Health - Marblehead Current

08 Sep

Household Hazardous Waste Day set at Transfer Station

Leigh BlanderEnvironment, Health, Local News

The Marblehead Health Department has scheduled the next Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 4-7 p.m. at the Transfer Station. There's a long list of items that be disposed that evening, including oil-based paint, anti-freeze, lighter fluid and furniture polish. Check out the full list HERE.

08 Sep

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: New ideas on causes, prevention

Marblehead Counseling CenterColumns, Community Resources, Health, Nonprofit corner, Opinion

Suicide claims about 50,000 lives each year in the United States, nearly double the homicide rate. According to the most recent full-year statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, another 2.2 million people attempted suicide in 2024, 14.3 million adults seriously thought about suicide, and 4.6 million planned a suicide attempt. Worldwide, approximately 720,000 people take their own life each year. For the past 18 years, September has been Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the U.S., coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day…

04 Sep

Health board to address concerns after McMahon’s heated exchange with resident

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories

The Board of Health has called a meeting for Wednesday, Sept. 9, to discuss a heated exchange involving member Tom McMahon at its Aug. 24 meeting. McMahon repeatedly interrupted and raised his voice at resident Ryan Wilson, who was addressing the board during public comment. Wilson, who has two children at Marblehead High School and works in market research, challenged both the board’s interpretation of youth drinking data and its focus on alcohol. The most recent Marblehead High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows underage…

01 Sep

Marblehead mom takes the ‘ick’ out of treating head lice

Marielle SabbagHealth, Top Stories

A new school year is underway. Kids are getting new notebooks and backpacks — and also sharing what no parent wants their child to come home with: head lice. Joanna Shu, founder and CEO of Cartwheel, created Nit Happens, a natural, pesticide-free lice treatment designed to give families an alternative. Shu graduated from Boston University in 2004 and earned an MBA in finance from BU’s Questrom School of Business in 2008. She later founded her own natural skin care brand, Refresh Skin Therapy. She said…

25 Aug

Health board weighs social host bylaw changes as parent urges focus on broader youth risks

Leigh BlanderHealth, Public safety, Top Stories

Tensions flared Monday night when the Board of Health continued its discussion on whether to ask Town Meeting to appeal or revise Marblehead’s social host bylaw as part of a broader effort to address underage drinking. However, a local parent urged the board to look beyond alcohol and focus on what he says are more prevalent threats to teenagers, including suicidal thoughts and texting while driving. ***The state’s social host law, G.L.c. 138, §34, makes it a crime punishable by a fine of up to…

18 Aug

Town to deliver smaller trash, recycling carts this week

Leigh BlanderHealth, Top Stories

The town of Marblehead has put out a message that it will begin delivery of smaller trash and recycling carts starting Wednesday, Aug 19. Carts will be delivered to residents who have requested them, according to the trash collection schedule. "Please leave town trash and/or recycling carts curbside following your day of collection for all exchanges," according to the statement. "Residents should expect their smaller cart to be delivered the day after their scheduled trash and recycling collection. For example, if your regular collection day…

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…

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…

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…

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,…