
The Shoebert Saga, as Seen Through the Eyes of Joyce Cummings
Wildlife authorities said from the beginning that “Shoebert” would be best off if he were quickly returned to a herd of seals (parvi) outside the harbor. Many people have said they hope Shoebert makes another stop in Beverly next year, too. Beverly’s new short-term citizen was a 235-pound male seal that somehow found his way into the two-level pond at Cummings Center, Beverly. It was not stuck, but it seemed determined to stay there even after having a floodgate lowered during high tide. Shoebert was named after the United Shoe Machinery Co., commonly once known as The Shoe. That building and others are now 2 million-square-foot Cummings Center medical, office, and research campus. Anyway, he left when the gate was lowered, swam around for a few minutes, turned around, and…