Will Dowd - Marblehead Current

08 Jul

Abbot Public Library to host North Shore Career Center on July 27

Will Dowd0 CommentsBusiness, Local News, Press releases

Teens ages 16 and older as well as adults are invited to stop by the Career Center on Wednesday, July 27 from 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Abbot Public Library’s Meeting Room. A representative of MASSHIRE - North Shore Career Center will be on hand to discuss the different services they offer, which include: Career Coach Advising - An opportunity where residents can speak one-on-one with an Advising Coach about the possibility of any training opportunities offered at MHNSCC. Training opportunities such as Career…

06 Jul

Democracy’s steward: Spiess reflects on 16 years as Marblehead town moderator

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Top Stories

As the dust settles (sort of) on the 2022 town election, Marblehead finds itself with a new town moderator, Jack Attridge. The Marblehead native's election embodies a rare changing of the guard in this particular elected office. Attridge's predecessor, Gary Spiess, held the post for 16 years, and before Spiess, Steve Howe carried out moderator duties for a whopping 43 years. Next May, Spiess can partake in something he had given up while presiding over the town’s most significant civic meeting of the year: contributing…

05 Jul

The return of the Marblehead Horribles Parade

Will Dowd0 CommentsCulture, Local News, Top Stories

; Local families and children embraced the full return of the Marblehead Horribles Parade on the Fourth of July. Hundreds turned out for the holiday tradition, annually organized by the Gerry 5 Firemen’s Association, Inc. Both the horrible costumes and patriotic garb were eclectic: Mermaids. A new nine-member Supreme Court. Dorothy and her posse: the Cowardly Lion, the Wicked Witch of the West, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. Top Gun Girls. Cardboard vegetables grown in the Glover School organic garden. Athletes aplenty, from Celtics…

04 Jul

Mapping Marblehead: The 20th century and beyond

Will Dowd0 CommentsCulture, Local News, Press releases, Top Stories

The Marblehead Historical Commission will present a new exhibit at the Old Town House, 1 Market Square, beginning on July 8. "Mapping Marblehead: The Twentieth Century and Beyond" continues the Historical Commission’s project of presenting the highlights of Marblehead’s history. This is the third and final in a series of three planned exhibits. The goal is to tell the story of Marbleheadin a way that can be appreciated by all ages, encouraging residents and visitors to walk through the exhibit, and then out into the…

28 Jun

Contractor begins safety upgrades to dodgy Marblehead intersection

Will Dowd0 CommentsLocal News, Top Stories, Travel

The Marblehead News' coverage of the town is free, and we'd like to keep it that way. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the Marblehead News Group, Inc. by visiting https://bit.ly/3NxZ0yJ. One of Marblehead's most baffling and precious intersections - where Cross, Pleasant, Vine and Village streets converge - is getting what many have characterized as long overdue safety upgrades - with a contractor having kicked off work on Monday. For years, residents and drivers have vocalized a serious need for safety enhancements at the…

27 Jun

Marblehead concert offers ‘great purpose in a dark time’

Will Dowd0 CommentsCulture, Entertainment, Top Stories

There was something for everyone at the Shelter My Soul concert Saturday night. New songs from the Chad Hollister Band and some old favorites from the Deb Larkin and Jeff Stout Jazz Quintet. A sparse but enthusiastic audience was on hand in the Performing Arts Center at Veterans Middle School. The concert benefited the Lynn Shelter Association which is raising money to rehabilitate a new space for the region’s homeless in neighboring Lynn. “This concert provides great purpose in a dark time,” declared The Rev.…

24 Jun

Abbot Public Library to display ‘Ocean of Possibilities’ art exhibit

Will Dowd0 CommentsCulture, Press releases

On Wednesday, July 13, Michael Leykin will present his first directed art show. He has gathered the work of Michael Marrinan of Wellfleet, Chris Volpe of New Hampshire, Pete Hocking of Provincetown, and Todd Bonita of New Hampshire, as well as some local artists in a carefully curated collection of ocean-themed art. A public opening reception is slated for Wednesday, July 13 from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Abbot Public Library’s Virginia A. Carten Gallery. The show runs through Friday, Aug. 5. A piece…

23 Jun

LETTER: ‘I am honored to be your voice,’ writes School Committee member

Will Dowd0 CommentsOpinion, Viewpoints

To the Marblehead community, Tonight will be my first meeting as an officially sworn-in, Marblehead School Committee member. Thank you to all of you who voted for me. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support by so many of you during my run for school committee. Most importantly, my son, for his unwavering support and patience as we walked through this journey together - this is all for you, my sweet boy. I would also like to thank Reece Dahlberg and Sarah Fox for…

21 Jun

Marblehead voters OK $24.3M in capital projects

Will Dowd1 CommentLocal News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

In the Tuesday election, Marblehead approved a Proposition 2 1/2 debt-exclusion override to finance a $24.3 million smorgasbord of capital improvement projects over the next five years. According to preliminary machine and hand counted results, the first of two Proposition 2 1/2 override questions on the day's ballot was approved by a vote of 3,352 "yes" votes - or 57 percent - to 2,177 "no" votes. A total of 5,845 ballots were cast in a turnout that depleted the town's stockpile of ballots. "It's great,"…

21 Jun

Marblehead voters turn down $3M permanent override for schools

Will Dowd1 CommentLocal News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

In their annual election on Tuesday, Marblehead voters tuned down a proposed $3 million permanent override that sought to supplement the town's $43 million education budget. According to preliminary machine and hand counted results, the Proposition 2 1/2 override was defeated by a vote of 3,921 "no" votes - or by 67 percent - to 1,798 "yes" votes. A total of 5,845 ballots were cast in a turnout that depleted the town's stockpile of ballots. The measure would have raised Marblehead's levy limit and would…