By Terri Ogan, Globe Correspondent

Marblehead police, along with two agents from The Department of Homeland Security, arrested a Marblehead man last Thursday afternoon after officials allegedly found images online of the man performing sexual acts on a girl under the age of 14.

Raymond Depaula, 39, of 23 Puritan Road, has been charged with aggravated rape of a child under 16, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, disseminating child pornography, and posing a child for sexual photographs.

Depaula was arraigned last Friday in Lynn District Court. Bail was set at $500,000 for the aggravated rape charge.

According to a police report, Sergeant Sean Brady was granted an arrest warrant for Depaula after being contacted by a special agent from Homeland Security regarding sexually implicit images of Depaula and the victim that were posted on the Internet on June 6.

When Brady, along with two other Marblehead police officers and two Homeland Security agents, arrived at Depaula's home, Brady asked him if he had ever been involved with a child sexually, the report said.

"Depaula told me he would never touch a child in that way," Brady said in his report. "I showed Depaula three photographs with him and [the victim] involved in sexual activity. Depaula admitted to me that the photos were of him and [the victim]."

After police read him his Miranda Rights, Depaula agreed to speak with them and was transported to the Marblehead Police station for questioning.

From Depaula's home on Puritan Road, police seized a Cannon EOS Rebel XT camera and accessories, an LG smart phone, an LG flip phone, 39 DVDs or CDs, a micro SD card, one photograph in a frame, and one pillow case and sheets.

According to reports, there were a total of 17 images of Depaula and the victim, which he said were taken a few years ago.

"When I asked Depaula about posting the images onto the Internet, he denied ever posting them," Brady said in his report. "Depaula claimed that someone must have stolen his SD card from the camera, posted the pictures, and then returned the SD card to the camera without his knowledge. I told Depaula that was very hard to believe."

Depaula will return to court for a pre-trial hearing on July 11.

By Terri Ogan, Globe Correspondent

The Marblehead Board of Health has closed Stramski Beach and Grace Oliver Beach as they have failed to meet the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Service's minimum standards for bathing beaches.

Stramski Beach is located on Stramski Way off of West Shore Drive. Grace Oliver Beach is located on Beacon Street.

The beaches will remain closed until they pass a water quality test.

For additional information contact Andrew Petty, director of public health at 781-631-0212 and to access most current information, go to the Marblehead website.

By Terri Ogan, Globe Correspondent

The 16th annual Marblehead Farmers' Market is slated to open for the summer season Saturday at 9 a.m

The market will take place weekly on Saturday's from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. until Nov. 23.

Located on the field behind the Veterans Middle School at 217 Pleasant St., the market will open with 11 farms, and will phase in two more by mid-July.

An abundance of fresh produce will be available, including strawberries, a variety of greens, herbs, turnips, rhubarb, pak choi and many more.

In addition to fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, maple syrup, meats, dried beans, goat and cow cheeses, and pickles will be available as well.

A knife and tool sharpener will be on site every other week, as well as local food vendors including A&J King Bakery, the coffee booth run by Boy Scout Troop 79 with Atomic Café coffee, Patty’s Guacamole (made at the market), 19 Steps Bakery, Fille de Ferme jams and jellies, The Soup Guy, and, back again, Paul Crowell with fresh local lobsters. 

Food vendors attending this week include Ellie’s Going Green making basil vinaigrette and In Good Taste making fresh salsas.  Next week will be Craquelin’s flat breads. 

This year's market will feature five craft vendors per week. This year about 37 craft vendors have signed up. Each one will appear three weeks in a row.

For more information visit the farmers' market website.

By Terri Ogan, Globe Correspondent

Several businesses in downtown Marblehead have announced that they will stay open later as part of a pilot program to enhance local shopping.

Twenty eight businesses, restaurants and shops on Washington Street and lower Pleasant Street will stay open until at least 7 p.m. every Thursday and Friday from June 27 to September 6.

In addition to extended hours, businesses will be hosting special events, game nights and promotions.

The initiative was spearheaded by Kristen Pollard, co-owner of Mud Puddle Toys on Pleasant Street.

"There's really a strong shop-local presence," Pollard said. "They [residents] want to shop local, but when they come down at 5 o'clock and businesses are closed, they can't."

Pollard rallied local businesses together in January to discuss how to get residents to shop at brick and mortar businesses. The store owners met twice a month up until March.

Along with longer hours, Pollard said that two interns will be coordinating informal live music, trunk shows, food tastings, and Mud Puddle Toys will be hosting a game night every Thursday, among other things.

"It would be really nice to walk to the ice cream store and have someone play music outside," Pollard said. "I was really impressed that most stores were really gung-ho."

Pollard added that she brought the idea to Town Administrator Jeffrey Chelgren, who expressed his full support.

"If it's a matter of trying to create a more vital retail environment it's always worth taking a look at," Chelgren said. "Through trial and error each town finds its own economic vitality. I think that's what's happening here."

Weston Adams, co-owner of Marblehead Outfitters on Washington Street, said that this initiative aims to reinvigorate energy around downtown businesses.

"Like a lot of residential communities it tends to get a little quiet after dinner time," Adams said. "We recognize everybody is busy, but our hope is to open up their mindset of going to brick and mortar shops rather than sitting down at the computer and sending off their money elsewhere.

Adams added that extending business hours is also a way of giving back to the residents that have supported the downtown restaurants and shops.

Captain Matt Weber participating in collaborative research on whether lobstermen are farming lobsters in coastal Maine.