03.27.2024 – Volume 2, Issue 18

Report describes student restraint violations

CIC makes recommendations; still no update on suspended Glover staff

BY LEIGH BLANDER Interim Superintendent

Theresa McGuinness released a heavily redacted investigative report that details a Nov. 20 student restraint crisis at the Glover School and how educators violated policies. She also announced plans for the district to retrain all staff on proper restraints and

Ta

procedures. When asked by the Current about the fate of the four educators involved in the restraint and placed on leave in December, McGuinness replied, “As stated prior, the district is taking employment-related appropriate action consistent with the law with regard to the staff members.” As of press time, she did not specify what that

action is.

The 54-page report by Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting includes interviews with several staff involved in the student restraint incident. It also describes surveillance videos of the event.

(The report can be read at MarbleheadCurrent.org)

According to the CIC report, a Glover student at recess

complained of feeling cold, and a staff member brought him inside to find warmer clothing in the lost-and-found area. The student then asked to go to the nurse.

Shortly after, the staff person noticed the student chatting with other kids at the nurse’s office and tried to redirect him back outside, using “verbal prompts.” That employee became worried

BY WILL DOWD

Miss Cleo, a 2-year-old Bernese mountain dog, is back home safe after a harrowing ordeal that saw her rescued from the frigid waters off Marblehead’s coast by quick-thinking first responders on March 19.

Miss Cleo shares her cozy home on Glendale Road with her canine sibling, a 10-yearold Bernese mountain dog named Bella, owner Julianne Sullivan said. Sullivan said the pair is inseparable, often found cuddling, always together on their favorite plush bed.

MUNIcIPa L M aTTErS

But that’s where the similarities end. While Bella is a typical Bernese — friendly, outgoing — Miss Cleo is her more anxious counterpart, often barking at strangers before running the other way.

“She is so cute and so affectionate, and her facial expressions are so expressive,” Sullivan said of Miss Cleo. “I just can’t stand that other people don’t get to see that because all they see is anxious Miss Cleo, instead of loving, relaxed, cuddling Miss Cleo.”

BY WILL DOWD

The Board of Assessors has placed the town’s chief assessor, Karen Bertolino, on paid administrative leave while an independent firm hired by the board audits Marblehead’s property valuation process, Chair John Kelley told the Marblehead Current on Thursday.

The move comes amid concerns from residents over the equity of recent property revaluations and significant hikes in their property tax bills.

In a phone interview, Kelley said Bertolino will be on leave so as to ensure the independence of the audit and to allow the firm to conduct its review without any potential influence.

“If we have someone coming into the office to audit the whole procedure about how the values were obtained, it’s best for the assessor not to be there during the process,” Kelley said. Bertolino had not responded to a request for comment before the Current’s deadline.

The board is commissioning an independent audit to be

that the boy may try to “bolt out of the building.” At that point, staff trained in SafetyCare techniques were called in. Safety-Care training is conducted by the firm Quality Behavioral Solutions.

Staff used a blue mat to contain the student and prevent him from hurting himself or

EDUcaTION

Parents, teachers, students: Fully fund schools

School Committee may present third budget, larger than town directed

BY LEIGH BLANDER

After hearing from dozens of teachers, parents and students, the School Committee is considering approving a new budget for next school year that “fully funds” Marblehead schools, despite receiving an allocation from the town that would require $2.3 million in cuts.

The School Committee hosted a community budget hearing at the Veterans School Performing Arts Center on March 21, where interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness presented level-service and level-funded budgets, as directed by the town. The level-funded budget would require 36 staff layoffs, as well as deep cuts in programs and supplies.

Parents stood up to ask the School Committee and town leaders to commit to giving the district the budget it needs with no more cuts.

“Marblehead schools have been working on a shoestring budget for far too long,” said Hannah Brennan. “We need the town Finance Committee to make it work. We need the School Committee to make it work.”

One mom with students at Village and

Assessor placed on paid leave; audit of valuation process underway SchOOLS

conducted by an outside expert on mass appraisal, the method used by assessors to revalue properties town-wide based on sales data and statistical analyses, which were based on data from 2022 in the most recent cycle.

“We’re going to have this person start from point one, which would be looking at all the sales that took place in 2022, look at what sales were used and what sales weren’t used and why some were used and why

COURTESY PHOTOS

Julianne Sullivan, Miss Cleo’s owner, shares a moment with her beloved pet with the Harbormaster Mark Souza, Deputy Harbormaster Craig Smith and Assistant Harbormaster Jarrett Russo.

Miss Cleo has been reunited with her sister, Bella, after her rescue on March 19.

Village School ‘shelters in place’ after student makes threats over walkie-talkie

BY WILL DOWD

Village School went into a brief “shelter in place” lockdown on March 19 after a student accessed a walkie-talkie and made “unsubstantiated threats” around 11:30 a.m., according to

SchOOLS

an email from Principal Mandy Murphy.

The school’s student resource officer responded immediately, and the student was quickly located and supervised by an adult, Murphy said. She emphasized that this was an

isolated incident involving one student and that no students or staff were ever in danger.

“I want to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students and staff members remains our top priority,” Murphy wrote in the email to families. “If

Another school leader headed out of town

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Village School Principal

Amanda Murphy announced Friday that she is leaving Marblehead to become principal at the Great Oak Elementary School in Danvers, pending contract negotiations.

“While excited for this opportunity, I value and truly care about the Village School students, staff and families,” Murphy wrote

Budget

From P. A1

Brown schools addressed teachers directly.

“Hearing your testimonies over the last couple of months about the working conditions in our schools is heartbreaking,” she said. “We cannot have a strong Marblehead community if our schools are in crisis.”

Several young students also rose to thank their teachers for their commitment, hard work and for “making learning fun.”

Many of the speakers were Marblehead educators. Kristen Grohe is a special education teacher at Village.

“I love my job. I also absolutely love this town,” she said. “I no longer feel pride. I just feel shame. Shame that my family lives in a town that cannot find a way to support its young people in their fundamental right to learn in the least restrictive environment. Shame that we continue to cut a budget that simply cannot afford to be cut.

Grohe continued, “So, we are asking the town and the School Committee to fully fund our schools so we can retain the best qualified staff so we can return to pride instead of shame,” Grohe added.

Meghann Bruett has taught third grade in Marblehead for 21 years.

“Over the past three years, the job has changed,” she said. “I still love seeing my students every day. It is challenging and almost impossible because we don’t have the resources and supports we need to teach these children.”

“It wasn’t always like this,” Bruett continued. “You can see it on everyone’s faces at work. Morale is down. We’re asking to have funding to do our jobs safely and effectively.”

Restraint

From P. A1

anyone else or smashing into a glass case, according to the report.

Then, staff used what’s called a “reverse transport,” where two people place their hands under the student’s arms and walk him backwards.

The boy was taken into a “break space” and the door was closed.

“Staff noticed that (the student) was coughing, opened the door and offered him water. He continued to cough after drinking some water and threw

in an email to the community.

“The kind and supportive messages I’ve received over the past few days have been humbling and truly appreciated. I have been blessed to be part of the Marblehead and Village School community for the past 20 years.”

Murphy’s new job does not begin until July, and she will finish out the school year in Marblehead.

Danvers Superintendent Dan

Marblehead High School teacher Michael Fu said, “All I see is a town bleeding money from bad decisions. Without an adequate budget, we will continue to have system issues.”

Fu added, “The magician is a fitting mascot for our schools. What teachers are doing to support students is nothing short of magical.”

The School Committee has not yet decided whether to ask for a property tax increase (override) at Town Meeting on May 6. At the budget hearing, several people asked the committee members what they would do to convince the majority of residents (especially those without kids in the schools) to vote for a tax increase.

Fox and Schaeffner explained that there are rules limiting what the School Committee can do to lobby for an override.

“It really does have to be a community person, and you people, and usually it’s parents,” Schaeffner said. “You have your contacts; we have our contacts. We can try to reach out to parent leaders. We can work with the parent leadership groups that we have.” Cuts, higher taxes aren’t only choices

Fox pointed out that cuts and higher taxes are not the only two options.

“The School Committee is allowed to vote a budget that we feel meets the needs of the Marblehead Public Schools,” she said. “We don’t have to only vote what is our suggested allocation. There is a precedent in other towns of voting the number you feel represents what is needed to fund our schools.”

At a meeting with the Finance Committee earlier that day, Fox had brought up the idea of a third, “fully funded” budget, higher than the amount allocated by the town.

Fox told the crowd at the

up,” according to the report. It goes on to say that an employee went to the nurse’s office to get the student something, which he was able to use “independently.”

Report conclusions

The CIC report had several conclusions, including the following:

Staff used a mat as a “mechanical restraint” to encircle the student and limit his freedom of movement, violating state regulations.

“The technique used by staff is not included in the methods they learned during Safety-Care training,” the report said.

The staff did have a right to

Bauer is the former principal at Marblehead High School.

Recent departures at MPS include Assistant Superintendent Michelle Cresta, whose last day was March 21; former Glover School principal Hope Doran; and former student services director Paula Donnelly and assistant director Emily Dean.

any student has any questions or concerns, our counselors and staff are always available.”

Student confidentiality prevents the school from disclosing any further information about the incident or the student involved, Murphy added.

COURTESY PHOTO

Interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness also announced in January that she is no longer interested in staying in Marblehead past this school year.

budget hearing that there may be “other mechanisms” to increase school funding, including re-examining the district’s own reserve and revolving funds to see if there are any dollars there that can be moved to the budget.

“We can go back to the town and say, ‘You have stabilization funds’ take a look at your (revenue) projections. Do you think you were super conservative?’”

Fox also suggested looking at certain revolving funds. ‘No fat to trim’

Town Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin Nunley said the town does not have any more money to allocate to the schools.

“There is no fat to trim,” she told the Current by email. “The town cut a police officer position. The town reallocated costs to revolving funds as a one-time expense to balance the budget. The trash cost increased 20%, retirement increased 9%, and health insurance increased 10%. Inflation is outpacing Proposition 2 1/2, as presented at the finance forum.”

She added, “If the school department of the town needs additional funding, they can request an override at Town Meeting.”

The FinCom is expected to vote on the School Committee’s budget on April 1, but Fox is hoping there can be a delay so that she and her fellow members can put together an alternate plan.

When asked what would happen if the School Committee brings a larger budget to Town Meeting, Moderator Jack Attridge told the Current, “Any change in one line item would trigger a change in one or more line items.”

Teacher contracts

Teachers’ contracts expire this summer, and the union, Marblehead Education Association, has started

restrain the child to protect him from hurting himself and others, but the mat is not an approved method of restraint.

The report also said staff improperly transported the student to the break space because they continued to drag him briefly after he fell twice.

“On both occasions, they should have stopped the transport and attempted to de-escalate Student A. Instead, they dragged him along the ground,” the report reads.

All of the staff involved in the incident, except one, were SafetyCare certified.

Report recommendations

The CIC report makes several

NEWS FOr PEOPLE, NOT FOr

CO-CHAIRPERSONS Jessica Barnett     Ed Bell

negotiations for a new contract with the School Committee.

The average Marblehead teacher salary in 2023 was $83,338, according to the Department of Early and Secondary Education. That’s among the lowest teacher salaries in Essex County.

The MEA asked the School Committee to hold negotiations in public, to improve transparency with the community. However, the School Committee rejected that idea.

Member Alison Taylor said she is fine with open negotiations, but “that may be different than what our legal counsel suggested …”

Mold threat

MEA Co-President and Village School teacher Jonathan Heller spoke about mold discovered at Marblehead High School.

“We learned that this kind of mold feeds and spreads quickly and is highly dangerous,” Heller said. “It can trigger infections, asthma, allergies, skin and nail infections, nosebleeds and headaches.”

At a March 13 School Committee meeting, McGuinness reported that mold had been identified in a classroom and other locations at the high school. She said it had been remediated by school custodians.

“So, I have some questions,” Heller asked at the hearing.

“Why didn’t the district hire a professional to remediate… Was post-remediation testing ever completed? How is MPS going to ensure the health and safety of MPS staff and students?”

Heller added that his daughter is scheduled to attend MHS next year, but he’s concerned about her well-being there.

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“To put her into a building like that and have her sit there during the school day? I really am afraid for her health,” he said. Keep the Current coming. Support Marblehead’s independent, nonprofit news source.

recommendations, at least one of which is redacted. They include:

QBS Safety-Care trained staff must be familiarized and act in accordance with all state laws and regulations.

» All trainers and trainees must be made familiar with existing Marblehead policies.

Newly trained personnel will receive a mid-year review of de-escalation and restraint practices.

» De-briefs must happen after all restraint incidents.

In her email, McGuinness said many of the recommended steps, as well as others, are underway and will be reviewed in June.

Despite being a breed known for being extremely gregarious and strong swimmers, Miss Cleo had never taken to the water.

“I take her down to the beach, and she won’t even put her toes in,” Sullivan said with a laugh.

So, it came as a shock when Miss Cleo escaped through a gate that blew open in her yard on the morning of March 19 and ran nearly a half-mile to the rocky shore off Coolidge Road. Sullivan said she had secured the gate with rope before leaving for errands, but she believes the rope wasn’t pulled tight enough, leaving a small gap.

“She kind of knows how to bump it,” Sullivan said.

Miss Cleo squeezed through the opening around and made a break for it.

The pup was spotted by a neighbor and the family’s dog walker, who called Sullivan to alert her. Miss Cleo had gotten loose before but usually just wandered a couple doors down to visit her pals, Salty and Rudder, or across the street to see her friend, Charlie. Sullivan said she doesn’t go far after these quick visits.

This time was different. Sullivan believes the commotion of concerned neighbors trying to catch the stranger-skittish dog may have spooked Miss Cleo, sending her fleeing toward the harbor.

Marblehead Animal Control Officer Betsy Cruger arrived on scene and saw the dog jump or fall into the roughly 40-degree water.

She immediately called Harbormaster Mark Souza for help.

“Being a dog owner, it’s stressful,” said Souza, who owns a beagle, Storm, and two mutts, Willis and Louis. “I was super concerned for the pet’s well being. When we got to the dog, she’d been in there for about 30 minutes.”

Souza, along with Deputy Harbormaster Craig Smith and Assistant Harbormaster Jarrett Russo, raced to Miss Cleo’s location about 200 to 300 yards offshore, battling choppy conditions and strong winds.

As the harbormasters approached, Miss Cleo initially seemed frightened.

“Do you want a cookie or a treat?” one of the crew members called out.

The dog immediately swam over to the boat upon hearing those magic words. They pulled her to safety.

Sullivan brought the first responders gifts and a hearty thanks the next day for saving her beloved pup. She said the normally reserved Miss Cleo perked up immediately upon their reunion at the dock, wagging her tail and crying happy tears.

“Those guys are heroes. They saved her life,” Sullivan said, her voice choked with emotion.

“I had to get them something. I couldn’t thank them enough by just words.”

Sullivan said she has

double-wrapped the gate latch.

“It was crazy how many people were invested in this rescue,” Sullivan said of the concerned citizens and first responders.

“They were so helpful. I’m so grateful they were willing to drop everything and go save her.”

Brown School thirdgrade teacher Lindsay Willard spent March 13 at the Mount Washington Observatory, known as the home to the world’s weather.

The unique and adventurous professional development opportunity, which aligns with the third-grade science standards, included a tour of the weather station and a chance to shadow weather scientists as they used a variety of instruments to collect and track hourly weather data. Willard traveled to the summit on a Snowcat with teachers from around New England. She learned about the history of the Mount Washington Observatory and took part in a live video conference with Brown School third graders to share her wild weather experience. COURTESY

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The extensive path from where Miss Cleo escaped to where she was rescued is highlighted on a map.

Opinion

EDITOrI a L

Assessors’ audit a necessary step to restore trust

The Marblehead Board of Assessors’ decision to place Town Assessor Karen Bertolino on paid administrative leave and commission an independent audit of the town’s property valuation process is a commendable and necessary step in addressing the concerns of Marblehead residents. The board deserves a measure of credit for listening to the community and taking action to restore faith in the fairness and accuracy of pr operty assessments.

The recent revaluations and significant property tax hikes have left many residents feeling blindsided and questioning the equity of the process. Homeowners are outraged after receiving exorbitant tax increases that they believe vastly exceed their home values and set dangerous precedents. For example, resident Brenda Kelley Kim’s home assessment increased by 29% from $649,500 to $836,800, adding nearly $200,000 overnight and resulting in a 15% tax spike — the type of increase Proposition 2 1/2 was designed to eliminate. These stark disparities in assessment increases among different neighborhoods has sowed confusion and a sense of unfairness among residents.

The fact that homeowners found their properties valued the same as larger, water-view homes nearby underscores the need for a thorough review of the mass appraisal methodology employed by the assessor’s office. An independent audit, starting from the ground up and examining every aspect of the most recent revaluation process, is essential to identify any irregularities, inconsistencies or areas for improvement.

However, it is crucial to recognize the far-reaching implications of this audit. Every property in Marblehead could be subject to a new tax bill based on the audit’s findings, which could lead to an administrative nightmare for the town.

Residents have every right to be angry about the recent turn of events, but we urge them to allow the audit process to unfold. Bringing in the expertise of Patriot Properties to assist with the unprecedented number of abatement applications — a whopping 340, nearly triple in an ordinary year — is a positive step, ensuring that each case receives the attention it deserves.

LETTErS POLIc Y

Letters

The

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Letters must be received by our newsroom directly from their writers (for special circumstances, contact the newsroom). Email submissions to info@marbleheadnews.org or use the submission form found at marbleheadcurrent.org/letters.

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Letters must be received by noon on Friday in order to be printed in the following week’s print edition.

LETTErS

Higher user fees erect barriers to student engagement

To the editor:

I am extremely concerned regarding the raise in user fees for families.

It becomes blatantly obvious that children from a higher income bracket household will play the sports of their choice, while too many others — potentially an asset to any team, potentially turned from making poor choices, potentially filling a long-desired hope — lose out.

MHS is a public school supported by public funds. To lay that financial burden on students’ families is absurd. Yet again, the result of poor fiscal management and responsibility pounds on the doors of those least able to answer.

I recently chatted with a single working mother of two students. She has struggled to pay the user fees plus costs of equipment for three years so her son can play high school sports. His younger sister had been asking for the same. She had had to say no, time and again, breaking two hearts in the process. The promise that her daughter’s time will come has worn thin.

Music, the arts, sciences, technology, vocational/technical courses are as valid and necessary as sports to the futures of our most important asset. When will the costs to participate in any of those become another parental challenge because it is the easy way out?

To thrust the failures of our elected, appointed or hired town and school management and officials onto our citizens is a travesty.

Joan Cutler Evans Road Extension

RE: ‘Board of Assessors shares every taxpayer’s concerns’

To the editor:

Like Pontius Pilate washing his hands, John Kelley would seek to escape any blame for the arbitrary, capricious and disproportionate reassessment of home property values in Marblehead. Kelley’s claim in his March 11 letter “Board of Assessors shares every taxpayer’s concerns” that “the board and the fulltime assessor are two different bodies” is patently false, as though he would have the reader believe he was somehow shocked that she did what she did. The assertion that he “drove around the neighborhoods” after the fact to further distance himself from her decision is laughable.

The fact of the matter is that the board and the assessor acted as one to hide what was known to them to be coming and did nothing to explain or justify any of it. There is and remains no transparency from those in the know. If ever there was a situation worth a court’s opinion, this is it.

Finally, the appointment of a Board of Assessors to people without commercial conflicts would be a welcome change indeed.

John Hassett Bay View Drive

Town Meeting dynamics: A clash of powers or a battle for safety

To the editor:

You counsel patience in your March 13 editorial, “How about a little patience.” Revisiting Town Meeting 2023 votes in 2024 “borders on disrespect for the decisions made by our legislative body,” you write. The will of the voters is “too often subject to reconsideration” before given a chance to succeed. I disagree.

At issue is not the disrespect of the voters but of the executive for its supposedly coequal branches of

government: the local legislature and the judicial branch (the state attorney general).

I can’t speak to leaf blower bans or terms of elected officials, but I know how it works with traffic safety. Again and again, going back at least half a century, the will of the legislature has been subverted by the Select Board. It was in 2000 when the Select Board tried, and failed, to torpedo the installation of traffic lights at Bailey Square (the insane intersection at Maple/Tedesco/ Humphrey). It has been since the 2010 Town Meeting approved rebuilding Glover School and adopted the Rail Trail in 2020. Sometimes it’s done in violation of parliamentary procedure, as when Moses Grader illegally moved to “reconsider” approval of the 2023 Traffic Safety bylaw before voters hands had even been lowered.

Citizen Town Meeting articles are a last resort, submitted only after years of efforts at quiet engagement and negotiation with the executive branch has failed. That’s why I’ve been forced to submit three warrant articles — all aimed at making our streets safer — for 2024. I don’t take this action lightly, but owe it to those who put their faith in me last year. To them I say, the fight continues. Thank you for your patience.

Dan Albert Leicester Road

Hockey team thanks small businesses

On behalf of the MHS boys varsity hockey team, we would like to express our gratitude to a few local small businesses that stepped up and showed unwavering support of our Division 3 state hockey championship team.

To Steve Lewis of Smokey Lab Barbecue, thank you for generously donating a BBQ dinner for the boys after their upset win against the No. 2 ranked Shawsheen Tech. The boys have a strong chemistry and thrive when they are together. Adding an extra team meal the days leading up to their appearance at the Boston Garden was a huge teambuilding moment for them.

To the Marblehead Sports Shop, thank you for always being the team’s number-one fan. Despite being swamped getting spring sports uniforms ready, you still made time to print extra T-shirts, sweatshirts and rally flags so that the MHS community and the AMAZING student fan section was ready for the “Red Out.”

To the Marblehead Police and Fire department who gave the boys the royal treatment with an escort into town for both the semi-final win and the State Championship title! The smile on their faces when they got off the bus after that entrance back into Marblehead was priceless!

To the Gerry 5, who, on a moment’s notice, whipped up an incredible “post victory” meal, for not only the players, but for the coaches, family, and friends. The boys had just got back to Marblehead when word spread that the Gerry 5 generously offered to sponsor and host the team for their victory celebration. What a perfect place to hoist the State Championship trophy!!

We appreciate all the local establishments that hosted watch parties and supported the fans that could not be at the Boston Garden in person.

We are grateful to be part of this community.

With gratitude,

Beth Coate

On behalf of the 2024 MHS hockey players and families Roosevelt Avenue

On bargaining with teachers, town deserves answers

To the editor:

On March 14, the School Committee and the Marblehead teachers, represented by their union (the

Marblehead Education Association, or MEA), held their first collective bargaining session. In collective bargaining, the School Committee serves as employer of record for district employees and is tasked with negotiating on behalf of us, the taxpayers (Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 150E).

During the March 14 session, the MEA asked for open (public) bargaining sessions, and the School Committee denied the request. Both the MEA and School Committee have their reasons for their positions on this matter.

Other MEA issues currently on the table include fair compensation and safe physical working conditions in Marblehead Public Schools buildings.

Our questions about these negotiations include:

1. This year, the School Committee and FinCom directed school administrators to prepare two FY25 budgets:

A. “level services” — funds existing programs and people but does not add new staff or initiatives, which requires more funding than FY24 due to rising costs.

B. “level funded” — funds the schools at FY24 budget levels, which requires a painful $2.5 million in cuts to existing programs and people.

The MEA is asking the School Committee to “fully fund” the district, which neither of these budgets do. At the March 21 budget hearing, we learned that the School Committee doesn’t know what a fully funded budget would cost. We are mere days from FinCom’s deadline for town departments to submit their budgets.

How will the School Committee address the union’s demands while recognizing the fiscal realities facing Marblehead? When will they bring the public into the loop?

2. For months, MHS teachers have been concerned about building conditions; this is one of the core issues of concern for the MEA. The MHS custodial staff is excellent but can only be expected to do so much with limited resources. (There are only three custodians, and there should be a minimum of six.) The School Committee’s facilities subcommittee, which generally meets monthly and is led by Chair Sarah Fox and member Alison Taylor, has not met since Sept. 21, 2023, and there are no minutes from that meeting.

Why hasn’t this subcommittee been meeting? Is there a plan to address the teachers’ concerns re: safety in MHS building issues? Where is the capital plan for maintaining/repairing MPS facilities? How and when will the School Committee communicate to Marblehead residents about the collective bargaining process, goals and progress?

School committees in Weston, Salem, and Hingham have provided great examples of ways to provide factual, timely collective bargaining information to voters.

We have sent these questions to the School Committee, and we look forward to hearing answers. Please join us at the public forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of Marblehead on Wednesday, March 27 at the high school library (7 to 8:30 p.m.). It is an opportunity for the School Committee to address concerns, including the ones in this letter.

SETH GUMMERE, JERSEY STREET

CHRISTINE NUCCIO, DAMEY’S WAY

Fleshing out ‘fully funded’

To the editor:

During Thursday’s School Committee budget hearing, teachers and parents requested the School Committee “fully fund”the Marblehead Public Schools. Chair Sarah Fox stated that she will not stop fighting until our schools are fully funded. The elephant in the room was, and remains, what does it mean to “fully

BY MELISSA KAPLOWITCH, PH.D. AND MARK LIBON, PH.D.

The origins of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) are complex and multifaceted, often stemming from a combination of genetic predispositions, early childhood experiences and environmental factors. Some researchers propose that individuals with NPD may have experienced significant trauma or neglect during their formative years, leading them to develop maladaptive coping mechanisms centered around self-preservation and self-enhancement.

While it’s normal for individuals to exhibit narcissistic traits occasionally, such as during moments of success or when seeking validation, those with NPD display these characteristics persistently and to a dysfunctional extent. Their obsession with maintaining a façade of perfection and superiority can manifest in various behaviors that disrupt their relationships and hinder their ability to function effectively in society.

Narcissism is a term that’s frequently used in everyday conversation to describe someone who is excessively self-absorbed or vain. When

Identifying narcissists I BEG TO

DIFFEr

used as a clinical diagnosis, NPD encompasses a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a need for admiration and validation from others, and a lack of empathy. Individuals with narcissistic tendencies often exhibit arrogance, attentionseeking behavior, a sense of entitlement and a propensity to exploit others for personal gain. This grandiose self-view serves as a protective shield or defense mechanism against underlying feelings of inadequacy or insecurity.

Narcissists are notoriously resistant to feedback and criticism, viewing any form of negative evaluation as a threat to their fragile self-image. Narcissists may react defensively to constructive criticism, deflecting blame onto others or refusing to acknowledge their shortcomings. They may employ manipulation techniques such as gaslighting, coercion, blaming and guilt-tripping to manipulate

Giving is a gift

BY JO ANN AUGERI SILVA

It was a treat to read about the Buy Nothing Marblehead Facebook page here in the Current. So many people in Marblehead have benefitted from the items offered up as gifts on that page! I love that Buy Nothing is a national movement, geared toward folks in individual towns, and in many larger cities, individual neighborhoods.

During the height of the COVID19 pandemic, we decided that if we were going to successfully “age in place” in our home, we needed to make repairs and upgrades, and, most of all, to “downsize” the belongings we’ve accumulated during our 40 years here.

The Magic Hat Thrift Shop has been our go-to donation spot for many years — we love that the sale of our donations goes to support activities and enrichment in the Marblehead Public Schools. But due to COVID-19, the Magic Hat was closed at first and then open at limited times and for a limited number of items.

I hadn’t paid much attention to the Buy Nothing page as I scrolled through friends’ postings on Facebook. But as I emptied cabinets, bureaus, shelves and wall units of things I did not want to return to those cabinets, bureaus, shelves and wall units, it dawned on me that here was an opportunity to make our no-longer-needed stuff available to people who could make good use of them. What a win-win.

We were amazed by how many people wanted our surplus furniture, linens, artwork, art supplies, appliances, pots and pans and other kitchenware. Because of the pandemic, we noticed that folks were very careful to minimize contact for pickups, and we respected that. We also made sure to note that our items came from a smoke-free/pet-free home, which seemed especially important to many people who were taking extra care to be safe. My husband and I loved the adventure of it all — taking photos

decisions and advance their agendas. They may exhibit a lack of accountability for their actions, consistently shifting responsibility onto others to preserve their ego.

These characteristics contribute to interpersonal difficulties, including the inability to maintain strong, close personal relationships. Recognizing these characteristics forms the basis for identifying narcissists.

When working with clients, one hopes to foster collaboration, cooperation, decision-making and progress. However, the dynamics when working with clients can be complex, especially when individuals with narcissistic tendencies or other personality disorders are involved.

Narcissists possess traits that can disrupt the therapeutic relationship, undermine teamwork and hinder productivity. When this occurs, it is crucial to recognize the signs of narcissism to mitigate its potential negative impacts.

Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder can be challenging, as individuals with NPD may be resistant

to acknowledging their shortcomings or seeking help. Furthermore, because narcissists typically have fragile self-esteem that is dependent on external validation, they are highly sensitive to criticism or perceived slights, reacting with anger, defensiveness or contempt when their sense of superiority is challenged.

This hypersensitivity can make it challenging for others to engage with them authentically, as any perceived threat to their inflated self-image is met with hostility or withdrawal. However, psychotherapy — particularly approaches that focus on fostering empathy, self-awareness and healthy interpersonal relationships — can be beneficial in addressing the underlying issues driving narcissistic behavior.

It’s essential to recognize that narcissism exists on a spectrum, with varying degrees of severity and impact on individuals’ lives. While some individuals may exhibit narcissistic traits without meeting the criteria for a full-blown personality disorder, others may experience significant distress and impairment as a result of their

narcissistic tendencies.

Narcissism is more than just an exaggerated sense of self-importance; it is a complex personality disorder characterized by pervasive patterns of grandiosity, a lack of empathy and fragile self-esteem. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of narcissism is crucial for fostering empathy and providing support to individuals grappling with this challenging condition.

Working effectively with a narcissist requires a delicate balance of clinical skills, boundary-setting and empathy. It’s essential to understand that narcissistic individuals often have deep-seated insecurities driving their behavior.

Therefore, maintaining a levelheaded approach and avoiding emotional reactions is crucial.

Clear communication, grounded in facts and logic, can help navigate interactions with narcissists while setting firm boundaries can prevent manipulation, bullying, shouting and exploitation.

Providing positive reinforcement for desirable behavior and seeking common ground can foster cooperation and minimize conflicts.

of the things we were offering on Buy Nothing, then watching as folks let us know that they would love to be considered for the gifts. Occasionally, we grew weary of itemizing everything and ended up putting together a collection of goods for a “sidewalk alert,” just asking people to be kind to each other as they sorted through our boxes. Mostly, they were more than kind, and we always received sincere thanks for the items we gifted.

So, I was shocked and dismayed when I read last month that the Marblehead Buy Nothing page had been suspended for a week to have members reflect on a discouraging incident. Not for the first time, apparently, a member of Buy Nothing was personally targeted and excoriated for being “piggy.”

The self-appointed gift police and stalker (really, let’s call this what it is) decided that the member asked for too many gifts.

In another incident I learned about, the stalker went so far as to look up the assessed value of the Buy Nothing member’s home as evidence that they were too welloff to take gifts. Someone clearly has too much time on their hands and not enough room in their hearts.

Now, I must say that when I was regularly gifting things on Buy Nothing, I did notice that there were some names that popped up pretty regularly among those asking to be considered for gifts. Some of those “regulars” were folks I knew, most I didn’t. Essentially, I didn’t care to know much more from folks than that they’d give the item good use. After all, these were things we didn’t want any more. Some gifters on the page asked giftees to explain why they wanted an item, as if they needed to justify why they should receive the gift. Again, that wasn’t why I was there — I had stuff I didn’t need/want, and if you want/need it, it’s yours.

Those Buy Nothing incidents bring up another topic: hate. A lovely and wildly successful young woman very much in the public eye has endured so much hate that she’s written a song about it. In

her words, you’ve got to “shake it off, shake it off.”

Sometimes, that’s not so easy, frankly. If I had Taylor Swift’s success and billions, I’m pretty sure I’d be able to shake off the haters who think that she is somehow destroying football. Never mind that her boyfriend’s team has sold hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional merchandise. Hardly matters a whit.

Hate has never been in short supply in the world, whether international or local. Yes, local for sure. There’s even a Facebook page that not only has the exact opposite mission of Buy Nothing; it seems to encourage hate. It’s hilarious, I think, that another Facebook page was founded by folks who’ve been banned by that other one.

I’ve been something of a public person throughout my career, working primarily for local newspapers read by local people and supervising public affairs for nonprofits that are lightning rods for some groups. I’ve attracted a bit of hate here and there. It comes with the territory, especially when you self-identify as liberal in this day and age. I’m well aware that there will always be Facebook commenters and letters to the editor writers who willfully misconstrue the meaning of an article or column because a few lines in it express an opinion that differs from theirs. Differences and differing opinions are sure to draw the ire of those who think their opinions are the only ones that matter.

I think I’ve made it clear that I’m no Pollyanna. But I hope that I can be open to a reasonably put thesis that may differ from mine. And I know that I’m not so consumed by hate that I look for what’s wrong in places that are trying to do good.

Let’s hope that Buy Nothing has seen the last of gift policing. It’s just not nice.

Marblehead resident Jo Ann Augeri Silva, a retired journalist, author, public relations professional and educator, was an editor of the Marblehead Reporter.

a SK LIZZIE Tackling

check-out lines

BY LIZZIE ASSA

Dear Lizzie: How can I help my 4-yearold stay patient while we’re in checkout lines at places like Target or the grocery store? She isn’t in school full-time yet, so she often comes with me on errands, but it’s becoming stressful. We sometimes let her use our phones, but I’d like to find a better way to manage these situations.

Any tips?

Dear reader: Waiting in line can be hard for kids — heck, it’s hard for most adults! By the time you get to the checkout line, they’ve trailed you through the store begging for this cereal and that toy, hearing “no” all along the way. If you are like most parents, you’re probably a little frazzled by the time you make it to the checkout line, and so is your child.

The most effective way to quell a tantrum or a whining child is through connection. Acknowledging how hard it can be to wait makes them feel seen and heard.

Instead of saying, “If you don’t stand still, you won’t get a treat at the end.” Try this: “This line is taking a long time, it’s hard to stand still! Let’s play a game to help the time pass.”

Here are a few games to play while waiting in line with your kids:

» Predict which line will move the fastest. Encourage your child to share their reasoning based on observations. This builds logical thinking abilities.

» — Let’s count all the blue things we can find! This scavenger hunt keeps eyes peeled and minds engaged.

— Tell me something without using words. Prompting non-verbal communication through movements, sounds or expressions is a fun brain teaser.

Rhyming games. Take turns making up silly rhymes or seeing who can come up with the most words that rhyme with “cat” to keep little minds word-playing.

— Fortunately, Unfortunately. One person starts by saying “Fortunately…” and something positive, then the other says “Unfortunately…” and adds a negative event. You go back and forth creating an improvisational story full of twists and turns. This improves narrative skills.

Good luck, and remember, if you do decide to let your child play a game on your phone once in a while, that’s OK too. We do the best we can, and that’s enough.

— Lizzie

Lizzie Assa is founder of The Workspace for Children, a parenting strategist, play expert and mother of three who lives in Marblehead.

June 11 election to determine 23 seats

Deadline to return nomination papers is April 22

BY WILL DOWD

The June 11 town election in Marblehead will see 23 seats across a dozen different boards, commissions and committees up for grabs.

Early contenders who have pulled nominati```on papers include Dr. Thomas A. Massaro of Lafayette Street for the Board of Health, incumbent Barton Hyte of Alden Road for the Planning Board, incumbent Bret Murray of Abbot Street for the Select Board and incumbent Linda Rice Collins of Hibbard Street for the Recreation and Park Commission.

A Select Board race could draw significant attention due to a recent change in term lengths.

On March 14, Gov. Maura Healey signed legislation extending the terms of Select Board members from one year to three years, effective immediately. The move was intended to address concerns about constant campaigning hindering longterm planning and effective governance.

The current Select Board members up for re-election are Erin M. Noonan, Moses Grader, Bret Murray, James E. Nye and Alexa J. Singer.

Under the new system, the top two vote-getters in the Select Board election will initially receive three-year terms, while the next two will serve two-year terms. The fifth-place finisher will hold office for one year before facing re-election in 2025. This staggered approach aims to maintain an experienced base

of office holders even as new members join the board.

However, the change has faced opposition. A citizen petition sponsored by Dwight Grader of Mill Pond, set to be taken up at Marblehead Town Meeting in May, seeks to reverse the shift to three-year terms. Supporters of the one-year term contend that it allows voters to more quickly address dysfunctional boards and hold members accountable annually.

The victors in the Select Board race will need to address a range of complex issues in their next term, including the town’s current $4.2 million budget deficit, the potential start of a charter review process and the need to balance rising expenses with limited tax revenue.

With health insurance costs, retirement expenses, trash fees and contractual obligations all increasing significantly in recent years, the incoming Select Board members could face difficult decisions to cut costs and

explore new revenue streams.

The Board of Assessors may be up for changes next. On Feb. 7, the Select Board members unanimously agreed to back a warrant article that would shift the Board of Assessors from an elected group to one appointed by them. This move is a response in part to a public outcry after many taxpayers experienced jarring spikes in property valuations and their tax bills. Supporters of the change also cite a dearth of communication from the assessor’s office and board regarding complaints about inconsistent assessments of homes in similar neighborhoods.

Assessor Douglas E. Percy’s three-year term expires in June.

In the School Committee race, Alfred Williams of Nonantum Road has pulled papers to retain what for now is an interim seat. The winner of the School Committee seat will join four other members facing several challenges, including the need

to hire a new superintendent to oversee a district with voids in other leadership roles, finalizing a budget to which $2 million in cuts are anticipated and collective bargaining with educators.

The Board of Health also has a warrant article proposing to expand its elected seats from three to five members. The article, if approved by Town Meeting, would require a home rule petition to be sent to the state legislature for its approval as well as the governor’s.

For what is, for now, still a three-member board, it is the three-year term of Joanne G. Miller that is set to expire in June.

Aside from the Select Board, Board of Assessors, School Committee and Board of Health, the following positions and their current incumbents are up for re-election:

» Moderator (one-year term): Jack Attridge

» Cemetery Commission (one three-year term): Janet S. Merrill

Housing Authority (one five-year term): Pamela J. Foye

» Trustees of Abbot Public Library (two three-year terms): David F. Ross and John G. Williams Planning Board (two fiveyear terms): Andrew G. Christensen and Barton Hyte

» Recreation & Park Commission (five oneyear terms): Shelly Curran Bedrossian, Linda A. Rice Collins, Karin L. Ernst,

Moulton advocates for peace in Middle East

BY WILL DOWD

Congressman Seth Moulton, Democrat of Salem, issued a statement March 19 as the death toll mounts and the humanitarian crisis deepens from the war in Gaza.

“Israel has both a right to exist and an obligation to defend itself,” Moulton said. “However, Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu has repeatedly violated the principles of a two-state solution and restricted humanitarian aid, running counter to Israel’s strategic interests and basic human decency.”

While supporting Israel’s mission to defeat Hamas, Moulton strongly

opposes Netanyahu’s “brutalist approach” to the conflict, which he believes will ultimately be counterproductive and has resulted in an epic humanitarian crisis, according to a Congressional Research Service report.

The report states that as of March 12, more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including at least 35 U.S. citizens in Israel, had been killed as a result of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

In response, Israel declared war on Hamas and launched aerial bombardment and ground operations in Gaza, resulting in the deaths

of more than 31,000 Palestinians and displacing an estimated 1.7 million Gazans out of a population of approximately 2.1 million people.

The report also highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, with more than 60% of housing units reportedly destroyed or damaged. Despite some food and other essential supplies entering Gaza via Egypt and Israel during the conflict, delays and obstacles to transporting and delivering aid safely have contributed to a U.N. assessment that onequarter of Gaza’s people were “one step away from famine.”

In response to the worsening situation, President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military to construct a temporary port offshore from Gaza to facilitate commercial shipments of assistance from Cyprus, with the Department of Defense estimating that the port will be ready for use around 60 days from March 8.

Along with nearly two dozen of his Senate colleagues, Massachusetts Sen. Ed

Markey signed a letter to Biden, expressing “urgent support for ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure the release of hostages in tandem with a restored mutual ceasefire in Gaza.”

The letter recognized the challenges faced by both Israelis and Palestinians, stating that “without a break in the fighting, humanitarian conditions for civilians in Gaza will become even more catastrophic, and thousands more innocents — including many children — will die.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Cambridge, has also called for a ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to push for hostage releases and condition military support on pursuing a two-state solution for lasting peace.

“Netanyahu has made clear that he is not in favor of [a two-state solution],” Warren told WGBH News. “I believe that means he is not serving the interests of the Israeli people. And we, as an ally, need to be pushing hard on him.”

Rossana Ferrante and Matthew Martin

» School Committee (one three-year term): Interim office holder Williams replaced Meagan Taylor, who resigned in January

» Water & Sewer Commission (one three-year term): Greg Bates Marblehead Municipal Light Commission (two threeyear terms): Simon David Frechette and Adam Robert Smith

Nomination papers for the June 11 election are now available in the office of Town Clerk Robin Michaud in Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St. Candidates must submit a written request and obtain 50 signatures from registered Marblehead voters to secure their place on the ballot. Papers must be returned to the town clerk’s office no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, April 22.

The Marblehead League of Women Voters candidates’ night is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, and will be broadcast on MHTV from the high school library.

The league is also planning an informational meeting on Town Meeting warrant articles on a date to be determined.

To register to vote or to change your party enrollment, you must complete a new voter registration form in person, by mail or online at RegisterToVoteMA.com.

For more information, call the town clerk’s office at 781-631-0528.

FrOM ThE VaULT

Suffragette banner from 1887

BY JARRETT ZEMAN

Marblehead has a rich history of women fighting for their political rights.

The Marblehead Women’s Suffrage League created this banner, which they may have marched with in parades or displayed during meetings.

The banner declares, “The woman’s cause is man’s; they rise or sink together,” a quote from an Alfred Lord Tennyson poem. Founded in 1887, the Suffrage League’s membership included prominent local women like Marcia Selman, the author of “Marblehead Forever.”

In 1914, a group of 47 women founded a successor group, the Marblehead Suffrage Association, which sold suffrage memorabilia, organized rallies at Abbot Hall and Crocker Park, and pressured local politicians to support suffrage. The rallies featured prominent suffragists from the Boston area, such as Margaret Foley, whom the Boston Herald nicknamed the “Heckler-in-Chief” for her habit of cajoling antisuffrage politicians at public events.

The Suffrage Association featured a cross-section of middle-class Marblehead women, including teachers, dressmakers, botanists, students, college professors, a milliner and a masseuse. Suffrage was also a family affair, as sisters Charlotte,

COURTESY /MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM

The Marblehead Women’s Suffrage League created this velvet banner with an embroidered quote from Alfred Lord Tennyson, declaring, ‘The woman’s cause is man’s; they rise or sink together.’ The banner, which dates to February 1887, was likely carried in parades or displayed at meetings to advocate for women’s right to vote.

Sarah and Mary Hawkes worked for the cause from their home at 58 Washington St.

Like any political movement, the association witnessed its fair share of setbacks and victories. In 1915, a statewide campaign to enact women’s suffrage in Massachusetts failed, and Marblehead men did little to advance the cause — only 25% of them voted in favor. However, the Association saw the fruits of their labor when the 19th Amendment passed in 1920, and they proudly became part of Essex County’s first League of Women Voters. Jarrett Zeman is the assistant director of the Marblehead Museum. “From the Vault” is a partnership between the Marblehead Museum and the Marblehead Current.

CURRENT

The Old Town House is the oldest of the town’s polling locations.

BY WILL DOWD

The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.

org.

Marblehead Museum awarded NPS grant Marblehead Museum has been awarded a Save America’s Treasures grant by the National Park Service, part of the Department of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund, for the restoration of the Brick Kitchen & Slave Quarters at the 1768 Jeremiah Lee Estate.

This matching grant will support the museum in reinforcing the building’s structure, roof replacement, window preservation and updating electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems.

Once restoration is complete, the building will serve as an exhibit and program space adjacent to the Jeremiah Lee Mansion.

Grad to offer library renovation update

The Marblehead Council on Aging will host Kimberly Grad, director of the Abbot Public Library, on April 17 at 1 p.m. to discuss the library’s 2024 renovation project.

The update includes improvements to HVAC and electrical systems, new layouts, a maker space, podcasting studio and furnishings.

This free event is open to the public. Attendees are asked to sign up at marblehead.org/councilaging-department. For more details, contact Michael Thompson at 781-367-4952.

Cecropia Strong, a Marblehead-based charity, will host its second annual benefit on Thursday, April 18, at The Landing Restaurant to raise money for therapeutic riding grants at Windrush Farm in North Andover.

The event, scheduled from 5:30-9 p.m., will feature a silent auction and Pony Up! donations. For more information, visit cecropiastrong.org or contact Cecropia Strong at info@cecropiastrong.org.

Friends of COA to host annual auction

The Friends of the Marblehead Council on Aging will host their annual auction, a flagship event to raise funds for COA services, programs and activities on Thursday, April 25, at The Landing Restaurant, 81 Front St., starting at 5:30 p.m.

The auction, featuring a wide variety of items, services, and events, including a handmade quilt, will be led by auctioneer Gene Arnould of Arnould’s Gallery.

Reservations are strongly urged and can be made by calling 781639-1266. Meal choices will be offered at the time of reservation to enable prompt food service.

For more information, contact Laurie Fullerton at 781-502-8321 or Fullerton. laurie557@gmail.com.

Scholarship honors youth sports coach

Conservancy annual meeting

The Marblehead Conservancy’s annual meeting on Wednesday, April 3, at 6:30 p.m. will feature Barbara Warren discussing Salem Sound’s land-based work. The event will take place in the program room at Abbot Public Library at Eveleth School, 3 Brook Road, and will also be available online via Zoom.

Registration is required for both in-person and Zoom attendance at tinyurl. com/2024-Conservancy.

Warren, from Salem Sound Coastwatch, will address “What Happens on the Land Affects Salem Sound,” highlighting initiatives impacting Salem Sound’s water quality. For more information, contact Marblehead Conservancy at marbleheadconservancy@ gmail.com.

Cecropia Strong to host second annual benefit

The Charles J. Garrett Jr. Memorial Scholarship for 2024 will award $2,000 to a deserving senior who either resides in Marblehead or attends Marblehead High School (if their home address is outside Marblehead) and has participated in the Marblehead Youth Soccer Association.

This inclusive scholarship is open to students from Marblehead High School, other public schools, private day and boarding schools, and those who are homeschooled, as long as they maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and plan to pursue post-secondary education in a STEM or STEMskilled field.

The scholarship commemorates the life and legacy of Chuck Garrett, a Marblehead resident and dedicated youth sports coach who passed away in 2021. Applications are due by April 21. For more details, contact cjgmemorialscholarship@ gmail.com.

Mother’s co-op Pop-Up Shop to feature Emmy winner

The Marblehead Mother’s Co-Op announces the return of its Pop-Up Shops at the Boston Yacht Club on April 5 and 6, featuring Emmy award-winning TV broadcaster Maria Sansone and RN Esthetics.

The event will showcase over 20 local artists and vendors, with proceeds benefiting Friends of the Marblehead Public Schools.

Aimed at promoting women-owned businesses, it offers apparel, jewelry, and home decor.

Highlights include Sansone signing her cookbook, “Oh $#!% What’s For Dinner?”

The event opens with a champagne reception on April 5 from 6-10 p.m. and continues on April 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tickets are available for $20 via Venmo (@ MHDPopUpShops). For more details, visit mhdpopupshops.com.

Marblehead Museum’s April lectures

» On Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m., G. Patrick O’Brien, an assistant professor of history at the University of Tampa, will deliver a Zoom lecture on slave resistance in colonial Marblehead, focusing on the life of Flora Lee, an enslaved woman. Lee’s efforts to reunite with her daughter in Nova Scotia and protect other Black children showcase the resistance of enslaved women during the Revolutionary Era.

» On Thursday, April 18,

at 7 p.m. Dina Vargo, a noted local historian, will present a lecture at the Marblehead Museum. Vargo will explore topics from her book “Hidden History of Boston,” including colonial mobs, Chinatown turf wars and the contributions of African-American writers. This follows her successful lecture on lesser-known Boston women in 2023.

Tickets for this lecture can be purchased at the Marblehead Museum, 170 Washington St., by calling 781-631-1768 or visiting marbleheadmuseum.org.

Support Old Burial Hill restoration efforts

The Old Burial Hill Oversight Committee will host a Charity Night at The Landing Restaurant on Tuesday, April 2, at 6 p.m. Attendees can enjoy food and drinks while learning about the preservation efforts for Old Burial Hill’s gravestones and landscape. The restaurant will donate 10% of the evening’s proceeds to the Old Burial Hill Preservation Fund. While no tickets are required, reservations are recommended.

Alex Finigan, the

committee chair, will discuss recent and ongoing restoration projects. Old Burial Hill, established in 1638, is among New England’s oldest cemeteries and a significant historical site in Marblehead.

DNA genealogy presentation at Seaglass Village

Seaglass Village will host a DNA genealogy presentation by Pamela Guye Holland on April 11 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the First Church Congregational library, 40 Monument Ave., Swampscott. The event focuses on using DNA to find relatives with tools from AncestryDNA, FamilyTreeDNA, MyHeritage and 23andMe. Open to members for free and guests for $5. Reservations required. For more information, visit SeaglassVillage.org or call 781-718-0401.

Community invited to kindergarten readiness panel

The Epstein Hillel

School is hosting an informative session on kindergarten readiness for local families on April 3, 7:30.-8:30 p.m. at the JCC, 4 Community Road. Aimed at preparing both children and parents for the significant milestone of starting kindergarten, the event will feature a panel of seasoned educators and specialists.

EHS Head of School Amy Gold will lead the discussion, offering insights and practical tips for a successful transition. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the panel.

Those interested in attending should RSVP to Rebecca Karen at rkaren@ epsteinhillel.org.

Rotary scholarships

Rotary Club of Marblehead is offering five scholarships for graduating high school seniors and college undergraduates. The scholarships include the Randolph E. and Barbara K. Goodwin Memorial

COURTESY PHOTO / LAURIE FULLERTON

The Friends of the Marblehead Council on Aging’s annual auction at The Landing Restaurant features a handmade quilt and more to fund COA programs.

COURTESY PHOTO / TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD

Old Burial Hill’s restoration efforts will be the focus of a charity night at The Landing Restaurant, with proceeds supporting the historic cemetery’s preservation.

COURTESY PHOTO Executive Director Kimberly Grad will discuss the Abbot Public Library’s 2024 renovation at the Marblehead Council on Aging, highlighting new features and technological

Chimney charm: Screech owl finds cozy

BY RICK CUZNER

I usually spend countless hours in the woods looking for wildlife, but a few weeks back I was alerted to an Eastern screech owl hanging out in a chimney by Marblehead’s own, Bette Hunt, also town historian emeritus. It was in such a wonderful and unique setting, but a fair distance off. Much thanks to Bette. Eastern screech owls are small owls native to the eastern United States, according to MassWildlife. They are welladapted to living in close proximity to humans and are often found nesting and roosting in urban and suburban areas.

One reason an Eastern screech owl might choose a chimney in Marblehead as a nesting or

roosting site is the protection and shelter it provides. Chimneys offer a secure, elevated location shielded from the elements and potential predators. The narrow confines mimic the natural tree cavities screech owls often utilize in the wild.

Urban and suburban areas like Marblehead tend to have an ample supply of prey such as small rodents, birds and large insects that screech owls hunt, often at night. Outdoor lights attract insects, which in turn can attract the owls. Having access to prey in close proximity to their roost is advantageous.

The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner. For the past 16 years, he has taken thousands of nature photographs.

The town and the American Revolution: Commodore John Manley

BY PAM PETERSON

The Hannah was the first vessel in George Washington’s fleet, with Nicholson Broughton of Marblehead as captain.

The next three of the early vessels commissioned by Washington in 1775 were also captained by Marbleheaders. In November of 1775, Capt. John Manley of Marblehead was made commander of the Lee, a 72-ton topsail schooner. It flew the new Pine Tree flag, a precursor of Betsy Ross’ flag, and the one most favored by privateers in the first part of the American Revolution.

The schooner Lee had an impressive naval start, almost immediately capturing a British brigantine, the Nancy, which

yielded a bonanza of weapons for the struggling Revolutionary army.

Washington was pleased, and John Adams wrote of the significance of Manley’s success, stating, “I assert that the first American flag was hoisted by John Manley, and the first British flag was struck to him.”

In 1776, Washington made Manley a commodore and gave him a faster vessel, named the Hancock, which was among the ships that stood on guard at the evacuation of the British from the occupation of Boston.

Manley served the young American Navy well, capturing many British vessels and protecting the waters around Boston and Cape Ann.

Manley’s naval career

continued with the captures of many important British ships. Manley fought throughout the Revolutionary War and was captured by the British twice; held once in a prison in Barbados and once at Mill Prison in England.

He was released after the end of the Revolutionary War and returned home to serve in the U.S. Navy until he died in 1793.

Washington wrote these words to Manley: “Your general good behavior since you first engaged in the service, merits mine, and your country’s thanks.”

Pam Peterson chairs the Marblehead Historical Commission. She is the former Marblehead Museum executive director.

Sports

Tarmey bridges championship hockey gap

MHS assistant athletic director, former coach remembers the program’s first state title in 2011

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Marblehead hockey fans are no doubt still celebrating the Headers’ run to the Division 3 state championship that culminated with a pulsating 1-0 triumph over Nauset, the top seed, at the TD Garden on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

The Marblehead boys team ended up with a 17-9-1 overall record, counting the postseason, with six of those losses occurring way back in December. They were able to climb out of that huge hole to earn the sixth seed in Division 3 statewide, competing against 39 other clubs that also clinched a tournament berth.

But it was only 13 years ago when another group of Headers secured the program’s first-ever state title, when they doubled up Westfield also at the TD Garden, 6-3.

In 2011, those Headers began the state tournament as the second seed in Division 3 North after compiling a 15-4-3 regular season record. They then went on to defeat Boston Latin (5-3), Dracut (5-1) and Shawsheen (6-2) to secure the sectional crown.

Shawsheen was the common opponent of both squads. The Billerica school was the top seed in 2011, with Marblehead right behind them as the second seed. The Rams were the second seed this year. In 2011, the locals beat them to bring home the sectional trophy, while their

younger “brothers” were able to hang on to a 2-1 win over the Tech kids that punched their ticket to the TD Garden.

Coach Bobby Jackson’s 2011 team then nipped Pembroke in the state semifinals, 3-2, before the aforementioned state championship clincher against Westfield. They needed five postseason victories to become state champs, just like this year’s edition.

Both clubs also had another common denominator, Mark Tarmey. In 2011, Tarmey was a major cog on Jackson’s staff.

Since then, he has been the school’s assistant athletic director. He fully understands what it took for each club to earn the ultimate prize, an achievement that’s never easily attained.

Tarmey prefaced his thoughts on both championship teams

by saying it wouldn’t be fair to compare or contrast them. Instead, he said, “Both teams had remarkable seasons [and] overcame significant obstacles along the way to win their state championships.”

He added, “Both teams should [always] be held in equally high regard by the Marblehead hockey community.”

It warms Tarmey’s heart to see three former Headers on head

coach Mark Marfione’s staff, including Liam Gillis, who was a freshman on the 2011 team.

“I was very grateful that former MHS players Liam Gillis, Kyle Koopman and Tim Kalinowski accepted the coaching offer that I extended to them in November of 2022,” he recalled. “These three excellent young men exude high hockey

Three from MHS qualify for nationals

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Marblehead High junior indoor track captain Thomas Carlson and senior captains Alex Hersey and Isaac Gross all qualified for Boston’s New Balance National Meet earlier this month, with the best of the best also competing for All-American status. The Marblehead trio entered as the “Marblehead Track Club” because the official high school season was over.

Although most states compete in indoor track, some athletes also qualified via outstanding spring marks last year. It was a four-day event that included middle school, freshman and high school-level competitions, and in the end a total of six national high school records fell. Carlson (6.56.55) qualified for the 60-meter dash. His qualifying time was also good enough to win the NEC Championship Meet last month.

“Tommy is the fastest short sprinter in Marblehead history,” said coach Nolan Raimo. “We often see .15 to .2-second improvement between the junior and senior year, which means Tommy is on pace for an extraordinary senior campaign next year.”

Raimo added, “Tommy ran a 7.11 60 to finish 147th out of 290 competitors at the New Balance Nationals, and he was 51st among juniors. This 7.11 converts to a 6.64 (50-yard dash time), which is only 0.08 behind his

best-ever mark. His peak window for sprinting began in February by design for the conference and state championships, and for him to run a quality 60-meter race six weeks past his initial peak window is phenomenal.”

Raimo said that the approach for Carlson for Nationals was to rest him for a week after the Meet of Champions, which had taken place two weeks earlier, before ramping up the following

week leading into the Nationals.

“We didn’t want to jeopardize his spring season by overtraining him near the end of the indoor season,” Raimo said. “We treated Nationals more so as a celebration to an incredible season rather than necessarily as an all-in approach.”

Hersey qualified for the 60-meter hurdles via his 7.79 55 55-meter time, which placed him second at the NEC Meet.

“Alex just missed the autoqualifier in the long jump by 1 inch, which would have been an incredible feat for him to be on the fence for Nationals in two highly competitive events,” Raimo said. “Alex, like Tommy, rested the week following the Meet of Champions. He struggled with groin tightness and illness during the postseason, but he ramped it up the week before Nationals, and

like Tommy, we treated it as a celebration to a great season.”

Hersey ran a quality race to finish 102nd out of 231 national hurdlers in the 60-meter event. His 8.50 time converts to a 7.89 55-meter hurdle time, which is only 0.10 off his best time this season.

“The 60-meter hurdles event is a significant change compared to the 55-meter hurdles, as there is space for a sprint to make up or lose time after the fifth and final hurdle,” Raimo said. “While Alex is a phenomenal 55-meter/60meter hurdler, his strength is in the 110-meter hurdles in spring track, where he is on a mission to run a sub-15.20 to break the school record currently held by Thomas Huber since 2018.”

Gross did not run in the Nationals, even though he qualified for the 5,000 meters after running a personal best 9:27.85 in the 2-mile during the high school season to qualify for it. It was the eighth fastest time in the state this year.

“Following his state championship in the 2-mile, he decided to begin preparing for the spring season,” Raimo said. “Distance running, unlike sprinting, requires a significant ramp up and recovery period to be successful over multiple seasons, so Isaac decided to shut it down after the state divisional meet, which I think is a wise decision that few high school student-athletes have the ability to make.”

TracK

COURTESY PHOTO

The Marblehead High 2010-11 boys hockey team poses for a reunion photo during the 2023 Friends of Marblehead Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Tedesco Country Club last August. They were honored after bringing home the program’s first-ever state championship. This year’s squad won the program’s second title by beating Nauset, 1-0, at the TD Garden on March 17. The 2011 team is, from left, front row, Ian Maag, captain Ryan Dempsey, Hunter Graves, Tony Cuzner, Ty Bates, Tom Koopman and captain Chris McLeod; second row, coach Gary Conn, Brendon Leydon, Tyler Gelineau, Alex Whitmore, captain Jake Kulevich, coach Mark Tarmey, coach Tom Colby, coach Pat Flynn, Trevor Jones, Liam Gillis (an assistant coach on this year’s team), captain Ben Koopman, Hunter Whitmore and head coach Bobby Jackson.

Girls lacrosse seniors ready to provide leadership

Magicians begin 2024 campaign on road at Woburn, Manchester Essex

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead High girls lacrosse team ended last year with a 6-13 overall record. They were the 22nd seed in the Division 2 state tournament, where they lost to Ashland (11-9, 11th seed), 10-5, in the Round of 32. Coach Annie Madden’s team started practicing for the 2024 season last week, and the veteran mentor foresees a team full of hard-working players who are willing to push one another to get better.

“There is still a lot of room for playing opportunities for anyone who comes ready to play hard and has the ability to make things happen,” she said. “We even have players trying different positions to find the right fit to create a successful team.”

43 players

Madden welcomed

to the first day of practice on March 18. Susannah Forbes is her varsity assistant coach,

while Jess Gambale is in charge of the JV squad. Rachel Leavitt and Kevin Driscoll are the goaltending coaches.

Kate Burns, fresh off from leading the girls basketball team to the postseason, and Caroline Scroope are the 2024 girls lacrosse captains.

“Both captains have already established a standard of hard work and excellence, setting an immediate positive tone for the season,” Madden said.

The Marblehead girls were scheduled to take part in a jamboree at Lexington on Saturday, March 23. It was to feature a series of 20-minute games against the likes of Framingham, Algonquin, Wayland, Reading and Austin Prep. They were then set to welcome Hamilton-Wenham to

town yesterday (March 26) for another scrimmage.

The Magicians will have a veteran varsity presence with 10 seniors on the roster this spring.

“They are already setting the standard of hard work and excellence for their younger teammates,” said Madden.

“They are the leaders we need to help bring our younger players onboard in order to understand the culture of Marblehead girls lacrosse. They are stepping up and teaching them what it means to be a part of a team.”

Madden’s girls will begin the regular season on the road at Woburn tomorrow (March 28), starting at 4 p.m. They will then head to Manchester-Essex to face the Hornets in another nonleague game on Monday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m.

YMCA wraps Jr. Celtics program for the season

SUBMITTED BY THE LYNCH-VAN OTTERLOO YMCA STAFF

Another successful season of Jr. Celtics basketball just finished at the Y. For more than four years, the Lynch-van Otterloo Y has partnered with the Boston Celtics for Jr. Celtics, the official youth basketball platform of the 17-time world champions.

The Y engaged more than 400 children ages 3-12 in this program, which provides an overwhelmingly positive youth basketball experience by treating each child like an MVP, rewarding players for self-improvement and teamwork while building a future generation of champions and lifelong basketball fans.

The end-of-season event included a special visit by Celtics legend Leon Powe who stopped by the Y to answer questions and shoot some hoops with the All-Star and Pro Division players. Players, coaches, parents and Y staff enjoyed another great season full of growth, fun and teamwork.

This is an action-packed youth development program with instructional

28

and recreational teams that offers a well-rounded experience focusing on healthy player and coach development as well as fundamental skills. “We’ve been so fortunate to have this collaborative partnership with the Boston Celtics,” said Garrett Coler, associate director of sports operations for the YMCA. “Each year, we see so much enthusiasm and growth from the participants, coaches and the Y staff. Thousands of kids have enjoyed this program over the years, and we are thrilled to

4 p.m. boys tennis

4:30 p.m. softball

Hockey

From P. A9

IQs, sterling character traits and undying loyalty to their hometown.”

Tarmey added, “Winning a state championship is quite an accomplishment for any high school coach, and this year it took a special group of coaches to do it after an 0-6 start. I’m

continue to offer it.”

This partnership offers participants the chance to learn from trained Jr. Celtics coaches and participate in special events that happen throughout the season. Participants also receive their own Celtics jersey.

In addition to the Y’s flexible pricing model which pertains to all programming, the Y has also partnered with Salem Public Schools and Salem Children’s Charity to ensure that every child who is interested in this program has the opportunity to participate.

also very happy that I reached out to old friend Peter Marfione (Mark’s brother) to ask if Mark would be interested in the head coaching job.”

Never assume repeat performances

Tarmey offered this piece of advice to next year’s returning players from his own experiences in the 2012 season.

“This 2024 state championship

Children’s Island day camp

Experience the magic of Children’s Island, a beautiful ocean oasis in the middle of Marblehead Harbor that has been operating for over 65 years. Campers take the 15-minute Hannah Glover ferry ride to and from camp each day. The stunning, rustic island setting offers unique opportunities to discover the seacoast with swimming, snorkeling and beach exploration. Campers will enjoy an art barn stocked with arts and crafts, a saltwater pool, gaga pit, STEAM

team should savor and soak-in all the good vibes and positive energy that was earned on March 17,” he said. “In 2012, we were bounced from the state tournament in the (North quarterfinals) after losing a 2-1 game (to Rockport/ManchesterEssex), despite outshooting (them), 51-8.”

Tarmey continued, “A hit post, a dinged crossbar, a missed open net or an errant call by

curriculum and more.

The Children’s Island experience is like no other day camp on the North Shore.

Summer Camp is just around the corner

For more information about any of the camp offerings below, visit tinyurl.com/2tek32t8.

Looking for a camp onsite at the Y?

» Gymnastics day camp for ages 7-12

Gymnastics day camp

jr. for ages 5-6

Join the Y for gymnastics event training, specialized skills, and drills for overall

a referee can all change the entire outcome of a season. Marblehead’s 2024-2025 record is currently 0-0, and I’m sure that coaches Marfione, Gillis, Koopman and Kalinowski are not looking past the first game on Dec. 14.”

Tarmey’s 2012 squad was the 12th seed in Division 3 North after ending up with a 7-11-2 regular season record. Ironically, they did manage again to defeat

athletic development in a fun and well-rounded camp day. An ideal choice for both recreational and competitive gymnasts.

Campers will also participate in swimming, outdoor activities, and STEAM curriculum.

Move, play, explore for ages 5-6

Explore, move and play with the Y this summer.

Play games like dodgeball, gaga, parachute and more. Campers will be active and energized to learn new skills while also enjoying swimming, outdoor activities, and STEAM curriculum.

Shawsheen, 3-2, in a first-round game, before the Rockport/ Manchester-Essex heartbreaker, one more common denominator between these two state title teams. In three seasons (2011, 2012, 2024), the Headers are 3-0 against the Rams, and they would like nothing better than to face them again to continue that streak next March.

CURRENT FILE PHOTO/KEN MCGAGH

Marblehead girls lacrosse players mob teammate Caroline Scroope, right, after Scroope’s first-half goal during a Division 2 Round of 32 tournament game against host Ashland last June. Scroope is back this year as a captain of the team, along with Kate Burns.

COURTESY PHOTO

Celebrating the conclusion of a spirited Jr. Celtics season at the Lynch-van Otterloo YMCA, young players and their coaches pose with Celtics legend Leon Powe.

some weren’t, go through the whole process from beginning to the end,” Kelley explained.

He said the board had not determined how long the audit would take or how much it would cost, but he would seek a transfer from the town’s free-cash reserves to fund the review.

For Kelley, the need for an independent review crystallized when he heard from a resident who questioned how their home could be valued the same as a larger house with water views just one street over.

“What somebody said to me — ‘It’s not fair’ — that really hit home,” Kelley said. “Because the whole thing about this process ... is [assessments] are supposed to be fair. And there’s a perception among a lot of people in this town that the values are not fair.”

Kelley could not say what actions would follow the audit’s findings, preferring to get the results first.

“No one enjoys paying property taxes,” he said. “But at least if you can say to yourself, ‘Well, you know, what I’m writing out is fair,’ that’s really important. And I think we really have lost a lot of that feeling amongst people.”

Kelley added, “I think we’ve lost that confidence among many taxpayers.”

To address a surge in abatement applications, the board has enlisted the help of the Marbleheadbased Patriot Properties.

Beginning Monday, March 25, the firm will assist with the preparatory work for the abatement process, albeit the board will retain the authority to make final decisions on all abatements.

Kelley said the board had received an astounding 340 abatement applications. This figure represents a significant increase from the typical 90 to 100 abatement requests the assessors receive annually. Amid these developments, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer has proposed Articles 35 and 38 for the upcoming Town Meeting. Article 35 seeks to bring the assessor’s office under the CFO, fostering better coordination and data sharing within the Finance Department.

Article 38 aims to make the Board of Assessors an appointed rather than elected body, aligning with the practice in many other municipalities.

If approved both at Town Meeting and in a town-wide vote, these changes would take effect in fiscal year 2025.

fund” our schools?

It’s easy to get parents and teachers on board with the idea that our schools need more funding after years of level-service budgets and when facing a second consecutive year of big budget cuts. But fleshing out what “fully funded” schools look like, need and cost takes work and planning. The “level services”budget presented Thursday night —which will require an additional $2.5 million in funding —will not give us “fully funded”schools. Sure, we’ll avoid some incredibly painful cuts in staffing, but neither of the budgets presented on Thursday night (“level services”and “level funded”) will restore the positions cut in the fiscal year 2023 budget or address the numerous unfunded needs in our schools; nor will they fix the underlying structural deficit that will put us in this exact same position next year. After listening to educator after educator say that what

our schools have right now is inadequate, the School Committee cannot possibly believe that a level services budget for FY 25 “fully funds”our schools.

Members of our School Committee talk a lot about unfunded needs and the status quo being unacceptable. So why didn’t they come to the table ready to talk about what those needs are and what funding them will cost? On the one hand, School Committee members postured that they don’t have to operate within the confines of the budget number FinCom gives them and that they have an obligation to come to Town Meeting and advocate for the funding that the schools

need. But on the other hand, they said that the school administration only prepared level-funded and level-service budgets for FY25 because that’s all FinCom asked for. The School Committee cannot have this both ways. Our current School Committee members are not responsible for the financial problems facing the town of Marblehead. They are responsible, however, for advocating for the funding our schools need. That advocacy cannot be all talk —true advocacy would have meant planning and preparation to show what it takes to “fully fund”the schools. Given this lack of planning and preparation, the School Committee needs to

stop posturing about

overrides and antics on the floor of Town Meeting. School Committee members: listen to your FinCom liaisons and dig into your revolving funds to find as much money as you possibly can to defray budget cuts in a responsible way; demonstrate a willingness to be flexible and collaborative during a time when financial pressures are impacting all town departments; take steps now to stabilize our district leadership; and roll up your sleeves and get to work planning for FY 26.

Cindy Schieffer Beach Street

Kate Schmeckpeper

Chestnut Street

Julie Duggan Dodge Road

Dr. Marc Levine, 80

Dr. Marc Levine passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 16, surrounded by his wife, Andrea (Andy) Tish, and friends.

Marc and his twin sister Roberta (Bobbie) were born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 28, 1943, to Ida and Harry Levine.

Marc’s father, Harry, died in Okinawa in 1945 while serving as a captain in the U.S. Army.

Marc and Bobbie grew up in Brooklyn surrounded by an extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins with whom he was very close.

Marc went to Midwood High

Susan Marie Schuster (Quade)

Susan Marie Schuster passed away peacefully on March 7, 2024, at the age of 76. The cause of death was complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Sue grew up in Cincinnati as one of six children to George and Mary Schuster. She attended St. Ursula’s Academy, remembering her early school days being shaped by fierce but devoted women of the cloth.

Sue graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1970 with a degree in education and went on to have a nearly 40-year career as a devoted teacher and school administrator.

During one of her summers in

Bruce A.

Wallace, 93

Bruce Alden Wallace died peacefully at home in Marblehead on March 8. He was 93.

Bruce found contentment and fulfillment in his family, work, community involvement and faith. He believed that a solution could be found to any problem.

A talented engineer, he was also a thoughtful and perceptive listener. He was valued for his optimism, his intelligence and his gift for imagining a creative path that would help others achieve their goals.

Bruce was born on Aug. 27, 1930, to Gladys Weyforth Wallace and Dwight Gardner Wallace in Chicago, Illinois. His family moved to Oklahoma and New York before settling in New Jersey.

Bruce graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1948, where he played on the golf team. He studied mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1952. Soon after entering the

Briefs

From P. A7

Scholarship ($7,000), the Donald Humphreys Veterans Memorial Scholarship ($6,000), two Rotary Club of Marblehead Scholarships ($5,000 each), and a new scholarship for college undergrads ($5,000). The deadline to apply is April 7 at 11:59 p.m. For more information and to apply, visit tinyurl. com/34whfpy5 or email Nancy Gwin at gwinnancy@gmail.com.

The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor is accepting scholarship applications from graduating seniors of Marblehead High School or Marblehead residents attending

School and then graduated from Columbia University, where he majored in mathematics. After college, he did graduate work at Brandeis University and the City University of New York, then taught mathematics at University of

college, Sue lived on Cape Cod as a nanny where she met her future husband, David, at the famed Hunt Club in Falmouth. Sue and David married and relocated to the Back Bay in Boston, and Sue began her teaching career in the Beverly Public Schools. While in Boston, she earned her master of science degree in teaching at Lesley University.

workforce, Bruce met Nancy Upton (Ann Seaver Coolidge Upton) through a church singles and discussion group in New Jersey. Nancy was a spirited and independent thinker. They were kindred spirits who wanted to live according to their values and make the world a better place. They wed in 1954 and settled in Maryland while Bruce served as an engineer in the U.S. Army.

After Bruce left the Army, his work for the M.W. Kellogg Corporation caused frequent moves — to California, New Jersey and France — before they settled their young family in White Plains, New York. In his three decades with that firm, Bruce designed oil refineries and contributed to a team

out-of-town high schools. The club offers several one-year and enhanced scholarships, including the new Lee and Barry Weed Scholarship, a four-year scholarship totaling $20,000 for a student demonstrating exemplary service to the community, school or family. The deadline to apply is April 7 at 11:59 p.m. To apply, visit marbleheadscholarship.org/ enhanced-scholarships.

Volunteer opportunities

The town has openings on several municipal boards and commissions:

Marblehead Cultural Council (three vacancies, three-year terms)

» Marblehead Disabilities

Massachusetts-Boston.

After teaching for several years, he changed course and applied to medical school. He graduated from the University of Kentucky Medical School and completed a residency in pediatrics at Boston City Hospital and Duke University Hospital in North Carolina.

In 1983, he moved to Marblehead to join Andy who was working as a pediatrician in Salem. Their daughter, Sarah, was born in 1987 and was the joy of his life.

Marc began working as a pediatrician at Lynn Community Health Center in 1984 and continued there for 38 years before retiring, serving at times as chief of pediatrics and

After falling in love with the charms of Marblehead, Sue and David moved to the seaside town and had two children, Alison and Jonathan.

Sue was a devoted mother who enjoyed her family and their many activities. She was a common fixture at her children’s hundreds of swim meets, soccer games, baseball practices, sailing regattas and lacrosse tournaments.

Susan enjoyed going to their New Hampshire condo at Loon Mountain, hiking the White Mountain trails and even taking up skiing to be with family and friends. Sue loved the ocean and beaches — whether in Marblehead, the Corinthian Yacht Club or their second home on Cape Cod.

Sue was known for her intelligence, wit and being empathetic to others’ needs.

that successfully redesigned ammonia production plants. Bruce was proud to put his engineering skills to work towards the ideals of the Green Revolution.

Bruce and Nancy remained in White Plains for over five decades, and that is where they raised their three children, David, Gail and Lane. Bruce was an active and cheerful parent, happy to spend evenings and weekends with his family, sharing his enthusiasm for their company.

Bruce and Nancy put their faith into action through civic engagement. In their volunteer work for the PTA, the neighborhood association and their church, they modeled the steady commitment that strengthens a community and fosters social change. They mentored youth, worked for racial justice, worked for fair housing laws and practices, and put energy into maintaining joyful and diverse spaces such as their neighborhood and church.

When Nancy was tapped for leadership roles in the city and in the region, Bruce supported her work not only by listening and

Commission (one vacancy, three-year term)

Interested residents should submit letters of interest and resumes to the Select Board at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or email wileyk@marblehead. org. Details on each group are at marblehead.org.

Abbot Library offers tax counseling service

Registration is open for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program offered by AARP at the Abbot Library. The free tax preparation service will be held on Mondays through April 8. Appointments are required. Call the library at 781-631-1481 during open hours to sign up. Tax forms are now available in

medical director. In 1994, he was honored as the “Outstanding Massachusetts Health Center Physician of the Year” by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers. At the time, his colleagues described him as “gentle, compassionate, patient and calm with an almost unlimited supply of energy for patients and for the providers he supervises.”

In 2011, he was named the Community Clinician of the Year by the Essex South District Medical Society.

Marc enjoyed living on the North Shore and loved kayaking, biking, playing tennis (and later pickleball). He had a soft spot for animals and was often surrounded by several

Sue leaves a legacy both through her family and the countless students whose lives were touched by her passion for teaching. Sue’s last decade of her career was spent at Tower School in Marblehead as a math and history teacher, as well as a division head and secondary school placement administrator. She loved teaching and felt pride in working with struggling students who needed a boost.

Sue also enjoyed the relationships she made across secondary schools and the work she did in helping families determine the next step in their children’s education. When former students returned home for school break, they would often find Sue at Tower School, or even her home, to joyfully share their accomplishments. This meant the world to her.

Sue is survived by her husband

helping to brainstorm solutions but also by participating in the numerous events she planned to clean up and celebrate the Bronx River.

In the eyes of his children, perhaps Bruce’s most outstanding example of living his values were several years in the 1970s that he dedicated to working for a minorityowned and operated pipebending company, Crippen Pipe Fabrication Corporation. Bruce’s long hours and financial sacrifices taught his children what commitment to racial justice entailed.

At the end of his engineering career, Bruce specialized in making heat transfer more efficient in various industrial settings, both in the United States and abroad. He formed a small and successful consulting firm with Neal Shanahan called Process Management Enterprises. He particularly enjoyed putting his talents to use in China and India while taking Nancy to those distant lands.

Nancy and Bruce’s bond deepened over the years; they were equal partners in all their endeavors. In 2012, Bruce

the Reference Room.

The TCE program provides basic tax return preparation for low- to moderate-income taxpayers, with a focus on seniors. Participants do not need to be AARP members or meet an age requirement. For more information, visit abbotlibrary.org/tax-prepprogram or email the library at mar@noblenet.org.

Contamination in bottled water

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health warns against using Simpson Spring bottled water due to PFAS contamination that exceeds safe levels. Consumers are advised to avoid purchasing

pampered cats and an adoring, if undisciplined, dog. He is survived by his wife, Andy Tish; daughter, Sarah Levine; sister, Bobbie Levine; cousin, Lisa Feiner; brother-inlaw and sister-in-law, Harris and Geri Tish; nephews Michael Tish and David Tish (and family), and many cousins as well as many friends and colleagues at the Lynn Community Health Center.

Marc will always be remembered for his kindness, patience and unflappability. His memory will remain in the hearts of all who loved him.

If desired, donations can be made to the Lynn Community Health Center in memory of Dr. Marc Levine.

of 53 years, David Quade; her children, Alison Spring (in Marblehead) and Jonathan Quade (in Kennebunk, Maine), along with their spouses, Peter Spring and Danielle LePointeQuade; her grandchildren, Ethan, Charlie and Libby Spring, and June Quade.

Sue would be proud to know she is contributing to finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease through the donation of her brain to the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center at McLean Hospital. Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

A celebration of Sue’s life will be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead in June. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Susan’s family may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.

and Nancy moved to Nancy’s hometown of Marblehead. Despite multiple health challenges, each was determined to care for the other until Nancy’s death on Feb. 15 of this year. All who knew them share the hope that their spirits are now joyfully reunited.

Bruce was preceded in death by his sister, Louise Wallace Reynolds, and by his wife, Nancy Wallace. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Dave Wallace (Jan Bass), Gail Wallace (Harry McDaniel) and Lane Wallace (Ed Cataldo); and by his three beloved grandchildren, Kern Wallace, Tyler McDaniel and Kinana McDaniel.

Bruce’s burial will be held at Waterside Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 6. A memorial service will be held immediately following at noon on April 6 at the Old North Church, 35 Washington St., Marblehead followed by a reception in the Old North Church Parish Hall immediately after the service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Wallace family may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.

or consuming water from the Easton-based company. Those with Simpson Spring water at home should dispose of it and not consume any more of the company’s products until further notice. This warning follows the discovery of elevated PFAS levels in the water, a group of chemicals linked to potential health risks. Simpson Spring has temporarily ceased bottling operations in response.

ClearGov is live

Residents now have online access to more of the town’s financial information via the ClearGov Transparency Center at bit.ly/3Oi07pF. It’s part of the town’s new cloud-based financial software system.

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Headlight

Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2023 - 2024 Issue

www.mhsheadlight.com

Marblehead's Got Talent -performers' perspectives

Ila Bumagin, Senior, Editor-in-Chief

On March 13, friends, family, and community members gathered in the Marblehead High School auditorium to hear fifteen talented students perform. Ten of these students made it on to the final round, where they will perform for judges, who include Johnny Ray, Paula Gaull, Lisa Decarlo, and more. The prizes range from $500-$6000 for the top four finalists. The ten that moved on were chosen by popular vote on the night of the performance. While the performers are being evaluated by their audience and judges, we wanted to know how they were feeling about MGT.

MGT has been going on for many years. A lot of the performers this year had seen shows from the past and were inspired by them. Others wanted a chance to showcase things they had been working on. Charlotte Selinger said, "I don’t get many opportunities for solo performance on stage, so I had wanted to give it a try and perform a song I enjoy."

These performers have been working not just during the past months, but their whole lives on their various talents. Many students started playing guitar, piano, or singing from an early age or during the pandemic. They took this opportunity to

perform a song they liked and were comfortable with, even if it took some extra work.

Although these students are used to public performances, there's always things to be nervous about. Some were concerned about whether the sound system would work or what response they would get from the audience. However, they made each other more comfortable performing. They said their competitors were incredibly supportive. Jacob Piaścik said, "everyone involved was exceptionally talented and it was incredible to hear everyone perform."

Obviously, the first round is somewhat of a popularity contest. The performers reacted to this in different ways. Arianna Leahy said, "Every single person in the audience was biased, and if someone doesn’t have huge networks of friends and family willing to support you, there is no chance of moving on." However, Lani Gilmore uses this to her advantage. She said, "I made sure to let a lot of my family, friends, and neighbors know that I’d love them to come and support me! I didn’t KNOW that I would move on, but I had a feeling I would because I had the support of people that I love."

Whether or not they moved on, all the contestants were grateful for the experience and want to wish the finalists luck!

MHS teen reading habits

Aislin Freedman, Senior

High school is a strange time for many. For some, it is the height of their lives; jocks, cheerleaders, and otherwise popular students rule the school, have crazy parties, and spend most of their free time with friends. For others, high school is a nightmare of too much homework, too little sleep, and rocky (or outright terrible) relationships. Teenagers try hard to distance themselves from who they were as children, find out who they are as a person, and fit in with peers. Books… oftentimes don’t fit into that picture. Regarded as antisocial, nerdy, or outright weird, some teens forgo their paper companions for friends or status. Others find that they just don’t have enough time to read anymore.

I recognize that my peers don’t read as much as they used to. Old friends who used to gush about their newest read for hours are now left searching for what to say when I so much as ask what they’ve been reading lately. Gone are the days when I could get book recommendations just by glancing at classmates and what paperback they

had brought for the day. I have even noticed that in the past few years my reading habits have been in a sort of lull - I was stuck in a reading slump for a while, unable to fully immerse myself in a book the way I wanted to.

Having recently gotten out of my reading slump (and coming back with a bang - 23 books read since the start of January), I wanted to take a survey on the reading habits of my peers. I use Goodreads to keep track of my reads, give me suggestions for new books, and encourage me to keep reading with yearly challenges. As it is such a large part of my life, I find it hard to believe people don’t use it, or don’t even know what it is. Because of this, I also included some questions regarding the app in my survey.

I would like to start with a disclaimer that this survey does not accurately represent the statistics of the entire student population at MHS; however, I got 32 responses, which isn’t a terribly small number either.

The first interesting statistic came up when I asked people how much they believe themselves to read, when compared to their

Headlight Staff 2023-2024

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Ila Bumagin and Mona Gelfgatt

March 27, 2024 peers. Almost half of the people surveyed said that they read more than their peers. Some of these people recorded reading over 40 books a year on average, so that is not a surprise, but many of these people recorded reading around 10-20 books a year on average. While this statistic could be taken to show that students assume those around them are reading significantly less than them, there is also evidence to support this claim. 66% of students reported reading under or around 10 books a year. Although almost the same number also reported high enjoyment of reading, only lack of time. While some students just don’t enjoy reading all that much, it is clear that many teens appreciate it and find value in it but push it aside for other tasks.

Unsurprisingly, students who reported reading levels on the generally higher side were also the ones who knew about, and reported more consistently, using Goodreads. The most common feature on this app seems to be the book reviews it provides, though this statistic is most

likely partly due to some teachers asking students to write reviews on Goodreads. The second highestused feature on Goodreads seems to be learning more about books to read in the future.

Although over half of those surveyed do not use Goodreads, it is obvious that there are correlations between reading more, enjoying reading, and using the app to keep track of books.

While I admit there are many ways this survey could be improved, a few extra statistics that I would be fascinated to see would be if people use other apps to keep track of their reading, if students wish they were able to read more but find themselves with a lack of free time to do so, and also what value teens find in reading. Do students feel that finishing a book is not an accomplishment worth being proud of? Do they think it unimportant and merely a distraction to everyday life? These are all questions that I think the survey could have done more to look into. However, I found the statistics that I did manage to gather to be interesting and noteworthy.

Nuclear implications in Asteroid City

Nathaniel Carper-Young, Sophomore

Wes Anderson, singular aesthete and auteur darling of the 21st century (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Moonrise Kingdom), has dreamed up a new spectacle: Asteroid City. It is perhaps his most accomplished work to date.

The film is, even by Wes Anderson’s standards, a gonzo and labyrinthine production. It is fluid in every sense of the word, operating on countless different planes at once. It is a damning condemnation of consumer culture at one moment, a deeply moving portrait of fractured familial relationships the next. This speaks to an extraordinary development in the director's prowess. Just five years ago, Anderson threw together the twee and unseemly Isle of Dogs, a directorially unrecognizable film entirely subsumed by its cutesy inclinations. Here, though, his characterizations are truer and more human than ever before, and his decadently artificial formalism reaches its pinnacle.

Asteroid City is a film of many facets—it is rather literary in its usage of motifs and wry relation of information; it is literally and aesthetically theatrical in its presentation; it is a film about belonging, artistic ambition, interpersonal conflicts; it is whatever you wish it to be. However, the most pertinent of the film’s throughlines is its varied critique of the obsession with commodity culture that belies America’s nascent moment—the contemporary history of then (the film is set in 1955), now, and

everything in-between.

The film, after Bryan Cranston’s tongue-in-cheek televisual introduction, opens on a shot of a freight train carrying various consumer goods—grapefruits, John Deere tractors, new Pontiac models (not to mention a nuclear warhead). We follow this freight train for a while, and then we see it cross through an invitingly-hued podunk wasteland; none other than the eponymous Asteroid City. With it arrives the nuclear family, disembodied—a father, three daughters, one son, no spouse. The film presents a (rather crude) contrast between people and product, and there are many such juxtapositions peppered throughout the film. There is a singular instance of this—the film’s narrative and thematic centerpiece: the alien.

Upon the arrival of the nameless alien (only characterized as “six-foot-seven” and a possible worker for “...the Russians or the red Chinese”), everything is set in motion. Photographs are taken; observations are made; drastic actions are carried out (the immediate lockdown of the city at the will of the federal government). Most notably, the alien loses its status as a being and is transformed into a talk-of-the-town abstraction. The alien becomes a commodity, and the film’s characters cannot get enough of this commodity—they talk about it until they lose interest. They exhaust themselves of intellectual curiosity: when the commodity is extinguished, they are left empty, looking only for the next object of consumption. Such is our modern tragedy.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Benji Boyd, Rachael Albert TECHNOLOGY EDITOR: Kate Twomey

REPORTERS: Nathaniel Carper-Young, Grey Collins, Tucker Crane, Aislin Freedman, Kathleen Hanson, Samuel Jendrysik, Anya Kane, Nina Lees, Georgia Marshall, Charlie Seliger, Livia Weiss

FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins

Best bets in Marblehead coming up

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

Marblehead’s Got Talent finals

Wednesday, March 27, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Ten students, $15,000! Come watch this year’s Marblehead’s Got Talent finals, put on by the Marblehead Rotary Club. The event is at the Cabot Theater, 286 Cabot St., Beverly. $50 adults, $25 at the door. Learn more at marbleheadrotary.com.

VFW fundraiser with the Guy Ford Band

Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m.

Come rock out with the Guy Ford Band at a special VFW fundraiser for Company 2 Heroes. The nonprofit provides service dogs to veterans with post traumatic stress disorder. The event is free, but donations are welcome. 321 West Shore Drive.

‘Meditations on the Passion’ cantata

Friday, March 29, 8 p.m.

Recording artist/ songwriter Bob Franke and other musicians will perform Franke’s “Meditations on the Passion,” also known as the “Good Friday Cantata,” at St. Andrew’s Church, 135 Lafayette St. Donations ($10 suggested) will be accepted at the door. The popular cantata was first performed at St. Andrew’s in the 1980s. It brings vocal and instrumental performers from around New England and beyond. More info at standrewsmhd.org.

‘Local Solutions for Biodiversity Loss’

Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Abbot Library and Sustainable Marblehead invite the community to a talk about native plants and pollinators and their connection to biodiversity. Speaker Peggy MacLeod will explore community strategies for reversing the critical loss of biodiversity to create a more resilient future. Learn about a movement across Massachusetts to build pollinator pathways that expand habitat using important native trees, shrubs and plants. Register to attend in person at 3 Brook Road or on Zoom. Info at abbotlibrary.org.

Library moving sale

Through Saturday, March 30

The Friends of Abbot Public Library are having a moving sale. Stop by the Sail Away Book Shop at the Abbot Public Library’s interim location, 3 Brook Road. All books in the shop will be on sale, and the Friends will hold a raffle. On Saturday, March 30, fill a bag of books for only $10! 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. except Thursday, when the library opens at noon.

Meet a celebrity chef

Saturday, April 6, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

The Marblehead Current invites you to an event with PBS celebrity chef and cookbook author Mary Ann Esposito as she discusses her most recent book, “Ciao Italia: Plant, Harvest, Cook!” at Caffe Italia, 10 School St. Esposito will go through the entire season-by-season culinary process from gardening to more than 100 easy, Italian-inspired recipes. She describes her awardwinning book as “a seasonal home garden vegetable journey focusing on simple growing tips for anyone interested in growing their own vegetables and how to cook them Italian style. No green thumb necessary.” Tickets at https://tiny.cc/MeetChefEsposito.