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Peabody: Free dental care keeps volunteers smiling
PEABODY — Workers at the Route 1 offices of Varinos Dental Associates opened their hearts Friday to offer free care to the needy.
The first-time program, called Dentistry with a Heart, attracted 138 patients between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., said Tina Varinos, who handles marketing for the office. She estimated about $60,000 worth of cleanings, fillings and extractions were done.
"It was a great day. We helped a lot of people," said her husband, dentist Frank Varinos. "I think the heroes of that day are all the volunteers who gave a day of their time to help out all these people."
Frank Varinos praised the 24 volunteers for their willingness to pitch in, even with the most tedious of tasks like quickly cleaning and sterilizing the dental tools between patients.
"It was just a team effort all the way around," he said. "It was also a lot of fun."
Turnout — more than three times a usual day's 40 patients — was what he had hoped for at the inaugural event, the dentist said. He wanted to ensure the volunteers were busy but not overwhelmed.
Tina Varinos said patient traffic was heaviest in the morning. A few people were waiting in line at 5:30 a.m.
"We're happy with the way things turned out," she said. "The very, very beginning of the day was just trying to get the flow."
Most patients received multiple procedures, Frank Varinos said. He said the oral surgeons helped with most of the extractions and had enough time to remove wisdom teeth.
For their efforts, the volunteers received plenty of hugs to go around. Frank Varinos plans to offer the free care again next year.
"It made everybody feel good," he said.
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Scratch tickets worth $10,000 stolen at mall
PEABODY — An estimated $10,000 worth of scratch tickets were stolen from a newsstand at the Northshore Mall.
A robber broke into the Gateway News kiosk right after the 9:30 p.m. closing Wednesday and grabbed the lottery tickets, according to police. -
Cops vs. codgers in Jimmy Fund benefit ball game
PEABODY — A Labor Day tradition will resume Monday in Peabody when police officers face the Northshore Oldtimers in baseball.
This year is the 54th anniversary of an event that raises money for the Jimmy Fund. Players will take the field at Emerson Park at 10 a.m., following a baseball clinic for 8- to 12-year-olds that begins at 8 a.m. -
Family's injured dog gains Facebook fans
DANVERS — A family's 3-year-old cocker spaniel named Sammy, which was mauled during a walk last month, now has a Facebook page called "Sammy Super Dog" and plenty of well-wishers, owner Kristen Litka said.
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Police
Peabody
Wednesday
A woman contacted police at 5:41 p.m. to report that she found a diamond ring at Toys "R" Us at the Northshore Mall.
Police went to the Friendly's restaurant on Route 114 at 8:32 p.m. on a report of a female customer having fainting spells. A 40-year-old Peabody woman was transported to Beverly Hospital by ambulance. -
Police copter spots 'grass' plot
PEABODY — A state police helicopter was high in the sky Wednesday searching for an armed robbery suspect when it discovered a small plot of marijuana on the ground.
Members of the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing were assisting Peabody police following a robbery outside a Sovereign Bank branch on Lowell Street. They spotted the small growth in woods between Oak Grove Cemetery and Winona Street, according to Peabody police. - 100,000th pet adopted from Salem animal shelter
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Scratch tickets worth $10,000 stolen at mall
