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Marblehead women protest ruling overturning Roe v. Wade; Abbot Hall vigil set for 8 p.m.
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Marblehead women protest ruling overturning Roe v. Wade; Abbot Hall vigil set for 8 p.m.

Within just a couple of hours after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade and ended the constititional right to abortions, more than dozen Marblehead women gathered at Tent’s Corner, waving signs and flags and chanting “Honk for choice!” From left: Maddie Miller, Jennifer Martelli, Jenny Armini, and Renee Keaney protest the Supreme Court's abortion ruling. “I never thought we would be back here again,” said Ginny O’Brien through tears. “I’m worried about my granddaughter and the future for all girls and women. Abortion is a human right.” Amy Hirschkron carried a sign reading "Abortion on Demand and Without Apology." She is worried that a federal abortion ban might be coming soon. “I’m also concerned that we’re going to lose others rights… birth control, gay marriage, interra...
Shelter My Soul benefit set to rock Marblehead Veterans Middle School
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Shelter My Soul benefit set to rock Marblehead Veterans Middle School

The Chad Hollister Band is set to headline the Shelter My Soul benefit concert Saturday, June 25, 7 to 10 p.m. at Marblehead Veterans Middle School to benefit the Lynn Shelter Association. Tickets will be available at the door. The Chad Hollister Band will headline Shelter My Soul, a benefit concert for the Lynn Shelter Association, Saturday, June 25, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Marblehead Veterans Middle School Performing Arts Center, 217 Pleasant St. This benefit concert will also feature Deb Larkin and Jeff Stout Jazz Quartet, Mary Alexander-Onstad and Soneta Srey. Tickets are $50, $25 for seniors and children under 17, and can be purchased online or at the door. Speaking to the selectmen on June 22, Mimi Hollister Gardner — proud stepmother of Chad Hollister — likened it t...
Glover’s Marblehead Regiment to bring 18th century back to Fort Sewall Saturday
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Glover’s Marblehead Regiment to bring 18th century back to Fort Sewall Saturday

Glover’s Marblehead Regiment is pleased to announce the return of its Revolutionary War Living History Encampment to Fort Sewall in Marblehead this Saturday, July 9. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can travel back in time to the 18th century. Admission is free. See the fort: See Fort Sewall will be transformed into a busy military camp, bustling with soldiers and sailors as well as civilian townspeople and camp followers. Visitors can explore newly restored fort structures and learn about the role of the fort in times of conflict. Meet the people: Visitors can also speak with men and women of the 18th century and learn about the history of Glover’s Marblehead Regiment. Hear how they saved the Revolution, not once but three times, culminating in their role in Washington’s crossin...
Ballot hand count goes into early morning; Marblehead voters approve Q1, reject Q2, re-elect most incumbents
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Ballot hand count goes into early morning; Marblehead voters approve Q1, reject Q2, re-elect most incumbents

After a town-wide ballot shortage prompted town clerk officials to print paper copies of ballots and hand count those well into the early morning, results are finally in and show Marbleheaders approved the Question 1 override to fund capital projects but soundly rejected Question 2 for the schools. (Read our accompanying stories to learn more about the overrides.) Town Clerk Robin Michaud swears in Select Board members Jim Nye, Jackie Belf-Becker and Moses Grader Wednesday afternoon. Voters also decided six contested races. Select Board incumbents Jackie Belf-Becker, Erin Noonan, Moses Grader, Alexa Singer and James Nye all kept their seats, with Nye topping the ticket with 3,188 votes. Town Clerk Robin Michaud swore in Nye, Belf-Becker and Grader this afternoon. "It's an hon...
Q1 appears to pass, Q2 fails as vote count goes deep into night
Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

Q1 appears to pass, Q2 fails as vote count goes deep into night

After several hectic hours when ballots ran out in all six Marblehead precincts, some initial election results showed voters approving Question 1, a $24.3 override for town capital spending, and rejecting Question2, a $3 million override for the schools. (Read more about the override votes on Wednesday, June 22.) The town-wide ballot shortage forced election officials to print paper copies of ballots, which could not be run through voting machines. That prompted a hand count that continued late into the night. Election workers were at Abbot Hall until 3:00 a.m., according to an official in the town clerk's office. Early results from Precincts 2 and 3 - which still excluded hand-count votes - showed Select Board incumbents Jackie Belf-Becker, Erin Noonan, Moses Grader, Alexa Singer a...
Marblehead voters OK $24.3M in capital projects
Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead voters OK $24.3M in capital projects

In the Tuesday election, Marblehead approved a Proposition 2 1/2 debt-exclusion override to finance a $24.3 million smorgasbord of capital improvement projects over the next five years. According to preliminary machine and hand counted results, the first of two Proposition 2 1/2 override questions on the day's ballot was approved by a vote of 3,352 "yes" votes - or 57 percent - to 2,177 "no" votes. A total of 5,845 ballots were cast in a turnout that depleted the town's stockpile of ballots. "It's great," Select Board Chair Jackie Belf-Becker told Marblehead News as she watched results inside Abbot Hall. "We appreciate the support of the town." The spending voters approved can be broken down in four parts: $12.5 million on sidewalks and road improvements Almost $9 milli...
Marblehead voters turn down $3M permanent override for schools
Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Politics, Top Stories

Marblehead voters turn down $3M permanent override for schools

In their annual election on Tuesday, Marblehead voters tuned down a proposed $3 million permanent override that sought to supplement the town's $43 million education budget. According to preliminary machine and hand counted results, the Proposition 2 1/2 override was defeated by a vote of 3,921 "no" votes - or by 67 percent - to 1,798 "yes" votes. A total of 5,845 ballots were cast in a turnout that depleted the town's stockpile of ballots. The measure would have raised Marblehead's levy limit and would have filled what Marblehead Superintendent John Buckey said was a $3 million funding gap. The override would have increased the tax bill of the owner of a median single-family home assessed at $738,000 by $310.53 annually, but the voters did not have an appetite for...
Polling places run out of ballots across town
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Polling places run out of ballots across town

The supply of ballots for Tuesday's election had been depleted town wide by 5 p.m., an employee of the town clerk's office has confirmed. Residents voting after that time were voting using makeshift photocopied ballots that could not be fed through the town's voting machines and will need to be hand counted, in all likelihood delaying the official results, the employee added. Marblehead Town Clerk Robin Michaud in Abbot Hall after polls closed on Tuesday. The Marblehead News first learned of possible problems in administering the election when a voter in Precinct 1 reported arriving at the Old Town House around 6 p.m. and being told he would be unable to vote temporarily because the precinct had run out of ballots. The voter said that poll workers told him that more ballots w...
NAMING CONTEST UPDATE: Suggestions streaming in
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NAMING CONTEST UPDATE: Suggestions streaming in

Residents have been flooding the Marblehead News' inbox with ideas for a new permanent name for the town's new, nonprofit news source. In no particular order, some of the suggestions we have received include: MarbleHeadlinesMarblehead ScuttlebuttMarblehead TickerMarblehead ForeverMarblehead News Messenger (or just "Messenger," though we need to check with the legal department on that)Marblehead NavigatorMarblehead GazetteDateline: MarbleheadMarblepress PressMarblehead TimesThe Marblehead CoastalThe Marblehead CoastThe Marblehead ShoreShoreline MarbleheadMarblehead VoiceMarblehead WaveUp for AirMarblehead MonitorMarblehead at a Glance, a.k.a. Marblehead GlanceMarblehead Mainsail At least a couple of people think we should just stick with "Marblehead News." Have a favorite from ...
Marblehead public meetings: June 22-30, 2022
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Marblehead public meetings: June 22-30, 2022

Marblehead boards and commissions will be holding the following public meetings in the days ahead. Wednesday, June 22 Old and Historic Districts Commission, 7 p.m., Mary Alley Building, lower-level conference room (use veterans' agent entrance). The agenda includes a public hearing related to 20 Stacey St., and regular hearings related to 17 1/2 State St., 22 Stacey St., 26-28 South St., 126 Front St., 102 Front St. 3 Selman St., 100 Elm St. and 72 Front St., as well as roof applications that were administratively approved by the Building Department for 18 Waldron Court, 70 Front St. and 5 Fort Sewall. Board of Selectmen, 7 p.m., Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., Selectmen's Meeting Room or attend virtually here. The board plans to reorganize, including appointing a new chair, in l...