I am writing to thank the residents of the Town of Essex who voted in support of the school budget and the override at Town Meeting. I hope that on Monday, May 12 we will approve the override at the …

Ruth Pereen deserves your vote for re-election to the Essex Board of Selectmen. She has earned it. In my history in Essex, Ruth has been the hardest working Selectman ever, and that includes my own …

I am urging Essex voters to support the Proposition 2-1/2 override and our public school FY26 operating budget, just as our partner, Manchester, has already done. I know that taxes are already high: …

I am writing this week in full support of Annie Cameron for Essex Board of Selectmen. I first met Annie the Summer we moved to Essex when I volunteered to help set up the bonfire. There she was, …

My name is Sarah Dunn Davis, and I am seeking re-election to the Manchester Public Library Board of Trustees. I have had the privilege of serving as one of the three Library Trustees since August …

At this year’s Essex Annual Town Meeting next week, residents will notice something a little different. Articles 42 and 43 propose common-sense bylaw updates placed on the Warrant through …

I’m writing to encourage the communities of Manchester and Essex to fully fund our schools by passing the override being proposed for Essex.  I want to communicate some of what is at stake …

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 …

We write concerning a critical issue relating to access for all our fellow residents to the full use of the Town’s beloved and historic public library. As most in the Town already know, the …

In an April 4, 2025, Cricket OpEd, we described the difference between “Affordable Housing,” which is state regulated, deed restricted housing for residents with qualified incomes and …

Why is it so difficult to build affordable housing in MBTS?  Why hasn’t the Manchester Affordable Housing Trust been able to get a project done? And what is the difference between “Affordable Housing,” the official classification by the State of Massachusetts that come with standards, mandates, and penalties ...

As my term on the MERSD School Committee draws to a close, I could share many reflections on my three years as a Manchester representative.   Among these: my profound pride in being part of this …

The Manchester Essex Regional School District has given me so much. Thanks to the incredible teachers in this district, I’ve gotten into my dream college.   I love this …

We understand if the currently proposed MERSD budget for next year fails to be adopted that the result would be the loss of 22+ positions, most of which are teaching positions. This will have …

One of the pleasures of living in the decades I have is watching the return of raptors – bald eagles, osprey, hawks large and small – from the devastation of DDT. Now new poisons, Second …

The upcoming vote on Gloucester’s compliance with the state’s MBTA Communities Act (3A) may be the most consequential decision residents will make regarding local governance and zoning. At …

Although I am running unopposed for the position as Town Moderator, I thought it would be appropriate and helpful if I wrote about my reasons for running. My first truly direct experience with …

I am gratified by the interest shared in these columns and on social media by Manchester residents regarding the vitality of our downtown. The Downtown Improvement Committee, which I chair, …

As a new resident of Essex, over the past few years, I’ve worked hard to pay closer attention to the workings of town government, trying to better understand the roles of the Essex Board of …

This letter is the collective effort on the part of the “Rainbow Pride Coalition,” a coalition of various Pride organizations and entities on the North Shore and Merrimack Valley of …