Community Corner

đŸŒ± Patch AM: North Shore Route 128 Wrong-Way Driver Measures Aim To Prevent More Tragedies

And check out A Funny Thing Happenned on the Way to Celebrate REV250 on the Peabody Patch calendar

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Wednesday August 19th Patch AM
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Good morning Peabody! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • New Route 128 safety work could slow Peabody commutes
  • Why Peabody just ranked as America's hottest housing market
  • How Phoebe Bridgers just put Peabody's mall scene on the map

Also on today's calendar: A Funny Thing Happenned on the Way to Celebrate REV250 and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Fog in the a.m., then warmer, with a high of 84 and low of 66 degrees.
  • Thursday: An afternoon shower possible, temps: high: 81, low: 60.
  • Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 61 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. North Shore Route 128 Wrong-Way Driver Measures Aim To Prevent More Tragedies (patch.com) — Drivers using Route 128 through Peabody will see new wrong-way driving safety measures installed starting this week, with weekday daytime construction and shoulder closures between Peabody and Gloucester. The work follows several serious wrong-way crashes on the North Shore and aims to improve ramp signage and other protections to reduce future tragedies.
   

2. Peabody is America's Hottest ZIP Code (peabodyweeklynews.com) — Peabody's 01960 ZIP code has been named America's hottest housing market for 2026, thanks to strong demand, fast sales, and relative affordability near Boston. Mayor Ted Bettencourt links the ranking to low taxes and utilities, ongoing investments in public safety, schools, roads, and a livelier downtown, arguing these choices are shaping Peabody's long-term quality of life.
   

3. On her new album, Phoebe Bridgers has an unlikely muse: the Liberty Tree Mall (bostonglobe.com) — Phoebe Bridgers' new album spotlights the fading Liberty Tree Mall, while nearby Northshore Mall in Peabody gains new stores as retailers relocate. A Peabody-based content creator says Bridgers' song captures the mall's eerie, almost post‑apocalyptic feel, even as fans' renewed interest may bring a small bump in local foot traffic.
   

4. 'Dead deserve to lie in peace,' Pa. federal judge says in stolen-body-parts case sentencing (pennlive.com) — A Massachusetts woman tied to a nationwide stolen human remains scheme once operated a business in Peabody, where prosecutors say she began buying macabre items from a Harvard morgue manager. A federal judge in Pennsylvania sentenced her to two years in prison, calling the conduct a violation of human dignity and highlighting the emotional toll on families who donated loved ones' bodies for research.
   

5. Obituaries-August 17, 2026 (bocaratontribune.com) — Peabody residents are being informed of the recent passing of Diane C. (Rafael) Goldstein, a 94‑year‑old longtime Boston‑area native who made her home in Peabody and cherished family, learning, and the arts. Her obituary appears alongside tributes to several other individuals from around the country, each remembered for rich, family‑centered lives.
   

📸 Around Peabody

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Residents and Staff Members Work Together at Brooksby —Elizabeth Fabiano Read on Patch
  • Orkin posted a job opening for Commercial Branch Manager Trainee in Peabody. Apply here.
  • Target posted a job opening for Seasonal: Guest Advocate (Cashier), General Merchandise, Fulfillment, Food and Beverage, Front of Store Attendant (Cart Attendant), Style, Inbound (Stocking) (T1187) in Danvers. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Peabody here.

Ok Peabody! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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