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A Short Guide to Town Meeting

Manchester’s Annual Town Meeting will take place this year on Monday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Manchester Memorial School in the gymnasium.   Every year, hundreds of Manchester residents …

Manchester Annual Town Meeting Budget Approvals on Deck for April 28

A major focus for the Annual Town Meeting, scheduled for April 28 at the Memorial School gymnasium, is the approval of all the new budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.   All registered voters …
On Saturday, the diaramas entered for this year's PEEP Show at the Manchester Public Library were displayed for the judges.

And the Manchester Library's "PEEPle's" Choice award winners are ...

The Manchester Library reports that is was “hopping” as it capped off its annual Peeps candy diorama contest with a “Peeple’s” Choice Awards (get it?) party on this past …
Beams of sunlight illuminate city and town flags in the Legislature's Great Hall on March 19, 2025.

In rare move, House holds line on unrestricted local aid

Cities and towns would not see any increase in one of their largest sources of state aid under the budget proposal House Democrats rolled out Wednesday. The House Ways and Means …

Tom Shamshak Jr. Sworn In as Essex Police Chief, Continuing a Family Legacy

On April 11, the Town of Essex formally welcomed a new chief of police as Sgt. Tom Shamshak Jr. was sworn in to lead the department following the retirement of Chief Paul Francis.   The moment …
Founders of Beach Street Studios & Gallery in Manchester.  From left, Sarah Chamberlain, Kat Chzranowski, Courtney Kelly, and Kate Taylor.
Art, Beauty and Connection at Beach Street Studios & Gallery
The perfect art studio would have light spilling into it from tall windows in a space that didn’t feel cramped, and would be located in an idyllic, visually inspiring location where paint can …
Citizen Petition Articles at the Manchester Annual Town Meeting
Three citizen petition articles were submitted on time to be included in the warrant for this year’s Annual Town Meeting. The three articles will be part of the 22 articles slated for action at …
Amy Lage, owner of Style Snoop in her store’s new location on Beach Street in downtown Manchester.  Lage has turned the challenges of COVID into opportunities, and says adapting has been a big key to success.
Style Snoop, Growing From Change
In an era where online shopping dominates the retail landscape, Amy Lage built a successful local apparel retail brand based in Manchester that thrives on in-person shopping. Her business, Style …

Manchester Artist Anna Kasabian Wins Top Prize for Porcelain Sculpture in Boston

Manchester

Local artist Anna Kasabian has been awarded First Prize in the Copley Society of Art's member exhibition, Vernal Light , for her hand-formed porcelain sculpture titled, "Clare De Lune." The piece …

Leslie Beatty: Why I’m running for MBTS Library Trustee

I’m running for the position of Library Trustee and I’m asking for your vote. As a retired professional librarian with a Master’s Degree in Information Science, I have knowledge of the the challenges and cheers that our local library faces …

Matt Andersen to Perform at Shalin Liu

Matt Andersen will be playing in Rockport at Shalin Liu on May 6th.

As a prelude to the summer music season, Shalin Liu Performance Center will host acclaimed Canadian musician Matt Andersen on Friday, May 6. Known for his commanding voice and emotionally resonant …

Sports
Anna Gardner has played consistent ball over the Hornet’s season. Here shown going for two in a recent match against Newburyport.  ME currently at 6-12..
With all the snowy weather we’ve had recently, the term, “tough sledding,” seems appropriate when describing the Hornets’ season so far. The Cape Ann League (CAL) is a …
Read more.
Aliyah Doyon takes some batting practice before a cancelled game due to a wet field.  The Lady Hornets are 3-0 at this point in the season.
In the Hornets Nest this week, we have updates on team play for the spring season at Manchester Essex Regional High School, including, tennis, lacrosse, and softball. Let's get started ...
Read more.
Jack McCavanagh winds up to fire a shot between the pipes against rivals Swampscott.

Positive Early Results for ME Boys Lax

It’s still early, but the results from the first few games of the Wesley Chittick era have been pretty positive. In his first year as head coach for the Manchester Essex boys’ …

Manchester Essex Sports: Spring Preview

It's time for the Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School Spring sports season, and Hornets varsity and junior varsity teams have been preparing for weeks for opening games and matches this …
Lifestyle
Drop in during National Library Week, April 6-12 and share in words or pictures what draws you to the library.

Manchester Library Notes | April 11

This week at the Manchester by the Sea public library, there’s so much going on, including Dungeons and Dragons, Peeps Party, read to Winston and much more. National Library Week | April 6-12 …

Cape Ann Museum Seeks Support to Acquire Original Model of Fishermen’s Wives Memorial

The Cape Ann Museum is seeking final contributions to purchase the original plaster model of the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Memorial , a significant work by Rockport sculptor Morgan Faulds …
Artrageous 2024 was a big success for Montserrat College of Art in 2024.  This year, expectations are even higher.

Montserrat College of Art Marks 55th Anniversary with Artrageous: The Emerald Ball

Montserrat College of Art will host its annual fundraising gala and art auction, Artrageous: The Emerald Ball , on Friday, April 25.   Now in its 28th year, Artrageous has become more than a …
The 2025 Subaru WRX.

Streetfighter Goes to Finishing School

In an automotive landscape increasingly homogenized by boring BEVs and crossovers, the 2025 Subaru WRX remains a defiantly analog vehicle, closely connected to its rally-bred DNA. Yet, beneath its …
Thanks to Manchester’s local 4H, 53 attendees of all ages got to meet some sweet rabbits and guinea pigs.

Manchester Library Notes | March 28

This week at the Manchestser by the Sea Public Library, there’s so much going on, including Pajama Storytime, Hearthside Book Group, learn the Ukulele, Crowell Concert Series and much more. …
Home and Garden
SENIOR LIVING

Where has my “joie de vivre” gone… and HOW do I get it back?

Isn’t this the million-dollar question that every radio and TV talk show dabbles in? The Reels, posts, TikTok, Facebook - you name it.   Behavioral experts and influencers alike are …

It’s unusual for me to be happy about something that I’ve lost.   But I was hap-hap-happy when we pushed up the clocks and lost the hour like we do every spring.   Wonderfully, …
Pets and People

Caring For That Localized Skin Infection

One of the most common problems seen in dogs is a skin condition called “Hot Spots.” Also known as pyoderma or acute moist dermatitis, they are usually a dis-ease of dogs with long hair or those …

Books

Essex Library Notes | March 28

There are great things happening this coming week at the TOHP Burnham Essex Public Library, like the annual "Peep" diorama crafting competition, a stress management workshop, book group, and more! Check it out …

Columnists

Fishing, Flounder, and Friendship: A Manchester Childhood by the Harbor

Bob Flanders, proprietor of Manchester Seafoods on Central Street who ran the business with his wife, Vi.  The couple taught young Pete Willwerth how to boil and pick lobsters, skin fillets, chip blocks of ice, and set up the showcase just so. 

I remember being a kid no more than six or seven years old, digging up sea worms and clams at low tide in the flats behind our house at 4 Ashland Avenue, overlooking the inner harbor.   Rubber …

Obituaries
Philip G. Levendusky, PhD, ABPP - RETIRED
Dr. Philip George Levendusky
Dr. Philip George Levendusky passed away peacefully on April 17, 2025, after a courageous battle with Frontotemporal Dementia & Alzheimer’s Disease. Philip was born on October 21, …
Mary Elizabeth Anderson
Mary Elizabeth “Bette” Anderson, 83, beloved wife of Warren A. Anderson, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2025 after a brief illness. Born in Beverly on September 15, 1941, Bette was the daughter of the late David R. and Mary C. (Beaton) Singleton …
Dorothy Mulcahy
Dorothy Mulcahy, 81, wife of the late James L. Mulcahy, Jr. of Essex passed away peacefully surrounded by love at the Kaplan House, Danvers on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 following an illness fought with …
Gwendolyn Ruth D'Epiro
Gwendolyn Ruth Tittle D’Epiro passed away peacefully with her children by her side on March 20th 2025. She was 102. In her last months she resided in the care of her beloved grandson and his wife, …
Gerald T. Donnellan
Gerald T. Donnellan (Jerry), 86, of Wenham, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 14th. Born in Somerville, he was the son of the late Anne (Pierscieniewicz) and Timothy Donnel-lan; the devoted …
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Visiting U.S. National Parks is More Popular Than Ever, Breaking Visitor Records in 2024 with over 330 Million Visits
America's 63 national parks draw in serious hikers, but they also provide opportunities for beginners and families to unwind, take their time and soak in nature's beauty. While many travelers often …
9 lives and more? 60 years of groundbreaking medical advancements have improved cat health and longevity.
Meowtel explored advancements in feline medicine, nutrition, and care that are helping the more than 350 million domestic cats worldwide live longer.
There is currently no bird flu vaccine for people.
How bird flu differs from seasonal flu − an infectious disease researcher explains
Avian influenza infections in the US have been rising over the past year, but there’s no evidence so far that people can infect each other with this strain of the virus.
How do hurricanes affect baby names?
Spokeo compared data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Social Security Administration to see how storm names impact baby names.
A Springtime Twist on Classic Chicken Soup
(Family Features) This Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup calls to mind those classic brothy soups from when you were a kid but with a flavorful spring twist. Serve with fresh cucumber sandwiches for a veggie-forward meal.