Cheryl Byrne - Marblehead Current

17 Dec

EDITORIAL: An easy “yes”

Cheryl ByrneCurrent Editorials, Local News, Municipal Matters

As the Current recently reported, voters statewide do not seem like they will get the chance to repeal the MBTA Communities Act in next November’s election, as the proponent of such a question, John T. Kolackovsky of Rockport, does not appear to have gathered the required 74,574 certified signatures by the Dec. 3 deadline. One measure that has cleared the initial hurdle is long overdue, however. This proposed law would make most records held by the Legislature and the governor’s office public records under the…

17 Dec

SCHOOL COMMITTEE: December community update

Cheryl ByrneEducation, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools

Submitted By Melissa Clucas & Henry Gwazda, School Committee Communications Subcommittee MHS roof bid approvedFollowing a competitive bidding process, the School Committee unanimously approvedawarding the Marblehead High School roof and HVAC replacement contract to Homer Contracting Inc. for $8.97 million, about $2.1 million under budget. The bid includes fixed pricing for a full roof recovering along with HVAC, plumbing and electrical work. This marks a major step toward resolving longstanding building issues at MHS. Most construction is planned for the summer, with substantial completion targeted…

17 Dec

What to know about cannabis use in adolescence

Cheryl ByrneColumns, Health, Opinion

There has been a great deal of discussion about the use of alcohol by adolescents recently. It is great that the town is talking about these things, but alcohol is not the only potentially addictive substance that is available for adolescents to use today. The use of cannabis-related substances is growing rapidly, and cannabis may pass alcohol as the substance of choice for many young people in the near future. In doing the background research for this column, I became aware that public health professionals…

17 Dec

POLICE LOG: Town employee behaves badly at bar; Porsche strikes trailer on West Shore Drive

Cheryl ByrneLocal News, Police Log

Saturday, Dec. 6 Alarms: 1911 hang-ups: 2Property checks: 4Vehicle stops, citations: 0Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1 11:44 a.m. An officer rendered services after larceny, forgery or fraud was reported on Pleasant Street. 1:04 p.m. An officer took a report after a vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue and Gerry Street. 9:05 p.m. Officers rendered services after a disturbance was reported on Prospect and Commercial streets. Sunday, Dec. 7 Alarms: 0911 hang-ups: 0Property checks: 4Vehicle stops, citations: 0Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1 3:57 a.m. Officers investigated a…

17 Dec

Magicians begin new season with two wins in Markowitz Memorial Tournament

Cheryl ByrneMarblehead Public Schools, Sports

A team can’t go undefeated unless it wins its first game, and that’s what the Marblehead High School boys basketball team (1-0 in the Northeastern Conference, 2-0 overall) did last Friday night (Dec. 12), when it defeated the Danvers Falcons in the opening round of the fourth annual Zach Markowitz Memorial Tournament hosted by Salem Academy, 58-51. The Magicians then took on Salem Academy in the title game the next day, and defeated them going away, 72-40. The Navigators defeated Bishop Fenwick in their first-round…

17 Dec

END OF AN ERA: Every giant has a birthplace. Mullen’s was on Mechanic Street

Cheryl ByrneColumns, Local News

By Kate Haesche Thomson When Omnicom completed its $13 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group on Nov. 26, it didn’t just create the world’s largest agency holding company. It also retired several iconic names in advertising — including MullenLowe, soon to be folded into TBWA. To the business world, this is an epic story about scale, strategy and the end of a legacy network. Here in Marblehead, the story is a local one. In 1970, Jim Mullen wasn’t an ad industry household name. He was a…

23 Sep

Capturing the Moment: The Art of Photojournalism

Cheryl ByrneArt

Pulitzer Prize winner Ulrike Welsch will join a panel of celebrated Marblehead portraiture and photojournalists for a discussion on “Capturing the Moment: The Art of Photojournalism.” This special fundraising event will be held Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the third-floor ballroom of the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper Street, Marblehead, Mass. Proceeds will benefit the Marblehead Current. This event coincides with the MAA’s 2025 Members’ Photography Exhibit. Although the MAA’s ballroom is not universally accessible, the panel discussion will be simulcast to the first floor…

12 Sep

New road closure announcement: West Street, Mystic Road, and Florence Road

Cheryl ByrneLocal News, Municipal Matters

From Amy McHugh, Director of Public Works:WEATHER PERMITTING, D & R General Contractor, will begin adjusting roadway utility structures beginning on or after Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. The Contractor will begin roadway reclamation work beginning on or after Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025.NO PARKING ON ROAD DURING WORK HOURS, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Additional restrictions will be posted if necessary. All recreation equipment must be off the public way. This includes, but is not limited to, boats/trailers, basketball hoops, and hockey nets.TRAVEL AT YOUR OWN RISK…