Salem's Halloween 'Closing' Captures National Interest: Patch PM

SALEM, MA — Today is Friday, Oct. 23. These are the stories we've been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts.

Salem officials are hoping a weekend that would typically be among the busiest and most profitable for the city all year will be anything but that this Halloween season amid the coronavirus health crisis.

Many restrictions are in place to deter tourists from coming to the city the next two weekends — including parking restrictions, early business closings and having trains from Boston bypass the Salem station.

It is all a sign of the times in the era of coronavirus that is drawing national attention to the city.

Read the full story here.

Also on the North Shore today

Bringing The School Cafeteria Home In Beverly

Beverly students can bring a little bit of hot comfort food home with them, along with their books and laptops for online learning, for the rest of the school year.

Beverly Public Schools have extended their free breakfast lunch program through the end of the academic year with the help of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are looking at ways to make students feel more connected to school while learning remotely through their offerings.

Beverly Psychic Sees Signs Of Hope In the City

Summer Evans has long been used to people coming to her for predictions on new and exciting things they can expect in the future.

For the past seven months during the coronavirus health crisis, the Beverly-based psychic said most people just want to know that everything will be OK.

Swampscott Schools To Stay Hybrid Despite Coronavirus Surge

A surge of cororonavirus cases has pushed Swampscott into the "high-risk"category for community spread, according to state data released Thursday afternoon.

Swampscott officials said in a statement issued in conjunction with the release of the latest state coronavirus weekly report — in which Swampscott was one of 77 community designated "red" or high risk — that while schools will open in the hybrid model on Monday, they will transition to fully remote if the town remains in the "red" category for two more consecutive weeks.

Celebrity Chef Turns Marblehead Gas Station Lot Into B & B Fish

Celebrity chef Jason Santos said it was sometime in April when he decided he and his wife needed to get out in the world for really the first time since the onset of the pandemic.

They went for a drive from their Woburn home to the seashore and wound up in Marblehead where they drove by an old, empty gas station on Pleasant Street.

Across Massachusetts

Woman Runs Over Boyfriend In Braintree AMC Parking Lot: Police

A Hull woman was indicted by a Norfolk County grand jury after prosecutors said she ran over her boyfriend with a car in Braintree.

Nichole Lachance was charged with armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery on a family or household member, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and witness or police intimidation.

Malden Rolling Back Reopening Plan

Malden must roll back its reopening plan under Gov. Charlie Baker's orders after marking three consecutive weeks as a high-risk community.

Despite falling case counts and positive test rates, the state designated Malden a "red" community Thursday.

Rabies Vaccine Crackdown In Arlington After Raccoon Attack

Animal Control Officer Diane Welch is stressing the importance of vaccinating pets against rabies after a raccoon that attacked a young child tested positive for the deadly virus. Welch said she will issue citations to any pet owner whose animal is found to not be vaccinated and will continue to do so weekly until it is done.

And finally today:

Saturday is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election. Thousands of voters have already returned their ballots whether through the mail or participating in early voting.

Have you voted already?