Plum Island: 2 Women Mourned
PLUM ISLAND – Many details have yet to be released regarding the deaths of two young women described as best friends, Dahiana Canas, 25 of East...
IPSWICH MUSEUM
We are very excited to have our own Bob Waite, Ipswich native, here to participate in our Evening Lecture Series! Please join us on Wednesday...
Beverly Police Department and Law Enforcement Partners Successfully De-Escalate Mental Health Crisis
BEVERLY – Chief John G. LeLacheur reports that the Beverly Police Department and law enforcement partners successfully de-escalated a situation...
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...
Town Releases ‘Imperfect, Incomplete’ Stirm Group Report
GEORGETOWN – Amid complaints from the SelectBoard chair and several members that the Stirm Group report is flawed, the board last week unveiled the long-awaited report from the private detective firm about the town’s Conservation Commission (ConCom) and particularly the former Conservation Agent. The board accepted the report by the Newburyport firm, which cost the town $10,000, but in its official response said it “finds (the report) inadequate and does not endorse it.” SelectBoard member Laura Repplier called...
Legally Blonde: The Musical
NEWBURYPORT – The Firehouse Center for the Arts is thrilled to announce its summer Mainstage production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, running July 4 through 27, 2025. With book by Heather Hach and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, this high-energy musical comedy promises to dazzle audiences with its heart, humor, and contagious pink power. Performances will take place at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA, on Fridays at 7PM, Saturdays at 2PM and 7PM, and...
Topsfield Troop 81 – Spirit of Adventure Council – Eagle Scout Court of Honor
EAGLE SCOUT Timothy Fionn Eagan Son of Denise and Thomas Eagan Topsfield, Mass. Timothy Eagan is an 18 year old graduating senior of Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. He plans to attend Saint Anselm’s College in the fall. He also hopes to join their cross country & track teams. On the advice of a friend, he joined Essex Tech’s cross country, indoor and spring track teams and continues to thoroughly enjoy these sports. He improved his 5k time from 27:43 to 18:50 minutes in his senior year....
50th Anniversary of Jaws with a trip to ‘Amity Island’
By Gabe DiSaverio Founder of TheSpicyShark.com You ever have a dream that lives in your bones for so long, it feels like a part of who you are? That’s what has been to me since I first saw it at eight years old. The music, the suspense, the characters—Brody, Hooper, Quint—they’ve been my heroes for decades. I can confidently, and scientifically, say it’s the greatest movie ever made. And this year, it turns 50. So yeah, this is a big one for me. As a lifelong Jaws nut, I've celebrated in a million small ways....
Paul Herbert Farrell – Georgetown
Paul Herbert Farrell, 80, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 8, 2025 at CHA Whidden Hospital in Everett after a lengthy illness. Born in Everett in February 1945, Paul was the son of the late Edgar H. and the late Florence (Ross) Farrell, and stepson of the late Patricia (McMakin) Farrell. Paul grew up in Everett and graduated from Everett High School with the Class of 1963. Following high school, Paul proudly served in the United States Air Force, where he attained the rank of Sergeant. After his honorable...
Plant Matters
by Ida Wye Essex Tech aboriculture accomplished a real milestone this spring when there nascent Maplewood Arboretum was certified. This remarkable achievement for a public education institution will inspire and educate the present and future students and the collection of trees will increase as the years advance. The mission statement describes how “trees tell stories and how each tree represents a unique narrative connecting people with these stories and honors the legacy of the natural world”. This arboretum...
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...
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 buildings. The grant means municipal government will manage and control its digital presence, rather...
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 and Pond Street. Responding crews observed that 3 vehicles, a 2022 Tesla Model 3, a...
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
Town Releases ‘Imperfect, Incomplete’ Stirm Group Report
GEORGETOWN – Amid complaints from the SelectBoard chair and several members that the Stirm Group report is flawed, the board last week unveiled the long-awaited report from the private detective firm about the town’s Conservation Commission (ConCom) and particularly the former Conservation Agent. The board accepted the report by the Newburyport firm, which cost the town $10,000, but in its official response said it “finds (the report) inadequate and does not endorse it.” SelectBoard member Laura Repplier called...
Town Releases ‘Imperfect, Incomplete’ Stirm Group Report
GEORGETOWN – Amid complaints from the SelectBoard chair and several members that the Stirm Group report is flawed, the board last week unveiled the long-awaited report from the private detective firm about the town’s Conservation Commission (ConCom) and particularly the former Conservation Agent. The board accepted the report by the Newburyport firm, which cost the town $10,000, but in its official response said it “finds (the report) inadequate and does not endorse it.” SelectBoard member Laura Repplier called...
Legally Blonde: The Musical
NEWBURYPORT – The Firehouse Center for the Arts is thrilled to announce its summer Mainstage production of Legally Blonde: The Musical, running July 4 through 27, 2025. With book by Heather Hach and music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, this high-energy musical comedy promises to dazzle audiences with its heart, humor, and contagious pink power. Performances will take place at the Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA, on Fridays at 7PM, Saturdays at 2PM and 7PM, and...
Topsfield Troop 81 – Spirit of Adventure Council – Eagle Scout Court of Honor
EAGLE SCOUT Timothy Fionn Eagan Son of Denise and Thomas Eagan Topsfield, Mass. Timothy Eagan is an 18 year old graduating senior of Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. He plans to attend Saint Anselm’s College in the fall. He also hopes to join their cross country & track teams. On the advice of a friend, he joined Essex Tech’s cross country, indoor and spring track teams and continues to thoroughly enjoy these sports. He improved his 5k time from 27:43 to 18:50 minutes in his senior year....
Plum Island: 2 Women Mourned
PLUM ISLAND – Many details have yet to be released regarding the deaths of two young women described as best friends, Dahiana Canas, 25 of East Boston, and Vanessa Correa, 25 of Lynn, who drowned off Plum Island Point last week. Did they go to the beach to swim, or was that an after-thought (were they dressed for swimming)? How did they get in the water? Did they park? What vehicle? Where? Were they with other people? Did anyone see them? Do...
IPSWICH MUSEUM
We are very excited to have our own Bob Waite, Ipswich native, here to participate in our Evening Lecture Series! Please join us on Wednesday evening, June 18, 2025 at 7:30pm, in the Appleton Room at The Heard House. Bob will be presenting "Mr. Waite's Improbable History", a spoof on the play "Mr. Peabody's Improbable History" from the classic animated TV program "The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle". This will be a lighthearted...
Beverly Police Department and Law Enforcement Partners Successfully De-Escalate Mental Health Crisis
BEVERLY – Chief John G. LeLacheur reports that the Beverly Police Department and law enforcement partners successfully de-escalated a situation involving an individual experiencing a mental health crisis. Late last month, the Beverly Police Department was called to an apartment complex on Rantoul Street (Route 1A) for a report of a individual experiencing a mental health crisis who may be armed. Beverly Police responded, set up a perimeter to...
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...
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...
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