Three Marblehead residents helped to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Boston Biomedical Research Institute in Watertown.

The Marblehead building inspector issued the following permits in November.

Local residents recently attended the Joslin Diabetes Center's "High Hopes Gala" ....

MHTV-10 program schedule for Dec. 8-14.

Webcams are not often associated with noble purposes —YouTube, anyone? — but they may have just found one: helping faraway friends and relatives honor recently departed loved ones.

For a pair of local families, international adoptions have been worth the investment in time and resources, and then some, though others seeking to follow in their footsteps may find the road a bit more difficult.

VIDEOS: One family's story, and some expert advice

Those in Marblehead might not have known her, but to many outside of the town’s blustery shores, longtime resident Joan Bavaria was someone to be reckoned with, and someone to be remembered.

A host of North Shore communities, including Marblehead, are considering how best to pool their resources, and a state grant might help them on their way.

Come Saturday and Sunday night, Old North Church will reverberate with Christmas carols, bell music and a chorus of more than 100 voices. And, for the 20th time, at the center of it all will be Maria van Kalken.

VIDEO: Maria's musical milestone

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women invites you to share your thoughts and concerns at a regional dialogue focusing on the women of Essex County and the issues they face Wednesday, Dec. 10, 5-7 p.m. at the Peter A. Torigian Community Life Center, 79 Central St., Peabody.

Thanks to the generosity of people and organizations in local communities, HAWC will once again run its annual holiday store.

The Marblehead Police Department has announced the following traffic limitations related to the annual Marblehead Christmas Walk.

Each year the Democratic Town Committees of Marblehead, Nahant and Swampscott gather for a holiday party, but “this year’s party will be more than special,” said Margaret Somer, chairwoman of the Swampscott Democratic Committee.

Paralympic gold-medal sailor Maureen McKinnon-Tucker will be the honored guest at a check presentation and buffet Tuesday, Dec. 9, 6-10 p.m. at The Landing, 81 Front St., Marblehead.

The Edith Dodge Fund took in $430 last week as the holiday season got under way. The goal is to reach $15,000 once again.

Sisters Carter, 6, and Madison Murray, 9, have teamed up to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation this holiday season by enthusiastically painting original holiday cookie plates.

It’s not too late to get in on the fun and join this year’s Christmas Walk Parade.

Marblehead residents Diane Casey, Ph.D., Daniel J. Riccio and Barbara Schaye have been appointed to the Board of Ambassadors of The Home for Little Wanderers, the nation’s oldest child-and-family-service agency.

The Marblehead Council on Aging will host a Holiday Fair at the Marblehead Community Center, 10 Humphrey St., on Saturday, Dec. 6, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Here’s what is going at the very busy Jewish Community Center of the North Shore, 4 Community Road, Marblehead, including classes and next week weekend's Holiday Artisans Boutique ....