At last, Marblehead Board of Health strikes $1.6M transfer station deal
A community survey seeks thousands of responses, updated vaccine guidance urges caution and students may soon face a costly driving-safety simulation.
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.
Jennifer Martelli, poet of identity, activism and coastal life, dies at 63
Her award-winning poetry, rooted in her Italian American heritage and North Shore community, blended feminism, politics and personal history.
Marblehead pumpkins mark season of tradition, community
A Navajo partnership, a neighborhood tradition and downtown celebrations keep the town glowing each fall.
Ellis Paul to perform at Me&Thee
Folk singer-songwriter Ellis Paul, a 15-time Boston Music Award winner, will return to Me&Thee Music on Friday, Oct. 3, at 8 p.m. Emerging artist Sadie Gustafson-Zook, winner of the 2022 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk Contest, will open the show. Paul, whose songs have appeared in films
Marblehead Museum to host Native American storyteller on Indigenous Peoples Day
Native American storyteller Anne Jennison will share traditional Abenaki and Wabanaki stories at the Marblehead Museum on Oct. 13 in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day. The free program begins at 11 a.m. in the museum’s Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen at 157 Washington St. Seating is limited, and doors
Marblehead police: Juvenile identified in church fire incidents
A 12-year-old has been identified as the sole suspect in two fires set inside Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, according to Marblehead police and fire officials. The first fire was reported around 11:42 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, when Marblehead police and firefighters responded to the church
Holiday Pops 2025 at Abbot Hall set for Dec. 13
Marblehead Harbor Rotary will continue its holiday tradition, featuring Maestro Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra
Kowalik will not stay after all, to leave MMLD with $207K payout
Successor will begin on Sept. 29 with a base salary of $216,000
Town officials clarify limits in ICE enforcement
A recent federal immigration action in Marblehead has prompted questions about how local leaders handle Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, drawing clear lines between the roles of town police, the Select Board and federal authorities. Police Chief Dennis King said his department does not participate in civil immigration enforcement and
In Marblehead, a new voice for energy rebates
Michael Hall oversees the light department’s sustainability and rebate programs under the NextZero initiative.
Marblehead fall fair set for Oct. 4
Discover Marblehead and Marblehead Museum will host the sixth annual Fall Fair on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Lee Mansion Gardens at 161 Washington St. The event will feature shopping, live music, intuitive card readings, a photo booth, portraits and a range
Marblehead receives clean audit but faces internal control issues
The town’s fiscal 2024 audit showed strong financial performance with revenues beating forecasts by $2 million and expenditures $5.8 million under budget, but auditors identified significant weaknesses in cash management and federal compliance that delayed the report’s completion. Roselli, Clark & Associates delivered the audit exit conference
Marblehead launches community wellness survey to assess residents’ health needs
The Marblehead Board of Health has launched a comprehensive community wellness survey designed to identify the most pressing health needs of residents and guide future strategic planning initiatives. The survey, administered by the University of Massachusetts Boston in partnership with the town, aims to document wellness needs across multiple dimensions
Halloween trick-or-treating, Spooktacular party set for Oct. 30
Families can celebrate Halloween downtown Oct. 30 with trick-or-treating at local businesses and a Spooktacular at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce will host its annual business district trick-or-treating from 4 to 6 p.m. on Washington, Atlantic and Pleasant streets. Police plan to close Washington
Five art shows open Sunday at Marblehead Arts Association
Nearly 200 artworks by 50 artists will fill the King Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St., when the Marblehead Arts Association opens five exhibitions together this weekend. The shows run Sept. 27 through Nov. 2, with a free public opening Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibitions include traditional
Charter Committee eyes 2026 Town Meeting vote
Marblehead Select Board members heard updates on legal reviews, committee feedback and the legislative path the charter must take before it can become law.