TODAY'S EDITION IN ONE SENTENCE: Marblehead’s projected fiscal 2027 deficit is coming into focus, with town leaders weighing cuts to jobs and services alongside a possible trash fee; the schools are being told to find another $1.5 million in reductions; and state-set health insurance rates have locked in another major budget pressure, while a long-in-the-works new patrol boat has officially entered service in Marblehead and Salem harbors; a revised development proposal would preserve the historic Glover House while building around it; police logs included a string of scams involving fake relatives, landlords and federal agents; the town’s sustainability coordinator is leaving for a job with the MBTA; and elsewhere in town life, readers can look to snow tracks for signs of wildlife, early blooms for signs of spring, emotional pressure for signs of online scams, and the Oscars for one editor’s excuse to be fond, opinionated and perhaps just a little obsessive about the movies. — Cheers, Will 

P.S. The Council on Aging graciously invited me to hold monthly coffee hours, and the first gathering in February was a blast. Our conversation truly ran the gamut, from local politics and community feedback to how we decide what stories to cover and new ideas we should be chasing. Join me for coffee and conversation on Monday, March 31, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Judy & Gene Jacobi Community Center, 10 Humphrey St. Coffee and donuts are on me.

P.S.S. Town Meeting is coming. We're busy building a forthcoming inaugural Town Meeting Poll to see where Marblehead voters stand on issues. Click the Google Form link HERE to join our polling panel, and if you feel so inclined, share with other Marblehead voters.

Our reporting remains free and open to all. It’s sustained by readers who choose to support it, making it possible for us to keep producing rigorous, document-based local reporting without paywalls or promotional framing. Right now, 102 readers support The Marblehead Independent with a monthly or annual contribution:  Click here to become an Independent member.

Marblehead's $7 million deficit

comes for jobs, services 

Town leaders are weighing major service cuts and new charges as Marblehead confronts a projected fiscal 2027 budget gap. One proposal, a $255 annual trash fee for households, drew sharp debate at the Select Board.

Schools told to find another $1.5 million in cuts

School officials say the district may need to reduce spending by roughly $1.5 million beyond an already level-funded budget proposal. The request comes after earlier reductions that eliminated 14.75 full-time positions.  

State sets health insurance rates, giving Marblehead clearer FY2027 budget numbers   

The Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission has approved next year’s municipal health insurance rates, giving Marblehead firmer cost estimates for a major budget line. The decision locks in one of the town’s largest spending pressures for fiscal 2027.  

New patrol boat enters service in Marblehead, Salem harbors

Marblehead’s new 31-foot patrol and rescue boat was christened Friday after nearly four years of planning and grant work. Harbor officials say the vessel will strengthen patrols, search-and-rescue operations and emergency response on the water.  

Developer proposes preserving

Glover House in revised housing plan

A new concept for the Glover property would keep the historic farmhouse in place while adding 140 apartments across parcels in Swampscott, Marblehead and Salem. The revised plan marks a shift toward preservation after years of debate over the site.  

Police report wave of scams, identity fraud cases

Recent police reports detail a series of fraud complaints involving impersonation scams, fake rental listings and identity theft. In one case, a couple lost $1,500 after a scammer posed as their son in a text exchange.

Sustainability coordinator puts

two weeks' notice in 

 Logan Casey, the town’s first sustainability coordinator, is leaving after about two years in the job. During his tenure, he helped advance climate planning, grant funding and the town’s broader net-zero efforts.

Winter animal tracks offer clues in backyards and parks

Marblehead Independent contributors Wendall Waters and Chris Stevens will occasionally write a nature column. In this first installment, they explore how snow tracks can help readers identify the wildlife living nearby, highlighting common signs left by birds, possums, rabbits and other animals.   

COLLEEN'S GARDEN: Early spring blooms and March pruning tasks

Colleen Connor points readers to the first signs of spring, from hellebores and snowdrops to other early bulbs. She also shares March gardening advice, including which shrubs and vines to prune before new growth begins.  

COMPUTERS 101: Online safety starts with recognizing emotional pressure tactics  

Columnist Theresa Milewski argues that many scams work by exploiting urgency, authority and familiarity rather than technical weakness. Her column urges readers to pause and recognize those cues before responding.  

EDITOR'S DESK: An Oscars-eve love letter to this year’s films  

On the eve of the Oscars, I offer a fond and slightly obsessive tribute to the films and performances that stayed with me most, along with my best guesses for how the Academy will cast its ballots.

Browse the Independent's newsletter archive

We’ve created a Marblehead Independent newsletter archive — a new feature that will be updated weekly. The archive lets readers browse past editions, revisit favorite stories and follow Marblehead’s civic debates, cultural life and everyday news, week by week.

AROUND TOWN

This week’s community bulletin highlights key town deadlines, meetings, programs, events and civic reminders. Click any blue item to go directly to source material, registration pages or full details.

The Marblehead Animal Shelter will host a charity night at The Landing Restaurant, 81 Front St., on Tuesday, March 24, from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will feature food and drinks, a silent auction and live music by The Melody Makers. Fifteen percent of all food, drink and gift certificate purchases during the evening will be donated to the shelter. No tickets are required, though reservations are recommended.

***

MAA hosts spring exhibit reception March 1: The Marblehead Arts Association will hold an opening reception for its spring exhibits on Sunday, March 1 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 8 Hooper St. The reception marks the start of multiple shows running Feb. 28 through April 11, and the galleries will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and donations are appreciated.

***

Abbot Public Library is taking reservations beginning Jan. 26 for its AARP Tax Counseling Program, offering free tax preparation assistance on Tuesday afternoons from Feb. 3 through April 14 at the library’s event center, 235 Pleasant St.

***

North Shore Community Action Programs is accepting applications for fuel assistance, which helps low-income households pay heating bills. A household of one with annual income below $45,392 or two people below $59,359 is eligible, with higher thresholds for larger families. New applicants and returning customers should contact Sharon Doliber at the Council on Aging at 781-631-6225 for help completing paperwork.

***

Drop-in Tech Help (March 10): All Computers Great and Small will provide free drop-in tech help Tuesday, March 10 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Abbot Public Library. Patrons can bring laptops, tablets or phones for assistance. No registration is required, and staff remind participants to keep passwords private.

***

The Marblehead Festival of Arts will hold four speed puzzling fundraisers at Abbot Hall in the lead-up to the 2026 Festival. Events are scheduled for March 7, Aug. 8, Sept. 26 and Nov. 7, with competitions running from 10 a.m. to noon and additional time reserved for setup and cleanup. Organizers say a January event drew strong participation and spectator interest, prompting the expanded schedule and a planned champions round in November. More information and registration.

***

Swampscott Tides will host “Swampscott Fish Tales: An Evening of Community Storytelling” on Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m. at Swampscott High School. The event will feature 10-minute stories on the theme “A Fish Out of Water” and will serve as a fundraiser for the neighboring nonprofit. Buy tickets. 

***

Marblehead Public Schools urges parents and guardians whose children will be five years old by Sept. 1 to register for kindergarten for the 2026-2027 school year. Registration opens Feb. 23 and requires submitting proof of age, residency and other documents through the district’s online enrollment portal. Families may choose between free half-day kindergarten or a full-day program costing $4,120. Registration information and required forms.

***

A Massachusetts boating safety course will be held March 21 at the Boston Yacht Club, 1 Front St. Starting April 1, anyone operating a motorized vessel in Massachusetts — including powerboats, sailboats and personal watercraft — must complete an approved boating safety education course under the new state law. The course will cover navigation rules, emergency procedures and environmental protection. The entry fee is $80 for nonmembers.

***

Multiple vacancies: The Select Board has posted vacancies on several appointed town boards and commissions, including the Conservation Commission, Design Review Board, Disabilities Commission, Marblehead Cultural Council, Marblehead Community Access and Media, the Old & Historic Districts Commission (alternate) and the Task Force Against Discrimination. Residents interested in serving must submit a letter of interest and resume to the Select Board at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or by email to wileyk@marbleheadma.gov. Positions remain open until filled. Full vacancy list.

***

The second Coffin School Community Meeting is set for Tuesday, March 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. The town, working with the University of Connecticut’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields program, is continuing to gather public input on possible future reuse of the former Coffin School property. The meeting will be held in the Abbot Hall auditorium and online. Learn more here. 

***

The Marblehead Police Department, in partnership with the Marblehead Council on Aging, will offer a citizen police academy this spring for residents interested in learning more about local law enforcement. The program will run Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. from April 23 through June 11 at the Judy & Gene Jacobi Community Center, 10 Humphrey St. Class size is limited and open to Marblehead residents age 18 and older. Participants are expected to attend all sessions and complete a Criminal Offender Record Information check as part of the application process. Forms may also be picked up at the Council on Aging. For questions or more information, contact Lt. David Ostrovitz at ostrovitzd@marbleheadma.gov or Janice Salisbury-Beal at salisburybealj@marbleheadma.gov.

***

MHS Film Club announces March screenings: The MHS Film Club will host two screenings in March as part of its intergenerational movie discussion series. Films will be shown Wednesdays at 3 p.m. at the Mariner’s Movie Theatre, 265 Pleasant St. The next movie is “The Princess Bride” on March 25. Organizers say the program is designed to encourage discussion among participants of different generations.

***

The Scottish traditional music group Tannahill Weavers will perform March 20 at Me&Thee Music in Marblehead in what organizers say will be the band’s only Boston-area appearance.

The group, founded in Paisley, Scotland, blends traditional Scottish melodies with contemporary rhythms and was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2011. Current members include guitarist and singer Roy Gullane, flutist Phil Smillie, fiddler Alistair McCulloch and piper Iain MacGillivray, who has appeared in productions including “Outlander” and “Men in Kilts.” The performance will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St. Doors open at 7:15 p.m., and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online at meandthee.org or locally at Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St. The all-volunteer nonprofit organization will also collect donations of nonperishable food items for the Marblehead Food Pantry before the show.

***

Marblehead Opticians to host fundraiser for Miles for Mary: Marblehead Opticians will host a fundraising event for Miles for Mary from 4 to 6 p.m. March 18 at the shop, 51 Atlantic Ave. The event will feature a Maui Jim trunk sale, light refreshments and live music by shop owner Jim Trick. Twenty percent of sales during the event will be donated to Massachusetts General Hospital through the Miles for Mary fundraising effort.

***

Carol Whitmore, national commander in chief of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will visit the Salem VFW at 95 Derby St. on Friday, March 20. The Salem post will host Whitmore along with state VFW officers from 4:30 to about 7:30 p.m.  The visit is part of Whitmore’s trip to Massachusetts and will include meetings with local and state VFW leadership. Ronald Knight, commander of VFW Post 2005, shared the announcement to keep local communities informed about veterans’ affairs.