One North Shore Hawk's Survival Story: Patch Weekender

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — It might have been a dreary Memorial Day weekend but hopefully folks were able to get out to some fully reopened businesses throughout the North Shore — and maybe dropped the face masks if you were comfortable doing so.

The week where we said goodbye to most coronavirus-related restrictions was also a busy one for news.

Here are some stories and profiles you may have missed as you count down to tonight's Bruins playoff game in front of a packed TD Garden.

One North Shore Hawk's Survival Story Amid A Distressing Trend

This hawk was different. This hawk was a rare success story of one found struggling with a broken immune system and the inability to clot blood from eating too many rats and mice poisoned with rodentcide.

This was Swampscott Animal Control Officer Dan Proulx's "Gladiator."

Mental Health Challenges A Lasting Pandemic Impact On North Shore

As many tangible signs of the coronavirus health crisis begin to fade away in the upcoming months, the hidden repercussions of extended anxiety, isolation and loss will be the challenge of mental health care for many years to come.

Salem Brewer Spurs 'Watershed Moment' In Craft Beer Industry

A callout on social media from a Salem brewer to share stories of sexist comments, sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior within the industry has drawn more than 1,000 responses and led to resignations nationwide from those cited in the accusations.

Great Mask Debate Building On North Shore

With all state coronavirus-related business restrictions expiring on Saturday, many were looking forward to shedding a mask out in public as gyms, restaurants, bars, stores and other public businesses no longer had to require them for customers or employees.

But several readers who responded to a Patch question on continued mask-wearing were far less enthused about the end of the mandate. Not only did some of the more than 30 responders say they plan to continue to wear them — at least indoors — they said everyone should be required to wear them until either coronavirus vaccination rates reach overwhelming levels or there is some type of vaccination verification system.

Swampscott Students Earn Top Honors At Essex Tech

Class of 2021 graduates Swampscott students Molly McDonald and Helen Clark will be honored with top academic recognitions at Essex Tech at next week's commencement ceremony.

Salem Tabs Alan Dionne As City's New Fire Chief

Twenty-eight years after joining the Salem Fire Department Alan Dionne is now fully in charge of it.

Salem Capt. Dennis King Named New Marblehead Police Chief

Salem police captain and former acting chief Dennis King has been chosen to become the next chief of police in Marblehead.

Former Beverly Pizzeria Owner Misused PPP Funds: Feds

The former owner of Rasta Pasta Pizzeria of Beverly, who is accused of using Paycheck Protection Program funds to buy an alpaca farm in Vermont, cars and weekly airtime for his cryptocurrency radio show, was indicted on federal wire fraud and money laundering charges.

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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.)