Top Stories - Marblehead Current

30 Dec

Year in review: Top photos of 2025

Grey CollinsTop Stories

In 2025, photography with the Marblehead Current showed me how many different worlds exist side-by-side across one small town. Through my lens, I witnessed long-standing traditions like the Christmas Walk parade and the tree burning, moments of pride and celebration like the Marines 250th birthday celebration at Fort Sewall and our high school graduation, and so many other moments revealing the community that makes Marblehead special. Choosing just 12 images from 2025 was no easy task, but these photos show our town’s character and captured…

30 Dec

Collector Dixey shares his newest old photos

Leigh BlanderTop Stories

Dan Dixey was eating breakfast at the Driftwood with his grandson a few weeks ago when Thomas Underwood spotted him and approached. Underwood had discovered a new trove of old Marblehead photos, and he knew Dixey was the right person to preserve them. Dixey has become the unofficial keeper of old Marblehead photos. He’s collected thousands of photographs, negatives, slides and even stereocards of Marblehead, dating back to the 1860s. Dan Dixey has collected thousands of old Marblehead photos, slides, negatives and even stereocards dating…

27 Dec

Marblehead rallies to support family of 55-year-old who died suddenly before Christmas

Leigh BlanderTop Stories

The community has raised nearly $60,000 for the family of a 55-year-old Marblehead man who died suddenly on Monday, Dec. 22. Joe Carpineto leaves behind his wife, Sherri, and his two teen sons, Harrison and Will. Joe Carpineto with his sons. COURTESY PHOTOS Friends launched a GoFundMe to support the family. You can reach it HERE. “Being a dad was Joe’s greatest joy,” the GoFundMe reads. “Whether he was cheering from the sidelines at a sports game, hosting unforgettable birthday parties or turning Halloween into…

27 Dec

Check it out: Marblehead’s most-read books of 2025

Cheryl ByrneAbbot Public Library, Entertainment, Top Stories

The end of the year brings no shortage of lists — best of, most memorable, even worst. Among the most anticipated are the book lists highlighting what readers loved (or didn’t) over the past 12 months. Two of Marblehead’s most book-friendly spots — Abbot Public Library and Saltwater Books — shared what readers were drawn to in 2025. Abbot Public Library Director Kimberly Grad offered insight into the community’s reading preferences, sharing the library’s most popular titles across age groups. Children Three titles from Dav…

26 Dec

Reveal party set for Arts Festival 2026 logo

Leigh BlanderArt, Nonprofit corner, Top Stories

You still have a couple days left to vote on the Marblehead Festival of Arts 2026 logo. Voting closes this Sunday at 5 p.m. Ballot boxes can be found at these locations: Abbot Public Library, Ace Hardware, Arnould Gallery & Framery, Blue Canoe, F L Woods Nautical Merchants, Java Sun Coffee, JCC, Marblehead Arts Association, Marblehead Bank, Marblehead Jacobi Community Center, Marblehead Mercantile, Marblehead Pediatrics, Marblehead/Swampscott YMCA, National Grand Bank, Plus Cafe, Shubie's Marketplace and The Landing Restaurant. Every year, judges whittle down all the…

26 Dec

Trash strike, zoning fight and a new trike: Marblehead’s year to remember

Leigh BlanderMarblehead Public Schools, Municipal Matters, Top Stories

Choosing the top stories of any year isn’t easy. Here are the headlines that resonated the most with the Current newsroom. MBTA Communities Act The town has sent a new 3A compliance plan, which includes part of the Tedesco County Club, to the state for preliminary approval. CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS The state’s MBTA Communities Act, which requires 177 cities and towns to zone for multifamily housing, dominated Marblehead headlines this year. Town Meeting in May approved a plan identifying three multifamily housing zones:…

23 Dec

Why is Marblehead’s public school enrollment dropping? Superintendent offers more data

Leigh BlanderEducation, Top Stories

During the 2024-25 school year, 215 Marblehead students transferred out of the district — the highest number since the COVID-19 pandemic. Most, 83 students, enrolled in private schools in Massachusetts. Another 70 transferred to other public schools, including charter schools. Superintendent John Robidoux updated the School Committee with new enrollment data at a Dec. 18 meeting, addressing concerns about a steady decline over the past decade. Superintendent John Robidoux and Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira presented several slides related to enrollment data at a Dec. 18…

23 Dec

Moulton releases links to axed 60 Minutes piece on CECOT

Leigh BlanderTop Stories

Congressman Seth Moulton — who represents the 6th District, including Marblehead — has sent out links to a 60 Minutes segment that was supposed to air Sunday night but was pulled by CBS News Editor-in-chief Bari Weiss. The story examines the brutal conditions at CECOT, the prison in El Salvador where the Trump administration sent Venezuelans detained and accused of being in the U.S. illegally. CBS pulled the piece just hours before it was set to air. Weiss said the story needed more voices. 60…

23 Dec

EDITORIAL: In our opinion, a year to remember

The Current Editorial BoardCurrent Editorials, Opinion, Top Stories

Approaching the year-end holidays, we look back at many of the issues that dominated the Current’s editorial pages in 2025, motivated by our belief that Marblehead’s greatest asset is an informed and active citizenry. Civic engagement and civil discourse were two themes threaded throughout, joined by a lengthy list of topics we deemed worthy of editorial comment and, in many cases, a recommended action plan. The list included but was not limited to: · The MBTA Communities Act and whether Marblehead would…

23 Dec

JUST DUCKY: Students create color mural with artist

Leigh BlanderArt, Marblehead Public Schools, Top Stories

You’ve probably heard of Banksy, the anonymous street artist famous around the world for his poignant pieces. Well, at the Village School last week, students learned from Boston-based artist-in-residence Bren Bataclan, who travels the world giving away his paintings and working with students to create dynamic murals. He’s painted more than 300 murals and his most recent is right here in Marblehead. He works mostly in acrylics and has created hundreds of cartoon-like characters. Artist-in-residence Bren Bataclan works with Village School students on a new…