In 2025, record heat drives Marblehead’s peak demand to all-time high
After a summer marked by short bursts of extreme heat, officials say the town’s highest load landed at 34 megawatts this year.
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.
MMLD will not increase rates in new year, formalizes payments to town
A fall survey found 89.7% overall approval, with reliability and restoration drawing the strongest marks; participation skewed toward higher-income homeowners and empty nesters.
Meet Pringles, a soft-spoken tabby looking for a home
Pringles, an adult male domestic short hair, is one of the newest cats available for adoption at the Marblehead Animal Shelter, located at 44 Village St., and is already making a quiet impression. With soft tabby fur, expressive eyes and an easygoing presence, Pringles is described by staff as a
Volunteer-built and Rotary-backed, a new Marblehead sign goes up
A patchwork of donated labor and services carried the build from plan to install, with Rotary filling the remaining gaps after town approval.
Marblehead committee reviews pedestrian safety upgrades near Veterans Middle School
DPW’s add ADA curb ramps, new curbing and smoother walking routes between Abbot Public Library and the Veterans Memorial campus.
Marblehead to hold annual Christmas tree burning Jan. 6
Fire and public works officials say the event combines safety, disposal and a shared community tradition.
Federal grant to fund bulk of Marblehead’s rail-trail power line undergrounding project
The municipal electric utility laid out a three-step effort to harden lines between Salem and Marblehead, shifting thousands of feet of sub-transmission wires into underground conduits along the former rail corridor.
Sean Casey, principal architect of Marblehead charter draft, dies at 68
His work became the backbone of the committee’s effort to bring Marblehead’s bylaws, special acts and practices into one reference document.
In Marblehead Independent poll, respondents narrowly favor country club zoning plan to meet state housing law
Findings point to modest support alongside notable uncertainty, highlighting differing views on development likelihood, local impacts and the town’s loss of state funding since July.
New MBTA zoning map would center housing district on Tedesco Country Club
Local officials sought advance feedback from Boston before going back to residents, hoping to avoid another long public process built around a concept that might not meet Section 3A.
Beauport Ambulance cuts ribbon on renovated Marblehead base
Sewall Street site becomes 24/7 home for town’s dedicated EMS crew, with living quarters designed for long shifts and overnight coverage.
POLICE LOG: CVS tweezers trip spirals into shouting match, scuffle and on-the-spot quitting
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The Marblehead block where going dark for Christmas is not an option
What began as a playful contest between two neighbors is now a meticulously managed neighborhood ritual, complete with tongue-in-cheek rule memos from self-appointed “Chairman of the Cord.”
MBTA zoning repeal among record number of 2026 ballot questions
Measures that qualify will join a firearms referendum already certified, creating an extensive statewide slate for consideration.
Marblehead Harbors and Waters Board advances fiscal 2027 budget, plans mooring fee increase
Capital work centers on maintaining aging piers, docks and electrical systems, with estimates based on early contractor conversations and pending bid responses.
Marblehead tops $42,500 goal to honor veterans with wreaths on Dec. 13
The milestone reflects weeks of community events, including a fundraiser at the local veterans post that drew a full house and steady contributions.