TODAY'S EDITION IN ONE SENTENCE: Marblehead’s Board of Health finally struck a $1.6 million deal to renovate the transfer station after years of false starts; the School Committee voted to self-report a possible Open Meeting Law violation in the name of transparency; Old Burial Hill’s centuries-old gravestones once again revealed the toll of routine mowing as preservationists search for solutions; pumpkins poured into churchyards, side streets and downtown gardens to announce the season with fundraising and festivity; the Recreation and Parks Commission backed a $381,000 design contract for Reynolds Playground after seven years of delays; and the community grieved the loss of poet Jennifer Martelli, whose work touched on coastal life, identity and activism.

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Old Burial Hill’s fragile balancing act

Centuries- old gravestones at Old Burial Hill are crumbling under the weight of history and the whir of string trimmers. Town officials, preservationists and volunteers are grappling with how to protect one of New England’s oldest cemeteries — a place that draws tourists each October for its history and its “Hocus Pocus” fame — while still keeping the grounds accessible and safe.

IN MEMORIAM:

Remembering Jennifer Martelli, a poet of place and politics 

Jennifer Martelli, who died last week at 63, built a body of work that braided her Italian American roots, her recovery and her activism into verse that felt both intimate and urgent. A fixture in Marblehead’s literary life, she mentored younger poets and lent her voice to political causes, all while winning recognition for collections that captured the rhythms of coastal life.

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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.

Dump gets its day: $1.6M transfer station contract clears major hurdle

After years of false starts, failed bids and rising costs, the Board of Health has approved a $1.59 million contract to overhaul Marblehead’s transfer station. The project will replace aging infrastructure, relocate the scale house and add new facilities — a long-awaited modernization that will cause temporary disruption but promises to reshape waste management for years to come.

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When in doubt, report it: School Committee to self-report potential violation

When draft goals were circulated by email, one School Committee member argued it violated the spirit of open government. Rather than debate the fine print, the committee voted to self-report to state officials — a move that underscores both the town’s caution around the Open Meeting Law and its ongoing charter review.

After seven years, Reynolds Playground redesign inches closer to reality

Marblehead’s Recreation and Parks Commission has recommended a $381,000 design contract for Reynolds Playground and the Green Street complex, choosing a firm known for municipal sports facilities over a lower bidder. Commissioners say the decision marks a turning point in a long-delayed effort to modernize fields, courts and recreation space in the heart of town.

Pumpkins on every corner, traditions that bind a town together

Each autumn, Marblehead turns orange. From Clifton Lutheran’s patch, where volunteers unload thousands of pumpkins from Navajo farms, to a neighborhood contest guessing the weight of giant gourds, to a downtown illumination that lights up the Lee Mansion gardens, pumpkins have become the town’s seasonal shorthand for community, celebration and continuity.

AROUND TOWN

Fall Festival set for Oct. 4: The he sixth annual fall fair, sponsored by Discover Marblehead and the Marblehead Museum, will be held Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lee Mansion Gardens, 161 Washington St., Marblehead, featuring an artisan market, music, food, card readings and family activities.

Five art shows now on view: Nearly 200 works by 50 artists are displayed across five exhibitions at the Marblehead Arts Association’s King Hooper Mansion from Sept. 27 through Nov. 2. 

Ellis Paul live at Me&Thee:  Folk singer Ellis Paul returns Oct. 3 with songs of gratitude and resilience.

Tickets on sale for ‘The Crucible': Tickets are now on sale for Marblehead Little Theatre’s production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible,” running Oct. 3-19 at 12 School St.

Shredding event and food drive: Marblehead Bank will hold a free community shredding event and food drive Saturday, Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon at 21 Atlantic Ave. The event, in partnership with Shred-it, offers residents an opportunity to safely dispose of documents while contributing nonperishable food donations.

Marblehead Youth Soccer marks 50 years with golf classic: The anniversary tournament tees off Oct. 6 at Tedesco Country Club.

Friends of Abbot Library membership drive: Celebrate National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 19–25 with a new membership to support programs and book sales.

Native storytelling at Marblehead Museum: Storyteller Anne Jennison shares Abenaki and Wabanaki tales Oct. 13 for Indigenous Peoples Day.

Animal Shelter marks National Cat Day: Adoptable cats take center stage Oct. 29 as the Marblehead Animal Shelter raises awareness for pets in need.

Halloween trick-or-treating, Spooktacular party set for Oct. 30: Families can celebrate Halloween downtown Oct. 30 with trick-or-treating at local businesses and a Spooktacular at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

Holiday Pops 2025 at Abbot Hall set for Dec. 13: Marblehead Harbor Rotary’s biggest fundraiser of the year will once again bring Maestro Dirk Hillyer and the Hillyer Festival Orchestra to Abbot Hall. The evening includes a Champagne Reception, music, and community spirit, with proceeds supporting local nonprofits and projects. Tickets go on sale Nov. 12 at rotaryclubofmheadharbor.org.

Survey launched to map residents' health needs: The Board of Health has partnered with the University of Massachusetts Boston on a community survey to identify residents’ most pressing health needs. The results will guide future wellness and planning efforts.

HELP WANTED: Full-time infant, toddler and preschool teachers

The Marblehead Children’s Center is seeking full-time infant, toddler and preschool teachers, offering competitive pay, benefits, free child care and a supportive teaching environment (gail@marbleheadchildrenscenter.com, 781-631-1954).