05.31.23 - Volume 1, Issue 27

BY KRIS OLSON

At the first of two League of Women Voters Candidates Nights May 24, incumbent Jim Nye distinguished himself from the rest of the Select Board field by saying that he did not support the $2.5 million general override that will be on the town election

ballot June 20.

Reading from a prepared statement, Nye said, “For the past 18 years, the town has paid all its obligations with revenue collected, including negotiated step and cost-of-living increases, purchased rolling stock and maintained assets with no layoffs. Most would

call that ‘conservative fiscal management.’”

He continued, “This year, the department heads have been tasked with identifying positions that can remain unfilled as well as staff cuts that will minimally impact the delivery of services to the citizens of Marblehead. I agree with these

recommendations and do not support the permanent general override.”

As colleague Jackie Belf-Becker was about to begin her response to moderator Jeff Shribman’s question, an audience member spoke up to ask Nye to repeat whether he supported the override.

Supporters tour $10 million Abbot Library renovations

“I do not,” he reiterated. The question about the override also spurred an exchange between Belf-Becker and Bret Murray, the lone challenger in the six-candidate field.

Murray, a member of the Select Board from 2011 to 2017,

a BBOT H a LL

Liquor license awarded to hotel

In split vote, proposed brewery bypassed

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

The Marblehead Select Board granted The Hotel Marblehead a liquor license on May 24, disappointing the owners of a North Reading brewery competing for the same coveted license.

After both businesses pitched their proposals, members Jim Nye, Jackie Belf Becker and Moses Grader sided with the hotel, while Alexa Singer and Erin Noonan backed the taproom.

Contingent upon the state’s approval, The Hotel Marblehead, 264 Pleasant St., will be permitted to serve beer, wine and malt beverages for consumption on site, including in rooms.

BY LEIGH BLANDER

About a dozen Abbot Public Library volunteers and supporters donned hardhats recently for a tour of the Pleasant Street building’s $10 million renovation project.

“We’re just so excited,” said Kathleen Waslov, president of the nonprofit Friends of Abbot Public Library. “We’re delighted to see how well it’s going — and that it’s on budget.”

Town Meeting approved $8.5 million for the renovation in 2021

and supporters have raised another $1.5 million. The construction, which began in January 2023, is about 20% complete and is on schedule to be completed by spring of 2024. In the meantime, the library has moved to a temporary location at the old Eveleth School, 3 Brook Rd.

Kimberly Grad, the library’s director, led the tour, along with Board Chair Gary Amberik. They often had to shout over the sounds of drilling and sawing. The library, originally built in 1954 and expanded in 1990 to 33,000 square feet,

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian will both miss the ocean when they leave for college in Indiana and Colorado at the end of the summer, but they are looking forward to the next chapters in their lives. Valedictorian Yasen Colón is heading to Purdue University to study aerospace engineering. Salutatorian Cate Trautman is going to University of Colorado Boulder and its engineering honors program. They’re both excited to have been named the students with the highest GPAs (grade point averages) in the MHS class of 2023 and to speak

appeared much brighter and larger without stacks of books and furniture. Sunlight poured through the windows and filled the space.

“We’ll be putting in lower stacks in the front area to let the sunshine in,” Grad said.

The tour started on the lower level, where the Teen Center is being updated to include a Project Studio that will feature a sound booth (for recording music and podcasts), computers, sewing machines and

at graduation on June 9. “It’s definitely a great honor,” said Colón. “When you spend most of your Friday and Saturday nights working on a project, or tweaking an essay for a couple more points, or studying for a test instead of relaxing or partying, it’s nice to be recognized for those efforts.” Colón is president of the National Honor Society at MHS and Trautman is vice president. Marblehead memories Both students have fond memories of their 13 years in Marblehead schools. “One of my favorites was being part of the 4X20 meter relay team that qualified and ran

The hotel has been in business since the early 1970s, and the building has undergone renovations in recent years.

The hotel’s attorney, Paul Lynch, said the hotel had created a reception area of approximately 500 square feet on the ground level with seating for 11 people to congregate in the afternoon or early evening.

Lynch told the Select Board the hotel has never had “a beer-and-wine license.”

“At this point, it is really needed to add additional amenities to the inn by allowing guests to enjoy alcoholic beverages without the necessity of leaving the property,” he said.

The Hotel Marblehead’s application comes

‘Don’t beat yourself up’ Top

offer advice as they head to college

NEWS IN BRIEF

The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to News in Brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org.

Democrats to elect convention delegates

On Saturday, June 3 at 10:30 a.m., Democrats will convene in person at the Village School cafeteria, 93 Village St., to elect 14 delegates and four alternates to represent Marblehead at the 2023 State Democratic Convention.

Registered and pre-registered Democrats in Marblehead 16 years old by May 23 may vote and be elected as delegates or alternates during the caucus. Youth (age 16 to 35), people with disabilities, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community not elected as delegates or alternates are encouraged to apply to be add-on delegates at the caucus or by visiting massdems.org/ massdems-convention.

The 2023 convention will be in person at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell on Sept. 23.

Those interested in getting involved with the Marblehead Democratic Town Committee should contact Kathy Hempel at kathy_hempel@yahoo.com or 617-548-8517.

Specimen ballot published

View the specimen ballot for the 2023 municipal election at the following link: bit. ly/3MV6A8H.

Town volunteer opportunities

Marblehead seeks individuals interested in volunteer opportunities on appointed town boards, commissions and committees. Several vacancies are available for community members looking to contribute their skills and expertise. To apply, interested individuals are encouraged to submit a letter of interest and a resume to the Select Board. The application can be submitted in person at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or via email to wileyk@marblehead.org. Please contact the Select Board’s Office at 781-631-0000 for additional information and inquiries.

The available vacancies include:

» Affordable Housing Trust Fund: one vacancy for one year

Marblehead Disabilities

Commission: one vacancy for a term of three years.

This is an opportunity for residents to shape the town’s

VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT

initiatives and contribute to its progress. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply.

Volunteer with SPUR

Volunteering with SPUR aims to produce opportunities for individuals of all ages, abilities and schedules to make a difference in their community. Whether one is looking to volunteer as an individual, with their family or as part of a group, SPUR offers various options to suit volunteers’ preferences. To learn more, visit: spurnorthshore. org/volunteer. Two volunteer opportunities include:

» —Join Community Roots Gardens, a project by SPUR, in their mission to grow fresh, organic produce for local food pantries and community programs fighting food insecurity. With over 1,000 pounds of fruits and vegetables provided annually, the gardens at St. Andrew’s Church and Temple Sinai play a crucial role in supporting food pantries and organizations dedicated to fighting hunger. Volunteer opportunities are available throughout the growing season, welcoming individuals of all skill levels to help with planting, weeding, watering, harvesting and delivery.

To get involved, visit bit. ly/3TNI24n, SPUR seeks volunteers for the Making and Serving Meals program. This initiative provides hot, nutritious meals to individuals facing food insecurity at local shelters. By preparing 10 servings of a provided recipe at their own convenience, volunteers make a direct impact on the lives of those in need. The meals are served at shelters in Salem and Lynn. To get involved and learn more about volunteering for Making and Serving Meals, visit bit.ly/3MDUUqD.

Stramski Sailing Program

The Stramski Sailing Program, offered by the Marblehead Parks and Recreation Department, provides participants with the opportunity to learn the basics of sailing. No prior sailing experience is required.

The program curriculum includes both on-land and on-the-water coaching, focusing on water safety and fundamental sailing techniques. Participants will engage in a variety of activities, such as pirate day, sailing races and on-land games. There are different session options available:

Morning session: Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Afternoon session: Monday through Thursday, from 12:15 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Full-day Session: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (participants can bring their lunch and stay for the whole day).

Prior to participation, all new participants must pass the Swim Check. The Swim Check can be taken at the beginning of the first day or participants can provide documentation of their swimming abilities, including swimming 100 yards, floating for 3 minutes and treading water for 3 minutes. Accepted proofs include YMCA swim certificate, Red Cross swim certificate, BSA-GSA Swim Merit Badge or equivalents approved by the Marblehead Parks and Recreation Department.

Go Green Now! program

Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD) offers the “Go Green Now!” program, allowing customers to support sustainability by opting for 100% Carbon-free Energy sources. The program empowers customers concerned about climate change to make a difference. By selecting the “Go Green Now!” rate, customers can purchase a monthly incremental amount, reflecting their commitment to environmentally friendly energy. Opt-out flexibility is always available. Making 12 Green Choice payments in a year earns customers written confirmation from MMLD, validating their 100% Carbon-free energy usage. To learn more about the program, rates and enrollment, visit bit.ly/3OCtMe3. MMLD remains dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and invites customers to join the “Go Green Now!” program to actively reduce carbon emissions. For inquiries and enrollment, contact MMLD customer service or visit marbleheadelectric.com/ for more information.

Rotary Club to host two-day yard sale

Marblehead Harbor Rotary is pleased to announce the Second Annual 2-Day Yard Sale, taking place on Saturday, June 10, and Sunday, June 11. The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. each day at 217 Humphrey St. Attendees can browse a wide variety of items, including jewelry, home decorative accessories, framed art, toys, sports equipment,

gently used clothing, tools, books, small furniture pieces and more. Organizers say this yard sale provides an excellent opportunity to support the Marblehead Harbor Rotary while discovering great finds.

Rotary Club camperships

Marblehead Rotary Club

Co-Presidents Nancy Gwin and Blair Lord of the Rotary Club of Marblehead announced the availability of funds for local children in need of financial assistance to attend summer camps. The Rotary Club raises funds for camperships through its annual summer lobster raffle, with over $219,716 awarded to more than 380 children in the past 23 years.

Gwin and Lord said the goal is to help children attend their chosen camp, with popular local options including the Marblehead Park and Recreation Department’s playground camp, YMCA’s Children’s Island and Camp Rotary. Camperships may be up to $500 per child, and children living in Marblehead can receive assistance twice. Call or email Ellen Winkler at 781-631-6404 or ewinkler@ emwinklerlaw.com with questions or to request an application for a campership. Each household needs to fill out one form. Applications will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Electronics recycling drive

The Marblehead Public Charter School, 17 Lime St., will hold an electronics recycling drive on Saturday, June 3, from 9 a.m. to noon. This event provides an opportunity for the community to responsibly dispose of electronic items. For a comprehensive list of acceptable items and pricing details, bit. ly/45xLoOd.

Town employment opportunities

A list of current employment opportunities within the town; visit marblehead.org to read job descriptions.

» Seasonal laborer

Transfer station operator

Mechanic pipefitter II

SR seasonal harbor assistant

» Seasonal pump-out assistant

» Building attendant (part-time)

» Two volunteer positions

For an employment application, visit: bit.ly/3i9ct6j. Return the completed form to the respective department with the job opening or follow the instructions mentioned in the job description.

Library looking for help keeping grounds clean

Abbot Public Library is looking for volunteers to help keep the lawns around the library clean as it prepares for its Summer Reading Kickoff Celebration on June 10.

Visit the Main Desk inside between noon and 5 p.m. on Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9 to pick up a free pet bag dispenser while supplies last.

The event has been made possible by the Friends of Abbot Public Library.

For additional information, visit abbotlibrary.org, email mar@ noblenet.org or call 781-631-1481.

Humphrey St.  Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945 781.910.8658 info@marbleheadnews.org

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Abbot Public Library is hoping volunteers will help spruce up its grounds ahead of its Summer Reading Kickoff Celebration.

COURTESY PHOTO

Resident wins legal marketing award

Marblehead resident Kati Ferrante, director of marketing and business development at the law firm Sunstein, was recently announced as the sole honoree in the “Excellence in Marketing” category in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s 2023 “Excellence in the Law” program.

The annual awards program was established to celebrate attorneys, firm administrators and legal support staff who regularly go above and beyond the call of duty, not just professionally, but also in their daily lives. Honorees will be formally recognized at an awards event on May 16.

Doggone it

Goodness Gracious cooks up human-grade food for pets

BY MELISSA STACEY

The following is an interview with Amy Renz, owner of Goodness Gracious, conducted by Discover Marblehead. To learn more about its handcrafted, human-grade meals and treats for dogs and cats, go to goodnessgracioustreats.com.

Tell us about Goodness

Gracious and why you started it. Goodness Gracious is as much a company as it is a spirit. Its mission is to provide human-grade, nutritionally superior, whole food diets for pets in a way that improves our connection to the planet and each other.

To do that, it uses mindfully sourced ingredients — green energy on a path to net zero, less plastic, zero Styrofoam and more compostable materials. We have a vibrant culture of inclusion that celebrates diversity, and we donate half our profits to community animal causes.

Goodness Gracious was a right turn for me. In 2007, I was running a small software company. I adopted my first dog, Grace, and then my second, Lula. Like most new moms, I became committed to the health of my girls.

I discovered the ugly truth of what passes for pet food and the unconscionable corporate choices to put profit over safety. A powerful example of this truth occurred the year when melamine was found in pet foods — sickening and killing thousands. This was followed by problems with jerky treats that put dogs into kidney failure, and later by workers at a large pet food plant becoming sick from toxic exposure to mold and fumigants.

Overwhelmed with distrust of

LegalNotice

commercial pet food, I started preparing my dogs’ food at home. Along the way, I learned that 3 to 5 million homeless dogs were euthanized annually in the U.S. because people fail them.

When I turned 40 in 2009, I started asking myself, “Who are you helping?” I was building shareholder value and providing leadership at the software company, but those answers were not enough. I envisioned a planet with thriving companion animals, homes for the homeless ones and respect for all beings, so I built a company committed tothat purpose.

Goodness Gracious became my passion and purpose, a warm blanket for my spirit and thousands of animals, and the right turn that was 100% right.

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? I’ve had a few amazing mentors who have taught me about the power of connection, courage and commitment. I cannot single out any one piece of advice as the all-time best. Instead, I’ll say that recognizing that one’s teachers are everywhere, and that everything is a lesson, is incredibly powerful.

For example, loss teaches us to live presently. Fear shows us our courage and inner strength. From the uncontrollable, we learn to be disciplined. Setbacks and disappointment teach us

SitePlanSpecialPermit/ApprovalPublicHearing

MarbleheadPlanningBoard

TheMarbleheadPlanningBoardwillholdapublichearingonthe applicationof JordanandJoshuaChmara foranadditionto anexistingsinglefamilystructurelocatedShorelineSingleResidenceDistrict.ThispublichearingwillbeheldunderSection200

-37oftheMarbleheadZoningBylawon TuesdayJune13,2023, at7:30pm inAbbotHall,intheSelectBoard’smeetingroom,188 WashingtonStreet,Marblehead,Massachusetts.Plansareonfile andavailableforreviewattheofficeofthe TownEngineer,Mary AlleyBuilding,7WidgerRoad,Marblehead,Massachusettsoron Marbleheadwebsiteplanningboardpage https://www.marblehead.org/planning-board underthedateofmeeting.Allinterestedpersonsareinvitedtoattendormaysubmitcommentin writingbymailattheaboveaddressorelectronicallyto lyonsl@ marblehead.org or rebeccac@marblehead.org andthecomments,willbeenteredintotherecord.

RobertSchaeffner Chairman

LEGALNOTICE PUBLICHEARING

CARRY-INBEVERAGELICENSE

InaccordancewiththeTownofMarblehead’sCarry-in BeveragesRegulations,theMarbleheadSelectBoardwillconducta publichearingon Wednesday,June14,2023at7:00 p.m. atAbbotHall,188 WashingtonStreet,Marbleheadandvia ZOOMconferencing https://us06web.zoom.us/j/96471420814?pwd=UkVSOVR4Qzc 4TUFvWTBXMDJhUTU3QT09. MeetingID:96471420814, Passcode:773176. Onetapmobile;1.309.205.3325or1.312.626.6799withrespectto theapplicationfor ACarry-InBeverageLicenseby PlusCafe, locatedat34A Atlantic Avenue,Marblehead,Massachusetts, seatingcapacity=20.HoursofoperationwillbeMonday throughSunday10:00a.m.to10:00p.m.Allpersonsofinterest havetherighttoappearandspeakatthehearing.

ThatcherKezer TownAdministrator,Marblehead

Outside of the office, Ferrante serves as an advisor to PeerPro Health, an organization that improves the well-being of professionals by providing confidential peer recovery coaching to those struggling with substance use disorder.

Ferrante is a dedicated Girls Inc. volunteer, supporting the

mission of the organization to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold, and to pursue higher education in STEM.

This mission strikes a personal chord with Ferrante, who is raising three strong, smart, and bold girls of her own: Dori, 6; Pepper, 2; and step-daughter Taylor, 14.

Kati Ferrante

endurance and fulfillment.

What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? I love many spots in Marblehead. My favorites are those I can enjoy with my family.

My kids are canine. I have outlived three of them. Odds are, I will outlive three more. Grief teaches us about time. There is no greater gift than time with those you love. So, we seek out quiet, peaceful places. For us, these are the trails in Marblehead’s conservation lands. It’s here that the world melts away. We stop to sniff the flowers, explore the critter holes, listen to birds and streams, and be filled with the presence of each other.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I love to coach. I enjoy helping people make

TOWNOFMARBLEHEAD WaterandSewerCommission

P.O.BOX 1108

good dietary choices for their pets that have a positive impact on their pets’ healthspan and lifespan. Studies show that dogs are living shorter lives. Nearly 60% of them are fat, and chronic disease is on the rise. Dogs are several times more likely than humans to get cancer, according to leading integrative veterinary oncologists. I believe problems in the pet food industry are largely to blame.

Connecting with people on these truths and how to make better choices is powerful for them and enriching for me.

What’s next for Goodness Gracious? I’m thrilled to be one of eight women hosting an event at the Jacobi Community Center on June 10 that shines a light on these issues and shares practical advice for building a better pet food bowl.

DianneL.Rodgers Office: Tower Way OfficeManager 781631-0102(Water) 781631-2964(Sewer)

WATER &SEWERRATES

LEGALNOTICE

TOWNOFMARBLEHEAD,MA

BOARDOF WATERAND SEWERCOMMISSIONERS NOTICEOFPUBLICHEARING

TheMarblehead WaterandSewerCommissionwill hold aPublicHearingonMonday,June26,2023,at8:00 P.M.atthe WaterandSewerCommissionOffice,100 Tower Way, Building#11.Thepurposeofthehearingis toreviewandsetwaterandsewerratesforthecoming year.

Allinterestedpersonsareinvitedtoattend.

F. CarltonSiegel,Chairman WaterandSewerCommission

IIIandMeredith Tedfordforauthorizationtoconstructandmaintainawoodenpier, gangwayandfloatingdockandforafter-the-factauthorizationforfillingoftidelands andinstallationofaseawallforshorelinestabilizationinfilledandflowedtidelands ofMarbleheadHarbor,Marblehead,EssexCounty.Theproposedprojecthasbeen determinedtobea Water-DependentUseproject.

TheDepartmentwillconsiderallwrittencommentsonthisLicenseapplication receivedbyJuly6,2023(PublicCommentsDeadline).Failureofanyaggrieved personorgroupoften(10)citizensormoretosubmitwrittencommentstothe WaterwaysRegulationProgrambythePublicCommentsDeadlinewillresultinthe waiverofanyrighttoanadjudicatoryhearinginaccordancewith310CMR9.13(4) (c).Thegroupofcitizensmustincludeatleastfive(5)citizenswhoareresidentsof themunicipalityinwhichtheproposedprojectislocated.A publichearingmaybe helduponrequestbytheMunicipalOfficial. Projectplansanddocumentsfortheapplicationareonfileforpublicviewingelectronicallyat:https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/PublicApp/(enter 23-WW01-0009-APPintheSearchPageinthe“RecordID”field).Ifyouneedassistance,pleasecontactalice.doyle@mass.govorifyoudonothaveaccesstoa computer,pleaseleaveavoicemailat(617)292-5929andyouwillbecontactedwith informationonalternativeoptions. Itisrecommendedthatdocumentsandcorrespondencebefiledelectronically withtheemailaddressspecifiedabovewhenpossible;alternatively,commentsmay bemailedtoAliceDoyleatMassDEP WaterwaysRegulationProgram,100CambridgeStreet,Suite900,Boston,MA02114.

We’re also covering canine first aid and CPR, and good training practices for mental enrichment. Net proceeds from the event benefit local animal rescue groups. For me, this event brings many of my passions together for one amazing purpose: more time with the companion animals at the center of our hearts. You can read more and register for this event at goodnessgracioustreats.com/ pages/events.

The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is dedicated to the promotion of “our majestic seaside town of Marblehead.” Its mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.

Amy Renz launched Goodness Gracious to support dogs — in many ways.

Library

more. There will be two glassdoor entrances to the Teen Center, so it will be more easily accessed.

The Children’s Room, which was updated in 2016, is getting new ceilings and lighting.

“We’ll touch up the carpet and the furniture will stay the same. It will get a good clean-up,” Amberik said.

The large meeting room is getting new lighting, an HVAC system and a catering kitchen. It will be more of an “event center” now, Grad said.

The library’s garden, which is getting new pavers and landscaping, will have three entry points including a new gated entrance in addition to the staircase off Maverick Street and the original entrance from the meeting room.

Climbing upstairs to the main level (while dodging work crews and wiring), Grad showed the group where the new circulation desk will be, along with a selfcheckout area.

“There’s a new color scheme with a neutral palette in charcoal blue and white oak,” she said. There will be new meeting rooms on the first floor and a computer area.

“We’re blending technology

with tradition,” said Katherine Barker with the Friends.

In the sitting area with the fireplace, there will be new vaulted ceilings and a counter for refreshments.

“The construction is going very well,” Amberik said. He explained that the building will now have an electric heat pump system, with back-up, gas-fired radiators.

Another improvement? Crews

will repave the parking lot. For updates on the library’s renovation project, go to abbotlibrary.org/news/ renovation-news/.

said he supported the override and hopes it passes. But he also criticized the incumbent board, “especially the longest-serving members,” for not acting more forcefully to address an issue they have known about for at least four years.

“Over that four years, they could have done the long-term planning,” he said.

He also vowed, “Just know that If I am elected, I will do better.”

When it was her turn to speak, Belf-Becker began, “I need to talk to Bret for a minute.”

“I don’t remember which six years you were on the board, but you should have known that since 2005 we have been using free cash, and we are currently working on solutions to stabilize our finances,” she said. “There was never any objection by you regarding the use of free cash while you were on the board, just for the record.”

Murray then used the beginning of his closing statement to respond.

“Every municipality uses free cash, and neither finance director, when I served with them, ever told me that in the next few years free cash was going to be a major issue or a tipping point for this town like it is now,” Murray said.

The newer members of the board, Erin Noonan and

Alexa Singer, echoed Murray’s criticism about a lack of planning.

“Do I wish that town government and leadership had been more proactive in addressing the financial situation in town?

Absolutely,” Noonan said.

But ultimately, her support for the override comes down to “basic math,” Noonan said.

“We have rising costs that far exceed 2.5 percent annually,” she said.

Singer noted that she has been advocating for the board to address the structural deficit in the budget since being elected two years ago.

“It wasn’t the will of the committee at the time, but I

have not been silent on this issue,” she said.

Both Noonan and Singer voiced support for pursuing opportunities for new growth prudently to ease the burden on taxpayers.

“It’s a fine balance between allowing for new growth and strategic development in town to mitigate that tax burden while keeping the character of the town and providing the service level that residents have come to expect,” Noonan said.

Singer also reminded the audience in the Marblehead High School library and watching at home that are “real individuals, real jobs, real lives” behind the positions that would be cut

from town departments if the override fails.

In her closing statement, Noonan agreed, saying, “The impact will be real. It’s one thing not to support [the override], but you have to offer solutions.”

Chair Moses Grader noted that the override “has been the product of a long process of development.”

“We’ve had this deficit fundamentally being driven by excess of salaries and benefits over time, and it’s something we are in the process of addressing,” he said.

Weaning the town off its reliance on free cash is part of a “proactive, multiyear approach” that has also involved the

creation of a stabilization fund two years ago.

“We’ve done a lot of things to manage big ticket items that occur in the budget,” Grader said. “We’re seeking opportunities for new growth and access to other state funding.”

To the second part of Shribman’s question, whether they expected to ask residents for another override in 2024, most said it was too soon to tell. While others indicated they would take a wait-and-see approach, Murray was most ready to rule out another ask.

“I don’t think you can come back to the taxpayers two years in a row,” he said.

Abbot Public Library Director Kimberly Grad poses with her new business card during a tour of renovations at the Pleasant Street building.

Library Director Kimberly Grad, center, poses with Friends of the Abbot Public Library and Gary Amberik, right, during a tour of renovations.

CURRENT PHOTOS / NICOLE

Library Director Kimberly Grad talks with a supporter during a tour for members of the Friends of Abbot Public Library on May 19.

RIGHT: A hole in the ceiling reveals newspaper insulation during a tour with the Friends of the Library on May 19 at the Abbot Public Library.

CURRENT PHOTO/KRIS OLSON

Marblehead Select Board candidates, from left, Bret Murray, Jim Nye, Jackie Belf-Becker, Alexa Singer, Moses Grader and Erin Noonan answer questions during the League of Women Voters Candidates Night May 23.

as The Mariner, an assisted and independent living residence, is soon opening its doors across the street from the hilltop hotel.

The residence includes 108 beds in 87 units, 40 of them assisted living and 21 independent living. A memory care community has 26 units. There are studios and one- and twobedroom units.

“The inn is going to become more and more in demand now with the Mariner being across the street,” said Lynch. “Families are going to come; they’re going to stay at the hotel and visit their family at The Mariner.”

In their pitch, owner Steven Gabardi and his attorney, John Connell, said Hopothecary Ales Taproom would have been located inside 31 Atlantic Ave., near the intersection with Hawkes Street, across the street from West Marine and adjacent to Sweetwater Trading Company and Maria’s Java Sun.

Plans called for turning the 3,150-square-foot space

into a craft-beer brewery that included a single-floor dining room with 20 tables and 120 chairs, an outdoor patio of approximately 450 square feet, and a single bar at the building’s rear entrance.

“The applicant has operated a similarly themed craft brewery restaurant in North Reading since 2021,” Connell told the Select Board. “They’ve had no violations; it has become a very popular destination.”

Gabardi added that his main North Reading location had been built on a 10,000-square-foot property with 70 barrels of cellar capacity. Despite the pandemic’s challenges, they became one of the top breweries in the state, creating a loyal local following, he said.

“We think we have a very good brand. We’re very happy with what we’re doing in North Reading,” Gabardi told the Select Board.

According to the business’ website, Hopothecary Ales in North Reading is currently only offering beer to-go and by delivery, but Gabardi

told the Select Board the business is planning to reopen fully by the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall.

Connell contrasted the two businesses, saying the brewery would have operated in a commercial zone, while the hotel is in a residential zone.

“We will be serving primarily Marblehead people, whereas the other applicant will be serving primarily people from out of town,” said Connell. “We have a far greater seating capacity. We expect to create more by way of meals taxes and jobs.”

Noonan said she voted in favor of awarding the

alcohol license to the brewery based on its potential for economic revitalization, community impact and the scale of the operation. She believed that the brewery could serve as “an anchor establishment,” attracting customers, benefiting abutting businesses and contributing to the overall growth of the business district.

“I think our responsibility here, obviously, is to think of what is for the greatest good of the town,” she said. “We have a business district that we’ve been trying to really activate, especially that specific corridor in town on

Atlantic Avenue.”

But the majority sided with the hotel and its history in town.

“I think we already have an existing business, and I think that’s what kind

EDITORIAL

About that log entry

A few readers recently raised concerns about a police log entry that appeared in our May 17 issue, and we would like to share a bit from the (civil) discussions that ensued with those readers with the rest of our audience.

The log entry recounted what happened after an officer came upon a vehicle pulled over in a no-parking zone on the side of Ocean Avenue. What transpired was mostly unremarkable: It was determined that the driver did not have a valid license and that the car had expired registration. An officer informed the driver and his passenger that he would need to confiscate the plates and have the car towed. The men said they understood and would arrange to be picked up by their boss.

What our readers asked us about — or, truth be told, in one case demanded an apology for — was that both men had been described in the log entry as “Hispanic males.” Readers noted — not incorrectly — that the race or ethnicity of the individuals involved in incidents is generally not included in our police log entries.

While we did not think an apology was warranted, our readers had every right to demand further explanation, and we share a bit of that explanation here.

Let’s start with the “default setting” of this and most other newspapers. Whenever possible, our predisposition is going to be to share more information with you, not less. This includes the names of our sources — anonymity will only be granted in a limited set of circumstances — and, when relevant, the race of people involved in police incidents. When the police are called to a local convenience store to investigate the report of a “suspicious teen,” the community might want to know if that call is related to the “crime” of “shopping while Black.”

Since the death of George Floyd, heightened attention — some would say long overdue — has come to the issue of how police are treating people of color. In this case, from what we can tell, the two men pulled over on Ocean Avenue were treated no differently than white men would have been in the same circumstance. But keeping an eye on such issues is part of what we are here to do.

The issue of whether to allow nearly 200,000 undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses had also been a hotly debated topic on Beacon Hill in recent months. The Legislature expanded driver’s license access to immigrants without legal status by passing the Work and Family Mobility Act last summer over the veto of Gov. Charlie Baker, and voters then upheld the new law by voting “yes” on Question 4 last November by 53.6% to 46.4% margin. The law is now set to take effect July 1.

A log entry like this serves as a reminder that, for our local police, such debates are not an abstraction but rather will regularly affect their interactions with people who live and work in our town.

All that said, can we answer with an unqualified “yes” the question of whether to include these men’s ethnicity in our police log?

One of the sources to which we look for guidance regularly, the Associated Press Stylebook, offers this piece of advice (among other) about racerelated coverage: “Include racial or ethnic details only when they are clearly relevant and that relevance is explicit in the story.”

We’ve explained above why — at least in our mind — race was “clearly relevant.” Was that relevance “explicit in the story” — or, in this case, the log — to the degree it should have been? Perhaps not.

It is hard to say, exactly, what we will do the next time we encounter such an incident as we assemble the police log. Each incident is different, and there may be nuances that affect our decision making.

What we can say is that we will pause a bit longer before we decide to include race or ethnicity in a log entry and — should we choose to make mention of it — do a better job of explaining its relevance.

So, thank you to those readers who called this issue to our attention. We try to do our jobs as thoughtfully and as carefully as we can.

But we always appreciate a little help.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

Renewing a childhood hobby

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM

Did you have a hobby when you were younger that you gave up? Maybe you didn’t stop because you stopped enjoying it. You just got busy with other things. Or there wasn’t an opportunity to keep at it because you went off to college or moved to a place that made continuing the hobby more difficult.

I know a lot of people took up hobbies, old and new, during the pandemic. I completed dozens of puzzles in the last three years but as the world opened up, the boxes of puzzles I’d bought, thinking I’d keep up the habit, have remained closed. And I’ve talked to some friends who dropped their pandemic-borne hobbies because they were a reminder of that hard, stressful period.

I was the serious-minded young kid in my neighborhood who walked around carrying a field guide to birds. In fact, with its glossy cover and colored pictures, the guidebook was one of my prized possessions.

I didn’t wander far with the guidebook – my acrossthe-street neighbor’s large backyard bordering on an evergreen forest or a meadow at the end of our deadend street. Yet armed with it, I felt like Steve Irwin must have in the Outback, delighting in the wildlife around me.

Like my interest in crocheting, and later short-lived attempt to take up piano, my hobby of bird watching faded over time. I never went back to it.

I remember visiting my Aunt Ginger who had retired to Maine. I think I was in my mid-20s, busy with the things 20-somethings are busy with, and she pointed to a tree she could see from the kitchen window. “We like to watch the birds in the morning while we’re having our coffee,” she said with great enthusiasm. I smiled and nodded, and thought, “what a strange thing to be enthusiastic about,” not connecting at all to my younger self who once felt the same way.

Lately, though, birds in my yard have begun to recapture my attention. I could pick out the obvious species – cardinals, blue jays, robins – and sometimes a half hour would pass while I watched their movements in the trees. I bought a birdfeeder and filled it with seeds the package said would attract song birds. I found the daily ritual of refilling the feeder not a burden but another meditative activity offered by a suburban backyard.

And I found myself wanting to know more. I’d listen to a distant song bird, and wonder what I was hearing even if I couldn’t see it. I bought a new guidebook and a Sibley’s laminated pamphlet.

Then a few weeks ago, I saw a notice – (pardon the self-promotion!)- in the Current that MassAudubon was hosting an introductory bird watching walk –“Nature in your neighborhood” - at the sanctuary on Marblehead Neck. The walk was free, funded by the

FROM

Marblehead Cultural Council.

Thus, last Friday at 8 a.m., I assembled in the small parking lot on Risley Road with about 20 other birdinterested folks and walked for two hours through the 18-acre sanctuary with Scott Santino, a knowledgeable and seasoned MassAudubon staffer. He helped us identify the machine-gun sound of a Tennessee warbler (not to be confused with a Nashville warbler) and the “witchety witchety” of a yellow throat warbler. And he noted there is no point in distinguishing oneself as a birder versus a birdwatcher. If you enjoy birds, you can call yourself either one. Unless you are British in which case you are a twitcher.

There was birding humor from the group. Who needs Taylor Swift when we have chimney swifts? Why do female songbirds migrate a couple weeks after the males? They have to stay behind to clean and pack. Hear that American leaf blower? You won’t after May when they’re banned!

There were interesting facts. Gray catbirds, in fact, meow like cats. Ducks shed all their feathers at once and render themselves flightless for about a month. Some birds can sing two notes at once, including the ubiquitous robin. There’s a difference between a bird’s call and a bird’s song. The first is innate and used for practical communication, like, “Hey bird-buddy, come over here, there are lots of bugs!” A song, it is believed, is learned, to mark territory and attract a mate.

There’s a website and digital tool – Birdcast –developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology which tracks the billions of birds which migrate from Central and South America. And if you want to identify a bird by recording its song? They developed an app called Merlin for that!

Santino noted that the famed naturalist Roger Tory Peterson coined the term “spark bird” - an “aha moment” when you encounter a bird that turns you in to a birder for life.

My “aha” moment came a few days before the Audubon walk. I was watering the plants on my deck when a yellow flicker caught my eye. There were two black-capped chicadees in the nearby tree. I watched until they flew away a few minutes later. Black-capped chickadees aren’t all that rare. In fact, they are the Massachusetts state bird and adorn all those “Welcome to Massachusetts” signs on the state’s borders. But they are wondrous. Once upon a time, I worked for a new governor who tried to legislatively change the state bird from the chickadee to a wild turkey. There was an uproar and the plan went nowhere. So instead he and his young administration changed all the state signs to feature the new state “gamebird” – a wild turkey. I was 20 something, what did I know? As for my spark bird moment? I’ve asked for a pair of birding binoculars for Christmas. I’m hooked, this time, for good.

Virginia Buckingham is the president of the Marblehead Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.

In schools, everyone not ‘OK’

In 1969, Dr. Thomas Harris published a book titled, “I’m OK — You’re OK.”

Quite simply in 2023, not everyone is OK.

Many of our students, staff and other adults are not OK.

Last week Dr. Nicholas Covino, president of William James College, presented on the mental health challenges that have resulted from or been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. And the message resonated. We had 40 participants — parents, teachers, leaders and counselors — who joined and shared stories of their learners who continue to struggle. Dr. Covino shared a statistic from the CDC that over 25% of adults report most days they feel so stressed they cannot function. That percentage

skyrockets to 46% of adults under the age of 35. These are our parents and teachers. In April of 2022 the CDC reported 44% of students report persistently feeling sad and hopeless. These are our students.

I opened the conversation with Dr. Covino by noting that when we first returned to in-person schooling from COVID, the drumbeat was “learning loss, learning loss, learning loss.” And that was an impact but not the only impact. To suggest that we are going to eliminate learning loss without attending to the mental health challenges demonstrates a significant lack of empathy, understanding and appreciation for where we are and what we continue to face. We can remediate learning loss, not eliminate it. And we are. We cannot eliminate mental health issues. But we can provide support and resources to meet each person where they are — and that is in a

wide range of places. Parent after parent shared the personal impact still being felt by their learners. One parent shared a story about a student who had mostly remote learning for most of grades 7 and 8 at MVMS and arrived at the high school confronted with the immediate expectation that she would be ready to tackle high school level work as though nothing ever happened. The trauma of COVID exacerbated the stress and anxiety of lost learning. Students cannot learn if they do not feel safe and supported.

Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. The Marblehead Current reserves the right not to publish submissions over the word limit and may instead return the letter to the writer for editing. Email submissions to info@marbleheadnews.org. LETTERS: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU BUCKEY, P. A7 marbleheadcurrent.org A6 Wednesday, May 31, 2023 Marblehead Current

The town has its own Cinderella story

BY PAM PETERSON

The story of Cinderella is well known. A poor but good and beautiful young woman lives in humble surroundings, forced to work hard to earn her living. She meets a handsome Prince Charming who falls in love and rescues her. The Marblehead story has many similar aspects, but who was rescued is something of a twist. Marblehead’s Cinderella was a strong woman who loved her Prince Charming despite society’s censure, and in the end, it was she who saved him. She was rewarded with respectability and finally received the regard she had earned.

Early in the 18th century, a wealthy young Englishman of noble birth came to Marblehead. His name was Sir Harry Frankland. He was heir to a title and lands in England. He was also a proud and sometimes rambunctious young fellow. His family had arranged for him to be appointed colonial tax collector for the ports of Boston. One of the ports under his jurisdiction was Marblehead, and it was on a visit there that his life changed forever. He came to inspect Marblehead’s port and stayed for a few days at the old Fountain Inn at Marblehead’s Little Harbor. It was there that he first saw the young and

Smith has the ‘insight and skills’ needed on the Light Commission

To the editor:

Last fall, I was one of eight Marblehead residents who interviewed with members of the Select Board and Marblehead Light Commission to fill a vacant commission seat. I was not selected. The nine-member joint committee picked Adam Smith instead.

Despite this, I have remained interested in the work of the Light commissioners (including serving on a subcommittee) as they, along with GM Joe Kowalik, grapple with current and future supply and infrastructure challenges. After watching their work over several meetings, it has become clear to me that the joint committee made the right choice in selecting Adam.

Adam is thoughtful, even keeled, and has the insight and skills we need on the Light Commission. He has worked tirelessly to get up to speed quickly and contribute to the strategic oversight of the Light Department. Adam has the long view of how we are going to meet the challenges of increasing electricity demand as Marbleheaders embrace electrical conversion of their cars, home heating systems and more.

Delivering the best and least expensive electricity to Marblehead is a strategic challenge requiring a broad perspective. As someone who has worked in the tech field for many years for Google and now at Jasper AI, we need Adam’s technical expertise and world view to ensure that our local electricity distribution system works as designed and to avoid

beautiful fisherman’s daughter named Agnes Surriage.

Tradition has it that Agnes was scrubbing the steps of the Inn when Sir Harry arrived, and he was immediately smitten. He is said to have been overwhelmed by her beauty and appalled at her ragged clothing and bare feet. He gave her a gold coin to buy some shoes, and when he visited again a few weeks later he looked for her to see if she had purchased the shoes. She had, but she wasn’t wearing them. Agnes only wore shoes on Sundays, to go to

a crisis.

The perspective and hard work Adam brings to the Commission is fortunately shared by Lisa Wolf, up for re-election to a second three-year term. I urge all voters to choose Adam Smith and Lisa Wolf for Light Commission on June 20.

Peter Barnet Hibbard Road

Outgoing library trustee thanks community, supports Amberik

To the editor:

First, a sincere thanks to all Marblehead voters who supported my candidacy for Abbot Public Library Trustee over the last three terms. It has been a privilege to serve our town for the last nine years and to work with the community leaders who have served on the Board and committees with me. Libraries are, after all, the great equalizers in our society — free for all and champions of continuous learning and intellectual freedom. As a teacher and writer, I know this.

My nine years on the Board have been anything but dull! They have been busy, pivotal years as we hired the architectural firm of Johnson Roberts Associates from Somerville, and began the process for a much-needed structural renovation of our library building that will meet the needs of a 21st-century library in terms of technology, appropriate spaces and access to materials. In addition, we hired a wonderful library director in Kimberly Grad from Brooklyn, New York, who brings her years of extensive experience, collaborative skills and creative

meeting, and not for her work at the Fountain Inn, and so he found her barefoot again.

Sir Harry was quite taken with the young girl and negotiated with her father, a poor fisherman, to allow Agnes to become his ward. Sir Harry established her in a house in Boston, with a chaperone and governess who taught her how to speak, behave and dress like a lady. Agnes and Harry fell in love. They eventually lived together as man and wife, but did not marry, because Sir Harry

ideas to work for the future of our Marblehead town library.

We owe much of the above success in these transitions, however, to Gary Amberick, a talented architect with a major Boston firm, who is now running for his third term on the Library Board. As Board of Trustees Chair and Chair of the Building Renovation Committee (BRC), Gary has been a calm, conscientious and competent presence among us. There is nothing he isn’t able to explain, fix or give solid advice on. Whether the roof tiles fall, the heat goes off or something needs a quick installation, he’s there supporting our library staff at all hours of the day and night. He also keeps us updated on every stage of the renovation — costs and progress. I’ve worked with Gary for the last six years and his contributions are significant. I respectfully ask town voters to consider him when you vote on Tuesday, June 20! Thank you all. Sincerely,

Ann McGreevy, Ph.D. Prospect Street

Take a closer look at traffic enforcement

To the editor:

Last month, the Marblehead Police Department deployed electronic signs alerting drivers that April was Distracted Driving Awareness Month. What the MPD did not do was enforce the laws enacted to deter distracted driving.

Only two citations were issued for violations of the state’s “hands free” law, according to the police log, with two more stops ending in “verbal warnings.” What’s more, of the 73 citations issued during the month, 40 were issued over the

considered Agnes his social inferior. They lived in the North End of Boston, but the couple was shunned by polite society, not invited to fashionable balls or receptions, though Sir Harry was welcome everywhere on his own. He continued to entertain his men friends, with Agnes as his hostess. Eventually Sir Harry built a beautiful estate in Hopkinton, with lovely gardens and grounds. Agnes and Sir Harry were happy there without the approval of Boston society and were better able to ignore it from a distance. At Hopkinton there also lived a young boy who was rumored to be their son. Upon Sir Harry’s death many years later, this young man inherited a fortune, seemingly confirming his parentage. In the 1750s, Sir Harry and Agnes left the colonies and went on a grand tour of the capitals of Europe, which included a visit to Lisbon, Portugal. They were there during a famous earthquake in 1755. Sir Harry had just left their residence when the quake erupted, and the road he was traveling on was split in two. His carriage capsized and was partially buried in rubble. Everyone was very frightened, and there was chaos and confusion everywhere. When Agnes learned of Harry’s fate

course of just three days, 21 of those on a single day. Eleven days show no citations issued at all.

These data are available to anyone, although they are laborious to extract and are not always complete. (I’d welcome someone to check my figures.)

What they say about how traffic law enforcement actually works in small towns — and in Marblehead in particular — is a subject worth exploring.

Dan Albert Leicester Road

A triumphant return to Bournedale

To the editor:

It is hard to describe what I witnessed as a chaperone on the Village School’s sixth-grade trip to Camp Bournedale last week — the first Bournedale since it was canceled in 2020 — but here goes nothing.

The traditional Bournedale trip was canceled in 2020 and remained canceled for the two subsequent years. This year represented a triumphant return. And what a triumph it was!

I observed the pure joy of a bunch of sixth-graders off their phones, playing, fishing, dancing and singing, throwing themselves into theme nights and karaoke and Project Adventure. Taking care of each other. Working out conflict in person, face-to-face, rather than over group chats. Understanding the behavior expectations and working together to protect this time-honored Marblehead tradition for future classes. The rich hands-on learning that comes with handling a live lobster or building a rocket or seeing a cranberry bog or

she acted immediately, running down the road to find his carriage beneath a pile of stone. Largely through her own efforts, using her strength of both mind and body, Agnes rescued him. In some versions of the story, she hauled away huge rocks with her bare hands, and in other versions she began the job and offered her jewels to passersby to finish. It is often noted that she was typical of the women of Marblehead, in that she was strong and determined, and therefore able to do this task. In any event, Sir Harry was saved. He was so overcome with gratitude that he finally asked Agnes to become his wife. They returned to England, where Agnes, now Lady Frankland, was greatly admired for her gracious and kind nature. His family accepted her, and she lived happily with Sir Harry until his death. She eventually married again. Agnes Surriage Frankland died in England in 1783. Her romantic story has been told over and over, and she is known as the Marblehead Cinderella.

For a well-researched and more detailed account of this wonderful, true Marblehead story, see Marshall Bauer’s “Marblehead’s Pygmalion,” History Press, 2010.

dissecting a dogfish.

As if that wasn’t enough, I also witnessed a ton of adults — teachers, counselors, staff and 95 volunteer chaperones, some of whom were bitterly divided over topics like masking in schools or remote learning — basically holding hands to make this trip possible and give the kids a safety net while they explored a little further from home. The level of effort and organization and care that longtime organizers Jonathan Heller and Cortney Cummings brought to the table was nothing short of astonishing. The whole thing makes me weepy, which annoys my sixth-grader to no end.

The part I loved most — and that I didn’t realize had been missing — was how much this tradition builds and maintains connective tissue. For the kids in each class, sure. It’s truly galvanizing; it brings them together as the graduating Class of 2029, rather than a collection of disparate classrooms.

But far bigger than that: It’s part of our community’s connective tissue. I stood at Bournedale this week with people with whom I attended the trip in 1990. I overheard people in Shubie’s reminiscing about their time, decades ago. Old pictures were posted online and chatter ensued about how special this is to generations of Marblehead kids. Parents expressed grief for the three classes who missed out.

The return of this trip after those years of discord and disconnection feels WAY bigger than just this class’ experience. There was healing in it. Thank you, thank you, thank you — to everyone who made this happen.

Kate Thomson Bubier Road

they need to overcome stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and other obstacles to learning. Before the pandemic — and certainly since then — the team has helped build school

cultures focused on the socialemotional development of every student. We also know that neither our internal resources nor our external partners cannot fully address the growing demand for services, given the soaring increase in mental health challenges. Even more concerning, we also are

at risk of our already stretched capacity being reduced by fiscal constraints — just when we need these services most. As a district we are facing a potential loss of 33 positions, if the upcoming override does not pass. That would mean fewer programs and resources to attend to students’ social and emotional needs.

And asking our teachers and educators to do more with less when, they too, are struggling is simply unconscionable.

I was speaking with a veteran elementary educator this week and asked her how her year has gone. She said, “I have never worked so hard and felt like I accomplished so little. It is a

struggle every day.” We need to take a step back and see exactly where we are and what is happening. Our teachers need it; our students deserve it. Together, we can do more to address this troubling trend.

John Buckey is the superintendent of the Marblehead Public Schools.

COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD HISTORICAL COMMISSION

The Fountain Inn is where the Marblehead Cinderella story begins. This photo is the site where the inn once stood.

Exhibit showcases MHS student artists

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

The Marblehead High School Spring Art Exhibition in the auditorium of Abbot Hall unifies 400 artworks, putting on display a labyrinth of creativity for the public until June 2.

For their senior project, Anita Gaunt, Julia Potvin, Cait Mullins and Keira Sweetnam curated the sprawling show, a six-week endeavor that culminated with an opening reception on the evening of May 23.

“It definitely took a long time to organize,” said Gaunt. “The work didn’t feel rewarding until we saw it all come together — which now feels really good.”

She spoke standing next to Mullins, taking in the scene as people began to arrive on opening night.

“Once we started putting things up,” Mullins said, “it was really satisfying to, like, see all the works in one spot.”

Gaunt added, “But it was certainly time-consuming and very, very tedious.”

And the exhibit covers a lot of ground. Visitors will be greeted with close-up, intimate portraits of siblings, friends and grandparents as well as candid moments captured in crisp street photography. There’s a bunch of drawings in ink and pencil, too. There are landscape pieces and stilllife works. And for those into personal expression, there are self-portraits. There are also sculptures with surreal and whimsical elements that made visitors stop and look on opening night. And there are animals galore, lots of them, both domesticated and wild.

Basically, whatever type of art people may be into, they are likely to find it here.

Part of the fun in this exhibition is stumbling upon works of art that are not seemingly organized by category or grade. Mullins and Gaunt said the sheer volume is indicative of the high school’s comprehensive offerings in the study of art, spanning everything from animation, photography and graphic design to architecture, oil painting and art history.

“I love that the freedom within classes enables students to pursue their individual interests,” said Mullins. “We also have very supportive teachers.”

Art teachers Shirley Huller White and Leah Bordieri supervised the senior project students.

“We just try to foster their love for art whether they are doing it at school or they’re doing it at home. We try to encourage them to continue and explore things,” said Huller White. “We also

Students

From P. A1

at New Balance Nationals this past March,” said Trautman, who was captain of the high school’s indoor and outdoor track teams.

Colón says he’ll remember “the hours I’ve spent singing in elementary, middle and high school, both during and after school. I cherish the bus rides to Plymouth to sing a couple songs for another school, the late rehearsals and, of course, the performances where we get to have fun and celebrate our hard work.”

They both say that AP Physics with Mr. David Zalonowski was their favorite class in high school.

Don’t miss out on the now Colón has advice for younger students. “Stay in the moment. It’s so easy to get caught up thinking about the future, about what comes next, especially in high school. If you get too

have students where art is just in their DNA; they just need to have it in their daily lives.”

Teachers selected the underclassmen pieces hanging in the exhibit, while seniors picked their own artworks to display.

“It’s a difficult decision because there are so many talented students, but it comes down to who’s worked really hard and has put the time and the effort into their pieces,” said Bordieri. “And we clearly don’t have room to showcase everybody because we would need more space.”

The Spring Art Exhibition features underclassmen works, but it doubles as a senior sendoff. As such, seniors are very much front and center here.

“There’s a lot of acrylic and oil paints. There is quite a bit of graphite, which is very popular,

far ahead of yourself, you start missing out on what’s happening in the present. The more I look back at my life, the more I realize this truth.”

Trautman added, “Don’t beat yourselves up if things don’t go as expected.”

Colón, who is a student pilot at Beverly Airport, is looking forward to flying at Purdue’s airport. Trautman is excited to hike and ski in the Rockies.

From the Atlantic to a cornfield, mountains

But what will they miss about Marblehead?

“I’ll miss my family,” Trautman said. “I have a big extended family, all in town. And definitely my dog, Khaya. Not having the ocean is going to be weird.” Colón agreed. “I’m going to school in the middle of a corn field! I wanted the change of scenery but I’ve always lived next to the ocean. I’m definitely going to miss it.”

charcoal as well,” said Gaunt.

“And I think in photography, we have mostly portraiture just because I think that’s what kids find most interesting.”

Bordieri said the exhibition, in some ways, takes visitors on a journey that shows the evolution of students’ artistic growth.

“As students learn techniques and fundamentals,” said Bordieri, “they start developing their own voice and learn how to think more conceptually.”

Mullins’ watercolors feature a take on the theme of “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” that pops, while Gaunt’s photography gives us beautiful snapshots during her time in Venice. The pair pointed to the artworks of Potvin and Ginger Guy as must-see.

“I just really like that Julia paints a lot about her life and

like what’s going on in the world,” said Gaunt with an air of appreciation. “Her work is unique and personal.”

Mullins added, “Julia’s been doing a lot of different mediums, but one of my favorites that she did is a narrative on abortion.”

The artwork, which is mixed media, is a polemic on the current pro-life, pro-choice debate.

Guy’s collection of paintings

hangs on the opposite side of the auditorium. Her oil painting depicting a mountainous landscape with grazing sheep is a standout. With its earthy palette, it exudes an abstract quality from a distance but reveals texture and detail upon closer examination.

“It looks so loose, but it creates an image that’s so, so strong,” Gaunt said. “It’s very dynamic. It’s very distinctive.”

MHS valedictorian Yasen Colón and salutatorian Cate Trautman work on a problem in physics.

CURRENT PHOTOS / WILLIAM J. DOWD

For their senior project, Marblehead High School students Keira Sweetnam, Anita Gaunt, Cait Mullins and Julia Potuin (not pictured) organized the school’s Spring Art Exhibition, displaying 400 art pieces in Abbot Hall until June 2.

Attendees observe the diverse range of art pieces presented at the Marblehead High School Spring Art Exhibition in Abbot Hall, ongoing until June 2.

An oil landscape by Marblehead High School senior Ginger Guy features prominently among the student artworks exhibited in Abbot Hall until June 2.

After COVID delay, Village students

head back to Bournedale for adventures

BY LEIGH BLANDER

More than 180 Village School sixth-graders are back from the traditional four-day excursion to Camp Bournedale in Plymouth— the first time since 2019 that students have been able to go. The program is called VillageXperience.

“Students missed out on so many social opportunities over the past few years. We hope that this Xperience will be one that they will remember for a lifetime,” said Village teacher Jonathan Heller, who helped lead the trip.

Village students have been going to Bournedale for at least three decades.

“There are Village staff and chaperones that attended Bournedale when they were students in Marblehead Public Schools,” Heller told the Marblehead Current.

While at the camp, students participated in six core classes:

Lobster Tales, where kids explored saltwater ecosystems, structures of marine animals and math as the learned to calculate the age of a lobster based on its size and weight

Marine Lab, where students explored the anatomy of a dogfish and functions of animal systems

HONORING HEROES

Rocketry, where sixth-graders used the engineering and design process to build a paper rocket powered by compressed air and a rocket powered by a combustible engine Geo-caching, where students used a compass to locate hidden treasures throughout the camp and found true north by calculating the difference between magnetic north and true north Adventure, where classmates worked cooperatively to accomplish team challenges like “Don’t Touch the Lava.”

But it wasn’t all work. Heller listed a few highlights from the week, including a luau, color wars, karaoke, s’mores at the fire pit and the always popular SixthGrade Idol.

Some students opted to stay at the Village School for the week, where they engaged in activities. “Both programs provide our sixth-graders with a similar shared Xperience,” Heller explained. “The VillageXperience is the culmination and celebration of three years at Village School. As the sixth-graders get ready to move on to the middle school and begin the second half of their time in the Marblehead Public Schools, we are confident that they will continue to make Marblehead proud.”

Local vets share their war stories at MHS

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Just a few days before Memorial Day, five Vietnam veterans from Marblehead, some with Purple Heart medals, came to speak to students at the high school about their experiences and how war changed their lives.

The MHS juniors had just finished reading “The Things They Carried,” a collection of semi-autobiographical stories by Tim O’Brien about a platoon of American soldiers fighting in Vietnam.

The students asked the veterans dozens of questions ranging from: How did you feel when you got your draft notice? Did you have a strong stance on the war? What was your role in the war? What was it like coming back home?

Each veteran met with a group of about six students. Boyden Batty shared photos of himself in Vietnam.

“It was chaos,” he said. “I was the new guy, and we started taking fire. We all dropped to the ground. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God. They expect me to know what to do.’ It filled me with terror. I was more afraid of letting them down than of getting shot.”

Harry Christensen, who is now a lawyer, author and grandfather in town, shared how he still suffers from PTSD from his five months in Vietnam.

“We had to pick up the dead and wounded,” he told the students. “I have flashbacks all the time. When people ask me, ‘When were you in Vietnam?’ I answer, ‘In 1967, and last night.’”

Christensen said he is on all

MHS student Jeremy Sorkin

kinds of medications to help with the PTSD, but the attacks keep coming.

“If a truck goes by and makes a noise, my brain knows I’m here,

but my heart thinks I’m still in Vietnam,” he said.

Christensen said coming home from the war was a real shock.

“The kids I went to school

with were calling me a baby killer,” he recalled. “They said, ‘See those wounds you have; you deserve those.’ I didn’t kill any women or babies. Yes, I did kill

men. And I saw men die — some I knew.”

Christensen said he even grew his hair long and started to dress like a hippy to avoid being called out as a former soldier.

Lester McLaughlin served in Vietnam for one year and met his third child for the first time when he came home. She was already six months old. It wasn’t necessarily an easy transition.

“On July Fourth, when I heard fireworks, I told my wife we better get these kids into the basement,” he said.

Buck Grader was against the war when he got called up.

“War is an absurdity,” the former Marine told the teenagers sitting around him. “If you die, you don’t pay the price. It’s your mother or father or wife who pays the price.”

Grader choked back tears as he talked about his own son, who served in Desert Storm. Grader remembered thinking, “I’ll go in his place. It still makes me well up every time I think about it.”

Vet Peter Merry was also opposed to the war and showed students an anguished selfportrait he made just days before shipping out.

English teacher Jennifer Billings had invited the veterans to speak.

“They are all getting older, so I love the chance to make connections with the students,” she said. “I treasure having them in.”

Billings has also assigned the students to write a 700-word essay on the “Faces of War” after interviewing someone connected to war in some way.

MHS student honored in JCRC essay contest

traveling

wrote about the persecution of Jewish people throughout history — and the

antisemitism that still exists today.

“Many swastikas have been found at my school and even on some of the sidewalks in my town,” Sorkin wrote. “This

continued hatred from the war prevails to this day, and combating it is the next step that teens in my peer group, and even younger children should engage in.”

Marblehead High School student Jeremy Sorkin won third place in the Israel Arbeiter Essay Contest from the Jewish Community Relations Council and will be

to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum with other winners. Sorkin

COURTESY PHOTOS

Snapshots from VillageXperience at Camp Bournedale.

Veteran Boyden Batty shares photographs of himself in Vietnam.

Marblehead veteran Harry Christensen talked to Marblehead High School students about his chronic PTSD from his time in Vietnam. English teacher Jennifer Billings organized the event.

Veteran Peter Merry showed students a self-portrait he made just before shipping out to Vietnam.

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Coming home for your 50th high school reunion can be a little intimidating. Less so for Greg Newberry, who will be premiering a film he wrote, produced and directed at the Warwick Cinema the same weekend as his Marblehead High reunion.

The Warwick will screen “Who is Amos Otis?” on Saturday, June 3, at 1 p.m., followed by a Q&A with Newberry.

Newberry now lives in Cincinnati where — when he’s not making movies — he works in advertising.

“This will be the film’s first screening in a theater,” Newberry said. “It’s fitting that it’s at the Warwick, where I was schooled on film growing up.”

Newberry remembers watching classics like “The Godfather” and “Cool Hand Luke” at the Warwick.

“That was original story telling,” he said in a recent interview with the Marblehead Current.

Movies always thrilled Newberry, who was also captain of the MHS basketball team and served as senior class treasurer.

“I loved Marblehead High,” he said. “The teachers were incredible. I remember my English teacher Mr. Caulkin and Coach Brad Sheridan.”

Newberry started writing screenplays years ago, optioning four scripts to Hollywood studios. He turned to writing to cope with the stress of the 2016 election and the Trump presidency.

“I was incredibly frustrated

after the election,” he said. “I had run for city council and the Iowa state senate. I had a political background and experience. When Trump won in 2016, I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had to do something, so I went to my art.”

Newberry wrote “Who is Amos

Otis?” — a social-issue political thriller about a presidential assassin who pleads self-defense and must convince a jury that America was under attack by its unhinged ruler and that his actions saved the world.

“The assassin’s testimony and ingenious defense put our

country on trial,” Newberry explained. “No one can tell if he’s a mad man, con man or savior of the world. Not even his attorney.”

Newberry first produced “Who is Amos Otis?’’ as a play in Cincinnati. It was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

“The audience’s reaction was stunning to me,” he said. “People were debating it in the hallways and debating it in the parking lot.”

He decided to make the play into a movie … and then the pandemic hit. He got through production and released the film on streaming platforms since audiences still weren’t going to cinemas in big numbers. The movie has been available on

Amazon Prime, Apple TV and others.

Newberry says “Who is Amos Otis?” is just as important today as when he first started writing it.

“That’s the sad and amazing thing,” he said. “The film has not lost its relevance at all. We’re still in the same boat. I think the film will generate a lot of interest.”

Newberry’s excited to bring his movie to his hometown and old classmates.

“I look forward to seeing how they respond to the film on the big screen,” he said. “I’m grateful to the Warwick for the opportunity.”

Learn more about “Who is Amos Otis?” at whoisamosotis. com.

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS Spring ‘Paint-Out’ attracts artists from around New England

BY LINDA WERBNER

As the late May sun set over Marblehead Harbor recently, the Arnould Gallery’s cozy second floor on Washington Street was packed with artists, their friends and family, and aficionados from the community gingerly making their way around newly-hung, still-wet canvases, the fruit of three days of plein air painting by the Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters.

Plein air painting (from the French for “in the open air”) is the practice of painting in nature, getting outside of one’s studio and working with natural light. It was made famous by French Impressionist masters of the 19th century including Monet, Manet, Renoir, Degas and Pissaro.

For three consecutive days, the Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters were scattered about the town with their easels and tubes of acrylic and oils, capturing such iconic vistas as Fort Sewell, the baseball field at Seaside Park, Little Harbor Lobster Company, Chandler Hovey Park and the lighthouse, as well as street scenes and shops in the historic district, such as the Bus Stop and the corner of Pleasant Street with the Arnould Gallery and Mud Puddle Toys.

“We have some of the finest artists in New England,” stresses gallery owner Gene Arnould. “They come from Marblehead, Swampscott, Rockport, Gloucester, Southern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and even New Jersey. They just love coming here, the camaraderie surrounded by all this natural beauty.”

The Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters began in 2006, explains Arnould. That’s when a Connecticut-based artist, the late Yves Parent, who was part of

the prestigious Plein Air Painters of New England, selected Marblehead as the group’s creative destination that year.

Parent, an avid sailor who crossed the Atlantic many times, reportedly fell head over heels for this scenic and historic coastal town. “He was what you would call a local artist with a number of ports,” Arnould recalls fondly. “We had a great show with the Plein Air Painters of New England and we decided we wanted to keep this going.”

Although Parent died in 2011, the group of roughly 20 artists continues its yearly artistic pilgrimage to Marblehead. Arnould provides the hospitality and a ceremonial dinner at his home for the members of the group. “We always start our dinner with a toast to Yves for bringing us all together.”

Artist Bob Noreika who has been with the Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters for 15 years and is a member of the original group recalls Yves as a “larger than life” personality. Noreika created three paintings over the course of the three days and speaks warmly of the warm, supportive, family-like atmosphere in the group.

Al Barker, a Bordentown, New Jersey-based artist, is also a member of the original group. Barker painted five oils, two of which sold at the reception. Barker, who is in his early 80s and is a forester by training, states that he doesn’t mind the eight-hour drive to Marblehead from New Jersey to be with his friends and fellow plein air painters.

While plein air painting offers remarkable opportunities to capture natural light in all its inimitable beauty, it is not without risks, as Arnould acknowledges. “The biggest challenge is the wind. A strong gust will turn your easel into a sail and off it goes into the sand or the leaves.”

“Plein air is improvisation in paint, just as musicians Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Dave Brubeck did in jazz,” artist Howard Park reflected at Friday evening’s reception.

Standing in front of his stilldamp oil poetically capturing the cloudy harbor, “Bright Morning,” artist Gray Park spoke about his favorite light to do plein air painting. “Sundown or ‘the golden hour’ but also dawn.” Park, who hails from Stonington,

Connecticut, and is Howard’s son, has been with the Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters for 15 years. “I like being outside and in the elements. I love being here in Marblehead. The ocean, the marshes, the quaint, historic buildings, the harbor and the boats.”

Artist Brechlin Morgan of Milford, Connecticut, concurred. “This is the most beautiful town in New England and this time is my favorite week of the year, coming up here to be with my friends. These people are like family to me. It feels like coming home.”

Morgan, his hands still covered with smears of orange and blue paint, spent two days working on “Stairs at Lookout Court,” an experience he describes as magical. “For me, plein air painting cleans the dirt off the windshield, metaphorically speaking.

“Having a full week to be able to stand, stare and paint is energizing,” he adds. “There is no other way to see the world more clearly than to stand in front of a canvas and try to reproduce what you see.”

Artist Doug Smith from Rockland, Maine, is another member of the original group

and a close friend of Yves Parent. Smith painted four canvases over the three days including two of a skiff near Fort Sewell. “My favorite light to paint in is early morning or late afternoon sunlight.” Smith enjoys answering questions from curious onlookers while he is working from his trusty pochade box, the essential tool for plein air painters.

“Me? I paint the walls, ceilings and fences,” says Arnould when asked if he is an artist. “I do love art but I’m not an artist.”

Now in its 45 year, the Arnould Gallery provides framing services as well as classes and a small gallery upstairs.

Arnould characterizes the Marblehead art scene as “a very idiosyncratic community. We love the streets, the harbors, Fort Sewell, Crocker Park. And I want to stress that it’s not the tourists who buy the art, it’s the people who live in Marblehead.”

He recalls that even as a kid he was interested in art. While the idea of opening a gallery was something he had reserved for his retirement years, a series of auspicious events enabled him to open the gallery in 1978, much sooner than he had planned. These days he manages the gallery and does framing, as well as runs the historic Brimblecomb Hill Bed and Breakfast Guest House.

What hangs on his walls? “I am an avid collector of Samuel V. Chamberlain’s etchings. He was a Marblehead artist who was a big influence.

“We’re so blessed having coasts all around us and these historic buildings,” Arnould added when asked what draws artists to Marblehead. “We’re a beautiful town.”

The complete works of the Arnould Gallery Plein Air Painters will be on exhibit through July 4 at the Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St.

CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD

Max Lee and Jan Hardy, visiting Marblehead from Wisconsin, view artworks in the en plein air exhibition at Arnould Gallery on Sunday.

Greg Newberry, who graduated from MHS in 1973, has written several screenplays.

Newberry worked at McManus Ice Cream in Marblehead as a teen.

MHS alum Greg Newberry will premiere his film ‘Who is Amos Otis?’ at the Warwick Cinema.

A rare glimpse of kit venturing from

BY RICK CUZNER

I spotted a young red fox kit venturing away from its den. The kit exhibited a certain shyness, yet its curiosity was undeniable. The exact location must remain undisclosed, but it’s somewhere along the North Shore. The den, which is still active, should be respected. These photos were captured just a little over a week ago.

It’s interesting to note that the adult foxes often relocate the kits to new locations from time to time.

According to both Mass Audubon and the MSPCA, two species of foxes call Massachusetts home: the red and gray fox. These creatures,

predominantly active during the night and early morning hours, have demonstrated remarkable adaptability to the environment of the North Shore.

“They are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of animals and plants, including squirrels, mice and fruits,” the MSPCA writes, “the young foxes are called kits and litters of 3-8 are typically born in the early spring. They will usually remain with their parents, learning to hunt until late summer or fall.”

The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner. For the past 15 years, he has taken thousands of nature photographs that capture the wild animals who call Marblehead home.

YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN BLACK

Rick Cuzner captured a red fox kit that ventured from its den.

NEC meet starts off postseason

BY JOE MCCONNELL

With the regular season now in the books, the Marblehead High spring track teams headed to Peabody on May 21 to meet up with the rest of the Northeastern Conference teams for the annual NEC Meet. The boys finished the conference season with a 3-3-1 record, while the girls went 5-2.

In the NEC Meet, the Marblehead boys (87 points) ended up second behind firstplace Peabody (171). Gloucester was a close third with 85 points.

The Marblehead girls also finished second with 127 points. The Tanners (155) came out on top. Masconomet (63) and Gloucester (58) rounded out the top four.

Girls long jump

Claire Davis (15-10.75) medaled in the long jump after ending up sixth in the NEC Meet. Ana Vina de Garnica (1411.5) was 12th.

“There was a steady headwind in the long jump pit, which seemed to impact everyone’s steps and jumps,” said coach Nolan Raimo.

Boys long jump

Errol Apostolopoulos and Alex Hersey made it to the finals. Errol (19-10) finished fifth, and Hersey (19-5) was seventh, just missing the podium.

Girls triple jump

Keira Sweetnam (34-9, a personal best by six inches) hopped, skipped and jumped to a third-place finish. Davis was close behind with a jump of 34-7 to finish fifth. Morgan Zion (308) ended up 17th overall.

“I doubted Keira’s ability to

BAKER’S

DOZEN

make the podium because the NEC has one of the best triple jump fields in recent memory, but Keira came out with a chip on her shoulder to score a thirdplace finish,” said Raimo. Boys triple jump Hersey (40-7.5) was the lone Marblehead jumper for Marblehead, and he finished fourth with essentially just one jump.

“The Peabody runway was horrible,” Raimo said. “The boards were seemingly loose, and Alex caught his heel on a board that bruised it. But Alex is an all-around athlete, and his performance in this event with limited attempts was just incredible.”

Girls high jump

Sweetnam took home a thirdplace finish with a clearance of 5-2.

Girls tennis completes solid regular season

Marblehead ready for host Milton to begin state tournament

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead High girls tennis team (13-5) began the final week of the regular season with a 3-2 road win over Lynnfield on May 22.

After losing to visiting Hamilton-Wenham the next day, 5-0, the Marblehead girls started their preparation for the Division 2 state tournament.

They are the 20th-ranked team, and they are scheduled to face 13th-ranked Milton (11-5) in a Round of 32 match-up. As of May 27, the date and time were still to be determined.

“Lynnfield is always a strong opponent, but we matched up well against them this year,” said coach Tracy Ackerman. “There was good quality tennis from everybody, and this match will serve us well as we prepare for the upcoming state tournament. Third singles player Charly Cooper, in particular, showed grit and tenacity taking her match the distance.”

Paige Martuno got Lynnfield off to a quick start by beating Pauline Geissler in first singles, 6-1, 6-0. Lucia Levin and Aoife Bresnahan then took care of their Lynnfield counterparts, Vicki McCrann and Ella Hayman, in second doubles, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

“(Peabody senior) Brianna (Ewansiha) and Keira each jumped 5-2, but Brianna cleared

it in just one jump, which won the tiebreaker for second place,” Raimo said. “Keira is a

phenomenal high jumper, and it’s frankly bad luck that three of the best high jumpers in the state and New England reside in the NEC conference.”

Ewansiha’s classmate, Lindsey Wilson (5-6), went to the head of the class with a first-place finish. Girls shot put Rachael Albert was the lone Marblehead thrower, and she was eighth overall with a throw of 28-9.5, just two inches off her personal best mark.

“Rachael is a discus specialist, but she also has an impressive range in both the shotput and javelin,” said Raimo. “Although they are all throwing events, the technical prowess required in each is very different, and Rachael’s ability to place in the top 10 in all three events is a

18 STRAIGHT Laxmen complete perfect regular season

State tournament pairings to be announced May 31

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Last year, the Marblehead High boys lacrosse team wrapped up the regular season with a 15-3 record. This spring, they are a perfect 18-0 overall, and 12-0 in the Northeastern Conference.

The Magicians ended up 10th in the Division 2 power rankings last year. Right now, they are seventh, but that was before they dominated Melrose to the tune of 18-7 on May 26.

The final rankings were scheduled to be announced on

May 30, the day before the state tournament pairings are set to be released, and a home game or two at Piper Field is certainly in the cards for the Magicians.

The last time the team went undefeated was in 2021 during the COVID season, when it finished with a 13-0 record while playing only against conference foes.

The Marblehead boys lost to host Minnechaug in a Round of 16 game last year, 8-5, after beating Hopkinton in the Round of 32, 15-3.

The team has improved by three wins — and by three spots in the

rankings so far — in just 12 months. If it continues to follow that script, it might be celebrating a state title in a couple of weeks.

“They worked really hard for this undefeated record and are remaining focused in order to take that next step in the state tournament,” said coach John Wilkens. “These players are a confident bunch, but certainly not cocky. We had a great regular season, but it doesn’t mean anything unless you move

YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN BLACK

COURTESY PHOTOS/CAT PIPER

From left, Marblehead girls spring track senior captain Claire Davis, senior captain Devin Whalen and sophomore Elise Burchfield gain on the competition in the 100-meter hurdles during the NEC Meet at Peabody on May 21.

Marblehead boys spring track senior captain Harrison Curtis, left, and sophomore Thomas Carlson compete in the 100 during the NEC Meet at Peabody on May 21.

CURRENT PHOTO/NICOLE GOODHUE-BOYD Coach John Wilkens and his Marblehead High School lacrosse team completed the regular season a perfect 18-0 and are now waiting to learn their opponent in the Division 2 state tournament.

Boys tennis nets two wins to end regular season

Ninth-ranked Magicians face Oliver Ames to open state tournament

BY JOE MCCONNELL

With the postseason right around the corner, the Marblehead High boys tennis team (10-0 in the Northeastern Conference, 15-3 overall) defeated another opponent to maintain that winning momentum and begin a brand new week with more success.

Non-league foe Manchester Essex, a perennial state tournament squad, provided the opposition for the Magicians on May 22 in Marblehead, only to lose, 4-1.

Junior Mika Garber defeated Jack Cummins of the Hornets in first singles, 6-1, 6-0. Garber’s classmate Jost Eggebrecht also won in straight sets against Charlie Virden in second singles, 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Matthew Sherf completed the singles sweep with a 6-2, 6-0 triumph over Finn Straub.

Sophomores Etan Farfel and

Jayden Janock hooked up in first doubles to beat Sander Brenner and Jack Lawler, 6-0, 6-0. Sophomores Luke Miller and Anthony Vizy lost to Finn Ireland and Charlie Langendo in second doubles, 6-3, 6-3.

In sub-varsity play, senior co-captain Jimmy King and sophomore Austin Bacon won, 6-0. Senior co-captain Jack Wykes and sophomore Ben Zaltsman did the same, 6-2.

Sophomores Leo Winocour and Quinn Fletcher continued that same winning formula, 6-2. There was no rest for the weary for the Marblehead boys, who traveled to the Pingree School the very next day to face the Hamilton-Wenham Generals.

It was a close match, but the visitors still came out on top, 3-2.

“Both of our doubles teams played incredibly well,” said coach Elisabeth Foukal. “While first doubles (Farfel and Janock)

MAGICIANS NOTEBOOK

won, second doubles (King and Bacon) put up a great fight in the first set before losing in a tiebreaker, 10-8. They made some excellent serves and good down-the-line shots to keep it close.”

Garber was able to beat Will Gern, a crafty lefty, in first singles, 6-3, 6-1. However, Eggebrecht lost to Eloise Chanel in second singles, 6-3, 6-1. Sherf then got his teammates back on the winning track after topping Keenan Maguire in third singles, 6-1, 6-2. “It was a first-rate match,” said Foukal. “Matthew keeps on improving by keeping the ball deep, while using his lefty advantage with forceful forehands.”

Farfel and Janock pulled through in a tight first doubles match against Rory Taylor and Ben Gasser, 7-5, 6-4. King and Bacon then lost a tough aforementioned second doubles match to Max Clarke and Henry

Stinson, 7-6 (10-8), 6-0.

The Magicians were scheduled to go up against host BC High, another non-league counterpart, on May 24, but it was suspended, because of rain. The JV team played at home that day against the junior Eagles under the direction of coach Priscilla Danforth. The home team ended up dropping a 5-0 decision.

“We played our final match of the season at home against BC High, and there was some outstanding tennis played across all five courts, despite the score,” said Danforth. “We made them work for their wins by playing excellent tennis, while demonstrating superb sportsmanship.”

First singles player Luke Roth held his own in a long two-setter against BC High’s Sean Delorie, but still lost the match, 7-5, 6-4. T.J. Kelly competed well in second singles, according to the coach. “(Kelly)

played an excellent and lengthy match against Jack Morgan, who prevailed, 6-0, 6-2,” added Danforth.

Third singles player Quinn Sullivan lost to Chris Saba in a close three-setter, 5-7, 6-4, 10-5. Graydon Waller and Jeffery Kucharsky, playing first doubles, lost in straight sets to Christian Grund and Chris Murphy, 6-0, 7-5. The second doubles team of Allen Canner and Adam Loughlin fell, 6-2, 6-3 to John Botsavales and Liam Deane. Bring on the state tournament Since wrapping up the regular season in that suspended match at BC High, the varsity has been getting ready for the Division 2 state tournament, which is scheduled to get underway May 31 against Oliver Ames at home, starting at 5 p.m. The Magicians are ninth in the power rankings, while Oliver Ames is 24th overall after completing the regular season with an 11-7 record.

Softball team ends season with two wins

Coach Gold hits milestone

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead High softball team (9-11) dropped a 7-4 decision to Danvers on May 22. The Magicians were on fire offensively, collecting 14 hits over seven innings, but the Falcons also had a whole bunch of hits, 12 to be exact.

Marblehead pitcher Ruby Calienes gave up 12 hits, one walk and four earned runs, while fanning three. Calienes also tried to help herself out at the plate with three hits and one RBI.

Anna Bobowski was credited with two hits in three at-bats. Luka Bornhorst chipped in with a couple of hits as well. Tessa Andriano got the same number of hits while accounting for three RBI.

On May 25, the Marblehead girls defeated Medford at

Medford’s Columbus Park, 7-2.

Calienes gave up six hits over seven innings in a completegame effort. She was also credited with seven strikeouts and accounted for a single in the fifth inning.

Bornhorst went 2-for-4 at the plate that included a fenceclearing round-tripper in the second. Ashley Mortensen also helped power the attack with two doubles and one RBI. She scored twice as well.

Lyla McGovern and Isabel Mortensen contributed one hit apiece to the winning cause. Andriano just missed two homers that would have been out of most parks, according to coach Johnny Gold.

“This game was won by the outstanding play of our outfield that consisted of Sophia Hallisey, Ashley Mortensen and Clara Donovan,” said Gold. “Catcher Isabel Mortensen also had a great defensive game behind the dish.”

Gold gets 200th career win

Coach Gold’s squad closed out the regular season with a win against host Ipswich, 12-0, on May 26. It was also Gold’s 200th victory during his two-plusdecade tenure as a Marblehead coach.

Calienes gave up just four hits while striking out six to secure the win. She also contributed on offense with a hit in the fifth.

Second baseman Eva Walton led the offense, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and two singles while knocking in three. Shortstop Luka Bornhorst went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Catcher Isabel Mortensen was 3-for-5 at the plate and also made the defensive play of the game with a diving catch to end the contest.

Ashley Mortensen, Lyla McGovern and Sophie Hallisey had two hits apiece to pace the offense.

“We ended the regular season on a high note by winning our last two games (against Medford and Ipswich) while scoring 19 runs and giving up just two,” said Gold.

According to the latest Division 2 power rankings as of May 26 in the early morning hours, these youthful Magicians, with many freshmen and sophomores on the varsity roster, are ranked 39th overall.

The top 32 teams automatically qualify for the postseason, while all others must post winning records.

Girls lacrosse gets ready for postseason

The Marblehead High girls lacrosse team (6-7 in the Northeastern Conference, 6-12 overall) wrapped up the regular season on May 22 against nonleague host North Reading, who defeated the local squad in a close contest, 13-11.

The Magicians are also 2-6 in the NEC Dunn Division that also consists of Beverly, Danvers, Masco and Peabody.

Ramona Gillett (1 goal), Sydney Langton (3 goals, 1 interception, 1 caused turnover), Maddie Forbes (1 goal, 1 interception, 1 caused turnover), Lucy Wales (4 goals), Caitlyn Ryan (2 goals) and Isabelle Ferrante (1 assist) were the offensive leaders against the Hornets.

As of May 26, coach Annie Madden’s team is 22nd in the Division 2 power rankings. The Top 32 teams automatically qualify for the state tournament. The pairings will be announced on Wednesday, May 31.

As a warmup to the postseason, the Magicians are scheduled to take on Winchester (15-4, 14th seed in Division 1) in a scrimmage at home starting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1.

Baseball tops Haverhill in Hillie Classic

BY JOE MCCONNELL

In an opening round Karelis Division game of the Haverhill Hillie Classic, the Marblehead High baseball team (7-6 in the Northeastern Conference, 12-8 overall) lost to conference rival Salem, 6-3, in eight innings at Seaside Park.

The Magicians were leading 3-0 after five innings when Salem took advantage of some mistakes to tie the game. And then in extra innings, Salem did it again. The host team outhit Salem, 8-3, but five errors on defense led to five unearned runs, according to coach Mike Giardi.

Drew Whitman pitched seven innings, giving up two hits, two walks and three runs, but only one was earned. He was credited with six strikeouts.

Chris Cannuscio was on the mound during the extra inning. He issued one hit, one walk and three runs, but just one was earned. He fanned one.

Bodie Bartram paced the offensive attack with two singles. Charlie Sachs doubled in a run. Cannuscio contributed an RBI single to the winning cause.

Drake Wyman, Matt Mahan, Shane Keough and Riley Schmitt chipped in with one single apiece.

The Marblehead boys then faced host Haverhill in the consolation game on May 27 at Haverhill Stadium, and they came out on top, 6-2. They led by only one after five innings, 3-2.

“This was a close game until the sixth, when Shane Keough hit an inside-the-park, three-run homerun to extend our one-run lead,” said Giardi.

Marblehead’s Ian Maude was on the hill throughout the first six innings, allowing six hits, three walks and two earned runs while whiffing eight to earn the win. Cody Selvais pitched the seventh inning, yielding just one free pass.

The Magicians accounted for five hits in this game, led by Sachs, who had two singles and an RBI, plus a walk. Keough, of course, powered the attack with his aforementioned threerun blast. He also walked once while driving home four runs in all. Bartram and Schmitt each collected a single and a walk to round out the offense.

Successes on road to postseason

The Marblehead High baseball team began the previous week with a 6-4 home win against rival Swampscott on May 15. They closed out the week with a shutout win over visiting

Peabody to clinch a Division 2 state tournament berth.

“Swampscott took advantage of some free base runners, some extra outs and some timely hitting to grab a 4-2 lead, but after a few base running mistakes early on, we were eventually able to recapture the lead,” said Giardi after the Big Blue contest.

But the Big Blue did not give up. They staged a late rally in the seventh inning with runners in scoring position, but Chris Cannuscio once again came to the rescue for the Magicians to pick up his third save in as many games.

Two days later on Senior Day at Seaside Park, the Beverly Panthers interrupted the momentum by pinning a 6-2 loss on the home team.

“When you play good teams, you cannot give them extra opportunities, and that’s exactly what we did against Beverly,” said Giardi.

“The Panthers only held a slim 5-2 advantage in hits, but between our own miscues and giving them some more free runners in the form of walks, it resulted in several unearned runs,” added the veteran Marblehead coach.

Beverly pitcher Noah Guanci allowed just one earned run

while fanning 15 over seven innings to secure the completegame, dominating win on the mound.

The homestand then concluded with a 10-0 shutout win over the Peabody Tanners on May 19.

“We jumped out with six runs in the first and never looked back,” said Giardi. “We then added four more in the fourth to help secure our 10th overall victory.”

Against Swampscott, Ian Maude (five hits, three walks, three strikeouts, four runs, just one earned) pitched the first 6.1 innings to get credit for the win before Cannuscio came in to lock it down for the save.

The Marblehead offense banged out 10 hits, led by Shane Keough, Bodie Bartram and Drake Wyman with two each. Bartram knocked in three runs with his two singles. Matt Mahan singled in a couple of runs to contribute to the offense as well. Stefan Shepard accounted for the lone extrabase hit for the Magicians with a double.

The Magicians got just four hits against Beverly. Riley Schmitt chipped in with two singles, while Keough came through with a single and a double. They each scored a run.

Bartram drove home one run on a fielder’s choice. Drew Whitman went 6.1 innings, allowing five hits, three walks and six runs, just three earned. He whiffed seven. Cody Selvais retired the final two batters in the top of the seventh. In the mercy rule rout against the Tanners, Cannuscio pitched all five innings to secure the victory, yielding just two hits and two walks while whiffing five.

Bartram paced the attack with a single and a double that accounted for five big RBI. Mahan singled in two runs. Jake Scogland, Brooks Keefe and Wyman each knocked in one run via singles.

The Magicians started the final week of the regular season off with a home 7-5 win over Winthrop on May 22, followed by the aforementioned games against Salem and Haverhill in the Hillie Classic.

The Magicians were 31st in the most recent Division 2 power rankings on May 26 but that did not account for the win over Haverhill. The final rankings were set to come out on Tuesday, May 30, and it was possible the team moved up a couple of spots before the state tournament pairings were announced the next day.

Lacrosse

From P. A13

forward.”

Carter Laramie (five goals, one assist) and Connor Cronin (five goals, three assists) paced the offensive attack against the Red Raiders. Baxter Jennings collected a hat trick while assisting on two other tallies. Gio Garibotto also netted three markers. Cam Waldman chipped in with two scores.

From P. A13

testament to her athleticism.”

Boys shot put Justin Gonzalez’s season ended with a string of personal bests, finishing 13th overall with a throw of 37-5.

“Justin was the second-best sophomore in this event, behind a generational talent like Alex Jackson of Peabody (53-0), who finished first,” Raimo said. “Justin’s potential is off the charts. It’s going to be very exciting to see Justin’s progress during the offseason coming into next spring.”

Girls discus

Albert medaled with a throw of 101-10. Hannah O’Brien (73-6) was 13th.

“Like the girls triple jump and high jump events, the girls discus group had a handful of future collegiate throwers, and Rachael battled with the best of them for a fourth-place finish,” Raimo said.

Boys discus

Graham Firestone, the Freshman-Sophomore Meet champion, finished 16th with a throw of 90-9, tops among freshmen at this meet.

“Graham is incredibly gifted, and as his track career progresses we will see some special numbers,” Raimo said.

Girls javelin

Albert threw the javelin around earlier this season for the first time, and now she’s approaching the 100-foot mark, according to Raimo.

She threw 97-4, a 15-foot personal best, to finish third. Sierra Leinberry (59-9) was 14th and Adelyn Cruickshank (54-4) 19th.

Boys javelin Firestone (115-2) accounted for 10th place, while Asher Oren (103-7) was 16th and Angelo Knight (95-2) 21st, 95-2.

“I’ve said it all this season, but this group is all new to the javelin, and their progress this season was remarkable,” Raimo said. “I look forward to seeing their secondyear campaigns next year.”

Girls 400-meter hurdles

Devin Whalen (72.19) was the top dog in the seedings and went on to cruise to the conference championship.

“Devin historically was a 100meter hurdler, but with a new focus and drive in this event she ran over four seconds faster than her previous best time this season,” Raimo said.

Boys 400-meter hurdles

Ryan Thompson (59.89) began jumping in this event just seven days ago, but he quickly rounded into form, finishing second in the conference meet with a sub-60 time.

Errol Apostolopoulos continues to build upon a great season in this event with a personal best time of 60.41.

Tommaso Santoni, a superstar exchange student from Italy, was 12th with a time of 65.52.

The Marblehead boys were leading at halftime, 7-3, before an explosive third quarter put the game out of reach for the Middlesex League club. The Magicians scored five times during that sequence.

Goalie Finn Maniaci accounted for nine saves to help prevent Melrose from making any comeback attempt.

Three days earlier, the Magicians opened up the week with a 9-4 win over the visiting

Newburyport Clippers. The host team only held a slim 3-2 lead at halftime, but once again the third quarter was the difference maker.

Captain Cronin was the scoring leader against the Clippers with six goals. Charlie Grenier was credited with two scores and one assist. Jennings, who according to Wilkens was solid on faceoffs in this game, also had a goal. Drew Nelson and Garibotto each setup one tally.

Maniaci came up with a season-high 17 saves that secured the win.

“(Maniaci) was fantastic playing against the No. 3 team in Division 3,” Wilkens said.

Wilkens also credits his defense for the perfect season to date. J.J. Pollender, Sam Annese and Eliot Pluss are the backline defenders that helped stop many offensive chances by the opposition so far this season.

Wilkens also singled out long-stick middies Eddie Johns and Zander Danforth and short-stick middle Hogan Sedky for their defensive prowess, along with junior Wilson Bullard, who was particularly skillful in shorthanded situations.

On the offensive end, Cronin wrapped up the regular season with 107 points, now only four away from tying Brooks Tyrrell’s single-season school record.

this relay for the benefit of the team, and it paid off big time with a first-place finish, according to Herlihy.

“Opening the relay against the second best 800 runner in the conference (Gloucester’s Caroline MacKinnon), Grace (2:37.76) handed the baton off only a couple of meters out of first, her best performance of the season,” Herlihy said. “Marri O’Connell (2:36) wasted no time erasing that (deficit) and then built up a more significant lead in the second leg for Juliet Burchfield (2:43.19), who held the lead throughout her leg.”

Girls two-mile

This season has been a huge step forward for Cat Piper (12:54.16), according to her coach.

“Her performance in the NEC Meet was the gutsiest race I’ve ever seen from her, and although it was just shy of her personal best time, it was still far and away the best race of her track career,” said coach William Herlihy. “She hit her consistent splits lap after lap, and although she ended the race in seventh place, she now knows that she has what it takes to compete with the next level of competition.”

Boys two-mile

Harrison Kee (9:55.36) made a return to racing after missing some time with an injury and did not disappoint, coming in second. Jonah Potach (11:52.79) ended up 18th.

Girls 100/110-meter hurdles

Whalen, Davis and Elise Burchfield all made the finals in impressive fashion. Whalen (16.38) led the way after tying her personal best-time to secure a third-place finish.

Davis, with a monstrous halfsecond personal best time of 16.51, claimed the fourth spot. Burchfield, with another halfsecond personal best time of 17.26, came in sixth.

Boys 100/110-meter hurdles

In the continuing saga of the best NEC boys hurdler, Leo Sheriff took home the crown.

Hersey (15.69) finished second by surpassing his personal-best time by a half-second.

Apostolopoulos (16.15) also had a half-second personal-best time to finish third.

Girls 100

Ava Machado (13.1) led the way for Marblehead with a secondplace finish.

Sadie Halpern (13.8) sneaked into the finals by three seconds and unsurprisingly stood tall against great competition to nab third place.

Arielle Kahn (14.24) capped an impressive first season, finishing 20th.

Herlihy. “Sometimes the plan is as simple as ‘just race,’ but sometimes a race plan has multiple layers of trying to hit split times, while managing pack positioning, which can be a tall order for someone with years of experience, not to mention newcomers.”

Freshman Marri O’Connell’s race plan was the latter, according to Herlihy.

“She knew exactly what to do going in and was executing it quite well for most of the race,” he said.

Unfortunately, an incident on the sixth corner changed all that. Contact occurred, and O’Connell fell.

“But all that matters is this: She got back up and willed herself through the final 500 meters through exhaustion and overwhelming emotion to finish third in 5:33.89, a seven-second personal best, good for sixth on the known school records,” Herlihy said. “She deserves all the credit in the world for her performance in this race, and for her fortitude and character, attributes that can’t be coached into an athlete.”

Maren Potter (6:09.94) also had her best race of the spring to finish ninth in the first heat.

Boys mile

Isaac Gross (4:39.86) stepped down from the 2-mile to try and improve his mile time.

“After getting off to a fast start, Isaac was able to hold on for 1,608 of the 1,609 meters before getting out-leaned at the finish line to come in third,” said Herlihy. “It was a terrific effort from Isaac to stave off the Danvers runner, but he came up just five-10ths of a second short.”

Nate Assa (4:52.3), who was also in the seeded heat, was ninth. Henrik Adams (5:02.91) and Ryan Blestowe (5:03.20) rounded out the local runners, finishing 12th and 13th, respectively.

Girls 400

“This is Tommaso’s first season running track, and he’s had a spectacular one,” Raimo said.

Marc Grazado (65.84) finished 13th.

From P. A13

In a back-and-forth battle, Lynnfield’s Genna Gioioso defeated Andrea Potvin, 7-5, 6-4 in second singles. But Cooper

Boys 100 Curtis (11.28) was credited with a third-place finish. Thomas Carlson (11.48) was close behind in fourth place. Sebastian Pantzer (11.49) was sixth.

Girls mile

“As a track fan, I love to talk race strategy with my athletes,” said

came out on top against Maddie Sieve in third singles, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. With the match now tied at two, Marblehead’s first doubles team of Courtney Yoder and Aviva Bornstein sealed the victory against Lily Alyes and

Le’Daisha Williams (62.47) led the way from the third heat with a third-place finish. Cate Trautman (62.50) was a close fourth, and Gabby Hendy (63.97) ninth.

Boys 400

David Di Costanzo (53.3, personal best) was the lone Marblehead competitor, and he ended up third.

“David has been putting in extra

Leticia Marafox, 6-4, 6-4. The Magicians went right back to work the next day against the defending Division 4 state champions on Senior Day, but the Generals spoiled the festivities to walk away with a shutout win.

time and focus into improving his running form this spring, especially the latter half of the season when we’re supposed to, and his diligence is indisputably paying off,” said Raimo.

Girls 800

After an exceptional regular season, Kate Twomey (2:27.77) fittingly capped it off as a NEC champion in the 800.

“Against a very competitive field in less-than-ideal conditions, Kate knew going in that this race was about planning and execution,” said Herlihy. “She stayed right in the top pack for the first 500 meters, then coming off the turn with 300 to go she sling-shotted her way around and up into the lead spot, which she never relinquished.”

Herlihy added that Juliet Burchfield (2:37.14, 10th place) went out with the top group but made a savvy decision to save some strength for the 4x800 relay, when she felt the podium slip away on the second lap.

“Sometimes, it’s just not your race, and Juliet’s recognition of that and decision to save some gas for the relay demonstrates a lot of maturity for a young runner,” he said.

Boys 800

“Like the girls 800, this was a stacked event,” said Herlihy. “In challenging conditions, the entire Marblehead contingent worked hard.”

Thompson (2:06.36) finished fifth, Gabe Bayramian (2:07.75) was seventh, and Peter Sullivan (2:18.70, personal best by one second) 15th.

Girls 200

Running into a steady headwind, Trautman (26.56) was second. Machado (26.74) was close behind, coming in third. Williams (27.34), starting from the fifth heat, accounted for a sixth-place finish. Sadie Halpern (27.94) was ninth.

Boys 200

Curtis is knocking on the door of the school record set 11 years ago after running 22.84 into a headwind, only three-tenths of a second away from that mark. For the record, he came in third.

Sebastian Pantzer (23.37) was fifth, Carlson (24.12) 14th and Ethan Horgan (26.26) 28th.

Girls 4x800

Grace Mortensen, a consummate teammate, offered to sit out the 800 to focus on

“All three Hamilton-Wenham singles players took no time to win their matches,” said Ackerman.

Geissler lost in first singles, 0-6, 1-6, before Potvin (0-6, 0-6) and Cooper (2-6, 1-6) dropped their matches to the mighty

After winning the 800, Kate Twomey knew that she was still racing against the clock to get the team a good seed time for the state divisional meet, so she buckled down and kept her foot on the gas to close out the race with a very impressive time of 2:31.18, Herlihy noted.

“Their collective time of 10:28.13 is technically three seconds off the auto-qualifier, but there’s no doubt this time will put them in the fast heat at the divisional meet on May 27,” added the coach.

Boys 4x800

“Will Cerrutti made his return to racing after some injury concerns and had a rollercoaster of a race,” said Herlihy. “Threequarters of the way into his race, he stumbled a bit, but before I could even make it over to check on him, he was back up and sprinting the final 200 meters to hand off the baton to Xavier Grazado, who made huge moves to get his team back into the race.”

Grazado pulled up on the fourth-place runner to give his teammate Henrik Adams a chance to pull ahead. This chance was not wasted as Adams was able to pass the Salem runner to establish a lead, allowing Gabe Bayramian to cruise in the anchor leg to see them finish fourth as a team.

Girls 4x100

Ava Machado, Cate Trautman, Sadie Halpern and Le’Daisha Williams finished second with a time of 51.43.

“Ava and Sadie ran three races before this, and Cate and Le’Daisha ran two, which included a 400 not too long before this one,” said Herlihy. “At times, it’s not about running a top-notch time, but rather running your best possible time given the conditions, and Ava, Sadie, Cate and Le’Daisha did exactly that.”

Boys 4x100

Jacob Bobowski, Curtis, Carlson and Pantzer finished third with a time of 44.76 in an electric finish with four teams within seconds of each other. Bobowski battled through a back injury to give the team a chance.

Girls 4x400

Devin Whalen, Elise Burchfield, Arielle Kahn and Gabrielle Hendy (4:24.41) ran an incredible race to finish second.

Boys 4x400

David Di Costanzo, Slater Johnson, Harrison Kee and Ryan Thompson finished fourth in a respectable time of 3:41.88.

Generals.

Yoder and Bornstein then lost in first doubles, 3-6, 1-6. Bresnahan and Levin experienced the same results in second doubles, 3-6, 4-6.

COURTESY PHOTO/CAT PIPER

The Marblehead 4x800 girls relay team of freshman Marietta O’Connell, sophomore Juliet Burchfield, junior Kate Twomey and junior Grace Mortenson, from left, are all smiles after finishing on top during the annual NEC Meet at Peabody on May 21.

Nate Burke

Candidate for one-year term

Years in Marblehead:

I was born and raised in Marblehead and have lived here all my life. I am a married father of two MHS graduates and was director of Marblehead Youth Soccer.

Education/occupation:

I have worked for over 40 years in sales and marketing - most recently in energy sector focusing on lighting and control systems.

Elected/appointed offices held:

I was able to provide expertise to the town by helping to facilitate a retrofit of sustainable lighting solutions for the parking lot and gymnasium lighting at the Jacobi Community Center. I have experience on the Light Board having served on the MMLD from 2020 to 2021 when I was appointed to the position by the Select Board.

What are the most significant issues facing the Light Dept and how would you address them if elected?

As a light commissioner, I would move our energy portfolio even further towards renewables – more nuclear, more hydroelectric, solar and wind.

There has been an ongoing discussion about the installation of solar panels on public buildings. Do you feel this is a good move? Why or why not?

I support having our public buildings utilize state and federal funding to install full solar panel systems with a battery back-up. This effort is long overdue. It will take pressure off or our grid We can use the batteries to enhance our supply of energy during peak usage times which is imperative for responsible energy management.

How can the Light Department reduce its dependence on fossil fuels?

It is imperative to have a thoughtful approach toward achieving our 2040 net zero carbon energy independence goal. We need to consider adjustments to our town’s energy portfolio to include as many alternative solutions as possible. There have been many projects promised to us including wind and solar that have not and may not ever be coming online. We need to open our eyes to see the benefits of a virtual power plant that uses largescale and small-scale batteries to augment the grid. These batteries can be tapped when the system is in need. Please be aware that public safety is of paramount importance in the design and implementation of these systems.

Some people believe there is a divide in the Light Department between those who favor traditional methods and those pushing for more environmentally-friendly practices. Do you agree with this view? If so, how would you propose to bring these two sides together?

I honestly believe that this conflict is a fabrication made up to distract people. We all want to do what is best for our town. Plain and simple – everyone knows we have damaged our planet and we all need to come together to achieve our common goals going forward.

CANDIDATES GUIDE

On Tuesday, June 20, voters will have decisions to make in contested races for the Select Board, School Committee, Light Commission, Board of Health, Park and Recreation Commission and the Abbot Public Library Board of Trustees.

To help voters make those decisions, the Marblehead Current has created its 2023 Candidates Guide. Over the next two weeks, candidates in the contested races will provide biographical information and respond to a common set of questions.

Check out the Candidates Guide online at marbleheadcurrent.org for additional voter information resources, including video from the League of Women Voters’ Candidates Nights, provided by our nonprofit news partner, MHTV.

FOR LIGHT COMMISSION

Walter Homan

Candidate for three-year term

Years in Marblehead:

69 years

Occupation/education:

Master Electrical Contractor/OwnerHoman Electric (40+ years); Retired Marblehead Fire Fighter; Coin Electrical School and Marblehead Class of 1973

Appointed positions and/ or elected offices:

Marblehead Electric Light Department

15 years

What are the most significant issues facing the Light Department, and how would you address them if elected?

Currently, staffing is an issue at MMLD, recruiting new linemen, engineers and other essential staff to support the goals of the Light Department.

For years now, there has been an ongoing discussion about the installation of solar panels on public buildings. Do you feel this is a good move? Why or why not?

I would support the installation of Solar panels on public buildings in order to reduce the use of fossil fuels, but also to reduce the risk of rolling brown outs to help alleviate the grid during peak times.

How can the Light Department reduce its dependence on fossil fuels?

We at the MMLD can help reduce its dependency of fossil fuels by research and education of the various renewable energies and how they can best serve the Marblehead rate payers.

Some people believe theres a divide in the Light Department between those who favor traditional methods and those pushing for more environmentally-friendly practices. Do you agree with this view? If so, how would you propose to bring these two sides together?

Unfortunately I do agree with the divide in the Light Department. As with any office that brings two different ideas together there can be a power struggle. However, there is no reason why the two groups can’t be willing and show respect for others’ ideas while sharing the same goals. The goal being the rate payers and how we as the elected officials of the MMLD best serve this town. It is safe to say that we are moving in the direction of sustainable energies, and we need people with the education and knowledge of these energies to help with the education of not just the board members but the townspeople as well.

Adam Smith

Candidate for one-year term

Years in Marblehead:

This will be our fourth summer in Marblehead since moving here in May 2020. We had previously lived on the West Coast but my wife, who grew up in Massachusetts, wanted to be closer to her family who still live here. We weren’t sure where we wanted to settle until we spent a romantic weekend in Marblehead at the Harbor Light Inn. We instantly fell in love with this beautiful place as did our three daughters, who attend three different schools in town.

Education and occupation:

I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in International Relations. I worked at Google for nearly 17 years designing software systems and leading customer digital transformation projects. I recently joined Jasper AI leading business development. Elected/appointed positions:

I have served as a Light Commissioner since last September when I was appointed by the Select Board and Light Commission to fill a vacancy on the board. I am seeking election for the remaining year of my predecessor’s term.

What are the most significant issues facing the Light Dept and how would you address them if elected?

As Light Commissioners, we have a responsibility to make sure the Light Department is prepared to meet the energy challenges of the future – by providing clean and reliable electricity at fair rates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Among our greatest challenges are:

An inadequate infrastructure: I see more electric cars in town every week. In addition, more homeowners are switching to electric heat pumps and mini splits to heat and cool their homes. Our linemen and engineers do a great job caring for every light pole, electric wire, transformer, and substation in town, but they face a distribution system that is dated and not designed to handle an electricity load that is growing at a rate of 2% a year and is expected to double.

Voters need to know that if as few as three electric vehicles are all charging in the same neighborhood, it can overwhelm their local transformer on the pole. New transformers not already in stock currently take over a year to arrive. We need a capital plan to avoid outages and costly surprises for ratepayers.

We just voted to spend $8.7 million dollars to upgrade our nearly 70-year-old main town transformer and switching gear. Because we waited too long to act, it won’t be ready until 2025 and we spent $2 million more than we needed to.

That project depleted most of our capital reserves, and we need to plan now for what might come next. Our new distribution manager noted that we have 15-20 years of deferred maintenance. I and others have pushed for greater public transparency by pushing for a five-year capital needs assessment.

The increasing complexity of the system: Today’s electricity grid runs largely on software, which introduces new technology challenges and cybersecurity risks. Software introduces

Lisa Wolf

Candidate for three-year term

Years in Marblehead:

A fourth generation Marbleheader with family roots dating back to the early 1900s, my husband and I re-settled here in 2016.

Occupation/education:

Master’s degre in environmental engineering. Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Wellesley’s Municipal Light Plant, previously formal and informal science educator; environmental engineer.

Appointed positions and/ or elected offices:

Elected to the Light Commission in 2020; elected vice-chair in 2022. What are the most significant issues facing the Light Department, and how would you address them if elected?

The Light Department is not prepared for the electrification required for Marblehead to reach its net zero carbon emissions goals, due to lack of planning and resistance to inevitable change. The distribution system of poles, wires and transformers suffers from 25+ years of deferred maintenance and is ‘crumbling’ in the words of our new distribution manager. Yet there has been no plan in place to modernize our infrastructure to meet the potential doubling of demand that is predicted. This is penny-wise, pound-foolish policy. We have just now contracted for new primary switchgear and transformers to replace the existing 70-year-old equipment. Waiting until the situation was critical has added $2 million and at least a year delay due to supply chain and inflationary factors.

Since the new majority was elected in July 2022, the Board has begun the work of planning for rebuilding our system to meet present and future demand. To do this work, we need an accurate demand forecast and a 5-year capital maintenance plan. We also need to develop a demand management plan that addresses the high cost and carbon emissions from peak energy use. Customers need to be aware of the impact of the timing of their energy use, and given tools to help manage it. Beefing up the department’s communication channels will be critical to accomplishing this.

For years now, there has been an ongoing discussion about the installation of solar panels on public buildings. Do you feel this is a good move? Why or why not?

I support the installation of solar on public buildings. Adding local renewable energy has many benefits: 1) reduced transmission charges; 2) reduced load on the distribution system; 3) increasing the light department’s renewable energy portfolio;

4) improving energy independence; 5) improving resilience from outages, especially when paired with batteries.

Municipal solar that is developed as community solar is also a great way to accommodate people who for many possible reasons cannot install solar on their own roof, but want to invest in solar and receive the economic benefits.

How can the Light Department reduce its dependence on fossil fuels?

Candidates Guide

FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Paul Baker

Years in Marblehead:

19 years

Occupation/education:

Head of school at Devereux School and Devereux@Waring. Bachelor’s degree in history and English from the University of Alberta, Canada.

Appointed positions and/ or elected offices:

I am coming up on seven years volunteering as a MCCPS Board trustee. During this time, I have served as vice chair and clerk of the board as well as chair of the Governance, Personnel, Communication and Development Committees.

What are the three reasons/issues motivating your decision to run for election?

1. As a new citizen, to be able to give back by volunteering my time and energy within our community.

2. Our administration and staff / faculty need individuals who will listen to, support and advocate for their needs.

3. To, hopefully, leverage the knowledge and experience I have garnered from my time as a trustee at MCCPS.

Is the general override for the $2.5 million supplemental budget going to pass? If it doesn’t, how should the School Committee respond?

Yes! It has to pass. Our town has put off the inevitable and buried our collective heads in the sand. It’s time to pay up. If we don’t pass an override this year, there will be an even larger ask next year. Through our reliance on “Free Cash,” our town has received, in essence, “something for nothing.”

The “Free Cash” has gone and it’s time for all of us to pay our share or face up to the austerity measures that will surely follow. It’s complete madness to continue to practice the same old “tried and true” measures while staring into a financial abyss and yet expect a different outcome.

Should there be a “no” vote, Dr. Buckey, and the current SC have clearly and succinctly laid out the scenario regarding staffing and programming at the building level. Should this unthinkable situation arise, I would fully expect both the town and SC to push for an override in 2024.

What is your understanding of recent trends with respect to parents sending their children to private schools instead of keeping them in Marblehead? If you see this as a problem, how will you address it on the School Committee?

Full disclosure: I was one of those parents. My oldest son, who has ADD, was coming to the end of his sophomore year when Covid hit. He struggled terribly during those last few months of school. We enrolled him at the Waring School where he was able to be in school 50% of the time and then full time for the remainder of his high school years.

The same is true of our younger son, his last few months of third grade were not fulfilling and we were fortunate to enroll him at D@W for 4th/5th grade.

Both schools had much smaller enrollment numbers as well as the staff, flexibility and means to provide, at short notice, what a large district could not. .

I believe that the sheer number of

Sarah Gold

Years in Marblehead:

My husband, two boys and our rescue dogs moved here almost 12 years ago. We chose Marblehead over surrounding communities because we prioritized having a strong public school system to enroll our children in. Both of my boys have had wonderful experiences in the Marblehead Public Schools, which started with their attendance in the Integrated Preschool program and continues today. My eldest boy is now a sophomore at Marblehead High School and my younger is in fifth grade at Village School.

Occupation/education:

I have a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Boston College and am the school counselor for the Tower School, which provides me an invaluable window into the educational world. I worked for the Marblehead Counseling Center for many years as well, specializing in work with children and adolescents. I believe I am uniquely qualified to ensure that the needs of all Marblehead children are addressed and met.

Appointed positions and/ or elected offices:

I have been a member of the Marblehead School Committee for five years and served as chairperson for three of those years.

What are the three reasons/issues motivating your decision to run for election?

For starters, I have enjoyed my time on the School Committee and it has given me significant opportunities for growth. I am excited for the possibility to continue to work with school and town leadership to build the best public schools possible. Additionally, I want to continue to work with administration on the projects that are ongoing. In my time on the School Committee, great strides have been made on the financial responsibility, fidelity and transparency of the school department. Using this to continue to advocate for the ever evolving needs of the schools is of the utmost importance to me. Finally, I strongly believe that leadership positions should be filled with people who are level headed and focused on calm, forwardthinking leadership. I believe this is the way that I have led during my time on the School Committee and would be honored to continue in this way.

Is the general override for the $2.5 million supplemental budget going to pass? If it doesn’t, how should the School Committee respond?

I am very hopeful that the override will pass. The School Committee has passed a budget based on the supplemental override that will allow the school district to keep the current operations of each school building. Should the override fail, there are teachers who will lose their job and programs that will no longer be available for children. I am very hopeful that this does not become a reality. It is catastrophic in my opinion. The School Committee has also passed a budget that delineates the cuts that will happen. There are no additional responses to be had should the override not pass. It will be an incredibly unfortunate situation that will be seen by other communities as a black mark on Marblehead. I believe the schools are the crown of our town.

Brian Ota

Years in Marblehead:

12 years

Occupation/education:

Retired principal

Appointed positions and/ or elected offices:

None.

What are the three reasons/issues motivating your decision to run for election?

After retiring as a special education teacher and a principal, I wanted to continue working in the field of education using my experience to help address and resolve the problems facing our schools today.

Is the general override for the $2.5 million supplemental budget going to pass? If it doesn’t, how should the School Committee respond?

If the override does not pass, we must do two things to address the override failure. First, we must address and confirm and/or update the impact planning already done by the administration and the School Committee (released at the Town Meeting). Secondly, we must do a deep analysis with the voters to understand the exact reasons why the voters rejected the override. This would include town meetings with the voters and surveys (either phone or email). In the past, we always said overrides are not successful and accepted it as a fact. This is no longer an acceptable position and we must understand the true reasons if and why this override fails. If we are to continue to have an excellent school system, we must be able to address and overcome these issues. What is your understanding of recent trends with respect to parents sending their children to private schools instead of keeping them in Marblehead? If you see this as a problem, how will you address it on the School Committee?

Marblehead Public Schools is an excellent school system. We have excellent staff and provide a warm, safe and inviting environment for our students to grow and excel in. All of our buildings are either fully renovated or new constructions. We offer students rigorous and excellent academic and socio/emotional programs. We have state-of- the-art technology in all schools. In our elementary schools, we have always fought for small class sizes which are affected by budget and small class sizes are a big draw for private schools. We must look at student population trends to be able to balance the schools and programs to make sure they remain the viable excellent schools and programs they are.

Many Massachusetts public school districts are doing more to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Is this an important issue in Marblehead? Why has funding for a DEI coordinator and DEI programming been so controversial?

At this time, when we are looking at an override and adding an administrational level diversity coordinator seems unnecessary. When I was the principal at the Glover School, we focused a great deal of time developing and implementing a Positive Behavioral

Jenn Schaeffner

Years in Marblehead:

40 years

Occupation/education:

Graduated Wheaton College in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics/economics. Twenty-three years financial services professional (Fidelity Investments, Bank of America).

Fourteen years real estate business owner on the North Shore: residential investor, developer and property manager.

Appointed positions and/ or elected offices:

Elected Marblehead School Committee: 2016-2020. Served on Budget, Facilities, Policy and Wellness sub-committees. Co-chaired Selection Committees for Student Services director, interim superintendent, permanent superintendent and assistant superintendent. Governor-appointed Commissioner Marblehead Housing Authority: 2022-present.

What are the three reasons/issues motivating your decision to run for election?

I am running for Marblehead School Committee (1) to bring more focus to a rigorous budget process, (2) to provide more transparency for parents and community members regarding the financial and educational administration of the school district and (3) to help maximize student achievement so our children are prepared for the demands of today’s higher education, military and vocational careers. Is the general override for the $2.5 million supplemental budget going to pass? If it doesn’t, how should the School Committee respond?

On the campaign trail, I have spoken to many voters who are concerned about fiscal mismanagement and disarray in the finance department. People are reluctant to permanently increase taxes when there is disorganization and a lack of accountability from town leaders. The school district has been more transparent in reporting budget stressors and priorities and is thus receiving greater support from the people I talk to, but the override request unites school and town needs. If Question 1 does not pass, and I am elected to the School Committee, I will advocate revisiting the school budget presented at Town Meeting. The proposed cuts are almost all student facing staff. We need to revise to focus on non-academic and non-student facing budget items. I will advocate for immediately reviewing the entire budget line by line, taking into account existing student enrollment and focusing on the resources necessary to ensure academic achievement.

What is your understanding of recent trends with respect to parents sending their children to private schools instead of keeping them in Marblehead? If you see this as a problem, how will you address it on the School Committee?

Marblehead families have always had many options beyond the public schools, including a public charter school and many private schools both in Marblehead and throughout the North Shore. Yet the public schools have seen a significant drop in student enrollment, particularly in the last six years. Some of this can be attributed to demographic changes,

operational complexity even for simple tasks like reading the meters for accurate bills. That’s why I supported major software upgrades to ensure accurate meter readings on our bills and faster outage response times.

I worked at Google for almost 17 years and learned first-hand how to ensure safety and privacy in designing software systems. Given that the Light Department has no full time IT staff, I’m committed to using these unique skills to help keep us safe and keep our local distribution system running smoothly.

There has been an ongoing

Wolf

From P. A16

Our portfolio is currently 42% carbon free energy, which is a combination of nuclear, hydro and solar. We also own wind energy, but sell the environmental attributes, referred to as renewable energy credits or RECs, to

From P. A17

private schools in the area, combined with the general wealth per capita of Marblehead residents, will always lead to some families choosing the private option. The relatively recent opening of Penguin Hall, and also St. John’s Prep expanding to 6th grade has further exacerbated the issue. We can attempt to stem the flow by making sure that our administration and our faculty have the funding and tools they need to provide the best education possible.

Gold

From P. A17

Cutting services, especially to the schools, is not what keeps a town vibrant and thriving.

What is your understanding of recent trends with respect to parents sending their children to private schools instead of keeping them in Marblehead?

If you see this as a problem, how will you address it on the School Committee?

As someone who works for a private school, I believe the decision on where to send your child/children to school is deeply personal and reflects many different factors that can change through childhood. I also believe deeply in a strong public school system. This is why I continue to want to be a part of the School

From P. A17

Interventions and Support Program (PBIS) that stresses acceptance of others and personal responsibility to do so. It is an excellent program

Schaeffner

From P. A17

but we also must consider the fact that families are opting for alternatives because our public schools are not meeting their children’s needs. Statistics from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education show that comparable districts such as Belmont, Hingham, Needham and Andover are outperforming Marblehead in academic results.

Marblehead must offer a superior academic education with strong co-curricular activities that together offer an all-around

discussion about the installation of solar panels on public buildings. Do you feel this is a good move? Why or why not?

I support more rooftop solar on schools, municipal buildings, homes and businesses to reduce electric rates for everyone by making Marblehead more energy independent and avoiding costly transmission charges to bring electricity into town from outside sources. We should design incentives that are equitable for all Marblehead residents and promote the townwide benefits of adoption. I am currently leading our efforts to put solar on the roof of the new Brown School, which will be our first utility-scale “made in

investor-owned utilities that need our RECs to meet their clean energy requirements.

If we stopped selling the RECs, our portfolio would be 47% carbon-free. Our plan to reach the State mandated 50% carbon-free by 2030 includes adding nuclear, adding solar on municipal buildings, and we’re counting on offshore wind before the end of the

Many Massachusetts public school districts are doing more to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Is this an important issue in Marblehead? Why has funding for a DEI coordinator and DEI programming been so controversial?

Sadly, a DEI coordinator is a must for our, and all, school districts. It’s definitely an important issue in Marblehead.

I believe the controversy around DEI programming and the hiring of a DEI coordinator to be centered around our schools’ budget issues. Our administration has emphasized and recommended that a DEI

Committee. Support for our teachers is the best way to ensure that public schools remain strong. Teachers are being asked to do more than ever within their classroom environment. Small classroom sizes, adequate funding for resources, support staff for students in need and compassionate administrators are important factors for teachers to feel equipped to effectively educate children today. There are aspects of each of those points that the School Committee can have an impact on. Over the past five years I have focused on these pieces and they will continue to be important keys to building an exemplary public school system for Marblehead.

Many Massachusetts public school districts are doing more to promote Diversity,

that is worked on daily. If we want a district level diversity coordinator to oversee the district, funding should come from grants and not the operational budget, otherwise this role should be assumed by an existing district administrator.

high-quality education. It is only in this way that we can fulfill our responsibilities to students and families and attract more of them to stay in town and attend Marblehead Public Schools.

Many Massachusetts public school districts are doing more to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Is this an important issue in Marblehead? Why has funding for a DEI coordinator and DEI programming been so controversial?

We have many pressing needs and interests in our school district competing for a finite budget.

Marblehead” solar project which we hope to replicate at the High School after their new roof is done.

How can the Light Department reduce its dependence on fossil fuels?

The era of “going green without going in the red” is over. Our rates went up last winter in direct correlation with the cost of gas, which makes up over 50% of our current energy portfolio and has ongoing supply constraints that are driving up prices. I voted to buy more non-carbon emitting nuclear power from the Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant starting in 2030 and will continue to look

decade. Due to a recently resolved dispute over bringing hydro through Maine, that may also become available soon. There’s much more uncertainty projecting to 2040, but one thing we know will be very important is demand management technology. Shifting demand away from peak demand hours will be very important as we have learned

coordinator should be hired. So too has the Marblehead Racial Justice Team. However, it would appear that the optics of hiring for an additional “administrative position” concurrently with proposed personnel cuts at the building level was a step too far. When the override passes, and if I am elected, I will advocate for a DEI coordinator to be hired for the next academic year.

There’s a perception in town that there are “factions” on the School Committee. Is this accurate and, if it is, what can be done to make the SC more harmonious and effective? Generally speaking, there are

Equity and Inclusion. Is this an important issue in Marblehead? Why has funding for a DEI coordinator and DEI programming been so controversial?

For me, DEI should not be the controversial issue it is made out to be. Its main target should be for all students to feel positive and ready to learn when they come to school. DEI is not about making some students feel bad at the expense of others. One story that spoke to me about the benefits of DEI being a focus in school districts was from a district similar in demographics to Marblehead. They noticed that their high school boys were underperforming on the MCAS compared to the girls. They focused their DEI work on identifying why the boys were doing poorly and addressed the achievement gap. The

There’s a perception in town that there are “factions” on the School Committee. Is this accurate and, if it is, what can be done to make the SC more harmonious and effective?

All forms of government offices are facing complex and

Parents have prioritized the need to recover from extensive learning loss since the COVID pandemic. Marblehead school staff have already and will continue to emphasize the importance of treating everyone fairly, being kind and listening with respect to those who have different viewpoints. The staff, administration and School Committee must also model the behavior we expect from our children to continue to promote a culture of acceptance and thoughtfulness.

There’s a perception in town that there are “factions” on the School Committee. Is this

proactively for all economically sound opportunities to minimize our exposure to fossil fuels and their associated price fluctuations and health risks. In addition, we need to get ahead of state mandates to have 50% of our electricity come from non-carbon sources by 2030 to avoid costly penalties for non-compliance.

Some people believe there is a divide in the Light Department between those who favor traditional methods and those pushing for more environmentally-friendly practices. Do you agree with this view? If so, how would you propose to bring these two sides together?

from the controversial Peabody Peaker Plant.

Some people believe there’s a divide in the Light Department between those who favor traditional methods and those pushing for more environmentally-friendly practices. Do you agree with this view? If so, how would you propose to bring these

always going to be factions on committees, and especially so within smaller committees. I truly believe that a committee can be both harmonious and effective with a greater number of members. At MCCPS, a minimum of nine/maximum of 15 trustees is mandated in the bylaws. I have shared the table with as many as 13 fellow trustees during my seven years and although factions have “evolved,” the Board has, mostly, remained respectful and effective.

As evidenced by the seat unfortunately vacated by Emily Barron, I don’t believe it to be a “best practice” to have only five members. The remaining

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is continually putting forward educational requirements regarding DEI that districts must meet. If Marblehead Public Schools choose not to fund some kind of a coordinator position, these mandates from DESE will have to be addressed by current employees of the school district, who already have full job descriptions to attend to. All of that said, there are many areas of need within Marblehead Public Schools and balancing those needs to the full benefit of kids and teachers is of the utmost importance.

There’s a perception in town that there are “factions” on the School Committee. Is this accurate and, if it is, what can be done to make the SC more harmonious and effective?

difficult problems to resolve.

Sadly, there is a climate of distrust that is growing between voters and their elected officers. There is a great deal of polarization within government officials that must be recognized and resolved. The key is to foster

accurate and, if it is, what can be done to make the SC more harmonious and effective?

I have spent my career collaborating, interfacing, and contributing with team members to successfully reach goals. It requires patience, understanding, professionalism and self-regulation on the part of all members. I will be focused on the tasks and goals while working to connect on a personal level. That is a sentiment I live by and have found to be fruitful in my personal and professional life. different viewpoints. The staff, administration and School

Everyone on the board is welcome to contribute their opinions and work towards a common goal. What frustrates me is the lack of willingness on the part of some to participate in the discourse and acknowledge that these changes are already happening whether one personally supports them or even believes that the climate crisis is real. Storms are stronger, summers are hotter, and more electric vehicles are showing up every day. These aren’t green policies. This is the new normal. We can’t sit idly by and watch these things happen to us. We need to have the resources and the will to protect our town for whatever the future holds.

two sides together?

That is a false divide. If I am on one-side of a divide I would describe it as a team of active, engaged commissioners looking for the most equitable, economic, science-based pathway forward to meet our carbon-emissions reduction goals. I don’t know what the other side is.

members were split between filling her seat or soldiering on with four members. In effect, this left our school committee at an impasse during a critical time (think budget, high school principal, assistant principal) and was not resolved until the appointment of Tom Mathers as an interim member in late February. Personally, I would advocate for a seven-person School Committee. Aside from minimizing the possibility of factions forming, a seven-person School Committee would allow for work to continue should a member, or two, have emergencies/fall ill/vacations/ family events etc.

I strongly believe that the narrative of factions of the School Committee have been grossly overblown and dramatized by negativity on social media. It is frustrating when any board is criticized for rubber stamping business but then also criticized when there is a healthy (if heated) public conversation about matters within their purview. When the School Committee makes decisions, it becomes one voice. Sometimes that voice reflects what I believe to be the best way forward and sometimes it does not. I believe that each member comes to the table with the best of intentions and a desire to do good work. Continuing forward with that mindset will contribute to a well functioning committee and will set a productive tone for a strong public school system.

open, civil discussions on the issues. The School Committee must continue the work they are doing to make their process open and collaborative. My goal if elected to continue to build this collaborative work environment.

Committee must also model the behavior we expect from our children to continue to promote a culture of acceptance and thoughtfulness.

I have spent my career collaborating, interfacing, and contributing with team members to successfully reach goals. It requires patience, understanding, professionalism and self- regulation on the part of all members. I will be focused on the tasks and goals while working to connect on a personal level. That is a sentiment I live by and have found to be fruitful in my personal and professional life.

Candidates Guide

FOR BOARD OF HEALTH

David Becker

Years in Marblehead:

Grew up in Marblehead since 1955

Occupation/education:

Marblehead Public Schools, senior class president in 1968; Harvard School of Dental Medicine, D.M.D., Cum Laude; and Harvard School of Public Health, M.P.H.

Appointed positions and/or elected offices: Elected to Marblehead Board of Health, 1990-2009; editor-in-chief, Journal of the Massachusetts Dental Society 2004-present; and trustee, Massachusetts Dental Society 2006-2013.

What are the three reasons/issues motivating your decision to run for election?

I want to be in the front lines to try to reduce the problem of mental health issues.

I want to embrace the opportunity to be a part of the Transfer Station project’s completion.

I want to initiate a program that would help families to navigate resources to mitigate stress.

Some would say that the Board of Health has lacked transparency in recent years. Is this criticism valid? Fair or unfair, how do you dispel this perception?

Transparency is the focus of discussions in all aspects of government. From what I see, the Board of Health fulfills that obligation with the fact that all meetings are open and hybrid. The Board members and administration are available for access to the public. I have always been open, honest and accessible. Decisions that affect the health and welfare of our town have to be publicized. It is important to educate the public by such means as the website, by holding forums and through the media.

What are the most significant issues facing the Board of Health, and how would you address them if elected?

People move to Marblehead because of its history of providing services to benefit our neighbors. The Board of Health’s main purpose is to protect the health and safety of Marbleheaders, and during the pandemic, we should all be grateful that its policies saved so many lives. As a Board, we should always be vigilant and prepared for the next pandemic because viruses do mutate. It is better to be prepared and hope that it does not occur.

When we think of “public health,” we tend to think about disease and other impacts on our physical condition, but awareness has been growing about the importance of our psychological well-being as well. How can the Board of Health be a force for improving the collective mental health of Marblehead?

Our town has seen a major increase in anxiety and mental health issues of our residents (especially our children). I am sure it can be traced back to the pandemic, but it should now continue to be a focus of the Board. We have a wonderful facility in our Marblehead Counseling Center, but they are overwhelmed. So I propose that we advocate and search for the availability of more grants over and above the ARPA money that has already been allocated.

I am sure that these anxiety and mental health issues have also contributed to the deterioration in how we relate to each other. We should work to find what solutions and help we can access.

I think it would be beneficial to have seminars on the way we all should use social media to benefit each other’s interactions.

There seems to be a bit of public distrust around the Transfer Station project. What would you do to address that?

We need to educate the public about the history and evolution of the project. In order to serve the town properly, leadership has to be able to adapt to whatever is thrown at them. I was on the Board when we were mandated by the DEP to cap the landfill. After Town Meeting and the voters approved an override to cover state mandates, remediation costs skyrocketed

Thomas Massaro

Years in Marblehead:

1 year

Occupation:

Retired physician, engineer and health care executive

Education:

Several advanced degrees from MIT, Cornell, University of California at Berkeley, University of Wisconsin at Madison, University of Colorado and Stanford University Graduate school of Business. Appointed positions and/or elected offices:

New Mexico Department of Health (2017-2022) as chief medical officer, regional public health officer, state school health officer. Southwest Virginia Regional Health Authority (2016-19): lead consultant for defining an $80M public health package. University of Botswana (2007-2012): founding dean, UB School of Medicine. University of Virginia (1981-2007): Harrison Foundation professor of medicine and law, academic appointments in school of medicine (pediatrics, public health sciences), law school, and business school chief of staff of UVA Health System. What are the three reasons/issues motivating your decision to run for election?

1. I would like to be an active, contributing citizen in my new hometown by sharing my knowledge and experience in public health.

2. As a recently retired physician, I will have the time and the capacity to dig deeper into some of the issues requiring Board attention here.

3. I have the potential to be an agent of positive change. I just might be the right person at the right time for this Board. Recent Board meetings have apparently been quite heated. I believe effective leaders work at shaping the future more than they spend time criticizing the past. As a new member with no preexisting relationships or biases, I can encourage the Board to move beyond yesterday’s tensions, to focus on the policies and decisions needed today and to develop a logical and positive vision for tomorrow. Some would say that the Board of Health has lacked transparency in recent years. Is this criticism valid? Fair or unfair, how do you dispel this perception?

As a newcomer, I am not able to judge the Board’s previous actions. In the meetings I have attended, the Board has met the published requirements for transparency. However, knowing that many residents still do not believe they get enough information to make reasonable judgements about our decisions, perhaps more could be done. In public health, it is virtually impossible to over-communicate. If elected, I will work to get more information out to as many people in as many ways as possible.

What are the most significant issues facing the Board of Health, and how would you address them if elected?

The potential public health agenda is large but there are resource constraints on its possible actions. My response would be the Board should consider partnering with other agencies and departments to amplify its impact. I am a pediatrician concerned about the health of children. In New Mexico, I was a major contributor to a program in the child protective services area designed to protect newborns exposed to harmful substances in utero. It helped the infants by helping their moms who were using drugs. It was ultimately approved by unanimous vote of both houses of the legislature. I was also the state school health officer. We wrote a grant that brought $10 million to the Public Education Department for improvement of mental health services in the public schools. We should also reach out to the Council on Aging to see what common issues there might be regarding the health of seniors as well. There should be funding available for multidisciplinary projects like those.

Also, there should be increased emphasis on behavioral health and substance abuse.

Finally, the Transfer Station See my response below. When we think of “public health,” we tend to think about disease and other impacts on our

Thomas McMahon

Years in Marblehead:

I’m 41 years old and grew up in Marblehead. Outside of attending college in Colorado and spending short times living in Boston and Salem in my late 20s/30s, I’ve lived in Marblehead most of my life.

Occupation/education:

I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder where I double majored in economics and history and I am currently a VP in investment management data quality at Morgan Stanley.

Appointed positions and/or elected offices:

As far as town governance, this would be my first and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to serve the community I’ve loved my whole life.

What are the three reasons/issues motivating your decision to run for election?

I need to bring honesty and transparency back to the community and I believe I can do this through the Board of health. I want to complete the Transfer Station in the right away which includes full transparency from the public and letting the residents decide on the completion design after the past failures. I want to bring a new approach to handling substance abuse in town especially with our youth as the current strategies clearly aren’t working. Lastly, I want to help the Marblehead Counseling Center to alleviate the current backlog of residents currently looking for mental health assistance — a backlog which is comprised of roughly 70% local youths.

Some would say that the Board of Health has lacked transparency in recent years. Is this criticism valid? Fair or unfair, how do you dispel this perception?

It is a 100% fair criticism. It was evident during the 2022 mandates when the Board would not provide local businesses with the metrics used so they could anticipate future mandates. It’s clear every time they don’t answer the question, “Where did the transfer station money go?” It was on display last summer when the Transfer Station committee held meetings at 1 p.m. mid-week which limited public participation/ knowledge. But most notably is their recent decision to change the policy during public comment to not allow any comments from the public. If perception is the reality, I plan to change that through full transparency.

What are the most significant issues facing the Board of Health, and how would you address them if elected?

The most significant issues currently are the completion of the Transfer Station project, substance abuse and mental health. I can address the Transfer Station below. For substance abuse, we need to educate the youth on the tragedies we’ve seen in town. Rather than hire anonymous traveling speakers, I would establish a program where families of local victims could speak to students. I was that public school student in this town and we didn’t think these tragedies happen here. Local speakers would help amplify the message that Marblehead is not immune, would show the local pain when this happens and also keep the memory alive of those we’ve lost. This approach only works for the youth though and I’ve received enthusiasm and support from some of the families subject to these tragedies. With the older generation, they know the stakes and take the risks. I’d like to provide fentanyl test strips that could be picked up free of charge and anonymously. If we can’t stop the older generation from using at least we could stop them from dying. For mental health, the Board needs to better support the Marblehead Counseling Center by dedicating as much funds as possible but also doing a much better job of promoting and attending their fundraising events. When we can’t give money we need to find creative ways to assist, such as promoting physical health within our local facilities as we are learning more and more that a healthy body can assist with developing a healthy mind.

When we think of “public health,” we tend to think about disease and other impacts on our

Spring & summer programs for seniors

All programs are held at the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center, 10 Humphrey St., unless otherwise stated. For more information or to RSVP for programs, call 781-631-6225 or email councilonaging@marblehead.org

Are you an artist?

If you need help with the online registration for exhibits at the Marblehead Festival of Arts, come to the COA on Thursdays, June 1, 10 a.m. to noon; and June 15, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Festival representatives will help you. Bring information about your artwork and a credit card to pay for entry. Visit marbleheadfestival.org/ artistapplication to review what is required to register. Do not bring your artwork to the COA. Festival reps will also discuss volunteer opportunities.

Juneteenth

The COA is closed on June 19 to mark this federal holiday.

Election day June 20

All COA classes are canceled on election day. Transportation to polling places is available.

Speaker Series

The COA Speaker series continues Friday, June 21, at 12:30 p.m., with Mike Michaud, fleet captain at the Boston Yacht Club. Michaud will discuss the history and importance of Marblehead’s sailing tradition. RSVP by June 16.

Movie days

Enjoy movies at the COA. On Friday, June 9 at 10 a.m., watch “23 Walks,” the heartwarming comedy drama about finding love later in life.

Then on Friday, June 23, at 10 a.m., watch “Young@Heart,” a documentary based on the Young@Heart Chorus, a group of New England senior citizens who perform worldwide. RSVP.

June Book Club

This month, the COA is reading “Fellowship Point” by Alice Elliott Dark. This is a longer book, so the plan is to split the book into thirds and meet three Wednesdays, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The dates are June 7 and 21, and July 5.

McMahon

From P. A19

physical condition, but awareness has been growing about the importance of our psychological wellbeing as well. How can the Board of Health be a force for improving the collective mental health of Marblehead?

As mentioned before, we

Massaro

From P. A19

physical condition, but awareness has been growing about the importance of our psychological wellbeing as well. How can the Board of Health be a force for improving the collective mental health of Marblehead?

Behavioral health and substance abuse are two

Need a laugh?

Come hear comedian Johnny Pizzi on June 27, at 1 p.m. Pizzi has been entertaining audiences for more than 30 years around the country and overseas. RSVP by June 21.

iPhone photos

KevTech returns on June 7 at 11 a.m. with his popular class, “Taking & Organizing Photos on Your iPhone.” You’ll learn more about your iPhone’s camera app and explore the types of photos you can take. You’ll also discuss how to organize photos in favorites and albums. $20. Register ahead.

Boat and water safety

Harbormaster Mark Souza will come speak about boat and water safety on June 14, at 11:30 a.m. Register ahead.

Support group

Have you lost a loved one or partner recently? Come to the COA support group on Friday, June 16, 10 a.m.

Guess who’s coming to dinner

Join COA Outreach Coordinator Sharon Doliber and Stacey McCarthy on Wednesday, June 21, at 5:30 p.m. The group may meet at the picnic bench at Devereux if the weather cooperates. RSVP.

Flying solo

Join Sharon and this caregiver support group on Tuesday, June 27, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. RSVP by June 23.

Lunch at the COA

Lunch is offered on Tuesdays at noon for $3. The meals are prepared in the Council on Aging’s commercial kitchen. These lunches are supported by The Friends of the Council on Aging.

Grab-n-go lunches

Grab-n-go lunches are offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Council on Aging. Pick-up time is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reservations must be made the Thursday before.

Traveling Chef

Enjoy a special lunch by the Traveling Chef on Friday, June 23 at noon. There will be no

need to better promote the Counseling Center, assist with fundraising and direct as much of the Board’s funds to the Counseling Center as possible until we relieve the current backlog. We also need to get creative when money isn’t an option such as promoting physical health which I believe supports mental health. I was the insecure kid growing up and when I discovered health

of the hottest topics in the post-pandemic public health environment. The Board can and should be a major force in this area. The Behavioral Health Subcommittee is a great initial attempt at dealing with the issue. Communication about the extent of mental health problems in society is important. Efforts to destigmatize the seeking of assistance for mental health problems should be

Becker

From P. A19

when our engineering contractor discovered greater than expected contamination on the site and in abutting properties, including

grab-n-go lunch that day. RSVP by June 6.

It’s Bocce season

The season has started. Games are played at the COA on Mondays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The Friday Travel Team plays at 10 a.m. and noon. Cost is $15 for the season. Sign up at the front office. Contact pbibbo@aol.com for more information.

Trips & Tours

The COA is planning several trips and tours this spring and summer, including a luncheon and Texas Tenors concert at the Danversport Yacht Club on Tuesday, June 23; and a Montreal-Quebec trip July 18-21. For more information and to sign up, call Janice at 781-631-6225.

Coffee with a Cop

Join Chief Dennis King or someone else from the Marblehead Police Department to discuss community concerns. Fridays at 8:30 a.m.

Blood Pressure Clinic

Drop-in blood pressure clinic on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon.

Fitness Center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Passes can be purchased for $10 for five visits.

New! Tap & jazz classes

On Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. This two-hour program will keep you moving. You can also attend just tap at 8:30 a.m. or just jazz at 9:30 a.m. $5.00

Tai Chi/Qigong

Tai Chi/Qigong is an excellent form of exercise for low-impact strengthening, stress relief, balance and flexibility. Qigong is an ancient Chinese system that combines breathing, movement and meditation to cultivate health and wellbeing. Thursdays at 1 p.m. $5.

and fitness my world changed. I have more confidence now that I ever did as a child. I don’t think I’m unique and I think people of all ages could have similar results. We also need to promote community involvement which will give residents a better feeling of belonging and importance.

There seems to be a bit of public distrust around the

paramount. The Board supports the Counseling Center, but behavioral health providers are in short supply everywhere. The Board could help by determining if the reimbursements for those providing care to vulnerable populations are competitive.

To have a meaningful impact, the Board or its subcommittee will need significant additional resources. This is a great platform for seeking additional funding perhaps in collaboration

Chair Volleyball

Chair Volleyball is now at the COA on Wednesdays and Fridays, 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Muscle Conditioning

Senior Muscle Conditioning with Kim is on Mondays and Fridays at 9 a.m and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Cost is $3.

Stay Active North Shore Physical Therapy runs an osteo class on Mondays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. There’s also Balance and Mobility with Mary Manning on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Each class is $3.

Zumba Gold

Zumba Gold classes are held on Wednesdays at noon. It is a lower-intensity dance class inspired by Latin and world music.

Parkinson’s Fitness

The Parkinson’s Fitness class is free on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Specifically developed for folks with Parkinson’s disease but appropriate for all, this class focuses on strength, mobility and balance. The program is paid for by the Friends of the Council on Aging.

Indoor Curling

Indoor curling takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

No experience is necessary for this indoor sport. Instructions on how to play the game will be available at every session. Yearly fee is $15. Contact pbibbo@aol. com with questions.

Stretch & Strength

The Council on Aging offers a Strength & Stretch class on Mondays at 11:30 a.m. and Thursdays at 11 a.m. Cost is $3.

Step it Up

Karen Jancsy leads this lowimpact movement and muscle conditioning class on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8 a.m.

Weight Training

A Weight Training class is held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:45 a.m. Cost is $3.

Yoga with Evie

This yoga class is held on

Transfer Station project. What would you do to address that?

The residents were twice promised a particular Transfer Station that would be “future proof” regarding increased regulations and keep us revenue generating. This is not theTransfer Station we are getting. We need to present the residents with the two options for completion and let the residents decide how

Mondays at 9 a.m., Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. and Thursdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

Chair Yoga

Gail Perry Borden teaches Chair Yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m. Cost is $3.

Line Dancing

Kate Hoffman teaches Line Dancing on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The first hour is focused on beginners; however, all are welcome and encouraged to participate. Cost is $5.

Quilting

Learn how to quilt in this class on Thursdays at 10 a.m. Cost is $5 per class.

Knitting Group

Drop-in knitting is Thursdays at 9 a.m.

Cribbage

Cribbage is held on Tuesdays. Doors close at 9:30 a.m.

Mahjong

Play mahjong Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

I Love Bridge

This advanced bridge instruction class meets Mondays, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $5. Drop-in bridge is on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Canasta

Canasta is now at the COA on Thursdays and Fridays, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Learn more about insurance

Trained SHINE counselors offer free, unbiased, confidential counseling on all aspects of Medicare and related insurance programs. Appointments are available at the COA. Call 781-631-6225.

Get a senior Charlie Card

People who are 65 years or older are eligible for reduced MBTA fares with a senior Charlie Card. These cards are valid for eight years. Call Nadine Lepick at 781-631-6225 Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to ask questions or make an appointment to process an application. Cards can also be reloaded with cash on any bus.

to proceed rather than the Board. Each design comes with financial costs, consequences and benefits. It’s not fair to have a Board who failed this project with little to no transparency on what went wrong and move forward with making the decisions on how we complete it. The decision needs to be made by the residents on a ballot with full transparency.

conservation land. Because of the due diligence of the Board of Health, the additions had to be addressed and had to be covered by the approved funds. An attempt was made to get more funds so that the project could go on with the original

design, but this subsequent override was not passed by the voters. I admire how well the Board and its administrator have been able to devise a recovery plan with existing funds that will still be able to provide a functioning facility

with other regional jurisdictions, universities and/or nor-profits.

There seems to be a bit of public distrust around the Transfer Station project. What would you do to address that?

The Transfer Station is an important resource for the community, but it also seems to be the area where a perceived lack of transparency is great. Based on my personal research, there is not a readily available

and a modern building for the employees. Marblehead will still have a modern Transfer Station that provides great service for its residents and still will provide service for local commercial use. It is and will be the envy of many communities that do not

and uniformly accepted set of “facts” out there covering the lifetime of this project. That seems to support the transparency concerns and could amplify the potential for disinformation. If elected and if there are no legal or procedural barriers, I would take responsibility for generating a report on the entire history of the project to try to address the concerns and minimize the distrust.

have this kind of facility. I know this will be a facility that makes the community proud. Being a Board member, your purpose is not to find fault for everything, your responsibility is to find solutions.

OBITUARY

Gloria Gutwirth, 90

Gloria Wright Gutwirth, 90, left behind the many who loved her on May 10, 2023. The daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Edgar Wright, she was raised in Beverly and resided for many years in Marblehead before moving to Naples, Florida.

She is survived by her beloved companion, Carmine Palumbo, and his daughter, Marie Goetz. She was dear “Auntie Glo” and loved by Bruce Dallas, Linda Wigglesworth, Donna Noble, Dana Dobrenchuk, Heather Dallas, and her many great and great-grand nieces and nephews. Her beloved nephew, Greg Dobrenchuk, predeceased her.

Gloria received her BA in sociology and psychology from

LIBRARY HAPPENINGS

McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and was offered a scholarship there to pursue her master’s degree. Instead, she chose to broaden her horizons by moving to England when offered an opportunity to study anthropology and ethnology at the London School of

Economics. Her first career was working as an anthropologist at the Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology at Harvard University.

She continued her studies at Radcliffe College, where she earned her first master’s degree and was a Ph.D. candidate in philology. She taught Latin and Greek at the Winsor School in Boston and St. Edmunds Academy in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Her second master’s degree was received from Boston University School of Public Health. The governor of Massachusetts twice appointed Gloria to the Division of Registration, Allied Health Services. She was also a field supervisor in nutrition for the Family Health Services Division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Gloria also served as director

for the Maine and New York

locations of the Institute for Gravitational Pathology for three years. For 17 years, she was a Realtor in Marblehead and affiliated with HunnemanColdwell Banker Realty prior to her retirement.

She was a member of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, North Shore Association of Realtors, Radcliffe Club, American Public Health Association and Glover Landing Condominium Trust Committee.

Gloria was the widow of Marc R. Gutwirth, Ph.D., Harvard University. She was the editor and compiler of his thoughts and philosophical musings, posthumously published in “The Essence is to Question.”

Her passion was reading. Experiencing anything new brought her joy, and she enjoyed traveling. Some of her many other interests included fine

art, languages, music, theater and ballet. She herself was an accomplished pianist. Laughter was her best medicine. She treasured her family and her friends.

Gloria will be greatly missed by all those she touched with her heart, her loving and caring spirit, and her curious mind. She was a teacher with wisdom to share and a lifelong learner herself. Her beauty was inner, as well as outer, and she truly did “Glo.” Her life was a symphony of love and light, kindness, compassion and caring thoughtfulness.

With special thanks to Syndia, her devoted caregiver, for taking such good, loving care of her in these later years.

A family service is scheduled in Naples, Florida. Arrangements are by Hodges Funeral Home, Naples Memorial Gardens, Naples.

June schedule at Abbot Public Library

All Abbot Public Library programs take place inside the public library’s temporary location at the Eveleth School, 3 Brook Rd. To register for programs, visit abbotlibrary.org.

New digs

The Abbot Public Library is temporarily located at the Eveleth School, 3 Brook Rd., while its Pleasant Street building undergoes a multi-million-dollar renovation. Library hours are the following:

» Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

» Thursday: Noon to 6 p.m.

» Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

» Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

» Sunday: Closed.

Note: The Children’s Room closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. Returns are accepted inside the library in the blue bin near the main desk or, if the library is closed, outside its main entrance in the black Library Return bin. Book donations are only accepted on Book Donation Days.

For updates on the renovations, visit abbotlibrary. org/news/renovation-news.Sign up for the library’s newsletter at tinyurl.com/Abbot-News.

Fines no more

Abbot Public Library is now fine-free. Visit abbotlibrary.org/ about/general-info to learn more about borrowing materials and to get a library card.

Tech and misc. things

The library offers Book Club Kits, Chromebooks, hotspots and more in its Library of Things. Visit abbotlibrary.org/ what-we-offer/library-of-things to learn more.

Need to use a copier?

Abbot Public Library does not charge a fee per page, but it asks that patrons contribute what they wish when copying. Funds will be donated to The Friends of Abbot Public Library.

Get your museum on Visit abbotlibrary.org/whatwe-offer/get-a-museum-pass to reserve passes and promo codes for some of the best museums in the greater Boston area.Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of Abbot Public Library, the library offers passes and promo codes to:

Boston Children’s Museum

Harvard Art Museums

» The House of the Seven Gables

» The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston

» Isabella Stewart Gardner

Museum Museum of Fine Arts

Museum of Science

» New England Aquarium

(now a digital promo code)

Peabody Essex Museum

Trustees Go Pass

» Zoo New England Patrons without access to the internet may reserve a pass/ promo code right at the main desk or by calling 781-631-1481, though some passes may require an email address to be used.

‘Find Your Voice’ kicks off June 10

Abbot Public Library’s summer reading program, “Find Your Voice,” launches Saturday, June 10,and ends Friday, Aug. 18. It is open to all age groups and aims to encourage readers to explore stories.

Librarians have created thematic book lists for readers of all ages. These book lists are available in various formats, including traditional books, e-books and e-audio.

Organizers say reading during the summer months helps children develop a love for independent reading and strengthens their literacy skills. The library offers programs, book recommendations and resources to support readers.

Teenagers can make a pledge to read three books, while children aged 6 and younger can participate in a structured program that involves keeping reading logs. Books listed in the Marblehead schools summer reading lists will be available for checkout at the library in late June.

To mark the beginning of the summer reading program, a kickoff celebration will be held on Saturday, June 10. The timeline of events are as follows:

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., crafts and toys for children

Children are invited to visit the Children’s Room to sign up for our summer reading incentive program or borrow books. They can also enjoy coloring activities and play with a variety of toys provided.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friends of Abbot Public Library book sale

The Friends of Abbot Public Library will be hosting a book sale, offering a wide selection of books and library merchandise at discounted prices. Take advantage of this opportunity to stock up on reading materials and support the library.

» 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., outdoor activities

Join fun outdoor activities including lawn games, temporary tattoos and chalk drawing. Representatives from the Council on Aging, Sustainable Marblehead and Marblehead Schools Parent Council will be available to provide information and engage with attendees.

10:30 a.m., musical story time with Rockabye Beats (for ages 3-5)

Join Shon Gordon of Rockabye

Beats for an interactive and entertaining musical story time session. Children aged 3 to 5 can sing, play instruments, dance and explore the world of music together. Visit rockabyebeats. com for more information.

» Noon to 2 p.m., Shubie’s snacks Grab a delicious snack from Shubie’s Snacks to refuel and satisfy your hunger during the event. Enjoy a wide range of tasty options available.

» 1 p.m., ‘It’s Just a Rug’ by Jodi-Tatiana Charles Marblehead author JodiTatiana Charles will read her picture book, “It’s Just a Rug,” which celebrates diversity and culture. Children up to age 12 can participate in an engaging activity related to the book, fostering a love for reading and appreciation for different backgrounds.

2 p.m., Dan Blakeslee music for the whole family

Experience the enchanting music of Dan Blakeslee, a talented folk troubadour. With a blend of folk and country sounds, his performance will captivate the whole family. Visit danblakeslee.com for more information about his music.

» 2:30 p.m., Terry’s Ice Cream Truck

End the summer reading kickoff on a sweet note by indulging in ice cream treats from Terry’s Ice Cream Truck.

Community Cleanup at Abbot Public Library

Abbot Public Library is hosting a community cleanup event outside the library at Eveleth School from Monday, June 5, to Friday, June 9, between noon and 5 p.m. Residents are encouraged to join as volunteers to help with litter cleanup and tidying the outdoor areas.

Visit the Main Desk inside between noon and 5 p.m. on Monday, June 5, through Friday, June 9, to pick up a free pet bag dispenser while supplies last.

Open lab

Abbot Public Library invites the community to participate in the Open Lab program held at the Program Room of Abbot Public Library at Eveleth School. The sessions will take place on Mondays, specifically June 5, 12, and 26, with a drop-in format available from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. This interactive program provides an opportunity for individuals to explore and engage with various technology resources.

‘The Roots of Evil’ lecture

Clinical psychologist

Evan Longin will discuss his book, “The Roots of Evil - A Postmodern Exploration of the Unintended Consequences of Civilization,” at Abbot Public

Library’s Program Room on Wednesday, June 7, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join Longin as he explores the complexities of evil and its impact on society, providing insights on overcoming these challenges. Registration is required. Register at tinyurl.com/ Roots-of-Evil-Book-Talk.

Online safety

Robin Putnam from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation in Boston will lead a Consumer Protection Series on Online Safety at Abbot Public Library’s Program Room at Eveleth School and online via Zoom. The event will take place on Monday, June 12, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Join Putnam as she educates attendees on safe practices when using smart devices, social media, online banking, and how to identify phishing emails and scams that may result in identity theft. The presentation will also provide information about the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Registration is required to attend either in person or via Zoom. Please register at tinyurl.com/ Abbot-online-safety.

Adult crafternoon:

Summer Canvas Bag

Abbot Public Library will host an Adult Crafternoon event at the Program Room in Eveleth School on Wednesday, June 14, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants are invited to decorate a canvas bag for the summer using materials provided by the library.

Registration is required for this free event, and spots are limited to ten people. To register, visit tinyurl.com/canvas-bag-craft.

Midday Movie Matinee

Abbot Public Library’s Midday Movie Matinee for adults will take place on Saturday, June 17, at 1 p.m. The event will be held at the Program Room of Abbot Public Library at Eveleth School. Enjoy a movie screening based on a New York Times bestseller. To discover the featured movie, visit the library’s website at tinyurl.com/June-2023-MovieMatinee or call 781-631-1481.

Registration is required to attend, so sign up at tinyurl.com/ June-2023-Movie-Matinee.

Adult Book Club via Zoom

Join the Adult Book Club via Zoom on Tuesday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This monthly book club, led by a library staff member, offers an opportunity to discuss highly recommended titles. The selected book for June is “Mad Honey” by Jodi Picoult, and copies are available in the Reference Room. To participate, registration is required in advance at tinyurl.com/

June-2023-Zoom-Book-Club. For further inquiries, please reach out to Assistant Director Morgan Yeo at yeo@noblenet.org.

Community Craft and Chat

Abbot Public Library invites the community to participate in the Community Craft and Chat event, where craft enthusiasts can gather to create and share ideas. This event will take place on Tuesday, June 20, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Program Room of Abbot Public Library located at Eveleth School. Attendees are encouraged to bring their knitting, beadwork, sketchbooks, or any personal craft projects to engage in a supportive and creative environment. No registration is required to join this craft-filled afternoon of camaraderie.

Book donation days

The Friends of Abbot Public Library are preparing for their upcoming Book Sale and are accepting donations of books and games in good condition. Donations can be made on Friday, June 2, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, June 3, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Abbot Public Library located at Eveleth School. Please note that they are unable to accept CD, DVD, VHS, or Cassette media.

Origami for teens

Abbot Public Library is offering an Origami for Teens workshop. Participants can join the session on Tuesday, June 6, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Program Room in Abbot Public Library at Eveleth School. The workshop will teach various small origami sculptures and projects, allowing attendees to explore their creativity. Take-home instructions will be provided, and no registration is required.

How to get your book published

Join literary agent Doug Grad at Abbot Public Library’s Program Room in Eveleth School on June 14 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a discussion on getting a book published. Gain insights and practical advice on securing deals with publishers and selfpublishing. Registration required at tinyurl.com/Doug-Grad-Event.

Teen DIY, button making Teens can express their creativity by participating in the Teen DIY: Button Making event. The session will take place on Tuesday, June 20, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Program Room at Abbot Public Library located in Eveleth School. Participants will have the opportunity to choose from a range of templates or create their own designs to turn into magnets or pins. No registration is required to join.

The wreck of the barque Tedesco

BY MARK HURWITZ

The American barque Tedesco, hailing from Portland, Maine, homeward bound with a cargo of sherry wine, salt and raisins, went ashore on Long Rock, about 300 feet east-northeast of Galloupes Point, Swampscott, Jan. 18, 1857.

It had been a furious blizzard that swept the coast late in the evening after an unusually calm day. The sea had been so calm when the fishermen came in that afternoon that they had left their dories just a little above the highwater mark.

In the morning, nothing but splintered remains of the

MAKING MUSIC

Tedesco could be found.

Capt. Peterson of the Tedesco had been sailing between Pig Rock and Egg Rock Light in a moderate northeast wind late that afternoon.

The wind hauled to the northeast, and a furious gale began shortly afterwards.

The residents on shore had the impression that the Tedesco sailed on up the coast.

The storm was so severe that few people knew of the shipwreck until late in the afternoon when residents discovered the shore strewn with wreckage.

Everyone on the Tedesco perished in the storm.

Later, the bodies of the captain and his first mate were recovered.

According to Swampscott records, Capt. Peterson was buried in Maine, although a small headstone with a white obelisk behind it was placed in the Swampscott Cemetery.

Two locations in Swampscott are named for the barque Tedesco: Tedesco Rock (the rock the Tedesco hit before it sank) and the Tedesco Country Club.

Fortunata Tedesco

The vessel was built at Brunswick, Maine, in 1847 and was 120 feet long. She had two decks and three masts.

The vessel was named for Italian opera singer Fortunata Tedesco (1826-1892) who traveled throughout Europe and the United States performing in a number of operas. She was known for her beauty and her rich mezzo-soprano voice. In 1847, Tedesco visited Boston and performed the opera “The Barber of Seville” at the Old Howard Athenaeum.

Her visit to Boston later inspired a group of Massachusetts businessmen to construct a boat in her honor. Mark Hurwitz is a Marblehead resident.

Church’s new music director has performed around the world, including in Ukraine

An organist of international acclaim, Thomas Mellan is the new music director at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. At age 28, he has played recital halls and churches throughout North America and Europe. In 2018, he was artist-in-residence in Lviv, Ukraine. Mellan is still in touch with his friends in Ukraine.

“The war has not devastated Lviv, unlike much of the country,” he says. “There is still a vibrant musical scene, they have beautiful concerts at Organ Hall, an Eastern Orthodox church in Lviv,” he says. “I am

still exchanging music with them.” While artist-in-residence he gave three recitals, taught masterclasses and played the Ukrainian premier performance of Olivier Messiaen’s landmark “Live d’Orgue.”

He was featured on Ukrainian National TV. Mellan was called to be music director by St. Andrews in January of this year.

The Rev. Clyde Elledge, rector of St. Andrews, had high praise for him. “I have never before heard our organ sound as it does now. His arrival marks an incredible new chapter for St. Andrew’s

music program.” Born in Paris, France, Mellan moved to the United States at an early age. He took up guitar but upon discovering J.S. Bach he switched to learning the organ. He graduated from the Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California, where he double majored in organ and composition. He was awarded the Thornton Faculty Award, the school’s highest honor for an undergraduate. After college, he earned two master’s degrees from USC, one in organ, the other in

composition. Family connections brought him to New England where he became organist and accompanist at St. Cecelia’s Roman Catholic Church in Boston.

Upon arrival in Marblehead, Mellan says he has found a place to call home “in a wonderful church in an historic New England town that is open to musical diversity while being anchored in the Episcopal tradition.”

Mellan has won numerous awards as both a composer and performer.

Houses of worship service schedule

CATHOLIC

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA

» 85 Atlantic Ave.

» 781-631-0086

» sosmarblehead.org

» Regular Mass Schedule

Saturday Vigil: 4 p.m.

» Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

Every weekday (Monday-Saturday): 9 a.m.

Confessions: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Saturday » Rosary Group: Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass (approximately 10 a.m.).

Adult choir rehearsals: Thursdays, 7 p.m., organ loft

Children’s choir rehearsals: Sunday, 8:15 a.m., organ loft

Centering Prayer group: Mondays, after 9 a.m. Mass until 11 a.m.

» Weekends of June 3-4 and June 10-11: Creation Care Team diapers and wipes collection for local Afghan refugees, donations box located in the front church entryway

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST

» 134 Elm St.

» 781-631-3868

fccsmarbleheadma.wordpress.

com

Sunday Church Service: 10-11 a.m.

Sunday School (open to children and young people under the age of 20): 10-11 a.m.

» Wednesday Testimony Meeting: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Reading Room (in church building): Open just after Sunday service and before Wednesday testimony meetings

A link to watch a replay of the recent free online lecture on Christian Science, “How to Make Change for the Better,” is available on the church website.

COMMUNITY CHURCH

GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH

» 17 Pleasant St.

» 781-631-9343 gracemarblehead.org

» Discipleship Class: 9:15 a.m.

Sunday

» Worship Gatherings: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday

» Grace Kids (Grades K-5): 4:30 p.m. Wednesday Youth Group: 7 p.m. Wednesday

» Women’s Bible Study: 10 a.m.

Thursday

» Prayer Gatherings: 1 p.m.

Thursday

» Men’s Bible Study: 6 a.m. Friday

» Friday, June 2: 6:30 p.m., families invited to play mini-golf at Golf Country on Route 114 in Middleton, followed by ice cream next door

CONGREGATIONAL OLD NORTH CHURCH, THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN MARBLEHEAD

» 35 Washington St. 781-631-1244 » onchurch.org

» Wednesday, May 31: 1 p.m., Scrabble group

» Thursday, June 1: 7 p.m., deacons’ meeting

» Sunday, June 4: Communion

Sunday; 8 a.m., worship service at lighthouse; 9:30 a.m., Death & Dying workshop

» Monday, June 5: 6:30 p.m., women’s AA

Tuesday, June 6: 9 a.m., Lectio Divina; 7 p.m., Community Life Board meeting

» Wednesday, June 7: 10:30 a.m., Prayer Shawl Ministry; 1:30 p.m., celebration of life (tent); 7 p.m., annual meeting

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ANDREW, EPISCOPAL

» 135 Lafayette St.

» 781-631-4951

» standrewsmhd.org

» Regular Sunday services (Rite II of the Episcopal liturgy): 8 a.m., spoken service; 10 a.m., musical service

» Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m.:

» Alternate Tuesdays, 11 a.m.: “This Magic Moment” Memory Café on Zoom, a judgment-free zone for those with memory loss and their caregivers

» Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:153:30 p.m., Parish Hall open for exercise

Wednesday, noon: Eucharist

» Second Saturday, 8:30-9:30 a.m.: Coffee Cups informal conversation and fellowship ST. MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

26 Pleasant St.

» 781-631-0657

» stmichaels1714.org

Sundays: 10 a.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite II (with music), in-person and online on church’s YouTube

Channel

Mondays: 11 a.m., Prayer Shawl Ministry

Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite II; 10:15 a.m., Bible study

Thursdays: 7:30 p.m., choir

rehearsal

First Sundays: 5 p.m., Choral Evensong (September through May), in-person only

» Thursday, June 1: 6:30 p.m., St. Catherine’s Dinner at Corinthian Yacht Club

JEWISH TEMPLE EMANU-EL, REFORM CONGREGATION

393 Atlantic Ave.

» 781-631-9300 emanu-el.org

» Shabbat: Friday, 6 p.m., in person and on Facebook Live

» Torah Study: First and second Saturdays of month, 10 a.m. on Zoom

» Religious School: 9 a.m. Sundays Senior Connection: 11 a.m.

Tuesdays Mah Jongg: 7 p.m. Tuesdays

» Chai Baby: 9:30 a.m. Fridays

» Wednesday, May 31: 7 p.m., Jewish Music Neighborhood

» Thursday, June 1: 6:30 p.m., Big Send-Off Gala for Rabbi Meyer (sold out; wait list available)

TEMPLE SINAI, CONTEMPORARY CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE

» 1 Community Road 781-631-2762

» templesinaiweb.org

» Kabbalat Shabbat: Fridays, 6 p.m.

» Shabbat Service: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. North Shore Minyan: Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott and Temple Sinai unite to provide a joint daily morning and evening North Shore Minyan. The schedule is as follows:

» Sunday, 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Temple Sinai, Zoom only).

» Monday, 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Temple Sinai, in person and Zoom)

Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, online only).

» Thursday, 7:30 a.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, Swampscott, in person and online).

» Thursday, 7 p.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, online only).

» Friday, 7:30 a.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, online only).

» Sunday, June 11: noon-4 p.m., Summer Festival on the Hill featuring live music and dance performances, children’s activities, artists, authors and food. Event is rain or shine — and free.

LUTHERAN CLIFTON LUTHERAN CHURCH

» 150 Humphrey St.

» 781-631-4379

» cliftonlutheran.org

» Weekly worship service: Sunday, 10 a.m., live stream on Zoom

» Sunday School: Sundays, 9 a.m.

Coffee Hour: Sunday, 11 a.m.

» Choir Chat: Tuesday, 4:45 p.m. over Zoom

» Midweek Fellowship: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Bible Study: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 1: 12:15 p.m., Marblehead Ministerial Association lunch

» Saturday, June 3: 3 p.m., Pride flag raising prayer

METHODIST

ST. STEPHEN’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

67 Cornell Road

» 781-631-2756

» www.marblehead.church

St. Stephen’s is open for Sunday morning worship. Every Sunday, they have traditional worship at 10:30 a.m. with a time of refreshments and fellowship afterward. Worship may also be attended via Zoom.

» Tuesday mornings: Conversation and prayer on Facebook Live with Pastor Isaac (see facebook.com/ marblehead.church)

Wednesday, May 31: 7 p.m., Wednesday Evening Vespers service

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST

UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF MARBLEHEAD

» 28 Mugford St. » 781-631-1215 » uumarblehead.org

» Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. and on Zoom: bit.ly/3EIRKiF All persons attending a regular Sunday Service in person are asked to wear masks in the sanctuary.

Wednesday, May 31: 7 p.m., audition for Dr. Love play » Saturday, June 3: 9:30 a.m., Caring for the Caregivers

» Sunday, June 4: 9 a.m., Sunday Seminar; 10:30 a.m., Sunday Services; 11:30 a.m., After Service Social Hour; 12:30 p.m., informal budget meeting

Monday, June 5: 7 p.m., Marblehead Festival of Arts meeting

Wednesday, June 7: 9 a.m., Small Group Ministry; 7 p.m., Committee on Ministry

» Thursday, June 8: 4 p.m., UUCM serves at Lifebridge, Salem

» Friday, June 9: 4:30 p.m., UUCM Youth serves at Lifebridge, Salem

» Saturday, June 10: 9:30 a.m., Over 60 Gang

COURTESY PHOTO

Fortunata Tedesco (1826-1892) traveled throughout Europe and the United States performing in a number of operas.

St. Andrew’s new music director is French-born organist Thomas Mellan.

Arthur Epstein gave generously to mental health, education

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

The Marblehead community is lamenting the loss of Arthur Joseph Epstein, a business executive, philanthropist and all-around mensch who leaves behind a legacy of transformative contributions to mental and behavioral health care and Jewish education on the North Shore. Epstein died on May 21. He was 86.

Hailing from Malden, Epstein grew up to become a successful entrepreneur and investor, becoming the second-largest franchise owner in the country. He and his late wife, Eunice, were high school sweethearts and raised their three children in Marblehead. They resided in the town for 50 years.

Epstein bought his first Midas Muffler tire shop in 1965, eventually holding 30 locations throughout New England. He

was also a partner in the real estate firm Cres Development.

The “Epstein” in Epstein Hillel School recognizes his $5 million donation to the Marblehead school in 2017.

“That summer, Cohen Hillel

Academy was rededicated as the Arthur J. Epstein Hillel School in recognition of Arthur’s donation and as a tribute to his commitment, generosity and faith in the future of EHS,” the school wrote in a Facebook

post. “We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Epstein family and to all those whose lives were touched by Arthur.”

Epstein also donated $5 million to Salem Hospital, the medical center’s largest single donation in its 144-year history.

“Arthur embodied the very best of men, giving so generously of his time, warmth and resources,” said Roxanne Ruppel, president and chief operating officer of Salem Hospital, on May 25. “His support for mental health services in this community has been transformational and is saving lives and comforting families every day of the year.”

The financial support paved the way for The Epstein Center for Behavioral Health, a 120bed unit caring for adults and children. He directed his wealth toward the hospital in memory of his wife because she suffered

Remembering the ‘codfather’

With golden cod carvings, Abbott created enduring tradition

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

Raymond C. Abbott, the man responsible for the ubiquitous golden codfish carvings adorning Marblehead homes, was laid to rest on May 23.

His grandson, Derek Abbott, told the Marblehead Current that his grandfather passed away on April 20 after a period of declining health. He was 93.

In the 1990s, Marblehead quickly adopted Abbott’s golden codfish, elevating it to the status of other historic symbols gracing homes, including the majestic golden bald eagle and pineapples.

The golden cod adorning the facades of homes pays tribute to Marblehead’s historical connection to the 17th-century fishing trade.

“They symbolize what made the Massachusetts Bay Colony prosper: the cod,” Town Historian Emeritus Bette Hunt told the Marblehead Reporter after a series of golden “codnappings” in September of 2014.

Crafting the golden cod

“The codfish were completely hand-carved from pinewood,” said Derek Abbott. “It was a true family business, with my grandfather carving and my grandmother — his wife, Jean — gold-leafing them.”

Demand for the Abbott Cod has consistently outpaced supply, resulting in a steady backlog of orders, according to Gene Arnould of Arnould Gallery & Framery.

“Ray came to me about 25 to 30 years ago, telling me he thought we could sell them,” Arnould recalled. “I said, ‘It’s not really something we sell, but we’ll give it a shot for a month.’”

He continued, “They’ve been swimming above doorways ever since.”

He revealed that his business has shipped the carvings across the country and around the globe.

Contrary to what one might expect, neither the golden-cod weathervane atop the Old North Church nor the Sacred Cod hanging in the Massachusetts Legislature atop Beacon Hill served as the inspiration for Abbott’s cod.

Instead, Abbott drew inspiration from his childhood

growing up on Cradleskid Lane in the Barnegat section of Marblehead. “What a great place to grow up,” he shared in a short

autobiography. “There was a shanty on Fisherman’s Beach, located at Little Harbor, with a codfish weathervane on the roof.

I thought that was really neat.”

from bipolar disorder for most of her adult life, according to Epstein’s obituary.

“Many families face mental health or addiction issues, and they often struggle to find highquality care,” Epstein said on the occasion of the $5 million donation. “I’m proud to support North Shore Medical Center’s efforts to address this dire need in our health care system, and I’m grateful that North Shore families will have a place to go where they are assured their loved ones will receive excellent care.”

He saw giving one’s wealth as obligatory, he told Massachusetts General Hospital for a profile about his donation to Salem Hospital.

“If people have a certain amount of success, they have an obligation to give back, in many forms,” Epstein said. “There’s so much out there that people need help with.”

Abbott only began crafting his codfish after retiring from his career as a traveling steel salesman.

“I thought now that I have time I can create my own codfish weathervane,” Abbott wrote.

He sketched a design, cut out a prototype on the bandsaw and sought feedback from Marblehead fishermen at State Street Wharf.

“It was a beautiful day,” he recalled. “I stuck a few chisels in my pocket.”

As he engaged with the fishermen and began carving, he caught the attention of two passing women.

“They asked if I could make one for them,” Abbott recalled. “That’s how this cod business got started.”

Over the years, he would refine the golden codfish and expand his range of offerings. The codfish, however, always remained the darling among his designs.

Keeping the Abbott Cod alive

Abbott attended Gerry School, followed by junior high and Marblehead High School. He graduated in 1948. He furthered

his education at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture in Amherst.

An active member of the Boston Yacht Club, Abbott competed in sailboat races and served on the race committee. He married Jean Peterson in 1955, and the couple moved to Reed Street in Marblehead the following year before later relocating to Cloutmans Lane and Meadow Lane. They raised two sons.

Derek Abbott, now 35, fondly remembers growing up next to his grandfather’s woodshop.

“I lived next door in his parents’ house on Meadow Lane,” he said. “I would wander over there, hang out, and that’s how I picked up the craft.”

Derek Abbott has inherited the duty of carving the Abbott Cod.

“I do carvings for Gene now — although he handles the gold leafing,” he said.

Derek Abbott described his grandfather as a helpful, approachable man with a keen sense of humor and memorable phrases.

“Whenever you’d tell him to have a good day, he’d respond, ‘If I don’t, it’s my own damn fault,’” Derek Abbott said.

COURTESY PHOTO / EPSTEIN HILLEL SCHOOL

Arthur Epstein in front of Epstein Hillel School in 2017 shortly after the school was renamed in his honor.

CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD

A signature Abbott Cod nailed above the entrance to Liberty, Henry and Me on Washington Street.

COURTESY PHOTO / DEREK ABBOTT

Raymond Abbott, left, with his grandson, Derek Abbott, was the mastermind behind Marblehead’s distinctive wooden codfish carvings that adorn local homes.

Marblehead’s best bets, May 31-June 7

Welcome to our new feature, Current Events, spotlighting exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current associate editor/senior reporter Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.

Leigh Blander

Cod & Whale Unveiling Party

Friday, June 2, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Classical concert

Saturday, June 3, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 4, at 2 p.m.

Classical pianist Daniel Adam Maltz returns to the Lee Mansion, 161 Washington St., to play the music of Mozart and Haydn on a replica of a 1784 Stein fortepiano. Maltz is a fortepianist based in Vienna, Austria. He specializes in the First Viennese School — Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert. Tickets are $35.

Pride party

Sunday, June 4, at 4 p.m.

Celebrate

LGBTQ+ pride in Marblehead at The Beacon, 123 Beacon St. In the tradition of the “tea dance,” festivities will include a disco DJ, dancing, hors d’oeuvres and sweets. There will also be an opportunity to purchase pride flags and guests are encouraged to dress in festive pride wear. Proceeds from this event will be donated to North Shore Pride and NAGLY. Tickets are $35.

Join the Marblehead Festival of Arts Board and the artists behind this year’s Festival of Cod and Whales on the lawn at Abbot Hall for a launch party. Get the first look at these pieces and raise a glass to kick-off the online auction, which will be live through July 8 and raise funds to support the Festival events and scholarships. RSVP at codauction@ marbleheadfestival.org. YELLOW

Sacred mediumship demonstration

Friday, June 2, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Certified psychic mediums Gurdeep Bhogal and Adrienne O’Keefe will lead an evening of psychic mediumship at The Yoga Loft, 27 Besson St. Bhogal and O’Keefe will “connect with you at a soul level, and with your companions and loved ones in the spirit realms,” according to the Yoga Loft. “Working with the highest intention in the sacred space of the gathering, they will bring forward guidance, evidence and messages from spirit.” $45.

Wine & food tasting

Sunday, June 4, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Join Elia Taverna for its monthly wine & food tasting. There will be four wines with a three-course meal and live Greek music. Wine specialist Yannis will be there. Call 781-4995006 to reserve a spot.

Dads & Donuts

Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m. to noon

Join Hestia Creations on the first Saturday of each month for Dads & Donuts – an opportunity for kids and their dad or father figure to play in Hestia’s Paint Your Own Pottery studio. There will be complimentary donuts. Drop-ins are welcome or call 781-639-2727 to make a reservation.