More local news
The three candidates for 5th Essex District MA State Representative.  From left, Christina Delisio, Republican from Manchester, incumbent Dru Tarr, Democrat from Gloucester, and Gil Frieden, Independent from Essex. 

Déjà Vu on the Debate Stage as 5th Essex Candidates Face Off Again

For voters who followed last spring's special election for the 5th Essex District, Tuesday night's candidate debate at Gloucester High School had a familiar feel.
Painting Manchester Harbor during CAPA's annual "Quick Draw" competition.

CAPE ANN, ONE BRUSHSTROKE AT A TIME

For one glorious week, Cape Ann became an outdoor artist’s studio as Cape Ann Plein Air celebrated its 10th anniversary, bringing accomplished painters from near and far to capture the region’s landscapes, harbors, historic architecture and coastal light
Sunday’s 16th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta in Manchester drew a huge crowd, squeezing in every heat.

Stayin’ Alive Takes Top Spot in Cardboard Boat Regatta

The skies were gray and the threat of rain was real, which would normally mean only diehards would show up for a regatta.  But Sunday’s 16th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta in Manchester drew a huge crowd.
Randall “Randy” Ayer, the sole survivor of Saturday’s boat crash, being dispatched to an ambulance at Tuck’s Point by public safety officials.  He was medevacked to Mass. General Hospital, where he remains hospitalized.

Manchester Boating Accident: One Dead, One Missing After Sasparilla Crash

Saturday began as a beautiful autumn day.  It ended with a boating tragedy off Singing Beach that left a Beverly man dead, a Hamilton man hospitalized, and another Hamilton man missing. The …

Yale Whiffenpoofs Bring A Cappella Tradition to Manchester Essex

Students in Manchester Essex Regional High School’s SoundWaves got a close-up introduction to one of the country’s oldest collegiate musical traditions last week when Yale University’s Whiffenpoofs came to Manchester for an afternoon workshop and community concert.
MERHS Speech and Debate team on day 3 of the Yale University Invitational out supporting team of Berkowitz and Burgess in their elimination round. Left to Right: Lily Berkowitz, Grace Burgess, Abby Borgerson, Claire Yukins, Simone Argento, Stella Langille, Rosie Renehan.
MERHS Speech and Debate Team Opens Season at Yale Invitational
Seven members of the MERHS Speech and Debate Team traveled to New Haven, Connecticut, from Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, for three days of competition under perfect fall weather at the 34th Annual Yale Invitational.
DPW Fall Project Review
The transition into the fall season also signifies a new phase of Town of Manchester projects with the Dept. of Public Works to maintain and improve critical infrastructure.
The front view of the current EES design is smaller than the back, and features an vaulted entry like that at Memorial School.  Unlike Memorial, this “hull like” shape is designed to evoke Essex’s shipbuilding history. 
EES Project: What Goes into a New Elementary School?
When final renderings for the proposed replacement of Essex Elementary School were publicly shared earlier this month, one thing immediately stood out: the new school looked considerably larger than the one it would replace.
Lifestyle

WHAT CHANGED HANDS

Property transfers in Manchester and Essex recorded between April 1 and May 1, 2026 with the Essex County, Massachusetts Registry of Deeds.

WHAT CHANGED HANDS

Property transfers in Manchester and Essex recorded between March 3 and March 31, 2026 with the Essex County, Massachusetts Registry of Deeds.
Home of the week at Raymond Street

On the Sand at Magnolia Beach

Located at 53 Raymond Street and listed for $4,595,000, the four-bedroom home sits directly on the sand, with sweeping views of the Atlantic.  It also offers immediate access to one of Cape Ann’s most loved beaches, especially by locals who consider this a low-key, quiet beach that’s not on the radar for out-of-towners.
Real Newspaper Article on the Rockport Murders.

Murders in Rockport Comes to the Big Screen

Two unsolved murders that shook Rockport nearly a century ago are coming to the big screen this October.
Part of Rocky Neck Art Colony’s YES! Exhibit, Sandy Sappala; Boys on Lanesville Pier, Jonathan Wilson.

Rocky Neck Artists Come Together for Annual Members Show

The Rocky Neck Art Colony’s annual members exhibition, YES!, is underway at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck in Gloucester, featuring recent work by 72 artists from the organization’s creative community.
Home and Garden
Drive through Essex to enjoy the scarecrows on display including Max & his Monster pal at the library.

Essex Library Notes | October 16

There’s so much coming in the coming weeks at the TOHP Burnham Library, including a local history lecture, candy sushi for teens, Halloween Storytime with the Reading Dogs, and more.

Some design trends that arrive with great fanfare and disappear just as quickly.  Americana isn't one of them.
Pets and People

Euthanasia: The Good Death

People ask me if euthanasia is the hardest thing I do.  The honest answer is yes and no.

Books

Manchester Library Notes | October 16

Halloween Kids

There are great things happening this week, Mystery Book Group, Fiber Arts Circle, Haunted Library Tours, Dungeons & Dragons for Kids, and much more.

Columnists

September Reading Preview      

As we get deeper into August, all of us who work in the Book Shop have started furiously reading books due to publish in September so we can be prepared to recommend (or not!) the biggest new releases.

Sports
The Hornets football team.

ME Football Looks For Breakout Win vs. Triton

Is this a sign of better days to come for the Manchester Essex football team?

ME Girls Soccer Looks to Take Next Step Forward

The little things have carried greater meaning this season for the Manchester Essex girls soccer team.

Different Methods, Similar Results for ME Lax Teams in Tourney

Charlie Thurlow charges the net against the East Bridgewater Vikings during MIAA D4 Round of 32.  The Hornets prevailed 17-4..
While the end result was essentially the same, both Manchester Essex lacrosse teams found different ways to earn decisive wins in the first round of the MIAA Div. 4 Tournament this past …
Obituaries
Carolyn (Hull) Anderson
Carolyn (Hull) Anderson, the revered oldest resident of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2026, having beautifully completed a remarkable 100-year journey of …
Katherine “Kay” P. Bulgaris
Katherine “Kay” P. Bulgaris, 88, wife of the late Michael A. Bulgaris, passed away peacefully on October 9, 2026, at the Kaplan House in Danvers. Born January 30,1938, Kay was the daughter …
Screenshot
William Michael Rodier
William Michael Rodier, 24, of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, October 9th.  Born in Melrose and raised in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Will is the beloved …
Frank B. “Frosty” Glass
Born at Marblehead hospital on December 12, 1944, Frank B. “Frosty” Glass grew up in Manchester and passed away on September 30 th , 2026. Frosty was born the oldest of six children in his …
Thompson “Tom” Smalley
Thompson “Tom” Smalley, 86, of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, died September 18, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in Portland, Maine, on May 16, 1940, to Mildred and Lewis Smalley, …
Find us on Facebook
Letters
Around the web
Hit by an uninsured driver? What to know
TheZebra.com reports that 1 in 3 drivers are uninsured or underinsured, increasing financial risk for insured motorists in accidents. 
8 personal banking tasks you should automate to save time and money
Mercury reports on automating personal banking tasks to save time and money, highlighting eight tasks like automatic savings and payment setups.
How a smarter home can help families reclaim their time
(BPT) - It's a Thursday evening at home, and all you want to do is relax with your family. However, the mental list of possible to-dos stops you from being fully present with your loved ones. …
10 best cities to rent rather than own a house in 2026
TheZebra.com reports that Salt Lake City, Denver, and Austin are among the top 10 U.S. cities where renting is more affordable than buying.
6 Ways to Create a More Sustainable Bathroom
(Feature Impact) Conserving water, energy and resources is key to running an environmentally friendly household, and one of the best places to start is your bathroom. As one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, it's a small space that makes a big difference. Every flush, shower, twist of the tap and restock of restroom essentials is an opportunity to manage your ecological footprint.