Public safety - Marblehead Current

27 Jan

Marblehead declares emergency parking ban starting Tuesday 11 p.m.

The town of Marblehead has declared an emergency parking ban for three overnights starting Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 11 p.m. For the next three nights, the parking ban will be in effect 11 p.m.-7 a.m. All vehicles must be removed from the streets to allow for snow removal operations. In an alert to residents, the town cited "current snow accumulation totals on roads and sidewalks, frigid temperatures and another storm forecasted for the upcoming weekend." When a snow emergency parking ban is declared, parking is restricted on…

26 Jan

Select Board approves emergency action allowing town to dump snow in harbor

Leigh BlanderMunicipal Matters, Public safety, Top Stories

The Select Board met Monday afternoon to declare an emergency that would allow the town to dump snow into Marblehead Harbor at Riverhead Beach and State Street Landing. A major storm dropped more than a foot of snow across town Sunday and Monday. “We see a threat to public health and safety, and that really is all the snow that we have moved has now been deposited on sidewalks and built up in corners,” said Marblehead DPW Supervisor Amy McHugh. “There's difficulty seeing … our…

24 Jan

Winter storm warning issued, town declares emergency parking ban starting Sunday

Leigh BlanderPublic safety, Top Stories

A powerful storm, impacting much of the country, is barreling toward Marblehead and could dump up to 18 inches of snow here in town, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS has declared a winter storm warning Sunday morning through Monday at 8 p.m. and predicts wind gusts up to 30 miles per hour. Windchills could hit 15 degrees below zero. The town of Marblehead has declared a winter storm watch, cold weather advisory and emergency parking ban. The snow emergency parking ban begins…

24 Jan

Changes to Marblehead’s emergency alerts after company was hacked; what to know

Leigh BlanderPublic safety, Top Stories

Residents are noticing some differences with the town’s emergency alert system today, just as a major snowstorm is set to arrive Sunday. The town’s emergency alert company Code Red was hacked a few months ago and its database was wiped out, Select Board Chair Dan Fox told the Current on Saturday. Code Red, which recently rebranded to Crisis 24, according to Fox, said it had rebuilt about 80% of its database. It is using different messaging, and calls now come from the 206 area code.…

18 Jan

Marblehead declares snow emergency starting Sunday, 8 p.m.

Leigh BlanderPublic safety, Top Stories

The town has declared a snow emergency Sunday, Jan.17, at 8 p.m. through Monday, Jan.18, at 7 a.m. "During these times, all vehicles must be removed from the streets. A winter storm mix of snow, ice and freezing rain has been forecasted, which could result in snow accumulation and icy roads." according to the alert. "Marblehead DPW requires the roads to be cleared of vehicles to safely conduct snow operations." The message continues: "It will be illegal to park any vehicles, including boats and trailers,…

16 Jan

Marblehead teen arraigned on motor vehicle homicide charges

Leigh BlanderPublic safety, Top Stories

Marblehead teen Oscar Galante faced a judge in Lynn Juvenile Court on Friday, Jan. 16, answering to charges of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation in the Aug. 19 death of 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell, also of Marblehead. Marblehead teen Oscar Galante answered to vehicular homicide charges in Lynn Juvenile Court Jan. 16. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Galante pleaded “not a youthful offender,” which is similar to a plea of “not guilty” in adult court. He walked into the courtroom in a blue suit and…

11 Jan

MPD log: House egged on Atlantic Avenue; man affected by Dartmouth hack

Leigh BlanderLocal News, Public safety

Friday, Jan. 2Alarms: 2Building/property checks: 5Abandoned 911 calls: 0Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0Vehicle stops, citations: 0 11:07 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Atlantic Avenue to speak to a man who believed his house had been egged. The officer observed egg yolks on the storm door as well as on the shake siding. The man had noticed the eggs the previous day and had not heard the eggs strike his home, so he was unaware when the incident may have occurred. 11:57 a.m. An officer…

11 Jan

News in brief: Week of Jan. 12

Leigh BlanderBusiness, Local News, News in brief, Public safety

The Current welcomes 150-200-word submissions to News in Brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org. 6th District race The race to fill Congressman Seth Moulton’s seat in the 6th District (Moulton is running for U.S. Senate) is getting more crowded. Salem veterinarian Mariah Lancaster announced a candidacy last week. Lancaster, a Democrat, has experience working at the State Department and as a congressional aide. Lancaster joins six other candidates vying for Moulton’s seat. Firefighters graduate Firefighters Jeremy Gillis and Kyle Pettinelli have graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting…

09 Jan

Marblehead teen Oscar Galante heading to court in Savanah Gatchell’s death

Leigh BlanderPublic safety, Top Stories

Marblehead teenager Oscar Galante has been indicted as a youthful offender in the Aug. 19 car crash that killed 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell, also of Marblehead. Savannah Gatchell was 13 years old when she was killed in a crash in August 2025. COURTESY PHOTO Galante, whose brother, James, died in a single car crash on the Causeway in March 2022, will be arraigned on one count of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation in the Lynn session of the Essex County Juvenile Court at 9 a.m.…

09 Jan

Marblehead ICE OUT candlelight vigil set for Saturday

Leigh BlanderPublic safety, Top Stories

Marblehead's regular Saturday pro-democracy standout at Glabicky Field (at the corner of Lafayette and Maple streets) will become a candlelight vigil this Jan. 10, 3-4:30 p.m., in honor of Renee Good, the Minnesota woman killed by ICE this week. "This killing is part of a broader pattern of unchecked violence, impunity and abuse carried out by federal immigration enforcement agencies against members of our communities," according to Indivisible, a progressive grassroots advocacy group. "A broad coalition of groups across the country is calling for a…