Breaking Grounds Café to shut down after nine years, city keeps water limits
PEABODY — Breaking Grounds Café, the downtown coffee shop that trained and employed people with disabilities, is closing after nine years, according to CBS News Boston and Peabody Patch, while City Hall kept mandatory outdoor water-use restrictions in force amid the region's drought and honored three local students for their work on a national essay contest.
TOWN HALL
The city's mandatory outdoor water-use restrictions remain in effect after the state issued a critical drought declaration covering Peabody, part of a Phase II restriction order the city announced this year limiting lawn watering and other outdoor use. Mayor Ted Bettencourt's office has also issued a heat warning to residents as summer temperatures climb, urging precautions during high-heat stretches. Downtown, the Central Street Improvement Project continues to produce traffic detours and travel impacts that the city has asked drivers to plan around.
Separately, Bettencourt's office held a City Hall ceremony honoring three Peabody students for their entries in the America 250 essay contest, which coincided with a viewing of a rare reproduction of the Declaration of Independence recently received by the city — a story Peabody Patch also covered this week.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Peabody Institute Library's South and West branches shifted to new hours effective July 6: Monday and Tuesday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday 1 to 9 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with both branches closed Fridays and Sundays. The Main Library on Main Street continues to keep its longer daily hours, including Sunday afternoons through Labor Day.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"North Shore Coffee Shop With Inspired Mission To Close After 9 Years" — Peabody Patch reports that Breaking Grounds Café, which served as a hospitality training and employment site for people with disabilities, is shutting its downtown doors. CBS News Boston separately confirmed the closure, describing the decision as "not an easy choice" for the shop's operators (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/north-shore-coffee-shop-inspired-mission-close-after-9-years and https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/breaking-grounds-cafe-peabody-closing/).
"Multi-Restaurant-Style Eatery To Open On North Shore With Ribbon Cutting" — Peabody Patch reports that a new Wonder location in Peabody will hold a ribbon-cutting July 23 with giveaways, live music and free samples. (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody/multi-restaurant-style-eatery-open-north-shore-giveaways)