service plans for the North Shore. 

Have you seen Windhill Builders' latest project? Coming soon...Waterfront dreams at Peach's Point in Marblehead. Windhill Builders is very proud to be selected as the builder for this new and very exciting project!  The scope will entail renovating this turn-of-the-century, once seasonal home and making it into a year-round residence for its new owners. This major, whole-house renovation including mechanicals, siding, kitchen, baths and much more is sure to be a remarkable transformation. Peach's Point, also known as Peaches Point, holds some fascinating history. The Fourth of July celebrations, tea parties and croquet tournaments where President Taft once summered are easy to conjure. Pam Peterson of Wicked Local penned a great "Marblehead 101" article. Marblehead Magazine also published a very in-depth look into the Peach family as one of the founding families of Marblehead. Follow the project and watch the transformation on the Windhill Builders Facebook Page. View our portfolio at www.WindhillBuilders.com.

Can exchange of emails and text messages create a binding and enforceable agreement? A million years ago, sitting in my real estate law class, I can still hear my professor professing that in order for a contract to be enforceable, it must be signed. But that was long before smart phones, texting and even emails. Today's technology has colored some areas grey. Justin Davidson of the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® give us the real deal on texting and whether or not it can get you in a (legal) bind.

Just a sampling of the masterpieces! Artist's reception Saturday, May 13th 9am-12pm!

Local Color; Spring’s answer to Autumn’s Illumination. Saturday, April 29, Downtown Ipswich & Riverwalk

2-5 p.m. Family Friendly Events & Activities

Mandala coloring station and art gallery featuring masterpieces by Ipswich elementary students. Cast your vote for Viewer’s Choice and free raffle for water color by local artist Kathy Gallant. Windhill Realty - 16 Market Street

FANtastic SpinArt: Add paint to a spinning fan motor with the blades removed to create a colorful and unique design on a paper plate.

ColorForms: People can create their own magnetic design for display on the Ipswich ReCreation trailer, a concept that imitates the vinyl, re-stickable playset made famous in the 1950s. 

Three Ring SpiroGraph Circus: Produce a series of geometric shapes that combine to form a creative design. Once the Spirograph is made, it will be turned in to a button for people to wear for the day. 

LightBright - In the spirit of the classic game of the same name, patrons will create their own peg art on an oversized board which will be backlit to reveal their design.

Paper Chain: Make paper chain links in one long continuous community paper chain. The world record for longest paper chain is 15 miles, so while Ipswich might not get there, Bates feels it is a lofty goal to set. 

Jackson Pollock Public Painting Party: Pollack, a famous abstract painter from the 1940s and 1950s, became fascinated with the paint residue on his drop cloth, in essence the unintentional painting created while painting. A giant drop cloth will be set up on the River Walk so the community can create its own Pollack splatter painting by splashing whatever color they choose anywhere, anyhow on the surface.

Name of the Game is Color Mixing: Combine different paints to create a unique color. People will name their color, and Tedford’s will have a contest to see which color is purchased the most over the coming year 

Ipswich Soda Pop Taste Testing: Kids can try all the wonderfully pigmented soft drinks created by the Ipswich Brewing Company and vote for their favorite.

Flower the Footbridge: a giant rainbow balloon arch created by Ipswich Flowers will welcome people to the River Walk. 

The following events are, all within walking distance of the River Walk:

Mandala coloring station and art gallery: featuring masterpieces by Ipswich elementary students. Cast your vote for Viewer’s Choice and free raffle for water color by local artist Kathy Gallant. Windhill Realty - 16 Market Street

High Spirits & Robin Eggs: 12 dozen plastic blue robin eggs will be scattered around the statue “High Spirits” located on the North Green. Each egg will be filled with a scroll of poetry and small bag of wildflower seeds. People are encouraged to toss the seeds into local fields so that when the flowers bloom, bursts of color will pop up throughout town.

Dow Arts Block Printing: Create a block printing project in the style of Arthur Wesley Dow at the Zodiac Paint Store. Dow was an influential painter who owned an art school in late 19th century Ipswich and influenced such talents as Georgia O’Keefe. 

Color Me Beautiful: Betsy Frost Design provides face painting for the kids and offers a discount on all of her most colorful items in the store. In addition, Green Elephant Toys is having a sale on kites to bring to Sunday’s color blast at Crane’s Beach. 

Pop Culture at Nostos Boutique: Superhero-themed coloring pages for the kids and make-you-own comic book for the adults. 

Mid-Century Color: Lauren XXX, owner of Be Modern, is giving an informal lecture about the unique color styles of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Her showroom has been rearranged to demonstrate the styles of each decade. 

Ipswich Train Exhibit: “The Railroad in Ipswich” train display will be in its final weekend. The model is a scaled replica of the train and tracks that brought people and industry to Ipswich in 1914, and the exhibit features pictures and information about the railroad and the town in that time.  

The following are performances that will take place on and around the River Walk on Saturday:

Crane Beach Color Blast Sunday, April 30 from 1-3 p.m.

The Om Drum Circle will provide the rhythm for the day. 

Beach Bonfire, bring and fly a kites, blow bubbles, hoola hoops

All of us are very excited to welcome Andrea to our team! Andrea, a self-proclaimed "real estate junkie", brings an intense desire to combine her natural inclination to help people with her varied career skillset, the wealth of knowledge now by her side with team Windhill, and her excitement to be finally pursuing one of her dreams! You might recognize her from Doyon or Winthrop Elementary, Sullivan Insurance, Open Doors events, FRIES, or even Fidelity!  Get to know Andrea Della Valle by reading her full profile here.