Salem Mayor Calls MBTA Service Cuts 'Enormous Hardship': Patch PM

SALEM, MA — Today is Tuesday, Nov. 9. Here are the stories Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll called proposed MBTA commuter rail, bus route and other service cuts "an enormous hardship to many Salem workers and residents" as the North Shore looks to recover from the coronavirus health crisis in 2021.

Driscoll urged those who might be affected by the cuts — which include eliminating late-night and weekend commuter rail service and slashing bus route such as Routes 451 connecting Salem to Beverly, 465 connecting Salem to Danvers and 456 connecting Salem to Lynn — to make their voices heard through written comment to the T and through speaking out at upcoming public forums on the service reductions.

"If our Commonwealth and our communities are just beginning to recover from this recession in the year ahead, it seems a particularly bad time to eliminate weekend and night commuter rail service and cancel three of the five bus routes in Salem, all three of which connect Salem to our neighboring communities," Driscoll said in a statement provided to Patch.

Read the full story here.

Also on the North Shore

Beverly City Councilor John Frates To Vacate Ward 6 Seat

The Beverly City Council will be looking to fill the Ward 6 seat of John Frates after Frates announced at the end of Monday night's meeting that he is resigning his seat effective Dec. 31 due to a move across the city.

Frates, the father of ALS Ice Bucket Challenge founder Pete Frates — who died from the progressive neurodegenerative disease after a celebrated and courageous battle last December — told the council that the timing was right for him and his wife, Nancy, to move from the Ward 6 Centerville part of the city to the Ward 2 Goat Hill part of the city.

Most Salem Students To Remain In Hybrid Model In Classroom Return

Salem Public Schools remain on track to open their doors to pre-kindergarten through second grade, sixth grade and ninth grade students on Monday for the first time since many of those students were sent home in March at the onset of the coronavirus health crisis.

Yet, while Salem Superintendent of Schools Stephen Zrike said he will present a proposal to bring back additional grades during Monday's School Committee meeting, those grades will have to remain in a hybrid learning model for the foreseeable future due to social distancing considerations.

Marblehead School Dismisses Early Due To Water Problem

Village School students headed home from school early on Tuesday due to a plumbing issue at the school.

Marblehead Schools announced midday that a valve was turned off for a plumbing repair in the morning and could not be turned back on in the school. As a result, running water was not working in the building.

Across Massachusetts

Tommy Heinsohn, Celtics Legend And Broadcaster, Dead At 86

Tommy Heinsohn, who as a member of the Boston Celtics won eight titles as a player, two as a coach and called seven more as a broadcaster, has died at 86.

Heinsohn put the "color" in color analyst, endlessly riding referees and giving out "Tommy Points" for hustle displayed by players who emphasized the team's blue-collar fan base.

'Wildly Inappropriate': Baker Slams 'Baseless' Election Claims By Trump, Republicans

Gov. Charlie Baker is slamming "baseless claims" from President Donald Trump and "many other elected Republican officials" about the 2020 presidential election.

Disability Advocates Push Back On Waltham Light Show At Fernald

A group of disability rights advocates from across Massachusetts are asking the city to rescind its approval for the Lions Club to host a holiday light show on the city-owned Fernald property.

In a letter to Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy dated Nov. 8, the advocates called the use of the site "disturbing" and "inappropriate," given its history.