Town Cancels Dedication of New Danvers High This Saturday

Town officials say the much anticipated dedication for the newly renovated Danvers High campus, which was set for this Saturday, has been canceled in light of Tuesday's "tragic event" at the school in which math teacher Colleen Ritzer was allegedly murdered by a student.

Here's the message released Wednesday evening by the town of Danvers:

"Good evening. This is Diane Norris, Assistant Town Manager in Danvers. In light of the tragic event at our high school, the ribbon cutting and open house scheduled for this Saturday has been cancelled. DEEP, the Danvers Educational Enrichment Partnership, has postponed its wine tasting event at the Danversport Yacht Club originally scheduled for tomorrow night to November 14 from 6-9 p.m. Thank you and good night."

Ritzer, a popular teacher at the school, was allegedly slain by 14-year-old Philip Chism, a new student at Danvers High who just moved to town with his family from Tennessee.

Chism is facing a charge of first degree murder and is being tried as an adult.