GROVELAND: Quick Updates!
By Michael Dempsey Special to The Town Common GROVELAND – Last month the town announced the release of a Request for Expression of Interest or REI...
SALISBURY/GLOUCESTER/BEVERLY and Beyond: Latest Complicated Rules for Massachusetts Fishermen
REGIONAL – Last week, the Division of Marine Fisheries is enacted several changes to the commercial summer flounder management program for 2025. The...
Beverly Police Arrest Man on Warrant for Attempted Murder
BEVERLY – Chief John G. LeLacheur reports that the Beverly Police Department located and arrested a New Jersey man on a warrant for attempted murder...
Local Scholars
AMESBURY: Jessica Cortez named to the Troy University Chancellor's List. Piper Brown was named to the Dean's List at Emerson College. Safiya Tarbell...
DANVERS: Historical Society’s Art Collection
DANVERS – Salem State University students Alanna Niemczura and David Spalding-Aguirre are discovering 19th and 20th century artists from Danvers....
WENHAM: Sgt. Marsh Retires
WENHAM – Police Chief Kevin DiNapoli is pleased to share that the Wenham Police Department is recognizing the 20-year career of Sgt. David Marsh...
GROVELAND Town Meeting Voters Embrace Future ‘MBTA’ Housing Developments
GROVELAND – About 120 residents gathered at the Elmer Bagnall School on Monday April 28 for our Groveland Annual Town Meeting. The meeting started...
Russell E. Hoffses
Russell E. Hoffses, age 81, peacefully passed away on April 22, 2025, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Rowley. He was born on September 3,...
Derek McGregor
Derek McGregor passed away in a unexpected and tragic accident on April 20, 2025, in Salisbury, MA. Born on April 28, 1981, in Rowley, MA, Derek was...
Charles P. Rousseau
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Charles P. Rousseau on April 15, 2025. He passed away peacefully with his loving family by...
Alice M. (O’Brien) Perley Reed
Alice M. (O’Brien) Perley Reed of Rowley, MA passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025, at the age of 88, surrounded by loving family members....
Nichole D. Raftopoulos of Nvest Financial, LLC Honored in Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors; Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors
Nichole D. Raftopoulos of Nvest Financial, LLC Honored in Forbes Best-In- State Wealth Advisors; Forbes Top Women Wealth Advisors Portsmouth,...
BOXFORD: 24 Articles for Town Meeting
BOXFORD – The Boxford Select Board has officially closed the warrant for the upcoming Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The final...
Rowley Police Investigates Property Scam, Summons and Charge Washington Man
ROWLEY – Chief Stephen May reports that the Rowley Police Department has summonsed a man from Tacoma, Wash., with multiple larceny charges following...
Newbury Soliciting Bids for Space for Byfield Fire Station
NEWBURY – The Town of Newbury is soliciting proposals to lease space in or around the Byfield section for a fire station. The lease for the current...
SALISBURY: Playing With Fairies and Gnomes
SALISBURY – The Fairy Gnome Discovery Walk brought a touch of magic to the weekend as visitors wandered through one of the most whimsical events in...
Gloucester Fire Department Extinguishes House Fire Caused by Careless Disposal of Smoking Materials
GLOUCESTER – Chief Eric L. Smith reports that the Gloucester Fire Department extinguished a small fire at a Washington Street home early Saturday...
PORTSMOUTH, NH Sara Bareilles Headlines this year’s Emerging Artist Benefit Concert
The Music Hall is thrilled to announce that Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, Broadway composer, and multi-award-winning artist Sara Bareilles will...
Mike Anderson for Georgetown Light Commissioner
GEORGETOWN – My name is Mike Anderson, and I am running for the position of Light Commissioner. I am a lifelong resident of Georgetown and have...
Plant Matters
In conversation with Matthew Martin of Restoration Horticulture, The Native Plant Podcast, and teacher of Arboriculture at Essex Tech. Matthew grew...
Groveland CPA Town Meeting Projects
by Mike Dempsey Voters at the town meeting this year on April 28 will be presented with a decision on four Community Preservation projects for...
Newburyport Central Congregational Church to Hold Personal Care Drive on May 3
NEWBURYPORT – The Central Congregational Church will hold a Personal Care Drive on May 3, 2025 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Central Congregational...
This Butterfly Will Live Year Round
NEWBURYPORT – Vote for your favorite butterfly species until May 18 when it will be painted as a mural outside at the Senior Center. Candidate...
Newburyport Police Seek Information After Pedestrian Was Struck by Vehicle
NEWBURYPORT – City Marshal Matthew Simons reports that the Newburyport Police Department is investigating after a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle...
Georgetown Candidate’s Forum: NEW DATE!
GEORGETOWN – The Town Common invites all contetested and uncontested candidates for the upcoming election to kindly participate in a televised forum...
Who Sent the $6 Million Override Letter?
Who Sent the $6 Million Override Letter? Some residents of Georgetown received what has been called a “near-anonymous letter” urging them to...
It is Important to Read
GREATER NEWBURYPORT – For the last 20 years, spring here has been a time to celebrate books and readers. From Friday, April 25 through Sunday April...
AMESBURY: FIBER ARTS FAIR
Saturday, May 3, 2025 9AM to 3PM St. James Episcopal Church 120 Main Street, Amesbury, MA Just before Mother’s Day, see amazing works of art with...
Rockport Police Charge Gloucester Man with Enticement of a Minor
A message from the Rockport Police Department Rockport Police Charge Gloucester Man with Enticement of a Minor ROCKPORT – Police Chief John Horvath...
IPSWICH, GEORGETOWN, ROWLEY, and BOXFORD Town Meetings Face/Faced Tough Decisions
REGIONAL – Town Meetings have been busy this spring approving large and small changes. In Ipswich, Water Department Director Vicki Halmen told the Ipswich select board that the estimated cost of the new water treatment plant has increased from $35 million to $50 million. It is expected to hold the vote during a June Special Town Meeting to request borrowing the additional amount. In Georgetown, residents at Town Meeting voted 422 to 64 to approve a $6 million override to cover a huge budget shortfall. The vote...
AMESBURY: Enjoy the Merrimack
AMESBURY – The city of Amesbury is planning to improve its access to the Merrimack River. The Washington Landing Boat project will include shoreline restoration and revitalization of the Washington Landing Maritime Support Facility building a boat ramp, the addition to about 900 square feet of boardwalk, future construction of a harbormaster office, installation of a gangway and 100-foot finger dock for the boat ramp facility and transient vessels and improvements to the parking area and restoration of the living...
IPSWICH: End of an Era – Beloved Majestic Dragon Provides Area Firefighters Training Ground Prior to Demo
IPSWICH – Area firefighters joined together at the beloved Majestic Dragon on Rt. 1 in Ipswich to conduct joint inspection and training excercises prior to the demolition of the closed business. Equipment and firefighters from Ipswich Fire and Rescue (Truck 1), Rowley (Engine 1), Hamilton, Manchester-by-the-Sea (Ladder 1), and others joined together to excercise ladder trucks and inspect the building while two Komatsu tractors plowed behind the building waiting clearance to begin total dismantling. Last...
Rowley Country Club Food Drive!
ROWLEY: It's Christmas in May at the Rowley Country Club as volunteers celebrate another success food drive!
Georgetown Kiwanis Pancake Festival
GEORGETOWN: Great pancakes, sausages, eggs, and all the fixings and neighborly friendship was served up at this year's Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at Georgetown's Perley Elementary School. Fire Chief Matt McKay (center) focus on flip-time!
First the Pink House, Now Endangered Species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), under the Trump administration, has proposed a new federal rule that would take away habitat protections for endangered and threatened species. This comes soon after the demolition of the Pink House, seen by many as a symbol of environmental loss. The proposed change would redefine the word “harm” in the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Now, “harm” includes damaging or destroying the places where endangered species live. Environmental groups say removing this part of the law...
LAUREL GRANGE PLANT/BAKE SALE – WEST NEWBURY
ROWLEY: SelectBoard Candidates Offer a Choice
ROWLEY — As voters consider a $1 million tax override to fund the Triton Regional School District and vital town services, local candidates are offering sharply different perspectives on how Rowley should move forward. Candidate Brian Grenier opposes the override, urging residents to reject the tax increase. A longtime part-time Ipswich police officer with a background in public administration and large-scale budget management, Grenier supports 24/7 fire staffing and infrastructure upgrades—but only through...
NEWBURYPORT: Fighting in the Library Stacks
NEWBURYPORT – It may seem a little surreal to have library employees and volunteers battling for the right to reshelve books and materials. But that was what was happening until the volunteer program was stopped two years ago. Now, Melissa Murray, a partner in the law firm of Norris, Murray & Peloquin in Norwood, has concluded from her investigation that the volunteers were defamed as well as dismissed. The Newburyport City Council last week in an executive session agreed to release two paragraphs of...
GEORGETOWN Override Will Ensure Raises – UPDATE: HIDDEN SLUSH FUND IN BUDGET LINE ITEM
GEORGETOWN – Residents are expected to go to the Penn Brook School on Monday, May 12, 2025, to vote for or against a proposed $6+ million Proposition 2/12 override. [Update: The override passed at town meeting, as it has in the past. 422 residents voted in favor, 64 opposed.] Such an override will be added to the base levy of property taxes in town, and this added sum will continue to increase by 2.5% each year (in addition to all current property and Community Preservation taxes). The town has estimated that an...
WENHAM: Sgt. Marsh Retires
WENHAM – Police Chief Kevin DiNapoli is pleased to share that the Wenham Police Department is recognizing the 20-year career of Sgt. David Marsh...
GROVELAND Town Meeting Voters Embrace Future ‘MBTA’ Housing Developments
GROVELAND – About 120 residents gathered at the Elmer Bagnall School on Monday April 28 for our Groveland Annual Town Meeting. The meeting started...
Russell E. Hoffses
Russell E. Hoffses, age 81, peacefully passed away on April 22, 2025, surrounded by loved ones at his home in Rowley. He was born on September 3, 1943, in Presque Isle, ME to Llewellyn F. and Margaret C. (Dicker) Hoffses. The oldest of three...
Derek McGregor
Derek McGregor passed away in a unexpected and tragic accident on April 20, 2025, in Salisbury, MA. Born on April 28, 1981, in Rowley, MA, Derek was a man whose life was marked by his generous spirit, creative talents, and the joy he...
Plum Island Property Owner Moves to Replace Closed 125-Seat Restaurant with Four Multi-Story Condos
NEWBURY – With the former owner of the Plum Island Grille facing a felony criminal charge for vandalizing the popular, but now closed restaurant, property owner Mark Friery is planning to tell the town in the next couple of weeks that he will seek...
NEWBURYPORT Anna Jaques Hospital Community Listening Session
Wednesday, February 12th from 11 a.m-12:30 p.m. Beth Israel Lahey Health and its member hospitals are conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand the most pressing health-related issues impacting the people living and...
Priced Right Junk Removal
IPSWICH, GEORGETOWN, ROWLEY, and BOXFORD Town Meetings Face/Faced Tough Decisions
REGIONAL – Town Meetings have been busy this spring approving large and small changes. In Ipswich, Water Department Director Vicki Halmen told the Ipswich select board that the estimated cost of the new water treatment plant has increased from $35 million to $50 million. It is expected to hold the vote during a June Special Town Meeting to request borrowing the additional amount. In Georgetown, residents at Town Meeting voted 422 to 64 to approve a $6 million override to cover a huge budget shortfall. The vote...
IPSWICH, GEORGETOWN, ROWLEY, and BOXFORD Town Meetings Face/Faced Tough Decisions
REGIONAL – Town Meetings have been busy this spring approving large and small changes. In Ipswich, Water Department Director Vicki Halmen told the Ipswich select board that the estimated cost of the new water treatment plant has increased from $35 million to $50 million. It is expected to hold the vote during a June Special Town Meeting to request borrowing the additional amount. In Georgetown, residents at Town Meeting voted 422 to 64 to approve a $6 million override to cover a huge budget shortfall. The vote...
AMESBURY: Enjoy the Merrimack
AMESBURY – The city of Amesbury is planning to improve its access to the Merrimack River. The Washington Landing Boat project will include shoreline restoration and revitalization of the Washington Landing Maritime Support Facility building a boat ramp, the addition to about 900 square feet of boardwalk, future construction of a harbormaster office, installation of a gangway and 100-foot finger dock for the boat ramp facility and transient vessels and improvements to the parking area and restoration of the living...
IPSWICH: End of an Era – Beloved Majestic Dragon Provides Area Firefighters Training Ground Prior to Demo
IPSWICH – Area firefighters joined together at the beloved Majestic Dragon on Rt. 1 in Ipswich to conduct joint inspection and training excercises prior to the demolition of the closed business. Equipment and firefighters from Ipswich Fire and Rescue (Truck 1), Rowley (Engine 1), Hamilton, Manchester-by-the-Sea (Ladder 1), and others joined together to excercise ladder trucks and inspect the building while two Komatsu tractors plowed behind the building waiting clearance to begin total dismantling. Last...
GROVELAND: Quick Updates!
By Michael Dempsey Special to The Town Common GROVELAND – Last month the town announced the release of a Request for Expression of Interest or REI on the development of 150 Center Street. The town-owned parcel was purchased in 2013 and consists of 60 acres of undeveloped land. A 300-home subdivision was originally planned for the site under the state’s 40B law where local zoning and other restrictions can be bypassed. Many citizens were...
SALISBURY/GLOUCESTER/BEVERLY and Beyond: Latest Complicated Rules for Massachusetts Fishermen
REGIONAL – Last week, the Division of Marine Fisheries is enacted several changes to the commercial summer flounder management program for 2025. The changes are designed to increase the quota available to the inshore summertime fishery, maximize this resource’s value to our commercial fishery and seafood industry, and manage quota consumption throughout the summertime period in order to keep the commercial fishery open into September. The...
Beverly Police Arrest Man on Warrant for Attempted Murder
BEVERLY – Chief John G. LeLacheur reports that the Beverly Police Department located and arrested a New Jersey man on a warrant for attempted murder in that state. ANDREW ARIAS-PEGUERO, AGE 54, OF FORT LEE, NEW JERSEY, was arrested and charged as a "Fugitive From Justice." Beverly Police were contacted by Fort Lee, New Jersey Police, who reported they were seeking ARIAS-PEGUERO on a felony warrant, charging attempted murder. Fort Lee Police...
Local Scholars
AMESBURY: Jessica Cortez named to the Troy University Chancellor's List. Piper Brown was named to the Dean's List at Emerson College. Safiya Tarbell elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi BOXFORD: Valentina Knowles, was named to the Dean's List at Kean University. Ainsley Novack was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society at Hamilton College, N.Y. Katelyn Petersen, Braeden O'Connell, Benjamin McGee, and Quinn Tierney...
DANVERS: Historical Society’s Art Collection
DANVERS – Salem State University students Alanna Niemczura and David Spalding-Aguirre are discovering 19th and 20th century artists from Danvers....
WENHAM: Sgt. Marsh Retires
WENHAM – Police Chief Kevin DiNapoli is pleased to share that the Wenham Police Department is recognizing the 20-year career of Sgt. David Marsh...
GROVELAND Town Meeting Voters Embrace Future ‘MBTA’ Housing Developments
GROVELAND – About 120 residents gathered at the Elmer Bagnall School on Monday April 28 for our Groveland Annual Town Meeting. The meeting started...
Plum Island Property Owner Moves to Replace Closed 125-Seat Restaurant with Four Multi-Story Condos
NEWBURY – With the former owner of the Plum Island Grille facing a felony criminal charge for vandalizing the popular, but now closed restaurant,...
NEWBURYPORT Anna Jaques Hospital Community Listening Session
Wednesday, February 12th from 11 a.m-12:30 p.m. Beth Israel Lahey Health and its member hospitals are conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment to better understand the most pressing health-related issues impacting the people living and working in the communities we serve. Please join us to hear key themes from our assessment, share your perspective, and discuss potential solutions. All attendees are entered to win a $100 Visa Gift...
Priced Right Junk Removal