IPSWICH − The Select Board last week voted unanimously to offer the town manager position to Brendan Sweeney, a native son, who currently serves as Boxford’s assistant town administrator. Sweeney was selected over fellow finalist Steve Bartha, Lexington’s town...
Stewart Lytle
Stewart Lytle is the lead reporter for The Town Common newspaper. Before joining The Town Common, he was a national correspondent for Scripps-Howard Newspapers in Washington, D.C., covering the Pentagon and Congress. He has also written for newspapers in Dallas, TX, and Birmingham, AL.
As a national reporter for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain, Stewart wrote the inside story on military life of soldiers and sailors and their families. He landed on aircraft carriers, experienced oxygen deprivation for high-altitude flight training and crawled through the mud with Marine snipers.
One of his proudest achievements outside of journalism was assisting USAA Chairman Robert McDermott in securing federal legislation that mandated air bags in vehicles.
Stewart is also a novelist and has written non-fiction books. He is currently working on a non-fiction book and screenplay about an incident that occurred in Boston.
His first novel, Iron City Conspiracy, explores power in a city. It features a black newspaper editor solving the bombing of a historic black church in a tough Alabama town.
Following in the footsteps of his idol, Ernest Hemingway, Stewart has completed a new novel about a love affair in the midst of the Spanish Civil War. The book, Montserrat, is based on a true story and has been made into a screenplay that will become an international feature film.
A graduate of Phillips Academy and Princeton University, Stewart lives with his wife, Mary, in Newburyport.
Tenney Statute Celebrated at Custom House Maritime Museum
NEWBURYPORT – The Custom House Maritime Museum (CHMM) drew a crowd last week to celebrate the raising of more than $25,000 to secure the acquisition of the 9-foot masthead of one of the city’s most famous philanthropist join the museum’s collection of clipper ship art...
Town Tries to Limit Pentucket Pond Water Skiing
GEORGETOWN – Police here have issued only one permit for waterskiing on the 88-acre Pentucket Pond, but it was about as murky as the pond water whether the town had authority to issue even that permit. With waterskiing season approaching, the Select Board met last...
21st Greater Newburyport Literary Festival Features Updike
NEWBURYPORT – Michael Updike, a marvelous sculptor of delicate silver platters, boots and bowls as well as huge granite gravestones, will bring his wit and insights into his father’s mastery of the great American novel to this year’s weekend of celebrating all things...
Mello’s First Months Go Smoothly
GEORGETOWN – The only issue at the new G. Mello Disposal Corp.’s Transfer Station since it opened two months ago was one lithium battery caught fire. The fire was put out in minutes, even before the Georgetown Fire Department arrived minutes later, by a highly...
Newburyport: Two Grammy Nominees Perform at Belleville
NEWBURYPORT – North Texas music lovers have a pair of treats in store this weekend as Tony Trischka, who has been called the “greatest banjo player on the planet,” is joined by rhythm and blues singer Farayi at the Belleville Roots Concert Saturday night. It’s “a...
Sign May Help Heal Pink House Community
PLUM ISLAND TURNPIKE – Last week the Town of Newbury installed an anonymously donated sign commemorating the 100 years the Pink House stood along this highway. Under a replica of local artist Kathy Culbert’s painting of the house, the sign reads: “The Pink House....
Changing Tides Café Serves George Howell Coffee
NEWBURYPORT – If you are looking for a cozy coffee and baked goods shop in downtown Newburyport, you may want to try Kimberly Dillon’s Changing Tides Café on Pleasant Street. Despite being a few steps off the well-trodden sidewalks of State and Pleasant streets, the...
Was Agent’s Dismissal Approved by Town Lawyer?
GEORGETOWN – Last week a story in The Town Common, “Town to Review ConCom Agent Abrupt Firing,” reported that the town of Georgetown’s retained counsel, K&P Law, was consulted regarding the firing of the conservation director Michele Grenier. Since that printing,...
Trucks at Zibell Farm Again
GEORGETOWN – To the shock of neighbors, who thought their years-long nightmare was over, excavation of Zibell Farm at 214 North St. started again last week with the town permitting the removal of asphalt millings. Town Administrator Orlando Pacheco and Town Planner...
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Recent News
- Selectman Paul B. Thompson Funeral Saturday at St. Mary’s Apr 23, 2026
- Sweeney to Leave Boxford for Ipswich Apr 23, 2026
- CANDIDATE STATEMENT: TOPSFIELD Chris Ruggles Apr 23, 2026
- Tenney Statute Celebrated at Custom House Maritime Museum Apr 23, 2026




