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.”
Rowley resident Danika Prendergast accepted her $2500 scholarship from Ipswich-Rowley Rotary at the club’s regular meeting on July 30 at the Village Pancake House in Rowley. 
The former Pony Express Farm property was purchased by the town about ten years ago with financial assistance from Essex County Greenbelt and the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game. Chris Davis, Rotary’s Community Service Co-Chair outlined the project: "Although the grounds are frequently used by Ipswich youth soccer teams and their fans, the fields and parking area remained barren with almost no trees.'"
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. 
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. 
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. 
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.
Susanne Pedersen was installed as the club’s 123rd 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. 
Our grant to the 5th grade at Pine Grove Elementary School, Rowley, is near completion. Join fellow Rotarians - Ann Witzig, John Witzig, and Doug Shealy, to sample the water quality, measure GPS locations for our map, and learn about wetlands, river health, and our critical water supply.
The Ipswich-Rowley Rotary Club’s “Ipswich Ale Half Marathon” on April 25 was a success! 
Sunday morning, Rotarians gathered to clean up a section of our adopted highway from Gordon’s Greenhouse to Lakeman’s Lane, a 3/4 mile stretch on Route 133. Pitching in to pick up the pitching out were Susanne Pederson, Doug Shealy, and Andrea Lacroix. Seen here are Doug and Susanne.
Our Assistant Governor and District Rotary Foundation chair, Anne Lewis, recently visited our club to recognize several members who recently pledged a minimum of $100 per year to help end polio. Their generous donations also make them members of the ‘PolioPlus Society’, which was formed in 2012 to encourage sustained, recurring gifts to Rotary’s leading humanitarian project, the eradication of polio. 
Rowley, MA 01969
United States of America