Topsfield News

Two houses are taking shape on the War Memorial Green just behind the Visitor Center in Ipswich.

A Newburyport woman was injured yesterday after her Maserati suddenly came to a stop on Interstate 95 and was rear-ended by a pickup truck, causing a five-mile backup during the start of a busy holiday weekend.

Firefighters battled a Willowdale Road house fire ignited by a gas grill yesterday morning.

A city-based engineering firm has agreed to pay more than $107,000 to settle alleged violations of the state's prevailing-wage laws, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's office announced yesterday.

Brendan Fraser, known for his work in the "The Mummy" series, is heading to the Boston area this month to film the family comedy called "Furry Vengeance,"a movie about a real estate developer who faces an unlikely group of protestors: a crew of local woodland creatures who don't want their homes disturbed.

A family of six and their dogs escaped injury shortly after midnight yesterday when a fire caused extensive damage to their home.

As consumers get ready to celebrate July Fourth, many merchants already have dismissed summer as a washout.

"Once on This Island," a Caribbean love story, is sung and danced with a Calypso vibe at Marblehead Little Theatre tomorrow and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Marblehead Little Theatre is at 12 School St.

A proposal to transfer the package store liquor license from Top Shelf Liquors on Route 1 to a space in the new Dunkin' Donuts building on Water Street was pulled without explanation from the selectmen's agenda last week.

Mandatory water restrictions have been removed in Topsfield because of increased stream flows on the Ipswich River following recent heavy rains.

We would like to thank all who helped out and turned out for the first annual "Ride to Remember." With more than 125 bikers on hand to ride throughout the North Shore, the run was a great success.

Crisscrossed by highways and home to numerous subdivisions as well as the region's largest shopping center, Peabody has nevertheless taken the lead in the effort to get people out of their cars to travel about via bicycle or on foot.

Summer's a time when families head to Goodies Ice Cream in Danvers Square, sit outside and enjoy a tasty treat.

Two weeks after the unexpected withdrawal of one of its two finalists caused the Masconomet Regional School Committee to table its search for a new superintendent, the panel has agreed to reopen the process but postpone the effective hiring date to summer 2010.

The Topsfield Rail Trail will get a semiformal launch Sunday, but don't expect many people to wear full suits or beautiful dresses.

Stream flow in the Ipswich River has been falling since Saturday, triggering mandatory watering bans yesterday in Hamilton, Wenham and Topsfield.

There may have been 40 Topsfield Strawberry Festivals before this weekend's, but don't expect the latest incarnation to be boring.

Almost every weekend from May to November, Linda Robinson and her husband, Joe, would pack up their car or recreational vehicle and head out with their three Doberman pinschers to area dog shows.

The following students from North Shore towns were named to the honor roll for the second trimester of 2008-2009 at Shore Country Day School: HONORS Grade six: Aisling Batchelder and Duncan Lechner of Manchester; Christopher Brady, Matt Sheridan and Ali Sledge of Marblehead; Samantha Brainard of Wenham; James Burr, Carter Daume, Lizzie Flynn, Lily ...

Experienced paddlers and some people who have never paddled a canoe or kayak will row down the Merrimack River Saturday in the 31st Annual Lou Marcel Memorial Canoe Race to benefit Special Olympics of Massachusetts.