On December 19th, two members of the Marblehead Police Department will travel south with officers from around New England and other parts of the United States to fulfill an early Christmas wish for a child who is terminally ill with brain cancer. Six-year-old Nathan Norman from Rustburg, Va., has shared his wish to receive Christmas cards from strangers, including police, fire and emergency medical personnel. Members of the Burlington, MA Police Department have organized a huge convoy that will include officers from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut who will travel to …

Dear Editor, I have been a resident of Marblehead for about five years and a reader of Marblehead Patch for 3 years. I find it a great source of information as-well-as a great forum for folks to use for various issues. This is my first time contacting the Patch to relay a situation that I was confronted with today at a local business. This morning I stopped by a local shop and, upon entering, I was greeted and told that "someone would be right with me". Pleased at the greeting, I responded "Thank you Ma'am". The customer in front of me, a very pleasant woman, said to the employee, (and I am …

To the Editor: Not one time this spring or summer have I driven down Atlantic Avenue – from our quaint shops to the Swampscott line – that my heart has not felt pride for my country, gratitude to our freedom-fighting veterans and an overwhelming sense of patriotism for this country where I was blessed to be born. (Click Here for our full story about the American Flags on Atlantic Avenue.) A few times, when seeing the beautiful flags flying in freedom – on shops, fences, trees and porches – I have been compelled to play my CD, Ray Charles' version of America the Beautiful. My heartfelt thank …

The following Letter to the Editor was sent in by Doran Ward: Dear Editor: Is the 1692 witch hunt mentality alive and well in 2012 Marblehead? I have loved and visited Marblehead for 22 years and even dream of living there, though now that I have the Marblehead Patch emailed to me every day I'm hiding my black cat and staying put in another state.  An elderly gang? Seriously? What are they doing, keying innocent citizen's walkers? Using Fixodent for evil instead of good? A bus blocking someone's view? Move your entitled bottom a little to the left, though I guess it's just easier to bother …

What if Marblehead could fix the Old Town House, buy a new fire truck AND fix the drains without raising taxes and without impacting services? I suspect your reply would be “That seems impossible - how?” Here is how: the town had budgeted for a big increase in insurance expenses for the coming year. Then the town joined the State insurance system. This insurance change “saved the town $2 million” per year according to Tony Sasso at Town Meeting. From this savings our leaders agreed to give the town employees raises.  The annual cost of the raises is approximately $800,000; leaving 1.2 million…

Letter to the Editor: I would like to thank the League of Women Voters for sponsoring Candidate’s Night and giving me the opportunity to voice my opinions while running for Light Commissioner. I would also like to thank all of the citizens of Marblehead for voting and especially the ones who gave me their votes.  Lastly, I would like to congratulate Phil Sweeney and Wilbur Bassett for their wins for Light Commissioner. On another note, I am disappointed with The Marblehead Reporter. I feel they have a responsibility to the citizens of the town to make sure they are well informed about each …

Dear Marblehead Patch, What would you say if you learned that the School Committee renovated the Village School as proposed and had over $5 million left over?  Great, right?  We can use that savings to reduce the cost of the new Glover School – Right?  WRONG. In 2008 voters passed an override for $21.8 million for renovations to the Village School to replace the furnace and related systems, fix the roof, and comply with fire and safety guidelines.  The actual cost for this work was some $5 million less than anticipated. Then, without telling you, the School Committee spent $5.4 million in …

Dear Editor: What if Marblehead could build the new Glover School for $7.8 million? Interested?  Here is how:   Cost of new Glover School $25.9 million State Reimbursement $10.3 Million Final cost to Town (25.9 – 10.3) $15.6 million     Now what if the taxpayers agree to fund $7.8 million (half of the $15.6 needed) with an override and the School Committee agrees to fund the other half out of their existing budget? Then Marblehead has a new $25.9 million school for just $7.8 million in new spending, spread over 20 years - and we keep $10.3 million in state reimbursement! Our school budget for…

Dear Editor: Punxsutawney Phil has heralded that spring is not far away and in Marblehead that means only one thing – It’s time for the overrides! Last year the citizens sent a resoundingly clear message to the town leaders and to the Selectmen in particular: "Not now, we’re in a recession," when they voted against all ten tax increases.  You would think that they would have gotten the message, but apparently not. Again this year they are back with the same major tax increases: the dump and the Glover School. How can our town leaders be so out of touch? The entire country is in the midst of a…