Marblehead residents vote to pass two override questions in special election
In a special town election on Tuesday, Marblehead residents voted in favor of two override questions in addition to casting their ballots for the special state Senate election, where Democrat Ed Markey defeated Republican newcomer Gabriel Gomez.
Markey will fill the seat left vacant by Secretary of State John Kerry.
Nearly 70 percent of voters supported the first override question to fund a project to repair and restore the Abbott Hall clocktower, which will cost about $2.5 million.
The second override question to fund remediation and restoration on Green Street saw support from about 57 percent of voters.
In the Senate election 57 percent of the vote went to markey, while Gomez took 43 percent.
A total of 5,722 residents cast their ballots in the state Senate election.
Writers’ World featured at Marblehead Festival of Arts
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Marblehead Chamber of Commerce to host Maritime Festival
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for second annual Maritime Festival featuring an array of events including boating vendors, activities and a peek into the maritime life in Marblehead.
The event kicks off on Thursday August 8 and will run through the weekend, wrapping up on Sunday August 11.
The weekend event starts Thursday night with a garden party at the historic Jeremiah Lee Mansion on Washington street with live entertainment, a cash bar and prizes. Organizers will be collecting $20 at the door from members of the Chamber of Commerce and $30 from nonmembers.
Following the kickoff party will be a maritime-themed lecture at Abbott Hall at 6 p.m. on Friday August 9.
Residents and visitors will hit the State Street Landing on Saturday for harbor tours and water activities, along with maritime exhibits, vendors from boat builders and artists, food, music, live entertainment, and other various activities.
The Marblehead Bags tournament will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the Salty Dog parade at 3 p.m.
Also on Saturday will be a maritime market place at State Street Landing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. featuring several exhibitors, which have yet to be announced.
Wrapping up the festivities will be a celebration at Fort Sewall on Sunday with a tour of the historic fort, a food and beer truck, along with a bouncy house and activities for the kids.
For more information, visit the Marblehead Maritime Festival website, or call 781-631-2868.
Marblehead School Committee and Board of Selectmen to interview candidates for open seat on School Committee
The Marblehead School Committee and the Board of Selectmen will be conducting interviews to fill an anticipated vacancy on the School Committee.
Former Chairwoman EuRim Chun submitted her official resignation, effective June 30, after ongoing tensions among committee members.
The newly appointed board member will serve until the May 2014 town election.
Those interested in being considered for appointment must submit a letter of interest, detailed resume, and a description of what qualities they would bring to the board, according to an announcement from the School Committee.
Two copies of the materials must be submitted to both the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee by Wednesday July 17.
The two boards are scheduled to interview candidates and appoint a new member on Wednesday July 24 in an open meeting at Abbott Hall.
Should the newly appointed member choose to continue in their seat beyond the May 2014 election, they must officially run for a position on the School Committee.
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Marblehead man charged with aggravated child rape
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.
Two Marblehead beaches closed until further notice
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.

