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Lopes was chosen as the new chair after last year’s chair, Robin Doherty, chose not to run for re-election.

Gabe Lopes, an East Boston native and global financial executive who was elected to the Danvers School Committee in 2022, will chair the Committee for the next year.

Lopes was unanimously chosen to guide the Committee this week at the first meeting following the annual town election in which Robin Doherty, last year’s Chair, and Alice Campbell chose not to run for re-election.

For more information, see the Patch article at Danvers Patch.

Service on the Salem Skipper — a low-cost minibus ridesharing service introduced in the Witch City in December 2020 — is expanding to Beverly and Danvers as part of a pilot program starting this spring.

In Danvers, the on-demand public transportation will allow for rides to downtown, the Liberty Tree Mall, North Shore Medical Center, Cherry Hill Business Park, Beth Israel Health Center and North Shore Community College, with connection locations in Beverly and Salem, including the commuter rail stops to Boston.

This will be the first public transportation in Danvers since the MBTA suspended bus service in 2022.

Riders can book a ride using a mobile app or by calling in ahead of time 

Most passengers will walk less than a block or two to their ride. The Skipper will provide those with accessibility needs with door-to-door service.

From Danvers, residents can ride across the entire service area Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rides cost $2 each, or $1 for senior citizens, teens (13+), and people with disabilities. The person booking the ride can bring up to two additional passengers — each additional friend costs $1 extra.

“The town looks forward to partnering with Salem and Beverly to launch this proven ride-share service for the benefit of our residents and businesses, and those across our subregion,” Town Manager Steve Bartha said. “This service provides a critical connection across the North Shore and fills a gap in existing public transportation services.”

Residents are invited to take part in this year’s Memorial Day week event to honor fallen veterans.

Danvers residents are encouraged to take part in this year’s Walnut Grove Cemetery flag-placing honoring the town’s fallen veterans for Memorial Day.

The flag-placing will be on May 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. The Danvers Veterans Services officer will be distributing flags at the Sylvan Street entrance to the cemetery.

All are welcome to help with this important civic activity.

Dee Djoko and Michael Bean were sworn in on Thursday after their successful challenge bids during the annual town election.

Two new Danvers Select Board members were sworn into office on Thursday after a transformative election in which challengers Michael Bean and Dee Djoko successfully unseated a pair of incumbents amid a strong voter turnout for a local election.

Bean was the top vote-getter with 2,243 votes and Djoko was second with 2,206 in Tuesday’s results, besting Gardner Trask (1,849) — who had served the town for the previous 18 years — and Matthew Duggan (1,116) following his first three-year term.

Djoko, a native of Cameroon and a 13-year Danvers resident, used his time to thank Danvers residents for putting their trust in him to serve their interests on the Board for the next three years.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as a member of this board,” he said. “And I promise to uphold the values of civility and transparency. As I embark on this new chapter, I am committed to listening to the concerns of all Danvers residents. And working tirelessly to address them.

“Together, we will strive to ensure that our community remains vibrant, inclusive and affordable for generations to come.”

Challengers Michael Bean and Dutrochet “Dee” Djoko will be replacing incumbents Gardner Trask and Matthew Duggan for their three-year Select Board terms, according to unofficial results posted at the Danvers High School Tuesday night.

“This is a big responsibility that the people of Danvers have given me,” Djoko said. “I’ll celebrate tonight, enjoy the moment, and put my feet up. But tomorrow it’ll be time to get to work, because this was never about winning for me, it’s been about governance.”

A total 7,280 Danvers residents voted in the Select Board race. Unofficially, Dee Djoko finished second to Bean by 30-40 votes.. Gardner Trask was not re-elected for the first time in 18 years, and Duggan finished fourth after just one term.

Bean was the top vote-getter in the four-person race for two seats with 2,202 votes, with Djoko second with 2,171 votes in unofficial results. Incumbent Gardner Trask was third with 1,799 votes and incumbent Matthew Duggan was third with 1,090 votes.

Many members of the DanversDems were out there supporting Dee.

In the six-way bid for the three-year Library Trustee terms, all three incumbents, Dana Michael Hagan, Donna Hopkins, and Jessica Cargile, held onto their positions against challengers Caroline Pomakis, Michael J. Shannon and David L. Elzey.

In the uncontested School Committee race, Michael Shannon and Sean Doherty took the three-year terms left open by former School Committee members Alice Campbell and Robin Doherty, who did not seek reelection.

Our own Marilyn Hazel was re-elected as Town Meeting Member Precinct 6 and Phil Bolduc running for the first time was elected in Precinct 2.

The candidates elected to three-year terms as Town Meeting members in Precinct 1 include Paul Eovacious, Lauren Deluca, Christopher Dembowski, Glenn Dagley, Janet Bennett and Matthew Aquaro.

In Precinct 2, it’s Nancy McNulty, Paul McNulty, Robert Cummings, Elizabeth Stockman, Donna Marden, Mark Hannon, Philip Bolduc, and Patrick Kelliher. Kyle Bryce Hopkins was elected to a twoyear term.

In Precinct 3, the winners are Sandra Lane, Sally Calhoun, Kathleen Turcotte, Suzanne Elovecky, Peter Clement and Douglas Daley.

In Precinct 4, Richard Parker, Richard Bolduc, Marissa Costello, Donna Hopkins, Corinna Grace and Richard Stoney.

In Precinct 5, Tenley Bevins, Robert Leshin,MatthewByrne,MichaelTrainor, Mary Depamphilis and Christen Tipert.

InPrecinct6,MarilynHazel,Lawrence Chisholm, Corinne Doherty, Linda Flaherty, Angela Pyburn, and Theodore Kontos.

In Precinct 7, Eileen Harriss, Martha Driscoll, Lisa Silva, James Ciman, Steven Murphy and Allen McCarriston.

In Precinct 8, William Hersey, Mitchell Abbatessa, Tim Gray, Charles Lincicum, Michael Morris, David McKenna. Gregory Tremblay was elected for a two year term.

A caucus was held this Saturday (4/27) at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School to elect delegates to represent the 6th congressional district for the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.  

Our Joe Caiazzo was elected as one of the three male delegates. Congratulations to Joe!

Other delegates are:

Michael Lis, North Andover

David Seaton, West Newbury

Eileen Duff, Gloucester

Rani Jacobson, Gloucester

Diann Slavit Baylis, Marblehead

Tram Nguyễn, Andover (alternate)

Several members of the DDTC have been joining the sign holders for Dee Djoko who is running for Select Board.

There are four candidates seeking election to two positions. Michael Bean, Gardner Trask (i), Dutrochet “Dee” Djoko, and Matthew Duggan (i).  Dee has attended our meetings and many of us are holding signs in the square on Saturday mornings.  If you haven’t seen the Candidate Forum, you can view it here: DCAT Select Board Candidate Forum.  

There are also elections for School Committee, Library Trustee and Town Meeting Members for all 8 precincts.  Our own Marilyn Hazel is running for Town Meeting Member Precinct 6 and Phil Bolduc in Precinct 2.  See the ballot here: Danvers Sample Ballot.