More local news
Local Manchester public safety personnel on the Manchester Yacht Club dock waiting for the incoming harbormaster vessel in Sunday's recovery of a body off of Gale's Ledge.

Body Recovered Off Gale's Ledge in Manchester Sunday

A body was recovered from the waters off Gale's Ledge in Manchester Sunday morning, three weeks after a boating accident off Singing Beach left one man dead and another missing. The body was …

Looking at the Tax Impact

As Manchester-by-the-Sea prepares for Special Town Meeting on November 16, residents will consider two major proposals: the Essex Elementary School project and a Senior Community Center.

Manchester Scholar Joins Gloucester Lyceum Panel on AI’s Promise and Peril

Artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, communicate and navigate daily life.  But who is responsible when the technology gets things wrong?  What happens to personal privacy? …
The letter that arrived at 5th MA District US Congressman Seth Moulton's Salem office last week.

Suspicious Letter Sent to Congressman Moulton’s Salem Office

A suspicious letter containing a white, powdery substance was received at U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s Salem district office on Friday, Oct. 16, prompting a response from local and federal law …
Organized by the Friends of the Essex Council on Aging, the October tradition raises funds for senior programs and events through the sale of scarecrow kits.

E.T. PHONE ESSEX!  

It looks like everyone’s favorite extraterrestrial has landed in Essex, just in time for Halloween!
Nine Questions, One Ballot: A Guide to 2026 Ballot Measures
Voters will have plenty to consider when they head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3. Alongside races for public office, this year’s ballot features nine statewide questions.
Slow River Studios began in 2022 teaching art to adults in an Essex barn.  After expanding to Topsfield, the studio in November will officially add Magnolia to its creative studio roster.
Slow River Studio Returns to Cape Ann with Magnolia Art School
Slow River Studio, an art school for adults that got its start in an Essex barn in 2019, is returning to Cape Ann with a new location at 27 Lexington Avenue in Magnolia.  Classes begin Sunday, Nov. 1.
Greenbelt Osprey Season. Volunteers documented 103 breeding pairs and 127 fledglings during the 2026 season
OSPREYS ON THE RISE
It was another record year for Ospreys north of Boston, where Greenbelt staff and volunteers documented 103 breeding pairs and 127 fledglings during the 2026 season.
Lifestyle
“kwll” ‐ Oil ‐ 24 x 30, Stephen LaPierre

Key West Comes to Gloucester in New Plein Air Exhibition

A little Key West sunshine is coming to Gloucester this November, courtesy of local artist Stephen LaPierre.
Downtown was crawling with little ghosts, goblins, pirates, princesses, and plenty of other characters on Saturday.

GOBLINS, PIRATES, CUTE CREATURES 

Downtown Manchester was crawling with little ghosts, goblins, pirates, princesses, and plenty of other imaginative characters Saturday as record crowds turned out for the town’s annual Wobblin' Goblin Halloween celebration.
“Tide will Turn” Beth Bathe’s 2025 Cape Ann Plein Air winning painting, brings the beautiful marshes of West Gloucester to life.

Bringing the Landscape Home

There are few things more distinctly “Cape Ann” than the sight of an artist standing at an easel, looking out toward the harbor, marsh or ocean, trying to capture a fleeting moment of light.
The winning team from The James Pub & Provisions in Essex poses with Chamber Executive Director Sam Bevins

It was a CLAM-TASTIC Day in Essex

Brilliant sunshine and picture-perfect fall weather set the stage for another lively ClamFest in Essex on Saturday, hosted by the Greater Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.
This year’s Goblin King Ball is set for October 30.

October’s Perfect for Hammond Castle

The Hammond Castle Museum has welcomed visitors to its grounds for a century to explore its history, architecture, and special events.  But when October arrives, the Halloween activities bring a new atmosphere to the castle’s deep-rooted history.
Home and Garden
Manchester Library

Manchester Library Notes | October 30

There are great things happening this week, Mystery Book Group, Nintendo Switch Set Up for Teens, Dungeons & Dragons for Adults, and much more.

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

What's Safe in Your Dog's Bowl, and What Isn't

Pet dog eating his food.

One of the most confusing areas of pet care are what to feed your companion animal.  Many of the answers should be guided by the age, breed and health of the dog or cat.

Books

Essex Library Notes | October 30

Children enjoyed learning about self- portraits from Historic New England staff and creating one of their own to take home.

At the TOHP Burnham Library this week there is Rummikub Club, Meet Mary Poppins, Weekly Story Hour, and more.

Columnists

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

Ford F-150-Raptor exterior view

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.

Sports
Practice makes perfect.  ME Hornets Varsity Field Hockey finds itself in a pretty position, confirmed as Cape Ann League’s Baker Division Champs for the fifth year in a row with a season record of 10-4-2.

Fifth CAL Baker Crown in Hand, ME Field Hockey Readies for Tourney

The Hornets completed their regular season with a record of 10-4-2 and were confirmed as the Cape Ann League Baker Division Champions for the fifth year in a row, continuing a streak of excellence for one of the premier high school sports programs in the area.

  ME Boys Soccer Wins CAL Baker, Eyes Tourney Run

If winning 12 games during the season is considered an accomplishment to be proud of, then accomplishing that in the ultra-competitive Cape Ann League Baker Division should be seen as a next-level achievement.

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
Virginia Faye (Christensen) Keville
Virginia Faye Keville (nee Christensen) left us on October 22nd.  She passed peacefully at home with family in attendance.  She was ninety-one years old. She was born in Mount …
Jean Sara McKenna
Jean Sara McKenna, 89, of Beverly, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 19, 2026. S he is deeply loved and missed by her family, friends, neighbors and church community. Jean …
Helen Bethell  
Helen Bethell, a leader in local and state conservation for almost five decades, died on October 19. She was 94. Born February 13, 1932, in Greenwich, Connecticut, Helen Marie Anne Delage was …
John Edmund Donoghue
John Edmund Donoghue of Cape Coral, FL, formerly of Manchester-by-the-Sea and Tewksbury, MA, passed away suddenly on October 13th, 2026, at the age of 74. Born in Winchester, MA, on May 4th, …
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 …
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Around the web
4 retro-fueled room designs for fresh inspiration today
Houzz reports on four retro-inspired room designs blending past styles with modern touches, showcasing 1920s Art Deco, 1950s charm, 1960s Space Age, and vibrant 1990s aesthetics.
If you're going with a lower-cost health insurance plan, make sure to read the fine print.
Plans with cheaper premiums are risky business for Americans seeking lower healthcare costs
Some options that might look like health insurance actually aren’t – and they may leave you stranded with large, unexpected medical expenses.
Why are school mornings so stressful? A psychologist explains, and organizers share what works
Closets by Design reports that school mornings are stressful due to time constraints and disorganization. 
Are you mentally healthy? 15 signs to look for
Rula reports that good mental health involves coping skills, strong relationships, and a sense of purpose. 
What 8 hours on your feet really does to your body
KURU Footwear reports that being on your feet for eight hours can cause various physical issues like muscle fatigue, pain, and cardiovascular risks, emphasizing the need for varied movement and better workplace design to mitigate discomfort.