The Creative Women's Writers Group, meeting regularly at the Derry Public Library, offers not only a vehicle for area women to gather and share their writings, inspiration and talents, but also, on occasion, guest writers, poets and people with interesting tales to tell make appearances as well.
The group is welcoming a guest speaker at its Oct. 2 gathering at the library. Fran Gage will join the writers group to share her stories and experiences from serving as the operator of the historic Luna, the first diesel-electric powered tugboat to ever serve ships in Boston Harbor.
The Luna was built in 1930 by John G. Alden and M.M. Davis and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The tugboat is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
The boat was considered a very powerful tug in its day and would work all day helping dock and undock ships in every part of Boston Harbor, from ships coming in from the north, to vessels entering the harbor from the south.
During World War II, the Luna was mobilized by the Navy and Army and was used as a civilian-crewed and privately owned tugboat at shipyards, repair sites and piers.
It greeted warships and troops at the end of the war, then went on for more years of work. When technology began to take over the power of the tugboats of the time, the Luna headed toward official retirement and eventually was put on "backup" status in 1971. The tugboat was used then as an office and floating home until its preservation and historical integrity became key, and it was put under the watchful eye of the Luna Preservation Society in 1995.
The tugboat now enjoys a life as a rehabilitated force in Boston Harbor and serves as an operating landmark and educational teaching vessel.
Gage served as operator from 1979 until 1993 and will share her stories of the harbor and sea with the group and guests.
Creative Women's Writers Group co-founder Margaret Bobalek King is inviting the public to attend the Fran Gage visit at the library to learn more about the Luna and its life in Boston Harbor. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. in the lower conference room at the library. For information, call 432-3707.
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This Sunday is the next installment in the musical Nutfield Sessions open mike event, set to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Londonderry Grange Hall/Senior Center. Area musicians are invited to stop by, sign in and take the stage to perform. The regular Nutfield Sessions events are held as a way to bring musicians together to play for each other, share their talents with friends, peers and an audience, and just have fun making music in a casual atmosphere.
For information about Nutfield Sessions this weekend, visit the group online at http://nutfieldsessions.org.
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Julie Huss is a staff writer for the Derry News. Her column focusing on the local arts scene appears every week. To contact her, call 421-3847 or send an e-mail to jhuss@derrynews.com.
