Paul Leighton

Beverly

Beverly Reporter at The Salem News (Salem, MA)

The Beverly Beat

Featured in: Favicon

salemnews.com Favicon

nature.com Favicon

yahoo.com (+2) Favicon

usnews.com Favicon

wiley.com

bmj.com (+3) Favicon

washingtontimes.com Favicon

military.com Favicon

routledge.com Favicon

govtech.com + 41 more

Articles

Can't beat the view

1 week ago | thebeverlybeat.substack.com | Paul Leighton

This week I saw a view in Beverly that I’ve never seen before. You could see it too — for somewhere between $2,600 and $4,700 per month. The view was from the roof deck of Amara, the brand-new apartment building at the intersection of lower Cabot and Rantoul streets. It’s stunning — sunlight sparkling off the water, boats bobbing in the harbor, the bridge tying Beverly and Salem together. I got a tour of the building this week.
City's marijuana money goes up in smoke

Mar 3, 2025 | thebeverlybeat.substack.com | Paul Leighton

I was driving by the city’s newest marijuana dispensary, Reverie 73, the other day and had two thoughts: First, what the heck does the ‘73’ stand for? And second, how much money is the city getting from these marijuana businesses, of which there are now three? The first answer is easy — ‘73’ refers to 1973, the year the first state decriminalized cannabis (Oregon). The second answer is a bit more complicated.
The Cabot names new executive director

Feb 27, 2025 | thebeverlybeat.substack.com | Paul Leighton

The Cabot has a new executive director. The theater announced on Thursday that Brian Ridolfo, who has had leadership roles at major arts institutions in South Carolina and Florida, will succeed Casey Soward as executive director. The selection comes at a key time for The Cabot, which is about to undertake an extensive renovation of the outside of the historic 1920 theater, including the installation of a new marquee.
What was the attendance during school 'vacation' week?

Feb 25, 2025 | thebeverlybeat.substack.com | Paul Leighton

I have to admit I was surprised one day last week when I looked out the window and saw a yellow school bus in our neighborhood. Wasn’t this school vacation week?, I thought. Then I remembered. The teachers’ strike. Or maybe we should call it The Teachers’ Strike, considering the impact it had, and continues to have, on the city.
Why are the Coast Guard houses in North Beverly still empty?

Feb 24, 2025 | thebeverlybeat.substack.com | Paul Leighton

The mystery of why 16 houses in North Beverly have been sitting unused for over a year is over. The houses are owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and had been used as homes for U.S. Army and Coast Guard members and their families since they were built in 1958. Two years ago the Coast Guard began moving people out and wouldn’t say why. In the midst of a housing crisis, they now sit empty in a nice neighborhood on Laurel Street, near the North Beverly Elementary School.
The Friday notebook

Feb 21, 2025 | thebeverlybeat.substack.com | Paul Leighton

Notes and quotes on a Friday afternoon …2025 promises to one of the most competitive election years in Beverly in quite awhile. There are three good candidates for the state rep seat that opened up when Jerry Parisella became a judge — city councilors Hannah Bowen and Todd Rotondo, who will meet in the Democratic primary on April 15, and Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce President Medley Long, who is running as a Republican and will face the Bowen/Rotondo winner in the May 13 final election.
Albanian group buys former Elks Club

Feb 20, 2025 | thebeverlybeat.substack.com | Paul Leighton

Social clubs like the Beverly-Peabody Elks and the Vittori-Rocci Post and the Franco-American Club have been a big part of the city’s culture for years, and are still hanging in there despite changing times and declining membership. Now there’s a new one coming to town. A nonprofit organization called Albanian Boston Community Inc. purchased the Elks’ long-time location at 39 Bow St. for $1.14 million and plans to open its own club there.
City Councilor Sweeney announces run for mayor

Jan 2, 2025 | salemnews.com | Paul Leighton

BEVERLY — City Councilor Brendan Sweeney announced Thursday that he is running for mayor, kicking off the new year with an early challenge to longtime mayor Mike Cahill. "After 12 years of the same leadership, I believe Beverly would benefit from a fresh set of eyes and a new perspective in the mayor's office," Sweeney said. kAm$H66?6J[ b_[ 92D 366? 2 4@F?4:=@C 2E\=2C86 D:?46 a_aa 2?5 H@C<D 2D E96 2DD:DE2?E E@H? 25>:?:DEC2E@C 2?5 7:?2?46 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 E@H?
Year in review: Teacher strikes, wildfires and a double shot of Espresso the whale

Dec 30, 2024 | salemnews.com | Paul Leighton

Teacher strikes. Wildfires. Flooding. And a double shot of Espresso the dead whale. Those were some of the top stories in The Salem News in 2024. But it wasn’t all bad news either. kAmx? $2=6>[ @77:4:2=D 3C@<6 8C@F?5 @? E96 $2=6> ~77D9@C6 (:?5 %6C>:?2=[ 96C2=5:?8 E96 2CC:G2= @7 2 ?6H :?5FDECJ E@ E96 }@CE9 $9@C6] x?
Judge orders new trial in deadly 1984 Beverly rooming house fire

Dec 30, 2024 | salemnews.com | Paul Leighton

BEVERLY — A judge has ordered a new trial in the 1984 Elliott Chambers rooming house fire that killed 15 people in Beverly, a stunning turnaround in a story that has haunted the city for four decades. In a ruling last week, Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Karp cited advances in fire and eyewitness science that he said “cast real doubt” on the justice of James Carver’s conviction on 15 counts of second-degree murder, and ordered that Carver be given a new trial.