The launch of the connector that will safely get bicyclists and walkers between the Salisbury Rail Trail and the Clipper City Rail Trail in Newburyport will take place at Stripers Grille at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
On hand for the official go-ahead are Richard A. Davey, secretary of the state Department of Transportation, state Rep. Michael Costello, state Sen. Steven Baddour, Town Manager Neil Harrington and members of the Board of Selectmen.
The million-dollar project is paid for by MassDOT and built by Newburyport-based John D. Hartnett & Son Inc. The hope is that with the cooperation of Mother Nature, work will start in mid-March, with a completion date of mid-June 2013. But the connector may be at least usable by fall.
After Newburyport's and Salisbury's rail trails became popular recreational outlets, it was apparent that there was a safety issue for those who wanted to cross Route 1 at the northern end of the Gillis Bridge to access both trails. Traffic crossing the Gillis Bridge over the Merrimack River flows heavily and swiftly in both directions at that location, making pedestrian or bike crossing dicey at best.
The connector will allow travelers heading north from Newburyport to go over the Gillis Bridge, and at its end, make a right-hand U-turn just before First Street by Stripers Grille. They then will proceed down the embankment and under the Gillis Bridge to the other side and head up the embankment on the west side of the bridge. Traveling north a bit, after a left onto Friedenfels Road and onto the path, they will be able to proceed to the head of the Old Eastern Marsh Trail. Those traveling north will follow the connector in reverse.
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Massachusetts is part of the Super Tuesday presidential primary and the polls will be open in Salisbury at the Hilton Center opened from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. This will be the first time voters will go to vote now that the town has been divided into three precincts, said Town Clerk Wilma McDonald.
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The next book highlighted by the Salisbury Friends of the Library Book Discussion Club is "The Housekeeper and the Professor" by Yoko Ogawa. The club will meet to discuss the book at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27, at the library.
Copies of the book are available at the front desk. New members are always welcome.
The Friends of the Salisbury Public Library will also hold a spring book sale on Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14. The Friends are currently taking donations of gently read books, CDs and DVDs, which will be sold at the event. Items may be dropped off at the library during regular hours.
Money raised supports the book group, as well as other library activities and supplies.
For more information, contact library director Terry Kyrios at 978-465-5071 or at tkyrios@mvlc.org
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The Sea Spray Garden Club will meet tonight from 7 to 9 at the East Parish Methodist Church, 8 Lafayette Road, Salisbury.
Rita Wollmering of the Herb Farmacy in Salisbury will be the featured speaker, discussing how global climate changes affect local gardening. New members and guests are always welcome. Light refreshments served.
For more information, call 978-388-4848.
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The co-ed Adult Volleyball program hosted by the Salisbury Recreation Commission is still going on and welcomes local residents looking of a night of fun and sport.
Taking place on Monday nights from 6 to 7:30 at the Boys and Girls Club, the program is free of charge and no volleyball experience is needed to join.
For more information, contact Donna Keefe at 978-462-7611 or dkeefe@salisburyma.gov.
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Salisbury Council on Aging has many programs taking place at the Hilton Center, located at 43 Lafayette Road, next to the fire station.
Every Wednesday from 10:15 to 11 a.m., "Silver Strength" offers training to use on mind and muscles to develop functional strength and fitness. For this program there is no need to preregister.
For a list of other programs offered by the COA, call 978-462-2412.
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Parents will young children should mark Saturday, March 31, on their calendars. It's the date of Salisbury's Easter Egg Hunt at Elementary School. Hunts run from 9 to 11 a.m.
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Angeljean Chiaramida covers Salisbury for The Daily News. She can be reached at 978-462-6666 ext. 3271, or at achiaramida@newburyportnews.com.
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