MeVa Pushes Ferries on the Merrimack
THE MERRIMACK RIVER – The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MeVa) hopes soon to offer a new way to travel between Salisbury and Haverhill...
Newburyport Announces Departure of Director of Public Services
NEWBURYPORT – The City of Newburyport announced that Director of Public Services Wayne S. Amaral will be stepping down at the end of June after two...
For the Fifth Year, Pentucket Regional School District Receives National Recognition by the NAMM Foundation
Superintendent Dr. Justin Bartholomew and Fine & Performing Arts Department Chair David Schumacher are proud to announce that the Pentucket...
Pink House Update: Party June 14th
PLUM ISLAND – In 1925, Gertrude W. Cutter bought land on the edge of the Great Marsh to build a house for her son, his wife and her grandson. The...
Georgetown Receives $250,000 Taxpayer-Funded Grant for Municipal Fiber Optic Network
GEORGETOWN – Georgetown has received a $250,000 state grant that will support the creation of a fiber optic network connecting municipal and school...
Three Vehicle Crash at Rte 1 and Pond St.
On Saturday, June 7, at about 4:03 p.m., Newburyport Police and Fire responded to a crash involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of Route 1...
Newburyport Police Investigating Accident Involving Police Cruiser and Teenage Pedestrian
NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Matthew Simons reports that the Newburyport Police Department is investigating an accident in which a police cruiser was...
NEWBURYPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS
Monday, June 9th at 7pm: FOL Spring Gratitude Event (IN PERSON). All 2025 FOL Members and past Book Sale Volunteers are invited to register. Please...
Rowley Public Library Seeks Your Input on Strategic Plan
Rowley Public Library Needs Your Input! All are invited to participate in a 90-minute focus group on Tuesday, June 10, from 6 to 7:30pm. The ideas...
NEWBURYPORT Adult and Community Education (NACE)
REGIONAL – Looking for a fun, maybe life-enriching experience this summer. Try learning to make pottery or fulfill that childhood dream of shooting...
Upcoming Events
AMESBURY 2025 Chocolate Tour! Saturday, June 7th, 12 to 4 p.m. - an afternoon of delicious tastings, local charm, and community fun—all while...
Groveland Yard Pirates
To the Editor: On Mother's Day May 11, 2025, I left for a few hours with my friend to get lunch and when I returned, the patio set I had placed it...
Town of Merrimac Seeking Volunteers to Assist with Old Sawyer House Trail Work
MERRIMAC – Residents and visitors are invited to join members of the Town Improvement Society as it cleans a quarter-mile, in-and-out trail located...
Support for New Whittier Campus Grows
REGIONAL — Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School has moved closer to getting the state to help build a new building on the campus of...
Georgetown Eagle Scout Court of Honor
An Eagle Scout Court of Honor will take place in Georgetown on Saturday, May 31st at 2 pm at the First Congregational Church. Three Eagle Scouts...
Merrimac Police/Fire and Amesbury Police Rescue 7-Year-Old Boy Stuck in Swamp
MERRIMAC — A young boy is home and safe with his family after a quick and cooperative response between Merrimac and Amesbury first responders....
Pentucket School District Updates
WEST NEWBURY, MERRIMAC – The Pentucket Regional School District is pleased to announce some reorganizing meant to give more consistency and...
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,...
Mary Donahoe Lytle WED, JUNE 11, 2025, Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home
Her life will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at the Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home at 193 High St., Newburyport, MA 01950. The world lost one of its most creative, loving, funny women when the Lord Jesus on May 27th called Mary Donahoe Lytle of New York City, Dallas, and Newburyport home to be with her family and friends. She was a gifted Montessori kindergarten and reading teacher at the River Valley Charter School and at the Hillview Charter Montessori School. Born in New York City...
James J. McCarthy Appointed President of Newburyport Bank
NEWBURYPORT – Lloyd L. Hamm, Jr., President and CEO of River Run Bancorp, MHC, together with the Boards of River Run and Newburyport Bank, are pleased to announce the appointment of James J. McCarthy as President and Chief Operating Officer of Newburyport Bank, effective June 28, 2025. With more than four decades of executive leadership in community banking and financial services, James (Jim) brings to the role a proven track record of growth, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of community-based...
Storm Surge Presents Expert Discussion on Coastal Flood Risks in Newburyport
NEWBURYPORT – Storm Surge will host "High Stakes at High Tide: Understanding Coastal Flood Risks" on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Newburyport Senior/Community Center, 331 High Street. The event features Katie Giannakopoulos, Coastal Dynamics Research Associate at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, who will examine the complex factors driving coastal flood risks in New England. Her presentation will address both long-term climate change impacts and the immediate threats posed by...
Newbury Opens New Playground at Central Street Recreation Area
NEWBURY – The new town playground at the Central Street Recreation Area is now open for fun. Last month, members of the Recreation Commission and Select Board and residents cut a ribbon to officially mark the opening. The new playground aligns with the Recreation Master Plan, which was created in 2023 to create a cohesive strategy to support and improve recreational facilities and provide greater opportunities for residents in all areas of town. The plan was created by noted land use architect Chris Huntress, who...
West Newbury Art in the Garden Tour
Art in the Garden. It is a celebration of gardening as art and the six gardens (3 in West Newbury and 3 in Merrimac) will not only show the personal expression, skills, and energy of the gardeners, they will also have visual artists creating and musicians performing. A special treat is a tour at one of the gardens of a 1710 house, built originally in Concord, MA and moved about twenty years ago to Merrimac. The tour is from 10-4 on June 14. Advance tickets ($25) are available at the West Newbury Food Mart, the...
Salisbury Board of Health Amends Fee Schedule to Match Applications
SALISBURY – The Salisbury Board of Health met on June 3, 2025 to amend the town’s fee schedule to match the wording and costs on their current applications. Among the list were eight suggested corrections for four different fee sections. These include septic, habitability, food establishment, and dumpster permits and costs. To clarify, the actual price wasn’t changed for any fees; only the information on the fee schedule was amended to align with applications. Out of the eight, the proposed changes that prompted...
Pentucket Fine & Performing Arts Chair David Schumacher Honored as 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist
Superintendent Dr. Justin Bartholomew and the Pentucket Regional School District are proud to announce that Fine & Performing Arts Chair David Schumacher has been named a 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist. The Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who teach students in kindergarten through college at public and private schools. Nominees have made a significant and lasting contribution to music education and demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education...
‘Clipper Ship’ Arrives on the Waterfront
NEWBURYPORT WATERFRONT – The arrival home of a clipper ship in the early days of this city meant not only great wealth for locals, but also that fathers and brothers were returning home after months at sea. In 2025, the arrival of Aaron T Stephan’s clipper ship sculpture, Sail Trace, on the waterfront park, heralding the city’s past, is expected to its own boom to the local economy, drawing tourists for the downtown shops and restaurants. Stephan’s clipper ship is berthed in Market Landing Park a few feet from...
Newburyport Police and Fire Respond to Report of Swimmers in Distress on Plum Island Point
June 8, 2025 NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Matthew Simons and Fire Chief Stephen Bradbury III share that the Newburyport Police and Fire Departments responded to a report of swimmers in distress on Sunday night. On Sunday, June 8, at about 7 p.m., Newburyport Police and Fire responded to a report of a swimmer in the water of Plum Island Point. Responding crews observed two swimmers in distress. There were two boats occupied by fishermen in the area of the swimmers. One fishermen was able to bring one of the...
Clipper Ship Arrives on the Waterfront
NEWBURYPORT WATERFRONT – The arrival home of a clipper ship in the early days of this city meant a lot to the maritime economy. Now, the arrival of Aaron T Stephan’s clipper ship sculpture on the waterfront, heralding the city’s past, is likely to draw cash-totting tourists for the shops and restaurants. Stephan’s clipper ship has been berthed a few feet from the Merrimack River, just in time for the summer season. Stephan was awarded the commission by the Public Art Commission, beating out 20 other artists. Born...
Three Vehicle Crash at Rte 1 and Pond St.
On Saturday, June 7, at about 4:03 p.m., Newburyport Police and Fire responded to a crash involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of Route 1...
Newburyport Police Investigating Accident Involving Police Cruiser and Teenage Pedestrian
NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Matthew Simons reports that the Newburyport Police Department is investigating an accident in which a police cruiser was...
NEWBURYPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY EVENTS
Monday, June 9th at 7pm: FOL Spring Gratitude Event (IN PERSON). All 2025 FOL Members and past Book Sale Volunteers are invited to register. Please join us in the Program Room anytime between 7:00 – 8:30 PM. Refreshments will be served. Door prizes...
Rowley Public Library Seeks Your Input on Strategic Plan
Rowley Public Library Needs Your Input! All are invited to participate in a 90-minute focus group on Tuesday, June 10, from 6 to 7:30pm. The ideas and perspectives gathered will be crucial in shaping the Rowley Public Library’s Strategic...
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
Mary Donahoe Lytle WED, JUNE 11, 2025, Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home
Her life will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at the Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home at 193 High St., Newburyport, MA 01950. The world lost one of its most creative, loving, funny women when the Lord Jesus on May 27th called Mary Donahoe Lytle of New York City, Dallas, and Newburyport home to be with her family and friends. She was a gifted Montessori kindergarten and reading teacher at the River Valley Charter School and at the Hillview Charter Montessori School. Born in New York City...
Mary Donahoe Lytle WED, JUNE 11, 2025, Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home
Her life will be celebrated at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at the Twomey, LeBlanc & Conte Funeral Home at 193 High St., Newburyport, MA 01950. The world lost one of its most creative, loving, funny women when the Lord Jesus on May 27th called Mary Donahoe Lytle of New York City, Dallas, and Newburyport home to be with her family and friends. She was a gifted Montessori kindergarten and reading teacher at the River Valley Charter School and at the Hillview Charter Montessori School. Born in New York City...
James J. McCarthy Appointed President of Newburyport Bank
NEWBURYPORT – Lloyd L. Hamm, Jr., President and CEO of River Run Bancorp, MHC, together with the Boards of River Run and Newburyport Bank, are pleased to announce the appointment of James J. McCarthy as President and Chief Operating Officer of Newburyport Bank, effective June 28, 2025. With more than four decades of executive leadership in community banking and financial services, James (Jim) brings to the role a proven track record of growth, operational excellence, and a deep understanding of community-based...
Storm Surge Presents Expert Discussion on Coastal Flood Risks in Newburyport
NEWBURYPORT – Storm Surge will host "High Stakes at High Tide: Understanding Coastal Flood Risks" on Thursday, June 12, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Newburyport Senior/Community Center, 331 High Street. The event features Katie Giannakopoulos, Coastal Dynamics Research Associate at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, who will examine the complex factors driving coastal flood risks in New England. Her presentation will address both long-term climate change impacts and the immediate threats posed by...
MeVa Pushes Ferries on the Merrimack
THE MERRIMACK RIVER – The Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority (MeVa) hopes soon to offer a new way to travel between Salisbury and Haverhill for residents and visitors. MeVa, which provides free bus transportation to 16 communities, mostly along the river, is moving this summer to begin offering two of its brightly colored ferries to transport passengers up and down the river. Last week, MeVa began looking for qualified design-build...
Newburyport Announces Departure of Director of Public Services
NEWBURYPORT – The City of Newburyport announced that Director of Public Services Wayne S. Amaral will be stepping down at the end of June after two years of service. Amaral was appointed by the mayor in 2023. He previously served as deputy director of the department from 2014- 2018. “Wayne has been an invaluable asset to our community. Under Wayne’s leadership DPS made significant progress to the City’s infrastructure. He oversaw the...
For the Fifth Year, Pentucket Regional School District Receives National Recognition by the NAMM Foundation
Superintendent Dr. Justin Bartholomew and Fine & Performing Arts Department Chair David Schumacher are proud to announce that the Pentucket Regional School District has been recognized by the NAMM Foundation as part of the Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) list for the fifth consecutive year. The Pentucket Regional School District was one of 22 schools across Massachusetts to receive the honor of being included in the BCME list....
Pink House Update: Party June 14th
PLUM ISLAND – In 1925, Gertrude W. Cutter bought land on the edge of the Great Marsh to build a house for her son, his wife and her grandson. The house has stood with the marsh as its backdrop for a century before being demolished on March 11 by its last owner, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. On Saturday, June 14, Pink House fans will gather to celebrate the iconic house’s 100th birthday. at the Pink House Art Fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m....
Georgetown Receives $250,000 Taxpayer-Funded Grant for Municipal Fiber Optic Network
GEORGETOWN – Georgetown has received a $250,000 state grant that will support the creation of a fiber optic network connecting municipal and school...
Three Vehicle Crash at Rte 1 and Pond St.
On Saturday, June 7, at about 4:03 p.m., Newburyport Police and Fire responded to a crash involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of Route 1...
Newburyport Police Investigating Accident Involving Police Cruiser and Teenage Pedestrian
NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Matthew Simons reports that the Newburyport Police Department is investigating an accident in which a police cruiser was...
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