Make a Scarecrow to Show Off Downtown and Ricey's Run This Week

Today is Monday, Oct. 7. Here's a look at the week ahead in Peabody.

1. The Painter's Pub is back at the Northshore Mall this week at Burtons Grill on Tuesday and then Scosso's on Thursday.
2. The School Committee meets Tuesday at the Kiley School (7:30 p.m.).
3. State Sen. Joan Lovely will be at the Danversport Yacht Club Wednesday morning to talk about small business in Massachusetts.
4. The City Council meets Thursday at City Hall. First up is the Industrial & Community Development Committee at 6 p.m. with more discussion on billboards, followed by the Public Services Committee (6:45 p.m.) to discuss water breaks on Gardner Street and the Finance Committee at 7:15 p.m. prior to the regular session at 7:30 p.m. Councilors will be discussing, among other items, a request from Mayor Ted Bettencourt to purchase the building at 16-20 Lowell St. for $180,000.
5. The annual college fair hosted by the Guidance Department at PVMHS is coming up Thursday and will include 140 representatives from universities, colleges, technical and vocational schools, the Armed Forces and others. Students and parents will have an opportunity to speak with the various representatives and get information on the college application process, admissions testing requirements and financial aid. Students and parents from surrounding communities are welcome to attend.
   
6. Oktoberfest: Wear your dirndl or lederhosen to Karl's Sausage Kitchen on Friday and you'll be entered into a raffle for a limited edition beer stein and a copy of "The Oxford Companion to Beer."
7. You can make your own scarecrow this weekend at Brooksby Farm from noon - 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. You bring the clothes for the stuffing, the farm provides the straw. Also bring a canned good with you to donate to Haven from Hunger (tuna fish, peanut butter, spaghetti or sauce). You can also pick your own pumpkin and go for a hayride.
8. And once you've made your straw man, bring him down to the Peabody Institute Library on Saturday for the Scarecrow Contest hosted by the Peabody Downtown Association. Judging will take place that afternoon, the winners will get prizes, but all the entries will be prominently displayed on light poles downtown for three weeks. You can find more details here -- scarecrows do have to be between 5 and 7 feet tall.
9. Ricey's Run: The second annual motorcycle ride around Essex County in memory of fallen firefighter Jim Rice is coming up Saturday. The ride, which is also sponsored by the Leatherheads Firefighter's Motorcycle Club, begins at the Italian-American Citizens Club at noon and goes toward the Jim Rice Memorial Fund.