Health

Local riders complete Pan-Mass Challenge to support cancer research
02 Aug

Local riders complete Pan-Mass Challenge to support cancer research

Leigh BlanderHealth, Sports, Top Stories
Dozens of Marbleheaders joined 6,500 cyclists and more than 3,500 volunteers at the Pan-Mass Challenge last weekend, with the shared goal of raising a record-breaking $79 million to support critical cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The annual bike-a-thon, which raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraiser in the world, was aiming to raise Organizers say this year's PMC comes at an especially critical time, with federal research support shrinking, grant approval rates reaching historic lows and cancer cases…
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Board of Health weighs repealing Marblehead’s social host bylaw
30 Jul

Board of Health weighs repealing Marblehead’s social host bylaw

Leigh BlanderHealth, Public safety, Top Stories
The Board of Health is considering asking Town Meeting to repeal Marblehead's 31-year-old social host bylaw, arguing that the state's stronger law may make the local ordinance unnecessary and potentially confusing. The discussion Tuesday night came weeks after Marblehead Police responded to a “spring-break-type party” at Crowninshield Island on July 4. Officers reported hundreds of youth, many drinking alcohol. Some of those juveniles now face court hearings, according to Chief Dennis King.  Board Chair Dr. Tom Massaro said the idea grew out of an April…
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Injured resident urges town to warn about recycling-bin hazard
29 Jul

Injured resident urges town to warn about recycling-bin hazard

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories
Mary McAllister returned to the Board of Health Tuesday night with a simple request: Warn residents before someone else gets hurt. The 77-year-old Jersey Street resident told board members she suffered serious injuries after falling into one of the town's new 95-gallon recycling carts earlier this month and said she hopes her experience will prompt the town to better educate residents about safely moving the bins. Mary McAllister, 77, described how she suffered serious injuries while moving a new recycling bin. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH…
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UPDATE: Grace Oliver Beach open again for swimming
28 Jul

UPDATE: Grace Oliver Beach open again for swimming

Marblehead Current staffHealth, Top Stories
July 28, 4:20 p.m.: The Marblehead Health Department just announced that new water testing results show Grace Oliver Beach is safe again for swimming. It had been closed since July 23 due to "bacterial exceedance." **** The Marblehead Health Department has closed Grace Oliver Beach for swimming on Thursday, July 23 due to a "bacterial exceedance." The beach has been posted, and the Health Department said it has taken new samples, with results due back Friday afternoon. Once the Health Department has the new results,…
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‘Somebody could die’: Resident raises concerns after fall involving recycling bin
28 Jul

‘Somebody could die’: Resident raises concerns after fall involving recycling bin

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories
Mary McAllister, 77, said she is coming to the Board of Health meeting tonight to share her story of being seriously injured by one of the town’s new 95-gallon recycling bins. McAllister, who lives on Jersey Street, said she was moving her neighbor’s bin — which had been left in her driveway after it was emptied — back to her neighbor’s driveway about five feet away when the accident happened. “I started to push and the bin tipped toward me,” McAllister told the Current July…
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Merry Mixers donate record $132K to Salem Hospital
27 Jul

Merry Mixers donate record $132K to Salem Hospital

Leigh BlanderCommunity Resources, Health, Local News
The Merry Mixers celebrated their 76th year by presenting Salem Hospital with a record-breaking donation of $132,000 to support the Merry Mixers Patient in Need Fund. This year's gift also marks the establishment of the Merry Mixers Pediatric Patient in Need Endowment, creating a permanent source of funding that will provide immediate support to pediatric patients and families facing financial hardship for generations to come.  The 2025-2026 Merry Mixers Board and members of Salem Hospital pose with a record-breaking donation. COURTESY PHOTO  Founded in 1950,…
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Juveniles heading to court after ‘spring-break-style’ Crowninshield Island party
27 Jul

Juveniles heading to court after ‘spring-break-style’ Crowninshield Island party

Leigh BlanderHealth, Public safety, Top Stories
In the wake of a July 4 disturbance involving “hundreds of youth” and alleged underage drinking on Crowninshield Island (formerly Brown's Island), some juveniles have been identified and are facing court action, Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King said Monday.  "Based on the facts of this incident, the violations were MGL (Massachusetts General Law) violations, minors in possession of alcohol and disturbance activity," King told the Current in an email. "We were able to seize a considerable amount of alcohol, disperse the crowd safely and identify…
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Marblehead Board of Health urges precautions amid national cyclosporiasis outbreak
14 Jul

Marblehead Board of Health urges precautions amid national cyclosporiasis outbreak

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories
UPDATE July 17 The CDC said it has narrowed down the source of the cyclospora outbreak to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The Marblehead Board of Health is encouraging residents to take precautions against cyclosporiasis, the foodborne parasitic infection linked to contaminated produce, as health officials continue investigating cases reported across the country. In a statement released Wednesday, the board said cyclosporiasis is caused by consuming food — most commonly fresh produce — contaminated…
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CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets coming up
14 Jul

CURRENT EVENTS: Marblehead’s best bets coming up

Leigh BlanderArt, Community Resources, Culture, Health, Recreation, Top Stories
Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email the Current at info@marbleheadnews.org.  Singer Donna Byrne at the MAAThursday, July 16, (doors open 6:30 p.m.) 7-9 p.m. Listen to live music by Donna Byrne at the Marblehead Arts Association as part of its Jazz and the Arts concert series. The cost is $35. Register at marbleheadarts.org.  Rock out with Code Blue Friday, July 17, 9 p.m. Start your weekend with live music from Code Blue at The Beacon Restaurant.…
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Update: Marblehead reopens two beaches
09 Jul

Update: Marblehead reopens two beaches

Leigh BlanderHealth, Public safety, Top Stories
***The Marblehead Health Department posted an update on July 10 that both beaches had reopened. The Marblehead Health Department has shut down Grace Oliver and Gas House beaches to swimming due to high bacteria levels. The health department has taken new water samples and results will come back Friday afternoon. Stay with the Current for the updated results. Grace Oliver's was closed earlier this month for high bacteria counts.
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