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What to know about Tuesday's big dam vote in Ipswich
Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here.
My condolences to any readers who were hoping to wait it out until Memorial Day to switch on the air conditioner. It’s about to get hot.
We’ll see highs in the mid-to-high 80s today through Thursday. Some Massachusetts communities might even hit 90. Meteorologist Danielle Noyes has more here on the heat moving in — as well as an early look at Memorial Day weekend’s weather. Now, to the news:
Not another dam pun: Ipswich residents are voting today on whether to remove the North Shore town’s historic Ipswich Mills Dam. As WBUR’s Katie Cole reports, the debate has pitted those who want to preserve the dam’s history against those who say it’s obsolete.
- “Free the river”: Most dams in New England no longer serve their original purpose, and now actually have negative environmental effects. They pose flooding risks and make it harder for fish to migrate. Plus, supporters of removing the Ipswich dam say the proposal would restore rare freshwater tidal wetlands.
- “Save the dam”: Fans of the centuries-old dam say it acts as a reminder of Ipswich’s industrial roots, while giving residents a place to skate and paddle in its mill pond. They’re pushing for (costly) removal alternatives, like a better fish ladder.
- The big picture: Massachusetts has more than 3,000 dams, and removing them has become a big part of the state’s climate change resiliency plan, primarily to prevent floods.
- What’s next: Today’s vote is non-binding, but serves as a temperature check on local opinion for the Ipswich Select Board, which has final say on whether or not to remove the dam.
Heads up: President Biden is coming to Boston this afternoon, following a speech in Nashua. While it appears he’s taking the chopper down from New Hampshire, there could still be some traffic disruptions during the afternoon commute as the president’s motorcade moves from Logan (where he’ll land) to a campaign event in the city.
- What to expect: Boston police say various streets will be closed around Logan Airport, Back Bay and the Seaport District between noon and 8 p.m. Drivers should be ready for potential delays. Pro-Palestinian activists are also planning a protest outside of South Station around 3:30 p.m.
- In related news: The first edition of our new weekly Mass. Politics newsletter launched yesterday, with a helpful calendar of key Election 2024 dates and deadlines to keep in mind. Sign up here to get the newsletter in your inbox every Monday at noon.
Across town: The head of GBH News is stepping down. After four years, general manager Pam Johnston will leave Boston’s other public radio station at the end of the month. While GBH says Johnston oversaw a digital expansion that boosted its audience, her departure also follows an investigation into newsroom culture last fall. (The Boston Globe reported the probe found no evidence of bullying, but Johnston did apologize and commit to improving the culture.)
- Like many other news organizations (including WBUR), GBH faces financial challenges and has warned of potential layoffs.
Goodbye, fishbowls and sticky floors: Local sports bar chain Tavern in the Square has permanently closed its popular Allston location after over 12 years. The restaurant group, which announced the news yesterday on Instagram, did not give a specific reason for the closure. The spot has been a longtime favorite of local college kids and 20-somethings in the neighborhood.
- Zoom out: Tavern in the Square has been in expansion mode in the New England suburbs, with plans to open at least three more locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. (As of now, they have 14 locations.)
Preserving history: Danvers residents voted last night to force the private owner of the Ingersoll Tavern to make repairs to the historic building. The 350-year-old building played a role in both the Salem Witch Trials and American Revolution, but has fallen into disrepair since being purchased by its current owner in 2011.
- Danvers Town Meeting passed the bylaw — which prohibits the “demolition by neglect” of homes on the National Register of Historic Places — by a resounding 130-0 vote.
P.S.— The Celtics begin the Eastern Conference Finals series against the upstart Indiana Pacers tonight at TD Garden with a trip to the NBA Finals — and revenge for that in-season tournament loss — on the line. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. (If you’re going to the game, heads up that MassDOT is closing the southbound I-93 tunnel overnight at 11 p.m.)
