UPDATED: Swampscott High Student to Serve on Governor's Youth Council

Freshman Madison Van Dam was among the students selected to serve as regular and alternate members to the Governor's Youth Council.

  Swampscott High freshman Madison Van Dam, at 14, is one of the youngest members on the Massachusetts Youth Council, whose job it is to create positive change in their communities. She'll be a busy 14-year-old adding the two-year Council commitment to an already full schedule. Madison, a high honors student who is taking honors classes in her first year at Swampscott High, volunteers at Girls Inc. in Lynn. There the daughter of Faythe and David Van Dam mentors students and helps them with science and math lessons. She has also volunteered for veterans related projects and ran cross country. Applying for the Council was a job in and of itself. Madison applied back in June and spent weeks answering questions, securing recommendations and …

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Swampscott-Marblehead Wrestling Team Seeks Student-Athletes

Are you interested in becoming a better football player? Consider wrestling as your winter sport!

The Swampscott-Marblehead high school wrestling team is seeking student-athletes who are interested in joining the team or learning more about the sport. If you are interested in attending a captain's practice or learning more about the sport, please contact Jake Powell, the team's captain, at jake.rpowell1@gmail.com.  Wrestling, according to NFL All-Star Roddy White and countless other NFL players, is an especially good sport for football players. "I'm a great NFL football player… because of the training I went through as a wrestler," says White. Read more about what White has to say about wrestling here.  You can also watch videos of last year's team in action at here. And, you can learn more about the wrestling program at the Swampscott…

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Big Blue Sports

Photos: Swampscott Sinks Vikings 33-20

Big Blue returned to the win column with a victory over Triton on Saturday.

  Big Blue carved out a victory on the road Saturday defeating Triton 33-20. They return home next Saturday in a game against Malden at noon.

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Swampscott Election Guide

Candidates and issues to watch in Swampscott.

  As the election cycle nears Swampscott Patch will turn its attention to the races and issues that matter most to those who live in Swampscott. Below are candidates and issues each of which links to an article.   NATIONAL:

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District Gets First Look At MCAS Results

Swampscott is considered a Level 2 school district in a 5-level scale, with 1 being the highest performing level.

  School officials and the public got a first look at Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test results Wednesday. The test was given last spring. Swampscott School Committee members will receive a full report on the results from Assistant Superintendent Pam Angelakis at a meeting in October. At Wednesday's School Committee meeting, Superintendent Lynne Celli said Swampscott, based on the results, is considered a Level 2 School District.  The state places districts under 5 levels with 1 being the highest performing level and 5 the lowest performing level. Statewide, there are 400 districts. Ninety-six of them are listed at Level 1 and 200 are listed at Level 2. The superintendent said Swampscott's respective test results …

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TELL US: How Do You Describe Swampscott to An Out-of-Towner?

If you get a question from a curious visitor, how do you respond?

Occasionally we  field a question from an out-of-towner asking — "What's Swampscott like?" — and we're interested to know how you describe the seaside town to people who don't live here. Is there no other place like Swampscott, or do you feel it's just a typical New England town? How do you describe Swampscott to people who don't live here? Let us know what you think in the comments. Remember to keep it clean. If you violate our terms of use (check it out here) your comment will be deleted and your account may be suspended. If you have the urge to use profanity, an asterisk "*" will not suffice. Please find another way to make your point so we can keep the forum a place where all are comfortable sharing and conversing about the town. Sign…

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We Are Shopping For New Businesses

Know of a new Swampscott store, or plans for one? Let us know so we can publicize it.

  Have you noticed a new store while driving around the North Shore recently? Patch loves small business and we try to cover every new opening. Here is a look at some recent business openings and happenings on the North Shore. Have you noticed a new shop and have been wondering what it is? Leave us a note in the comment section and we will check it out. ANDOVER The Stride Rite shoe store closed down roughly a year ago and the unit at 27 Main Street has sat vacant alongside the several other empty storefronts in the area, including the J.L. Coombs a few doors down. But eclectic gift shop Sense of Wonder will be opening up a store in the unit soon. Sense of Wonder specifically sells products and crafts purchased from the little guy. …

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Bring Swampscott To College With You

Beat homesickness by staying in touch with all things Swampscott.

As the new school year approaches and senior graduates head off to colleges and universities, we know the thought of homesickness can be overwhelming.  So, we're inviting our Swampscott students to stay up-to-date on everything happening in town.  Good luck to all of the Swampscott students entering college this year!  Where are you/your child going to school this fall? Comment and let us know.

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Grown Ups 2's Shaq Hits the High Notes

The traffic cop in the Adam Sandler comedy bemoans his baldness in a recently released video shot in a make-up trailer.

  The most famous police officer on the beat in fictional Stanton, Conn., is getting less attention for his stature than his hair piece. Shaquille O'Neal has been wearing a horseshoe-shaped wig below his duty cap on the set of Grown Ups 2. The movie is being shot this summer in Swampscott and Marblehead and Lynn, all of which serve as the setting for the fictional New England town of Stanton. Shaq and his wig drew lots of attention last week. Today, July 2, the Huffington Post has a short feature that links to a video  that Shaq made in a Grown Ups 2 make-up trailer. In the video Shaq laments the loss of his hair as Prince sings Purple Rain in the background. Rain, purple or otherwise, won't be a problem on the Gorwn Ups 2 set in …

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