Community Service - Marblehead Current

25 Feb

Celebrating the legacy of Ed Bell, and honoring his beloved Masons

Leigh BlanderAbout Us, Community Service, Top Stories

The community will gather March 5 to celebrate Ed Bell, the renowned journalist and dedicated Marblehead volunteer. Bell died last year, but his legacy lives on through the Marblehead Current, which he co-founded. An award-winning newsman and devoted civic leader, Bell built a distinguished 50-year career in newspapers, broadcasting and wire services, covering some of the most significant stories of the late 20th century. His reporting took him around the world and earned him widespread respect in the profession. A tribute event in Bell’s honor…

18 Feb

Honoring Current co-founder Ed Bell and Marblehead’s Teri McDonough

Leigh BlanderAbout Us, Community Service, Top Stories

Community members and journalists will gather next month to honor the life and legacy of Ed Bell, a longtime journalist and dedicated Marblehead volunteer. Bell, who died in 2025, will be remembered at a tribute event Thursday, March 5, at the Boston Yacht Club. Tickets are available at MarbleheadCurrent.org. An award-winning newsman and devoted civic leader, Bell built a distinguished 50-year career in newspapers, broadcasting and wire services, covering some of the most significant stories of the late 20th century. His reporting took him around…

13 Feb

MHS senior Grey Collins to be honored at Ed Bell legacy event

Leigh BlanderAbout Us, Community Service, Top Stories

Friends and colleagues of Ed Bell will gather from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 5, at the Boston Yacht Club to honor his legacy. Ed Bell, an award-winning journalist who traveled the world covering news, was a co-founder of the Current. Bell was an award-winning journalist and devoted community volunteer who built a distinguished 50-year career in newspapers, broadcasting and wire services, leading coverage of some of the most memorable stories of the late 20th century. He co-founded and served as co-chair of Marblehead…

19 Jan

Crowd fills Old North Church with singing, calls to action at MLK Breakfast

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Community Service, Top Stories

More than 150 people braved snowy roads Monday morning to attend the Marblehead Racial Justice Team's second annual MLK Community Breakfast at Old North Church. Families, faith leaders and community members gathered for live music, a dramatic reading and reflection in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Members of a St. Mary’s School chorus, led by music director Brandon Mayes, sang at the Marblehead Racial Justice Team's MLK Community Breakfast on Monday, Jan. 19. CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER A chorus from St.…

22 Dec

News in brief: Week of Dec. 22

Leigh BlanderBusiness, Community Service, Health, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to its News in Brief section. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org. Goodwin extradited to Florida Marblehead resident and founder of defunct travel company Stone & Compass arrived in Florida on Dec. 18 to face charges that he defrauded more than 100 Daytona Beach high school students and chaperones out of about $400,000. Goodwin is being held on a $4 million bond. BLOOM for mental health The town of Marblehead is partnering with BLOOM, which offers free, confidential and personalized support…

12 Dec

Locals lend a hand during the holidays

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Community Service, Top Stories, Volunteerism

On Sunday morning, while most Marbleheaders were on the Christmas walk and buying gifts for friends and family, others were out buying gifts for complete strangers and delivering them to SPUR’s offices, where young volunteers feverishly wrapped up the gifts for people in need around the Northshore. Their tireless efforts concluded a months-long process to support children and families in need around Lynn, Salem, Swampscott, and Marblehead. The annual SPUR Holiday Cheer Drive supports over 600 local children in need, and adults experiencing homelessness, with…

12 Nov

COMMUNITY: Seaglass Village makes a splash in Marblehead

Bella TravagliniCommunity Service, Local News

Sometimes, it takes a village… Just ask Cliff Boggis and Kathleen Iannacchino, who live in town and volunteer for Seaglass Village, a community of seniors serving Marblehead, Swampscott and Nahant, who help each other maintain their independence while living in their own homes as they embark on their golden years. “It certainly helps people have a feeling of empowerment when they can stay in their own homes as they age and know that they can call on someone to change a lightbulb, for instance,” said…

04 Nov

Local volunteers join food rescue efforts

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Community Service, Food, Top Stories

As food prices surge and federal benefits appear in jeopardy during the government shutdown, volunteers around Marblehead are working nearly every day with food rescue programs to ensure that no groceries or meals go to waste. On Oct. 28, Mimi Hollister and Richard Thibedeau picked up 100 pounds of produce and bread — past their prime but still healthy and nutritious — from Crosby’s Marketplace in Marblehead and delivered it to Lifebridge in Salem. Hollister and Thibedeau are members of Old North Church. Volunteers from…

08 Oct

Pumpkin Patrol:

Leigh BlanderCommunity Service, Local News

Seven-year-old August Clark is going places — in more ways than one. The industrious Brown School second grader has just opened his own business, Pumpkin Patrol. August will travel to your porch, remove tired, past-prime pumpkins and deliver them to local farms to feed animals. The price? “You can pay whatever you want,” Clark said. “I’m trying to feed animals, and I’m also trying to get the pumpkins away from people’s homes after Halloween,” he explained. “Helping animals just makes me feel good.” August Clark…

24 Sep

Marblehead Turns Pink, with lots of local support

Bella TravagliniCommunity Resources, Community Service, Health, Top Stories

Susan Hassett thought that her two-year battle with breast cancer had been “wrapped up in a little box, with a big pink bow” hidden away in the back of her closet — until she realized that she needed to pay it forward. It was this past spring, while on a business call that had turned to friendly chatter, that Hassett, 68, learned of a free, multi-faceted support service for breast cancer patients; a service she had been unaware of during her treatments, surgeries and recovery.…