Community Resources - Marblehead Current

06 Apr

Override numbers expected this week as Town Meeting nears

Leigh BlanderAbbot Public Library, Community Resources, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

With Marblehead Town Meeting less than a month away (May 4), the coming days are expected to be critical for Marblehead’s budget and tax override proposals. On Monday evening, April 6, the Finance Committee is set to hold its warrant hearing, where it makes recommendations on all Town Meeting agenda items with financial impacts. (Visit MarbleheadCurrent.org for coverage.) Select Board Chair Dan Fox told the Current on Monday that a special group of department heads has been meeting over the past week to develop a…

31 Mar

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets coming up

Julia RocklerArt, Community Resources, Culture, Top Stories

Current Events spotlights notable happenings around town in the coming week. To submit a listing, email info@marbleheadnews.org. Concert in honor of Bob Franke’s life, music Friday, April 3, 8 p.m. A cherished Marblehead tradition will take on added significance this year as St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church hosts a special Good Friday performance in memory of acclaimed folk singer and songwriter Bob Franke. Franke died Oct. 16, 2025, after being struck by a motorcycle in Antigua, Guatemala, where he and his wife had retired just weeks earlier.…

29 Mar

News in brief: Week of March 30

Leigh BlanderArt, Community Resources, Entertainment, Health, Local History, Local News, Public safety

The Current welcomes 150–200-word submissions to News in Brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org. Marblehead Police want youGo behind the badge and learn about the Marblehead Police Department from the inside. MPD is offering its eight-week course Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., starting April 23. Attendees will meet local officers, detectives and staff and learn how operations work. They’ll observe a real trial and tour the Middleton House of Corrections. The course is free. Learn more and register at marbleheadma.gov/citizen-police-academy. Epstein Hillel School awarded security grantThe state has…

25 Mar

Marblehead Rec & Parks: No more trash pickup at 187 barrels in public areas to save $45K

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Municipal Matters, Recreation, Top Stories

Facing a tightening fiscal 2027 budget, the Recreation and Parks Department may stop collecting trash from 187 barrels in parks and other public spaces, as officials search for ways to cut another $45,000 from their spending plan. The town would rely on a carry-in/carry-out trash policy for those areas. Recreation & Parks SupervisorJaime Bloch told the commission Tuesday night that eliminating routine trash pickup could be the most feasible reduction in an already lean budget that oversees numerous parks and facilities across town. The plan…

23 Mar

OBSERVER REPORT: Housing Authority meeting

Submitted ContentCommunity Resources, Local News, Press releases

MARBLEHEAD HOUSING AUTHORITY – March 17, 2026LWVM Observer – Cathy Marie MichaelMembers Present: Jennifer Schaeffner, William Kuker, Terri Tauro, Kristin Dubay Horton, Cathy Sheehan, Executive DirectorPublic CommentTenant 1 - Washers and Dryers down for 2 weeks, sometimes 1 week - “This company is not showing up in a timely manner.”ED, Cathy Sheehan response - “Thank you for the feedback, we will look into it”Tenant 2 Judith Z - 2 Issues - Noise and Cigarette smokeNoise including screaming at 4am is intolerable for me.Cigarette smoking does…

22 Mar

News in brief: MHS freshman picks up top honor and more

Leigh BlanderArt, Business, Community Resources, Education, Environment, Local News

The Current welcomes 150–200-word submissions to News in Brief. Send yours to lblander@marbleheadnews.org.By Leigh Blander MHS freshman off to Nashville Marblehead High School freshman Dounia Peters-Abbadi recently had a successful trip to the Business Professionals of America 60th State Leadership Conference in Southbridge — on multiple fronts. Dounia Peters-Abbadi COURTESY PHOTO Peters-Abbadi received a Massachusetts Merit Scholar Award and finished in the top three for her event, “Human Resources Management,” which means she will compete at BPA’s national conference in Nashville in May. Even though…

11 Mar

LIGHTS, CAMERA, AI?

Leigh BlanderArt, Community Resources, Top Stories

MHS junior wins New York Times contest with short film on AI, creativity For Max Kane, a junior at Marblehead High School, a weekend spent hanging out with friends around Boston turned into something much bigger: a prize-winning short film for The New York Times. Kane recently won the Times’ student contest “Growing Up With AI,” a national challenge that invited teenagers to reflect on what it means to come of age in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. His entry — a roughly…

10 Mar

Local athletes find friendship, confidence through Special Olympics skiing

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Sports, Top Stories

For Ryan Horrigan and Grace Rigby, the thrill of racing down a mountain is only part of what makes the Special Olympics meaningful. The two North Shore athletes — both with roots in Marblehead — competed in a Special Olympics alpine ski competition Feb. 27 at Berkshire East Mountain. They skied in downhill and slalom races and both won medals. But when asked what stands out most about competing, both athletes quickly pointed to something beyond the podium. Friends Ryan Horrigan and Grace Rigby meeting…

07 Mar

Budget crisis could force Abbot Library to close on eve of 150th anniversary

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

The Abbot Public Library — newly renovated and seeing a surge in use — could close its doors in December if deep budget cuts tied to the town’s projected $7.7 million fiscal 2027 deficit move forward. On March 4, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer laid out two scenarios to address the budget gap. One would close the library all together. The second scenario would cut the library’s salary budget by about 50% and eliminate its materials budget. Gary Amberik is chair of Abbot Library's board of…

04 Mar

Marblehead Current, The Mariner partner to offer graduation scholarship

Leigh BlanderAbout Us, Community Resources, Education, Local News, Marblehead Public Schools

The Marblehead Current and The Mariner are partnering to offer a prestigious $2,000 scholarship created in memory of Frances "Fraffie" Welch and Ed Bell, both of whom had significant careers in journalism and contributed greatly to the Marblehead community. Applications are being accepted now through April 9 HERE. Welch, a graduate of Marblehead High School, spent over 30 years serving as a journalist and committed herself to her community. Bell had a distinguished 50-year career, excelling in newspapers, broadcasting and wire service. He co-founded…