Living/Loathing

A group of 114 presidents of universities and colleges, including Patricia Maguire Meserve of Salem State College and Jack Wilson of U Mass, have signed a public statement asking lawmakers to rethink the drinking age with an eye to possibly lowering it from 21 to 18. It’s called the Amethyst Initiative, named after the purple gemstone that is rumored to protect people from the negative effects of drinking. Those who have signed on say the current law isn’t working and has, in fact, created a dangerous culture of binge drinking among young people.

When Amesbury Elementary School students return to school in September, they will have all new eMac computers to use in the AES computer lab. Well, the computers aren’t exactly new, but they are newer than the 10-year-old iMac computers they used to have and they didn’t cost the Amesbury taxpayers a cent.

It’s one of those rare, sunny weekend days. People have gathered by the fountain, just across from Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. The Boston Horns are setting up for a show to benefit this year’s Salem Jazz and Soul Festival. R&B brawler Barrence Whitfield is standing off to the side, holding court. It’s like a meet-and-greet. Everyone seems to know him. He acknowledges friends and fans with a nod of the head. There’s a big smile on his face.

Start a new tradition by running in the first-ever Dorothy’s Run 5K in memory of Dorothy Giunta-Cotter, or walking along one of the most beautiful and historic courses in New England, in the 17th annual Walk Against Violence Oct. 19.