Driver Alert: Weekend Road Closures Planned at Railroad Crossings

The two railroad crossings in downtown Hamilton will be separately closed to vehicles during the next two weekends for track work.

During the closures, the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority will repair and replace the train tracks at the crossings.

The work will start at the Asbury Street crossing near Bay Road, which will be closed to vehicles at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 21. The closure will continue through Saturday, July 22 at 9 p.m.

The work will then shift to the crossing at Bay and Walnut roads the following weekend. Work will start at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 28 and will continue through Saturday, July 29 and is scheduled to be complete by 9 p.m.

The work is required in order to maintain the safe travel of trains and pedestrians through the area and to re-establish full service as soon as possible, according to the T.

Each street will be closed in both directions at the railroad crossings in order to complete the work, but access to all businesses will be maintained during the work. The municipal parking lot on Asbury Street will also be accessible from the Bay Road end of Asbury Street.

Hamilton police officers will be posted throughout the detour to assist with traffic flow and message boards have been put up to alert commuters.

Safe Bicyclists to be Again Awarded with Free Froyo

Free frozen yogurt will again be coming to kids in Hamilton that are wearing a bicycle helmet or otherwise demonstrating bicycle safety this summer.

The summer safety helmet program is being organized by the Hamilton Police Department and Chris Lee, the town’s public health nurse, along with local business Café Shishco in the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing.

The community policing initiative is designed to promote bicycle safety and helmet use in Hamilton and each Hamilton police officer has been given a stack of ”free frozen yogurt” gift cards for Café Shishco.

“The cards are to be given to kids in the community who are observed wearing bike/skateboard helmets or are proactively demonstrating other means of bicycle safety,” Hamilton Police Lt. Scott Janes said in a memo to all of the department’s officers.

In addition to wearing bicycle helmets, kids may also be rewarded for using a designated crosswalk, using a crossing signal, riding their bicycle on the correct side of the road or skateboarding while using safety precautions.

Kids that get a gift cards must be present it to a cashier at Café Shishco for the free frozen yogurt.

Reminder From Police: Hide Valuables in Vehicles at Trailheads

Hamilton police want to remind residents as summer approaches – and there’s more activity on local hiking trails – to take simple sense steps to prevent crime when parking at trailheads.

There have been a few car break-ins already this spring at the Bradley Palmer State Park parking lot and the Appleton Farms Grass Rides parking lot, both located on Highland Street.

It is important to not leave any valuables visible inside your vehicle when you park it, police said. Purses, wallets, laptop bags or anything else that looks like it could be expensive shouldn’t be left in the car or should be put out of sight.

Hamilton Police Lt. Scott Janes recommends that hikers, even before they get to the parking lot, should put things away in the glove box or center console or cover it up under a jacket or blanket. The best bet is to put it in a locked trunk. And always make sure your vehicle is locked when you leave it.

All three car break-ins this spring in Hamilton have occurred when the thief smashed a rear window to gain access to the vehicle. Typically, thieves are only looking for small items which can easily be pawned for cash, police said.

In summary, be cautious when heading out to enjoy the outdoors this summer because police don’t want your adventure ruined at the end.

Hamilton Police Chief Featured in Television PSA Promoting Saturday’s Drug Take Back Day

Hamilton Police Chief Russell Stevens is featured in a public service announcement publicizing Saturday’s Drug Take Back Day.

Hamilton police are working with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency to host the spring Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 29.

The take back day will run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hamilton Public Safety Building at 265 Bay Road. In addition to Saturday’s take back day, there is always a medicine dropbox in the police station lobby.

The public service announcement featuring Stevens (who is the third officer from the left) has been running on WCVB-TV channel 5 this week to get out the word about this Saturday’s drug take back day.

Hamilton police are asking residents to clean out their home of unwanted medication and dispose of the drugs on the take back day.

Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this is an opportunity to help reduce the threat. Hamilton Police along with other public safety agencies want everyone to clean out their medicine cabinets and make their home safe from drug theft and abuse.

 

Little League Parade to March Through Downtown Saturday Morning

Get ready – youth baseball players will be marching through the downtown this weekend as part of the Hamilton-Wenham Little League season-opening parade.

It is planned for Saturday morning, April 29 at 9 a.m. and drivers in the area should expect short road closures and minor delays.

The parade will start at Buker Elementary School in Wenham and head up Perkins Street to Route 1A (Main Street in Wenham) and head north into Hamilton.

In the center of Hamilton the parade will turn left from Bay Road (Route 1A) onto Railroad Avenue, then left on to Union Street and end at Cheeseman Field at Pingree Park, across the street from Hamilton-Wenham Public Library.

Hamilton police have assigned additional officers to assist with traffic, according to Hamilton Police Lt. Scott Janes, but residents should anticipate detours and minor traffic delays.

Wenham police will lead the parade and this year’s route is the same as it has been for many years. Wenham police have a map from past years that shows the route.

The Little League parade is a great community tradition and family members are encouraged to line the streets of Hamilton-Wenham and cheer on the players, according to Hamilton-Wenham Little League.

Chebacco Lake Boat Ramp Set to Reopen for the Year

The Chebacco Lake boat ramp is set to open for the year on Friday.

The ramp has been closed because of the high water, according to Hamilton Police Lt. Scott Janes. The Hamilton Department of Public Works will be asked to move away the cement blocks from the ramp on Friday, he said.

As the boating season returns, here are a few reminders about boating safety and the rules on Chebacco Lake:

• Boaters should be mindful of their wake and how close they are to the shoreline
• Personal watercraft (jetskis) are banned on Chebacco Lake.
• The suggested traffic pattern around the lake is counterclockwise to reduce the possibility of a collision.

State boating law requires a waterskiing spotter 12-year-old or older and requires boaters age 13 and under to wear a PFD. The complete Massachusetts boating laws are available on the state website.

The Chebacco Lake boat ramp is off Chebacco Lake in Hamilton, just past the former town beach near the town line with Manchester-by-the-Sea. In addition to a ramp, there is parking for 17 vehicles with trailers. It is managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The lake is half in Hamilton and half in Essex. The lake is 209-acres in size and varies in depth from 9-22 feet. It is popular for boating, swimming, waterskiing and fishing.

In case of an emergency, always call 911. To reach the Hamilton harbormaster, call 978-468-4421. In Essex, to reach the harbormaster call 978-768-6628.

Gas Work in One Neighborhood Could Mean Detours, Delays

Residents in the area of Naples Road and Howard Street should expect cause some minor detours and delays in their neighborhood during the next few weeks.

National Grid will be doing gas utility work in the area during the next two weeks, according to Hamilton police Lt. Scott Janes. Residents may be rerouted or experience minor traffic delays during the project, Janes said.