10 Stories That Moved Marblehead in 2012

It's that time of year again - time to look back at Marblehead Patch's top stories of 2012.

So, before you get settled in for the holidays and make plans to ring in 2013 - here are the 10 Stories That Moved Marblehead in 2012:

The 'Summer of Sandler' - Grown Ups 2 in Marblehead

Whether it was the Washington Street cheerleader carwash scene featuring a Victoria's Secret model, the day Shaq did the funky chicken in the middle of Pleasant Street, or when Adam Sandler stopped to sign autographs after a day of shooting at Gatchell's Park, the filming of Grown Ups 2 was by far Marblehead's biggest story of 2012.

Click Here to scroll through an interactive timeline featuring photographs taken while the cameras were rolling in Marblehead - from the first day of filming on Vassar Road to the last day crews were in town.

Kayla Harrison Wins Judo Gold

Marblehead resident Kayla Harrison made national history in August when she defeated Gemma Gibbons of Great Britain and won the gold medal in the women's half-heavyweight judo competition at the 2012 Olympics in London. Harrison, 22, is a two-time national champion and won the world championship in 2010. 

Click Here to check out a video we shot at her homecoming celebration

Warwick Place Comes Together

Marblehead residents have watched Warwick Place come together over the last 12 months. As the 38,000-square-foot building went up, we learned that it would house a .

Click Here to view an interactive Timeline of photographs taken since construction began last year.

Body of Missing Kayaker Found Off Marblehead Coast

On Oct. 2, a representative of the Essex District Attorney's Office identified the body discovered in the waters off of Marblehead as former Marblehead High School student Maryan Lisovich, 23, of Lynn, who went missing while kayaking in September.

Local Teen Charged With Washington Street Stabbing

Marblehead residents were shocked in early July to learn that a local teen was charged with stabbing a man who asked him to quiet down on Washington Street. Matthew Schwartz, 18, of 5 Walnut St., Marblehead, pleaded not guilty in Lynn District Court to a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (knife). The alleged victim was transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital where a doctor determined he had suffered a stab wound that was 3 to 4 inches deep, had "missed vital organs by centimeters" and "cut through numerous muscles in the back," according to police.

Hurricane Sandy Arrives in Marblehead

The day Hurricane Sandy arrived in Marblehead produced the highest web traffic of any day in 2012. Although Marblehead residents were lucky to have been spared the kind of destruction that was seen in places like New York and New Jersey, the waves that rocked in Marblehead were impressive.

The 2012 Leaf Blower Debate

The proposal, which called for a seasonal ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers in Marblehead, was defeated by less than 100 votes.

A Resounding 'No' at Piper Field Forum

When town residents learned that Columbia Pictures film crews wanted to tear up Piper Field for filming, they turned out in droves to argue against it. The debate over the issue culminated with a forum at Marblehead High School and the proposal was eventually turned down.

Body of Local Tugboat Master Found

Certainly another sad story from 2012 - the in May was identified as local tugboat captain Brendan O'Leary, who went missing from a tugboat off the coast of Rhode Island on April 25. O'Leary, 48, of Marblehead, was the captain of a 91-foot tugboat towing a barge with 45,000 barrels of jet fuel to Boston. According to reports, on April 25 at about 2:30 p.m., his crew noticed that he was missing.

Pigtails Prompt Local Discussion About Bullying

The Pigtails For Peace movement that swept across Marblehead High School in October was a testament to the kind of students we have here in town - and garnered national attention. A girl who was the target of bullying for the pigtails she wore called upon her fellow classmates to wear them in a stand against bullying.