School subcommittee deadlocks over $462,000 insurance reserve, sends two budgets to Friday vote
Officials agreed on the math but split on policy, leaving Jenn Schaeffner and Melissa Clucas backing different spending cuts for fiscal 2027.
Will Dowd
I started my full-time reporting career in Marblehead in 2012 and have failed spectacularly at leaving. Now I cover the town through The Independent, following its people and stories with the curiosity that makes this place impossible to quit.
Marblehead gears up to become 4-year-old’s superhero universe
A child undergoing treatment for a brain tumor will lead a daylong series of themed activities, drawing crowds to downtown shops and public spaces.
Marblehead officials map out possible $262 trash fee if override fails
New barcoded bins are scheduled for June, and crews would collect only material placed inside town-issued containers after a six-week trial period.
VFW Post 2005 commander meets national leader during Salem visit
Get our free local reporting delivered straight to your inbox. No noise, no spam — just clear, independent coverage of Marblehead. Sign up for our once-a-week newsletter. Ronny Knight, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2005 in Marblehead, met national VFW commander-in-chief Carol Whitmore during her
Pfifferling a finalist for Whittier Tech finance post
A special meeting this week will consider two candidates for a business office opening created by a longtime administrator’s planned retirement.
Marblehead Independent survey invites resident input before Town Meeting
The Marblehead Independent is inviting Marblehead residents age 18 and older to take a short community survey on several of the biggest issues ahead of the 2025 Town Meeting on Monday, May 4, 2026. The survey asks about the town’s budget and override question, service priorities, and a small
Miles for Mary fundraiser at Marblehead Opticians is a success
On Wednesday, March 18, Jim Trick, proprietor of Marblehead Opticians, hosted a fundraising event to support brain cancer research through Miles for Mary. Friends and neighbors gathered at Marblehead Opticians for an evening of conversation, music and fashion in support of the cause. Guests enjoyed live music performed by Trick
Marblehead organizers announce March 28 No Kings protest
Marblehead organizers said they will hold a No Kings protest March 28 as part of what they described as a nationwide day of nonviolent action. The event is scheduled for 2 to 4 p.m. at the intersection of Lafayette Street and Maple Street in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Organizers said residents
Ferrante pulls for Select Board as Marblehead's 24-seat June ballot opens
Town boards face unusually broad turnover, with nomination papers now circulating for 11 elected bodies and filing due by 5 p.m. April 21.
Cuts across departments shape Select Board’s $56.6M budget
The hearing turned emotional as town leaders detailed lost posts, strained morale and deferred maintenance, underscoring a broader clash between service capacity and residents’ ability to pay.
Residents push neighborhood-scale plan for former Coffin School
A UConn team heard strong support for housing that fits nearby homes, with open land and public access ranking high during the Abbot Hall session.
Marblehead officials put structure around the FY2027 budget season
A Finance Committee presentation on Monday broke down how Marblehead officials say they could close the town’s projected FY2027 deficit, including school cuts already made, a proposed trash fee and an estimated $1.8 million still unresolved.
A big ballot for Marblehead: 24 seats open in June town election
Nomination papers are now available for a Monday June 9 election that will shape town government as Marblehead confronts budget pressure and policy decisions.
EDITOR’S DESK: On this Oscars-night eve, a love letter to this year’s films
Not just an Oscar ballot — but a short list of movie moments.
Four years in the making, new patrol boat begins guarding Marblehead, Salem harbors
A 31-foot aluminum vessel adds radar, sonar, thermal imaging and pumps 1,000 gallons a minute for fires, rescues and flooded craft.
Marblehead’s structural deficit comes for jobs, services and fees
A proposed $255 annual household charge for curbside pickup split the board, with some residents calling it leverage for a property tax override.