By Bob Croce, EOP Publisher
Cleaning out the notebook of the mind as we bask in the calm before the storm. Anyone want to bet what time the blue flashing lights go on around Peabody today?

The pole will get moved on this giant billboard
A source close to the situation tells The Eye that there isn’t likely to be a court fight over moving that 90-foot billboard pole back behind the sub shop, where it was intended to go in the first place.
The City, I’m hearing, feels that it is on solid ground when it comes to showing that the special permit specifically outlines that the pole for the billboard at the juncture of Lowell Street and Route 1 can’t be placed near the street and next to the building.
Last week, Mayor Ted Bettencourt asked Peabody City Solicitor Michael Smerczynski to obtain a cease-and-desist court order against the billboard company, Total Outdoor Crop. Now, we are apparently close to placing this monstrosity out of view for those who live in the Ledgewood Condos and Rolling Hill in Ward 5.
Will be interesting to see now how quickly this gets done, but once again the Mayor should get some props for acting quickly to protect quality of life. …
We hear that Guy Glodis is available to perform!
Peabody’s First Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast and Roast will take place on Saturday, March 16th from 9 a.m. to noon in the Frank L. Wiggin Auditorium at Peabody City Hall.
The public is welcome to attend the breakfast, which will feature Irish music by “McGeney and Moore” and good-natured roasting of some of the city’s best known politicos. The cost is $30 per person and all proceeds benefit the Haven from Hunger.
Those interested in attending the breakfast should send a check made payable to the City of Peabody to: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, City Hall, 24 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA 01960. Please include the number of guests in your party. Please respond no later than March 6th. For more information, call Mary at 978.538.5704.
Here’s hoping that no one goes with former State Auditor candidate Guy Glodis’ old material! …
Voter registration deadline for State Rep primary Feb. 13
New to Peabody or just turned 18? Well, you have only until Feb. 13th to register if you want to be eligible to vote in the March 5th primaries for the State Rep special election.
The Republican primary ballot has Greg Bunn, who lives in Ward 5, taking on South Peabody nurse Leah Cole for the right to advance to the April 2 final election for the 12th Essex seat (Peabody Wards 1-4, Prec. 1 and 3 in Ward 5).
School committee member Beverley Griffin Dunne will also appear on the Democratic primary ballot, but is unopposed. One Republican, Dunne and unenrolled candidate David Gravel will square off in the final election.
If you are not enrolled in any party, you can choose either a Democratic or Republican ballot. Considering there is no primary challenge on the Democratic side, both Republican candidates will be out trying to woo those unenrolled voters to take their ballot. …
No laboring over the police contract
The city and the unions representing about 100 police officers have worked out a 3-year contract that will include a 2 percent annual raise over the life of the collective bargaining agreement.
The new deal also comes with an agreement from the union that it will share drug testing results with the city, and allow the city to promote officers by using what is called the assessment center system. The assessment center combines the results of a Civil Service test with exercises that are intended to show how candidates would react to certain situations.
The contract is retroactive to July 1, 2012 and will expire June 30, 2015. …
Now, break out the shovels!
Tags: Beverley Griffin Dunne, David Gravel, Greg Bunn, Guy Glodis, Leah Cole, Mayor Ted Bettencourt, Peabody police