AG Calls Out 'Infection Of Bias And Hate' In HS Sports: Patch Sunday

DANVERS, MA — Weeks after Attorney General Maura Healey's office confirmed it launched an official probe into how Danvers school, town and police officials handled reports of racist and homophobic hazing within that school's high school boys hockey team in 2019-20, Healey said that the troubling trend is much more pervasive than one high-profile case at one school in issuing her "Call to Action" to help quell the surging concern.

"Massachusetts is not immune to hate and bias," Healey said. "We've seen an infection of bias and hate make its way into places it should not be. Bullying of fellow students, inappropriate hazing of teammates, racist and antisemitic graffiti or language directed at peers.

"I think that right now that gives us a clear opportunity to address this."

Read about the steps Healey's office and the MIAA are planning to take to tackle the problem, and anything else you may have missed on the North Shore this past week, in this edition of Patch Sunday:

AG's 'Call To Action' Targets Hate, Bias In MA High School Sports

While it's hardly unique to a single Massachusetts community, school or sport, there is little doubt that one area where cases of hate, bias and hazing have been on the rise across the state is high school athletic fields and locker rooms.

MBTA Details Extensive Rockport Line Commuter Rail Work Through June

MBTA officials outlined the extensive work set for the Rockport Line of the commuter rail beginning April 11 and running through June 12.

The MBTA said riders should also check schedules ahead of time for anticipated travel and arrival times. Park-and-ride riders are encouraged to consider taking the Haverhill Commuter Rail line, Blue or Orange subway lines or work from home, if possible.

Danvers Looks To Cap Number Of Its Students Attending Essex Tech

The long-simmering disagreement over the number of Danvers high school students who should be allowed to attend Essex North Shore will come to a head next month when Danvers town meeting members vote on a student cap each school year.

Real Pirate History Comes To Life At New Salem Museum

The fascinating, entertaining — and perhaps misunderstood — world of pirates is coming to the Witch City.

The new Real Pirates Salem Museum opens at Charlotte Forten Park on Derby Street Saturday with the story of "Black Sam" Bellamy, the "Witch of Wellfleet" Maria Hallett and genuine artifacts retrieved from the sunken Whydah off the coast of the outer Cape telling the story of what it was like to be a pirate three centuries ago.

Endicott, Beverly Hospital Work To Replenish Nursing Exodus

Endicott College and Beverly Hospital are working together in an attempt to restore the depleted nursing pipeline to the hospitals in Beverly and Gloucester.

Salem State Career Closet Dresses Students For Success

Salem State University students who looking to dress for success as they launch their careers got some help from community and campus partners at the school's Career Closet event.

Ruben Quesada Sworn In As New Swampscott Chief of Police

New Swampscott Chief of Police Ruben Quesada officially took the reins of the police department Wednesday night when the former Arizona police commander was sworn in as the town's top cop.

Beverly Pete's Park Hoop Dispute Leads To Confrontation

A dispute between park neighbors of Pete's Park and students organizing regular 3-on-3 basketball games took a confrontational turn on Saturday when Mayor Mike Cahill described an attempted mediation effort as one that "did not go as we would hope such conversations would."

$6 Million Marblehead Transfer Station Proposal Pulled From Warrant

The Marblehead Board of Health on Tuesday night pulled two town meeting warrants requesting a $6 million override to fund a new transfer station in favor of exploring a "Plan B" proposal that could cost a third of that total but is likely to draw increased traffic to alternative access roads on Green Street and Arnold Terrace.

Salem Schools' New District Logo, Motto Unveiled

"Where Belonging Leads To Opportunity" will be the new theme of Salem Public Schools after a months-long process to create a new district-wide logo and motto.

North Shore Women Honored For Contributions To Suffrage Movement

The North Shore's contributions to the women's suffrage movement will be commemorated with a pair of historic markers in the coming months.

The local nonprofit Suffrage100MA said Anne L. Page of Danvers and the Remond Family of Salem are among the five women or families who will be honored statewide.

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