SPOrTS MHS swim team wraps perfect season in the pool
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Seamus Hourihan’s latest is sure to get people talking Page 4
Local company sued over Nahant carbon monoxide tragedy that killed 3
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The relatives of three people killed by carbon monoxide poisoning in Nahant last year have filed a wrongful death suit against Marblehead plumbing and heating company Bartlett & Steadman. The complaint, which calls the deaths a “devastating and entirely preventable tragedy,” also names Bartlett & Steadman owner Michael Steadman and U.S. Boiler Company.
John Benson, 77, his sister-in law, Youngae Benson, 74, and his nephew, Andrew Carruth, 45, were found dead in their home on Cottage Street on Jan. 8, 2024.
The three “lost their lives to carbon monoxide poisoning in their home due to the defendants’ gross negligence, unsafe practices and corporate indifference to basic safety standards,” according to the complaint, filed last week in Essex County Superior Court.
M arbLeHea D’S HerO
Bartlett & Steadman installed a new gas boiler in Benson’s home in July 2023, according to the suit.
“Despite explicit Massachusetts safety regulations, B&S and Steadman failed to obtain necessary permits, ignored installation standards and allowed unlicensed workers to perform critical tasks,” the suit alleges.
Salem attorney Rob Mazow
Honoring leadership that defined a revolution
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Drummers from the Glover Regiment wait as reenactors and residents gather to honor General John Glover’s contributions to the Revolutionary War.
BY WILL DOWD
Bundled against the bitter cold, approximately 70 people joined Glover’s Marblehead Regiment in its annual march from the old townhouse to the tomb of General John Glover at Old Burial Hill.
Clad in 18th-century military uniforms, the reenactors walked through the Historic District’s meandering streets, covered with
» More photos, Page 16
a freshly fallen snow. Drummers set a steady pace, while dozens of townspeople carrying lanterns illuminated the way forward. Residents along the .5-mile route stepped outside their doors or peeked through frosty windows.
“Tonight we remember General Glover as a war hero who sacrificed
his fortune, his health and his family for a greater cause,” said the regiment’s captain, Seamus Daly, standing before Glover’s tomb.
“He was not the only leader of the Revolutionary War to make such sacrifices, but his resolve and vision remind us of the caliber of leadership we aspire to today.”
Born in Salem and a lifelong
Forum addresses multifamiliy zoning before Town Meeting
BY WILL DOWD
When William Keaney looks across his street each morning, he sees what many say Marblehead is missing: a young family hurrying their children to school, bringing new life to a home that sat empty for two years after its elderly owners passed away.
“It’s a joy to see them every day,” Keaney told about 50 community members and residents gathered Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church to discuss the town’s pending MBTA Communities Act vote at May’s
Town Meeting. “It made me realize what these young families bring to our community.”
The story resonated with many at the forum, which was organized by the Marblehead Housing Coalition to bring clarity and dispel myths surrounding the MBTA Communities Act. The law requires towns like Marblehead to adjust zoning regulations to allow for more multifamily housing. Keaney and Marblehead resident Angus McQuilken led the discussion, presenting an overview of the zoning proposal and
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its implications before opening the conversation up. In May, voters will reconsider the same plan they rejected by just 33 votes last year — one that would permit multifamily housing in three districts and preserve the town’s access to state funding.
The Supreme Judicial Court’s recent ruling affirming the law’s constitutionality means Marblehead must eventually comply or face possible court action. The town’s revised compliance deadline is July 14,
SCHOOLS Hundreds sign petition to return doors to MHS bathrooms
BY LEIGH BLANDER
More than 375 students and community members have signed a Change.org petition started by a Marblehead High School student protesting the removal of doors into the boys and girls bathrooms in the building. The petition also complains about faculty and staff entering student bathrooms unannounced.
“The school’s decision to remove the bathroom doors leaves students vulnerable to unwanted eyes and ears, breaching the essentially fundamental right to privacy,” reads the petition by MHS junior Dimos Thanos.
Thanos cited Article 16 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which reads, “No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence…”
In an interview with the Current, Thamos said the administration has not explained the reason for removing the doors, although students suspect it is to crack down on vaping in the bathrooms.
On Jan,. 28, MHS Principal Michele Carlson confirmed that the bathroom doors were removed.
“Over the years, we have faced challenges with both vaping, fighting and vandalism in the bathrooms,” she wrote in an email to the Current. “After hearing concerns from parents and students over the past few years, last year, we worked through the School Advisory Council, received feedback from both parents and students and developed a plan aimed at improving these spaces. Initially, we pinned bathroom doors open, but this solution unfortunately faced vandalism.”
W rONGF u L DeaTH C a Se
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GLOVER,
Marblehead Democrats mobilize against immigration threats
BY WILL DOWD
The Marblehead Democratic Town Committee voted to establish an immigration subcommittee during its Jan. 27 meeting at Abbott Library, mobilizing local resources as immigrant communities grapple with a wave of executive orders from the Trump administration.
The initiative comes as immigration advocates report mounting anxiety over policy changes that could affect thousands of Essex County residents, including attempts to revoke birthright citizenship and expand expedited deportations without judicial review.
“Is it as bad as it seems? I hate to say it is,” immigration attorney Diann Slavit Baylis, of Marblehead, told attendees. Baylis, who serves on the House of Seven Gables Board of Trustees and works with clients from around the world, outlined numerous policy shifts that could impact local immigrant communities.
“These people are all on temporary status visas ... Unfortunately, these visas do not provide a pathway to citizenship, and a lot of them will end after two years.”
Marblehead resident
The scope of potential impact became clear as committee members shared county-level data showing that immigrant households represent a significant portion of the local community.
According to figures presented by Jeanne Lambkin from the Essex Community
Foundation, approximately 132,500 immigrants live in Essex County, comprising 16.9% of the population. Nearly a quarter of county households — 22.6% — include at least one immigrant member.
“How we survive in the next coming days, weeks … is going to be rooted in community,” Lambkin said. “And I’m here to say that [this] community acts. And how do we act? Through structure, through organization, through process, through signing up for action.”
The economic stakes are substantial, she said. In 2019, immigrant households in Essex County earned $4.8 billion, contributing $841.7 million in federal taxes and $425.4 million in state and local taxes. Their contribution to the region’s gross domestic product totaled $9.5 billion.
The subcommittee has already begun compiling resources, creating a database of 40 organizations within Essex County that provide immigrant services. Committee member Cathy Marie Michael announced several upcoming events, including a campaign launch by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition on
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Nancy Norman of Marblehead has been an immigration lawyer for 40 years, and she’s never seen a more chaotic, unpredictable period than this one.
“This is horrible right now, that goes without saying,” Norman told the Current. “There’s a lot of chaos, and people are fearful.”
Norman says Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are patrolling district courts, looking to pick up undocumented people.
Just this week, ICE detained a high school junior from Lynn after she got into a fight with her little brother over a cell phone and a neighbor called police. “If the police are involved and
there’s any alleged crime that’s committed, it’s a given that ICE is going to get involved,” Norman said.
She continued, “I’ve heard of kids being fearful of going to school” because they might get picked up by ICE. “There are a lot of undocumented kids that go to Lynn schools.”
Norman said there are undocumented immigrants in Marblehead, too. She declined to estimate how many.
There are ways that some undocumented young people can avoid deportation, according to Norman, including by applying for Special Immigration Juvenile
status. She said it’s critical that undocumented people learn about all their options.
Even with all the chaos and anxiety, Norman said it’s important for people to stay calm and focused.
“Yes, it’s horrible what ICE is doing, but we have to fight back,” she said. “Fighting back doesn’t mean yelling about how active ICE is. You have to be proactive.”
Norman recommended that people interested in supporting undocumented immigrants get in touch with the following: Pathways (pathwayslynn.org) and New American Association (naamass.org).
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Interim superintendent John Robidoux sent a message to families Friday, Jan. 31, outlining protections for Marblehead students if Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents request access to children or their information.
Robidoux shared a flyer from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, advising that ICE agents be directed to the central administration building, where the interim super would contact district counsel.
“I had already provided principals with the guidance that if ICE agents show up at our schools, they are to contact me directly and I will address the specific situation with guidance from legal counsel. There are very specific steps that need to be followed and we will ensure that our students are safe and that their education is not disrupted in the very unlikely event that agents do arrive at any of our schools.” Flag forum
The School Committee has scheduled a virtual meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 2:30 p.m.. for Marblehead High School students to share their thoughts on the draft flag policy that would lead to the removal of the Black Lives Matter banner and Pride flags in the school.
The School Committee’s policy subcommittee is also planning a forum for the full community to discuss the proposal, which would allow only U.S., Massachusetts,
Marblehead and POW flags on school grounds. No date had been set for that as of the Current’s press deadline.
The School Committee started considering a flag policy more than a year ago after a Marblehead resident confessed to taking down the BLM flag in the MHS cafeteria without permission. That prompted Principal Michele Carlson and then-acting superintendent Michelle Cresta to ask the School Committee whether it had a policy.
According to School Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner, that inquiry means the committee must come up with a policy.
For more than a year, many students and community members have spoken out — at meetings, rallies and more — against the draft policy. Students have demanded that they have a
say in what flags and banners can hang in their school.
Lindsay Smith, a mother of three Marblehead students, spoke at a January meeting.
“I’m here as a representative and member of the Marblehead Racial Justice Team to share that we strongly oppose any policy that would restrict or limit any symbols of affirmation and acceptance for our students … and that our students very much should be part of this conversation,” she said.
MHS senior Maren Potter told the Current, “MHS students will be pushing back once again and are planning how to best approach the situation to make sure student voices are heard in these decisions.”
Some residents support the flag policy, including Nyla Dubois, who has spoken several times in
support of removing the BLM banner and Pride flag.
“Not everyone sees the same values in those particular symbols,” Dubois said. “Even the one (Pride flag) on the sidewalk outside the information booth … These symbols are what some people believe speak for everybody, and that’s just not true. You can’t say that the Pride flag stands for every lesbian or trans person.”
Dubois added that at some point “de-transitioners will be coming back into the schools” and might be upset by the Pride flag.
The high school student forum will be available at https://loom. ly/64_bV8U.
Legal bills totaled
In response to a public records request filed by the Current, the school district provided invoices from the Westwood law firm of Valerio, Dominello & Hillman related to contract talks with all five units of the Marblehead Education Association in 2024.
The fees total more than $235,000.
The School Committee also spent $12,625 on a public relations firm in the final weeks of the standoff, according to an invoice from Slowey McManus Communications of Boston. Valerio, Dominello & Hillman billed the Marblehead School Committee more than $454,000 in total for 2024.
The district is facing several lawsuits by staff and at least one family related to a student restraint crisis.
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Diann Slavit Baylis, an immigration attorney and trustee at the House of Seven Gables, speaks about the challenges faced by immigrant communities under new policies, including temporary visa limitations, at the Marblehead Democratic Town Committee’s Jan. 27 meeting.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
The Marblehead High School student forum on the School Committee’s draft flag policy is set for Feb. 13.
COURTESY PHOTO Nancy Norman of Marblehead has been an immigration attorney for 40 years.
IMMIGRATION, P. A7
At remembrance ceremony, Marblehead teen shares Holocaust family history
BY WILL DOWD
When Adele boarded a ship alone at age 14, fleeing Nazi Germany for America, she had cried so many tears that she would never be able to shed another — not even decades later when she lost her own son. On Wednesday, her great-grandson, 18-year-old Marblehead High School senior Jared Kaplowitch, stood before a crowd at Abbot Hall, carrying forward Adele’s story and those of his other Holocaust survivor great-grandparents.
“Their story is not just about survival. Their survival was not a victory,” Kaplowitch told the standing-room-only gathering at the town’s third annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony. “It was a burden, a scar, a reminder of the family they lost, the horrors they witnessed and the resilience they had to summon every day just to keep going.”
This year’s ceremony marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the AuschwitzBirkenau concentration camp.
Helaine Hazlett, co-chair of the Task Force Against Discrimination, noted the date’s significance as she welcomed attendees to the event, which the Select Board recently voted to establish as an annual observance.
“Soon, there will be no survivors to speak of their inhumane and horrific torture,” Hazlett said. “It is our duty to say ‘never again’ and silence the Holocaust deniers.”
Rabbi Jenn Mangold of Temple Emanu-El emphasized the ceremony’s heightened importance amid rising global antisemitism. “As we are witnessing an alarming rise of antisemitism around the globe, it is more important than ever for us to recognize the critical lessons of Holocaust history as we commemorate the victims and honor the survivors,” she said.
State Rep. Jenny Armini, Democrat of Marblehead, led a solemn candle-lighting ceremony, with six candles symbolizing the six million Jewish lives lost in the
CURRENT PHOTOS / WILL DOWD
Marblehead High School senior Jared Kaplowitch speaks at the town’s third annual International Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Abbot Hall. Kaplowitch shared the stories of his Holocaust survivor great-grandparents and reflected on the importance of remembrance amid rising global antisemitism.
Holocaust. The flames flickered in the hushed room as each candle was lit, creating a powerful visual reminder of both loss and remembrance.
The ceremony honored not only the six million Jewish victims but also other persecuted groups. “We also remember the millions of others — political dissidents, disabled individuals, LGBTQ+ people — who were victims of Nazi terror,” Kaplowitch noted in his remarks.
Beloved Driftwood server retires after 50-plus years
BY WILL DOWD
After more than five decades of serving breakfast, Jan Frost is retiring from her full-time position at The Driftwood restaurant, though she won’t be hanging up her apron entirely. Frost, who started at the popular Front Street breakfast spot in 1970 selling soft-serve ice cream from a takeout window, has been a beloved fixture at the waterfront establishment. She began waitressing when another server didn’t show up for work one day, and she’s been serving the morning crowd ever since.
The Driftwood, located at 63 Front St., has been open since the early 1960s. Under Frost’s tenure, she’s watched the restaurant evolve from a morning hangout for local fishermen to a community gathering spot where she’s served multiple generations of families.
“A real institution for early risers, Jan opened the facility at 5:30 p.m. for many years and befriended sailors, workers, tourists and seniors with her ever ready smile and great demeanor,” said resident Charles Gessner, a longtime patron. Owner Colleen Galvin said while Frost is
stepping back from her permanent position, she’ll still help out when needed, particularly as a substitute server.
Select Board member Moses Grader formally read the town’s proclamation, officially recognizing International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Marblehead. Police Chief Dennis King shared a powerful quote from Holocaust survivor, author and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel: “Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”
For Kaplowitch, whose
BY WILL DOWD
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Town sees fewer tax abatement requests in 2025
Marblehead received approximately 160 property tax abatement applications by the Feb. 1 deadline, marking a significant decrease from last year’s surge of 344 applications but remaining above historical averages.
The lower number of filings follows substantial changes to the town’s assessment process, implemented after the tumultuous 2024 tax year when the town approved over 80% of abatement requests, resulting in approximately $541,000 in money returned to residents.
Last year’s challenges included cases where some residents reported property
great-grandparents Hannah and New-him Gutman survived Nazi work camps by sewing uniforms (their 6-year-old son was permitted to stay with his mother while his father was sent to Siberia), the responsibility of carrying forward these memories has taken on new urgency.
“Over the next decade, there will no longer be generations to hear survivors’ firsthand accounts,” he said. “That means my generation must carry their voices forward. We must remind the world that the Holocaust was not just history — it was a warning of what happens when hatred goes unchecked, when people turn away from injustice, and when ‘other’ is seen as less than human.”
The ceremony concluded with Kaplowitch’s call to action: “To anyone who has ever wondered why we still talk about the Holocaust — why, after nearly 80 years, we still light candles, share stories, and say, ‘Never Again’ — the answer is simple: Because silence allows history to repeat itself. Today, we remember. Tomorrow, we act.”
assessment increases of up to 70%, leading to an independent audit and significant reforms in the valuation process. In response, the town contracted Patriot Properties to conduct a mini-revaluation in preparation for the upcoming town-wide revaluation.
To improve transparency, the Assessor’s Office published tentative valuations online and made them available in print at public locations including the Abbot Library, Abbot Hall and the Assessors’ Office at Widger Road. This early release gave residents more time to review their assessments before the filing deadline. The Assessor’s Office will now begin reviewing the applications. Residents can track the status of their abatement requests by contacting the Assessor’s Office at 781-631-0236 or visiting the town’s website at marblehead. org.
Carlson continued:
“To better address the situation, we updated the bathrooms this year by extending the walls creating a design similar to airport-style restrooms. This ensures student privacy while maintaining accessibility and visibility.
We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this solution and welcome any feedback from students and families.
We also have single stall bathrooms on all floors for students who feel more comfortable using this style of bathroom.”
Carlson did not respond to repeated questions about whether male staff members are entering girls bathrooms unannounced, as students claim.
At a School Committee meeting in November 2023, Carlson addressed vaping issues at the school, saying there were eight vaping detectors in bathrooms. When they are set off, administrators receive a text message and email, and someone goes into the bathroom to investigate.
Asked then about how widespread a problem vaping is at the high school,
Carlson answered, “I see the detectors going off, yes, but not all the time.
Sometimes it’s students using hairspray, too.”
Carlson explained, “When we do catch somebody, we have a diversion program. The goal is to educate them.”
‘It’s very creepy’
The Change.org petition also refers to a new policy banning MHS students from leaving the cafeteria during lunch.
“I go to lunch and I’m seeing every single hallway that has access to the cafeteria guarded,” Thamos said. “Doors are
closed, teachers are there.”
He suspects the new cafeteria rules may be to cut down on noise in the hallways, but he said it’s not fair to punish everyone for a few noisy students.
“That’s a ridiculous policy,” he said. “Why does everybody have to be locked in the cafeteria being watched? It’s very creepy.”
Thanos added: “It’s an interesting comparison to make but it’s starting to feel more and more like a prison. We don’t have any rights to privacy any more. We can’t move around without being watched.”
Regarding the new cafeteria rules, Carlson
wrote, “We ask students to remain in the cafeteria to minimize disruptions to ongoing classes. When the weather improves in the spring, we look forward to opening the outdoor picnic tables for students to enjoy. Please know there is a designated bathroom available during lunch to meet students’ needs.”
When contacted about the petition, School Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner wrote in
an email, “There’s no School Committee policy regarding bathroom doors that I am aware of,” adding “I have spoken to (interim) Superintendent Robidoux and he is investigating the accusations in the petition. At this moment, this is the responsibility of the superintendent to determine what the facts are and to manage.” Robidoux referred the Current to Carlson.
FrONT STreeT FIXT ure
Opinion
eDITOrI a L
Trump tries to reach into classrooms
Even more than the Jan. 27 earthquake off the Maine coast or the flyover of military jets for the funeral of a Navy captain four days later, the barrage of executive orders and memos emanating from the Trump White House rattled Marblehead last week.
Interim superintendent John Robidoux counseled the town’s principals on how to respond if U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers showed up at the town’s schools.
Recipients of grants and other forms of federal funding — including the schools, Council on Aging and Marblehead Museum — had begun scrambling for answers by the time first one and then another federal judge blocked a federal funding freeze announced in a since-rescinded memo from the Office of Management and Budget.
But one executive order that we were heartened to see did not prompt an immediate flurry of activity is the one titled, “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling.” Robidoux told the Current it would be business as usual for the town’s schools, at least for now.
Trump’s K-12 executive order seeks to prohibit schools from recognizing transgender identities or teach about ideas like structural racism, “white privilege” or “unconscious bias.”
In addition to telling schools what not to teach, the executive order seeks to promote “patriotic education.” The country’s founding should be portrayed as “unifying, inspiring and ennobling,” and lesson plans should offer “a clear examination of how the United States has admirably grown closer to its noble principles throughout its history,” according to the order.
In addition to a potential loss of federal funding for school districts who fail to help end “illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination,” the executive order also envisions the U.S. attorney general coordinating with state attorneys general and local district attorneys to file “appropriate actions against K-12 teachers and school officials who violate the law.”
Needless to say, teachers did not enter their profession thinking they would be forced onto the frontlines of a multipronged ideological war. Nonetheless, they have been conscripted.
In comparison to the targets of Trump’s other executive actions, K-12 schools may have a stronger hand. They should not be shy about playing it.
As a recent New York Times story noted, Congress sets the formula for distributing to states the major federal funding stream that supports public schools, Title I. At least in theory, that means Trump cannot alter the formula — though separation-of-powers concerns failed to deter the issuance of the OMB memo.
That same New York Times story quoted Adam Laats, an education historian at Binghamton University. Laats likened Trump’s executive order to the Red Scare in the mid-20th century, which saw teachers accused of Communist sympathies lose their jobs or be taken to court.
“To my mind, this executive order is a blast of steam, dangerous especially because it can encourage local aggressive activism,” Laats told the Times.
Laats struck a hopeful chord, too, noting that “political attempts to ban ideas from the classroom have rarely been successful.”
But unfortunately, school leaders here and across the country are not out of the woods. The executive order contemplates the secretaries of defense, education, and health and human services using the next 90 days to develop an “Ending Indoctrination Strategy” to present to the president. Through that process, they may well unearth additional coercive tools to which the district will need to respond.
As these pages regularly document, there may never be unanimity about everything that happens within our school walls. However, it is essential that myriad decisions — about curricula and counseling, about athletic participation and bathroom use — remain local ones, informed by our local educators’ training, experience and judgment, rather than being dictated by the federal government.
Our educators have our support as they navigate this unprecedented intrusion into their life’s work.
e
Be like Ed
BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM
So much has been written and said about our friend Ed Bell, that I don’t think anything I could add about his kindness and character is worthy. So instead, I am going to focus on this lesson, of many, I learned from him: Live to your very last breath. That sounds counterintuitive, of course we breathe until we don’t any longer. But that doesn’t mean we’re living purposely. Ed did — live purposely— every single minute of his 84 years.
I didn’t know him for most of those years, really know him, though as a person in public life in the late 80s and 90s, I knew well who he was as a Boston media leader. It was in the last few years of Ed’s life that I got to know him beyond his reputation. And that our time together was one of being colleagues as well as friends is the heart of the lesson I learned from him.
Who has new colleagues and a new professional mission beginning in their 80s? Ed Bell.
Aren’t you supposed to be long-settled on your Florida lounge chair by then? Well he had that, too, but even from his occasional break in the Sunshine State, Ed was on Zoom calls and making tough calls for this newspaper that he helped conceive of, launch and nurture.
The Current was just one of Ed’s late-in-life endeavors. The list of other organizations around town he was not just involved in, but a leader of, is lengthy. All those entities will miss him but, dare I assert, not as much as we will. If the Current were a fireplace, Ed was the kindling, the logs, the flue, the chimney AND the person who knelt near and blew soft breaths to grow the flicker into a flame. Need I reach for another metaphor? You get it.
Of course health challenges are the scourge that limit way too many people in their later years. Not Ed. Even after being hospitalized for weeks this past fall, he fought his way back — to his home, to the boardroom, to his club, to his life. God, what grit.
M arbLeHea D M uSINGS
The Current was just one of Ed’s latein-life endeavors. The list of other organizations around town he was not just involved in, but a leader of, is lengthy.
At his funeral service, one of the speakers, Peter Casey, who worked with Ed in radio news in Boston, noted that when Ed took over as news director at WHDH, he eschewed the traditional executive perch along the windows, instead seating himself right in the newsroom where the action was. “Where the action was” could be his epitaph.
Some people take years of hard blows to achieve the aura of calm that comes from having seen it all. Ed always had that aura though, as was evident from folks who told stories of working with him years ago, and wow, were we at the Current the beneficiary.
Breaking news? Call Ed. Put it on the front page or inside? Call Ed. A publishing policy needs revision? Call Ed. Advertising or fundraising challenge? Call Ed. Who are we going to call now? Each other. And do the best we can to channel him. WWED, our shorthand for “What would Ed do.”
I first wrote WWES — “What would Ed say” but right away hit the delete button. He didn’t just “say” as was his well-earned right. He’d already “done” plenty. But that wasn’t Ed. He was a doer, until his very last breath.
What a role model. What man of purpose. What an incredible human being. With any luck, I have another few decades ahead. There’s a lot to do. I better get going.
Virginia Buckingham is a member of the Marblehead Current’s Board of Directors, 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.”
Town Meeting is broken
BY SEAMUS HOURIHAN
When “something” is broken it means that “something” no longer works as intended.
Marblehead’s open Town Meeting is conceptually the purest form of democracy where any registered voter MAY discuss and vote on all matters of the Town. But as any MHS grad that passed MCAS should know, there is a difference between may and can. Not all voters can attend Town Meeting in today’s world.
People that may find it challenging to attend Town Meeting include: Parents with school-aged children, commuters within New England, residents with second jobs, home-bund seniors, off-shore fishmen, merchant mariners, military service members, disabled residents, grandparents and retirees, college students, world-traveling professionals and on-duty police, fire and first responders. Democracy means rule by the people. Only 5% of voters turned out last May. Some of the most important issues impacting our wallet were not even on the warrant. This is hardly a democracy envisioned by our founders.
Our last Town Meeting and today’s social media forums are dominated by a vocal oligarchy of strange bedfellows — ultra-financially conservative, antichange townies threatened by the cost of town living and ultra-fanatic “Town free or die” idealists. These perspectives are definitely valid, but there are many more in Town.
Historical Town Meeting turnouts
Town Meeting attendance records are extremely difficult to find. But it’s a good guess that they have declined over the last 350 years.
In 1649, when the first Town Meeting was held, there were 44 town families in a time before women voted. It’s not hard to believe that nearly 100% of 22 men attended.
The first registered voter numbers I could find were for 1885; the first Town Meeting attendance numbers for 1881. Extrapolating, I estimate the turn-out for 1881 was 40 to 50%. Article 4 dealt with elections. Thirtythree men received at least one vote for a Selectman
position. In the 1880s and early 1890s, the number of warrant articles ranged from 17 to 28. Town Meeting starting times were 8 or 9 a.m. on a March Monday.
Over the last four years, Town Meeting turnout has sunk to 3% - 5% of registered voters.
Town Meeting has been broken for a long time. Forty-five years ago in 1979, Town Meeting struggled to reach a quorum of 300, just a 2% turn-out, for 68 articles over three days. In that July, an ad-hoc group of 30 town leaders met on Chuck Beringer’s 72-foot yacht to discuss the reasons for poor turnout and possible solutions. Problems cited included the length of the warrant, transportation, parking, babysitting, conflict with Bruins playoff games, the impacts of nice May weather and daylight savings time.
Numerous solutions were proposed for the obvious problems. But after a few beverages they included taxing those who don’t attend, closing all bars for the night and placing a nuclear power issue on the warrant each year. As far as I can tell, nothing was ever done. The 1984 warrant, five years later, and last May’s warrant look exactly the same.
Changing place, time, format and support
More recently, several towns including Acton, Andover, Boxborough, Concord and Weston have formed study committees to develop recommendations for improving open Town Meeting:
» Place high-interest articles like the MBTA Communities Act, operating budget overrides and capital budget debt exclusions directly on an election ballot without a Town Meeting vote. The last town election had 20% turnout compared to 5% for Town Meeting. Last November’s election had a whopping 83% turnout. Online and in-person debates and media articles would be critical to educating voters.
» Alternatively, discuss and vote on any high-interest article at a specific time. This would allow those who cannot attend the entire meeting to participate. The exact time and article sequencing needs to ensure meeting quorums.
Kids make pitch for support of Elm Street park
To the editor: We are kids who want to tell you why we think we should rebuild the park at the old Gerry School.
Hi, I am Harvey. I am 7. I moved here in 2021, and I think the Gerry School playground was not safe when I moved here.
I think it is a good idea if we rebuild the playground. Here I will give you an example of why it is not safe: The railing fell off of the stairs. My favorite part is the basketball hoop right now. I am most excited about the basketball court when they rebuild the park.
Hi, my name is Ronan. I am 9 years old. The Gerry playground is a bus stop, and my friends and I walk from Village School to Gerry to pick up our siblings. We would love to be able to play while we wait for them and also when they get off the bus. The sooner we raise the money, the sooner we can have a park. Please donate money if you can. Thank you.
Hi, I am Winslow. I am 8. I go to Brown School, and the Gerry School park is my bus stop. I always have so much fun in the mornings. I think that we should rebuild the park because the swings are really rusty. I am excited about lots of people coming to Gerry because it is a great place to go and has a lot of fun places. It is also dangerous for little kids like toddlers like my little sisters. I want them to have a climbing structure where they bury a boat at Gerry so we can play in it, and more grass not just like a big parking lot and barely any grass. Sledding is super fun at the Gerry School playground since there is a big hill you can go really fast down it. Gerry is a really enjoyable place for lots of kids and me, so I hope whenever you go to Gerry you’re kind, you’re safe and you have fun.
Hi, my name is Ben. I am 8. Here are some ways that we should rebuild our playground; some of it is dangerous. The pavement is rough, and people could trip on it. I fell down on a little hole on my bike. The blue slide — kids could fall off it because it doesn’t have a little enough railing. I like having a
playground because you can play soccer games and have fun. I am excited about what the playground is going to look like next.
Hi, I’m Ru and I am 3! I like basketball and swings.
Hi, my name is Emilia. I am 8. I think we should totally rebuild the playground because the ground is all bumpy and there are lots of big holes. When I go over them my bike shakes. If you can donate money then we can have a flat ground and green grass. My brothers like to play soccer and I do, too. We want to have a fence that we can kick the ball against. Also, this is the only playground we can walk to so we will not have it until we get all the money.
Hi, my name is Haddie and I am 7. We are so excited for a new park! Our whole community worked together to make our new park which is awesome! Our old one was rusty, and it is so exciting that soon we will have a new park that everyone can use. My friends and I are planning a party for when the park opens and everyone can come to it! There will be snacks and drinks, and the kids can play at the new park!
Want to help us build a new park for our community? Visit theparkonelm.org
Harvey Caselli, Winslow Lane, Ben Ross, Ruthie Caselli, Emilia Murphy, Ronan Murphy and Haddie Questad (with a little help from their parents)
Thank you to local pickleball community
To the editor: On behalf of the wellness departments at Marblehead High
School and Marblehead Veterans Middle School, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Marblehead Pickleball. This generous, local nonprofit has been a tremendous supporter of our schools over the past few years.
Marblehead Pickleball has made a significant impact on our physical education programs by providing essential equipment. While we typically have entrylevel gear, these donations allow us to offer our students the opportunity to use high-quality models that we would otherwise be unable to afford.
This past Tuesday, Lisa Spinale and Anne Tassel, board members of Marblehead Pickleball, visited Marblehead High School to donate 50, high-quality Joola paddles to our Physical Education Department. The students were thrilled to use paddles endorsed by some of the top players in the world. As the sport of pickleball continues to grow, we are excited to offer our students the chance to participate in such a dynamic and enjoyable game.
Once again, thank you to Marblehead Pickleball for making this opportunity possible.
Sincerely, Michael Lavender Marblehead High School Teacher Colgate Road
‘Inept’ School Committee to blame for delayed MHS roof project
To the editor: The solution to the
Marblehead High School roof project is simple, at least as laid out by the School Committee and administration. Defer the HVAC work, and use the $5.6m approved in 2022 to replace the roof. They’ve identified that the issues aren’t very pressing and weren’t prioritized, and the cost of the roof replacement has not gone up. But we all know none of that is true. Any homeowner knows you don’t let your roof leak for three years. It’s not going to fix itself, and the problems compound. It’s absurd to try to convince people who have been dealing with years of soaring costs that replacing the roof still costs what it would have in 2022. Also, somehow the project manager didn’t actually look at the roof and a full feasibility study wasn’t done before they requested the money. The fact is that the School Committee is so inept that they kicked an uninvestigated $5.6m line item down the road for three years, and now they are trying to gaslight us to cover their irresponsible actions and demand more money from the town when it’s already faced with a must-pass override to pay our educators fairly. I am all for paying more to the schools, and I fully support the coming override. It just really stings that so much of the tax increase is due to our School Committee and administration mismanaging our money, and all they can tell us is that nothing is their fault. The sentiment I hear is that this is a deliberate attempt to tank the override intended to fairly compensate our children’s educators and get our schools back on track.
School Committee’s high school roof proposal needs review
To the editor: The Marblehead School Committee is proposing to replace the 24 year-old roof at the high school, and replace rooftop HVAC equipment at a total cost of $14 million. Replacement of the HVAC is proposed because the equipment is at the end of its life, uses refrigerants that are not manufactured anymore and because the equipment would need to be removed and reinstalled during any roof replacement, further shortening the lifespan of the equipment. I spent much of my career in the business of owning office and industrial buildings, and remain invested in such buildings. The School Committee’s proposal runs counter to my experience in many ways, and it is hard for me to be comfortable that this is a sensible proposal that takes appropriate care of the taxpayers’ assets and money. Most of the roofs my company replaces are closer to 35 years old than 25. The $5 million cost to replace the roof is about five times the benchmark my company would have used as a target for the job. I would not expect a government project to be as lean as us in the private sector, but the multiple seems out of line. Further, I have never
School Committee sends first newsletter
Mission
Our mission is to foster in our students a passion for learning, and to provide a safe and nurturing environment in which they can develop the values, knowledge, and skills needed to achieve full potential in their personal, social and work lives, and become contributing members of society.
The First Edition of Our Monthly Newsletter
Welcome to the Marblehead School Committee’s monthly newsletter! Our goal is to enhance transparency and keep the community informed about our initiatives. This month, we will provide updates on several sub committees focused on policy development, the budget for the 2025-2026 school year, and efforts to improve communication with the administration, students, families, and the wider community. Thank you for reading! Jenn Schaeffner Chairperson
News and Highlights
School Committee focus for Month of January
The SC is working on the following:
Focusing on the 2025-26 budget
Continuing to improve SC
Communications
» Reviewing and updating the evaluation process for the
superintendent FY 2025-2026 BUDGET
Due to the MEA contract negotiations and subsequent strike the normal budget cycle was impacted. Mike Pfifferling, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations and the School Committee
Bargaining Subcommittee was focused on evaluating each of the financial proposals for the Unit A, Tutors, Paraprofessional, Custodians, and permanent substitutes as they were presented by the District or the MEA.
The Budget Subcommittee (Sara Fox and Alison Taylor) is working with the District to present the first budget review and schedule the first Budget Workshop in February.
Subcommittee Updates » Subcommittees and SC members
assigned » Budget: Sarah Fox and Alison Taylor: See above
Facilities: Chaired by Sarah Fox and Al Williams
At the January 9th School Committee meeting, the Committee voted to place an article in the annual Town Meeting
Warrant to return care custody and control of the Coffin School Property to the Town.
A vote at the Town Meeting will determine if the transfer will be approved. If approved the Select Board will make a recommendation for the use of the property to Town Meeting.
A reminder, if the Town sells the property, the money from the sale will be put into the Town’s general fund and will not go directly to the School Department.
Policy: Alison Taylor and Jenn Schaeffner
The subcommittee met and discussed several items including revising School Committee protocols, review of the Policy Manual to ensure compliance with updated policies.
A timeline for student and community forums to provide input to a draft flag and banner policy was discussed.
Communication: Brian Ota and Al Williams
The subcommittee presented the draft of the Frequently asked questions (FAQ) to the School Committee. The form was discussed and edited and given
to Alison Taylor to create the final draft for the School Committee approval. It is expected to be presented at the next meeting for approval. The subcommittee met with the reporters from the Marblehead Current, Leigh Blander and Marblehead Weekly News, Grace Calandrella and MHTV, Joan Goloboy and Jon Caswell to develop communication venues to inform the public on school related issues.
Summary
of Actions Taken by the School Committee
During the Month December
Began to focus on the 2025-26 budget See above for update on Budget Planning » Improved SC Communications » See above for a summary of work done
» Approved SC Goals
Goal achieved with School Committee approving the Committee goals for the new year
Event information
Next School Committee meeting is Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. Marblehead High School
Questions about the newsletter should be sent to ota.brian@marbleheadschools.org.
Henry Gwazda Mohawk Road
COURTESY PHOTO
‘What we imagine the Gerry School Playground will look like!’
COURTESY PHOTO
Marblehead High School students and wellness department staff display new Joola paddles donated by Marblehead Pickleball.
Revised ADU bylaw heads to Town Meeting for approval
BY WILL DOWD
The Marblehead Planning Board unanimously approved amendments to the town’s accessory dwelling unit bylaw Jan. 28, striking a balance between new state mandates and local oversight of housing development.
The revised bylaw, which will go before town meeting in May, preserves the town’s ability to conduct site plan reviews of ADUs while complying with Massachusetts’ Affordable Homes Act set to take effect Feb. 2. The law, signed by Gov. Maura Healey in August 2024, requires municipalities to allow ADUs by right in single-family districts.
“This will give the board some allowance to determine how it’s built and where it’s built, which I think is good for the town,” said Town Planner Alex Eitler. “This is going to allow for a nice middle ground between no ADUs at all, which is not an option, or just the state’s version of the ADU law, which might I add, is quite liberal.”
Key provisions in Marblehead’s amended bylaw include mandatory site plan review for ADUs in single-family zones and a prohibition on short-term rentals, requiring minimum 90-day lease periods for both ADUs and principal dwellings. A site plan review examines detailed drawings of proposed
construction projects, allowing the Planning Board to evaluate elements such as building placement, drainage and parking arrangements. The rental restriction goes beyond the state’s model guidelines, offering additional protection against the conversion of residential properties into vacation rentals.
While the Planning Board cannot deny ADU applications under the new state law, it retains authority to impose conditions through the site plan review process to ensure compatibility with neighborhood character.
The victims’ family released a statement last week, describing the scene where their loved ones were found.
represents the family of the victims.
“Bartlett & Steadman never pulled the required building permits,” Mazow told the Current. “Whenever you install a gas product, you need to pull a permit. They didn’t. It also requires a plumbing inspection, which didn’t happen.”
Mazow added, “It’s our allegation that an apprentice did the install and didn’t do it right, and the carbon monoxide backed up into the house. The boiler itself didn’t have safety features.”
“Inside, everything remained untouched — breakfast still on the stove, doctor’s appointments penciled into the calendar, unpaid bills sitting on the kitchen table — as if John, Youngae and Andrew had only stepped out for a moment,” the statement read.
“Then came the final, crushing revelation: the local plumbing company had failed to pull a required building permit, used an unlicensed apprentice to install the gas boiler, and never had the installation inspected by the Nahant plumbing
heard of anyone removing and reinstalling rooftop equipment when replacing a flat roof. We also routinely maintain and run HVAC equipment that uses refrigerants that are no longer manufactured. The premium cost of refrigerant needed to keep that equipment running has always been nearly immaterial when compared to the cost of replacement equipment. All of the committee’s proposals may, in fact, be sensible, but I am skeptical. I suggest the committee enlist a group of citizens familiar with maintaining flat roofs and
HVAC equipment to review their proposal carefully. The goal should be to identify and justify a project that uses the town’s assets wisely and that the taxpayers can support with confidence.
Roger “Sam” Altreuter Ocean Avenue
Need more transparency in collective bargaining
To the editor: The North Shore Labor Council of the AFL-CIO condemns the behavior of Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer III for his continual and
These conditions might include requirements for screening vegetation between properties, specifications for exterior materials to match the main house, limits on window size and placement to protect neighbor privacy and provisions for adequate stormwater management. This authority emerged as a crucial tool for maintaining local control while adhering to state mandates.
During the meeting, board members grappled with questions about the scope of local authority under the new
inspector.” A woman answering the phone at Bartlett & Steadman on Jan. 28 declined to comment or relay a message to Michael Steadman. Steadman’s attorney, Richard Barretta, said, “It’s our policy not to comment on pending litigation.”
Bartlett & Steadman, located on Village Street, opened in 1952. Its website reads, “We serve both commercial and residential customers, helping them with their new constructions, remodels and other HVAC and plumbing jobs.
We provide honest assistance, high quality work and employ compassionate office staff working full-time to greet you
habitual disrespect toward town employees throughout the collective bargaining process. Members of the Marblehead Municipal Employees Union, represented by the IUE-CWA Local 1776, have been forced to continue working for over seven months after their contract expired.
Kezer has missed or forgotten to attend bargaining sessions, even those that have included a state-provided mediator. Even elementary aspects of bargaining, such as the mandatory fulfillment of information requests to ensure full transparency, have gone unanswered by town officials. The lack of progress in negotiations can be read
state framework. The board briefly considered restricting the Zoning Board of Appeals from granting dimensional variances for ADUs but ultimately decided against it.
“I think we have to trust the boards,” said Planning Board Chair Robert J. Schaeffner. The amendments come amid a broader push across Massachusetts municipalities to adjust their zoning codes to the Affordable Homes Act. The state law aims to expand housing options while prohibiting traditional restrictions like owner-occupancy requirements
with a smile.”
According to the 32-page wrongful death complaint, Benson called Bartlett & Steadman on July 31, 2023, just days after the install, to report that the light on the front of the boiler was not on. B&S allegedly did not come to the house to inspect the boiler.
On Nov. 6, Benson called B&S to report the boiler was leaking, according to the complaint. Again, Bartlett & Steadman allegedly did not send anyone to the home.
On Nov. 13, the complaint alleges Benson called B&S to say the “condensate box plug” was loose, with no visit from Bartlett & Steadman.
as deliberately obstructive and contrary to the rights of Marblehead town employees. While obstructing negotiations internally, Kezer has also not been forthright with the Select Board and residents of Marblehead about the lack of progress in negotiations. We condemn this anti-union behavior and the regular lack of communication to the Select Board and town residents. All interested parties have a right to know about the status of these negotiations.
We call on Kezer to immediately rectify his obstructive behavior and to bargain with the union in good faith. We call on Kezer to increase transparency
that have historically limited ADU development.
Under the new state guidelines, ADUs must not exceed 900 square feet or half the gross floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is smaller. Municipalities retain the right to impose reasonable dimensional and parking regulations but cannot require special permits for single ADUs in residential districts.
A public hearing on the proposed bylaw changes is expected to be held March 11, giving residents an opportunity to weigh in before the measure heads to Town Meeting.
“From an administrative perspective, we do need to send a lot of items out to inform abutting municipalities, as well as send additional items out to the state to review the zoning bylaws,” Eitler said, explaining the timeline for implementation.
Board members emphasized that while interior ADU conversions raise fewer concerns, the site plan review process will be particularly important for new construction and external additions.
Marblehead’s annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 5, at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Middle School Performing Arts Center, located at One Duncan Sleigh Square.
“Our family is proposing new legislation that would hold contractors criminally accountable when they fail to obtain the legally required permits and inspections for their work,” according to a statement signed by the Benson and Caruth families. “Our proposal includes a safe harbor provision for contractors who secure permits and inspections in good faith. By strengthening these standards, we aim to improve safety across Massachusetts and prevent future tragedies.”
The wrongful death complaint seeks a jury trial and unspecified monetary damages.
with the Select Board and the public about the progress of negotiations, including but not limited to holding open bargaining sessions if necessary. We also call on the Select Board to increase their oversight of the process to ensure that real progress is being made.
It is our hope that all parties will reach a fair and dignified contract before the next Marblehead Town Meeting. We urge all parties to redouble their efforts to reach a speedy and satisfactory conclusion.
In solidarity, Adam Kaszynski President, North Shore
Council, AFL-CIO
ClearGov gives Marblehead residents window into town’s financial vital signs
BY WILL DOWD
As Marblehead enters budget season, town officials are encouraging residents to utilize ClearGov, a cloud-based financial transparency platform that provides what officials have described as unprecedented access to municipal financial data.
“ClearGov enabled the town to manage its budgeting online without the hassle of multiple spreadsheet versions,” said Finance Director Aleesha Nunley Benjamin. “Previously, the town administrator was using multiple spreadsheets with outdated systems, making the budgeting process quite challenging.”
The platform allows residents to personalize their experience by entering their property tax information to see exactly how their tax dollars are allocated across town departments and services. Users can generate visual breakdowns through pie charts, bar graphs and other interactive displays.
Select Board members recently praised the digital transformation, saying it has already yielded results.
Under Benjamin’s leadership, Marblehead has received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Budget
Award for two consecutive years, recognizing excellence in budget presentation.
“We spent so much time meeting with the Finance Committee, really digging and gathering information and looking and analyzing,” Benjamin said. “To have a really solid team that understands finances, that is looking at finances, asking the right questions, and understanding what they’re looking at — it helps me tremendously.”
Benjamin encourages residents to view the platform, noting significant financial decisions await, including potential debt exclusion votes to raise taxes for school roof repairs and HVAC improvements at Mary Alley
only detaining individuals with judicial warrants or probable cause for new crimes.
Jan. 29 at the State House.
“The most important thing that MIRA wants is for people to know their rights,” Michael said, highlighting a February 6 training session. The organization offers recorded sessions on miracoalition. org and sells cards containing essential rights information.
Recent policy changes have particularly alarmed local advocates. Trump’s reversal of protections for immigrants at sensitive locations like schools and hospitals has raised concerns, though Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King has indicated the department will maintain its existing approach,
making the May Town Meeting vote crucial for maintaining local control over zoning decisions.
McQuilken underscored the urgency of compliance.
“Noncompliance is not truly an option. If we don’t act, the state won’t just walk away — they’ll step in. We either craft a plan that works for Marblehead, or we risk having one imposed on us by the courts. This vote is our chance to maintain local control.”
Since the 1970s, Keaney said Marblehead’s median age has risen from 34 to over 50, while the number of families with children under five has dropped by half. The median home price now tops $1 million, pricing out young families and preventing seniors from downsizing within their community.
“This is where our memories are. This is where our important social ties are. This is our spiritual place. This is home,” said Keaney, describing why many seniors want to stay in Marblehead. “There are many senior citizens who want to downsize and stay because they don’t want to lose those important social ties in the last stage of their lives, but they can’t afford to stay here.”
The largest proposed zone, encompassing 29.8
Baylis emphasized that community members don’t need legal expertise to make a difference.
“You don’t have to be an immigration attorney to help immigrants,” she said, suggesting roles like volunteer interpretation and transportation assistance. She shared a touching example of a volunteer who helped an Afghan family navigate court proceedings despite language barriers: “She did not speak their language, but she communicated through the kids who knew a little bit of English ... When it was lunch time, she found a place for them to eat, and then she was
Municipal Building.
Residents can access ClearGov at marblehead.org/ select-board. The platform includes a comprehensive digital budget book that breaks down everything from departmentspecific budgets to long-term debt obligations.
“I think if you want to really grasp and understand, you should go to the budget book,” Benjamin said, noting that the digital document includes detailed explanations of municipal finance concepts, organizational charts and historical data.
This digital transparency comes at a crucial time for Marblehead’s finances. The town currently faces a projected $1.8
so helpful because she was so close to the kids, she knew exactly what questions to ask them to fill out forms on behalf of the adults.”
The subcommittee plans to participate in several upcoming advocacy events, including immigration training workshops on March 18 and a Lobby Day at the State House on March 19. They will also support existing initiatives like the House of Seven Gables’ citizenship classes and upcoming “Know Your Rights” presentation on Feb. 27.
Local organizations are already seeing impacts from recent policy changes.
“We were expecting about 50 people coming from Afghanistan, and we could get ready to rally to do some support,” Lambkin
million budget gap for fiscal year 2026, with total revenues at $106.1 million (a 2.56% increase) against expenditures of $108 million (a 4.56% increase). The gap doesn’t include pending wage increases for police and municipal workers currently in contract negotiations.
The town’s reserves are also at historic lows. The stabilization fund stands at just 0.5% of the operating budget — among the lowest in Massachusetts and well below the state-recommended 5%. While the town has certified $8.7 million in free cash for FY2024, most of it ($5.5 million) was allocated to balance the current FY2025 budget, with another $1 million designated for capital needs.
These financial pressures make ClearGov’s transparency tools particularly relevant for residents trying to understand the town’s fiscal challenges.
The transition hasn’t been without challenges. Benjamin acknowledged that some traditional financial terminology can be confusing for residents, which is why ClearGov includes a glossary and explanatory sections.
For instance, the platform helps clarify concepts like “free cash” — unused fund balance
said, discussing her work with the International Institute of New England. “You will not be surprised when we connected this week that has been canceled.”
For residents interested in supporting immigrant neighbors, the committee identified several immediate needs, including volunteer interpreters, transportation assistance and housing support for refugees. Those interested in offering temporary housing can contact Lindsay Popperson through Old North Church, responding to urgent needs created by shelter capacity issues.
The subcommittee’s formation, Lambkin said, reflects growing concern about both immediate and
that’s become a crucial part of the town’s capital planning strategy. Benjamin explained that Marblehead now uses at least $1 million in free cash annually for one-time capital needs, a more sustainable approach than continuous borrowing.
The platform has also streamlined internal operations. Benjamin noted that department heads can now directly input their budget requests, while her team can perform detailed historical analyses that previously required hours of manual work.
“Start with the introduction. Look at all the different things in the introduction. I think that that’s really helpful to give them a background and understanding,” Benjamin said. For residents interested in learning more about ClearGov or needing assistance navigating the platform, Benjamin said they can contact the Finance Department at financedept@ marblehead.org.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Watch for an upcoming video tutorial on the Marblehead Current’s website where Finance Director Aleesha Nunley Benjamin provides a step-by-step guide to navigating ClearGov’s features. MarbleheadCurrent.org
long-term impacts of new immigration policies. Among the most concerning changes, according to Baylis, are plans to make naturalization more difficult through stricter testing requirements and potential processing delays.
“Under Trump, we’re going to see much tougher literacy and civics exams, and we may also see delay tactics from USCIS (U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services) in processing integration applications,” Baylis explained. She noted that even seemingly minor procedural changes, such as eliminating grace periods for application updates, could significantly impact immigrants pursuing citizenship.
To learn more, fill out marbleheaddems.org/contact-us.
compliance, leaving a maximum of 597 new units that could potentially be built.
During public comments, housing professional and Marblehead resident Jim Regis offered a sobering analysis of development economics that challenged some of the coalition’s messaging about housing opportunities.
“Building senior housing is almost impossible right now,” Regis said, citing construction costs approaching $500,000 per unit. “It’s very hard to build a $500,000 unit for one person and be able to have low, affordable rents. There just is no money for senior housing.”
acres along Tioga Way, includes existing multi-family housing developments and underdeveloped office buildings that could be converted. A 20.6acre district along Pleasant Street would incorporate downtown areas including Village Plaza, Five Corners and commercial properties like National Grand Bank, with potential for residential units above street-level businesses. The third district along Broughton Road spans 8 acres and includes existing Marblehead Housing Authority properties. Of the 897 total units required under the MBTA Communities Act, 300 existing units would count toward
Yet others saw the proposal as a crucial first step toward addressing the town’s housing challenges. Marblehead resident Nick Ward, who described himself as a “born again American,” argued passionately for broader housing access.
“Everyone deserves access to dignified housing in this country — young, old, gay, straight, black, white, Asian, but also poor, middle class, upper class,” Ward said. “It took Massachusetts 50 years to get into the housing crunch that it is in now ... This is the first step on a long journey because it was a long journey to get to where we are today.”
The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the MBTA zoning article on March 11.
William Keaney, left, and Angus McQuilken, right, speak during the “Multifamily Housing in Marblehead? Just the Facts” event.
CURRENT PHOTOS / WILL DOWD
Renee Ramirez Keaney speaks during the “Multifamily Housing in Marblehead? Just the Facts” event at the UU Church of Marblehead on Sunday, urging residents to consider the benefits of the MBTA Communities Act for young families and seniors.
Sports
Swimmers complete regular season with 24th NEC title in Guertin’s tenure as head coach
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Marblehead High swimming & diving coach Sue Guertin has been coaching the team for 35 years. It all started in 1989, and since then she has enjoyed unprecedented success, including this year, where they just wrapped up their 18th Northeastern Conference title since 2006. Only the COVID year in 2020, where no scores were kept, interrupted that streak. They also won in 1992, and five more times in the early stages of the new millennium. Altogether, since Guertin started coaching the team, they have won the conference 24 times. Plus, don’t forget, the program has won three state championships under her guidance, including the last two in 2016 and 2023 by the respective girls teams during those campaigns.
The Magicians recently ended the regular season with a 6-0 record, and that success continued late last month with more success in the annual NEC meet.
On Jan. 22, the Magicians defeated Swampscott on Senior Night, 94-78. Before recording the win, seniors Nico Altonian, captain Finn Bergquist, Olivia Bloodgood, captain Brinleigh Callahan, captain Logan Doody, Maxine Hall, Ezra Reid, captain Nate Rosen, Quinn Sullivan and
diving captain Yuri Volkov were all honored with flowers to go along with their own individual banners that bedecked the Lynch/vanOtterloo YMCA walls, which represented tributes to them after competing ever so well the last four years in the program.
Once the Swampscott meet began, it was business as usual that resulted in another win in their undefeated season. They then went on to beat visiting Danvers the very next day, 103-75. There was no rest for the weary, because the NEC Meet
followed on Jan. 23, when the divers kicked things off at the Peabody YMCA. Volkov (fourth), Elizabeth Hayes (fifth), Maxine Hall (eighth), Hailey Gilmore (seventh) and Callie Gilmore (ninth) all had top 10 finishes. The swimmers finished up the conference championship meet the next day at the Beverly YMCA.
The top 16 NEC Meet finishers in each event factored into the team scoring. The Marblehead girls collected 555 points, while the boys had 583 for a combined total of 1,138, which validated their perfect regular season. Their 1,138 points easily outdistanced second place Masco. The Chieftains ended up with 775, followed by Danvers (601), Peabody (559), Gloucester (496), Swampscott (455) and Salem (222).
In the girls 200-yard medley relay, Grace Ladouceur, Shaelyn Callahan, Berguquist and Callahan (1:59.63) finished first. Rowan Sullivan, Monica Pechhold, Maddy Auerbach and
BY JOE MCCONNELL
NAME: Elise Burchfield
AGE: 17
FAMILY: Parents: Nora and Stan; siblings: twin sister Juliet, brother Collin
SCHOOL YEAR: Senior
SPORTS YOU PLAY: Soccer and track
FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY: My favorite sport is track, because of the environment and the team.
MOST MEMORABLE
MEET FOR YOU, AND WHY: Last year’s Division 3 indoor state relay track meet, where our high jump relay team (Burchfield, Philine Heuermann and Paige Tredwell) came in first, and the girls team overall ended up winning it all for the first time in the history of the
PLANS FOR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Small colleges on the East Coast
MAJOR: Psychology DO YOU WANT TO PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE: I’d like to make the track team as a walk-on.
DESIRED CAREER: Child development psychologist or forensic psychologist. The Current sports profile is brought to you by National Grand Bank.
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High boys and girls indoor track team competed against its state peers in the annual Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Invitational on Jan. 25 at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury. The schools that were eligible to participate have student populations under 1,099. It’s essentially a mini–All-State Championship meet among Division 3, 4 and 5 schools. There was no team scoring, but
the Magicians still had many outstanding performances.
Girls high jump
Paige Tredwell cleared 5-4 for the first time in a recent meet against Saugus, and she cleared it again in this statewide environment to finish second out of 38 jumpers. Similarly, Elise Burchfield cleared 5-2 for the first time against the Sachems, and repeated that performance to end up fifth.
Boys high jump
Clark Roszell was only one of
two freshmen in the high jump competition, and as a result he placed 12th out of 34 jumpers in his first invitational.
Girls shot put
Lillian Reddy (27-3) represented her teammates in this event, and ended up 35th overall.
Girls long jump
Elise Burchfield made it to the podium after coming in fifth with a leap of 17-4.5, which
COURTESY PHOTO / ALEXANDER HUMPHREYS
Marblehead High boys indoor track junior captain Nate Jendrysik takes the lead in a preliminary round heat, while running the 55-meter hurdles during the MSTCA Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury.
COURTESY PHOTO
Marblehead High boys swimmer Lucas Rosen competes in the annual NEC meet late last month in Beverly, helping his teammates secure the top spot with 583 points.
Marblehead wrestlers end up with nine wins and a winning record to close out regular season
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High Black & Blue co-op wrestling team (9-7) won its ninth match of the season in the inaugural TriState Cup quad match at Triton Regional on Jan. 25. They lost to the host team in the Cup opener, 51-25, but then defeated York, Maine, 54-30, and Pelham, New Hampshire, in a close encounter, 43-42 to secure second place.
“It was a very good, competitive day for our team at Triton Regional in the inaugural Tri-State Cup Tournament, which also featured the Triton Vikings, Pelham Pythons and York Wildcats. Triton ended up taking home the Cup, going 3-0, while we came in second,” said coach Mike Stamison.
In the Triton match, Jaymes Carey (won by forfeit), Liam O’Brien (12-1 major decision), Mason Hinshaw and Justin Gonzalez (won by pinfall) and Alejandro Haven (9-4 decision) recorded the team’s wins. Pelham was next up, and this one was a back-and-forth battle.
Marblehead jumped out quickly to a 12-0 lead with a pinfall win by Carey and a forfeit triumph for Soren Lorenz.
Pelham came back with two wins as a result of pins to tie up the proceedings at 12. O’Brien
pinned his opponent, and young Nolan Glass picked up his firstever varsity win also via pinfall to account for the team’s early victories.
Marblehead eventually took a 24-14 lead, but the Pythons again came back, winning two more bouts via pinfall to tie things up once again.
“We have to learn to close out these potential victories,” said Stamison.
Now tied again at 24, Hinshaw was able to pin Ben Maslanek in a Gionet Tournament finals rematch to come out on top.
“We then lost the next two bouts via pin, and then had to wrestle for a tie needing two pins or to potentially win this match, according to the tie breaking rules,” said Stamison.
“We elected to forfeit to Pelham stud Billy Nicolls, who defeated Colin Hart in the Gionet finals a few weeks ago. Colin then bumped up to 215 to gain the first of his needed pins, before Justin Gonzalez stepped up in the clutch to pin Victor Zannoni for the second time this season, which forced a tie at 42. But after a lengthy reading of the rule book, it was determined that we had actually won the match.
“Our captains Liam, Mason, Colin and Gonzo did what captains are meant to do,” added
Stamison. “Jaymes continued to impress at 106, Nolan’s timely first win and our smallest team member Soren going out there and taking the forfeit netted us the win, 43-42.”
Xavier Tejeda and Jayvery Monegro also came through with exhibition wins against their Pelham counterparts.
The final match of the day was against the York, Maine Wildcats, a totally new foe for the Marblehead co-op.
“While shorthanded, they still had some tough kids, and were well prepared,” said Stamison.
“Similar to Pelham, we jumped out to a 12-0 lead with a forfeit win from Soren and a pinfall from Jaymes, who bumped up to 113. But York roared back with two wins, before Liam was able to pin his opponent at 132. York then won three straight matches via pinfall, before we took over with six straight wins by pins from Mason, Colin, Xavier and Jayvery, and forfeits that
were picked up by Phineas and Alejandro.
“Events like this bring out the competitive fire in all of us wrestlers and coaches, and to be able to coach against my friends Shawn, Arch, Penn, Jared and Ethan at Triton, Bob and R.J. at Pelham and Stashue and his staff from York was a great way to spend a Saturday morning,” added the veteran Marblehead coach.
For the record after 15 matches, Hinshaw leads the team with a 30-1 record, followed by O’Brien (29-2), Carey (23-6), Hart (22-10), Haven (20-8) and Gonzalez (17-8).
The Black & Blue kids then lost to Gloucester at Swampscott on Jan. 29, 43-34, to wrap up the regular season schedule.
Prior to the match, the team honored the two outgoing Swampscott seniors – captain Mason Hinshaw and Alejandro Haven. With their combined six years of service, their leadership and friendship will be greatly missed by everybody.
At 106 pounds, sophomore Jaymes Carey lost by forfeit.
At 113 pounds, Eva Goodman, another sophomore, scored her first takedown, but ultimately lost by pin. At 120 pounds, sophomore Maya Alix continued to improve, despite coming up short.
At 132 pounds, junior captain Liam O’Brien was credited with a technical fall. At 138 pounds, sophomore Andrew Delisle was bottled up by his Gloucester foe. At 144 pounds, senior Gary Podstrelov continues to improve, and in this match he came out on top via pin.
At 150 pounds, senior captain Clive Connolly stepped up again big time to win by technical fall. At 157 pounds, Hinshaw and Joe Allen staged the match of the night, with Allen able to break free to score an escape win, 11-10. At 165, Haven fulfilled his goal to win on Senior Night, and he delivered with a big pin. At 175 pounds, junior Phineas Jakious avenged an early season loss to senior captain Quadir Divens to come away with a late second period pin. At 190 pounds, junior captain Colin Hart ran into a tough customer, who came away with the victory. At 215 pounds, junior Xavier Tejeda ran into All-American Max Thomas, and ended up losing to him. At 285 pounds, senior Jayvery Monegro wrestled admirably, before dropping a 10-0 major decision.
Eighth grader Nolan Glass and senior Greg Podstrelov were able to record exhibition victories to close out this matchup against the Fishermen.
Magicians weekly sports notebook
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Hockey Headers win two more to remain among the leaders in Division 3
The Hockey Headers (122-1) took on Beverly and Peabody this past week. First up was Beverly at Salem State University on Jan. 29, and the Panthers took them to overtime, before junior Hayden Gallo netted the sudden death goal to secure the 3-2 victory for his teammates.
The Marblehead boys then had a Sunday matinee against the Peabody co-op in Peabody, and they proceeded to shut them out, 6-0. Three first period goals pretty much put this game on ice early.
Junior London McDonald scored the first goal from sophomores Noah Feingold and Jimmy Ryan. Gallo notched the second tally assisted by senior captain Kyle Hart and senior defenseman James Mackenzie. Hart closed out the first period with a goal of his own setup by senior captain Crew Monaco and Gallo.
Hart netted the lone second period goal from Monaco and McDonald. Monaco then got into the scoring act to begin the third period assisted by Hart and Gallo. Junior forward Andrew Dephillips completed the scoring spree with a goal from Hart and junior defenseman Andrew Watson.
As of Jan. 31, the Marblehead
Wednesday, Feb. 5
4 p.m., girls hockey, Gloucester, Talbot Rink, Gloucester
7 p.m., boys basketball, Peabody, Peabody Veterans Memorial
High
7:30 p.m., boys hockey, Winthrop, Salem State University
Thursday, Feb. 6
5 p.m., wrestling, Essex Tech, Essex Tech
6:30 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton
6:30 p.m., girls basketball, Notre Dame Academy, Notre Dame
boys are seeded fifth in the Division 3 power rankings, but that might change after Essex Tech lost its second game of the year, when Triton Regional edged them, 3-2 on Feb. 1. Essex Tech was ranked third last Friday.
Girls basketball remains on a roll
The magical season for the Marblehead High girls basketball team (11-3) continued with a couple of road wins last week against non-League Kipp Academy (50-26) and Salem (37-20).
“Both games were competitive, and it was a team effort across
Academy, Hingham Friday, Feb. 7
7 p.m., boys basketball, Salem Academy Charter, Marblehead High gym
Saturday, Feb. 8
7:30 a.m., wrestling, Whittier, Whittier Regional Vocational Tech, Haverhill
1 p.m., girls hockey, Winthrop, Larsen Arena, Winthrop
2:30 p.m., boys hockey, Danvers, Salem State University
6 p.m., gymnastics, NEC League, YMCA Sterling Center, Beverly
the board,” said coach Paul Moran. “This week, we take on (non-league) Notre Dame of Hingham, the no. 4 team in the state, on the road Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. We’ll definitely have our hands full, but it should serve as a good warmup for the state tournament.”
Tess Andriano was the scoring leader in the Kipp Academy game with 16 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Greta Sachs was next in line with nine. Maddie Forbes netted six. Sophomore Erna Henrietta Kinksy chipped in with four, along with senior captain Olivia Goldwater. Carys Moran tallied three times. Freshman Lucy
Sunday, Feb. 9
10:30 a.m., girls hockey, Ursuline Academy, Salem State University
2:30 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, NEC League, Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury
Monday, Feb. 10
6:30 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton
7 p.m., boys hockey, Gloucester, Talbot Rink, Gloucester
Tuesday, Feb. 11
7 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Ski Ward Ski Area, Shrewsbury
7 p.m., girls basketball, Gloucester,
McDonald, sophomore Kathryn Commoss and senior captain Samara Dosch accounted for two apiece.
Eliza Bland was the leading scorer against Salem with seven points. Hailey Schmitt was credited with six. Andriano, Goldwater and Dosch each came through with five. Sophomore Nora Mahan, freshman Sophie Bacon, Forbes and Kinksy ended up with two apiece. Sachs buried one free throw.
Basketball Magicians drop two at home to Masco, Salem
With eight games left on the regular season schedule
Marblehead High gym
7 p.m., boys basketball, Gloucester, Gloucester High
Wednesday, Feb. 12
7:30 p.m., boys hockey, Masconomet, Salem State University
Thursday, Feb. 13
6:30 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton
7 p.m., boys basketball, Malden, Marblehead High gym
Friday, Feb. 14
7 p.m., girls basketball, Ipswich, Marblehead High gym
as the calendar flipped from January to February, every game is important for the Marblehead High boys basketball team (5-7) that’s very much vying for a playoff berth in the Division 2 state tournament.
However, losses to Masco (64-53) and Salem (54-49) last week at home put them below the .500 mark, and that’s the line of demarcation for those teams that are able to qualify for the postseason.
Against the Chieftains, the Magicians also trailed at halftime, 40-17. “Our offensive struggles continued, as we couldn’t get the ball in the hoop throughout the first half,” said coach Mike Giardi. “At the other end of the court, Masco was on fire right away, scoring 23 of its first half points in the first quarter alone.”
Senior captain Sam Thompson led the way for Marblehead with 12 points.
It was a much closer game against the Witches. They lost by five, but only trailed by three at halftime, with Salem in front, 27-24.
“We played hard, but only took the lead once in the second half, and Salem immediately responded to get it right back,” said Giardi.
Junior Adam Loughlin paced the attack for the home team with 12 points. Senior captain Matt Sherf chipped in with 10.
Saturday, Feb. 15
TBA, wrestling, MIAA tournament, TBA
5:30 p.m., girls hockey, Beverly, Ray Bourque Arena, Beverly
Sunday, Feb. 16
10:30 a.m., girls hockey, Medford, Salem State University
6 p.m., boys basketball (tournament), Gloucester, Marblehead High gym
Monday, Feb. 17
TBD, boys basketball (tournament), TBD, Marblehead High gym 5 p.m., boys hockey (tournament), Triton, Graf Skating Rink, Newburyport
COURTESY PHOTO / HEADERS HOCKEY TWITTER ACCOUNT
On Jan. 29 at Salem State University, the Marblehead High boys hockey seniors were honored on Senior Night, prior to the game against Beverly. They are, from left, James Mackenzie, captain Sean Dolan, captain Crew Monaco, captain Kyle Hart, captain Leo Burdge, Brayden Greenway and Colin White.
established a new school record. Tredwell finished 28th with a jump of 15-7.25, and Zoe Dwyer was 47th with a jump of 14-7, but was sixth best among her freshman counterparts.
Girls 55-meter hurdles
Tredwell ran a season best time of 9.04 to finish fifth, while Elise Burchfield came in 15th in a time of 9.43.
Boys 55-meter hurdles
Noah Jackson led the Marblehead boys, finishing 17th in a time of 8.54. “It was a frustrating race as Noah tagged a few hurdles, which slowed his time down quite a bit,” said coach Danny Plunkett. “It’s a race of near margins, and sometimes things don’t go your way. But Noah will continue to push the eight-second barrier, which is unbelievable to even consider for a sophomore. Nate Jendrysik (8.94) battled through a calf injury to run his best electronic time of the season to come in 37th.
Girls 55-meter dash
Ava Machado came in eighth with a time of 7.46 in the prelims and 7.49 in the finals. “Ava was fatigued from the Saugus meet just two days earlier, but she still qualified for the finals, while running near her school record time of 7.44,” said coach
Nolan Raimo. “Ava will look to run a sub-7.40 in the upcoming Northeastern Conference (Feb. 9) and State Championship (Feb. 14) Meets.”
Lucy Flynn continues to have an impressive sophomore year after coming in 15th, while also setting a new personal best time of 7.64. But she was tied for fourth among underclassmen. Dwyer ended up 66th in a time of 8.12.
Boys 55-meter dash
Jacob Bobowski sprinted to a 27th place finish in a time of 6.84. Ryan Corrigan (6.93) finished 42nd.
Girls 300
Machado (43.81) came in 24th, and Flynn lowered her best time considerably to 44.46
to finish 27th. “There were 56 competitors in this event, and for Ava and Lucy to finish in the top half with tired legs was quite the feat,” said Raimo. “Lucy only started running the 300 a few weeks ago, and she has already made tremendous progress.”
Girls 4x200
Juliet Burchfield, Machado, Flynn and Dwyer (2:02.09) came in 16th. “Unfortunately, an outgoing runner walked down the track, which should’ve resulted in a disqualification for interfering with the handoff between Ava and Zoe,” said Raimo. “Juliet Burchfield ran her first career 200 on short notice to aid the relay team, and she ran a quality split among the top sprinters in the state.”
Boys 4x200
Bobowski, Corrigan, Marc Grazado and Slater Johnson finished 19th with a season best time of 1:38.09. “Marc Grazado volunteered his services for this relay on short notice as his plan was to focus on the 4x400. The handoffs were clean, and the group still ran a quality time,” said Raimo.
Girls 4x400
Norah Walsh, Margaret Miller, Sarah Munroe and Marri O’Connell (4:23.38) sprinted to a medal and an eighth-place finish. “In a race often dominated by sprinters, Norah, Maggie, Sarah and Marri stepped down from their distance events and ran stridefor-stride with elite sprinters to score a medal,” said Raimo. “It
was an impressive consistency of all the splits ranging from 65 to 69 seconds.”
Boys 4x400
Johnson, Grazado, Jacob Szalewics and Nate Assa put on a performance to finish sixth in a season best time of 3:37.07. “Nate and Jacob finished the 4x800, and somehow came back on the track just a few minutes later to run great splits,” said Raimo, “and Marc and Slater hovered around the 54-55 second split mark, which are season bests, and Nate and Jacob closed out the relay combining for an average split of 53 seconds. There were discussions of having Nate and Jacob ease up on their legs, but when they both got the baton in the middle of the pack, they went for it.”
Abby Moore (2:09.33) came in fourth.
Brinleigh Callahan (2:12.06) was credited with a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle, followed by Abby Moore (2:13.61) fifth and Ari Jiminez-Tarasiuk (2:41.13) 13th. Ladouceur (2:18.87) accounted for second in the 200-yard IM. Rowan Sullivan (2:42.12) chipped in with seventh place finish, and Zoe Stachera (2:55.52) was 14th.
Auerbach (29.34) was third in the 50-yard freestyle. Olivia Bloodgood (32.69) had a seventhplace finish, while Meredith Kreevoy (33.55) was close behind in 10th.
Bergquist (1:01.80) and Auerbach (1:08.66) were credited with second and third place finishes in the 100-yard butterfly. Stachera (1:29.26) recorded a 12th place finish.
Ladouceur (57.40) and Moore (1:00.60) topped the ticket in the 100-yard freestyle. Elizabeth Hayes (1:11.21) came in sixth. Shaelyn Callahan (5:46.65) and Brinleigh Callahan (5:4693) were the top two finishers in the 500-yard freestyle. Monica Pechhold (6:19.94) was fifth. Hayes, Pechhold, Auerbach and Moore (1:57.85) went to the head of the class in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Ari Tarasiuk, Bloodgood, Stachera and Meredith Kreevoy came in fourth.
Bergquist (1:03.19) was no. 1 in the 100-yard backstroke. Kreevoy (1:25.76) recorded a 12th place finish. Shaelyn Callahan (1:17.05) and Pechhold (1:20.98) were the leaders in the 100-yard breaststroke. Sullivan (1:25.56) finished sixth. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Bergquist, Brinleigh Callahan, Shaelyn Callahan and Ladouceur (4:01.65) were the top quartet. Hayes, Sullivan, Kreevoy and Stachera (4:49.14) teamed up for an eighthplace finish.
The boys’ meet started off with the 200-yard medley relay, and the team of Ian Chemel, Cale Nelson, Brady Leveroni and Doody (1:46.47) touched the end of the pool first. Omar Elnabarawy, Orion Lewis, Volkov and Quinn Sullivan
(1:54.58) were able to pick up second place points. Nate Rosen (1:54.98) came through with a firstplace finish in the 200yard freestyle. Ian Chemel (1:57.42) was third, and Phillip Gaber (2:23.10) seventh. Nelson (2:05.61) and Leveroni (2:10.28) were credited with second and third place finishes in
the 200-yard IM. Paxton Swanson (2:39.43) came in sixth, and Leo DiCostanzo (3:02.68) 11th.
Doody (222.69) bested the entire 50-yard freestyle field. Sullivan (27.19) came in ninth, Reid (27.76) 12th. Leveroni (57.57), Lewis (59.45) and Volkov (1:04.48) swept the 100-yard butterfly.
Doody (50.35) and Elnabarawy (52.22) topped the ticket in the 100-yard freestyle. Gaber (1:02.12) was eighth. Nate Rosen (5:19.56) led the way in the
500-yard freestyle with a second-place finish. Reid (6L27.03), Lucas Rosen (6:31.77) and Swanson (6:36.38) were credited with sixth, seventh and eighth place finishes. Chemel, Lewis, Elnabarawy and Nate Rosen (1:35.64) led the pack in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Reid, Gaber, Lucas Rosen and Volkov (1:50.68) teamed up to finish seventh. Nelson (56.27), Chemel (58.79) and Elnabarawy (1:00.14) swept the 100-yard backstroke. DiCostanzo (1:19.22) rounded out the top 10 in 10th place. Lewis (1:10.94) came through with a secondplace finish in the 100yard breaststroke. Lucas Rosen (1:17.01, seventh), Sullivan (1:22.08, ninth) and Henry Reid (1:43.35, 15th) also competed in the event.
Nate Rosen, Nelson, Leveroni and Doody (3:30.25) were second to none in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Gaber, Reid, Lucas Rosen and Sullivan (4:15.86) came in fifth. The teams are now getting ready to compete in the North sectional (Feb. 8, 9) and state championship meets (Feb. 15, 16), as they strive to bring home titles, this time on the statewide level.
COURTESY PHOTO / ALEXANDER HUMPHREYS
Marblehead High girls indoor track senior captain Paige Tredwell, who is front and center, wins her preliminary round heat in the 55-meter hurdles during the MSTCA Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury on Jan. 25.
COURTESY PHOTOS
The Marblehead High boys and girls swim team celebrates in the pool after winning the annual NEC Meet in Beverly on Jan. 24 with a combined total of 1,138 points. During the regular season, they were a perfect 6-0.
Marblehead High boys senior swim captain Nate Rosen earns four first-places during the annual NEC meet in Beverly on Jan. 24
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
Social media’s impact on kids and teens
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6:308:30 p.m.
Hear Jill Walsh speak at the Tower School, 75 West Shore Drive, about the impact of social media and devices on children and teens. Walsh is the founder of Digital Aged, a consulting group that educates students, families and educational institutions about positive technology use Walsh will discuss ways that parents can set clear parameters for their children regarding devices, including games, apps, who they can follow on social media and the amount of on-device time they want for their children. Free and open to the public. Reserve your seat at tinyurl.com/towertalks2025.
Indoor Sidewalk Sale
Saturday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The Chamber of Commerce is hosting its Indoor Sidewalk Sale at the Masonic Lodge, 62 Pleasant St. You’ll find retailers All Chic at 152, Marblehead Sport Shop, The Abbey Studio, Wicked Ducks and more.
Frosty Fest on Atlantic Avenue
Saturday, Feb. 8, 10
a.m.-5 p.m.
Beat the winter blues at Atlantic Avenue’s Frosty Fest. Head over to Atlantic Avenue for a day of sweet treats, tastings, discounts and pop-up guest artisans.
Participating businesses include Chic Streets, Mino’s, Philbrook Market, Pint Size & Up, Plus Cafe, Room Tonic, Sweetwater and Twin Lion.
Meatless Meals workshop
Sunday, Feb. 9, 1-2 p.m.
Did you know that eating less meat is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprint? It also conserves resources like water and land, which are heavily used in meat production, and helps prevent deforestation for grazing or feed crops. Join local cooking expert Holly Willsey-Walker to learn about meatless meal strategies and family-friendly recipes. Willsey-Walker will share her favorite vegetarian recipes, meat substitutes and how to add more veggies to your family’s meals in creative ways. She’ll also give advice on clever hacks like adding pureed beans to ingredients like ground beef or turkey to minimize your
Breed: Mixed
Size: Small
Age: Adult
Sex: Female
Perhaps using one of those special collars that translate a dog’s thoughts into speech from the movie “Up,” volunteers at the Marblehead Animal Shelter were able to “interview” Tasha, who is available for adoption.
Here’s what Tasha had to say:
“Hi there! My name is Tasha, and I am a friendly, quiet, gentle and affectionate 7-yearold adult dog. Have you noticed that I have the most soulful eyes? I love to go on walks and
Have a Heart Friday, Feb. 7, 4-11:30 p.m. Support the nonprofit New England Donor Services with heart transplant recipient Gary Swain of Marblehead. The Have a Heart fundraiser at The Beacon Restaurant, 123 Pleasant St., will feature The Chris Fitz Band, food and more. Dinner service begins at 4 p.m., fundraising activities start at 6 p.m., and live music starts at 8 p.m.. Reservations are recommended and can be made at thebeaconmarblehead. com or by calling The Beacon at 781-631-0180.
use of meats. Come hungry — you’ll be able to taste some of her favorite recipes. The workshop is free. Register at sustainablemarblehead.org/event-details/ meatless-meals-workshop.
Allan Chase Trio
Sunday, Feb. 9, 3-5 p.m.
Enjoy live jazz with the Allan Chase Trio at 10 Central St. Tickets are $20-$35 cash. Enter on the second floor and bring slippers. Reservations required by contacting 781-888-4312 or MargiFlint117@gmail.com.
play, but I am also very good at being calm and quiet when I sense that it is time to relax. I don’t mind being left alone and will probably take a nap while you are out. If you’re looking for a sweet and funny pup, I’m the one for you! I have never lived with young children, so a home without them would be best. I do love everyone that I have met so far. I promise to be a very loving companion who will always be there for you. Be aware, however, that I am not good with other dogs, but I am fine with cats. I can’t wait to find a forever home where
I can be loved and cared for by my human companions. My previous owner had an accident and could no longer care for me. Do you have room in your heart and home for a sweet girl like me? If you are interested in adopting me, please contact the shelter to set up a meet and greet. I can’t wait to meet you!”
Tasha is up to date with routine shots, house trained and spayed.
If you are interested in Tasha, fill out an adoption application at marblehead-animal-shelter. org, and you will be contacted.
Little Women read-aloud with Marblehead Little Theatre
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2-4 p.m.
Marblehead Little Theatre is presenting the musical, “Little Women,” Feb. 21-March 2. In partnership with Abbot Public Library, MLT is holding a free read-aloud event of selections of the novel. This event will feature a warm and glowing fire, cast members, light refreshments and a variety of readers, including several community leaders.
From movies to Marblehead, meet Daniel R. Harvey
BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Daniel R. Harvey, owner of Daniel Harvey Construction, conducted by Discover Marblehead. To learn more about the business, visit danielharveyconstruction.com.
Tell us about Daniel Harvey Construction and why you started it. In 2017, I had the opportunity to start working with many wonderful customers here in Marblehead and its surrounding towns. Daniel Harvey Construction was started to provide top-notch carpentry and general construction services to our North Shore communities that we all call home. Working exclusively on local projects not only means keeping Marblehead looking its best, but it also means using vendors and tradesmen who live and work in the community. In doing so, we’re constantly helping to re-invest in our neighborhoods, small businesses and community organizations that make it a privilege to live here. Our motto is: Quality, Care, Ethics, and we strive to embody those principles in all
our work.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? The best piece of advice I ever received was, “Design styles may come and go, but quality workmanship is always in fashion.”
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? Marblehead means a lot of different things to each person who lives or visits here. It goes without saying, it’s always been a sailing town. One of my favorite spots is Riverhead Beach after the crowds have decided it’s a bit too cold outside and most of the boats are out of the harbor. Come high tide on a sunny day, it’s the perfect time to launch my small sailboat and enjoy the
calm of the quiet harbor and the autumn colors throughout town from a unique perspective.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Before transitioning into construction, I worked in the Los Angeles film industry
and was trying to break into the field of cinematography. While ultimately moving away from that lifestyle, I came away with a very good understanding of what a small team of people can do when they are highly skilled, invested and confident in what they are aiming to achieve.
There’s quite a bit of overlap between what it takes to have an effective film crew and what a well-functioning construction crew looks like.
The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.
Curries for every occasion
BY LINDA BASSETT
Last week, I sampled the tastes of Thailand, India, Singapore and Japan. I inhaled the scents of garlic, Thai basil, cilantro, coconut milk and curry.
On Aquidneck Island near Newport, Rhode Island. With cooks who learned the mystique of Asian flavors during their many travels.
When I cook, I typically default to familiar Mediterranean, Caribbean and American recipes. These are the foods baked into my bones, my psyche. My pantry is packed with items that support those genres. A weeklong break from these ingredients and techniques took me out of my comfort zone. I discovered new ways to flavor squash and elevate a plain egg salad. A 9-year-old taught me to roll sushi. I tempered broccoli’s bitterness with coconut milk. I learned, despite its umami (savoriness) qualities, it is advisable to steer clear of open bottles of fish sauce.
Once home, I foraged specialty shops for rice wine vinegar, curry powder and tamari. The supermarket’s international shelves are another treasure trove. Curries ease a cook into a culinary tour of Asia, whether a creamy soup or a dinner main course; or egg salad meant to be wrapped in lettuce leaves but equally good stuffed into a pita. Peanuts and coconut and hot pepper flakes add unique dimensions to soup and spark previously bland chicken with rice. I’ve adapted each one from busy cooks using mixed curry powders, pre-cut and peeled hard squash and frozen veggies to save time on a workday.
WINTER SQUASH AND CURRY SOUP
It’s worth the extra cost to buy the precut butternut squash. If the pieces are too large, cut them in half or increase cooking time. If you can find tiny Thai basil at the supermarket, it adds extra scent when scattered over the top of the hot soup.
` ¼ cup canola oil
`
or 1
` 4 lbs. butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch cubes
` 2 (13-oz.) cans coconut milk
` 6 tbsp. Thai green curry paste
` 2 to 3 tbsp. fish sauce
` 3½ cups chicken stock
` Salt, to taste
` ¾ cup unsalted roasted peanuts
` ¾ cup coconut flakes, unsweetened ` Red pepper flakes, to taste
` 1 tbsp. canola oil
` ½ tsp. sugar ` 3 limes, quartered
` Thai basil leaves, optional
Heat oven to 300 F.
Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion or shallot, ginger and pinch of salt. Cook, stirring until onions are wilted golden.
» Add squash, coconut milk, curry
paste, fish sauce and 3 cups of stock. Raise heat and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook, covered, until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, 20 to 30 minutes.
» Toss together peanuts, coconut flakes, fish sauce and pepper flakes. Spread mixture on a baking sheet and cook in a preheated oven, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until coconut is browned. Pour mixture into a bowl and squeeze juice of one lime over it.
» Take soup off heat and puree with a hand (stick) blender. If too thick, add more stock until desired consistency. Ladle into bowls and scatter coconut mixture over top. Serve with lime wedges.
CURRIED CHICKEN AND PEANUTS
Basmati rice sticks together (Read package directions.) If unavailable, American long grain rice will work.
` ¼ cup canola oil
` ½ cup diced red onion
` 1½ tbsp. mild curry powder
` Salt, pepper
` 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
` 1½ cups frozen mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, corn)
` 1 cup cooked basmati rice
` ⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro
` 2 tbsp. sliced scallions (white part)
` ¾ cup dry-roasted salted cashews
» In a nonstick deep skillet over medium heat, add oil and onion. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes, until onions are soft and translucent. Add curry powder, salt and pepper. Add chicken, stirring until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes. Add frozen vegetables. Cook, stirring, 2 to 3 minutes.
Stir in cooked rice, making sure oil and spices coat it. Keep stirring until rice heats through, about 4 minutes.
» Shower cilantro, scallions and cashews over top, and toss lightly before serving.
CURRIED EGG SALAD
` 8 hard-boiled eggs, finely chopped
` ⅓ cup mayonnaise
` 1½ tsp. fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice
` 2 tsp. curry powder
` ½ tsp. sugar
` ½ tsp. dry mustard
` ½ tsp. salt
` ¼ tsp. fresh ground black pepper
` 2 tbsp. chopped scallions
` 2 tbsp. minced fresh parsley or cilantro
` Large soft lettuce leaves, for wrapping
» In a large bowl, combine chopped hard-boiled eggs with mayo, lemon, curry powder, sugar, mustard, salt, pepper and tabasco.
» Add scallions and toss gently. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to let flavors mingle. Scoop onto lettuce leaves, into pitas or onto sandwich bread.
Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-andcoming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.
COURTESY PHOTO
Daniel Harvey is the owner of Daniel Harvey Construction.
Capt. William Keith Hall, 74
Capt. William Keith Hall, 74, born Feb. 10, 1950, in Wilmington, Delaware returned to the sky on Jan. 8 with his loving family by his side. Keith grew up spending his time watching planes fly overhead at Woodlawn Park saying, “I don’t
POLICe LOG
know where they’re going, I just want to be on them.” Those dreams became reality upon his
graduation from the University of Delaware. He earned his Naval aviator wings and began a 30-year journey of soaring above the clouds with the Navy and as an international airline captain with Delta. Upon joining Delta, Keith and his wife, Linda, settled in Marblehead and called Watson Street home for 30 years where they raised their son Max and some of their many border collies. In 2007, Keith was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, embarking him on a new life’s mission. Never once complaining of his diagnosis, Keith, who
had experienced first hand the benefits of exercise and his Parkinson’s symptoms, founded Parkinson’s Fitness, a nonprofit dedicated to helping those in the North Shore area fight Parkinson’s via free exercise and community oriented classes. Keith is survived by his wife Linda of Salem, son Max and his fiancée Annie of Boston, and mother-in-law Joyce Nolan of Wilmington, Delaware. He is predeceased by his parents, Bill and Virginia Hall of Wilmington and father-in-law, Gerald Nolan of Wilmington.
Relatives and friends are invited to Keith’s memorial service which will be held at O’Donnell Cremations — Funerals – Celebrations, 84 Washington Square, (at Salem Common) Salem on Saturday, March 1, at 11 a.m. All other services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider making a donation to Parkinson’s Fitness to help carry on his legacy parkinsonsfitness.org/ donate/. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit odonnellfuneralservice.com.
Oh snow! A neighbor dispute over shoveling
BY WILL DOWD
Excerpts from the Marblehead police log for Jan. 19-29.
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.
Jan. 19
5:01 p.m. — Officers Robert Picariello and Tyler Bates responded to The Beacon Restaurant on Pleasant Street for an alleged dispute between a Lyft driver and passenger. The passenger had initially requested a ride to a nearby
In Brief
Marblehead Current intern wins Essex Heritage contest
Grey Collins, a Marblehead Current intern, has been named among the winners of the 2024 Essex Heritage Photo Contest. Collins’ winning image captures a dog gazing through a window, with historic buildings reflected in the background. The annual contest, organized by Essex Heritage, showcases photography that highlights the unique character of Essex County. Winning photographs can be viewed on Essex Heritage’s website at essexheritage.org.
Eight citizen petitions filed as Town Meeting warrant closes
Eight citizen petitions were submitted before the warrant
Dunkin Donuts but attempted to change the destination to Walgreens in Swampscott after the driver arrived. When informed he would need to update the ride location in the app, the passenger became agitated. Officers mediated the situation, and the passenger agreed to cancel the Lyft service and arrange for a taxi instead, a solution that had worked successfully in a previous incident the night before.
Jan. 20
2:03 p.m. — Officer Adam Mastrangelo met with a resident at police headquarters regarding an alleged escalating property line dispute on Sapphire Avenue.
The reporting party explained that she had shoveled snow onto a contested section of property between driveways, leading to a confrontation with neighbors. The resident expressed concerns about past threats regarding her vehicle and parking restrictions. The officer advised her to consider using her own driveway and relocating snow to reduce neighbor interactions, while confirming her right to use public street parking.
Jan. 22
1:53 p.m. — Officer Charles Sweeney assisted a resident who received an apparent fraud attempt involving the Federal Reserve. The scammer
closed for Marblehead’s May 5 Town Meeting, which will convene at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Middle School Performing Arts Center, 1 Duncan Sleigh Square.
The warrant, which serves as the meeting’s agenda, closed officially at noon on January 31
» Convene the meeting at 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon after Saturday and Sunday morning religious services and youth events like sports.
» ·Provide free childcare in the Veterans School classrooms. High school students would provide this care for community service credits. Transport the elderly and disabled for free.
Conduct two meetings each year. One in the spring before the start of the fiscal year for financially oriented articles. And a second in the fall for other articles. Special meetings could always be convened.
In my view, the Holy Grail would be a hybrid Town Meeting providing in-person and remote, on-line participation. There are solutions today that enable presentation, discussion, voting and meeting control and they will only get better. But once again overbearing, antiquated state law prohibits it. The state does, however, have a study committee that may weigh-in with recommendations sometime this century.
Reimagining the warrant
Speaking of weigh-in, the warrant needs to go on Wegovy or Zepbound for fast weight loss. Another way to increase attendance is to reduce the amount of time and effort required to attend. The
for municipal submissions.
Last year, citizens’ petitions included a repeal bylaw and changes to the leaf blower ban. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer expected to make public the citizens petitions the week of Feb. 3. Go to MarbleheadCurrent.org for the latest.
2024 meeting required seven hours, 17 minutes over two evenings even with electronic voting. A goal — reduce the time to less than four hours so it can be completed in one evening or afternoon.
Town Meeting also needs a Capital One reimagining for modern times. We should not maintain the “as usual”, to quote Erin Noonan, Select Board chair, framework of what the warrant is, does and its hodgepodge of articles. Consider what we do and do not vote on. For example, Town Meeting votes on:
· $100 Town Moderator budget but not the $9.3 billion aggregate real estate valuation, its $84.1 million tax levy and tax rate
· Salaries and pay scales of all municipal employees, but none for the school department
· Municipal service operating budgets for 29 departments, but only one $46.7 million operating budget for the schools
· Operating budgets for some of our enterprise services — water, sewer, harbor — but not their service rates. And no votes for the Light Department.
Below is a comparison of the Town Meeting votes taken last May compared to a reimagined warrant. There were 53 articles and Article 26 encompassed 10 extra votes for a total of 63 votes.
Highlights of this reimagined warrant:
Total votes reduced from 63 to 33, a reduction of 50%.
» Municipal services operating budget
votes reduced from 18 to one. Of the 18
first sent an official-looking email claiming to have initiated an investigation, then followed up with a phone call from someone identifying themselves as Kevin Brown from the Federal Reserve. The caller claimed Russian hackers had withdrawn $35,000 from the resident’s Eastern Bank account and demanded cash payment. The resident wisely terminated the call and contacted Eastern Bank directly, confirming no unauthorized withdrawals had occurred. The officer provided guidance on monitoring accounts and recommended immediate contact with police if anyone appears at the
State officials warn of avian flu outbreak State environmental officials report that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is suspected in the deaths of over 60 Canada geese, swans and other birds at Billington Sea in Plymouth, with smaller outbreaks affecting fewer than 15 geese reported elsewhere in Massachusetts. There have been no confirmed cases of avian flu in birds in Marblehead.
Officials urge residents to avoid handling sick or dead birds and to report findings of five or more dead birds at a single location at mass.gov/reportbirds. Cat owners in affected areas should keep pets indoors as cats are highly susceptible to infection. To report sick domestic birds, contact the Mass Department of Agricultural Resources at 617-626-1795.
NE Arc volunteers assist MLT theater
Northeast Arc staff and volunteers helped Marblehead
votes taken last May, an average of 85% of voters voted yes. We would no longer have to sit through the tedious approval of pay scales, salaries and the multitude of department specific budgets.
The scope of votes would be expanded in a few areas. Aggregate real estate valuation, tax levy and tax rate would require approval, not just the amount of free cash used to reduce the tax rate.
For our enterprise funds, approval of their entire operations including operating budget, capital budget and rates or rate changes would be required.
A few financial articles combined municipal services and school items. These would be segregated in a reimagined warrant to understand
residence requesting money.
Jan. 24
7:03 p.m. — Officer Jason McDonald responded to the Village Market on Pleasant Street for a 911 Apple watch fall alert. The victim reported she was crossing the parking lot when a white SUV approached, forcing her to jump backward to avoid being struck. The SUV’s occupants initially stopped to help her up and appeared to be following her request to come into the market but departed without providing information. A witness was identified but had not yet responded to police at the time of the report.
Little Theatre last week prepare for its upcoming production of “Little Women, The Broadway Musical.” Six volunteers and two staff members from NE Arc assisted with the theater’s transformation, which included removing seating, cleaning and moving risers, and resetting the theater’s seating configuration. The process, which typically requires five to six hours, was completed in just three hours with NE Arc’s assistance.
Select Board seeks ConCom member
The Marblehead Select Board is seeking letters of interest and résumés from individuals interested in serving on the Conservation Commission. Submissions can be sent to the Select Board at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or via email to wileyk@marblehead.org. The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 7. Interviews will be conducted on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. at Abbot Hall.
the complete cost of schools versus municipal services.
» Any new or changes in taxes, fees, zoning, land use, town election rules, etc. would still require approval.
Citizen petitions are a problem. Of the 12 on the warrant last year, eight were withdrawn or indefinitely postponed. Nuisance articles are wasting our time and money to process, print and consider. The number of signatures required should be increased from a measly 10 to something more significant like 50, the same number required to run for town office. There should be limits on how frequently a topic can be placed on the warrant — perhaps 10 years for leaf blower regulations. Otherwise, we will be voting on leaf blowers each year until the trees die from climate change. I don’t advocate abandoning open Town Meeting. But we do need to fix it. It’s past time to do something radical. It won’t be easy. Changes in by-laws, special acts and overbearing state laws will be required. If the changes don’t work, who cares? Open Town Meeting is already broken. It can’t get worse. Then we might have to consider a different type of representative democratic government.
James (Seamus) Hourihan was born in Marblehead and is a MHS graduate. For 35 years, he worked in finance, marketing and executive management roles at high-tech companies. He has lived here full-time since 2009. He currently sits on the Town Charter Committee.
COURTESY PHOTO / GREY COLLINS A dog peers through a window while Marblehead’s historic architecture is reflected in the glass, in this Essex Heritage Photo Contest winning image by Current intern Grey Collins.
Shining a light on the news you care about!
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community
A word on the late David Lynch
by Nathaniel Carper-Young, Junior
A dark cloud emerged over the heads of cult film auteur-icon David Lynch’s devotees when he announced his emphysema diagnosis on August 5th of last year. This announcement was made from his X (formerly Twitter) account; in the same post, he declared that “I am filled with happiness, and I will never retire,” which temporarily assuaged concerns for some, or at least offered a silver lining of some kind. Still, his declining health has been on the minds of many—certainly mine, as an avid and longtime fan of Lynch’s.
On January 16th, 2025, David Lynch passed away due to complications with his emphysema. Despite the long-looming shadow of his worsening condition, the news was nevertheless seismically shocking — he was a one-of-a-kind giant of his craft, the sort of figure you almost cannot conceive of a world without. His death initially left many (again, myself included) completely incredulous: what would the cinema look like— how might it manage to function?—in the absence of the man who made Eraserhead, Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, and a dozen other timeless touchstones of the medium? He was arguably the single most influential independent American filmmaker to emerge from the latter half of the 20th century; he fathered film culture as we know it today. How is it that one could hope to continue creating in a bastard ecosystem?
The answer to that question, at least to a certain extent, lies in his body of work. While much of it was indeed very dark—he produced some of cinema’s most terrifying villains in Blue Velvet’s Frank Booth and Lost Highway’s Mystery Man—his chief interests always lay in the ideal of working toward a better world.
Take for example Blue Velvet, a film most often remembered for its abject psychosexual terrors and conceptualizations of an America full of infernal underbellies. Its oft-overlooked conclusion harkens back to a previous exchange between its two protagonists in which robins—yes, the birds—are crudely identified as a surrogate for “love” (and therefore all that is good in this world); in one of the film’s final shots, a robin appears on the screen for the first time. Then, in the film’s closing shot, the camera observes first the film’s victim (Isabella Rossellini) finally reunited with her child after a painful period of separation, then, it tilts up to the sky, as if longingly gazing into heaven. So, even after Blue Velvet’s myriad depravities come and go, Lynch remains unflinching in his optimism for a brighter America, for a happier people, for a better world.
It seems only natural to extrapolate this philosophy to the cinema: in a medium that feels like it’s dying and whose masters are leaving us in droves, we must fight, we must create, and we must continue on in pursuit of greatness, of life; if not for ourselves, for Lynch. The robins will not come all on their own.
Marblehead High School's mock trials
Teagan Freedman, Sophomore
Mock Trial is one of the many clubs students at Marblehead High School can participate in. It has been compared to science because “in both science and court, the answer has to be worked at and found.”
Besides the club advisor, Mock Trial has an adult volunteer who knows the ins and outs of court and can help revise work and prepare the students for the trials. This club has been preparing since the beginning of the year.
The goal of a trial is to get the most points, regardless of
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
the verdict of the case. Judges are played by lawyers, who offer their time and expertise to high schoolers. Many stay after the case to answer questions and give advice. The students are all scored out of ten, and then everyone's scores are added up to get a total of 110 points.
MHS Mock Trial won two out of three of their preliminary cases. The first trial was held on January 15, when we played the defense and lost. After a week of revisions and hard studying, we were able to win the next trial as defense. The latest trial
was our first and only role as plaintiff.
This year there are three captains who help revise and teach others what to expect during the trial. With all the captains being seniors, they will have to decide who the next captains will be, with most of the students only having one year of experience.
I enjoy Mock Trial because it forces us to think on both
sides of the case and gives us firsthand experience in a courtroom. We get to learn about objections and what all the paperwork we receive is used for. We have to think on our feet when an objection is presented and create persuasive arguments in a limited amount of time. It is a great way to stay connected at school and practice public speaking.
Just running (jumping, throwing, and hurdling) in circles!
Maddie Gelb, Sophomore
You know those kids you see walking to school with more than one backpack, or the kids with what seems like 100 of the same sweatshirts that all have something along the lines of “Championship, D3 Relays or Divisionals” printed onto it, well those are most likely members of the MHS Track and Field Team.
Two weekends ago, on January 18, nearly 70 of the 130+ members on the track team raced to victory at the iconic Reggie Lewis Track in Roxbury, MA, in a qualifying meet that all competitors were proud and excited to compete at. This meet in particular had many switches in the relay teams due to injury and illness, but everyone did a great job stepping up to the plate to compete in a race/events that some have never done before. For example, we had some sprinters in distance races and distance runners in sprinting races, and in all of these areas we had many athletes that really excelled. Our best runners, coming in second in the boys' 1600m Sprint Medley
Relay, were Ryan Corrigan, Jacob Bobowski, Henrik Adams, and Jacob Szalewicz, who did not let us down with an impressive 3:38.33 minute time overall.
We placed first with a 5.21 meter long jump performed by Elise Burchfield and an incredible 800m time by Marrietta O’Connell. We also won third place with the girls' 4 x 50 yard dash and the girls' 4 x 50 yard shuttle hurdle. As said by Head Coach Raimo and Distance Coach Herlihy, “The team time of 10:07.06 is Marblehead's fifth fastest indoor time and sixth fastest of all time. This team could definitely threaten the all time Marblehead record [for the 4x800 meter relay] (9:52) later this season and beyond as O’Connell (junior), Munroe (sophomore), Miller (sophomore), and Becker (freshmen) continue to train and improve.”
The Marblehead teams had significant success with a fourth place finish for the girls' team, who were just two points shy of second place, and the boys, who tied for sixth place!
Headlight Staff 2024 -2025
Benji Boyd ASSISTANT EDITORS: Grey Collins, Kathleen Hanson, Georgia Marshall FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins
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
Marblehead resident, Glover’s strategic military brilliance was crucial to the Revolutionary War, Daly said. Leading the Marblehead regiment, he saved Gen. George Washington’s army at Long Island and ensured victory at Trenton by ferrying troops across the Delaware River on Christmas in 1776.
After the Revolutionary War, Glover returned to Marblehead and resumed his role as a community leader despite the toll the war had taken on his health and fortune. He was
elected as a selectman six times, a role that allowed him to directly shape the town’s governance and recovery in the post-war years. During his tenure, he worked to rebuild the town’s economy and infrastructure, which had suffered during the conflict.
The ceremony concluded with three thunderous musket volleys and shouts of “huzzah” ringing out. The regiment members and a smaller crowd marched to general’s historic home on Glover’s Square, lanterns bobbing in the dark, to fire their musket in one more final salute.
CURRENT PHOTOS / WILL DOWD
Members of the Glover Regiment fire a volley of musket shots in honor of General John Glover at his tomb on Old Burial Hill during the annual commemorative march.
Reenactors, dressed in 18th-century military attire, hold muskets at attention, prepared to pay tribute to General John Glover’s legacy in Marblehead.
COURTESY PHOTO / SAM BIGELOW
A Glover Regiment’s captain, Seamus Daly, speaks by Gen. John Glover’s tomb, highlighting the general’s sacrifices and leadership during the Revolutionary War.