TODAY'S EDITION IN ONE SENTENCE: Colleen Galvin poured the last cup of her family's 45-year run at the Driftwood and folded the flag in the window; Scotland's Tartan Army, priced out of Boston for the World Cup, washed up in Marblehead instead and found a town glad to show off its old houses and harbor; six Democrats vying to succeed Seth Moulton agreed on nearly everything at a Salem State forum until the money came up; Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said he will retire Dec. 31, two years early, capping a run of fiscal warnings with the historic $17.3 million override voters just approved — a decision he insists he made before the vote; a trolley full of family and friends rolled up Barnard Street to ambush lifelong resident Tony Shea on his surprise 90th birthday; Marblehead author Eric Jay Dolin published "The Wreck of the Mentor," reconstructing an 1832 Pacific whaleship disaster that had nagged at him for two decades; the Pride flag rose over Abbot Hall as speakers paired celebration with hard numbers on the risks facing LGBTQ youth; columnist Ryan Park went looking beneath the blue for the cunner, the colorful, bait-stealing rock-dweller he swears eats white, firm and flaky; and firefighters gathered at Waterside Cemetery to honor two late retired members, only for a spectator to collapse in the heat, sending them breaking from formation to prove the morning's whole point — Cheers, Will  

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After 45 years, the Driftwood pours its last cup

 Colleen Galvin served the final breakfast under her family's ownership at the Driftwood Restaurant on Front Street, ending 45 years behind a counter where regulars came as much for company as for corned beef hash. The little red building on the harbor will reopen under new owner Maria Torres, but the family that made it a town institution has folded the flag in the window and locked the door. 

 Scotland's Tartan Army adopts Marblehead 

 Soccer fans from Fife and Dundee found Boston too expensive for the World Cup, so they rented rooms in Marblehead and walked into a town they had never heard of. Between Abbot Hall, Fort Sewall and a stranger's 300-year-old house, the visitors said the welcome turned a budget workaround into the best part of the trip. 

Money, not policy, mostly divides six Democrats chasing Moulton's seat 

 The six Democrats running to succeed U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton agreed on nearly everything at a Salem State University forum until the subject turned to campaign cash. Federal filings show Dan Koh far ahead with about $3.5 million raised and John Beccia self-funding nearly $2 million, while rivals running on far less made his fundraising the night's sharpest line of attack ahead of the Sept. 1 primary. 

Kezer to retire Dec. 31, capping his term with a record override 

 Town Administrator Thatcher W. Kezer III will step down at year's end, two years earlier than his contract allowed, after spending four years warning that Marblehead's finances were headed for a reckoning. He leaves having secured the combined $17.3 million in Proposition 2½ overrides voters approved June 9 — the second-largest permanent levy increase in state history. 

Missed an issue? The Independent’s newsletter archive keeps the whole run in reach 

 The Marblehead Independent’s newsletter archive gives readers one place to revisit past editions, catch up on weeks they missed and track how the town’s biggest stories unfolded over time. It is an easy way to browse the paper’s recent history in the format many readers know best: a full, curated weekly edition built around the stories that mattered most. 

 Kezer says he chose to leave before voters ever weighed the override 

 Kezer told the Independent the decision was his alone and had nothing to do with the override outcome, saying he had already made up his mind and told Select Board Chair Dan Fox before residents went to the polls. He framed the exit as a matter of timing and fatigue after decades of long days, and called the override a "fighting chance" rather than a permanent fix for the town. 

 A surprise trolley rolls up Barnard Street for Tony Shea's 90th 

 A green-and-red trolley packed with family and friends pulled up to Tony Shea's Barnard Street home and carried the lifelong resident off to his own surprise 90th birthday party. Born at Mary Alley Hospital and a decades-long meter superintendent at the town's electric light company, Shea was remembered by nieces, nephews and friends for a kindness and attention that made him a second father to many. 

A shipwreck waited 20 years for Marblehead author Eric Jay Dolin

 Marblehead author Eric Jay Dolin's new book, "The Wreck of the Mentor," reconstructs the 1832 wreck of an American whaleship near Palau and the longer ordeal its survivors faced ashore. Dolin first stumbled on the story while researching whaling nearly two decades ago, and he is candid about the book's central tension: one side of the record survives in detail, the other mostly in silence. 

 Pride flag climbs Abbot Hall as speakers pair joy with a warning 

 A crowd gathered outside Abbot Hall for the annual Pride flag-raising, where a state representative, the police chief, a teacher and a recent graduate tied the moment to visibility, civil rights and local responsibility. Speakers balanced celebration against hard numbers on the anxiety and risk facing LGBTQ youth, returning again and again to the difference one accepting adult can make. 

 A firefighters' memorial at Waterside turns into a reminder of the job 

 When a woman in the crowd collapsed in the heat, firefighters in dress uniform broke formation to help — exactly the work the morning at Waterside Cemetery had gathered to honor. The Firefighters Memorial Sunday ceremony remembered retired members Jerry Tucker and Jim Devine while speakers laid out the pressures on the department in 2026, from occupational cancer to staffing shortages and rising call volume. 

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Fourth of July fireworks needs an $80K push

The Marblehead Fireworks Committee says it needs about $80,000 to keep this year’s Independence Day fireworks and Harbor Illumination on track. Committee chair Alexander Falk said the gap followed the loss of the annual fundraising letter in the town census mailing.

 BENEATH THE BLUE: The colorful cunner hiding in Marblehead's rocks 

 Fishing season is back, and columnist Ryan Park turns his eye to an often overlooked local catch: the cunner, a rock-dwelling fish that flashes red, orange, violet and greenish-blue. Often dismissed as a bait-stealing nuisance, the cunner is, in Park's telling, both a worthy spearfishing target and excellent eating — white, firm and flaky. 

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.

Town urges care at Crowninshield and Gerry islands this summer
With warm weather drawing more visitors to Crowninshield and Gerry islands, town officials and The Trustees of Reservations are asking people to tread lightly on the fragile coastal spaces and the close-knit neighborhood that overlooks them. The islands are open sunrise to sunset daily; parking is limited, alcohol is not permitted, restrooms are unavailable and visitors should carry out their trash. Police and the Harbormaster's Office ask that anyone seeing activity that threatens the islands contact the Marblehead Police Department. Details.

Water main work continues on Doane, Laurel and Shorewood
The Water and Sewer Commission's first construction update covers June 22 through June 26, as contractor N. Granese & Sons begins connecting homes to new temporary water mains on Doane Street, Laurel Street and Shorewood Road. Bypass connections start June 19 and continue the following week; the affected streets will be open to residents only, with police details on site and temporary traffic delays expected. Residents are asked not to hit, park on or move the orange barrels protecting the temporary lines, and during the first week to run cold water until it clears before using hot water or doing laundry. Details.

Town-issued trash and recycling carts roll out ahead of July 1 switch
The Board of Health has begun delivering town-issued trash and recycling carts to eligible properties, with automated curbside collection set to begin July 1. After that date, all trash and recycling must fit inside the assigned carts with the lids closed, and anything left outside the carts will not be collected. Carts should be labeled with the property address, placed within 3 feet of the road and faced with the serial number toward the street; textiles and bulky items are not accepted curbside. Residents who want to opt out can file paperwork with the Health Department. Details.

St. Andrew's to mark Pride Month with June 28 worship service
The Wyman Memorial Church of St. Andrew, 135 Lafayette St., will hold a special Pride Mass at 9 a.m. Sunday, June 28, the day after North Shore Pride, dedicated to celebrating the sacred worth of LGBTQ people and recognizing the challenges the community still faces.

Holly Aloha Jaynes exhibit opens at Stetson Gallery
Holly Aloha Jaynes, a multimedia artist and longtime Marblehead arts volunteer, is presenting “Creative Journeys,” an art exhibit and sale, at Stetson Gallery at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St., during the first three weeks of June. The exhibit includes oil paintings, watercolors, photography, collage, assemblage and jewelry made with sustainably purchased Navajo beads. Jaynes will host a closing thank-you party June 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Details.

Marblehead artist to discuss Danvers exhibit
NorthShore Unitarian Universalist Church in Danvers will host an art reception and artist talk with Marblehead artist Cathy Marie Michael on June 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Her exhibit, “Art as Prayer, Resistance and Joy,” features pastel portraits of people showing strength and resilience against injustice, along with vibrant pastel landscapes. The event will be held at 323 Locust St., with original artwork, giclée prints and magnets available for purchase. Details. 

Marblehead Food Pantry launches Amazon wish list
The Marblehead Food Pantry is offering residents a new way to donate food by ordering through an Amazon wish list and shipping items directly to the Masonic Lodge at 62 Pleasant St. Organizers say the option is meant to make giving easier for residents who want to help but may not be able to make a grocery trip and separate drop-off, especially as food costs and local budget pressures add strain. Details.