Ipswich Ale Half Marathon for Rotary

Thanksgiving Food Basket Delivery - Ipswich

Interact - Jingle Bell Walk Celebrates 15 Years

Rotary Service - Senior Lunch

Rowley Bandstand Renovation

Ipswich Dinner Bell

International Friendship Exchange

Is a Green Burial Right for You?

Posted by Andrea Lacroix on Oct 14, 2026

In the first of a series of programs on environmental sustainability, the District 7930 Environmental Committee will host a program that explores natural burial options beyond the traditional funeral. We realize this is an important topic that we all would rather avoid, but it's important to know your options in order to make the right decision for you.

Please join us on Zoom, October 29 at 7pm, as ‘Campbell Funeral Home’ owner and Funeral Director Lauren Campbell educates us on ‘Green and Natural Burials’. To receive the Zoom link, please contact Andrea at amlacroix@yahoo.com.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Hosts Bingo

Posted by Lisa Shanko on Sep 16, 2026

Join your friends and neighbors on October 16 as Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians host a fun night of BINGO!! There will be light refreshments, cash bar, a silent auction, and some great prizes for our Bingo winners!!!!

Each registration includes two Bingo card books. Additional cards can be purchased at the event. Doors will open at 6pm. Bingo begins at 7. Space is limited.

Use the flier QR code or click HERE to reserve your space.

Proceeds will benefit the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Charitable Trust, which funds our service projects and helps support local nonprofit organizations.

Included among these initiatives are Ipswich and Rowley scholarships, Ipswich Dinner Bell, food assistance to Ipswich and Rowley residents from The Open Door and Newbury food pantries, our sponsored youth programs, Ipswich Family YMCA, Senior Care, and others.

Flier designed by The Local News.

We are especially grateful to our Diamond Sponsors who have generously donated toward the cost of food, venue, advertising, and supplies:

Clinton Dalton, Esq. Brigantine, P.C.

Ipswich Investment Management

BankGloucester

Institution for Savings

World Cleanup Day 2026 in Ipswich

Posted by Doug Shealy on Sep 23, 2026

Our club supported World Cleanup Day on September 20th by picking up trash along Rt 133 heading towards Essex.

The crew from left Captain Doug Shealy (front), Jim Tedford, President Susanne Pedersen, and Martha Mauser

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary has a long tradition of helping keep Ipswich beautiful.

One area of focus is our semi-annual maintenance of Route 133 from County Road to the Essex town line as part of the state's ‘Adopt A Highway’ program.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Brings Birthday Joy in Every Bag

Posted by Ann Witzig on Sep 16, 2026

Anya Ciarametaro, Open Door Gift Coordinator, Paula Bishop, Diane Herth

Birthdays are particularly joyous celebrations for families and friends. For a family experiencing food insecurity, this occasion is a hardship. Stress, social pressure, and tough choices can rob their children of being royalty for a day.

What’s the solution? Birthday – In – A Bag!

As they do each Fall, Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians packed 50 shopping bags filled with supplies to create an instant birthday party for eight children. The bags include all the trimmings – cake and frosting mix, tablecloth, box of games, streamers, party hats and favors, plates and napkins, and banners.

These bags of wonder were split between The Open Door and First Parish Newbury food pantries which serve Ipswich and Rowley families in need. Clients of both pantries with children can pick up or request a birthday-in-a-bag with their deliveries.

Joy is again created, one bag at a time.

Members of the First Parish Newbury team receive bags from Diane Herth (center) and John Herth (right)

President Susanne Pedersen, Laurie Cameron, Diane Herth, Paula Bishop, Cindy Quinn

Rotary Maintains the 9-11 Memorial in Rowley

Posted by Bob Wicks on Sep 07, 2026

On Saturday, September 5, volunteers from the Ipswich-Rowley Rotary club gathered in Rowley to prepare the 9-11 Memorial Park for this year's remembrance. The park was created by the Town of Rowley and is maintained by Rotary to remember the three Rowley residents who tragically lost their lives in the 2001 World Trade Center attack.

Rotarians were once again led by our 9-11 team captains from Rowley, Doug Shealy and Bob Snow.

Rotary Deliveries Food Weekly in Ipswich and Rowley

Posted by Bob Wicks on Sep 07, 2026

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary volunteers continue weekly food deliveries in Ipswich and Rowley on behalf of the Newbury Food Pantry.

In the photo, John Herth loads up his truck for deliveries in Ipswich in August.

Chef Steve Kuchar Inspires Rotary

Posted by Bob Wicks on Aug 14, 2026

Chef Steve and President Suzanne — Chef Steve and President Susanne

As reported in our bulletin this week, Ipswich Inn Head Chef Steven Kuchar regaled our club with anecdotes about his career as a chef and his activities in town. The following are excerpts from Cindy Quinn’s report.

Steve Kuchar began in the cooking industry while attending Whittier Tech. He didn’t want to use a card to pay for a meal, so the person in charge told him to eat and then come back later to work. Back at home he realized that “I know what I want to do – Culinary Arts.”

He worked for 7 years in Haverhill and Ipswich at the Henrich House, then joined his brother-in-law who opened a new restaurant in Salisbury, the Stripers Grille. He also helped open another restaurant in Topsfield.

After his children were grown, Steve took a position assisting Ray Morley at the Ipswich Inn. “When Ray passed, I received a call to run the Ipswich Inn and found it rewarding to cook, bartend, be a waiter and busboy, etc. It wasn’t easy, and the rule was that after 5 pm, there was no shop talk.” He added, “Julia Child changed everything about eating.”

Rotary Remembers Heroes Past and Present

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jul 09, 2026

Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians and volunteers removed “Flags for Heroes” from the Ipswich South Green and the Rowley Common today. But the message of this non-partisan tribute to honor and valor, especially during our nation’s 250^th Anniversary year, will remain in our hearts and minds every day.

We want to especially thank Paula Bishop who processed all the registrations and beautifully hand crafted the dedication medallions. It was a major and loving effort.

During the Flag Day Dedication on June 14 at South Green, Rotarian Joan Arsenault reminded us that the annual display represents “the best of what we give and who we are”. Larry Jordan, Ipswich VFW Post Commander, noted that “George Washington inspected soldiers on this green”. Rotary President George Gray added that “the Marquis de Lafayette also visited the green, native American tribes lived here, and cattle grazed on the lawn when it wasn’t in use for military training”.

What better place to honor America, its heroes and our flag.

When a sudden and unexpected major windstorm blew through the area in late May, damaging flags and p

oles, modern day heroes from the Ipswich and Rowley Fire Departments immediately swung into action, securing the areas and protecting the public. Thanks to their prompt and valiant efforts, “Flags for Heroes” 2026 was saved and promptly restored by Rotary Club volunteers.

We will be forever grateful to our first responders, and to all the heroes we honor every day.

Pedersen Installed as President, Arsenault Honored at District Event

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jul 05, 2026

About a dozen Ipswich-Rowley Rotarians attended the District Installation Dinner in Danversport on June 25 to support our new President, Susanne Pedersen. Susanne joined the other incoming Presidents installed by incoming District Governor Terry Rezendes Curran. Terry succeeds Past District Governor Pooja Singla who was honored for her service and many achievements.

Also announced at the meeting was our new District leadership team. Past District Governor Tom Hankard took the stage to install Terry, who in turn installed District Governor Elect Tim Kelley and District Governor Nominee Liz Cullen. Both Terry and Liz previously served in this capacity, Terry in 2021-22 and Liz in District 7780 when her Newburyport club was part of the Southeastern Maine District.

Another highlight of the evening was the presentation of one of Rotary International’s most prestigious honors, the ‘Service Above Self’ award, to our own Joan Arsenault. Only 150 Rotarians receive this recognition annually out of a population of 1.2 million worldwide. Joan, herself a Past District Governor, accepted the honor from former Rotary Trustee and Past District Governor Julia Phelps. DG Pooja Singla also was on hand to congratulate Joan.

It truly was a grand night of celebration.

At right, Joan, Julia and Pooja.

Below, Team Pedersen celebrates on the deck.

Joan is flanked by President Susanne and PDG Julia.

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Awards Scholarships

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jul 05, 2026

The club annually awards academic scholarships to a student from each of the two communities we serve. These recipients are exceptional leaders and scholars who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service.

This year’s recipients are Maggie Carlberg from Ipswich High School, and Danika Prendergast from Triton Regional High School in Rowley.

Maggie will be attending Loyola Marymount University to major in psychology specializing in developmental psychiatry. Her goal is to become a psychiatrist in an inpatient or ER facility

Danika is heading to the University of Alabama to major in criminology and criminal justice. Her goal is to become a police officer.

Both students already have made meaningful contributions to their communities and plan to continue that commitment in the future. We congratulate them on their achievements and wish them the best of success.

Maggie received her check at our meeting on June 11. As Interact Club President, she also presented the club’s yearend report to the sponsoring Rotarians.

Danika was unable to attend and will receive her check shortly.

Seen in the photo are Co-President Doug Shealy, Gina Healy, Katie Filtranti, Maggie, co-President George Gray, Bob Wicks and Cindy Quinn. Gina, Bob and Cindy served on the Scholarship Selection Committee chaired by Katie

Rotary installs New Officers, Drislane Announced as ‘Person of the Year’

Posted by Bob Wicks on Jun 23, 2026

Ipswich-Rowley Rotary members gathered last week at the Rowley Country Club to welcome their new leadership team for 2026-27 and celebrate some community heroes.

Susanne Pedersen was installed as the club’s 123^rd President by Past District Governor Joan Arsenault. Our new Board of Directors who will support her also were installed. The incoming officers include Katie Filtranti and Joe Healy as co-President’s Elect, Ted Garside as Treasurer, Mary Foote-Hill as Secretary, and Clint Dalton as Vice President Rotary Foundation. Our other Directors beginning July 1 will be Chris Davis, Diane Herth, Deb Mahoney, Christina Manikas, Martha Mauser, Lisa Shanko, and Immediate Past co-Presidents George Gray and Doug Shealy.

Another highlight of the evening was the announcement of our ‘Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Person of the Year’. We were thrilled to honor and thank Denny Drislane, recently retired head chef of the Ipswich Dinner Bell, who for 13 years served countless delicious and nutritious meals free to Ipswich residents who needed them. In addition to his culinary skills, Denny is remembered for his kindness and friendly demeaner. On hand to celebrate with Denny was his wife Elana, Ipswich Dinner Bell Executive Director Dorothy Calandra, and other members of Denny’s family.