Split Decision On North Shore Winter Sports: Patch PM

SWAMPSCOTT, MA —Today is Monday, Dec. 14. Here are the stories Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts.

As winter season high school athletes across the North Shore laced up sneakers and skates for the first official workouts since the basketball and hockey state championships were canceled in March, Swampscott and Salem athletes face at least a wait to find out when, and if, they will have a season amid a recent spike in coronavirus rates.

Salem Public Schools announced last week that they were delaying the start of winter season until at least Jan. 4, while Swampscott indefinitely postponed the start of winter practices that were to begin on Monday.

Read the full story here.

Also on the North Shore

Salem State Gift Of $1.3 Million To Fund Nursing Scholarships

Salem State University will establish 10 annual scholarships to the School of Nursing worth $4,500 each through a $1.3 million gift from the late Walter G. and Betty Groce.

The school said the gift will fund an endowment that will allow the scholarships to become permanent.

Marblehead Officials Meet To Assure Coronavirus Testing Fix

The first day of drive-thru coronavirus testing in Marblehead Friday afternoon did not exactly go off without a hitch.

While Town Administrator Jason Silva said he was happy with the logistics of the operation overall, he regrets that dozens of residents who pre-registered for testing had to be turned away.

Danvers Firearms Permit Processing Postponed Until January

The next chance to have a firearms permit processed in Danvers will not be until 2021.Danvers
police said that "due to unforeseen circumstances" they are postponing
the scheduled dates on Tuesday and Dec. 21.

The next scheduled date is Jan. 8.

Across Massachusetts

Andover Pfizer Facility Will Produce Coronavirus Vaccine

Andover will be one of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine manufacturing sites, the company said after it received emergency use authorization Friday.

The company's vaccine was the first to receive the Food and Drug Administration's approval for use in the United States.

2 Charged In Fatal Woburn Shooting

Two people were arrested following a fatal shooting in Woburn Saturday night, officials said Sunday. The victim of the shooting was identified as 26-year-old Lloyd Borgella of Roslindale, Boston.

Man Leads Police Chase, Tries Running Over Officers: Stoughton PD

A Stoughton man was arrested Saturday after police said he tried striking two officers with his car while leading police on a high-speed chase.

Marijuana Hidden In Shampoo Bottle At Logan Airport: TSA

The Transportation Security Administration said officers at Logan International Airport on Monday found marijuana hidden inside a shampoo bottle, not box cutters as they originally said.