Firefighters for a Day

Today is Thursday, April 11. Here are five things to know today in Peabody.

1. Patriots Day: City offices, public schools and libraries will all be closed for the holiday on Monday, and it's also School Vacation Week from April 15-19. Those soldiers from South Danvers who fell at the Battle of Lexington will be honored in official ceremonies once again, however, Monday morning. The ceremonies are sponsored by the Peabody Historical Society and begin at 8:40 a.m. at the Jacobs cemetery with the Danvers Alarm List, then head downtown to the Old South Burying Ground on Main Street at 9:20 a.m. and finally up to the Lexington Monument on Washington Street for a 10 a.m. service. The public is welcome to attend the events.
   
2. 70 Peabody High seniors shadowed city employees, elected officials and even local reporters for the 42nd Annual Student Government Day (or was it 81st?) yesterday. Retired teacher and local historian Andrew Metropolis says he has found a record of the first such event being held in Peabody in 1932, but it may be that the program has only been held consecutively for 42 years.
3. If only for a little foresight... Prior to the evening's mock City Council and School Committee sessions with students last night, Mayor Ted Bettencourt recalled how 21 years ago when he was a senior, he put forward a motion to his peers that was ultimately rejected -- a park at a vacant plot on Walnut Street. Today, he said, there stands a four-story apartment building. Addressing Ward Councilor Rico Mello in the audience, Bettencourt said, smiling: You wouldn't have let that happen in Ward 3, right Rico?"
4. Today is Career Day in the gym at Peabody High from 8:30-11 a.m. The event is an informal chance for underclassmen to stop and check out about 50 local businesses that have will exhibition booths set up for the morning.
5. Spring fling raffle: . Each day during the month of May one winner will be selected to win the prize noted on the calendar.  Each day is worth cash or prizes. The deadline to purchase calendars is April 26.

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