THE FARMS FLYER rendering by John P. Margolis VOLUME XVII SPRING 2013 PUBLISHED BY THE BEVERLY FARMS IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY Written and edited by Natalie Crate, Cara Hutchins and Wendy Drinkwater BFIS KICKS OFF SPRING HALF-BAKED CAFÉ WITH NEW BOARD MEMBERS is fully baked and now OPEN! AND A NEW MISSION STATEMENT… The Board of BFIS conducted several strategic sessions this winter with the help of Jeffrey Horvitz. The purpose of these meetings was to review and refine the mission of the Society. As a result of the renewed mission statement, we have also recruited six new board members. Please join us in welcoming— Andrea Bray Debora Lunt Rayna Lesser Hannaway Jude Pearson Mary Harrington Lisa Van Allsburg Across from the fire station on West Street, the new bright pink and grey sign with a cupcake will lure you in. Once We are very excited by the depth of experience and passion for over the threshold, the dual-personality décor will give you a the Prides/Farms area they each bring to the board. taste of the unique flavor of Kelly and Tim Mackin, owners of Beverly Farms Improvement Society (BFIS) is a non-profit soon-to-open “Half-Baked” bakery. The updated bakery will organization dedicated to the betterment of the Farms area offer a selection of homemade breads, pastries, custom cakes of Beverly and Prides Crossing, Massachusetts. Friends of the and cupcakes. In keeping with the theme, there will also be Beverly Farms Improvement Society is a non-profit 501(c) freshly prepared foods for lunch (3) organization that serves as the fund-raising affiliate of the The kitchen will be filled with a combined 20-plus years of Beverly Farms Improvement Society. experience to guarantee that homemade equals delicious. With long-time bakers Sarah, John and, accomplished Founded as a social club in the 1950s by a group of Beverly executive chef, Craig White, assures a menu of homemade Farms residents, BFIS has evolved into an all-volunteer breakfast and lunch items promising “traditional options with organization seeking the betterment of its community. In the a twist”. In addition, borrowing expertise from Kelly’s sister, first year, the founding members purchased a landmark, two- of award-winning “Cakes by Erin” fame in Haverhill, Half- story brick building on West Street known as the Exchange Baked will be supplying nut-free custom cakes and cupcakes, Building which BFIS still owns. Over the years, the Exchange creating a unique niche. Flavors will be out of the ordinary so building has housed a tea house, gift shop and clothing store prepare to have your willpower tested. and is an important source of revenue for the organization. The Mackins worked closely with local designer, Marie McInnes, to create a unique interior reflecting both sides of MISSION STATEMENT the Half-Baked concept: Rustic & Refined. The “rustic” side We seek to preserve and enhance the Beverly Farms- of the bakery – or Tim’s half – is finished with reclaimed barn Prides Crossing community by supporting economic boards and includes an industrial-style bar counter, lighting vitality, beautification, landscape, streetscape, designing and rustic-chic table. The “refined” side – Kelly’s half – offers maintenance, and communication with the City of a black leather banquette with white tufted chairs and a Beverly, residents, local businesses and area merchants. striking and delicate porcelain-tiled white wall resembling frosting. Whether rustic or refined, you will be sure to find a comfortable seat. “Marie did an amazing job and was right BOARD OF DIRECTORS about everything,” Kelly beamed on opening day. Wendy Drinkwater- President Lisa Van Allsburg - Director Making the most of the property, Kelly plans to bring the Jeffrey Horvitz_ Vice President Rayna Lesser Hannaway – Director best of the bakery outdoors on warmer days, with a patio Cara Hutchins- Treasurer Jude Pearson –Director adjacent to the store. A swirl of chic is being added to West Street: stylish and mouth-watering Half-Baked will leave you Carole Bruce – Secretary Andrea Bray- Director wanting more. Marilyn Donati Director Debora Lunt- Director Half-Baked is open on Monday- Saturday from 7am to 6pm Mary Harrington, Director and Sundays from 8am to 3pm. WELCOME TO A “WELL-LIVED” LIFE. When Jeff Ferreira chose Beverly Farms as the home for his interior design business and new retail venture, he knew it would be a good fit. As a small town that displays its late 18th-century farming roots with an original marble horse trough at the main intersection, Surprise Birthday Party at the Hastings House for Beanie Drinkwater. Jeff recognized this area as epitomizing his store’s name and mission: Well-Lived. Given the capacity of old homes in the The unique attributes of the Hastings House make it the perfect area that owners have grown up in and fallen in love with, Jeff venue for any function. So why not host your next event with offers the opportunity to breathe new life into them – in one us? We offer a fully functional kitchen with 6-burner gas range fell swoop, or one step at a time. and oven; gym/function hall with capacity for 250; library/ meeting room and lounge; and a welcoming front porch Once he saw the space that formerly housed A. J. Callahan and courtyard for outdoor entertaining. With our highly and Sons, he knew exactly how to transform it to match his competitive rental rates, you can enjoy the convenience of creative vision. Now with handsome darkly stained wood having your next celebration at the Hastings House. $40/hour floors, a fresh coat of paint on the walls and a selection of for members; $60/hour for non-members. antique and newer furnishings as well as accessories inviting you inside, plumbing supplies are a distant memory. Become a member today at Specializing in traditional décor with contemporary touches, www.beverlyfarms.org/community. “Well-Lived” is opening its doors in early March.. Located next to J. McLaughlin on Hale Street, it will operate as a E-mail [email protected] curated boutique shopping experience offering a variety of for more information. price points. With regular hours Monday through Saturday, 14 Oak Street, 978-578-6008 10am-6pm, Jeff looks forward to welcoming you. As sole proprietor, Jeff has been working in interior design for over eight years in the western suburbs of Boston and across New England. With his design service expertise, he hopes to bring a fresh perspective to reflect a life that has been well lived. As a working space for the owner, customers are welcome to browse the rotating collection of unique accent pieces, furniture, carpets, or to inquire about customized interior design services from Jeff himself. He looks forward to repurposing what you may already own or reworking a space to make better use of it. As he says, “A room can be reinvented with a new color scheme or decorative accents. It doesn’t have to be a complete renovation to look I WANT YOU different.” With his wife Farms-Prides 4th of July and two children joining Auction & Party him in the store at times, Saturday, April 6th ~ 7:00pm Jeff looks forward to Hastings House, 14 Oak Street Help Support Over 100 Years of Tradition meeting new neighbors Ashley - 617-909-1385 • Rick - 978-922-6648 • www.beverlyfarms.org and making this retail space true to its name. Well-Lived is located DIX PARK UPDATE: at 721 Hale Street. Jeff can be reached at The Beverly Farms Improvement Society is looking forward 978-969-2454 or jeff@ to,working with the Commissioner of Public Works, Mike jferreiradesigns.com Collins, to finish the new Dix Park entryway. New parking, handicap accessible entry and new landscape. Stay tuned He’s planning on regular for more details in the spring! business hours of 10am- 6pm. Thank you for your support! COMMUNITY APPRECIATION DAY ON MARCH 23RD On March 23 the North Shore Community Baptist Church congregation will be giving back to our community. They plan to conduct: 1) A Spring clean-up of Dix park (pick up garbage, rake leaves, sweep courts, etc.) 2) Free car wash/vacuuming in the parking lot of the church 3) Tours of our shop called “Blessingdales” (all items are always free!) 4) Free paper shredding (truck will be on site) 5) Free metal recycling (any proceeds will be donated) 6) Filling the freezer in the firehouse with home-cooked BFIS designed, installed and maintains the wisteria covered arches iron meals and cookies arches that connect the library to West Street. 7) Construction project at Beverly Bootstraps 8) Provision of toiletries to Beverly Bootstraps Food Pantry THE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY In the event of inclement weather, we will reschedule the NEEDS YOU!!! Dix park project for 4/6. The other event (other than the car The Beverly Farms Improvement Society is a volunteer wash) will proceed as planned. What a great idea! Thank you organization that initiates, oversees and funds projects to to all participants! improve the town we call home. Through generous resident donations and the revenue from our building at 29 West HATS OFF TO… Street, BFIS is able to provide the community with Jeffrey Horvitz for the amount of time he spent facilitating Seasonal Plantings along West Street and hosting our strategic planning sessions. Thank you for Maintenance of West Street & Prides Crossing trash your invaluable insights! recepticals Don O’Connor for helping hang the holiday lights at the Fire Maintenance of library pathway, horse trough and war Station. memorial fountain Dix Park improvements: Rick Lord for his help with www.beverlyfarms.org and developing an online donation portal for the Improvement New Tennis Court, Basketball Court, Multipurpose Court, Society Perimeter track, expanded baseball field, new bleachers including new trees and thousands of new perennials with MaryBeth McBride for, once again, organizing the holiday more to come lights on West Street BFIS also pays for very costly, weekly maintenance of all Phil Klimowicz, Beverly’s City Arborist, for his help in and projects undertaken around the Farms.