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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.

State using multiple strategies to fill housing pipeline

There are thousands of units are in the development pipeline in an attempt to tackle Massachusetts' housing crisis, though the state's top housing official says there needs to be "a gut and reality check" for how long the necessary amount will take to be built.
Manchester Club September 2026 line up. Pictured are MC Vice-President Todd Crane, President Dave Marletta, John Marletta, Joseph Aiello and Jeff Gilson. 

Manchester Club Season Opener

At the September dinner of the Manchester Club, new members, 25-year members and 50-year members were recognized.
Current renderings of a proposed 245-unit residential development in Manchester’s Limited Commercial District, presented to the Select Board on Monday.

eBike Safety, EES Money Focus, Producing Housing in Manchester

Well, it’s official: the sleepy summer schedule is over.  Manchester’s newest five-year “housing production plan” was presented to the Select Board on the same night as a separate update from developers of a proposed 245-unit residential complex on Pine Street.
Manchester Essex Regional High School seniors Charlie Athanas, Catherine Vendt, Alexander Hatfield, Peter Langendorf and Dodge Roberts, from left, were named Commended Students in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. Classmate Tyler Cummins was named a National Merit semifinalist.
Six MERHS Seniors Earn National Merit Recognition
Six Manchester Essex Regional High School seniors have been recognized in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, including one student who will continue in the competition for a National Merit Scholarship.
Friday’s 17th annual Happy as a Clam 5K Race was a huge success.
AND THEY’RE OFF!
Some of Essex’s youngest runners were all smiles—and serious about their starting positions—at Friday’s 17th annual Happy as a Clam 5K Race, Walk & Fun Dashes at Essex Elementary School.  
MA Governor Maura Healey visited Woodman’s in Essex to distribute state money to clammers who lost out with this summer’s bed closures after a massive sewage line leak in Haverhill.  With her are Essex clammers John Grundstrom (a third-generation clammer) and Scott Adams. 
Healey Brings $300,000 in Relief to North Shore Clammers
Gov. Maura Healey came to Essex Monday bearing $300,000 in relief for North Shore shellfish harvesters who lost more than two weeks of work during the peak summer season.
Lifestyle
Ford F-150-Raptor exterior view

2026 Ford F-150 Raptor: America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure

There are few vehicles you can buy today that are more politically incorrect than the 2026 Ford F-150 Raptor.  It's enormous and thirsty, and its supposed reason for existing is to travel very quickly over terrain that would destroy a normal truck, which virtually no prospective buyer will ever do.
Scouts, and Troop 3 adults enjoying the campfire cooked meal at the pine grove at Crane Estate, including long time volunteer and former scoutmaster, Fred Rossi.

Troop 3 Crane Estate Trip: Another Successful Year!

Troop 3 recently kicked off the scouting season with their annual Crane Estate campout. This event provides a great opportunity for new Scouts to develop essential outdoor skills and for veteran Scouts to reunite after the summer break.
The Open Door’s third annual Thrift the Runway fashion show featured more than 100 looks styled and accessorized with clothing donated to Second Glance

Thrift the Runway Puts Fashion to Work for Hunger Relief

Fashion and philanthropy shared the spotlight earlier this month when more than 400 people packed The Cut in Gloucester for The Open Door’s third annual Thrift the Runway fashion show.
Guest speaker Meg Black, Ph.D. will present “Artists and Gardens: Turning Gardens into Great Works of Art,” at the North Shore Horticultural Society’s Tuesday, Oct. 27 meeting in Manchester. 

North Shore Horticultural Society Launches New Season of Garden Programs

The North Shore Horticultural Society has successfully kicked off its 2026-27 lecture season in Manchester, beginning with a timely look at how even small gardens can play an important role in supporting pollinators.
Wild Fire/Wild Heart 2020, Katherine Downey Miller, acrylic on canvas, 72” X 72”. 

Katherine Downey Miller to Lead ‘Waterborne’ Gallery Walk

Artist Katherine Downey Miller will lead a public walk-through of her exhibition, “Waterborne,” at Jane Deering Gallery in Gloucester on Saturday, Oct. 3, offering visitors a chance to hear directly from the artist about the work and ideas behind the show.
Home and Garden
Library staff were joined by Trustees, Friends and State Senator Bruce Tarr at the official ribbon cutting for the new garden and patio.

Essex Library Notes | October 9

This week at the TOHP Burnham Library there is the Grand Opening of our Library Garden and Patio, Rummikub Club, Classic Guitar Concert 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

Books to Read in a Day

A lot of sunshine sits untouched on a shelf.

August is a little snow globe, encased and preserved, but instead of snow, there’s sunshine, and instead of a lot of shaking, it sits untouched on a shelf.  At least that’s how I treat my August.

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
Hornets Football fans night

Depth Charge: ME Boys Soccer Team Leans on Depth, Intensity to Find Success

On the surface, it’s easy to see that the Manchester Essex boys soccer team is finding success by putting intense pressure on the opposition.

The Hornets This Week

The Hornets had a busy schedule this week with mixed results. Events lined up were Cross Country, Field Hockey, Golf and Girls Soccer.

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
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, …
Lane H. Mann
Lane H. Mann June 15, 1957 – September 28, 2026 Lane Hartwell Mann, 69, passed away on September 28, 2026, surrounded by the love and laughter that defined so much of his life.  His …
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Around the web
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.
What are typical mistakes homeowners make when refinishing hardwood floors?
(BPT) - Key takeaways:Homeowners value hardwood floors because of their warmth, beauty and endurance.It's important to protect the appearance, value and lifespan of hardwood floors by …