North Shore's Top 2025 Stories: Trash Strike, Historic Elections, King's Beach, Restaurants Close

SALEM, MA — From a months-long trash workers' strike, to the first four-year mayoral election in Beverly history, to the ongoing efforts to clean up King's Beach, to several prominent restaurant closures, it was a busy year across the North Shore and Patch was there to cover it.

As we begin to look forward to 2026, here's a look back at the stories that had the most impact on area residents over the past 12 months:

North Shore Trash Strike Over: Officials, Teamsters Celebrate End To 82-Day Work Stoppage

The strike began on July 1 with little contact between the sides throughout a summer where routes were missed for days at a time and recycling collection was sparse or non-existent in many of the affected communities.

North Shore COVID-19 5 Years Later: Response Celebrated, Ongoing Challenges Exposed

"The strength of community partnerships is what sticks with me the most in terms of what worked well," Peabody Director of Health and Human Services Director Sharon Cameron told Patch.

'We're In A Crisis': U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton To Primary Challenge U.S. Sen. Ed Markey

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton called for a "new generation of leadership" within the Democratic party in officially announcing his primary challenge to sitting U.S. Sen. Ed Markey on Wednesday morning.

Iconic North Shore Restaurant Closes For Good After 80 Years

An iconic North Shore restaurant on the sea that served Bay State families, as well as a "who's who" of notable figures from all over the world, closed for good after 80 years in November.

Beverly Airport Frustrations Remain High Among Many Danvers Residents

Residents of Danvers, Wenham and Beverly who live near the runways of Beverly Airport continue to express frustration over airport noise and the response to their complaints from airport management and the Beverly Airport Commission even as Beverly Airport Director Gabriel Hanafin
recently told the Danvers Select Board and Beverly City Council that complaints have dropped up to 90 percent over the past year.

'Especially Frightening Time': For Beverly Immigrant, Transgender Residents

"In America, members of the trans community have long been and continue today to be targeted with condemnation, hatred and violence. Also today in America, immigrants, including our own Beverly immigrant families and individuals, are being targeted and are living in fear as well." - Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill

Crying Fowl: Rash Of Rooster Dumping Forces Peabody Farm Owner To Make Plea

Madi Wood looked outside into the paddock of her small family farm in Peabody and noticed yet another unfamiliar face. With a beak, feathers, talons and a bright red comb atop its head.

Salem Owl's Survival Struggle Spurs Push For Action Against Rodenticides

Jess Reese immediately knew there was something desperately wrong with the screech owl she saw sitting in a pile of wet leaves and trash near the downtown Salem Post Office, when she found the bird barely moving on a January Sunday morning.

'Detrimental To This Community': Union Supporters Frustrated Over Salem High New Building Process

A public meeting to present an updated timeline and cost for the building of a new Salem High School saw dozens of union members, their supporters, and City Councilors speaking in solidarity with organized labor, express frustration over the School Building Committee's vote not to include a Project Labor Agreement that would establish terms and conditions of construction staffing with local unions as a project prerequisite.

Ted Bettencourt Re-Elected To 8th Term As Peabody Mayor, 3 New City Councilors

Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt was elected to an eighth term as he survived a challenge from small business owner Rochelle Agneta for the second consecutive election cycle.

Michael Cahill Wins First 4-Year Beverly Mayoral Term, Julie Flowers Re-Elected City Council President

Mayor Michael Cahill survived a challenge from City Councilor At-Large Brendan Sweeney
with about 60 percent of the vote to win the first four-year term in city history following a city charter change last year

Six New Salem City Councilors Elected In Contested Races, Mayor Pangallo Wins First Full Term

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo was elected to his first full four-year term as mayor as he ran unopposed in the Salem municipal election.

School Committee Shakeup In Marblehead Town Election

Among the factors driving the turnout was a five-way race for two seats on the School Committee in a year that included an 11-day teachers' strike and a "no confidence" petition signed by more than 1,000 residents.

Beverly City Councilor Wins Race To Represent Beverly, Wenham On Beacon Hill

Beverly City Councilor Hannah Bowen won the special election to represent the 6th Essex District at the State House.

'A Moment For Change': Peabody Parents Call For Urgent Action Against School Bullying

Dozens of Peabody parents — including friends and family members of Higgins Middle School eighth-grader Jason Bernard, whose family said he committed suicide last month after suffering ongoing bullying — made emotional pleas for urgent change during a School Committee discussion on bullying policy and procedures.

'Stand Together In Outrage': Racist Words Mar North Shore Graduation Livestream

A Lynnfield town employee accused of using racist and inappropriate language that was broadcast as part of a high school graduation livestream has "resigned and is no longer employed by the town."

Beverly Office Park Kitchen Closes After 10 Years, Moves Commissary To Danvers

Beverly's Cummings Center eatery Rogue Kitchen & Provisions closed permanently after a decade under several names, with Flip The Bird owners blaming the closure on the changing nature of office parks since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Swampscott Turns Down Lights On King's Beach UV Treatment Solution

The Swampscott Select Board has sent a strong message to the city of Lynn and proponents for a UV light-treatment plant as a way to help clean up the water at King's Beach, that the town will not be spending resources on that as a complementary solution to sewer pipe refitting and a potential outfall.

'Slap In The Face': Salem Offshore Wind Project In Peril After Trump Cancels $34M In Federal Funding

Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo called the federal funding clawback a "reckless move" three years after Congress approved the funding under the Biden Administration and declared that the city and state would explore "all options and legal avenues available" to restore the investments.

Salem School Committee Merges Elementary Schools In Split Vote

A divided Salem School Committee culminated months of public forums and discussions on elementary school reconfiguration with a split vote to back a plan that will merge the Saltonstall and Carlton schools at Saltonstall beginning in the fall of 2026.

See Timeline For New Peabody High School After $8 Million Feasibility Study Approved

The Peabody City Council approved an $8 million feasibility study to move forward on the planning of eventual construction of a new Peabody Veterans Memorial High School in what Mayor Ted Bettencourt called "a big moment" in the progression toward a new school.

Paint Poured On $500K Peabody Tesla Cars, Saugus Man Charged

A Saugus man was facing a dozen charges in connection with the vandalism of cars worth more than $500,000 at the Peabody Tesla Northshore Mall dealership after police said someone poured paint on the cars.

Funky NE Brunch Chain To Close Danvers Location, Seeking New North Shore Home

A popular breakfast, brunch and casual eatery is closing its Danvers location at the end of the month as it says the search for a new home on the North Shore remains ongoing.

Salem Satanic Temple Bomber Sentenced To 5 Years In Prison

The Oklahoma man who pleaded guilty to charges of igniting a pipe bomb that damaged the Satanic Temple in Salem in April 2024 was sentenced to five years in prison and three years of supervised release.

Beverly Hot Dog, Italian Beef Sandwich, Burger Casual Dining Spot Closing

A cozy, casual Chicago-style hot dog, smashburger and seafood eatery in Beverly closed in December after about one year in operation.

'Deeply Unfortunate': Swampscott School Committee Chair Resigns Amid 'Untenable' Discourse

Swampscott School Committee members called for the town's governing boards to come together with a renewed spirit of collaboration, civility, and an improved understanding of school finance after School Committee Chair Amy O'Connor resigned from the board after 12 years because of "an environment that had become untenable."

Peabody Wrestler's Death Spurs Push For Mandatory Student-Athlete Heart Testing

The death of Peabody Veterans Memorial High wrestler Freddy Espinal during a workout from a previously undiagnosed heart condition has prompted North Shore state legislators and the Espinal family to push for "Freddy's Law," which would require all high school student-athletes across the state to undergo an electrocardiogram screening as part of their annual athletic physical.

'Time To Step Away': Popular Salem Sports Bar, Restaurant Sold

"After almost seven years and enough memories to last a lifetime," ownership posted on social media, "it is time to step away."

Seismic Shift In Essex Tech School Admissions To Lottery System Approved

Students across the North Shore looking to attend Essex Tech will now pin their hopes on a lottery-based admissions system after the school agreed to switch from a long-standing interview-based process under a new state mandate aimed at providing more equitable access to career technical and agricultural programs across the Commonwealth.

'Abhorrent Behavior': Marblehead 15-Year-Old Charged In 'Hateful' School Graffiti Incidents

A 15-year-old Marblehead High student is facing vandalism and civil rights violation charges after being accused of tagging school property with what police called "hateful" graffiti.

'Discomfort Is Not Harm': Danvers Parents, Teachers Debate 'All-American Boys' Book Selection

A show of solidarity among members of the Danvers Teachers Association called criticisms of the 8th-grade reading selection "All-American Boys" by author Jason Reynolds "deeply troubling" amid public comment debate about the book's appropriateness for middle school students because of its depictions of violence, profanity, teen drinking and drug use, and the theme of "white privilege."

Murdered Swampscott Teen's Body Exhumed 50 Years After Death As Case 'Remains Active'

The body of a Swampscott teen whose murdered has remained unsolved for more than half a century was exhumed from Swampscott Cemetery based on what Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said was "information recently received" and advances in forensic science.

Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken Closes At Peabody Northshore Mall

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal's fast-casual restaurant "Big Chicken" shuttered at the Northshore Mall in Peabody about one year after opening.

What To Do With Beverly's Former Family Dollar Downtown Building?

Artist housing and studio space, a downtown grocery store, a co-op marketplace and a hotel were among the ideas that got strong backing for the future development of the Family Dollar building that the city bought, along a second smaller lot and 108 parking spaces, for $7.4 million two years ago.

'Magic Of Salem Strikes Again': Sean Stellato Celebrates 'Tommy Cutlets' Landing With New England Patriots

Sean Stellato was enjoying a slight calm amid what he called a "roller coaster, hurricane, nor'easter" couple of days around the National Football League roster cutdown day as the Salem player agent sat with his wife, Krista, for lunch at Derby Wharf on their 20th wedding anniversary, when he got the news that sent him into a spontaneous seaside celebration.

Swampscott Officer's 'Lifesaving Actions' Rescue Swimmer From Hurricane Erin Swells

A Swampscott police officer was lauded for his "incredible courage and bravery in a critical situation" in helping save the life of a distressed swimmer at Phillips Beach on Saturday amid the Hurricane Erin high seas.

'We Do Not Fear New Residents': Danvers Town Meeting Debate Fallout At Select Board

Sharp divisions over the rate of development in Danvers were on display once again this week during a town meeting debate Monday night on the latest attempt to revisit the town's MBTA Community Act zoning compliance, and at a Select Board meeting when Board member Dee Djoko urged against the condemnation of future occupants of the Maple Square Project.

Shooting Spree, Double Murder: Salem Mayor Responds To Rash Of Violence In Witch City

An early morning shooting spree involving 66 shell casings found and two dead bodies discovered in the woods near a shopping center prompted Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo to issue a statement calling the rash of violence "unacceptable."

'We Must Stand Together': Beverly Call For Unity After Jewish Threats

Chabad of Beverly-Salem Rabbi Mendel Barber called for unity against hate from residents across the North Shore on Tuesday after a Beverly man accused of making threats against the Jewish community was arraigned on more than a dozen gun charges in Salem District Court

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)