2012-02-11T07:35:34-05:00 urn:uuid:cb11c464-7568-4f8f-bba3-fba910bbd7a1 By Jesse Roman urn:uuid:8b6cd1c8-8000-447a-bc06-37c7b15bdf45 2012-02-11T04:50:00-05:00

PEABODY &#8212; Joseph Mastrocola has been hired as the new superintendent of the Peabody School District after a unanimous vote by the Peabody School Committee Thursday night. <br /> Mastrocola worked as the assistant superintendent in Peabody from 2007 to 2010 before leaving to become superintendent at Groton-Dunstable Regional School District.

By Ethan Forman urn:uuid:2b59d6b1-5843-4a1b-b13e-789f160654c1 2012-02-11T04:48:00-05:00

<p> Many know Alan Hartnett as a guy who operates a popular, family-owned car wash and auto body shop on Water Street in Danvers.&#160; </p> <p> Few realize he is really cleaning up when it comes to political memorabilia. <br /> However, in a year when Republicans are furiously vying to unseat President Barack Obama, the political item pickings are few and far between, despite the hundreds of millions that will be spent on campaigns. </p>

By Tom Dalton urn:uuid:26bb6328-6229-4a5b-9744-76df45864bf3 2012-02-11T04:46:00-05:00

SALEM &#8212; A former resident of a Boston Street rooming house, where two men died last fall of apparent drug overdoses, has been charged in connection with one of the deaths.<br /> Salem police obtained an arrest warrant yesterday for Anthony Burney, 36, in connection with the Dec. 4 death of a 40-year-old Lynn man who resided at Hilltop Manor, a lodging house at 179 Boston St.

By Paul Leighton urn:uuid:01862c5f-f458-4212-b99c-6ae1e48a1606 2012-02-11T04:44:00-05:00

After Mayor Bill Scanlon's State of the City address Monday night, City Council President Paul Guanci asked the question that residents have been asking since 2006.<br /> What's up with the Black Cow?<br /> Guanci was not talking about farm animals or the 1977 Steely Dan song. He was talking about the Black Cow restaurant that was first proposed six years ago this month but has yet to be built.

By Jesse Roman urn:uuid:e5bac26d-c936-44d2-8c87-d46ae6271106 2012-02-11T04:43:00-05:00

Water levels on the North Shore are still close to average but dropping fast due to a recent lack of precipitation. <br /> Up through last night, not a single drop of moisture had fallen in February, and January saw just 2.67 inches. That's almost three-quarters of an inch less than the 30-year average, according to The National Weather Service. In total, the North Shore has received about an inch-and-a-half less precipitation than normal in January and February.

By Michael Phillis urn:uuid:66ac5aed-62d4-49c9-9e7f-71e8c0be297f 2012-02-11T04:41:00-05:00

DANVERS &#8212; Police responded to a professor who "had an incident in class," but an arrest was not made, according to Linda Brantley, director of public relations at North Shore Community College.<br /> "Students were never in danger," Brantley said.

urn:uuid:23077996-4227-4965-b913-2aff57c73739 2012-02-11T04:40:00-05:00

Marblehead<br /> Thursday<br /> Lately, there have been several reports of contractors attempting to scam residents by promising to inspect and repair their chimney. The latest such suspected scam occurred at 8:09 a.m. to a resident of Blueberry Road. The company, Brush Hollow Maintenance, inspected the chimney and &quot;made a high pressure service pitch&quot; asking to do a &quot;rush job,&quot; according to the resident. The resident who reported the problem claimed the business received an &quot;F&quot; grade from the Better Business Bureau, however, a check with the organization shows that they have not rated the business. The resident put a pay stop on his deposit check.

urn:uuid:0af68b8a-d232-49d2-95fc-8f701fda46a7 2012-02-11T04:29:00-05:00

An editorial in the Friday, Feb. 10 edition ("Arbitrator's ruling reflects the giveaways of the past") had an incorrect date for Salem police Capt. John Jodoin's retirement. He retired in early July 2

By Jesse Roman urn:uuid:a6727871-4c04-435d-9b57-83115ed33ed7 2012-02-10T04:50:00-05:00

About 100 city union members packed the Wiggin Auditorium in City Hall last night, as the Peabody City Council debated the merits of a new law that would curb the unions' ability to negotiate their health benefits.

By Ethan Forman urn:uuid:fc035a8d-7d84-4f0f-ab1b-72cc87e37609 2012-02-10T04:48:00-05:00

DANVERS &#8212; Danvers-based Kelly Automotive Group is ramping up expansion plans along Route 114 in both Danvers and Peabody.<br /> Kelly is mulling the creation of a two-story dealership out of the vacant former Borders Books and Music store on Andover Street in Peabody. The Danvers native and the company's president, Brian Kelly, acquired the property in December.