Municipal Matters - Marblehead Current

UPDATED: Police arrest suspect allegedly behind Mary Alley break-in

12Sep

By William J. Dowd1 Comment

Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

UPDATED: Police arrest suspect allegedly behind Mary Alley break-in

Marblehead police have arrested and charged a 57-year-old man for allegedly breaking into and damaging more than one Mary Alley Municipal Building office in the early hours of Monday morning. Anthony Graciele of Marblehead has been charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony and malicious destruction of property valued over $1,200. He will be arraigned in Lynn District Court on Wednesday. "Additionally, Graciele had an outstanding warrant out of Lynn District Court for breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, malicious destruction of property valued at over $1,200 and possession of burglarious tools," wrote the Marblehead Police Department. Marblehead Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said the municipal building has been shuttered for the...

NEVER FORGET: Marblehead marks 9/11 with Memorial Park ceremony

11Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Culture, Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

NEVER FORGET: Marblehead marks 9/11 with Memorial Park ceremony

Marblehead marked the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Sunday with a mid-morning ceremony on Memorial Park. The 10-minute ceremony, one of perhaps thousands across the nation, provided locals with a communal outlet to renew their commitment to never forget those who perished in New York City, Washington D.C. and over Shanksville, Penna. on Sept. 11, 2001. Scenes from Marblehead's 9/11 ceremony on Sunday. [PHOTOS / WILL DOWD] "We gather once again to pay tribute to the victims, the 2,977 people who lost their lives," said Marblehead Fire Chief Jason Gilliland behind a wooden podium set up before a modest crowd. "It is as equally important to recognize the more than 2,000 first responders who have succumbed to illness as a result of working in the h...

Marblehead Public Schools welcomes new METCO director

7Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Marblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

Marblehead Public Schools welcomes new METCO director

Marblehead Public Schools welcomed the district’s new Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity director, Caja Johnson, during the School Committee’s meeting on Wednesday night. Johnson will report directly to Superintendent John Buckey and head Marblehead’s district-wide METCO program, a voluntary school desegregation program funded by a state grant. Through METCO, about 60 children from “racially imbalanced urban schools in Boston” are enrolled in local schools. “My initial impression of Marblehead Public Schools has been absolutely amazing,” Johnson told School Committee members. “I already feel this really strong commitment to the students.” Johnson’s first couple of days have been impressive, Buckey told School Committee members when he introduced Johnson. ...

Jenny Armini wins the 8th Essex District contest

6Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Jenny Armini wins the 8th Essex District contest

Marblehead resident Jennifer Armini, a speechwriter and co-founder of the grassroots political group ElectBlue, won the 8th Essex District primary, according to an unofficial tally. Armini topped the ticket by a 308-vote margin, having captured 2,309 votes out of 8,361 or 27.61 percent. Swampscott resident Tristian Smith followed Armini with 2,001 votes, and then Swampscott resident Douglas Thompson with 1,555. Armini received concessions and congratulations from Thompson, Marblehead resident Terri Tauro, and Swampscott resident Polly Titcomb. On election night, Armini said she spoke with Smith, the runner-up, but he did not immediately concede. However, late Wednesday morning, Smith told Marblehead News that he had called Armini and offered a concession. With no Republica...

6Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

Nine apply to fill Marblehead Municipal Light Commission vacancy

The Marblehead Select Board and the Marblehead Light Commission will have nine candidates to pick from when they convene a joint meeting to fill the vacancy created by Karl A. Johnson on July 13. Johnson’s resignation, citing health reasons, arrived two weeks after the 2022 municipal election. Whomever the Select Board and Light Commission end up appointing in a Sept. 14 meeting in Abbot Hall will serve until the 2023 municipal election, when voters will elect someone for what will then be the remaining year on Johnson’s three-year term. The appointed member would need to run for elected office to retain their commission seat. Marblehead residents who turned in application materials vying to be his successor include the following candidates: Peter Barnet Peter Barnet ...

For state primary, polls across Marblehead open until 8 p.m.

6Sep

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

For state primary, polls across Marblehead open until 8 p.m.

Marblehead voting precincts open at 7 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m. for the 2022 state primaries today. Voters must cast ballots at their designated precints: Precinct 1: Old Town House, One Market Square Precincts 2 and 3: Abbot Hall Auditorium - 188 Washington St. Precincts 4, 5 and 6: Judy & Gene Jacobi Community Center Gym, 10 Humphrey St. In the 2022 election cycle, a dozen county, state and federal offices open up on Tuesday, Nov. 8. In the Sept. 6 state primary, Marblehead voters will play a part in picking candidates to represent their party on the November ticket. Massachusetts election law restricts voters enrolled in a political party to their party's primary. An unenrolled voter, however, can pull a party ballot of their choi...

Marblehead public meetings, week of Sept. 5 – 9

5Sep

By Marblehead News staffNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters

Marblehead public meetings, week of Sept. 5 – 9

Tuesday, Sept. 6 8:15 p.m., Marblehead Water and Sewer Commission, commission's office, 100 Tower Way, Building #11. On the Agenda: Pleasant Street Water main payment; Green Street Pump Station Upgrade; reports from Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and South Essex Sewerage District; request for waiver 50C Cloutmans Lane Sewer Service. Special labor appointments, two sewer / one water. water_and_sewer_commission_agenda_amended_9-6-22Download Wednesday, Sept. 7 1 p.m., joint meeting of the Transfer Station Committee and the Board of Health, attend either in-person lower conference room, Mary Alley Building, 7 Widger Road, or virtually HERE. On the agenda: Review of traffic study and transfer station update. joint_meeting_of_the_transfer_station_facility_committee_an...

Despite a very dry summer, MWRA membership spares Marblehead from water restrictions

1Sep

By John LamontagneNo Comments

Environment, Local News, Municipal Matters, Public safety, Science, Top Stories

Despite a very dry summer, MWRA membership spares Marblehead from water restrictions

In a season marked by yellowing lawns, community water bans and even the occasional brush fire, Marblehead residents have enjoyed a summer free of water restriction - despite one of the driest summers in years. As many North Shore communities face outdoor water bans, the town’s membership in the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority for its water supply has spared the town from the worst effects of the regional drought, Marblehead Water, Sewer and Public Works Superintendent Amy McHugh told the Marblehead News. A map of the Massachusetts Water Reasource Authority's communities and their color-coded tier of water service. [COURTESY PHOTO / MWRA's WEBSITE] That’s because the Quabbin Reservoir, the 412-billion-gallon water reserve in central Massachusetts that supplies water to 46...

Marblehead Municipal meetings, week of Aug. 29 – Sept. 2

28Aug

By Marblehead News staffNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters

Marblehead Municipal meetings, week of Aug. 29 – Sept. 2

Monday, Aug. 29 6 p.m., Marblehead School Committee, join virtually HERE. On the agenda: Review and vote on the 2022 - 202 school handbooks. Vote on the appointment of a school nurse. Review of and adoption of procedures on nondiscrimination, non-discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual harassment, non-discrimination and harassment. Title IX grievance and civil rights grievance procedures. Enrolment and staffing updates. Vote on a schedule of bills. Stipend equipment and discussion for hybrid meetings. Booster's advertising discussion. marblehead_school_committee_amended_agenda_8-29-2022Download 7 p.m., Marblehead Mental Health Taskforce, join virtually HERE. On the agenda: Marblehead cares initiatives, Marblehead Counseling Center update ,from Ron Genier and public partici...

For the state primary, in-person voting in Marblehead kicks off Saturday

26Aug

By William J. DowdNo Comments

Local News, Municipal Matters, Politics, Top Stories

For the state primary, in-person voting in Marblehead kicks off Saturday

The 2022 Massachusetts primary on Tuesday, Sept. 6 is a little over two weeks away, but in-person voting gets underway in Marblehead on Saturday, Aug. 27. Marblehead Town Clerk Robin Michaud will offer six days of early voting in Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., at the following dates and times: This is the first election since the June municipal election, during which the town depleted ballots before polls closed. Michaud said she doesn't expect a shortage of Sept. 6 ballots, given the state dictates ballot orders in primaries and mid-term elections. The town clerk did send out an Aug. 25 email with a Sign Up Genius link, requesting help for early voting and advance processing: https://bit.ly/3dZT7OK. "We are still looking for people to help with early voting and advance...