Community Service - Marblehead Current

19 Sep

MRJT member Lou Meyi honored by Moulton

Leigh BlanderCommunity Service, Local News

Marblehead Racial Justice Team member Lou Meyi has been named an honoree for the 10th annual Peter J. Gomes Service Award, created in 2016 by Congressman Seth Moulton. The award recognizes the public service and community contributions of constituents across the 6th District. Meyi has been a racial justice advocate for decades, living in Marblehead for over 40 years before moving to Salem recently. He is a longtime member of the MRJT, where he has championed affordable housing, public transportation and local history projects. In…

11 Sep

Pies for a purpose: Local woman finds delicious way to give back

khthomsonCommunity Service, Food, Local News

Once a month, you may notice something unusual outside 204 Atlantic Ave. It’s a line of people outside a garage, waiting their turn for some coveted pies from Diana Breed, Marblehead's own “Pie Lady.” Breed and her friends started a pie club this summer. The first sale in July and featured all blueberry-flavored pastries. Each month focuses on an ingredient: In August it was peaches and this month it’s apple. Diana Breed delivers money raised by pie sales to Ray at the Marblehead Food Pantry.…

01 Jul

Locals volunteer with Sail Beyond Cancer, offering peace on the water

Leigh BlanderCommunity Service, Sailing, Top Stories

When Kim Grad moved to the North Shore to take the job as Abbot Library’s new executive director in July 2021, she was recovering from grueling breast cancer treatment. She moved from Brooklyn, New York, leaving behind friends and family – her support system. Kim Grad, far right, is with other Sail Beyond Cancer North Shore volunteers on board High Tea. COURTESY PHOTOS Grad dove into her work here and gradually began to realize how much her health ordeal had impacted her. That’s when she…

27 May

Farmers’ Market to open Saturday for 29th season

Leigh BlanderCommunity Service, Top Stories

The Marblehead Farmers’ Market will launch its 29th season on Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m.-noon, with lots of returning favorites and some surprises. The Farmers' Market opens this coming Saturday for the season. COURTESY PHOTO “I’ll be at the market all morning, stop by and grab a cup of coffee from the Scouts and enjoy the day,” said Farmers’ Market Manager Steve Flower. The market is located by the Veterans Middle School. So, what’s new this year? There’s High Tide Farm with its sustainably grown…

06 May

Manna Project launches new garden to feed local hungry families

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Community Service, Local News, Nonprofit corner

On a recent sunny morning, about 20 preschoolers got their hands dirty — for a good cause. The North Shore’s Manna Project, which supports people facing food insecurity, launched a new garden at Temple Sinai on Community Road to grow fruits and vegetables for the Marblehead Food Pantry. The goal is to deliver 200 pounds of homegrown food twice a year. The JCC preschoolers were there to help plant the first harvest — beets, radishes and spinach. The next planting, in the fall, will include…

07 Apr

Observer Corps Report: Task Force Against Discrimination

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Community Service, Nonprofit corner

In-person Meeting — Glover School Meeting Room, March 27LWVM Observer: Shari PressmanMembers in Attendance: Helaine Hazlett, Diane Gora (co-chairs), Marblehead Chief of Police Dennis King (ex-officio), Deacon John Whipple, Chris Bruell, Reece DahlbergUpdate on Marblehead Police Department News — Chief King made it clear that the MPD always responds to incidents and must believe that schools are handling “impactful” incidents internally and appropriately. He noted that incidents used to be kept quiet but are more likely to be addressed now. It’s rare to have an…

20 Jan

Celebrating MLK Day with community breakfast, service

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Community Service, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories

Dozens of people shoveled out early Monday to attend the town's first MLK Community Breakfast, hosted by the Marblehead Racial Justice Team at Old North Church. Others came out to SPUR to make soup jars for local families facing food insecurity. https://videopress.com/v/jyFmiSn1?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Donna Pearl Cotterell, right, and Cheryl Boots lead the MLK Community Breakfast in song. CURRENT VIDEO / LEIGH BLANDER At Old North, it was standing room only as Marblehead resident and the town's new grant writer Donna Pearl Cotterell led a community sing…

14 Dec

PHOTO GALLERY: Wreaths Across America honors Marblehead veterans this holiday season

Leigh BlanderCommunity Service, Top Stories

The Marblehead chapter of Wreaths Across America welcomed people to Waterside Cemetery on Saturday to lay holiday wreaths on the graves of veterans. Today's event was organized by longtime Marblehead dispatcher Teresa Collins. Wreaths Across America started in Arlington National Cemetery in 1992. This year, more than two million volunteers gathered at 4,600 locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. Marblehead 9-1-1 dispatcher Teresa Collins leads the national Wreaths Across America ceremony at Waterside Cemtery. CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS Ann Powers places…

22 Apr

Earth Day celebrations underway in town

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Community Service, Environment, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories

Today marks the 54th annual Earth Day, but the celebration started early here in Marblehead. On Saturday, April 20, the Marblehead High School National Green School Society raised $770 in an Earth Day 5K. The students will donate the money to local environmental causes. Two dozen MHS students came out for the race, which started and ended at Devereux Beach. William Herlihy came in first, followed by Henrik Adams, Nate Assa and Will Cruikshank. MHS students at the rainy starting line of an Earth Day…

16 Apr

There are several local ways to celebrate Earth Day

Leigh Blander0 CommentsCommunity Resources, Community Service, Environment, Local News, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories, Volunteerism

Earth Day is Monday, April 22, and several local organizations are celebrating this year. Here’s a quick preview of some events. Join SPUR on Saturday, April 20, 10-11 a.m. and 3-4 p.m., to clean up beaches and parks in Marblehead, Swampscott, Salem, Lynn and Beverly. Learn more and sign up HERE. * Marblehead High School’s National Green School Society is hosting an Earth Day 5K walk/run this Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m. The event begins and ends at Devereux Beach. Proceeds will support the…