Weekly News Digest
Previously "Milestones"

Important events in Marbleheadsince
the inception of legendinc.com

Milestones (1996 to 1998) Weekly News Digest (1999)

December 31st: Rabbi Robert Shapiro dies, 71. The very popular Rabbi, instrumental in promoting understanding and friendship in Marblehead died on Friday after a lengthy illness. Rabbi Shapiro served for 30 as senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, from 1962 to 1992.

12/30/99
The Marblehead Reporter publishes a terrific "Then and Now" photo and editorial essay on Marblehead through the 1900s. More than a collector's item with Barry Dixey's historic photo collection featured.

12/23/99
Special Education costs in the schools have exceeded their budget by over $150,000, according the School Committee. The Town FY01 budget was reported to be approximately $1 million out of balance, according to the Marblehead Reporter.

The Selectmen took notice of the closing of the Walk In Center on Widger Road, and expressed regrets. Selectman Conly agreed to meet with hospital officials to see if there were any other alternatives.

Charles Gessner, Finance Committee Chairman annouced that he was leaving the Building Oversight Committee, which is developing plans for the New High School, after the committee voted six to one not to accept Gessner's motion to reduce the size of the new building to save $41,000 in construction costs.

12/16/99
Bart Snow, Marblehead's Finance Director and Y2K Coordinator proclaims that Marblehead "willbe just fine." Other department heads at the December 15th meeting of the Board Of Selectmen echoed Snows sentiments, including police, fire and municipal light departments.

Fire Department officials and firefighters travelt o Worcester to honor the six men killed in the fire there on December 3, 1999.

Starbucks may be coming to Marblehead in Miller's Plaza after gaining a positive vote from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Peter Phillip of Lakeville, Connecticut is appointed as the seventh Headmaster of Tower School since its founding in 1891 to replace Dr. James K. Bonney who is retiring after 19 years. Mr. Phillip will take over on July 1, 2000.


12/9/99
State cancer study confirms local concerns and raises more questions about Marblehead's unusually high cancer rate and the effects of the Salem Power plant.

Board Of Selectmen vote to put an elevator in the Old Town House from the ground floor to the "First Floor" where voting has traditionally taken place. With this vote, the Old Town House's continuous use as voting place since the 1700's is assured to continue on into the 21st century. The funding of the installation of the new LULA (limited use, limited access) elevator will be subject to an article at Annual Town Meeting which calls for a debt exclusion override.

MCAS results show a drop in 10th grade scores, Superintendent says this is, "Not acceptable."

Board of Selectmen vote a "temporary disability" temporary waivers from the universal parking ban in place since the 1950's.

Town Accountant Bart Snow in a meeting before the Finance Committee states that the Town budget projection for fiscal year 2001 is out of balance by almost $250,000.

Board of Selectmen open the official Warrant for Annual Town Meeting (first Monday in May). The warrant will close for Town departments on January 26, 2000 and for citizen petitions on February 2nd at 5 P.M.


12/2/99
27th Annual Marblehead Christmas Walk is held over the weekend.

Carl Siegel is Proclaimed Chamber of Commerce's Person Of The Year.

Marblehead Walk-in Center announces intention to close its doors in March.

Board of Health bans smoking in public restaurants' dining areas, but not bars.

Former Principal Terrence Boylan plea bargains a dismissal and is sentenced to one year probation, rage therapy classes, and a restraint order concerning teacher who brought charges.

JoAnn Silva is named editor of the Marblehead Reporter, effective December 6th, launching her tenure with an editorial entitled, "Creating a paper that makes a town feel like home is our goal."

11/25/99
Marblehead loses the annual classic Thanskgiving Game with Swampsott in a rout: 42-0.

A photography exhibit, "Marblehead at the Millennium" by Stuart Cohen opens at Abbot Hall.

11/18/99

11/11/99
The Marblehead Little Theater, after a lengthy process, is awared ownership of the old firehouse at 12 School Street by the Board of Selectmen.

Norris W. Harris, former 18-year member of the Board of Selectmen (1945-1965; 1967-1969) and three terms as a local state representative dies in Florida at the age of 84.

Recreation and Park Department votes that no-pesticides will be used by the department's ground and maintenance crews.

11/4/99
The Warwich Cinema closes after 81 years of continuous operation, as announced by Thomas A. McNulty, owner, at the Board of Selectmen's meeting on November 3rd.

Michael Donawa is charged with vehicular homicide under the influence of alcohol by the Marbelhead Police Department in the October 19th crash that killed Hunter Craig.

Virginia Clegg Gamage is appointed Marblehead's first official Town Historian.

10/28/99
Terrence Boylan steps down from all posts with the Marblehead Public Schools, amid criminal and civil charges of harassment and assault.

Police continue to investigate the Tedesco Street crash which killed Hunter Craig to determine if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors. The car, driven by Michael Donawa, was traveling at an excessive rate of speed, approximately 75 miles per hour, police have determined.

Selectmen "push back" the parking ban to November 15th, instead of the lst, and consider a waiver for temporary disabilities.

Edwin Prentiss Snow, lifelong Marbleheader and town employee dies at the age of 83.

10/21/99
An automobile crash on Tedesco Street at 1:37 A.M. kills Hunter Craig, 19, and seriously injures Michael Donawa, 18, and Scott Coughlan, 19; all of Marblehead, stunning the town's citizens, young and old. A vigil on Tedesco Street begins.

Three women file harassment complaints against former Coffin/Gerry School Principal, Terrence Boylan. He has pleaded not guilty to criminal charges also filed and is contesting the harassment charges.

The Marblehead Community Public Charter School had its charter renewed by the State this week.



10/14/99
Central Street flooding, caused by overflowing drains in need of relief, may not find its quick fix in the reactivation of the Riverhead Tidal gates. These gates, in the past (prior to Conservation Commission authorities actions to remove them) were closed during storm period to keep the ocean out of the adjoining marsh, and allow stormwater runoff to enter the marsh, relieving street flooding. But, now the plan to reactivate them has to wait for federal authorities (Corp of engineers) and the State Department of Environmental Protection to review and set conditions, if they choose to allow it, which does not appear certain. In the meantime, the Town of Marblehead has established a temporary by-pass with a high volume pump to help the area during storms. Authorities worry that it may prove to be inadequate in the most intense storms.


10/7/99
Vice Principal Dale Bishop is appointed interrim Acting Principal while the district begins a formal search to replace ousted former Principal Dan Schauben-Fuerst.

Cloutman Lane residents resist the plan to build 6 houses near wetlands resource in an already congested area.



9/30/99

Old Town House handicap accessibility alterations hangs up in debate over how much the historic structure can be altered and retain its authenic appearance and history.

Middle School Pricipal Dan Schauben-Fuerst is terminated with one year severance. He stated that "after 14 years it was time to explore other challenges," but it was widely known that the principal and the superintendent did not see eye to eye and that there were a trial of complaints following the principal for the past two years.

The Reporter announces plans to convert to broadsheet from tabloid in their next issue.

The Conservation Commission voted to approve the reactivization of the Riverhead Beach flood gates to assist in avoiding further floods in the Central Street region. Cumbersome protocols were established for the closing of the gates, which allows the Goldthwaite Tidal marsh to drain and be available for a stormwater runoff retention area. While this reduces the liklihood of floods int he Central region it also increases the encroachment of the invadfing phragmities in the fragile tidal marsh. Members of the Goldthwaite Preservation Association are registering concern, and the plan still must be approved by the EPA and other state and federal agencies.



9/23/99
On a wild first night of Rosh Hashanah, Friday night, a deluge struck the town of Marblehead, causing severe flooding in the Central Street and Glendale Road areas. Eye witnesses said there was over four feet of water in the streets of both areas, flooding into cellars. Town officials were on the scenes to assist.

Despite many opinions to the contrary, a report issued this week by the Bureau of Environmental Health and Assessment of Massachusetts stated that the elevated incidents of breast cancer, leukemia and melanoma in Marblehead could not be linked to the Salem Power Plant.

The Selectmen have reissued the Request for Proposals on the future of the Old Firehouse at 12 School Street. After the first RFP elicited no response, Selectmen lowered the price to $25,000 and extended the renovation period to 5 years. Other specifications stood: the bidders must be a community-based, non-profit performing arts center, and if the operation fails the building reverts to the Town Of Marblehead.

George Derringer, longtime reporter for the Marblehead Reporter resigned this week with no mention in the paper other than a letter of regret and praise for Mr. Derringer's service and professionalism by former Selectman, Tom McNulty.



9/16/99
In a decision considered by some to actually effect the US Constitution, the US District Court Judge, Patti B. Saris, ruled that the Marblehead Police officers who enter the home of Pauline Howes at 56 Leicester Road without a search warrant, "were presented with exigent circumstances involving the concealment of evidence and teenage safety that justified the warrantless home entry." Many times police stand by powerless waiting for the procedure for issuing a search warrant to run its course. This decision, while not a blank check for warrantless entry, does extend police powers and interprets the Fourth Amendment's projection again unreasonable search and seizure differently than had previously been the convention.

Carl Seigel named Chamber's Person Of The Year. In recoognition of a lifetime of service to the Town, Carl Seigel was hailed for his work on the Water & Sewer Board and in countless projects he has participated in.



9/9/99

Despite an electrical fire that wiped out the offices of Jeff Bickford, Technology Director, schools opened on time, in the midst of alacritous repairs and system-wide optimism for the upcoming year and the prospects of new school contruction now underway.

Retiring Admiral Bud Langston stated that USS Constitution will be making a return trip to Marblehead, but he is not sure exactly when that will happen. As reported in the Marblehead Reporter, he stated," Marblehead is USS Constitution's most important port and we'[re coming back to Marblehead."

Police Officer Joe Homan was attacked and injured by a Broughton Road dog while responding to a call from the Director of the Housing Authority. Officer Homan underwent three hours of surgery and will probably be off the job for several months. The prognosis for a full recovery is good.



9/2/99

Terry Boylan, former Principal of the Coffin and Gerry schools was placed on paid administrative leave by the superintendent amid allegations that he assaulted a school teach in May 1999.

Selectmen celebrate "Tyler Hamilton Day" at their meeting. Tyler Hamilton, the second American to cross the finish line in the Tour de France cycling marathon, and the one credited with facilitating the victory of Lance Armstrong, only the second American to win the presitgeous race, appeared at the Selectmen's table with the bike he rode. In a packed Selectmen's room, Tyler was bagpiped into the room by Cliff Smith and treated to proclamations from the US Senate, US House of Representatives, Massachusetts State Senate and House and the Town Of Marblehead.

Harry Wilkinson, longtime columnist for the Reporter and Messenger dies at the age of 91.


8/26/99

Finance Committee Chairman, Charles Gessner, announced that one of his main goals this year is to combine all building maintenance and grounds maintenance into a brand new department. Following a Town Meeting vote to have the Selectmen appoint a seven-member committee to study and recommend solutions to the perceived problem of faulty maintenance of the building and grounds in Town, a committee was formed. A formal report is being prepared.




8/19/99

Marblehead Reporter announced that for the first time in its 33-year history it will be published as a broadsheet newspaper instead of its traditional smaller tabloid format. It's parent coorporation, Community Newspaper Company, which owns numerous small town community newspapers, is converting all of its papers to broadsheet. he Marblehead Messenger which is still published as a section within the Reporter, was published as a broadsheet during its stand-alone history.



8/12/99
A 28-foot Cape Dory caught fire this week in the harbor near Fort Sewall and the people on board were removed by US Coast Guard personnel. The fire was extinguished by Marblehead Harbormasters aboard the "Stacey H. Clark."

Longtime Building Commissioner, Alan Hezekiah announced his resignation this week. After ten years managing the public buildings and inspection for the Town he is taking on a new career in teaching and music.


7/5/99

Tyler Hamilton plays a major role in Tour de France American win.

Dave Rogers, fisherman and Recreation & Park Commission, is appointed to suceed George Carruth as Veterans Agent for Marblehead.


7/29/99

Nothing notable.


7/22/99
Two Marbleheaders, Chris Erbetta and Damon Seligson, who happened to be on Philbin Beach on Martha's Vineyard when John F. Kennedy, Jr.'s plane crashed killing him, his wife Carolyn and her sister, were thrust into the national eye when they were among the first to find debris from the crash. Specifically they found Lauren Bissette bag. The two shocked headers appeared on all national news shows and morning shows in a wild two day moment of fame.


7/15/99

School Committee selected Symmes, Maini and McKee Associates of Cambridge as architects for the new Marblehead High School.

The Board of Health demands that the Salem power plant, owned by US Generating, be cleaned up and immediately comply with current standards of clean air and clean water.

Glover's Regiment completes its 1999 encampment at Fort Sewall.

The Marblehead To Halifax race start was held off Marblehead Harbor on Sunday, July 11th to a full array of high flying spinnakers of the 1200 contenders watched by hundreds.


7/8/99

The Marblehead School Department, under the direction of Superintendent Philip Devaux, has an ongoing inquiry into the conduct of Terry Boylan, school administrator. A teacher, Kathleen Roeser, claims that Boylan "twisted her arm behind her back while yelling at her" during a May 24 incident. Boylan faces charges of assault.

Shortly after closing on Saturday night, an electric fire in the generator room left the floating Rockmore Restaurant engulfed in flames. Repairs are underway with plans for a rapid reopening.

Superintendent Phil Devaux gets mixed reviews from the Marblehead School Committee. The Committee cited better communications as an issue that needed attention as well as more leadership, teamwork, and renewed focus.

Jeff King, recreation supervisor, is leaving after five years of service to take a position with the Saugus Parks and Recreation Department.

James L. Nelson, author of the "Revolution at Sea" saga will sign his book and meet with visitors at the encampment of Glover's Regiment at fort Sewall this weekend.

MHS football and spring track coach, Kevin Callagy, leaves Marblehead to coach in his native North Andover. This leaves the MHS Athletic Department with a big void to fill before the start of the season in two months.


6/24/99

MHTV-3, the cable television service provided for the town by MediaOne may undergo changes. MediaOne has offered mostly local programming since 1986 but now proposes a more regional approach. The changes are still under negotiation.

A Marblehead High School subcommittee composed of students, teachers and parents defined cheating and assigned punishments for those caught violating this school policy. The new policy will be included in the handbook for the fall.

A building committee of seven voting members, two School Committee Members, a Finance Committee Member, the High School Principal Marilyn Hurwitz, and three professionals in the field (architects, contractors, etc.) and three non-voting members, the superintendent Phil Devaux, town administrator Tony Sasso, and a high school teacher will manage the design and construction of the new high school.

The Board of Selectmen appointed three new faces to the Finance Committee, J. David Moran, James Dearborn, and Scott J. Smith.

Publisher Ken Tate of "Good Old Days" magazine presented Harry Wilkinson, a contributor for 33 years, with a plaque in honor of his contributions.


6/17/99

The referendum for a $43 million new high school and multi-purpose fields passed with 61% of the vote (4,569 votes). Every precinct voted in favor of the new school.

Local clergy reacted strongly to literature of the World Church of the Creator or W.C.O.T.C. that appeared in Marblehead on Saturday. The tract includes no reference to the supernatural whatsoever, but draws attention to RAHOWA or a call for Racial Holy

War.

Marblehead High School students participated in the 350th Anniversary celebration in their own way. Students Blythe Purdin and Emily Evans prepared a time capsule, while fifth grade students presented a proposal to name Necco Wafers the official state candy. Other students from the Drama Club re-enacted the first town meeting. The events were sponsored by the 350th Anniversary Committee's Education Subcommittee.

Marblehead police will be adding a small sub-station to the downtown area. The station will be a community-oriented station geared toward residents and businesspeople.

The State Police bomb squad discovered after detonating a suspicious device with a 12-gauge bomb that the device was a dud. The device found on the beach of the Eastern Yacht Club could have been a homemade homing device that a sailor dropped.

Marblehead was officially named the "birth place of Marine Corps aviation" in a recent ceremony. The dedication plaque rests at Hammond Park.

This July, the Boston Yacht Club will host the 29th biennial Marblehead to Halifax Race.


6/10/99

Marblehead High School graduates take on the future following a tearful commencement ceremony.

The Grande Parade of June 12th, staged exactly six months after the 350th anniversary celebration began, may well be the grandest in all 350 years. The parade will began on Village and Pleasant Streets and end at the Coffin School.

Numerous complaints about pedestrian safety not a history of accidents were enough to prompt the Board of Selectmen to adopt the recommendation of the Traffic and Safety Advisory Committee. There will now be a permanent traffic island to force Beach Street traffic to stop before proceeding on the Devereux Beach and The Neck.

After 30 years with the department and nearly 18 years as chief, Police Chief John B. Palmer plans to retire July 3, 2000.

The Board of Selectman did not accept the resignation letter of Ruth Strachan, Chairwoman of the Old and Historic Districts Commission. Instead they assigned Chairman Diane St. Laurent to persuade Strachan to stay. In the words of Bill Purdin, "We don't want her to resign."

Mason Daring and Jeannie Stahl excited the crowd at a well-attended Crocker Park concert. The duo played Daring's "Marblehead Morning" among other favorites.

Historian and author Virginia Gamage presented a plaque to the town to marl the downtown intersection of Washington and Pleasant Streets as "Moses Maverick Square". Maverick, a pre-Revolutionary War leader, served on the first Board of Selectman. At 25 years old, he helped to pull the town together.

Marblehead High School junior, Shalane Flanagan broke both a state and school record in the two-mile event posting a time of 10:24:21 at Saturday's State Championship.


6/3/999

Thousands paid their respects to Marblehead's veterans and families during Monday's Memorial Day parades and ceremonies. U.S. Navy Cmdr. Gary R. Mace reminded the crown of "the high cost of freedom" and recalled the origins of our national holiday.


5/20/99

New Board of Selectman sworn in by Town Clerk Betty Brown. The new board includes: Diane St. Laurent (correction: Second Woman in Town's History), Jeff Shribman, Bill Purdin, Bill Woodfin, and Bill Conly.


5/13/99

Diane St. Laurent reelected to the 351st Board of Selectmen is the first woman to serve as chair woman of the board. St. Laurent is an eight- year veteran and the fourth woman to serve on the board.

School committee incumbent, Joan Rosenthal, loses her seat to Rob Dana and Larry DiGiammarino after three years in office.

The election results for the 351st Board of Selectmen were William Conly- 2,436, Bill Purdin- 2,582, Diane St. Laurent- 2,563, William Woodfin II- 2,698, Jeffrey Shribman- 2,620.

Long-time Marblehead resident, Rollo Arno, passed away in March 1999 in Fairfax, VA, where he had resided in recent years near his niece and nephew. Memorial services will be held in Marblehead's Waterside Cemetery chapel at noon, Saturday, May 15.


5/6/99

In Sunday's Incorporation Day ceremonies, the watch word celebrated by Glover's Marblehead Regiment was "Independence". Director of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Dr. William Fowler, Jr. noted that groups such as glover's Regiment set the tone for the American revolution and for all of American History.

The $53 million plan for a new Marblehead High School won by a landslide at a lively town meeting attended by 1,230 citizens. The need for serious repairs, low-interest rates, and increased enrollment for some of the reasons suggested for support of the plan.

Selectmen F. Reed Cutting, Jr. attended to issues of town meeting and the 350th celebration as part of his last day on the floor. He is not seeking reelection.

Disagreement over the proposed restoration of the "Capt. William Blacker Building" at Tucker's Wharf arose during discussion of the fiscal 2000 budget. Dissenters felt that the plan does not present direct services to local boaters and that boaters, who will pay for the restoration through excise taxes and mooring fees, were not well-represented at the meeting.

Dr. Albert F. McNulty, a native of Marblehead, Alum of Marblehead High School, and an East Boston Dentist, passed away at age 56 following a long illness.


4/29/99

Marblehead police have been exonerated of all charges resulting from the breaking-up of a teenage drinking party in July 1996. The mother of the two "hosts", Pauline Howes, suggested that the department has "a policy of custom of abuse of power". The charges were that her sons' Fourth Amendment right to protection against unreasonable search and seizure had been violated.


4/22/99

Project to bury overhead wires in the downtown area is estimated to take between one and three years. Daily updates on the work, progress, and disruption will be given during morning newscasts on WESX radio, 1230 AM.

The Finance Committee will unanimously recommend phase one of the Master Plan Option Two- a new high school- to Town Meeting for approval.

The overnight parking ban in place for the winter in Marblehead has been lifted and discussions of how to change it have begun. Through a survey conducted by Donna Neff and Deborah Schneider, They found that the overwhelming majority of residents would favor a prohibition of on-street parking only during "snow emergency".

Police officer Marion Keating was promoted to sergeant by a 3-2 vote of the Board of Selectmen over Officer Donald Decker.

The Second Annual Walk for Beautiful Town will be held May 1. The Walk raises money for the renovation of Gatchell's Playground and the beautification of Abbott Hall.


4/15/99

The School Committee will ask Town Meeting to approve a new high school as part of a comprehensive "master plan" to reconfigure Marblehead's schools.

Congressman John Tierney asks Marblehead selectmen to help him build support for a federally funded study of the health effects of cellular phones and cellular towers. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 currently allows telecommunications companies to build towers in virtually any town, so long as they comply with federal regulations, in order to ensure complete coverage of their services. So far, health studies in Europe have not been conclusive and the results of an industry study were never released.

Local fishermen meet with Superintendent of the Water and Sewer Department, Dana E. Snow, to discuss the effects of a new treatment facility on fishing grounds. They claim that the new facility has produced clean and clear swimming water, however, the chlorine levels in the water have produced sterile fishing grounds.

A new $10 "Town Sticker" has been approved to combine two other stickers and allow residents to both park at Devereux Beach and use the facilities at the transfer station ("the dump").


4/8/99

Town Meeting voters will be asked to approve a new high school as the first step in a $120 million school construction program.

Charter School per pupil funding is under scrutiny. The state allocates a flat rate of $7000 per student for grades five through eight, however, public school funding per pupil varies with each grade. ($5000 for elementary and $7000 for high school for example). Principal Commeret argued that more money is necessary to allow the school to meet its fiscal responsibilities and to maintain the integrity of its environment and programs.


4/1/99
Lobstermen are considering a class-action suit against the South Essex Sewerage District because of chlorine discharges and alleged damage to the lobster population. Since the plant in Salem Harbor went on line, lobster fishermen have been forced to go farther and farther out to sea in search of lobsters.

Finance Committee and othe Town officials while supportive of the Conservation Administrator have nixed the idea for this year, despite cogent and persuasive arguments forewarded by the Conservation Commission. "while we can't do it this year, we have set the wheels in motion to move forward in 2001," stated Charles Gessner, as reported in this week's Marblehead Reporter.

Marblehead's "Big Dig," the burying of the overhead wires on certain streets in the historic district is set to begin phase one on April 26.

The Finance Committee unanimously opposed Town Meeting funds for an ice skating facility in Marblehead. The Rink Committee vowed to pursue private funding of the study, although they were seeking to place the study under the Town's umbrella to lend credibilty to whatever results emerge.

The Selectmen also approved a route for a "Marblehead Trolley," sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and supported by advertising.

Minimum purchase price set for the old Firehouse on School street at $150,000, and it is determined that it shall be used as a non-profit, community-based performing arts center.



3/25/99
School Committee presents "Master Plan" of school construction to the Board of Selectmen. It's a long plan over almost ten years and totalling over $120 million.. The Selectmen stated that the plan was well-thought-out and some were supportive of the process underway.

At the same time, the School Committee was dealing with sizable reductions from the Superintendent's budget during the current budget process.



3/1`8/99
Selectmen prepare to sell the Old Firehouse at School Street.

Ten new police officers hired as "temporary intermittents," including Brian Palmer, Jason Conrad and eight others.

Discussions of options for new school contruction continue with the introduction of the "Falure to Act" option.

Alfred E. Penni, longtime Marblehead grocer dies at age 70.


3/11/99
Board of Selectmen settled the issue of what to do with the 12 School Street, "Old Firehouse," building by unanimously voting to sell it, "conditionally," to a not for profit community performing arts theater. In a long and legalistic motion, the Selectmen stated that after the intial period of renovations is completed, if the "use" ever chanes in any way, the building will revert to the Town without payment by the Town tot the holder of the building.


3/4/99
School Master Plan cneters in on just two options: (1) New High School on Sevinor Land, Middle Schools moves to current High School after major renovations, Bell, Coffin, and Eveleth schools renovated, Gerry and Glover closed. (2) High School on Sevinor Land, move grades7 and 8 (along with the Adminstration) to the current renovated High School. grades 4 to 6 at a renovated middles school, and Bell, Coffin and Eveleth open for K to 3. Glover and Gerry would be closed.

Superintendent makes a strong and methodical case for not regionalizing high schools with Swampscott, in response to a recently filed Warrant Article for Town Meeting on May 3.

The "New" Landing Restuarant, under new ownership and management moves closer to its May 1 (approximate) opening as Selectmen grant victualers license and approve transfer of liquor license.

George Carruth, long time Town employee and volunteer, dies at 69.


2/25/99

Open Space Hearing is held on Thursday, June 4th to discuss the Open Space Report recently published.

Special Education costs are coming under fire, state wide, and in Marblehead.

Workmen put up a new sign at Abbot Hall... one thing was wrong. They spelled Abbot with two "T''s." Opps. It will be fixed and back up soon.


2/18/99

Town Issues Warrant For Town Meeting, Monday & Tuesday, May 3 and 4, 1999.

Police begin to crack down on unpaid parking tickets.

School master plan for new schools and for school renovations. Most of the four options include a new high school at the Sevinor property at Tents Corner.

Representative Doug Petersen files a warrant article to study the possibilities of a regional high School.

The League Of Women Voters announced that they will conduct a study of the Townwide Parking ban.

Tower School Headmaster, Jim Bonney steps down.

Marblehead swimmers win a third straight Northeastern Conference Title.



2/11/99

Selectmen support enforcement of the State Law requiring motor vehicles from idling their engines for more than five minutes. Fines $100 first offense, up to $500 for repeat offenses.

Representative Petersen files a Town Meeting Article proposing the study of a Marblehead/Swampscott Regional School District.

The systematic repair of the clock in Abbot Hall is underway with a year-to-year maintenance plan to follow.

As the new Director of the Council on Aging takes charge, the Council commended Maxine Stromberg for her interrim Directorship and outstanding service to the Town