Despite a significant rise in median household income from $115,511 in 2018 to $165,859 in 2023 (a 43.6% increase), Marblehead voters have twice rejected budget override proposals since 2022. Rising costs in health insurance, heating, pensions and waste management continue to strain town finances and household budgets. The last successful general override in Marblehead occurred in 2005, and it remains uncertain whether the Select Board or School Committee will propose a general override to voters in May. Recent failed attempts include a $3 million school budget override in
June 2022 and a $2.5 million municipal and school budget override in June 2023, despite the period’s apparent economic growth.
“Just because people have more money doesn’t mean they should be giving it to the town in taxes,” said Select Board member Dan Fox. “An override should be based solely on what our budgetary needs are.”
He added, “So, I think that median income and a general override should have nothing to do with each other.”
The town’s preliminary FY 2026 budget projections paint a challenging fiscal
About 50 people braved the chilly waters at Devereux Beach for a New Year’s polar plunge for a good cause: raising money for cystic fibrosis research.
BY GREY COLLINS
Dozens of people, carrying roses and wearing swimsuits more suited for August, ran down Devereux Beach and dove into the icy waves on New Year’s Day for the first-ever Freeze For a Future Polar Plunge. The event raised money for research into cystic fibrosis, and it was organized
by Changing Futures, a nonprofit that supports CF patients at risk of developing certain kinds of cancer.
People met up on the beach beforehand, and each person was given a rose, a symbol of the fight against cystic fibrosis. After taking some group photos, they rushed in and out of the 40-degree water. The organizers were pleased to see
so many Marbleheaders show up to support an important cause.
“Over the last few weeks I thought it was going to be a small gathering, but it really picked up momentum,” said Joel Steiner, president of Changing Futures, which is based in Lynnfield. “It was truly humbling
This chart illustrates the distribution of Marblehead households by income brackets, with 42% earning more than $200,000 annually and 31% earning less than $100,000. The data underscores the town’s economic diversity and the challenges faced by lower-income households and seniors amid rising costs.
In MEMOrI a M Libby Moore, educator and dedicated volunteer, dies at 79
BY WILL DOWD
Former Marblehead Schools superintendent Phil Devaux recalled that when Elizabeth “Libby” Moore worked at Veterans Middle School, she possessed a remarkable talent: “If she didn’t know the names of every kid in school, it was very close. You had to be really anonymous not to have Libby know your first and last name.” Moore, who served 28 years in the Marblehead Public Schools and continued to shape the community through volunteerism well into retirement, died Dec. 29, after a five-year journey with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 79.
Dec.
For the last 11 months of her life, Moore resided at the Mariner in its memory care wing, according to her son, Adam.
“She was cared for, she was stimulated. The staff were amazing,” he said. “I was there every single day, visiting her and being with her.”
‘One of the finest professionals’ Born Elizabeth Lynn Lemmon on Sept. 12, 1945, in Bexley, Ohio, her path to Marblehead began with a summer babysitting job on Martha’s Vineyard while she was attending Ohio State University. That experience convinced her to move to the East Coast at age 21. She went on to earn her master’s degree from Harvard University before dedicating her career to education in Marblehead, where many people told the Marblehead Current that she made a lasting impact on generations of students and residents.
“She was one of the finest professionals you could ever work with,” Devaux said.
CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS
COURTESY PHOTO / THE MOORE FAMILY Libby Moore, a devoted volunteer and community advocate, left a lasting legacy through her service on the Marblehead Museum board, her work with the Marblehead Garden Club and her contributions to MHTV’s award-winning program “Up for Discussion.” She dued on
29 at the age of 79.
Developers answer residents’ questions about $67M housing project
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Leaders at WinnDevelopment recently answered questions from residents, sharing preliminary details of the $67 million renovation project at the Broughton Road housing community.
Winn’s proposal is to renovate 62 existing units and build an additional 35.
“We talked about doing some additional units along Humphrey Street because that’s really where the density is, that’s the main thoroughfare, the main entrance to the property,” Winn Vice President Adam Stein said at a Marblehead Housing Authority meeting last month.
The project could take three years to complete, including 18 months of building.
Winn Senior Project Developer Angela Gile emphasized that the process is just beginning and that the developer will want significant input.
“I want to reiterate the fact that this process will entail a lot of participation from residents and the community,” Giles said. “Knowledge is power.”
One Broughton Road resident asked, “What assurance do we have that we will have a home to come back to after being displaced?”
MHA Executive Director Cathy Hoog answered, “It’s federal law… We have an obligation, and of course that’s what we want — to allow everyone the right of first return.”
Hoog explained that the MHA will hire a relocation company to work with residents to find them places to stay during
BY WILL DOWD
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@ marbleheadnews.org.
Dog license renewal period begins
The Town Clerk’s office announced the annual dog license renewal period would run from Jan. 1-31. Licenses cost $20 for spayed/neutered dogs and $25 for intact dogs. After Jan. 31, a $50 fine would be assessed every 30 days. Current rabies certificates are required. Licenses can be renewed by mail, drop box or online at marblehead.org.
A&D Clam Box closes, may be moving to new location
The A&D Clam Box at 195 Pleasant St. closed on Dec. 31, after the landlord decided not to extend its short-term lease, according to owner David Qyarsi. Qyarsi said he hoped to reopen in a new location by late February or March. The seafood restaurant, which opened in January 2023, specialized in lobster rolls, fried clams and fish tacos. The new location, which had not been determined, would feature the same menu items. A&D said it would announce the new location on its social media pages.
Apply for tax
work-off program
Marblehead seniors can apply for the 2025 Senior Tax WorkOff Program from Jan. 6-31. The program allows eligible residents to earn up to $2,000 in property tax credits through volunteer service. Established under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 59, Section 5K, the program offers up to 30 positions paying the state minimum wage
construction. That company “will be meeting with families and people finding out what the needs are, where people need to be,” Hoog added. “If you have a desire, that’s going to be taken into account.”
Hoog used the example of a resident who might need to be close to their children’s grandparents because they help with childcare.
Stein said architects and engineers would need to get inside Broughton Road residences to get a better feel for what renovations need to be done.
The project will not cost Marblehead residents any money and be funded largely by the state.
“It’s not a God-given right to get funded on these,” Stein explained. “They’re enormously competitive… So, we have to make the case.”
If Winn cannot secure state funding by Dec. 31, 2027, the MHA can revoke Winn’s designation to
of $15 per hour. To qualify, applicants must be Marblehead residents aged 60 or older by Jan. 1, 2025, and homeowners using the credit for their primary residence. Income limits are $75,300 for single-person households and $102,200 for twoperson households. Participants must complete conflict of interest training and pass a CORI check, with additional fingerprinting required for school placements. All volunteer hours must be completed by Oct. 15, 2025. Applications and forms are available at the Judy & Gene Jacobi Community Center and online at marblehead.org. For more information, contact COA Director Lisa Hooper at 781-631-6225.
Home energy assistance program
North Shore Community Action Programs (NSCAP) is accepting applications for its Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible households pay winter heating bills. The program covers costs from Nov. 1 through April 30. Eligible households can receive direct payments to heating vendors, 29% discount on National Grid utility bills, protection from utility shut offs during winter, and possible no-cost energy efficiency improvements. Income eligibility ranges from $49,196 for singleperson households to $130,559 for eight-person households. The program serves residents of Salem, Peabody, Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Middleton and Topsfield. First-time applicants must complete a phone interview. Applications opened October 1, with a 6-8 week processing time. Contact: 978-531-0767 ext. 136 or fuelassistance@nscap.org.
lead the project.
Winn said it would like to incorporate more open space in the neighborhood.
“I think we have a great opportunity to tie into the rail trail. I think there’s great opportunity potentially to try and tie into the high school. Certainly the senior center,” said Stein.
Winn President Larry Curtis said sustainability is another big part of the project.
“Energy efficiency will be central to the rehabilitation of the current buildings and the new ones,” he said.
Such aspects of the project will be “not fake sustainability, but substantive,” and will include geothermal heating, according to Curtis.
Next steps include “finishing up the term agreements and legal documents,” according to Hoog. “After legal documents are signed, Winn will begin exploring the physical aspects of the properties
OMIA annual meeting features town planner
The Old Marblehead Improvement Association scheduled its annual meeting for Jan. 12 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Old Town House in Market Square. Town Planner Alexander Eitler would speak on “Marblehead: Planning for a Sustainable Future.” The event would include the OMIA Annual Awards presentation and a dessert buffet. OMIA supports local nonprofits through grants and maintains the Old Town House.
Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony planned
Marblehead will hold its third annual Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at noon on Jan. 31 at Abbot Hall. The Select Board approved the 30-minute ceremony at the request of the Task Force Against Discrimination. Rabbi Michael Schwartz of Temple Sinai and Rabbi Jenn Mangold of Temple Emanu-El will lead the observance. Mangold will also conduct a special Shabbat service that evening to honor Holocaust victims.
Snow emergency parking restrictions
The Marblehead Police Department is reminding residents about parking restrictions during snow emergencies. When a snow emergency is declared, vehicles, including boat trailers, must be removed from the streets to allow for snow removal and ensure road safety. Violators risk ticketing and towing as part of the town’s efforts to maintain clear and treated streets during icy conditions. Residents are encouraged to sign up for CodeRED alerts at marblehead. org/subscribe to stay informed
in conjunction with the Housing Authority to assess need within the next six months,” Hoog said.
Some of terms in the agreement include the following:
MHA will lease the land to Winn for 99 years. Winn will purchase the buildings for $6.2 million, some of which will be paid upfront with the remaining amount due over 40 years.
Winn will have overall responsibility for planning and implementing the redevelopment project, subject to MHA approval of “critical decisions,” including financing and design, and management and tenant selection plans.
Winn will have principal responsibility for day-to-day activities and operations.
Winn will advance funds for MHA’s legal and development consulting costs during the predevelopment period.
MHA will receive an asset management fee of $6,200 per year with 3% annual growth.
about snow emergencies. The overnight parking ban for the 2024-25 winter season is now in effect.
Town Meeting warrant period open The warrant for the May 5, 2025 Town Meeting remains open for citizens petitions until Friday, Jan. 24. Town government boards and commissions have until noon Jan. 31 to submit their own articles. Town Meeting, which serves as the legislative body for Marblehead, enables residents to vote on key matters such as budgets, bylaws, homerule petitions and resolutions. For guidance, reach out to Town Moderator Jack Attridge at jack@ allmarblehead.com or 781-8833200. Citizens are encouraged to start early, consult with town officials or legal counsel if needed and review past town meeting warrants for examples.
Transfer Station and beach stickers available
Transfer Station and beach stickers are now available for purchase online and in person at the Health Department Office, 7 Widger Rd. The stickers are $100 and $40 for each subsequent car in the household. More info is available at marblehead.org/ board-health/health-department.
Registration opens for 40th Marblehead to Halifax race
Registration opened for the 40th biennial Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race, scheduled to depart Marblehead Harbor on July 6, 2025. Started in 1905, it is North America’s oldest ocean race. The 361-nautical-mile event is sponsored by the Boston Yacht Club and Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron.
COURTESY IMAGE
The Marblehead Housing Authority is partnering with WinnDevelopment on a $67 million Broughton Road renovation.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The School Committee was planning to discuss several weighty issues at two meetings this week, including next year’s budget, a possible capital request to replace the leaky high school roof, as well a warrant article for “additional funding for school expenses,” according to posted meeting agendas.
First, the School Committee’s budget subcommittee, led by Sarah Fox, was expected to meet Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 9 a.m. to discuss “development and planning” for fiscal year 2026. The FY 2025 budget was $46,759,111.
At a Dec. 17 meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Finance
and Operations Mike Pfiffering announced that he has prepared a draft, level-service budget for FY 26.
During teacher contract talks in November, the School
BY LEIGH BLANDER
There are new developments in the lawsuit filed by former Marblehead METCO director Jasmine Boyd-Perry accusing former superintendent John Buckey and former assistant superintendent Nan Murphy of creating a “racially hostile work environment.”
On Jan. 3, a U.S. District Court judge tossed one of several claims against Buckey and Murphy but rejected the former
Marblehead administrators’ bid to have another of Boyd-Perry’s claims dismissed.
Boyd-Perry, who is identified in the lawsuit as a Black and Native/ Indigenous non-binary female, served as Marblehead’s METCO director from August 2019 to January 2021. She filed her suit December 2023 in Middlesex Superior Court claiming she was “disrespected, disregarded, intimidated, ignored, muted, talked over, harassed, humiliated and isolated” at work. The
Committee said the pay increases agreed upon would add more than $3 million to school budgets over the next four years, requiring layoffs if an override is not passed. Fox has declined on
several occasions to provide the number of possible layoffs. Meanwhile, a new estimate to replace the high school roof (a project that now includes additional HVAC units) jumped
from the $5.3 million approved at 2023 Town Meeting to nearly $14 million.
Other items on Thursday’s School Committee agenda include: Proposal for competency determination for graduating seniors (now that MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement) Coffin School surplus property vote » Superintendent status preliminary discussion Thursday’s 7 p.m. meeting will be held at the Marblehead High library and online at marblehead. org/school-committee/ events/142941.
district then removed the case to federal court.
Boyd-Perry claims she was required to work unpaid during summer breaks while white colleagues were compensated for similar work. She also alleges that when she reported incidents of racial harassment against METCO students, including “Zoom bombing” incidents where students used racial slurs, Buckey instructed her to remain silent.
The suit claims MPS denied Boyd-Perry’s request to work
remotely during COVID, despite her “chronic medical conditions,” while approving similar requests from white colleagues. She was ultimately terminated on Jan. 7, 2021, after a series of medical leaves, with the school claiming she had abandoned her position.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani dismissed BoydPerry’s claim of wrongful termination in violation of public policy, concluding that it was duplicative of her
discrimination claims. But Talwani allowed Boyd-Perry to proceed with a claim that school administrators interfered with her constitutional right to contract through “threats, intimidation or coercion.”
The case will continue with multiple remaining claims, including allegations of racial and disability discrimination under state law and violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act. The next court date is set for April 15.
‘I worked for a pretty cool president.’ Town residents remember Jimmy Carter
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The passing of former President Jimmy Carter on Dec. 29 unlocked a flood of memories for Chris Goddard of Marblehead, who worked in the Carter administration and credits him for helping shape her future.
“Working for him was fundamental in my career,” said Goddard, who runs CGPR, a public relations firm that promotes outdoor lifestyle brands and businesses.
“Carter cared about the environment, the parks and the outdoors — and about taking action,” Goddard told the Current.
Goddard worked in the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service, which Carter created in 1978. Part of the Department of Interior, the HCRS was focused on identifying and protecting natural resources. It was absorbed by the National Park Service in 1981.
“I worked for a pretty cool president,” Goddard said. “He was green before his time, thinking about conservation and renewable energy.” Carter installed solar panels on the White House roof in 1979. They were removed in the 1980s and replaced in 2002.
“He was one of the first presidents to think about climate change,” Goddard said. “It wasn’t called ‘climate change’ then, but it was what was happening to the planet, and he was standing up making sure people understood.”
Goddard remembers meeting Carter at the White House.
“We were celebrating some legislation that had passed,” she said. “He was gracious and humble. He was a president who had heart.” She continued, “He had a
gentle soul. He was welcoming. It was such an honor and privilege to be there and to work for him. I was so aligned with his values.”
Goddard said it’s unlikely there will be another president like Carter.
“You have to be a different kind of person to be president today,” she said. “The politics are brutal. You can’t be faint of heart. Carter followed his heart
and followed his passion, and that gave him great joy. You could see that after he left the White House with what he did with Habitat for Humanity.”
Goddard has stayed involved in Democratic politics and volunteered at the Democratic National Convention last summer.
She is thinking about traveling to Washington, D.C., next week, where Carter is expected to lie in
state at the U.S. Capitol before a state funeral.
Bunking at Harvard
Longtime political consultant
Michael Goldman of Marblehead worked as a special consultant at the Boston regional office of the Federal Trade Commission during the Carter administration and met the president several times.
His favorite Carter story is about the time the then-Georgia governor visited Boston as he was deciding whether to run for president.
“Carter and his press secretary were staying in a dorm room at Harvard University to save money,” Goldman remembered.
“If there’s one word to describe his presidency, it would be humility. At one point he was the most powerful man in the world and then he spent the rest of his life helping people move into one-room abodes,” he said, referring to Carter’s work with Habitat for Humanity.
Goldman pointed out that Carter also taught Sunday school classes after leaving the White House.
‘A huge, megawatt smile’ Martha Gardner of Marblehead remembers when her thenboyfriend Don brought Rosalynn Carter to Marblehead for an event at Rosalie’s Restaurant on Sewall Street.
Don Gardner, who passed away earlier this year, opened Carter’s Boston campaign office in 1975.
His daughter, Rebecca, wrote in a letter to the editor to the Current, “Mrs. Carter was illprepared for the New England cold, and the Volvo’s heater was overtaxed, so my father lent her his coat and gloves as he drove her to an event.”
Martha Gardner attended one of Carter’s inaugural balls.
“Don and I rode on a campaign bus down to the Providence Center where Carter was going to give what we call now a rally,” she said. “Carter came down the aisle saying hello to everyone on the bus. When he got to where I was sitting, he gave me a huge, megawatt smile. He said hello in a thick southern drawl.” Gardner remembers those days fondly.
“It was kind of a heady time,” she said. “We felt that we were on
COURTESY PHOTOS
Chris Goddard, who owns a public relations company in Marblehead, worked for President Jimmy Carter during his White House years.
COURTESY PHOTO / LBJ LIBRARY President Jimmy Carter died on Dec. 29.
Longtime political consultant Michael Goldman shares his favorite story about President Jimmy Carter.
EDITOrI a L
Opinion
The stillness of winter
James Madison once said: “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” These words resonate deeply in Marblehead, where dedication to direct democracy makes civic education essential.
January brings a rare stillness to Marblehead. As holiday decorations come down and winter settles in, the town experiences a moment of calm. Yet beneath this surface, the steady machinery of local democracy continues, just as it has since 1649, when Marblehead adopted the town meeting form of government.
This interlude between year-end activities and preparations for May’s Town Meeting invites reflection and engagement. Thomas Jefferson called town meeting “the wisest invention ever devised by the wit of man for the perfect exercise of self-government.” Marblehead’s open town-meeting format exemplifies this wisdom, offering every registered voter a voice and a vote.
The many votes taken during the town meetings past, each motion — from extending term lengths and banning gas-powered leaf blowers to adjusting fees and establishing a Community Development and Planning Committee — reflect the breadth and depth of decisions made. These decisions, often seemingly mundane or procedural, collectively shape the character of our town, balancing the preservation of tradition with the demands of progress.
The months ahead hold important decisions for our community. The Capital Planning Committee will prioritize infrastructure needs, our schools face critical funding discussions, and the State of the Town address will outline key challenges and opportunities. These issues — from the condition of our streets to the future of our schools — affect every resident.
Key dates for 2025 own Meeting:
» Friday, Jan. 24, at noon — Deadline for citizen petition warrant articles.
» Friday, Jan. 31, at noon — Deadline for board and commission warrant articles.
» Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. — Annual Town Meeting at Veterans Middle School. Meanwhile, check out the town’s webpage devoted to Town Meeting: marblehead.org/town-meeting and follow the public meeting postings — marblehead.org/ calendar-by-event-type/16.
This quiet season is ideal for citizens to prepare for these discussions. Registered voters interested in submitting warrant articles must gather signatures from at least 10 registered voters. Town Moderator Jack Attridge (jack@allmarblehead.com or 781-8833200) is available to provide guidance. Citizens are encouraged to review past warrants and consult with town officials or legal counsel if needed.
Marblehead’s open town meeting stands apart in an era of increasing political complexity. Unlike representative systems, direct democracy here demands not only votes but attention, understanding and year-round involvement. Behind the scenes, municipal staff and committees are already preparing for May’s meeting — writing and reviewing warrant articles, analyzing finances and synthesizing complex issues to ensure transparency and inclusivity.
These weeks of relative calm offer a chance to delve into the issues that will shape Marblehead’s future. Attend a board meeting, read the town’s financial reports or connect with neighbors about shared concerns. When the May Town Meeting convenes at Veterans Middle School, we’ll continue a tradition that has served Marblehead for 375 years. The decisions made will resonate far beyond that evening.
EVEry THInG WILL BE OK ay
Completely 2025
BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM
I’m not a student of numerology — the mystical belief in numbers having meaning beyond their, well, meaning. But when a friend told me recently that 2025, because its individual numbers add up to nine, is a year of completion, I found myself nodding — and Googling.
In numerology, “the number nine holds a significant and powerful position. It symbolizes the idea of completion, though not necessarily finality. Instead, it signifies the conclusion of one phase, paving the way for the initiation of the next.” So says the Sept. 9, 2023, Hindustan Times (Yes, there is such a publication and, yes, this acolyte of the Wall Street Journal editorial pages is referencing it!)
Whatever the source of the information, 2025 as a year of finishing the unfinished makes perfect sense to me.
First, this year I’ll be finishing being in my 50s. Egads! David and I figured out the other day that we met each other’s parents when his were younger than I am now, and mine younger than him. No offense, parents and in-laws, but you seemed kind of, well, older. Yes, I know 60 is the new 40 or something, and hopefully I’ll see 70 and 80, too, but still, 60 feels like the ending, the completion, of my youth. I’m not rueful about it, it just feels strange.
Big finishes are in store for our kids this year, too. One will complete graduate school, the other undergrad. That both graduation ceremonies are the same weekend in different cities will require smooth travels (out of my control) and profound inner calm (that’s on me) so please say some prayers to the airline gods as we celebrate these milestones.
What else might represent the ending of one cycle and the start of the next? I’ll be recording my first published book as an audio book this year and I intend to complete a draft of book number two. The planning for the recording is underway, and some writing friends and I are holding each other accountable to put words on paper for our new projects. I’d also welcome a prayer for me to the creativity gods to turn that word “intend” into “will,” not to mention a request to the
LETTErS
Thank you Seamus Hourihan
To the editor,
Thank you, Seamus Hourihan, for your wonderful observations and opinions. Filled with wisdom, I always learn something from them — they’re so on target. Your latest “Gifts to town government” left me smiling at your deadpan humor. Please keep writing and sharing your insights.
Ginny O’Brien, Garden Road
Setting the historical record straight
To the editor: I want to thank you for including
LETTErS POLIC y
The Current welcomes letters to the editor and strives to represent a range of viewpoints on our opinion pages. Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. Letters over the word limit may be returned to the writer for editing.
If I’m doing the math right (and that’s a big if given I don’t completely understand the instructions) my life path number and my heart’s desire number are both nine, the same as 2025.
god of optimism that this new book will take one year, not 13 as the last one did, to complete.
After perusing the Hindustan Times, I came across an article on numerology in that other literary provocateur of deep thought, Cosmopolitan magazine. In April 2024, writer Kerry Ward noted, numerology’s “basic principle is that the universe is a system and once broken down, we are left with the basic elements — numbers. Everything comes back to numbers.”
“No matter,” she writes, “which type of numerology number you’re calculating (such as numbers based on birthdate or letters in your name which are given a numeric value) the general rule is that you continue adding numbers together until you get to a single digit, with 11 and 22 also being significant. Each number profile has a different meaning, personality, influence, and impact.”
If I’m doing the math right (and that’s a big if given I don’t completely understand the instructions) my life path number and my heart’s desire number are both nine, the same as 2025.
According to Cosmo, that means all good things about my ebbing and flowing and passions and embracing of the cycles, and my purpose, which boiled down, the numbers say, is helping others. Too general, you say? Could apply to anyone? I say, we could use a few more nines around here.
As for me, numerology-wise, I’m all in. To paraphrase Jerry Maguire’s line to Dorothy in the 1996 film, “2025, you complete me.”
A member of the Marblehead Current’s Board of Directors, Virginia Buckingham is the former chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Port Authority, chief of staff to two Massachusetts governors, deputy editorial page editor for the Boston Herald and author of “On My Watch: A Memoir.”
my father in the recent article by Will Dowd entitled, “In Memoriam: Marblehead’s Notable Deaths of 2024.”
Donald W. Gardner Jr. led a varied and notable life, but unfortunately the “fact” highlighted — that he headed Jimmy Carter’s primary campaign in Massachusetts — was incorrect. No fault of the writer as it was in the obituary — an obituary written by committee, in a hurry and without a thorough fact check.
The truth: Don Gardner was initially hired by the fledgling Carter campaign to run the Boston office. Once the campaign went nationwide, professionals were brought in and Don took a supporting role. My dad loved to
Writers may be given more leeway to criticize national political candidates and other public figures. However, in all cases, letter writers should refrain from name calling and personal attacks and instead focus on the substance of matters of public concern.
Letter writers may be asked to substantiate claims that do not relate to information previously published in the Current.
While we will make every effort to let writers have their say, we reserve the right not to publish letters.
tell the story of hastily cleaning his old Volvo in order to pick Mrs. Carter up at the airport. Mrs. Carter was ill-prepared for the New England cold, and the Volvo’s heater was overtaxed, so my father lent her his coat and gloves as he drove her to an event.
Why make this correction now? As did my father, I love American history and I love learning history through genealogy ... it irks me to think this misstatement will continue to be perpetuated (once on the internet, always on the internet) so this correction will now be there too.
Thank you!
Rebecca Gardner Paseo Real, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Letters must include:
The author’s name. Unsigned letters and form letters will not be published. The name of the street on which the author lives in Marblehead. Only the street name will be published next to the author’s name – not their full address. The author’s daytime/cell phone number for verification purposes (not publication).
Letters must be received by our newsroom directly from their writers (for special circumstances, contact the newsroom). Email submissions to info@marbleheadnews.org or use the submission form found at marbleheadcurrent. org/letters. Some letters may be shared to social media. We will share a wide array of viewpoints.
Letters must be received by noon on Friday in order to be printed in the following week’s print edition.
Upcoming Health & Wellness Fair to feature 29 vendors, raffle prizes
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Are any of your New Year’s resolutions related to health or fitness? Then you might want to check out the Health & Wellness Fair, sponsored by the Board of Health, on Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Jacobi Community Center.
Twenty-nine wellnessrelated businesses will be there running programs and talking about health and fitness. Every resident who attends will be entered to win dozens of raffle prizes ranging from Bruins tickets, to free classes and memberships, to a Transfer Station sticker.
BOH member Tom McMahon is the force behind the event.
“Physical and mental health trends are heading in the wrong direction, and the consequences are massive,” McMahon told the Current. “I think a lot of people don’t realize just how many options there are in our Marblehead community to get help, or for residents to help themselves.”
McMahon continued, “The variety of options is also very robust, which is important since there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, the goal of this event is simple to connect residents with local vendors who specialize in the areas of health and wellness to help improve their lives and open doors that they didn’t know existed.”
Asked about the variety of vendors who will attend, McMahon said, “You can find something for everyone, whether it be a local gym like the YMCA with all its programs and equipment for all ages, a topshelf jujitsu studio or pointing
out the programs provided for seniors at the Council on Aging.
In addition, we have some vendors that focus directly on mental health, which over the past four years has really shown to be an issue. On top of that, there are other, more niche vendors around the idea of overall wellness.”
‘When bodies move, great
things happen’
Lighthouse Fitness owner and Council on Aging fitness instructor Kim Crowley will be there. She has helped McMahon organize the fair.
“Many factors, including prohibitive cost, busy work schedules and excessive social media usage contribute to a lack of movement in all age ranges,”
Crowley said. “What we know is that when bodies move, great things happen. We can prevent cardiovascular disease, improve sleep, control stress and greatly change how we feel physically and mentally.”
The Health & Wellness Fair is designed for people of all ages. McMahon hopes it will become an annual event.
Expect higher electronics prices through ’26
BY STEPHEN BACH
The Docs are by no means economic forecasters, but very good at internet research from reputable sources. The following article was written from information gathered from 15 different sources (a complete list is available at thedigitaldocs.com).
Starting in the summer of 2025 (or possibly earlier), shoppers should brace for higher prices on computers, smartphones and other electronics. New tariffs planned by the government will make imported electronics more expensive, which means many of
these costs will be passed on to consumers.
How much will prices rise?
The increase will vary by product. Basic electronics like budget laptops, entry-level smartphones and affordable tablets will likely see the steepest price jumps, rising by 10% to 20%. Mid-range products like quality smartphones and tablets could see price hikes between 5% and 15%. Even highend devices like top laptops and flagship smartphones will feel the impact with price increases of around 5% to 10%.
Why are tariffs causing prices to go up?
Most of our electronics come from countries that will be affected by these new tariffs. When manufacturers pay more to import parts or finished products, they pass that cost on to shoppers. Companies will look for ways to cut costs, but finding new factories outside
tariffed regions takes time. Switching production locations is expensive and involves a lot of planning. So, we may not see relief until well after mid-2026.
What does this mean for shoppers?
For many, this means deciding whether to pay more or hold off on upgrades. Some consumers may choose to wait on buying new devices, hoping that prices will level off. Others may look for deals on older models or shop during sales.
When will prices settle down?
By 2026, companies may start adjusting their supply chains to
reduce costs. However, even by mid-2026, prices likely won’t drop back to where they were before the tariffs. Instead, shoppers can expect prices to stay stable but higher than what they’re used to. In short, new tariffs mean that tech won’t get cheaper anytime soon. From basic gadgets to high-end devices, electronics prices are set to rise and stay high, at least for the next few years. If you’re in the market for a new laptop or smartphone, it might be wise to buy now, before prices climb further. Happy and safe computing!
Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Board of Health member Tom McMahon, lower right, at Form 01945, one of 29 fitness-related vendors that will be at the Health & Wellness Fair.
BOH member Tom McMahon, top left, at Tread Tabata with owner Kathy Glabicky.
Marblehead library director to help name nation’s best children’s book
BY WILL DOWD
Abbot Public Library Director Kimberly Grad has been named to the 2026 Randolph Caldecott Award Selection Committee.
The committee selects the most distinguished American picture book for children published in the preceding year. Grad will help evaluate books for one of children’s literature’s highest honors.
A Salem resident with extensive experience in children’s literature, Grad served on the 2022 Newbery Award Selection Committee and the Newbery 100th Anniversary Celebration Task Force. She moved to Massachusetts in 2021 from Brooklyn Public Library, where she specialized in youth services.
The Caldecott Committee operates under the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, where Grad has been an active member serving on various book award selection committees.
A Salem
Kimberly
and
help determine the most distinguished American picture book of the year as a 2026 Randolph Caldecott
picture. While total revenue estimates are expected to reach approximately $106.1 million, projected expenditures of about $108 million would create a $1.85 million deficit. It could grow to $7.7 million by FY 2028 without intervention.
Marblehead households have seen both income growth and increasing costs in recent years. While 42% of Marblehead households, or approximately 3,432 of the town’s 8,172 households, earn more than $200,000 annually, 31%, or about 2,533 households, earn less than $100,000. The town’s senior population, now representing about 34% of residents, or approximately 6,919 of the town’s 20,350 residents, faces particular challenges on fixed incomes amid escalating costs.
Inflation eating into earnings
The Consumer Price Index for the Northeast region shows a 3.5% year-over-year increase
“She understood people, she understood right from wrong. She just did her job. You never worried about her decisions.”
Moore began as a guidance counselor at the Village School before becoming principal of Veterans Middle School, where she served for six years until her retirement in 2011. During her tenure, she helped transform the old high school building into what became Veterans Middle School, creating what colleagues described as a vibrant learning environment for grades 7-8.
“She was unmatched in her ability to accurately and skillfully communicate with students, teachers and parents,” said Lynne Breed, who worked with Moore during her time as guidance counselor. “Her calming presence coupled with her high level of education created a wonderful atmosphere for the entire school. She made a huge difference in the lives of so many children and gave them the encouragement and support they needed to make informed and appropriate decisions during very stressful events.”
Throughout her time as a counselor, Moore worked to bridge the gap between school and home.
“How all the parents loved her as a guidance counselor,” said Penny Blaisdell, who headed the Parent Teacher Association at the Village School in the 1980s.
“She embraced parent input and came to every PTA meeting I headed. She encouraged parents
in prices, with housing costs rising 5.2% and energy services up 7.4%. For self-employed residents like Fox, health insurance premiums have reached around $2,000 monthly for family coverage.
“Inflation has really eaten into real earnings, leaving most Marbleheaders feeling more vulnerable,” said Select Board member Moses Grader. “The 50% of residents earning less than the median income are more sensitive than ever to any marginal tax dollar increases to their home budgets.”
Beyond inflation and escalating costs, Grader also points to insufficient documentation as a key factor in the recent override rejections, particularly in school budget requests.
“Net school spending has increased about 45% in the past 10 years from 2014-2024 — about twice the cumulative level of municipal operating expenditures over the same period,” Grader said. This growth occurred despite enrollment declining 22%, from 3,239 to 2,617 students, he notes. Meanwhile, Marblehead’s
available free cash for FY 2026 is likely to exceed initial projections of $5 million. The town starts with $2.2 million carried over from last year’s free cash certification, plus $2.4 million in newly earned interest income due to higher-thanexpected rates. Leftover funds from other town departments are expected to increase the total further.
Free cash creates a complex dynamic — while the additional funds could help address immediate budget gaps, officials note that best municipal finance practices recommend maintaining combined free cash and reserves at 8-12% of the budget.
Whether these higher-thanexpected free cash levels might forestall the need for a general override remains unclear.
Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin has indicated the town may not need an override this year due to the additional revenue sources, but Select Board members say it’s too early to make that determination.
“What Marblehead residents have asked for is transparency,”
to talk about their careers so our kids could appreciate and even consider their future lives.”
Her leadership style combined strong administrative skills with deep personal investment in student success. One of her most significant contributions was creating the “Headers in History” program for eighthgraders, which later expanded into a community-wide initiative called Marblehead Spirit Day. The program brought together students, educators and community members to explore and celebrate local history.
“With those bright sparkling
eyes, beautiful smile and calm professional demeanor you would do anything for her. She was a good listener and a lifelong learner,” said Christine Nuccio, who knew Moore for over 25 years.
‘A passionate supporter and friend’
After retiring from education in 2011, Moore deepened her community involvement, serving on the Marblehead Museum’s Board of Directors from 2012 onward and volunteering at MHTV’s award-winning show, “Up for Discussion.” She
Benjamin has told the Marblehead Current. “We need to show them we’re looking at every possible avenue before we ask for anything.”
A clearer picture is expected to emerge at the State of the Town presentation in late January or early February. If officials do decide to pursue an override, they emphasize the importance of early notification to allow time for public education about the need.
Facts over feelings
Fox, Grader and Benjamin emphasize that any future override proposal must demonstrate long-term sustainability.
“When we come to the town for a general override, we have to present something that shows we’re not going to be coming back for at least five years,” Fox said.
The town’s voting history suggests residents will support specific, well-documented funding requests. Grader pointed to successful debtexclusion overrides for school projects as evidence.
joined the Marblehead Garden Club, helped maintain the Lee Mansion Garden and continued to champion local history education.
“She was a passionate supporter and friend,” said Lauren McCormack, executive director of the Marblehead Museum. “She worked tirelessly alongside Don Doliber to bring Marblehead’s unique and important history to life every year for eighth-grade students ... We will greatly miss her passion, vitality, optimism and joy.”
Town Moderator Jack Attridge worked with Moore on the Marblehead Museum board.
“Libby’s experience, tenacity and willingness to lead by example made every interest that she undertook better because of her involvement,” he said.
Her commitment to helping others extended into various aspects of community life.
When a former student suffered a tragic accident in 2014, she established a fund at the National Grand Bank to support the family’s medical expenses, demonstrating her ongoing care for her former students and their families.
Larry Sands, who worked with Moore on various community projects, spoke to her unique ability to inspire others.
“She was so enthusiastic and supportive that no one she engaged in a project wanted to be the one to let her down. Her focus was always on making everything she undertook educational, memorable and fun.”
“Marbleheaders spent $85 million of $140 million in capital expenditures for our new schools over the last decade,” he said. “Each school went through extensive public documentation, detailed data and financial analysis, and strong oversight by local capital committees and the state’s MSBA (Massachusetts School Building Authority), which provided high levels of accountability and comfort to the taxpayers.”
The contrast between school construction approvals and operating budget rejections is telling.
“I believe that if the school and municipal budgets are treated with the same rigor as building projects, then overrides are likely to pass,” Grader said. Grader cautioned against emotional appeals in general override campaigns.
“The use of highly emotive and catastrophizing language from leaders in past override [campaigns] were unnecessary and simply damaged the credibility of the effort with many taxpayers,” he said.
Throughout her time as a counselor, Moore worked to bridge the gap between school and home.
A lasting legacy
She shared 46 years of marriage with her husband, Spencer Moore, who served as co-president of the Marblehead Counseling Center board. Together they raised three children: Jamie Walters, Adam Moore and Elizabeth Liu. She delighted in her role as grandmother to eight grandchildren, ranging in age from 7 months to 26 years old at the time of her passing.
“She was happiest when she was with her family and her grandchildren, sitting on the floor and playing with them,” Adam Moore said.
Her legacy lives on in the Elizabeth L. Moore Courtyard at Veterans Middle School, dedicated upon her retirement in 2011.
“Because of her breadth of involvement in Marblehead, Libby’s legacy will have many iterations. That by itself is a remarkable legacy,” Attridge reflected. “For me, her legacy will be as a role model for all ages through leading with friendship, kindness and a wonderful community spirit.”
The family has requested that donations in Moore’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association to support research toward finding a cure.
From P. A1
Moore
From P. A1
resident
children’s literature expert, Abbot Public Library Executive Director
Grad will
Award Selection Committee member.
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO / THE MOORE FAMILY
Libby Moore, a beloved educator and community leader who dedicated 28 years to enriching the lives of students and residents in Marblehead, passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 79.
Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Leigh Blander
Designing for the America’s Cup Team
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7-8:30 p.m.
Recently back from 2024 America’s Cup races, JB Braun and his wife, Kelley, will discuss what goes into designing America Cup sails, having designed for several winning teams. The program is free and open to all. Marblehead Yacht Club, 4 Cliff St. RSVP at marbleheadyc.org.
Game day
Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
St. Andrew’s Church, 135 Lafayette St., is hosting a game day with a free pizza lunch. Come play games like Pathfinder (similar to Dungeons & Dragons), Magic the Gathering and classic board games like Monopoly and Uno. All ages welcome.
Christine Lucas live at The Landing
Thursday, Jan. 9, 7-9 p.m.
Come out to The Landing Restaurant for live music in the old pub. Christine Lucas starts playing at 7 p.m. 81 Front St.
Dungeons & Dragons character creation workshop
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7-8:30 p.m.
Come create a Dungeons & Dragons character with a professional dungeon master danger wizard. Learn how to navigate the D&D rules, numbers and all the details that make your hero come to life. Use this character in your own game at home or in the upcoming minicampaign to be hosted
Log cabin quilting:
Crafting tradition, one block at a time
Monday, Jan. 13, 6-8 p.m.
Start the new year by creating a beautiful quilt using four, 12-inch log cabin blocks. Basic familiarity with a sewing machine, seam allowance and some sewing experience is helpful. This program focuses on cutting and piecing
a lap quilt. While tying the quilt top will be the goal within the class time, your quilt will be ready for hand or machine quilting. Registration is required and limited to 10 attendants. Plan to attend all five sessions at Abbot Library. This program is free, but participants will need to purchase their own fabric after the first session. For questions before the first class, please contact the library at wsueker@noblenet.org.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Me&Thee Music will reopen on Friday, Feb. 7 to kick off its 2025 winter-spring season with the upbeat music of Puerto Rico and the Emmy-nominated Fabiola Méndez Trop. Méndez was recently named Lartin Artist of the Year, performed at Carnegie Hall and headlined a Christmas special on WGBH-TV. She is an alumna of Berkley College of Music.
On Feb. 28, last year’s New England Music Awards
Performer of the Year Sarah Blacker and the Light will take the Me&Thee stage. Urban folk, country and blues artists Porch Party Mamas will debut at the Me&Thee on March 7 with a night of original songs on guitar, piano, accordion, fiddle and percussion.
A special night is planned March 21, as Don White and Hayley Reardon will appear together for the Me&Thee’s 55th anniversary concert. White and Reardon have been great friends for years and have both nurtured and developed their musical careers on this historic Marblehead stage. Grammy nominee Guy Davis
brings his traditional blues, roots and world music to the Me&Thee on April 4. He’s played all over the world alongside Pete Seeger, Bruce Springsteen, Kris Kristofferson, Taj Mahal, Keb
Mo, John Denver and others. Coming later in the spring will be the return of the Jon Pousette-Dart Acoustic Duo on April 25 and Heather Maloney on May 2. John Gorka will close the season on May 16. Tickets for all concerts are on sale at meandthee.org. Tickets are also available at Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St. No phone orders are accepted, and
The Marblehead Arts
no other ticket websites are authorized.
Doors always open at 7:15 p.m., and the music begins shortly after 8 p.m.
Me&Thee is an all-volunteer, nonprofit arts organization at the UU Church, 28 Mugford St. Freshly baked desserts, mulled cider, coffee, tea and seltzers are available before the shows and during intermission.
later this month for teens. Open to all ages, no experience is necessary.
Abbot Library, 235 Pleasant St.
Fabiola Méndez will perform at Me&Thee Feb. 7.
2024 New England Music Awards Performer of the Year Sarah Blacker and the Light will perform Feb. 28.
COURTESY PHOTOS Urban folk, country and blues artists Porch Party Mamas will debut at the Me&Thee on March 7.
to see how many people rallied behind the cause. We’re really full of gratitude.”
The event raised more than $9,000 to fund research into how cystic fibrosis can cause cancers, and how they can be prevented and treated.
Beth Israel Lahey Hospital doctors Dipak Panigrahy and Steve Freedman are leading the way with new research that they hope can lead to big advancements in the fight against cystic fibrosis. They both did the Devereux plunge.
“What’s exciting is that this model is now going to allow us to test over the next few months the potential treatments that will prevent and hopefully treat these cancers,” said Freedman. “We’re making major strides.”
They were especially excited to see the community turning out to support them in their efforts, even though it was a busy holiday.
“It almost brought me to tears to see the outpouring of support from people who could be doing anything else that’s more fun on New Year’s day,” said Freedman. “But instead they were there to support what we’re doing.”
Others thought the plunge that it was also a valuable way to strengthen the Marblehead community and bring people together
“It was powerful,” said Steiner. “I think watching people of all ages run into that cold water together, knowing that they were doing it all for a common cause, just created this great sense of unity.”
Sports
Freshmen, sophomores take center stage
By Joe McConnell
The Northeastern Conference indoor track newbies closed out the 2024 calendar year with the annual NEC Freshman/ Sophomore meet at Gloucester High on Dec. 30. From first impressions, it appears that the Marblehead program is in good shape for the foreseeable future. Both boys and girls teams finished second overall in this always-competitive meet.
The Marblehead girls (56) finished second to Peabody (99), followed by Swampscott (59), Danvers (49), Masconomet (36), Gloucester (36), Saugus (31), Beverly (13), Winthrop (0) and Salem (0).
The Marblehead boys (89) barely missed coming in first, while being eked out by Swampscott (93), followed by Peabody (52), Masconomet (38), Danvers (25), Gloucester (22), Beverly (17), Salem (14), Saugus (10) and Winthrop (7).
“Despite a small roster due to vacation, the boys team still finished second, while the girls team also finished second,” said coach Nolan Raimo. “It was a competitive meet with a lot of great performances, and this is a great sign for the future of the track program.”
Boys high jump
Freshman Clark Roszell had one of the best efforts of the season, clearing 5-8, a personal best, to finish second. “Clark began jumping this season for the first time after enjoying success in the long sprints during his middle school career,” said Raimo.
Noah Smerka (5-4) was fourth. Noah Vanden Heuvel (5-2) ended up right behind him in fifth. Owen Coyne (5-0”) came in seventh after returning from injury that sidelined him for a few weeks.
Girls shot put
Sophomore Naomi Goodwin threw 21-10 to finish 11th.
Freshman Sarah Heenan (18-1, a 10-inch personal best) was close behind in 13th place.
Boys shot put
Sophomore Logan McRaeHughes (36-4.75, personal best)
Garden
was the only Marblehead boy in this event, but that didn’t deter him from making it to the finals and coming in fourth.
Girls long jump
Freshman Cate Cole (1311) ended up eighth. Cole is a versatile track athlete, who has already competed in the long jump, triple jump, 55-meter hurdles and high jump.
party
MHS girls varsity basketball heading to Boston next month
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Marblehead High School varsity girls basketball is Boston bound, playing Saugus at the TD Garden on Saturday, Jan 11, 11:30 a.m. The game is part of the Lawson Invitational. This is the first time the MHS girls basketball team has played in the tournament. MHS boys competed last year. Tickets are $25 each, and all proceeds go to the Lawson Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at https://loom.ly/ Llkuwcw. A post-game celebration is being planned. The Lawson Invitation is named in memory of Andrew James Lawson, a young man with Down syndrome who passed away from cancer. Lawson was a passionate athlete who
Boys long jump
Ryan Corrigan (19-9, personal best) bested the entire field. Noah Jackson (18-9.5) secured a third-place finish. Oscar Galante (17-4) made it to the finals, while making his debut to end up seventh overall. Ethan Harwood (17-3) was close behind in eighth. Noah Wilson (15-10) finished 12th.
Girls 55-meter hurdles Cole (11.36) qualified for the finals with a time of 11.46, and then bested that time to finish sixth. Faith Apostolopoulos (13.23) ended up 11th.
Boys 55-meter hurdles Noah Jackson set a modernday meet record in this event with a final time of 8.63 to top
BY JOE MCCONNELL
NAME: Sadie Halpern
AGE: 16
FAMILY: Parents: Zach and Ali; sibling: twin brother Jared
SCHOOL YEAR: Junior
SPORTS YOU PLAY: Track and soccer
FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY: My favorite sport is track, because of the environment and competitiveness.
MOST MEMORABLE MEET FOR YOU, AND WHY: The 2023 Division 3 state championship meet, because my relay team of Ava Machado, Charlie Roszell, Ledaisha Williams and I won the 4x4 relay state title on that day. PLANS FOR AFTER
MAJOR: Undecided
all competitors. “Noah did not run indoor track last year, but he found tremendous success in the 110-meter hurdles last spring as a freshman in his first track season,” said Raimo. “For historical reference, Alex Hersey, who holds the 110-meter hurdle school record, ran a 9.03 as a sophomore, before setting a personal best time of 7.79 as a senior, while I ran an 8.53 as a sophomore and continued on to run 7.69 as a senior.”
Girls 55-meter dash
Junior Sadie Halpern’s meet record of 7.62 fell to Tess Ryan of Danvers (7.60), while Lucy Flynn (7.65, personal best) finished a close second. Lidia Jasmine Tiedra (8.43) just missed the finals in 11th place. Audrey Faverman (8.69) was 16th, followed by Camryn O’Brien (8.80, 19th), Ella O’Brien (8.90, 23rd), Catherine Sahagian (9.00, 25th), Elise Rowland (9.05, 29th) and Sasha Gardella 9.24, 23rd).
Boys 55-meter dash Corrigan (6.88, personal best) lost to Zachary Dunn of Danvers (6.87) by the slimmest
COURTESY PHOTOS / CHARLIE ROSZELL Marblehead High sophomore Ethan Harwood jumps into the long jump pit during the annual NEC Freshman/Sophomore meet in Gloucester on Dec. 30.
Marblehead High freshman runner Sasha Gardella participates in the 55-meter dash during the annual NEC Freshman/Sophomore Meet in Gloucester on Dec. 30.
First Magicians weekly notebook for 2025
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Boys hockey struggles with attitude to maintain winning edge
After the New Year’s Day game against non-league Hopkinton at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, the Marblehead High boys hockey team (5-1-1) had exceeded its record by a wide margin from a year ago, when they were a subpar 1-6. The Hopkinton game ended up in a 2-2 tie.
Heading into the holiday season, the Hockey Headers edged Danvers in overtime, 3-2 on Dec. 23. They were then allover non-league Medford the day after Christmas, 7-2, but ended up losing to Medfield the very next night, 3-1.
Senior captain Leo Burdge was once again stellar in net in these four contests, making 25 stops against the Falcons, 27 more versus Medford, 34 in the Medfield game and 30 versus Hopkinton.
But despite continued success in the early going, coach Mark Marfione knows that they can
of margins to finish second.
Sophomore David Magen (7.12, personal best) finished fourth, and his classmate Ethan Harwood (7.21, personal best) was a close fifth. All three Marblehead sprinters also qualified for the NEC Meet next month, where only the top 36 make it in each event.
Harrison Carpiento (7.46) narrowly missed the finals to finish ninth. Newcomer Owen Coyne (7.47), who has not practiced the last three weeks due to injury, was 10th. Noah Smerka (7.60, 13th), Noah Wilson (7.63, 14th), Vincenzo Vorn (7.74, 15th ) Galante (7.82, 18th), Luke Guevara (8.24, 26th), Chafik Khellad (8.38, 29th) and Max Kane (8.60, 34th) rounded out the field.
Girls mile
Evelina Beletsky (6:29.88)
Wednesday, Jan. 8
6:30 p.m., wrestling, multiple schools, Marblehead High
7:30 p.m., boys hockey, Medford, Salem State University
Thursday, Jan. 9
4:30 p.m., boys and girls indoor track, Masconomet, Gloucester High
6:30 p.m., girls basketball, Swampscott, Swampscott High
7 p.m., boys basketball, Swampscott, Marblehead High
Friday, Jan. 10
7 p.m., swimming/diving, Masconomet, Gordon College, Beverly
Saturday, Jan. 11
7:30 a.m., wrestling, TBA, Pelham High
11:30 a.m., girls basketball, Saugus, TD Garden, Boston
Noon, swimming/diving, NEC League, Peabody-Lynnfield YMCA
play even better. “We did not play well against Medfield and Hopkinton,” said Marfione. “We got away from the details of the game that we definitely need to fix.”
Captain Crew Monaco led the way on offense against Medford with two goals. London McDonald accounted for the overtime game-winning goal in the Danvers game.
‘We did not play particularly well against Danvers,” said coach Marfione, “but we got lucky.
“We then played terribly against both Medfield and Hopkinton. The effort we put forth in both of these games wasn’t enough to beat any team,” added Marfione. “The only guy who came to play in all these games was Leo (Burdge).
“We got off to a winning start in those games, but then the kids only wanted to do the fun parts of hockey. They forgot about the work and sacrifice it took that led us to our early success. In our last two games against Medfield and Hopkinton, the only thing they wanted to do
finished fourth, and Thea Shaw (6:57.51) was eighth.
Boys mile
Victor Pechhold (5:26.60) was the lone Marblehead miler, and he finished a respectable seventh, according to Raimo. “He was also the second freshman finisher in this meet. Victor has had an impressive start to his rookie indoor campaign, and has a ton of potential. He’s shown a lot of grit so far, which will benefit him even more as his fitness improves with training,” the coach added.
Girls 300
Phoebe Fontela-Tuttle (49.52, personal best) continued her successful freshman campaign with a sixth-place finish. Emily Zisson (51.74, personal best) finished 10th overall, fourth among the freshmen. Sarah Heenan (56.64, 24th personal best) was 24th.
2:30 p.m., boys hockey, Gloucester, Salem State University
7:15 p.m., swimming/diving, Gloucester, Cape Ann YMCA, Gloucester
Wednesday, Jan. 15
4:30 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, multiple schools, Swampscott High
6:30 p.m., wrestling, Salem, Marblehead High gym
7 p.m., boys hockey, Methuen, Methuen High
7:30 p.m., girls hockey,
was breakaways, stretch passes and goal celebrations, and leave all of the hard work to our defensemen and Leo.”
Boys basketball begins 2025 with loss
The Marblehead High boys basketball team (3-2) got back to work last Friday night against host Masco after taking the last two weeks off for the holidays. They ended up on the short end of the scoreboard to the Chieftains, 60-52. The last time prior to the Masco contest that the Magicians suited up was for a 76-72 victory over host Saugus on Dec. 19.
“We started out a little slowly (against Masco), and ended the
Boys 300
Sophomore Eben Weed (42.47) ran an outstanding race on a flat 150-meter track to finish second, and his classmate Jack Franklin (42.87) came in fourth.
Girls 600
Maggie Miller (1:50.67, onesecond second personal best) and Norah Walsh (1:57.78) picked up a huge 14 points for the team with their second and third place finishes, respectively.
Girls 1,000
Sarah Munroe had a monster performance in one of the most exciting races of the day. Munroe’s time of 3:20.45 was a massive 14-second personal best that qualified her for the Division 3 state championship meet next month. She ended up second in this meet.
Ivana Nguyen (3:57.87, fifth) continued to show improvement to come in fifth.
Masconomet, Salem State University
Thursday, Jan. 16
6:30 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton
3 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, MSTCA Relay, Reggie Lewis Track, Roxbury
Monday, Jan. 20
TBD, gymnastics, Hamilton-Wenham, Iron Rail Gymnastics Academy, Wenham
Tuesday, Jan. 21
7 p.m., girls basketball, Winthrop, Marblehead High gym
same way, but we still played hard and fought the entire way,” said coach Mike Giardi.
The Magicians were let by the two Finns — Gallup (19) and Baron (21) — who scored 40 of the team’s 52 points.
Gallup got most of his points in transition or at the line. Sam Thompson had five points.
Jordan McFarlane netted four. Cam Quigley chipped in with two. Adam Loughlin buried one free throw.
“(Gallup’s) aggressiveness also led our defense, and kept us in the fight,” said Giardi. “We are playing well, but we need to learn how to finish.”
Coach takes blames in loss to Masco to begin new year
The Marblehead High girls basketball team (3-1) started the season with three straight wins, but they haven’t played for over two weeks, because of the holidays. Their last game prior to last Friday night’s 53-21 loss to visiting Masco was a 40-24 win over host Beverly on Dec. 17. But coach Paul Moran isn’t
Boys 1,000
Felix Regnault (3:05, third, 10-second personal best), Jack Conley (3:40.58, 10th, fivesecond personal best) and Owen Harrison (3:42.17, 12th) did quite well in their first races of the season, according to coach Will Herlihy.
Girls two-mile Jesslyn Roemer (13:14.19, second) was the lone Marblehead representative, and she did quite well to end up running among the best.
Girls 4x200
Lidia Jasmine Tiedra, Catherine Sahagian, Audrey Faverman and Phoebe FontelaTuttle (2:07.87) teamed up to finish fifth. Ella O’Brien, Sasha Gardella, Elise Rowland and Faith Apostolopoulos (2:14.88) were eighth.
7 p.m., boys basketball, Winthrop, Winthrop High
7:30 p.m., girls hockey, Bishop Fenwick, Salem State University
Wednesday, Jan. 22
4:10 p.m., girls hockey, Newton North, John Ryan Arena, Watertown
5:30 p.m., wrestling, Beverly, Beverly High
6:15 p.m., swimming/diving, Swampscott, JCC of the North Shore, Marblehead
7:55 p.m., boys hockey, Masconomet, Valley Forum, Haverhill
Thursday, Jan. 23
4:30 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, Saugus, Gloucester High School
blaming the loss on the layoff, instead he’s pointing the finger at himself.
“Our kids played their hearts out, but I did a horrible job preparing them for the game,” Moran said, “and I’m embarrassed by it.
“I thought (Masco) would come out and play a 1-3-1 zone defense, but instead they employed a man-to-man defense from the start,” Moran added. “The kids fought hard in an attempt to adjust to it, but Masco has good athletes, and were able to maintain their big early lead throughout.”
One day after Moran was admittedly outcoached, they were back on the court for a 90-minute practice that went very well, the coach said. The Magicians were getting ready for host Peabody on Monday night (Jan. 6) after press deadline. Following that game, they will be at Swampscott to face the Big Blue Jan.9, starting at 6:30 p.m., before coming home to host Saugus Saturday morning at 11:30 a.m.
Boys 4x200
Ryan Corrigan, Harrison Carpineto, Jack Franklin and Ethan Harwood (1:47.28) came out on top.
The foursome of Noah Wilson, Chafik Khelladi, Vincenzo Vourn and Owen Coyne were unfortunately disqualified due to a lane violation, according to Raimo. “But this squad of new runners still put together a quality race and were competitive alongside our top team,” the coach added.
Girls 4x400
Sarah Munroe, Norah Walsh, Lucy Flynn and Maggie Miller (4:31.21) ran an impressive second.
Boys 4x400
Clark Roszell, David Magen, Noah Jackson and Victor Pechhold (4:14.21) finished third.
Diving Championships, PeabodyLynnfield YMCA
7 p.m., girls basketball, Beverly, Marblehead High
7 p.m., boys basketball, Beverly, Beverly High
Saturday, Jan. 25
8 a.m., wrestling, multiple schools, Triton Regional High
10 a.m., girls and boys indoor track, MSTCA State Coaches Invitational, Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury
1 p.m., boys hockey, Winthrop, Larsen Arena, Winthrop
3 p.m., swimming/diving, NEC League, YMCA Sterling Center, Beverly
6 p.m., girls hockey, Newburyport, Salem State University
Monday, Jan. 27
7 p.m., girls basketball, Masconomet, Masconomet Regional High
7 p.m., boys basketball, Masconomet, Marblehead High
Neil Ryan Collins, 61
Neil Ryan Collins, 61, of Marblehead, died on Jan. 3. Neil was born and raised in Reading, the son of the late Robert and Virginia (Ryan) Collins. Neil was a graduate of Belmont Hill School and Boston College. Neil established a successful career in finance and was the owner of Marblehead Capital, where he took great pleasure in building lasting relationships with his clients. Neil loved living in
Samuel Shoer, 98
Samuel Shoer was born in Salem July 27, 1926, the ninth of the 10 children born to Sarah and Mandel Shoer, a family that now has 124 descendants over four generations. He passed peacefully at his son Brian and daughter-in-law Diane’s home in Marblehead on Saturday Jan. 4. He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 63 years, Selma (Kaplowitch) Shoer, whose handbag he was often seen carrying for her in her later years.
Marblehead and cherished his tight-knit community of friends. He coached youth baseball and was a member of the Dolphin
Sam, or Sammy, as his late siblings, friends, nieces and nephews and their children called him, was a proud World War II Naval veteran. He served aboard the USS Braxton, a troop
Yacht Club and could often be found holding court at Three Cod and The Pickled Onion, where his presence always brought warmth and laughter. Neil was passionate about his family, playing the piano, sports and politics. Whether skiing down the slopes or enjoying a round of golf, Neil just loved spending time with his family and friends and was always eager to share his knowledge with unsolicited tips. His undeniable talent on the piano brought joy to those around him, as he effortlessly entertained and brightened the room with his
and supply transport ship, that was among the first to ferry troops to Japan a few short weeks after the second bomb dropped.
He is survived by his three sons and families, including five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
They include son Michael Shoer and wife Pamela Jameson of Atlanta, Georgia; former wife Susan of Delray Beach, Florida, and their children Alex Shoer and Liz Fachler, married to Adam, parents of greatgranddaughter Emery and greatgrandson Rowan; son Brian Shoer of Marblehead, whose wife Diane was Sam’s primary
music. Neil loved to debate any topic someone dared to raise. His quick wit, keen observations, strong opinions and deep knowledge on all subjects were unsurpassed. His infectious smile, friendship and especially his love will be greatly missed. Neil was a devoted spouse, father, brother and friend. Neil leaves his wife Lisa (Stoloff), his children Aidan of Northfield, New Hampshire, and Sophie of Boston. Neil is also survived by his siblings Patricia Collins of Falls Church, Virginia, Michael Collins of Irvine, California, Peter Collins of Reading,
caregiver the past three years, and their son Jacob; son Howard Shoer and wife Stacey of Miami, Florida, the parents of grandsons Mack Shoer and Carter Shoer.
In addition, he is survived by Averi, Noah and Jared Kaplowitch whom Sam and Selma loved and cherished as bonus grandchildren, and great nephew Daniel Maas who was with Sam as a companion for so much of the past three years.
Sam was also predeceased by his brothers Leo (Sylvia), Irving (Jenny), William (Jennie), Paul (Sylvia), Louis (Faith); sisters Ida (Shoer) Goldstein (Sam), Libby (Shoer) Halperin (Meyer), Ruth (Shoer) Rossman and Betty
Kathleen Forelli of Carlisle, Gail Bernardin of Carlisle and Tara Collins Donnelly of Brookline. He was predeceased by his sister Mary McDougall. A service will be held at 11:00 a.m on Saturday, Jan. 11, at Old North Church, 35 Washington St, Marblehead. Charitable contributions in memory of Neil may be made to the Neil Ryan Collins Scholarship Fund at Marblehead Dollars for Scholars (marblehead. dollarsforscholars.org). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.
(Shoer) Feffer (Ben).
Sam loved going out for breakfast, capping each day with ice cream, watching Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics games and reading books about history, especially World War II. He was also a proud active member of Temple Sinai in Marblehead for more than 65 years.
Funeral services are Tuesday, Jan. 7, 11 a.m. at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin St. Salem. Graveside service to follow at Temple Sinai family plot, 16 Buxton Lane, Danvers. For more information or to register in the online guestbook, please visit stanetskyhymansonsalem.com.
Police investigate computer scams, unauthorized entries and missing jewelry
BY WILL DOWD
Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Dec.
5-28, 2024. Consistent with state law, police have adopted a policy of not providing media outlets reports related to incidents involving domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation.
Dec. 5
1:46 p.m. — Officer
Douglas Mills took a report by phone regarding an attempted scam targeting a resident.
The caller received what appeared to be a legitimate email from DocuSign concerning a Norton Antivirus subscription. After calling the provided number with account questions, the caller said scammers requested and obtained remote access to the victim’s computer. The perpetrators created a ruse about duplicate subscriptions costing $299.99 and $399.99, then manipulated the screen to show a false credit of $3,999.99. They attempted to convince the victim to purchase gift cards from CVS as repayment for the supposed error. The resident recognized the scam before any financial loss occurred. Though the victim had logged into online banking while scammers had remote access, no unauthorized transactions were detected. Mills advised the resident to contact their bank about potentially closing the compromised account, place credit freezes with major agencies and maintain vigilant monitoring of all financial accounts.
Dec. 7
4:23 p.m. — Officer
Robert Picariello responded to a missing property report at the
police station. A patron of The Beacon Restaurant on Pleasant Street had left behind a beigeFendi handbag containing approximately $250 cash, multiple credit cards and identification documents. A waitress attempted to locate the owner in the parking lot without success. Management searched three separate safes but could not locate the item. Follow-up investigation by Sgt. Sean Brady on Dec 12 included interviews with restaurant staff and cleaning crews, but the purse remained missing.
Dec. 11
7:11 a.m. — Officer Nicholas Fratini met with a resident at the police station regarding alleged ongoing issues at a Farrell Court apartment complex. The complainant reported that smoke from an upstairs neighbor’s unit was entering their apartment and affecting their health. Fratini contacted housing authorities who agreed to investigate the situation. Housing staff are currently working with the affected resident to address the concern.
2:55 p.m. — Officers Douglas Mills, Mastrangelo and Sweeney responded to Robert Road after a resident observed an unknown person in a black hoodie allegedly entering their home through the front door. A black sedan with multiple rear bumper stickers was seen leaving the area toward main roads. Officers conducted a thorough search of the residence, finding no signs of disturbance. Two interior security cameras were present, and residents were advised to review footage and report any discoveries. All
exterior doors were found unlocked, and officers recommended securing the property.
Dec. 12
5:58 p.m. — Officer
Jason McDonald spoke with a resident at the police station regarding a civil matter on Pond Street. The complainant alleged a neighbor had accessed their mailbox to leave court documents. McDonald explained that leaving such documents in a mailbox did not constitute a crime but documented the incident at the resident’s request.
Dec. 13
1:10 p.m. — Officer
Nicholas Fratini assisted a resident who fell victim to an alleged fraudulent travel documentation scheme. The victim had received what appeared to be an official email regarding a required form and fee for London airport travel. After submitting passport information through a link at “UK-ETA. com,” the resident realized the site was fraudulent. The victim had already taken proactive steps, including contacting the State Department to cancel the compromised passport and notifying AAA and financial institutions about the incident.
3:25 p.m. — Officer
Andrew DiMare met with a resident at the police station regarding an ongoing dispute on Naugus Avenue. The complainant reported concerns about a neighbor’s construction project encroaching on their property and deviating from townapproved plans. Recent interactions had become hostile, including unwanted text messages. Though no direct threats were made, DiMare advised the resident about their right to apply for a harassment prevention order and suggested ceasing direct communication with the neighbor.
Dec. 14
3:10 a.m. — Officer Jason McDonald investigated an alleged unauthorized use of a motor vehicle from Pond Street. The victim’s 2010 Lexus ES350 was taken from their driveway with the key inside. Officers quickly located the vehicle parked on Beacon Street, with skid marks leading from the owner’s driveway, apparently caused by the perpetrator’s inability to disengage the emergency brake. A witness reported seeing a male suspect in a black sweatshirt walking toward Norman Street
around 3:10 a.m. 5:13 p.m. — Officer Robert Picariello responded to Pickwick Road regarding an alleged package theft captured on doorbell camera footage. The homeowner, monitoring remotely while in Florida, observed someone removing two packages from the front steps. Picariello canvassed neighboring properties for additional security footage and interviewed residents. By December 17, follow-up revealed the packages had been collected by an authorized neighbor for safekeeping.
Dec. 15
2 p.m. — Officer Tyler Bates responded to Sewall Street for a motor vehicle collision involving a cyclist. Investigation revealed the cyclist had exited the National Grand Parking Lot and struck the passenger side of a passing vehicle. A witness confirmed the cyclist allegedly failed to stop when leaving the lot. The juvenile cyclist was evaluated by an emergency medical technician and released after proper medical refusal documentation was completed. Bates transported the cyclist home at the parent’s request.
Dec. 16
4:33 p.m. — Officer Dean Peralta took a report of missing jewelry from an apartment on Lee Street. The resident reported the disappearance of several valuable items, including a two-carat oval diamond ring with a one-carat band in 14K white gold and a 14K yellow gold wedding band. The resident noted recent access to the building by an architect, though they hadn’t entered the specific unit. Surveillance footage from a neighbor’s camera revealed no suspicious activity. The case has been forwarded to detectives for further investigation.
Dec. 21
3:28 p.m. — Officer Charles Sweeney took a report of identity fraud at Overlook Road. A resident received mail addressed to “Lillyanna Putnam” at their address and discovered alleged unauthorized activity affecting their credit score. The resident had already notified their bank and filed necessary reports. Sweeney forwarded the case to the Criminal Investigation Division to investigate the unauthorized name. 6:09 p.m. — Officers Andrew DiMare and Dean Peralta responded to
Patrick F. Downing, 79
Patrick Francis Downing, 79, beloved father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in the early hours of Dec. 21. Pat loved to add flare to his stories. His final exit on the winter solstice, amid a snowstorm, seems fitting, marking a symbolic transition from darkness to light and a reminder of the cyclical nature of life.
Pat was born Jan. 15, 1945, in Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland, to John and Mary (Spillane) Downing. In 1954, Pat and his mother left Ireland on a ship destined for America to reunite
Patricia Churchll, 90
with his father in Somerville.
Fiercely grounded in his Irish roots, Pat would take many trips “home” over the years.
Pat graduated from Christopher Columbus High School and received a football scholarship to Northeastern
Sadly, Patti succumbed this past month to the weight of age and a courageous battle with esophageal cancer with which she’d been struggling this past year. She is survived by her cousins Jillian and Gina Chesley of Santa Cruz, California, and a host of devoted friends here on the North Shore and around the world. They all knew her as the lovely, cheerful person that she was and those of us who were
Elizabeth
“Libby” Moore, 79
Elizabeth “Libby” Moore, a beloved presence in every community in which she has taken part throughout her life, passed away on Dec. 29 after a five year journey with Alzheimer’s. She was 79.
Born Elizabeth Lynn Lemmon on Sept. 12, 1945, she grew up in Bexley, Ohio, before moving to Marblehead after attending Ohio State University when
Virginia Jobes Shenkle, 93
Virginia Jobes (Ericson) Shenkle, age 93, of Marblehead and Salem, passed away on December 15, 2024. She was the beloved wife of Phillip Shenkle with whom she shared 20 years of marriage.
Born in Philadelphia, Jinny was the daughter of Allen and Edith (Greene) Jobes. She was the devoted mother of June and James Ericson, and stepmother to Don and Robert Shenkle; the cherished
she was 21 years old. She quickly immersed herself in the community, becoming fully engaged in her garden club, book clubs, church and the
grandmother of Lauren MacLeod, Sarah Ericson, Michael Ericson, Brian Ericson, Beth Shenkle, Abbey Shenkle, Brad Shenkle and Ashley Shenkle Hope. She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Hadley,
OBIT uary POLIC y
The Marblehead Current publishes obituaries online for free and in its print edition for a flat fee of 300.
Submissions or inquiries should be sent to notices@marbleheadnews.org.
From P. A11
Central Street for a disturbance between home healthcare workers. A business owner reported conflict with an employee over work scheduling. The situation was resolved by separating the parties, with one worker voluntarily leaving the premises. Officers ensured the well-being of the elderly client being cared for at the residence.
Dec. 23
2:59 p.m. — Officer Tyler Bates responded to Pond Street for
University, graduating in 1969. After graduation, he found his forever home in Marblehead.
Quick with a joke, a story or a magic trick, his booming laugh filled every room he entered. Pat’s charm and selfconfidence helped pave the way for an accomplished career in business, working for several medical device companies over the years before building his own successful company, Atlantic Coast Medical Devices Inc.
An athlete at heart, Pat was a runner, avid skier and accomplished sailor. He ran an astounding 17 Boston Marathons. On winter weekends, he’d race his kids on the ski slopes or launch them down the
lucky enough to know her will always remember her peaceful presence and the warmth of her smile.
Patti was recruited as a flight attendant years ago by Trans World Airlines and remained in that role for over 35 years. When she started, she shuttled young men back and forth from San Francisco to Okinawa, one of the principal staging grounds for the Vietnam conflict. They all knew the risks they were facing but Patti provided them with that special something that made
Historical Society. After earning her master’s degree at Harvard University, she dedicated her long career to nurturing children and teenagers in her roles as a Marblehead Middle School guidance counselor and then principal of The Veterans Middle School before retiring to spend time with her family. She committed herself to helping others every day and always had the door open to her precious home. She is preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Barbara Lemmon, and her brother, Pat Lemmon. She is survived by her husband Spencer Moore, to whom she was married
Holden and Skyler MacLeod, Leila Shenkle and Merritt Hope.
Jinny grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Rock Hall, Maryland. She graduated from University of Michigan in the class of 1952 with a degree in journalism. She raised her family in Marblehead.
Jinny started her career as a reporter with the Indianapolis News and was the first woman ever hired to their city desk. Jinny wrote three published books with her coauthor regarding sailing which were honored by the U.S. Power Squadron, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Weather Bureau in addition to their being on the Dick Cavett Show. Later she was
hill at Seaside Park in his fourman toboggan. Another favorite sport was whipping around town in his red Porsche, blasting Hotel California or Danger Zone, loud and fast — the only gear he had.
But Pat was happiest on the water — behind the helm of his sailboat or sitting on the porch of the Corinthian Yacht Club taking in the sunset view, a drink in hand.
He was an eternal optimist and a proud believer in magic, in the spirit of Christmas and in his kids. If there was a sideline to stand on, he’d be there, coaching and cheering. He had a way of making you believe in yourself, too.
He leaves behind his four
their trips less trying. The men remained in her heart for the rest of her life. When reassigned, she traveled the world with TWA, sometimes hard at work and sometimes at leisure, indulging her boundless curiosity.
Some 40 years ago, a friend suggested she settle down and buy a home in Marblehead, allowing her to keep a cat, something her travels had always prevented. She did settle in Marblehead and along with a job as Chamber of Commerce rep, she became an active — if
for 46 years; her beloved children Jamie Walters, Adam Moore and Elizabeth Liu; her grandchildren, Noah (26), Ellie (21), Caiti (19), Ana (17), Hudson (13), Winneford (10), Lili (3) and Mabel (7 months); her adoring sister, Lindy Maciejowski; nieces, nephews, in-laws and numerous friends who cherished her beyond measure. Above all else, Libby loved being a mother, grandmother and friend. She always gave her full presence to each and every person she encountered and delighted in playing with all of her children and taking care of them. We will miss her infectious laughter,
a realtor with Barbara Lake in Marblehead. She was a “Colonial Dame” and a dedicated member of the Power Squadron serving many times on the bridge. She volunteered for many years for Salem Hospital, creating a newsletter and as the producer of the fundraiser, “Pills a Poppin Show.” She also dedicated her time to St Michael’s Church events. She enjoyed sailing, teaching sailing, skiing, swimming, bridge, dancing, writing and collecting a library of over 700 catalogued movies. She cherished her time spent with family, friends and her myriad of stray and shelter cats and dogs.
Visiting hours will be held on Jan. 5, 2-5 p.m. at her home
Submissions should include the name of the funeral home serving the deceased’s family, along with a daytime phone number for a person to contact, in case we have any questions about the obituary.
a neighbor dispute regarding the use of a window in a shared hallway. The incident was captured on a resident’s security camera. Bates documented the complaint for further reference.
10:59 p.m. — Officer Robert Picariello reported observing four electric bikes operating recklessly near Miller Plaza on Pleasant Street, with riders performing wheelies and crossing double yellow lines. When Picariello activated his emergency lights, the group dispersed, with one rider turning onto Anderson Street and another stopping
at Village Plaza. Two others continued onto Bessom Street at approximately 35 mph in a 25 mph zone before attempting to access the rail trail, according to the officer. One rider fell on ice and was identified, declining medical attention. After consultation with court officers, no charges were filed.
9:54 a.m. — Officers Charles Sweeney and Dean Peralta responded to a residence for a report of a young boy yelling for help. Upon arrival, neighbors had brought the child inside due to cold weather. The boy had awakened to find his father
children, Seana McLaughlin and her husband Wade, of Beverly, Daniel Downing and his wife, Jacque (Diaz), of Lakewood, California, Caroline Garner and her husband, Adam, of Beverly and Jack Downing of Reno, Nevada; and his brother, Sean Downing, of Sarasota, Florida. He was also “Papa” to seven grandchildren whom he adored. A celebration of Patrick’s life is being planned for this spring where family and friends will be invited to share their cherished memories. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital stjude.org or the Wounded Warrior Project woundedwarriorproject.org.
quiet – -member of both the Church of St. Andrew and a 12-step program. She was deeply involved in both and became an example and guiding light for everyone she met. We miss her already.
A service of remembrance will be held at the Wyman Memorial Church of St. Andrew, 135 Lafayette St., on Jan. 18, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to her two principal charities, The Marblehead Animal Shelter on Village Street and St. Andrew’s Church.
her wonderful humor, her intelligence and most importantly her unconditional love. These cornerstones of her character are carried on by each of her eight grandchildren, who all reflect her kind nature and optimism. She was a beautiful woman in spirit and style. She continues to be dearly loved. A celebration of life is being planned for later this year. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association to help support efforts to find a cure: alz.org/nca/donate. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.
in Salem. A funeral service for Virginia will be held in the late spring at a date to be determined in Havre de Grace, Maryland, with interment at the family plot at Angel Memorial Cemetery, 750 Ohio St., Havre De Grace, MD 21079.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the MSPCA Angell Northeast Animal Shelter, 347 Highland Ave, Salem, MA, or via www. mspca.org/adoption-centers/ northeast-animal-shelter/ Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www. eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for the Shenkle family.
Photos, preferably in JPEG format, are welcome. Photos should be of high enough quality to reproduce well in print. Generally, an image file created by a digital camera or smartphone will be fine; images copied from websites will not.
absent and became concerned. Officers remained with the child until the father returned approximately 20 minutes later, explaining he had been walking the dog and grocery shopping while the child was sleeping.
Dec. 24
1:14 p.m. — Officer Neil Comeau took a report of identity fraud from a Pleasant Street resident who received unauthorized banking notifications from an app called Chime. The resident had already contacted the company to close the fraudulent account and
placed an alert on their credit report. Comeau advised on additional protective measures, including changing passwords and requesting new cards from existing financial institutions.
Dec. 28
7:20 a.m. — Officer Comeau received follow-up information regarding an alleged identity fraud case. The victim provided a detailed timeline of fraudulent notifications received between Nov. 19 and Dec. 6, including verification codes and debit card shipping alerts from multiple phone numbers.
Shining a
on the news you care about!
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead
South Korea plane crash
Teagan Freedman, Sophomore
On December 29, 2024, a devastating plane crash occurred with a Boeing 737-800 airplane in Muan International Airport in South Korea. The plane was meant to land, but pulled back up after a failed attempt. The plane then received a bird strike warning from ground control. The pilot sent out a distress call and then went to land, but a malfunction with the landing gear opening caused the plane to go past the runway. The airplane hit a concrete wall. Officials are now investigating if they can make that wall out of more easily breakable materials.
This airplane had 181 people on board, and only two flight attendants were able to survive.
Neither of the survivors is suffering from life-threatening injuries and say they “don't remember anything after a blast during the landing.” Many South Korean media companies have stopped sending out new content to allow everyone to mourn the people lost that day. The airport runway will be closed until January seventh for repairs and investigations. Authorities are currently looking into over 100 models of the Boeing 737-800 to hopefully prevent any other disasters from occurring.
Sleepwalker: A new play in the works
Grey Collins, Assistant Editor, Junior
About twenty Marblehead High School students spent last Thursday night feverishly practicing scenes in Sleepwalker, a newly written play, at the Veterans Middle School Performing Arts Center. Senior Benji Boyd wrote this play as a theater adaptation of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, a famous black and white silent film. Boyd wrote the script two summers ago, but the idea finally came to fruition during his senior year.
“It's a very spooky story about a sleepwalker who is being manipulated by this evil doctor to commit acts of murder,” said Boyd. “It has a very spooky vibe. You'd especially like it if you are into old horror movies.”
The group have only been practicing for a couple weeks, but they have already made significant progress. Their performances are only a couple of months away, so everyone is focused on perfecting their parts.
“We perform here at the PAC on February 27th and
28th,” said Boyd. “The very next day on March 1st we are going to compete in Dramafest.”
Dramafest is a theater competition between different high schools in Massachusetts, in which each school performs a 40 minute play. If they win the first round they will be able to compete in the semifinals and potentially advance to the final round of the competition.
“I hope we can win, I feel like we have the potential to do it,” said Boyd. “But I’m just having so much fun anyway.”
It is always incredibly satisfying to see your work come to fruition, and Boyd has been able to watch as this script comes to life on the stage. There's no question that this has already been a rewarding experience.
“The best part is seeing everyone get involved in the script that I wrote,” said Boyd. “Everyone has been asking questions about their characters and having their own ideas, and it's been really fun to just work on a project with my friends. I feel like we’ve all gotten kind of closer through doing it.”
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
High School for our school and community
Squid Game, the worldwide Korean TV sensation that debuted on Netflix in 2021, triumphantly returned this holiday season for a second round of the beloved games. Taking place two years after the finale of the first season, the second season picks up with a very different Seung Gi-hun (main character). Whereas the first season featured the mild-mannered and brash Gihun, season two introduces us to the patient and vengeful Gi-hun determined to do whatever it takes to bring down the games.
The season picks up two years later where we meet Gi-hun attempting to track down the recruiter from the first season by enlisting the help of several groups of thugs for the task. Eventually he comes into contact with the recruiter and, through the recruiter, he is able to track down the frontman. After words are exchanged, Gi-hun agrees to return to the games once again with the goal of destroying it from the inside.
The second season has many parallels to its predecessor, both made by director Hwang Dong-hyuk. The second season benefits from the games being pre-established, and this allows the show to put more emphasis on specific aspects of the game, such as the voting systems done before each game. We also get a better look into the perspective of the guards during the games, as we meet guard number 011, No-eul, who has a mission of her own throughout the season. We are also reunited with Jun-ho,
whose fate was left ambiguous at the end of season one.
In comparison to the first season, the second season has many of the same set-ups and similar side characters that we follow throughout the games. However, unlike in the first season, these characters serve a very different purpose in contrast to their season one counterparts. Alongside the new cast of characters, there is one major returning character within the games whose appearance is sure to send shockwaves through the viewers of the show.
Overall, season two has much less focus on the games than season one. There is a much greater focus on the motivations of the different characters, from Junho to those behind the game itself. It’s also very interesting to see the meshing of characters both in and out of the games, such as the relationship that develops between Jun-ho and Gi-hun throughout the course of the season. Even if its ending may be a little subpar, as it leaves a lot of unanswered questions, with the third season having wrapped filming and set to air in 2025, we have little doubt that these storylines will be given a satisfactory conclusion.
Overall we would say that season two of Squid is close to, if not on par, with season one. Its only issue is the lack of closure at the end of the season. Overall though, we highly recommend it to anyone who watched the first season, as it is a worthy successor to the first season of one of Netflix’s greatest hits.
REPORTERS: Nathaniel Carper-Young, Anna Baughman, Anya Kane, Evan Eisen, Niko King, William Pelliciotti, Peter Sullivan, Nasira Warab, Grace Wolverton, Madalyn Gelb, Teagan Freedman, Samuel Jendrysik, Nicholas Jones, Arabella Pelekoudas
Director and writer Benji Boyd leads the rehearsal of Sleepwalker
The art of water droplet photography
BY RICK CUZNER
When the weather isn’t so nice, I often look toward other forms of photography to keep me busy. Photographing water droplet collisions turns me into a bit of a mad scientist, but it also reminds me of the beauty and complexity of nature.
Just as raindrops collide and create intricate patterns on the surface of a pond, I have a fairly elaborate setup that I have cobbled together over the years to capture similar moments. I use a “camera trigger” that is activated through my iPhone to precisely drop a water drop, followed by a delay and then a second water drop. While this is taking place, my camera fires
as well as several off-camera flashes.
Adjusting the droplet size and the time between droplets results in some crazy images that resemble the chaotic yet mesmerizing patterns found
in nature. I use colored plastic over the flashes as well as dyes in the water to add a bit more contrast to the images, much like how the vibrant colors of flowers or the iridescence of a butterfly’s wings captivate our attention.
All of this takes place in complete darkness, using the flashes to help capture the exposure, similar to how a single beam of sunlight can illuminate a water droplet on a leaf, revealing
a hidden world of beauty and wonder.
The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner, who
A water droplet forms a mushroom-like shape, set against a bright blue background.
COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER
Vibrant red and pink hues highlight the moment two droplets collide.
