The Evolving Look Of North Shore Open Meetings: Patch Weekender

SALEM, MA — Happy Sunday and Happy Father's Day on the North Shore.

Whether you are taking dad to the golf course, the beach or just enjoying a backyard cookout here's hoping it's a good day for the old man around his family — no place he would likely rather be.

It was another busy news week on the North Shore with another police chief announcing his retirement, a Salem-based company agreeing to repay the state for missing facemasks and some cool scholarship news for the best and brightest students in the area.

Police investigated possible shots fired in Marblehead, arrows into buildings in Peabody and Salem, and the Salem teachers got a new three-year contract.

It was also the week the state extended many coronavirus-related exemptions when it comes to outdoor dining, to-go cocktails and the ability to hold municipal meetings remotely.

Here are just a few of the stories you may have missed:

The New Look Of North Shore Open Public Meetings

After more than a year of watching heads in boxes on computer screens and examining the book collections in the living room of a city councilor or school committee member, many North Shore boards are back to meeting in person.

But not all meetings will look the same across the region after Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill to extend coronavirus crisis-related rules allowing for remote participation in open public meetings until April 1, 2022.

Arrows Shot At Several Salem Buildings: Police

Salem police are looking for help from the public as they search for who is responsible for a rash of arrow-shooting incidents across the city in the past week.

Arrows were also reported into houses in Peabody.

Basketball Fundraiser For Beverly Teacher Battling Cancer

The North Shore athletics community is rally around the family of longtime Beverly teacher Ben Goodhue after he was diagnosed with a recurrence of a rare brain cancer.

Goodhue underwent surgery for glioblastoma in 2017 and returned to teach at Beverly High School, where the Gloucester native taught physical education since 2007. But, according to a GoFundMe page set up to benefit the family, it was during a routine scan that it was found that the cancer had returned.

Swampscott Police Chief Ron Madigan To Retire Next Month

Swampscott Police Chief Ron Madigan will become the latest chief on the North Shore to leave his post next month when he retires from the department after 21 years in the position.

Madigan will retire on July 15 after 41 years in the department. State law requires police officers, firefighters and corrections officers to retire at age 65.

Peabody's CultureHouse A Snapshot Of Creative Possibilities

Three weeks into its month-long run as an art, literary, music and creative showcase downtown, as well as a blank canvas for a myriad of other activities, Peabody's CultureHouse is living up to the vision organizers had for the pop-up location three years in the making.

As it enters its final days at its Main Street location, the hope is that the venture has opened the eyes of residents, businesses and municipal leaders to all the possibilities for niche experiments and events that could have a longer-term benefit to city residents.

Salem Arts Association Awards 2 College Scholarships

Two Salem art students will get a college boost in memory of two early members of the Salem Arts Association.

The association awarded the 2021 Ellen Hardy Memorial Scholarship to Erin Survilas, who graduated from Essex Tech and will attend the Montserrat College of Art, and the 2021 Paula Beulieu Memorial Arts Scholarship to Carlian Diaz-Guerrero, who graduated from Salem High and who will attend the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Salem Company Agrees To Pay $3.5 Million For Undelivered Masks

A Salem-based company that failed to deliver on 1 million N95 masks promised to the state at the onset of the coronavirus health crisis agreed to a $3.5 million settlement in refunds to the Commonwealth.

Salem Goes True Blue With New Bike Program

Salem opened seven new Bluebike stations with 50 rental bikes available citywide on Wednesday as the program that faced a tight City Council funding fight in April officially launched.

Marblehead Police: Possible Shots Fired Early Tuesday Morning

Marblehead police are looking for anyone who can provide information on "two loud bangs" heard in the area of Willow Road and Village Street early Tuesday morning.

Salem High Wants All To Join In Antiracist Summer Reading Program

Salem High School has put together a summer reading list that school officials hope the entire city will embrace as the district looks to combat social injustice and promote diversity.

North Shore Vaccine Efforts To Focus On Youth, Hardest-Hit Groups

With more than two-thirds of regional residents receiving at least one coronavirus vaccine shot, the North Shore Coalition for a Safe Summer cities and towns will focus their upcoming vaccination efforts on students and those populations hardest hit during the crisis.

Salem Youth Football & Cheering Looks For Reboot From Lost Season

Youth football programs across the region were facing plenty of challenges well before the coronavirus health crisis sent them to the sideline for nearly two years.

Now Salem Youth Football & Cheering coaches and organizers are trying to reboot for the start of practice later this summer by stressing the benefits of the sport and its safety relative to other youth athletics.

Marblehead Democratic Town Committee Awards 4 Scholarships

The Marblehead Democratic Town Committee marked its 40th anniversary this spring by awarding four scholarships to deserving Marblehead High School graduates.

Salem Haunted Happenings To Return This Halloween Season

Salem will once again come alive to celebrate the dead this fall as Salem Haunted Happenings returns to the streets of Halloween's unofficial hometown for 2021.

Salem Haunted Happenings is preparing for a return to pre-pandemic capacity and programming in October with street fairs, performances, expanded programming and special events.

Salem Public School Teachers Reach 3-Year Contract Deal

Salem Public Schools teachers have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract that promotes diverse hiring practices, school building improvements and increases the pay of paraprofessionals.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)