Current Editorials

The last time Marblehead passed a general override of Proposition 2 1/2, gas was $2 a gallon, “The Office” and “Grey's Anatomy” were new to TV, Carrie Underwood had just won “American Idol,” and Tom Brady had only three Super Bowl rings. Someone born that year (2005) is now old enough to vote on June 9 — and likely old enough to buy a drink after. In the two decades since, the town has managed — cutting positions, drawing down reserves, deferring maintenance and hoping…

"That nation which respects and honors its dead, shall ever be respected and honored itself.” — Brevet Lt. Col. Edmund B. Whitman, 1868. English journalist, novelist and poet G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him.” In other words, the true soldier is devoted to his country, his family and to protecting the values that are cherished and held dear.  As it has for over 150 years,…

Last week, a staff member at the Town Clerk's Office told the Current there would be no in-person early voting for the June 9 election — the vote that will ask Marblehead homeowners to decide on a three-tiered Proposition 2 1/2 tax override that could reach $15 million. The apparent decision came without consulting the Board of Registrars. It's worth noting that last year's referendum, solely on the MBTA Communities Law question, included early voting. Yet this year, with a major override and a full…

What a difference a year makes, right? One night instead of three. Three-plus hours, not 10 or more, of mostly civil discourse. Virtually all articles and amendments passed handily, including Article 29, leading to June’s Prop 2 1/2 override vote (more on that later). All that plus another impressive turnout, along with an end — perhaps — to Marblehead’s noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act. Voters have approved new zoning districts that allow for, but do not guarantee, construction of multifamily housing along Broughton Road…

The winter holidays may be known as the “most wonderful time of the year” (thank you, Andy Williams), but for local news outlets, Town Meeting and election season is perhaps the most important stretch on the calendar. It is a time when voters are demanding reliable information to help them make informed decisions. But thanks to social media and individual agendas (some more benign than others), it can be hard to separate the news from the noise. Town meeting has been called the “purest form…

Consider two Marblehead residents walking into Town Meeting. One has spent the past several months following a local elected official's detailed dispatches in a private Facebook group — long, passionate posts about the budget, the proposed override, increased fees and what's going on behind the scenes. The other doesn't use Facebook and has no idea those posts exist. Both residents will cast votes that impact the town. One of them recognizes some of the names, has followed some of the arguments and thinks they know…

On Thursday, April 9, newsrooms and communities across the country will mark Local News Day — a national day of action celebrating the trusted local news and information that helps communities stay informed and connected. Local News Day is built around a simple idea: Start Local. At a time when national headlines dominate our feeds, it’s easy to overlook the news taking place outside our doors. But the most important news is close to home: the decisions affecting local schools, the businesses opening downtown, the…

After 15 years of leading MHTV, Executive Director Joan Goloboy has retired, and we are taking this moment to both recognize and thank Joan for her many contributions to local access public television in Marblehead. Cable television came to town in the mid-’80s, with Continental Cablevision being the first of many cable companies to provide such service to homeowners looking to abandon their roof-top antennae. From the beginning — as part of their franchise licenses with the town — cable companies have dedicated at least…