This installment begins a multi-part look at Marblehead’s finances as officials prepare for the next fiscal year, examining cost pressures that are structural in nature rather than tied to any single decision or ballot question.
A morning gathering at Old North Church will feature student voices, a historic civil rights text and recognition for local justice work, followed by hands-on service nearby.
SWAMPSCOTT – The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Kearsarge Lodge No. 217 has pledged $10,000 toward preserving the historic General John Glover Farmhouse, supporters announced. The donation marks a milestone for Save the Glover!, a nonprofit group formed in late 2025 to raise money for restoration and long-term maintenance
The appointee replaces Terra Samuels and already serves on another town panel, offering familiarity with local operations while continuing to learn Marblehead’s fiscal framework.
A public request involving a long-standing linden near a residential bend was rejected after officials cited stability, age and state protections governing vegetation along public ways.
Town officials told the Disabilities Commission that Marblehead has made measurable ADA gains but faces years of costly work ahead, from municipal buildings to sidewalks and digital access. The update outlined progress, priorities and the financial reality shaping what comes next.
Massachusetts’ top lawyer said consequences are imminent for holdout communities, citing compliance by roughly nine-tenths of affected cities and towns after years of warnings.
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. Jerry Tucker has resigned from the Cemetery Commission after moving out of town, making him ineligible to continue serving as a nonresident.
Members said feedback was largely encouraging, with most problems described as easily corrected through clearer language or minor density adjustments.
Officials described the recommendation as a policy position, not a commitment, stressing additional public sessions will precede any request for proposals.
Applicants and some renewals must complete live-fire coursework beginning in April, while a separate database will eventually catalog legally held weapons across Massachusetts.
Marblehead will mark its fourth annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Friday, Jan. 30, with a schedule of events including a midday municipal ceremony and an evening religious service. For the fourth consecutive year, the Select Board has issued a proclamation recognizing the day and designating the month of January
Town staff plan three to five meetings starting in late January, with Community Planning Director Brendan Callahan moderating and Coordinator Logan Casey providing support.
The Marblehead Animal Shelter is inviting the public to vote on this year’s “Adopt a Cat Month” design created by Marblehead High School art students, with voting open Monday, Jan. 19 through Friday, Jan. 23. The contest features five student finalist designs — including themes such as a cat on
Jane Anne Allen, 89, of University Place, passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 27 in University Place after a very brief illness. She was born on July 26 in Mitchell, South Dakota, and is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Margaret Mary Smith and her sister,
Laurel Ann (Burkinshaw) McDonough of Marblehead passed away peacefully on Dec. 29. Born in 1940 in Lynn to James Leo Burkinshaw and Anna Burkinshaw, Laurel was the youngest of four girls. She attended St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s in Lynn. She then attended Chandler School in Boston and