What did we all think of when we imagined senior year?
Did we remember our first day of high school, looking at all the tall guys with beards and wondering how they could possibly go to the same school as us? Did we picture that senior from our sophomore year who we thought was the coolest ever? Did we think of our friends from last year, the ones we keep looking for in the hallways, even though they’re probably walking down some other hallway now, hopefully still thinking of us?
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Unaffordable and unsustainable.
We all probably wondered what kind of seniors we’re going to be. The cool ones, the stressed ones, the mean ones who give freshman directions down the stairs that lead nowhere? I think we’re still figuring it out.
That’s how the School Committee’s contract bargaining sub-group described the teachers’ salary proposals at a Sept. 19 meeting.
(The School Committee sub-group and Marblehead Education Association were expected to meet for their latest negotiation on Monday evening. To read about the meeting, visit
The first thing we did on day one of our senior year was fill out a form for our caps and gowns. It felt a little weird to begin a year thinking about the end. That’s a first. This year probably won’t have many firsts, but it will have a lot of lasts. Last first day, last last day. First last day. Well, first really last day.
is to stay in the here and now. But also start planning ahead, because you need to get a head start. So if the key to success beyond high school is to plan ahead, and the key to success within high school is to stay in the here and now, and the key to success beyond high school is to achieve success within high school, then what are we supposed to do? Our best, I guess. And so we try to divide our time equally between the future and the present, but the balance always ends up tipping to one side.
taking my first AP class and have some form of a test or quiz every day: I’ve forgotten how to be a student. The majority of my vacation was purposefully dedicated to a lot of nothing, and rightly so. I’m not saying that I should have spent my break following a work schedule or studying, but these past few weeks have been… less than seamless. My recent weekends have been mostly the same; eight hours each day at my desk, hunched over function composition worksheets, pages of notes on the fall of Rome, and… YouTube videos.
ods with major procrastination. This is something I’ve fallen prey to many times before, especially when under major stress, consequently leaving me more overwhelmed (a vicious cycle, I know - you should see me during finals week).
The initial piece of advice they gave us on that first day was “Don’t get Senioritis!” Of course, we’ve all heard about the notorious illness known for dipping grades and ruining futures left and right. It runs ram-
We start researching some colleges, we get excited, and we forget to write that essay due tomorrow. We work hard to pass those AP tests we signed up for (because we were thinking about the future when we chose them) and before we know it, the early decision deadline is weeks away and we haven’t even answered the supplemental questions yet. Sometimes, keeping everything straight feels like scaling a cliff. Pay attention, or we’ll senior slide right off. The good news, or so we’re told, is that it won’t last for long. Everyone promises that once we’ve decided where we’re headed next, all the stress melts away.
of MPS staff.
MarbleheadCurrent.org) Jenn Schaeffner and Sarah Fox presented an update on negotiations, which started in March and have been contentious and unproductive. Teachers have been working without a contract since Aug. 31, custodians since June 30. Schaeffner and Fox said the union’s wage proposals represent a 40%-170% increase over three years and would require either a 14% tax override or the laying off of 42%
GRIDIRON GLORY
Until then, we pull all our stops, play all our tricks, and spend all our Ritchie Bucks/Costello Cash. Once it’s over, we’ll be glad we did.
Due to my recent lack of stamina with homework, and, well, work in general, I’ve fallen back into an all-too-familiar rabbit hole: intertwining study peri-
“That is what we battle with every time we’re in bargaining,” Fox said.
The MEA said it would respond soon.
As I attempt to cultivate a solid routine for the year, I'm also learning to appreciate the changes that aren't so focused on deadlines and schedules. I often let those little transitions, from needing to wear a sweater in the morning to that one flame-tipped leaf on the tree outside my English classroom, go unnoticed. So, in the spirit of fall, I’m going to force myself to stop worrying so much about the big picture and embrace the change in both season and lifestyle. See you at the football game!
Join Headlight: Leave your comfort zone!
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer, who also sits on the bargaining sub-group, described Marblehead’s new growth (new taxable property) as “anemic,” which severely decreases the amount of revenue and funding
Grey Collins, Junior, Assistant Editor
If you are a freshman at Marblehead High School, eager to find a way to fit into our community, or a sophomore, junior, or senior looking to improve your resume, Headlight offers a unique opportunity for you. Joining the MHS Headlight will give you experience that you can’t get anywhere else at MHS: How to communicate with others. Communication is an essential skill to have, but modern
ly apprehensive because I was afraid of making mistakes and be ing judged by my peers. Despite dreading it, I followed through. I carried out my interviews, wrote my story, and turned in my first ever newspaper article. Even though I wasn’t comfortable with it at first, stepping outside of my comfort zone despite that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I continued writing more, and each article became easier than the last. Eventually I ended up writing for the Marblehead Current by becoming an intern there. With every interview I do and article I write, I become more and more comfortable with communicating with others, and making my voice heard. This would never have been possible without the MHS HeadWhile writing for your high school newspaper is probably not something that you have planned out, now is the perfect time to give it a try, and get out of your comfort zone. It’s a new school year, and you have a clean slate. There is no better time to try new things and find out what you are passionate
Resident to lead Assessor’s Office
Hire comes after valuation errors angered residents
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The MHS Football Magicians score a sweet victory on the new turf at Piper Field Friday night.
School is here, whether we like it or not
Selvais takes the handoff from junior quarterback Finn Gallup. Final score: 55-8. Read all about the
A09.
Georgia Marshall, Sophomore, Assistant Editor
BY GREY COLLINS
With a little less than a month of school over, summer is now a thing of the past; a hazy memory of hot wind on bare arms, restless nights, sandy shoes, hair matted by salt water, and occasional boredom. It’s hard to conjure the image of an evening untarnished by the blue glare of my computer screen, right hand free of its reliable mechanical pencil. It feels like a million years have passed since
Bite marks found on a washed-up seal on Thursday have been identified as most likely from a great white shark. The seal washed up from Marblehead Harbor onto the beach at Cove Lane on Marblehead Neck on Thursday and was found by swimmers.
that carefree limbo, that magical time floating in perpetual freedom with no thoughts of GPAs, assignments, or an ever expanding list of extracurricular commitments.
Now, having been lessthan-gently thrown back into the chaos of due dates and math tests, I’ve been forced to come to terms with the fact that something pretty important was lost this past sum mer. It's been made even more glaringly obvious now that I’m
The Board of Assessors voted Sept. 20 to hire Todd Laramie of Marblehead to lead the town’s Assessor’s Office, with the hope of getting the department back on track after major property validation errors last year skewed tax bills and angered residents. It also led to the firing of the then-assessor.
Laramie is the current director of assessing in Hamilton-Wenham. In his interview on Wednesday, he said he could start in Marblehead in about a month.
REPORTERS: Anna Baughman, Nathaniel Carper-Young, Evan Eisen, Anya Kane, B Lorenz, Niko Mahan, William Pelliciotti, Peter Sullivan, Nasira Warab, Grace Wolverton
New England Aquarium biologist John Chisolm identified the bite marks.
“It’s typical of a shark bite given the puncture wounds and most likely a white shark,” Chisolm said after analyzing images of the seal.
Chisholm said this time of year is when white shark activity on the North Shore reaches its peak, but many people are still relatively unaware of the true level of the shark
population here. He thinks that swimmers should exercise a level of caution.
“A lot of people are under the misconception that the sharks are only on Cape Cod, but the sharks are all along the coast of New England this time of year,” Chisholm said. “If you’re going into the water you have to be shark smart. Follow the shark safety guidelines: Don’t swim alone, don’t cause a commotion in the water, be aware of your surroundings and definitely look for fish or seals because you don’t want to swim with the bait.”
The number of sharks north of Cape Cod has been steadily growing over the last few decades since the Marine Mammals Protection Act of 1972, which protects seals — one of the shark’s main prey.
“Seals are making a comeback, and
Before Hamilton-Wenham, Laramie worked as chief assessor in Amesbury from 2020-2022 and as a residential inspector analyst in Lexington from 2018-2020. He also served as a data collector in the Amesbury assessor’s office from 2017-2018.
He said he’s looking to work a little closer to home.
“This is my town,” Laramie said. “If I can step in and help, I certainly want to do that.”
Many Marblehead homes were “critically overassessed” last year, according to the board, leading to 344 abatements (refunds) totalling $541,000. Other residents with higher-than-usual assessments said they didn’t know to file for an abatement by the Feb. 1 deadline.
“What happened here … that shouldn’t happen,” Laramie said. “I know that.”
At Friday’s meeting, resident George PararasCarayannis asked the Board of Assessors to consider refunding people who were overcharged but didn’t know to apply for an abatement by the Feb. 1 deadline.
“This is a special circumstance,” PararasCarayannis said. “There were errors made in the process. I think it would be appropriate to refund people. A lot of people were negatively impacted financially.”
Board Chair John Kelley said the “onus is on the taxpayer” to file for an abatement on time.
Pararas-Carayannis believes he was overcharged by about $3,000 in property taxes.
Board member Jonathan Lederman said he would like to be able to refund residents but that state law prevents it.
The board has committed to more outreach and resident education about the valuation and abatement process.
Referencing last year’s errors and the public’s frustration, board members asked Laramie at his interview about his customer service skills.
COURTESY PHOTO / MUFFY PAQUETTE
Senior captain Brady
big win on Page
The School Committee presented this slide about the impact of teacher union proposals.
Jack Conley, far left, leads the musket salute during a demonstration at the “Headers in the Revolution” event, with other reenactors in formation, Sept. 21. Details, Page 2.
PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS
Cemetery super counters claims by members who resigned
BY WILL DOWD
In the wake of recent resignations from Marblehead’s Cemetery Commission, Cemetery Superintendent Catherine Kobialka addressed the claims made by the members who left and shared her side of the story about the department’s operations.
The controversy began on Aug. 18 when Janet Merrill and Pam Peterson submitted their resignations to the Select Board, citing issues with the Cemetery Department’s structure and administration. Their departure left the commission without a quorum, unable to conduct business.
In an email to the Marblehead Current, Kobialka expressed surprise at the resignations and challenged several assertions made by the former commissioners.
“I have to say I was a little confused and disappointed,” Kobialka stated. “Any tension or issues these board members had were never revealed to either [her or Chairman Richard Coletti].”
The superintendent’s response comes amid accusations of resistance to change and lack of collaboration. Peterson, who joined the commission in 2022, expressed frustration with what she called barriers to modernizing record-keeping and pursuing
BY WILL DOWD
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Miles for Mary announces events to support brain cancer research
Miles for Mary, a Marblehead nonprofit dedicated to brain cancer awareness, announces two upcoming events to support treatment research:
» 5K Run/Walk: Oct. 19 at Devereux Beach. Pre-registration $30; race day $35.
Research seminar: Nov. 4 at Eastern Yacht Club. Registration $60.
The organization honors Mary Park of Marblehead, who died
LOCAL HIStOrY
grant funding for historic preservation projects.
Kobialka, however, painted a different picture of the department’s technological progress.
“Our records have been digitized for the past 20 years,” she explained. “Before she was on the board, the migration of all hard copy data to a web-based program was in process. This was completed in 2022 and brings us one step closer to being able to offer public access to records, which will be an undertaking.”
The superintendent also addressed concerns about longterm planning and improvement initiatives. Referencing publicly available meeting minutes, Kobialka highlighted several proposals discussed by the commission in recent years, including the use of goats for vegetation management at Old Burial Hill, efforts to improve public access to records and discussions on rule enforcement regarding dogs in cemeteries.
“Everything is presented, discussed and ultimately decided upon by the Cemetery Board at a meeting,” Kobialka emphasized.
“The board has always agreed that it is challenging at times prioritizing the use of the sale of lots fund which we rely on for all development, major purchases and projects.”
Both Merrill and Peterson expressed frustration with what
from glioblastoma in 2012. Since 2013, Miles for Mary has raised $700,000 for brain cancer research at Mass General Cancer Center.
Funds support Dr. Elizabeth Gerstner’s work, which organizers said showed promising results in shrinking brain tumors. According to organizers, over 25,000 new brain cancer diagnoses are expected this year; glioblastoma has a 6.8% five-year survival rate.
For more information, contact Bill Park, wpark05@gmail.com or Nate Walton, nywalton@gmail.com
Mowing the rail trail
From now through Friday, Oct. 4, town crews will be mowing along the rail trail and access may be limited or even closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Temporary closures and detours will be posted, or a
they described as resistance to change and lack of collaboration. They also expressed a desire for Kobialka to seek alternative funding sources, like state grants, outside the sale of lots of funds.
Kobialka acknowledged the department’s limited resources, describing it as a “department with a three-member board that meets four times a year.” This characterization provides context to the challenges faced by the commission in implementing large-scale changes or taking on extensive new projects.
The resignations have brought attention to ongoing issues within Marblehead’s cemetery system. Both former commissioners expressed concerns about deferred maintenance at town cemeteries and lack of long-term planning. They pointed to deteriorating conditions at historic burial grounds like the Hooper Tomb on Harris Street as examples of needed improvements.
Peterson, in particular, raised alarms about infrastructure issues.
“Every budget for a long time has been level funded, so there’s an enormous amount of deferred maintenance,” she stated in her resignation. “There’s no water in like a third of the cemetery, no running water.”
The Cemetery Department oversees several historic burial grounds in Marblehead, including
police detail will be present to direct travel.
“See alternate routes when possible. Stay clear of work area, take extreme caution and follow directions if traveling near mowing operation,” read an announcement from the town.
LWV promotes voting with lawn signs
The League of Women Voters of Marblehead is distributing lawn signs to encourage voter participation in upcoming elections. The signs read “Vote! Democracy is Counting on You.” They include a QR code linking to the LWVM’s Defending Democracy webpage with voting and election information.
“Your vote is your voice,” said Bonnie Grenier, a representative
Waterside Cemetery, Harbor View Cemetery, Old Burial Hill Cemetery, Green Street Cemetery, Harris Street Cemetery and the Hathaway and Hooper Tombs. The management of these sites, some of which date back centuries, presents challenges in balancing preservation with modern cemetery operations. Kobialka expressed appreciation for the former commissioners’ service.
“It is a shame that both of these ladies feel they cannot fulfill their duties as commissioners,” she said. “I can only say that this department appreciates their past service and we wish them well in their future endeavors.”
Looking forward, the superintendent expressed optimism about welcoming new commissioners. The Select Board is now tasked with appointing an interim member to fill one vacant seat until the next town election.
The Select Board interviews candidates to fill the vacancies on Sept. 25. The situation has also caught the attention of other town bodies. Peterson indicated plans to share her experiences with the Town Charter Commission to inform potential reforms. She also mentioned efforts to establish a new Harris Street Cemeteries Oversight Committee to address maintenance needs at that historic site.
of LWVM. The presidential election is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Signs are available for $10 each. Interested individuals can email lwvmarblehead@gmail.com for more information. The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, promotes political responsibility through informed citizen participation in government. Membership is open to all.
Board of Health runs out of COVID-19 tests
The Board of Health announced it has run out of free, at-home COVID tests for residents. It’s not known yet if or when more tests will be available. For more information, contact the Health Department at 781-631-0212 or health2@marblehead.org.
Marblehead celebrates role in Revolution
BY WILL DOWD AND GREY COLLINS
Over the weekend, Marblehead brought its Revolutionary War history to life with the “Headers in the Revolution” event.
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, visitors stepped back in time to experience immersive reenactments and historical tours showcasing the town’s essential role in the American Revolution.
Schools
From P. A1
for schools.
The town collects $3,494 in taxes per resident, the lowest among several comparable communities, including Swampscott ($3,924), Wayland (6,030), Andover ($4,793) and Hingham ($4,257), according to Kezer.
Parental leave
Fox addressed several other issues raised by the MEA, including parental leave.
“The committee is currently
The event honored local heroes like Gen. John Glover and Capt. James Mugford, whose contributions were crucial to the fight for independence. At Fort Sewall, Glover’s Marblehead Regiment performed authentic drills, demonstrated musket ball making and led musket cleaning tutorials. The regiment’s role in rescuing Gen. George Washington’s army during key moments of the war was
offering 10 calendar days paid leave, in addition to employees’ ability to use their personal time for the remainder, up to 12 weeks,” she said.
The union is asking for 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
Safety task force
The MEA proposed a task force giving educators more say in creating safety protocols. The sub-group is offering to create a safety advisory committee, but teachers say it doesn’t give them enough power to make changes.
More recess, lower fees
Regarding the union’s call for
highlighted, bringing to light the deep connection between Marblehead and the Revolution.
Historic sites throughout the town were also open for exploration. At the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, attendees toured the grand home of one of Marblehead’s leading patriots, Col. Jeremiah Lee, learning about his efforts to secure arms for the rebels. Visitors to Old Burial Hill paid tribute to the nearly
more recess and longer lunches for students, Fox pointed out that the state requires 900 hours of “time on learning” each school year, making it difficult to extend recess and lunch.
The MEA is also calling for lower athletic fees, to decrease barriers to participation.
“Athletic fees are determined by the School Committee each year and are not subject to negotiations,” Fox said, adding that the fees help prevent other cuts and layoffs.
School Committee member
Al Williams asked if opening the negotiations to the public might be beneficial. The MEA has been
CO-CHAIRPERSONS
hundreds of Revolutionary War soldiers buried there, including key figures like Glover and Mugford.
The weekend also featured reenactments at the Old Town House, where actors recreated the tense town meetings of November 1774, when Marbleheaders debated joining the Revolution. These meetings helped set Marblehead on its path toward rebellion.
asking for that for months.
“Given that it doesn’t look like there’s a real good path forward, to be honest, at this point I’m just trying to think about other possibilities and alternatives we should be discussing,” he said.
Schaeffner said their attorney has recommended against open negotiations but suggested the idea be discussed at an upcoming School Committee meeting.
Schaeffner and Fox pledged to provide further updates to the School Committee and the community, and to continue bargaining in good faith.
Brown students write, win $8K grant for new book vending machine
BY LEIGH BLANDER
In the Brown School lobby, students gathered around a brand new book vending machine, wrapped in a big red bow. It was the students themselves who wrote an $8,000 grant to purchase it.
“We saw that the Village School had one, and it looked really good,” said Pender Smith, who graduated from Brown School last year and is now at Village. She came back to Brown for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“It’s slay,” added Eleanor Schubmehl, who is also now at Village.
The students are members (and former members) of Brown School’s Kids Give Back afterschool club, led by guidance counselor Kara Elmer and firstgrade teacher Rachel Leavitt.
“We filled it out on the computer,” said student Scarlett
“You’ve got to bite the bullet and suck it up,” he said about dealing with residents complaining about their tax bills. He referenced an incident in his office in Hamilton-Wenham when he stepped in to support a female clerk dealing with an angry customer.
“I told him, ‘Would you want someone to talk to your wife like that if she worked for the town?’” Laramie said. “You’re dealing with personalities. People get ticked off. It is what it is.”
Lederman asked Laramie how he would go about capturing new growth (home additions, for example) that may have
Parisi about the Friends of Marblehead Public Schools grant. “It was fun trying to convince them.”
Here’s a brief excerpt from their grant application:
“We would like a book vending machine for Brown School that is not full of junk food, but books. At Brown School we are hungry to learn. We would love more
been missed.
“It’s very important to go out and look at stuff,” Laramie answered, saying he spends a lot of time visiting properties in Hamilton-Wenham.
“We’d be hitting the streets pretty hard,” he said about Marblehead.
“You can look at 10 properties a day.”
The board hired Patriot Properties to do an early mini-assessment of the town, so it can send preliminary valuations to residents in late fall, before sending bills. Chair John Kelley said that will give residents a chance to review their assessments and report anything that seems off.
Tax bills go out in late December.
&Preschool Teachers
MCC’sphilosophyisthatchildrenlearn best through play.Seeking enthusiastic,dedicated professionalswho will engage in andupholdour mission
books on sports, chapter books, dogman books, Diary of a Wimpy Books (LW), Black Lagoon, Magic School Bus, Horrid Henry and so much more. We think all kids should have books that they can read so they can learn. If we got a book vending machine, kids could earn tokens to get books for doing good or being a good classmate.”
The nonprofit Friends of
taxpayer’s questions
In a letter to the editor in last week’s Current, Franklin Street resident
Vicki Staveacre posed three questions to the Board of Assessors. Her property valuation increased by more than $335,000 last year. We put Staveacre’s questions to Chair John Kelley, and the following are his responses: Question: First, why on earth was the board unaware of the problem until the complaints started coming in?
Response: The board was unaware of the issue because the assistant assessor sent to the DOR (Department of Revenue) a statistical analysis showing that her
Marblehead Schools awarded the grant, and members also attended the ribbon cutting. The Friends are celebrating their 35th year supporting Marblehead students through donations and grants. They’ve given out $2.5 million so far.
The Brown students chose the books to stock the vending machine, including “Baby Sitters Club,” “Narwal,” “National Geographic Kids,” “Press Start” and “Who is Taylor Swift?”
“Some of the books are funny or adventurous,” Parisi said. “And they’re for all different ages.”
Elmer said members of the Kids Give Back Club may write another grant, this time for permanent soccer nets at Brown.
Schubnehl had another idea.
“How about a pool!”
To “buy” a book, students need to earn special tokens.
“They can do that by exemplifying our school values:
methodology for valuing the approximately 200 arms-length sales fell within the DOR guidelines. The methodology was then applied to all parcels in Marblehead. The errors in her methodology therefore did not become apparent until all bills were sent.
Question: What is the actual size of the problem? How many households were erroneously overcharged and how many undercharged? What unilateral adjustments would the board have undertaken if it could?
Response: Two neighborhoods were quite over assessed — Naugus Head and the inner Neck. There were neighborhoods that were under-assessed, most notably the area bordered by Rainbow
Be safe, be ready to learn, be brave and be kind,” said Brown School Principal Mary Maxfield. Speaking to the kids last week, Maxfield shared a quote from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
“I think she was writing about you,” Maxfield added with a big smile.
Members of the Kids Give Back Club include: Landon Whorf, George Wattendorf, Michael Bane, Hannah Bulger, Eleanor Schubmehl, Pender Smith, Hunter McLaughlin, Scarlett Parisi, Freddie Poss, Elyse Machado, Bowen McCarthy, Cam Harvery, Landon Laskowki, Chapin Crawford, Wyatt Dupler, Tori Clark, Aiden Duffy, Jay Floyd, Louis Lazorchak and Sophia Triscuit.
Road, Lafayette Street and the Lead Mills.
Having said that, I must add that many neighborhoods were assessed accurately. I can safely say that if the problem had been known the board would have discarded the values and started the project over.
Question: Given that over 80% of those who requested abatements received them, we have to assume that over 80% of the assessments were wrong. For those of us who stupidly failed to file an abatement by the end of January 2024, what can we do to ascertain whether our assessment was
erroneous and what can we do to rectify it and gain restitution?
Response: It is not correct to state that since 80% of abatement applications were granted 80% of the townwide values were incorrect. The overwhelming majority of abatement applications came from the over-assessed neighborhoods. According to state statute an abatement application must have been filed by Feb. 1, 2024. There is no procedure in place to abate any property for which an application was not timely filed.
Read a letter from the Board of Assessors to the public, written this summer, about the valuation errors on Page 5.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Students who wrote a $8,000 grant for a book vending machine attend
Opinion
eDItOrIAL
Peel back the curtain
As Marblehead’s teachers and custodians continue working without contracts, the School Committee is mulling taking a step for which the teachers union has been clamoring for months: opening the negotiations to the public.
While the School Committee’s attorney has counseled against such a move, we believe that, after months of rancor and minimal progress, it would do more good than harm to bring more transparency to the process.
Massachusetts residents can be forgiven for becoming inured to a lack of sunlight when substantial amounts of public tax dollars are being spent. But it’s worth noting that not every state allows negotiations with public employee unions to be held in the dark.
In a 2018 policy brief for the Washington Policy Center, Erin Shannon notes that, of the states that allow public employee collective bargaining — Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have no collective bargaining process for government workers at all — nearly half (22) do not exempt those negotiations from their states’ open meetings laws.
“Some of those states’ open meeting laws even go so far as to expressly require some level of public access to various components of those negotiations,” Shannon writes.
The main reason for disfavoring secret negotiations of government employee contracts should be obvious: Personnel costs represent the biggest slice of town departments’ budgets, which taxpayers fund.
“The public should be allowed to follow the process and hold government officials accountable for the spending decisions they make on taxpayers’ behalf,” Shannon writes.
While we have no indication this is an issue in Marblehead, Shannon notes that rank-and-file union members can also benefit from knowing exactly what proposals their union representatives are requesting, and what proposals they are rejecting.
To this point, the public has largely been kept informed about the progress (or lack thereof) of the Marblehead school negotiations through dueling press releases and unrebutted public statements. Public negotiations would bring more accountability into the process, making it easier to discern if one side is being unreasonable or otherwise not operating in good faith.
A recent example of this came last at last Thursday night’s School Committee meeting, when chair Jenn Schaeffner and member Sarah Fox represented that the union’s wage proposals represent a 40%-170% increase over three years and would require either a 14% tax override or the laying off of 42% of the schools’ staff.
That sounds extreme but is also the type of claim that suggests there may be more to the story — or maybe there isn’t. In any event, the board, the union and the public would all be better off if hyperbole or mischaracterizations could be cleared up in real time.
We would hate to see the Marblehead negotiations go the way of an example Shannon cites from two Washington school districts, where the sides had to call in a third party to perform “fact finding” and, in Shannon’s words, “separate the rhetoric from the reality.”
In Massachusetts, Proposition 2 1/2 — a wrinkle not present in other states — only further makes the case for bringing transparency to public employee negotiations. The whole point of Proposition 2 1/2 was to tell cities and towns, “If you want more tax dollars, you have to ask the taxpayers.” As we’ve seen in recent years in Marblehead, that “ask” is frequently challenging. But it can become easier once the public feels it has gotten a look from all sides at the problem town leaders are trying to solve.
At this point in the negotiations, we’ve heard some people talk as if teachers’ strike in Marblehead is inevitable. We hope that is not true, and our leaders should be pulling out all the stops to avoid crossing such a costly rubicon.
Of those “stops,” making the negotiations public holds significant potential for moving the talks toward a deal that would pay teachers and school staff what they deserve at a cost the town can afford.
e V erY tHING WILL be OKAY
Third act
BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM
I’m not a podcast listener, preferring quiet when going about my day, doing chores, walking or driving somewhere. My sarcastic older brother, a podcast host himself — about squash, the sport, not the vegetable — would say I prefer the voices in my head to voices in my ear and he’s not far off.
So when a friend mentioned a podcast she was enjoying, I nodded and promptly forgot about it. She brought it up again, specifically one episode that was helpful in reframing these age-old questions: How old are you and how old do you feel? I just had had a birthday bringing me to the cusp of a new decade, so this topic caught my attention and I decided to check out the podcast.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, of “Veep” and “Seinfeld” fame, hosts one weekly called “Wiser than me.” The approach basically is that Dreyfus interviews women who are older than her, and thus presumably wiser. The women Dreyfus hosts, no surprise, are famous — actresses, authors etc. And the episode which caught my friend’s attention was an interview with fashion icon and entrepreneur Gloria Von Furstenberg. Typically, Dreyfus starts the interviews by asking the guest’s age, as well as how old they actually feel.
Von Furstenberg was nonplussed by a question once considered rude and offered, “Oh, yes, I’m 76. But I really, really should be 300... I’ve had a very full life. I’ve done a lot of things... I feel like there’s no way I can make myself even a day younger. Because I feel like I have lived very much every moment.”
Well, some days I feel 300, too, what’s so wise about that? Ah, Von Furstenberg is just getting started. She rejects the phrasing of LouisDreyfus’ question, turning it on its head. “[I] would change the word
eNDING tHe StIGm A
aging and say living.”
She continues, “Age is life. Yes. So instead of saying, How old are you? People should say, how long have you lived?”
In my head, I answer, 59 years.
“And automatically it changes everything,” she says. “Even to a child. How long have you lived, young boy? I have lived 11 years. Wow. That’s impressive. Yeah. And then if you ask an older person, I have lived 76 years. Wow. You know, so aging for me is life. It is not a decay. It’s a continuation of life.”
The designer went on to admit something I have always known about myself. She always wanted to be older than she was. “From a young age. I never wanted to be a little girl. I always wanted to be a woman,” she said.
When I turned 16, I remember uncharacteristically complaining out loud to my mother. I wanted to be 20, then 30, then 40.
Why? For me, I think it had to do with control, the older I was, the more I thought I could control my own destiny. Ha ha — talk about lacking wisdom.
This is von Furstenberg on the one thing she believes you can control:
“Never be a victim no matter what happens. And that’s how you build your character. Because the only thing that you have complete control of, the only thing is your character. You could lose your health. You could lose your wealth. You could lose your job, you could lose your husband, you could lose your family. You could lose everything, but you never lose your character. And that character is the little house inside yourself. That is called strength.”
Before returning to my glorious, ever-quiet, non-podcast world, I clicked on one more “Wiser than me” episode. It happened to be the first one Louis-Dreyfus had recorded and the guest was 85-year-old Jane Fonda.
Fonda related this story: “I was married to Ted Turner, I was on a ranch in New Mexico. And I
The slow burn
realized that I’m about to be 59. And holy shit. In a year, I’m going to be 60. And for some reason, for me, figuring I’m probably not going to live past 90, next year is the beginning of my last act, first 30 years, second, 30 years, last 30 years. And you know how important third acts are, they can make sense out of the first two, right? They’re very important. It’s kind of a legacy that you’re going to leave behind.”
Uh-oh. By Fonda’s reckoning, I am soon entering my third act. What does she suggest I do to prepare?
“I spent the year between 59 and 60, researching myself, very objectively, like, it wasn’t really me, it was somebody else,” Fonda says. “So anybody that’s approaching 60, think about doing what I discovered later [is] a thing called a life review.”
Her conclusion at the end of her “review”: “You know, a lot of who we are and how we behave… is because of how we were parented, or not parented. And we always ... assume that whatever happened, it was our fault. And what I discovered and what people do discover when they do a life review was — guess what? It had nothing to do with you.”
Yes, there surely is some deep wisdom in that, but do I really want to spend my 59th year doing a life review? My plan was to spend the year planning a trip of a lifetime to kick off my sixth decade. Which is wiser? You tell me.
Returning to the first interview I listened to, here is some final, unquestionable wisdom on the fashion choices of those of us in or near our last 30 years. “I would say everybody needs a black turtleneck,” von Furstenberg counsels.
Amen! Ready or not, third act, here I come.
A member of the Marblehead Current’s Board of Directors, Virginia Buckingham is the former chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Port Authority, chief of staff to two Massachusetts governors, deputy editorial page editor for the Boston Herald and author of “On My Watch: A Memoir.”
Recognizing and bouncing back from burnout
BY WENDY ROBBINS
My interest in burnout wasn’t only for my work, but for personal reasons. Several months ago I started to feel a level of dissociation, detachment and apathy that was unrecognizable. I wondered if it was depression or menopause, but neither was fully capturing the nothingness that filled me.
And then I was asked by an organization to present a program on burnout. I agreed, despite having heard the term a lot in the last few years and never educating myself on it. I thought “burnout” was more colloquial than clinical.
My research proved otherwise.
Recognizing burnout
Based on my research and experience, burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. You might feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained and unable to meet constant
demands.
One of the best descriptions I’ve heard is that it’s a gradual process of “caring too much for too long.” Your emotional tank is drained until you’re below empty. You give and give and give until you can’t give anymore. And then you give again. Because that’s what we do. It would be rude to ask others similarly situated for help or shift your load onto their shoulders. It can also feel shameful to not be able to do it all yourself. Over time you may wonder, like me, if it’s depression or anxiety or something else. But this feels more like nothing than something. This feels more like Zombieland. Slowly, your day is just a list of to-dos that need doing — none bad or good. The list is long, the lines are blurred and the purpose and meaning behind them are fuzzy at best.
It’s important to note that burnout is not just exhaustion on every level. It’s also a feeling of cynicism and ineffectiveness — like nothing you do will matter.
While burnout is not a formal medical diagnosis, in 2019 the World Health Organization added burnout to its International Disease Classification (ICD-11) as a syndrome that profoundly impacts people’s lives. And it happens slowly, seemingly under the radar until, as one author noted, like the proverbial frog in hot water that doesn’t even notice that the temperature is rising degree by degree, you are literally boiled to death.
During my decades in corporate law, I’ve felt exhausted, cynical and ineffective at times. I felt like I had nothing left to give. But I now know that what I was experiencing was chronic stress. And it’s different. Chronic stress generally involves too many stressors causing too much pressure that demands too much of you — physically, emotionally and mentally. But when you’re stressed, you can still imagine
‘Life goes on and the consequences will too’
To the editor:
As of Dec. 31, Marblehead will defy Massachusetts state law — MBTA Communities 3A zoning Act. At the Select Board meeting last week, an organized vocal group succeeded in derailing a year of hard work by our town planner, Planning Board, consultants and all those residents who participated in the public forums and meetings. The Massachusetts attorney general’s office has made it quite clear to Marblehead that they intend to uphold the law and will be suing towns in noncompliance (yes — more legal fees).
If your eyes have been glazing over at boring zoning issues, here’s why going forward you need to pay attention. The result of noncompliance with this bipartisan legislation, (besides litigation), will be to cripple Marblehead efforts to go after funding for multiple necessary town projects.
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezar says we have “upped our game” when it comes to grants, so as to maximize all sources of revenue for the town. Three town employees now pursue grant money, to help fund the costly repair of seawalls and replace the Village Street bridge, along with other projects. Now by not complying with 3A we are tying their hands in being competitive for those grants and in some cases we are completely ineligible.
The Select Board will be presenting a strategic plan in the spring to address the town’s already existing shortfall estimated to be in the neighborhood of $10 million, a result of costs outstripping revenues for years and no overrides. The Select Board has tried to put us on a path to fiscal responsibility, hiring good personnel and giving them the tools to work with, such as updated software. Real cuts have been made. Efficiencies implemented. Increased grant funding was to be an important piece of increasing revenue. We had a thoughtful rezoning plan that not only would be compliant with the law, but could have benefited Marblehead with a badly needed range of housing options for seniors who need to downsize, rentals and units for children who’ve grown up here and are trying to return and our town employees. Additional housing would also add revenue by expanding our tax base.
The website marbleheadhousingcoalition. com as well as the Marblehead
Current have good information to orient yourself to the issue if you are just learning about it. Ask the town planner or town manager — not social media — about any of your concerns. In the meantime, life goes on and the consequences will too, whether it’s a deteriorating bridge, sea walls, parks, cemeteries, noncompetitive salaries and underfunded schools.
Renee Keaney Beverly Avenue
Reflecting on the U.S. citizenship test and protecting democracy
To the editor: After watching soon-to-be citizens take the Oath of Allegiance at a naturalization ceremony, I began wondering what my civics IQ might be. Would I be able to pass the U.S. citizenship test?
Out of curiosity I went online and reviewed the practice questions on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. Here are a few sample questions: What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
» How many amendments does the Constitution have? Who is the chief justice of the United States now?
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
» What did Susan B. Anthony do?
It really wasn’t a surprise that I’d forgotten the answers to many of the questions on the test. I would probably need a tutorial to pass the test today. While reading the questions I was reminded how unique our form of government is. Is it a republic or democracy?
(Not such an easy answer I discovered.)
I’m in awe of the creative minds that produced the U.S. Constitution all those many years ago (signed in 1787). It’s a living document that can be changed (amended) to reflect changes in our society.
I’m also reminded how vulnerable our democracy is, although I’ve only come to realize this in recent years. We cannot take our form of government for granted; there are no guarantees we will keep our democracy without constant vigilance.
So how do we protect our democracy?
1. Staying informed by seeking out information on issues and candidates from reliable sources
2. Voting We head to the polls on Nov.
uncharacteristic of my typical traits and qualities.
5 (or sooner with early voting). Let’s all do our part to protect our democracy by doing our due diligence and then voting.
Bonnie Grenier Sagamore Road
Combating political cynicism through the ballot box
To the editor:
When I was having dinner with my husband in a restaurant in Paris last summer, we began talking to our waiter about French politics. He told us that he had never voted in his life and had no interest in voting in the future. Startled by his statement, I asked him why, and he said that his vote would not make any difference on either side, because neither side cared enough about the plight of workers like him. I was deeply saddened by his statement, growing up in France in a family where voting was always regarded as a duty never to be missed. I tried to convince our waiter that his paid vacations and all the protections he was entitled to were achieved through people like him voting for politicians supporting workers’ rights. He didn’t seem to make the connection and kept returning to his cynical view of politics. Many people feel the same way in the United States, for the same reasons, resulting in a real loss of human connectedness and a lack of belief in human power.
Not voting is equivalent to giving up about possible change. Thinking of the civil rights movement giving equal rights to Black Americans, as well as the suffragettes’ struggles giving women the right to vote, (French women received the right only in 1945!) we cannot say my vote means nothing. Your vote means a great deal — it makes you part of the village, the collective of humanity!
Not voting is selfish and despairing. It’s saying: “I don’t care,” “I am meaningless,” “I am nothing.”
Please, vote on Nov. 5, your voice is powerful, and can make a big difference at a time when elections often end in frequent cliffhangers!
Your vote is your voice, and your voice is yours alone!
Brigitte Lagoutte Lee Street
A letter from the Board of Assessors
To the editor:
(The Board of Assessors wrote this message in July and recently asked the Current to publish it as a letter to the editor.)
This January, the Board of Assessors received 334 abatement requests, the highest number since the housing crisis of 2008, indicating that something went terribly wrong with last year’s assessment process.
As a result, the Marblehead Board of Assessors commissioned a Fiscal Year 2024 Assessment Review, which we are now releasing to the public. We also want to provide this additional background information to better address the issues that have come to light.
The role of the board: It is crucial to understand that under Massachusetts Law, Chapter 41, Section 25A, the elected Marblehead Board of Assessors appoints a full-time assistant assessor. This individual is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the assessment process by making fair and consistent assessments of homes in Marblehead. When taxpayers feel that their properties are unfairly assessed, it is up to the elected Board of Assessors to review and vote on abatement requests (reconsiderations) fairly and impartially.
Understanding the Context: Under Massachusetts Law, specifically Proposition 2 ½, without voter approval, the total dollar value of all taxes collected in Marblehead for all taxable properties combined cannot be increased by more than 2 1⁄2 percent of the amount collected the previous year.
Additional taxes not subject to this limitation can be collected for additions, improvements and new construction, collectively known as new growth. However, changes in individual assessments do not affect the total amount of taxes collected by Marblehead. They do however affect the share of total taxes paid on individual taxable properties. For instance, if Marblehead had four homes with a combined value of $1,000,000, the total tax collected would be $8,960 (at the current tax rate of $8.96 per thousand dollars of assessed value). The following year, without a Proposition 2 1⁄2 override, the maximum amount that could be collected would increase by 2 1⁄2 percent, to $9,184.
This is irrespective of the individual assessments of the homes. If the total value of the homes doubled, the tax rate would adjust to ensure the total collection (in dollars) still increased only by 2 1⁄2 percent. But if one of those homes saw a much larger percentage increase in valuation than the other three, that home’s share of the total property taxes collected on all four homes would go up. The total taxes collected on all four would remain the same. This is effectively what happened last
year in Marblehead. Certain neighborhoods and home types received disparate increases resulting in the overall share of taxes being shifted onto those taxpayers.
The Problem: Typically, homes of similar type and neighborhoods in Marblehead increase in value by approximately the same percentage each year. However, this year, certain neighborhoods and home types saw dramatic and indefensible increases, while others saw equally indefensible decreases. The Board of Assessors only became aware of the extent of the problem when taxpayers who saw significant increases complained and filed abatements. Those who received reductions did not complain, and by the time the Board of Assessors became aware of the extent of the problem, it was too late to make unilateral adjustments.
Our Response: Under Massachusetts law, the Board of Assessors cannot remedy the valuations on properties for which no abatement request was filed by February 1. We are also aware that many taxpayers received unfair underassessments. Therefore, the board has concluded that the entire assessment database needs to be reviewed.
The path forward: Marblehead is required to conduct a full revaluation of all properties every five years, with the next one scheduled for 2025 (FY26). However, due to the serious errors that occurred, we have decided to bring forward much of the revaluation to 2024 (FY25). Again, it is important to note that this will not increase or decrease the total amount of taxes collected from Marblehead taxpayers. It is the role of the annual Marblehead Town Meeting to determine the budget and the amount of taxes to be collected for the upcoming year. This revaluation process is designed to make sure that all properties are fairly assessed. To accomplish this goal, we intend to engage the same outside firm that will assist the assessors with the full 2025 revaluation. Preliminary property valuations will be published to allow property owners to offer comments to the Board. We sincerely apologize for the issues that have occurred and are committed to restoring trust in the assessment process. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work through these necessary remediations. Marblehead Board of Assessors Chair John P. Kelley, Merritt Street William J. Willis, Spray Avenue
Jonathan S. Lederman, Ida Road
removing the stressor thus reducing the pressure enough to feel better.
In contrast, burnout feels hopeless that positive change is possible. There aren’t enough external or internal resources to make a difference. You feel empty, devoid of motivation and beyond caring. One description likened chronic stress to drowning and compared to burnout being all dried up. And while you’re usually aware of being under a lot of stress, you don’t always notice burnout when it happens — like the frog. What I found to be particularly different was that I can thrive under stress. Stress itself can motivate and energize me. I can feel more alive in stressful situations than at rest. Whereas, being burnt out felt
In terms of prevalence, a 2024 Global Talent Trends report published by Mercer, a global HR consulting firm, showed more than eight out of 10 employees are at risk of burnout this year. It cited financial strain, exhaustion, workload and organizational changes as contributing factors. Symptoms arise on the physical, emotional and behavioral levels. Pay attention to your immunity, sleep cycle, appetite and energy levels. Emotionally, watch for increases in self-doubt, critical self-talk, dissatisfaction in accomplishment and feeling helpless and defeated. Behaviorally, the red flags look like isolation, procrastination, disengaging and leaning into unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Bouncing Back
Rising from the ashes takes more than a nap or even long
weekend in the Berkshires. Studies are unclear but it takes months, not days. And it’s individual, based on your unique challenges, personal mindset and specific environment. Be patient. Give yourself grace and compassion. And commit to the changes that will make a difference in your life.
Here are three strategies to prioritize both prevention and healing: Connection and Community: One study showed that social connection was the most effective burnout busting strategy and the only one
that increased all three of the main components they were measuring — (a) physical vigor, which meant feeling energetic and strong, (b) cognitive health, including creativity, clarity and focus and (c) recovery, characterized as feeling rested and having sufficient time to recover.
The research is clear that having a sense of belonging protects against burnout. And if you’re already smelling smoke, finding a supportive space with like-minded people is your road to recovery.
Self Care - Prioritizing yourself is essential to showing up in the world as your best self. And it’s even more important when you’re feeling burnt out. But it looks a little different.
When you’re already consumed in stress, even good stressors can add to the load — physically and mentally. For example, rigorous exercise is a great way to extinguish stress
and prevent burnout. But if your body is already flooded with cortisol (stress hormone), more isn’t better. This is when restorative practices are best. They help the body tap into its natural healing mechanisms and promote mental and physical relaxation and recovery.
Such low-impact, low-intensity exercises can be cycling, rowing, yoga, walking, swimming, stretching and pilates.
Low cost activities - These are activities that are not outcome driven or productive, require little effort and are purely enjoyable. Examples are watching TV, reading a book and even napping.
Marblehead resident Wendy Tamis Robbins is an anxiety expert, author, wellness speaker and coach. Learn more about her work at wendytamisrobbins.com. Download her 40-min burnout masterclass at wendytamisrobbins. com/burnout.
From P. A4
Charter students learn about science, nutrition while growing own lunches
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Did you know there’s an organic farm-to-table dining experience here in Marblehead?
The customers are fourth-toeighth graders.
At the Marblehead Community Charter Public School, students plant, nurture and harvest about 200 pounds of produce every year, which the school’s chefs then turn into nutritious lunches. In fact, about 30% of the food in lunches comes straight from the garden.
Fourth-grade teacher Jenn Stoddard works with her students in the spring to plant zucchini, squash, tomatoes, peppers and even watermelons. They also plant flowers that attract pollinators.
The garden is 57 feet long by 21 feet wide. While working there, students learn about soil, how things grow, nutrition and even measuring, Stoddard said. Most importantly, they learn where the food they eat comes from and how it gets to their table.
Charter’s Food Services
Director Dantette Russo tends to the garden every day during the summer so when the students come back in late August, it’s ready for harvest.
“We come out at least once a
BY WILL DOWD
Marblehead is seeing a significant financial windfall thanks to savvy investment strategies implemented by Treasurer-Collector Cami Iannarelli and her predecessor, Rachel Blaisdell. The town’s investment income skyrocketed from just $66,232 in fiscal year 2022 to over $1.3 million in fiscal year 2023.
According to Iannarelli, efforts to stabilize the Finance Department played a large role in
week to pick and observe what’s going on with our pollinator friends,” Stoddard said, referring
On one Friday in September, students picked 30 pounds of tomatoes. Russo then used some of them to make a creamy soup.
Russo’s kitchen partner, Hope Ward, bakes focaccia bread once a week, and the students enjoy roasted veggie sandwiches with mozzarella.
Russo roasts “tons of tomatoes,” freezes them and uses them throughout the year in marinara, soups and pizza.
Fourth-grader Maya Flaherty walked through the garden looking for ripe veggies, pulling back vines and being careful not to disturb any young plants.
“There are so many things you
can find here,” she said. “My favorite is the black or purple peppers.”
Cora Amittay said she likes to “observe” when she visits the garden.
“I’ve never seen a bee pollinate before now,” she said. “It’s cool to see it burrow under the petals.”
Sam Laforme looks forward to the garden trips.
“It’s a really nice place,” he said. “It’s very peaceful.” In addition to MCCPS lunches, Russo uses produce from the garden to stock Charter’s Food Pantry, which delivers food to students’ families and others in need around town.
smart moves boost town investment income
achieving these impressive gains.
“Having someone in place who could focus on our accounts and investments for an entire fiscal year played a large role,” she explained.
“Unfortunately, staff turnover in previous years precluded paying attention to these details.” Iannarelli said she capitalized on rising interest rates over the past year.
“Rates at our banks were more favorable in fiscal year 2023 continuing into fiscal year 2024,” the
Iannarelli also opened new accounts, including a banking service that allows businesses to receive, process and deposit customer payments sent to a secure P.O. Box, speeding up cash flow and reducing manual processing, and moved funds to maximize returns.
existing case”. Enterthe case number aboveand click Next.Followthe instructions to completeyour filing. Once youhaveresponded to theComplaint,you canaccessdocumentselectronically filedthrough our Case Access Portalbygoing to https://odypa.nhecourt.us/portaland followingthe instructionsin theUserGuide.Inthat process youwillregister, validate your email, request access andapprovalto view your case.After your informationisvalidated by thecourt, youwillbeabletoviewcase informationand documentsfiledinyour case 9/17/2024 1:01 PM Belknap Superior Court This is aService Document For Case: 211-2024-CV-00103 If youdonot comply with theserequirements, youwillbeconsideredindefault andthe Court mayissue orders thataffect youwithout your input Send copies to: Matthew R. Braucher,ESQ Braucher&AssociatesPLLC764 Chestnut St Ste 1 ManchesterNH03104 Martha Lynn Davidson,ESQ Braucher&AssociatesPLLC764 Chestnut St Ste 1 ManchesterNH03104 BY ORDER OF THECOURT September17, 2024AbigailAlbee ClerkofCourt (1261021
treasurer said. “We were able to leverage those rates by transferring balances between institutions to take advantage of higher rates.”
Benjamin makes cautious, conservative estimates of how much revenue the town will receive from various sources, including investment income, when planning the budget. This estimated revenue, called “local receipts,” is used to help balance the budget.
If the actual revenue from local receipts exceeds her estimate, the extra money doesn’t go directly into the current budget but instead is added to “free cash,” which is a reserve fund that can be used for future financial needs, such as unexpected expenses and capital projects. Benjamin estimated that around $1,289,593 could flow into free cash.
Benjamin, however, remains cautious about the future, explaining that revenue from investment income can be volatile and subject to market fluctuations.
“This is a variable
and volatile revenue depending on the market, and the Treasurer is closely monitoring rates as they are expected to drop in December,” she noted, highlighting the importance of continued vigilance in managing the town’s investments.
The treasurer also cultivated closer relationships with local financial institutions.
“The treasurer-collector has fostered and continues to maintain relationships with local banks through increased attendance at conferences and sponsored meetings,” Iannarelli noted. “In doing so, they reach out to us when they have favorable rates to offer.”
These efforts allowed the town to secure advantageous terms on its deposits.
“A few of our banks offered better rates with higher deposit balances,” Iannarelli said. “Due to a couple of these offers, we were able to take advantage of a 5.25% money market rate and a 5% money market at a time when we were receiving 4% to 4.25% on average.”
the things that eat them are making a
“We also implemented a general fund account at Massachusetts Municipal Depository Trust to take advantage of investment rates while maintaining liquidity,” she said. “We changed our lockbox account to a different institution, allowing us to take advantage of reduced rates, and greater efficiency for that transaction account. These types of details add up to savings and gains over time.”
Benjamin recently met with Iannarelli to discuss the town’s investment strategies.
“Cami will also be requesting the adoption of the prudent investor law on the warrant at the next annual town meeting, to maximize investments in trust funds,” Benjamin said. “Cami is currently meeting with two investment firms to evaluate changing the Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund from being state-controlled. The town would benefit from local control with direct communication with the investment firm to ensure the town was receiving the greatest return.”
Benjamin said the two firms will present to the Finance Committee and
Select Board in the near future. The Other PostEmployment Benefits Trust Fund is a financial mechanism that allows organizations to prefund and manage future costs for retiree benefits, such as health and life insurance, helping reduce the financial burden when those obligations arise.
“We are streamlining financial functions and systems to benefit the town for many years to come,” she added.
Iannarelli worked closely with Benjamin to ensure the town’s investment strategies aligned with legal requirements and town policies too.
“Our investment strategy is governed by state law and is outlined in our finance policies which were reviewed and updated by the chief financial officer, with input from the treasurercollector, and approved by the Select Board,” Iannarelli explained. Looking ahead, the treasurer is optimistic that the town can continue growing its investment income. “The treasurercollector continues to maintain relationships with a variety of account representatives at different banks,” said Iannarelli. “Accounts are reviewed monthly for rates, and action is taken when necessary. The treasurer-collector and chief financial officer are working closely with our investment advisors to identify opportunities for positive gain.”
to the bees buzzing nearby. “The students are always excited to come out and discover.”
CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER
Jenn Stoddard’s students show off their pickings from Sept. 10.
MCCPS chefs Hope Ward, left, and Danette Russo roast and freeze tomatoes picked from the garden and use them all school year.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin attributes the surge in investment income to Treasurer Collector Cami Iannarelli, right, and Innarelli’s predecessor, Rachel Blaisdell.
MCCPS student Cora Amittay raises a Serpent of Sicily zucchini over her head.
Go inside The Abbey Studio
BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Maryanne Grebenstein, owner of The Abbey Studio, conducted by Discover Marblehead. The Abbey Studio is a calligraphy studio, as well as a storefront selling stationery and calligraphy supplies. The store is located at 84 Washington St. Learn more at theabbeystudio.com.
Tell us about The Abbey Studio and why you started the business. The Abbey Studio is a calligraphy studio that I started many years ago. I create hand-lettered corporate recognition awards and personal gifts. Originally it was just a studio, but since opening my storefront on Washington Street in Marblehead in 2016, I’ve expanded and now carry personal stationery items,
greeting cards (my own designs and other local artists) and, of course, calligraphy supplies. Recently, I opened an Etsy shop (etsy.com/shop/theabbeystudio) that contains some fun items like hoodies and baby onesies with my hand-lettered artwork and quotations. During the past year, I’ve created a hand-lettered manuscript of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and we’ve just launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a limited edition of 20 facsimiles of “The Raven”
along with greeting cards and broadsides with quotes from the poem. To learn more about the campaign, please go to my website at theabbeystudio.com.
What is the best business advice you’ve ever received? The business advice I like best
(although it isn’t specific to business) is a quote I came upon a few years ago: “Growth and comfort do not co-exist” and I think that is so true.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead? Marblehead is such a beautiful place. We
all know that. It’s hard to pick a favorite spot, but if I had to name one it would likely be Crocker Park.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? People might be surprised to learn that I am a kitchen and bath designer. I’m a graduate of the Boston Architectural College’s Kitchen and Bath Design program and worked in that field for many years. I’m a hand-drafter, although I also work with computer-aided design programs, and was surprised to learn along the way how similar calligraphy and drafting are.
The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com
Children’s Room to receive further upgrades
BY WILL DOWD
The Abbot Public Library is set
to enhance its Killam Children’s Room following the library’s recent $10 million renovation.
Library Director Kimberly Grad and Marketing and Communications Coordinator Cassandra Sprague announced the plans, which build on improvements made to the library’s lower-level facility eight years ago.
The upcoming renovations, funded by the Oliver P. Killam Memorial Fund, will include a new computer station, refurbished seating, updated carpets and a stationary activity wall. The costs associated with the upgrades and the project timeline were both unavailable.
The announced enhancements come after a significant $220,000 renovation to the library’s lower level in 2016,
which was also primarily funded by accumulated distributions from the Oliver P. Killam Memorial Trust.
“We’re going to replace some carpet squares where they’re needed,” Grad said, emphasizing the focus on both functionality and aesthetics.
The renovation plans also include rebuilding and restoring a built-in desk, which will allow for a restructuring of
CeLebr AtING COmm UNIt Y
the room’s shelving system.
The improvements aim to address concerns raised by community members, including those expressed in letters published in the Marblehead Current in July 2024. Local parents voiced disappointment with the condition of the children’s area following the library’s major renovation, citing issues such as stained carpets, lack of comfortable seating and
outdated resources.
The new computer station will provide enhanced access to digital resources, while the refurbished seating will offer comfortable areas for reading and activities. The stationary activity wall is expected to be a popular addition, providing interactive learning opportunities for children.
These upgrades are part of a broader effort to modernize the
library’s facilities and services. The 2016 renovation included improvements to the children’s room, meeting room and entrance areas, creating a more welcoming environment with a nautical theme and related color schemes. While the exact timeline for the current Children’s Room renovation completion was not specified, the library is moving forward with new programming initiatives.
Grad will lead a “Babies and Books” series, running six sessions across October and November. Specifically, it will take place Oct. 8, 15, 22 and 29 as well as Nov. 5 and 12, with each session lasting from 10:3011 a.m. in the Killam Children’s Room. Tailored for lap-sitting babies aged 0-12 months and their caregivers, the program will include songs, board book readings and interactive playtime.
Champions of sea, sustainability honored
BY WILL DOWD
The Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor marked its 28th anniversary with a “Breakfast of Champions” event on Sept. 17 in the Masonic Philanthropic Lodge. The celebration honored local sailing icons and environmental advocates and featured Paralympic gold medalist Maureen McKinnon as the keynote speaker.
Club Co-president Patricia Sullivan welcomed attendees, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to recognizing exceptional contributions at local, national and international levels.
“We are so grateful to all of you for who you are and how you have impacted our world,” Sullivan said.
The honorees
The event highlighted Marblehead’s rich sailing heritage by honoring three accomplished sailors.
Dave Curtis, a celebrated sailor and sailmaker, was recognized for his numerous national and world championship victories, including two Rolex Yachtsman of the Year titles and gold medals at the Pan Am and PreOlympic Games.
Joan Thayer, another
honoree, was praised for her lifelong dedication to sailing and her efforts to increase women’s participation in the sport.
Thayer developed the Take the Helm Women’s Sailing Conference, which has educated hundreds of women in sailing skills, and chaired the Centennial Marblehead Race Week.
Quoting Thayer, Sullivan said, “Women sailors are not just along for the ride any longer. We are at the helm, on the ownership papers and sought-after crews.”
The breakfast also celebrated local environmental advocates, acknowledging the intersection of sailing and environmental stewardship. Sustainable Marblehead, the town’s environmental advocacy organization, was recognized for its efforts. The Sustainable Marblehead honorees— Judith Black, Nancy DeMuth, Petra Langer, Elaine Leahy and Lynn Nadeau—were recognized for their leadership in environmental advocacy, policy development and sustainability efforts.
Black, Nadeau and DeMuth were honored as co-founders (alongside Sullivan) for their vision in creating an organization
that now boasts 1,200 subscribers and five working groups. Leahy, the current executive director of Sustainable Marblehead, was commended for her leadership and involvement in various local initiatives. Recently, she participated in the Friends Forever Day event, giving a talk about the harm of plastics and litter in the marine environment.
The event also featured an Environmental Jeopardy! game, which was conceived and run by Summer Genovese, Sustainable Marblehead’s summer intern.
Langer, the organization’s first executive director, was recognized for her role in developing its effective bottom-up approach.
Nadeau, a Sustainable Marblehead board
member, was also honored for her work with the environmental organization HealthLink and her efforts in closing the Salem coalfired power plant.
Lisa and Steve Wolf were acknowledged for building Marblehead’s only net-zero home and their contributions to local environmental initiatives and marine protection efforts. Steve, a member of Sustainable Marblehead’s board, was recognized for his leadership in the Harbor Working Group, which has implemented various green boating practices and ocean plastic reduction efforts.
The keynote address
The highlight of the morning was the keynote address by McKinnon, who shared her inspiring journey from a casual sailor to becoming the first
American woman to win a Paralympic gold medal in sailing. McKinnon became a paraplegic due to a tragic accident in 1995. While walking her bicycle back toward a ferry landing in Rockland, Maine, she tripped and fell 13 feet off a seawall onto the sand and rocks below. This fall resulted in her paralysis from the waist down.
McKinnon described how a chance meeting with Rick Dorr, another paraplegic sailor, reignited her passion for the sport.
“I found out I could be a true contributing member of the team. My disability washed away. I left the wheelchair on the dock, and I was back to sailing again,” McKinnon recounted, emphasizing the empowering nature of adaptive sailing.
McKinnon’s story took an unexpected turn when her young son, Trent, was diagnosed with a brain tumor during her preparation for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. Despite this challenge, McKinnon and her team persevered.
“Within 72 hours of the diagnosis, we decided we were not going to allow cancer to ruin this campaign,” she said, highlighting the support she received from the
community.
McKinnon went on to win gold in Beijing with her teammate Nick Scandone, who was battling Lou Gehrig’s disease. She described the emotional moment of their victory: “I can’t really explain to you what the feeling is like when you first lift up that American spinnaker. You realize that you are competing for your country, and that this is not just a little round-thecan race anymore.” The Paralympian also touched on her subsequent competition in the 2016 Rio Paralympics and her current focus on single-handed sailing in the 2.4-meter class. Throughout her speech, McKinnon emphasized the inclusive nature of sailing and its potential to empower individuals with disabilities.
“Sailing can be for everyone, it truly can be,” McKinnon affirmed, recounting her experiences designing and running an adaptive sailing program in East Boston.
The event concluded with McKinnon sharing updates on her family, including her son Trent’s recent enrollment at Salem State University, marking another triumph on their journey.
COURTESY PHOTO
Maryanne Grebenstein, owner of The Abbey Studio, creates handlettered calligraphy pieces, blending art with craftsmanship.
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
The Killam Children’s Room at Abbot Public Library is set to receive further upgrades including new seating, updated carpets and an activity wall.
COURTESY PHOTO
Sailing Olympian Maureen McKinnon, left, won gold in Beijing in 2008 with her teammate, Nick Scandone.
Dr.SaraGlass
Larry Tye
Yardena Schwartz
Adam Nimoy
Jill Weber Alyson Richman
Elizabeth Graver
GrIDIrON GLOrY
Sports
Domination returns to Piper Field
Football Magicians wallop non-league Shepherd Hill in 2024
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Following the 40-13 loss to powerhouse King Philip in Norfolk on Sept. 13, Marblehead High football coach Jim Rudloff was not that disappointed, when he said, “I definitely see improvements in some areas, and we have to continue to get better each day.” Those “improvements” were on full display in the home opener against Shepherd Hill Regional last Friday night at Piper.
When football teams score 55 points and defenses shutdown the opposition for three-plus quarters that included two turnovers, dominant wins are the norm. And that’s what happened to the visiting Rams. They were on the short end of a 55-8 final score that also broke Marblehead’s two-game losing streak.
The football Magicians weren’t too kind to their non-league western Mass. counterparts, who went limping to the bus — not literally — for that long ride back to Dudley after getting blitzed by Rudloff’s crew. It was Shepherd Hill’s second straight loss in as many games to begin the season. Concord-Carlisle defeated them the previous week, 27-16.
The Marblehead boys wasted little time to move the ball downfield, before senior Yandel Garcia scored the team’s first touchdown of the game from nine yards out. Sophomore Finbar Bresnahan then successfully booted his first of seven extra points in this game for a 7-0 lead at 6:22 of the first quarter.
After the Rams offense temporarily confused the Marblehead defense with a bunch of misdirection no-huddle trick running plays that resulted in their lone touchdown of the game followed by a successful two-point try to give them a brief 8-7 one-point lead at 1:25 of the opening stanza, the home team immediately regained the lead, which they never relinquished. On the second
play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Colt Wales faked a handoff before pitching it to classmate Crew Monaco, who sprinted 46 yards all the way to the endzone. The first quarter ended with the Magicians in front, 14-8.
“Once we called that play, I knew we were going to break out. We had a lot of guys in
the box, so if our receivers did their jobs blocking, we were going to succeed. I read one of those blocks, and took it to the outside,” Monaco explained in describing his go-ahead first quarter touchdown.
“We kept it really simple after that, particularly on defense,” he added. “We just knew after every play we needed to reset and shift
to the next play. We knew they were going to run some motion plays and stuff like that, but I thought we did a really good job keeping our composure,” he added.
Wales offered his explanation of the go-ahead first quarter touchdown. “That touchdown to Crew was a brand-new play that we put in during practice
that week,” Colt said. “Before the snap, I looked at the box, and saw they loaded it with seven or eight kids. They didn’t have any outside backer it seemed the whole night. I knew if I could get that pitch out to Crew in space, he would make it happen.
“(Assistant) Coach (Mike) Giardi always tells the quarterbacks to get the ball out to your playmakers, and I did just that by pitching it to Crew,” added Wales. “After they scored that touchdown, we (as a defense) knew what we had to do. We didn’t say anything special. The coaches trust us to do the right thing, and as players we got the job done, not letting them score after that. There were things on defense that could have been better, and throughout the course of the game it did get better.”
The Marblehead boys tacked on 20 more unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 34-8 lead at halftime. Sam Thompson was on the receiving end of a six-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Finn
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Girls cross-country escapes past Swampscott
Technically, the Marblehead High girls cross-country track team (2-1) tied visiting Swampscott on the 3.05-mile Gatchell Park home course, 28-28 on Sept. 18, but the Magicians won this meet based on the sixth-place tiebreaker.
Marblehead’s junior star runner Marri O’Connell once again led the way with a firstplace finish. Her time of 18:56 ended up smashing the existing course record of 19:20. But then, the Big Blue took the next three spots, led by their breakout freshman harrier star Annabelle Averett (20:05). Abbie Goodwin (23:02), Ruby Assa (23:37) and Evelina Beletsky (23:57) got their Marblehead teammates back in the race with fifth, sixth and seventh finishes.
Swampscott’s fourth runner finished eighth after a strong final mile push that catapulted her past two runners. Ultimately though, it was Marblehead’s fifth and sixth place runners — Evie Becker (24:09) and Jesslyn
Roemer (24:21) — who were the difference makers in the outcome of this meet.
“Jesslyn’s finish offset Swampscott’s fifth runner by one place, which was enough to (invoke) the tiebreaker,” said coach William Herlihy.
Gatchell Park last Wednesday, Sept. 18. Will Cerrutti (17:02) and Nate Assa (17:04) took the top two spots against the Big Blue. Teammates Henrik Adams, Will Cruikshank, Jacob Szalewicz and Jonah Potach followed them across the finish line in fifth through eighth place. Winthrop is next up to invade Gatchell Park to take on the Magicians Sept. 25, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Magicians all tied up on the pitch
Boys remain perfect after three meets
The Marblehead High boys cross-country team (3-0) defeated Swampscott, 21-37 at
The Magicians will remain at home to go up against visiting Winthrop Sept. 25, starting at 4:30 p.m.
The Marblehead High girls soccer team (2-1-3) opened up last week with a 1-1 tie against Beverly on Sept. 16. The Marblehead girls took a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second half on a goal by
Sadie
Marblehead
to
involved
project.
soccer team’s match this fall is Ellia, a Marblehead native, who is front and center in the photo. They had her Signing Day recently, where she became an honorary member of the program, as the chief of high fives.
COURTESY PHOTOS / MUFFY PAQUETTE
Marblehead High senior football captain Bodie Smith is surrounded by teammates after coming up with an interception during last Friday night’s home opener against Shepherd Hill at Piper Field. It was all Magicians in this one, as the home team routed its western Massachusetts visitors to the tune of 55-8.
Some of the many Marblehead High football fans cheer on the home team during last Friday night’s home opener against Shepherd Hill. There was plenty to cheer about, as the Magicians routed the Rams, 55-8.
Magicians split with NEC rivals
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Beverly High boys soccer team (4-2) rolled into Piper Field to take on the host Magicians (5-2) on Sept. 16. The Panthers were looking to assert their authority over the NEC North after an uneven start to 2024.
Coming off two straight losses, the Panthers needed a win to right the ship. In the opening minutes, the Magicians and Panthers shared an even number of opportunities. Both teams moved the ball well, but the respective defenses did not bend. Attackers were occasionally able to break through the backfield, but scoring threats were in short supply. But they both exhibited resiliency in the first 40 minutes, while neither side was able to force any fatal mistakes to capitalize on their scoring chances. As a result, the game was still scoreless at halftime.
In the second half, Marblehead continued to transition well through midfield, but still struggled to push past the 18. To their credit, the Panthers played a compact defensive front and tackled well that forced turnovers consistently at the edges of the penalty box.
The Magicians had a beautiful sequence of scoring opportunities. Striker Max Dressel first streaked left and saw an opening on the right side, but it never materialized. Minutes later, David Magen had a solid strike, but it flew high over the goal. But despite those
near misses, Marblehead was starting to gain momentum.
On defense, the Marblehead boys displayed the grit and tenacity they’ve had the entire month. Adam Loughlin and T.J. Kelly did an outstanding job keeping the Beverly forwards from penetrating the center, while co-captain Colin White was a stalwart on the right side, using his strength and discipline to stop opposing shots from getting close to the net.
Fullback Dylan Gilmore played a solid second half. He won several tackles and 50/50 balls, while his teammate Oliver Murtagh was a formidable presence on the outside flank.
With 17 minutes left in the game, Beverly defenders pulled his Marblehead counterpart down from behind. The infraction spotted the ball just outside the yellow line of the penalty box. Off the ensuing direct kick by Stefan Shepherd, the Beverly goalie punched it out of bounds. Marblehead then teed it up for a corner, where
midfielder Jared Halpern sent the ball arching into the fray, only to see Beverly clear it just in time to avert disaster.
With 11:30 left in regulation, Beverly scored the first goal of the game. Marblehead goaltender Rory Zampese, a team captain, was first able to dive to partially block the ball, before it bounced away and into the net.
In the waning minutes, the Magicians had opportunities, but could not get the equalizer, thus losing the close 1-0 battle.
Magicians pin shutout loss on visiting Saugus
Two days later, the Saugus Sachems came to Piper for what proved to be another defensive struggle.
The Magicians gained momentum in the first half, creating numerous chances, only to fall short. Starting with a quality strike by midfielder Jared Halpern, which flew just wide left, Marblehead continued to use an aggressive, controlled passing attack to find seams in
the defense. After a defensive breakdown that almost resulted in a Saugus goal, the home team turned on the jets. Its attack was relentless, including a breakaway that was whistled for being offsides inside the 18. Another long ball by defender Colin White put the Magicians in a prime position to strike, only to be denied by a leaping athletic Saugus goalie.
Midfielder Bubacar Jallow then made an effortless cross to center that nearly connected, but the Saugus defender intercepted the play, which nearly turned into a disaster for him when he misfired on the clear, and almost shot it into his own net.
A short time later, Yuri Volkov came up with a well-timed volley that flew high over the net.
The Magicians eventually wore down Saugus in the second half.
Halpern placed a shot to the top right corner of the net for a goal five minutes into the half after a direct kick careened through the
goal box.
Marblehead now had the momentum, and it opened up the passing lanes through midfield and near the touchlines. With 26 minutes left in the game, Saugus had numbers coming off a counterattack, but its shot sailed high over the crossbar. It was a close call that the Headers did not care to repeat.
In the remaining minutes, Marblehead scored two more goals, both from forward Kyle Hart. Shepherd went one-on-one against the Saugus goalie, and the ball eventually ricocheted to Hart, who knocked it home. He later followed it up with another score to give his teammates added insurance.
Marblehead won with a combination of bend, but didn’t break defense with enough firepower to tilt the scales in the right direction of a close game.
Troy Miller contributed to this report.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Kara Smith, born and raised in Marblehead, is stepping outside her comfort zone and into a boxing ring next month, fighting for a cure for cancer.
The annual charity event Belles of the Brawl is hosted by the Haymakers for Hope. Since 2011, the nonprofit has $32 million for cancer research and care.
“People always say you should do things that scare you,” Smith said.
The 29-year-old executive assistant has been cardio boxing for about six years. However, this will be her first fight. And it’s for a cause she cares deeply about.
“I lost my grandmother to cancer in 2011 and my Uncle Perry is a cancer survivor,” she said.
Wednesday, Sept. 25
4 p.m., golf, vs. Peabody, at Meadow Golf Course, Peabody
4 p.m., girls soccer, vs. Masconomet, at Masconomet Regional HS
4 p.m., boys soccer, vs. Masconomet, at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., girls and boys cross country, vs. Winthrop, at
BY WILL DOWD
The inaugural Spirit of ‘76 Patriot 5K family run/walk/ ruck took place Saturday, Sept. 14, raising nearly $9,000 for Company 2 Heroes. The nonprofit organization provides training for service dogs assisting veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Gatchell’s Playground
Thursday, Sept. 26
5:30 p.m., volleyball, vs. Danvers, at Marblehead High gym
Friday, Sept. 27
4 p.m., field hockey, vs. Beverly, at MHS Piper Field
4 p.m., girls soccer, vs. Salem, at Bertram Field, Salem
Smith started cardio boxing in 2018 after graduating from college and moving home to Marblehead.
“I was looking for an outlet,” she said. “They opened a Title Boxing Club in Vinnin Square, and I took one class and was absolutely hooked, obsessed.”
Asked what she liked most about boxing early on, Smith said, “It was honestly mental. I liked exercising, but nothing stuck. I would wander around the gym and pick up whatever. It didn’t feel fulfilling. There was something about hitting a heavy bag that was a fullbody release. You have to be really present and challenge yourself.”
Smith teaches cardio boxing
6 p.m., football, vs. North Andover, at North Andover High
6 p.m., football cheerleading, vs. North Andover, at North Andover High
6 p.m., volleyball, vs. Reading, at Reading Memorial High
7:30 p.m., soccer, vs. Salem, at MHS Piper Field
Saturday, Sept. 28
TBA, girls and boys cross country,
at the Title Boxing clubs at Boston’s North Station and Assembly Row in Somerville.
She’s training 90 minutes, five to six days a week.
“I jump rope for nine minutes, shadow box, get in some drill work,” she said. She is also practicing sparring.
Her opponent at Belles of the Brawl is a 40-year-old woman who is 5 feet, 1 inch tall. Smith is 5-foot-5.
Fights are scheduled for three, two-minute rounds.
What is her mindset going into fight day?
“You have to have confidence,” she said.
No matter what happens in the ring, Smith said, “I’ll love boxing forever. I hope to get my kids into at least a cardio boxing class some day.”
And she specifically encourages more women to put on the gloves.
“It’s really empowering,” she said. “It’s a pretty heavily maledominated sport. I think it’s important for women to know how to hold their own. I feel safe out at night, given that I know how to throw a punch.”
She added, “I also want to be a mentor for the future Haymaker girls and continue to knock out cancer.”
Belles of the Brawl happens Thursday, Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. at Fenway’s MGM Music Hall. To learn more about Smith’s upcoming fight, visit haymakersforhope.org/events/ boxing/belles-of-the-brawl-2024/ fighters/kara-smith.
Brown Invitational, at Goddard Park, Warwick, Rhode Island
Monday, Sept. 30
4 p.m., unified basketball, vs. Salem, at Salem High
Tuesday, Oct. 1
4 p.m., field hockey, vs. Danvers, at MHS Piper Field
4 p.m., golf, vs. Beverly, at Beverly Golf & Tennis
Results: Men’s division: » Patrick Hogan (17:32) » Gene Hul (23:26) » Greg Cheney (24:41) Women’s division: Carol Alshuler (36:20) Lydia Hurley (40:35) » Valerie O’Brien (40:35, 50-pound ruck)
5:30 p.m., volleyball, vs. Masconomet, at Marblehead High gym
7 p.m., girls soccer, vs. Peabody, at Peabody Veterans Memorial High
7 p.m., boys soccer, vs. Peabody, at MHS Piper Field
Saturday, Oct. 5
2:30 p.m., field hockey, vs. Gloucester, at Gloucester High
COURTESY PHOTO
Runners at the Spirit of ‘76 Patriot 5K’s start line.
COURTESY PHOTO Kara Smith, who grew up in Marblehead, will be fighting in the Haymakers for Hope charity boxing event next month.
COURTESY PHOTOS / RICH BIBBINS
Marblehead High boys soccer midfielder Jared Halpern sends the ball into the net during a home game at Piper Field against Saugus.
Marblehead High boys soccer goalie Rory Zampese vaults high across the net to make a save.
BY RICK CUZNER
Fall intothe Landing!
Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Leigh Blander Frances Perkins
Meet the Unsung Heroine Behind the New Deal
Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and community awards celebration
Thursday, Sept. 26, 5:30-8:30 p.m.
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce announces their 72nd annual meeting and 2024 community awards celebration. The event will be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead. $65 per person. Join the Chamber to honor the 2024 award recipients – Dave Rodgers, The Harbor Light Inn, Teresa Collins, Jordan’s Launch, the Abbot Public Library Foundation and Bette Hunt. For more info, visit marbleheadchamber.org.
LOL for a good cause
Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m.
The Marblehead Counseling Center presents Comedy Night @ the Gerry 5, 210 Beacon St. hosted by local comic and founder of the Salem Comedy & Spirits Festival Mark Scalia. Come laugh with professional comics Kathe Farris and Kelly MacFarland. Proceeds from the event benefit the Marblehead Counseling Center and support its mission of providing high-quality, affordable mental health care to Marblehead and surrounding communities. Tickets are $35, $40 at the door. https://loom.ly/zrYiSGY
Sustainability Fair
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Bring the whole family to Sustainable Marblehead’s Sustainability Fair, located at the Brown School. 40 Baldwin Road. Test drive EVs, learn about bike safety in a children’s bike rodeo, explore green technology for your home, discover ways to reduce waste, create fun children’s crafts, hear from expert speakers and more! Visit with many nonprofits to learn about their efforts in protecting the planet and speak to businesses who offer green solutions for a brighter future. Listen to musical guests, “The Old Men of Marblehead” for a bit of country and Americana. Stop by the Current’s table, too!
Life on Marblehead’s poor farm
Saturday, Sept 28, 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.
In this free, living history program at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, 161 Washington St., Meghan Boehmer will portray a Marblehead woman, who, having lost her husband and income, finds no alternative but to go to the poor farm with her young children. Hear about how Marblehead helped to care for the poor and vulnerable working-class citizens. This program is sponsored by the Marblehead Cultural Council. More info at marbleheadmuseum.org.
Fall into reading
Saturday, Sept. 28, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Stop by this multi-community book swap at William Raveis Real Estate, 11 Atlantic Ave. Enjoy author readings and book signings, raffles, giveaways and refreshments while you browse for your new reads. Sponsored by Gingle Lerman Realty Group.
Meet the unsung heroine who changed America
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2-3 p.m.
Old North Church’s Festival Chorus is announced registration and rehearsal dates for the 44th annual Festival Chorus Holiday Concerts. The community is welcome to join. There are no auditions.
Rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Old North Church, 35 Washington St. Registration begins at 7 p.m. and rehearsals will take place 7:30-9 p.m. on Wednesday evenings. They will extend to 9:30 p.m. as the concert dates approach. There will be two performances: Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 7:30 p.m.
Maria van Kalken is celebrating her 36th
Abbot Public Library will host a portrayal of the first woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins. Come dive into stories from this woman who defied the conventions of her middle-class Worcester upbringing to become a trailblazer for women in government, warrior for the working poor and instigator of numerous worker-related programs and laws. These include Social Security, the 40-hour workweek and minimum wage. Registration is required to attend in person or via Zoom. tinyurl.com/Perkins-Part-1.
Fall Festival with Epstein Hillel Academy
Hillel Academy invites the community to its Fall Festival on the lower fields at the JCC, Community Road. The event will feature crafts, field and carnival games, inflatables, touch-a-truck and food. Free and open to all.
Hope for Haiti Fall Fest
Sunday, Sept. 29, 1-4 p.m.
Come to Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St. , for its annual Hope for Haiti Fall Fest and enjoy
cider donuts, hot dogs, an ice cream truck, raffles, games and crafts. Proceeds will go to Mission of Hope International in Haiti.
Music in the garden
Sunday, Sept. 29, 2-4 p.m.
Come hear the Joe Berkowitz Trio in the garden at 10 Central St. The garden has shaded seating and chairs are supplied. Bring beverages and snacks.
Leave a note in the mailbox at 10 Central St., telling Margi your dates and the number of people in your party, check or cash. Bring cash if appearing on the concert day. $25$35 per person. Email her that you’re attending at margiflint@mac.com. If there is rain on Sept. 29, music will be inside, second floor through the front door.
Sacred cacao ceremony
Sunday, Sept. 29, 4-5:30 p.m.
Lisa Kawski will incorporate a sacred cacao ceremony with her sound healing. Participate in this sacred session (drinking the cacao beverage is optional but encouraged for those who can). Set your intentions for the energy of the fall equinox and settle in for a sound healing with the added benefits of the cacao. Creative Spirit, 40 South St., Suite 102. $55 More info at creativespiritma.com.
Fall Fair at Lee Mansion Gardens
Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Join Discover Marblehead and Marblehead Museum for the fifth annual Fall Fair at the Lee Mansion Gardens, 161 Washington St. Artists will be selling their work, Acorn Gallery students will draw portraits and Paul Simonelli will perform live music. Mad-Dogz will serve hot dogs, and Bubble Bar Boston and Bent Water will be serving drinks. Rain or shine.
Section leaders/soloists
and
are not required to audition but are expected to have experience; high school students in grades nine through 12 are encouraged to join. All participants will be required to purchase the music, in addition to a nominal registration fee. For more information, visit oldnorthfestivalchorus.org.
Carol Suites: Carols of the Americas by Mark Hayes; Bellringer’s Holiday (including the Ukrainian Bell Carol) arranged by Randol Bass; and other seasonal favorites.
for the season include: Holly Cameron, soprano; Kevin Hayden, tenor;
Andrew Scoglio, baritone. Singers
MLT prepares for opening night of ‘The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui’
BY BENJI BOYD
This Friday, Sept. 27, is opening night for Marblehead Little Theatre’s production of “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” by Bertolt Brecht. Directed by Marblehead resident Greg Mancusi-Ungaro, the play will run for three consecutive weekends with both night and matinee performances available.
“The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” is the allegorical tale of the rise of fascism set in the backdrop of 1920s Chicago. Arturo Ui is a gangster whose plans to take over the vegetable market lead him to commit many acts of corruption and criminality. Though usually considered a satire, director
Mancusi-Ungaro defines the play as a very, very dark comedy.
In an interview with the Current, Mancusi-Ungaro commented on what a rewarding experience directing has been.
“It’s been astonishing to me to come to grips with the effort everyone in the show is making.”
After decades of acting as a technical designer for shows across the North Shore, jumping back into a directorial role was a change. Mancusi-Ungaro has been blown away by the inventiveness and commitment displayed by the actors.
Numbering at around 20, the cast has been rehearsing since mid-July.
According to Mancusi-Ungaro, directing “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” is no small feat. From the elaborate stagecraft and
costuming to the sheer amount of lines required for each actor to memorize, the cast and crew have been extremely busy for the past few months.
“It’s like putting on a Shakespeare,” he remarked, speaking to the breadth of such an undertaking.
Mancusi-Ungaro intends to take advantage of the small theater space to create a sense of intimacy and get the viewers involved in the play. Brecht’s theatrical philosophy, according to Mancusi-Ungaro, is that the more a show reveals its inner workings to the audience, the more they believe.
“This show has a journey,” he said. “And the audience takes the journey with the show.”
Artists create prayer flags for outdoor exhibit
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Two Marblehead artists, friends decades ago, reunited recently to create large, colorful prayer flags for an outdoor exhibit at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport. Each of the three flags, which are 6 feet tall, features a woman. The women represent the past, current day and the future.
“We decided to make the flags feminine because the world really needs feminine energy right now,” said local painter Joyce Bartlett, who partnered with mixed-media artist Diane Treadwell on the project. Both women have won awards at the Marblehead Festival of Arts.
“We love the idea of prayer flags, taking positive or healing energy and sending it out on the wind,” Bartlett said. “We thought that was really cool. With all the negativity that seemed like a positive, feminine thing to do.”
Bartlett and Treadwell had been friends decades earlier when they were raising their families but lost touch as the
children grew. In May, Bartlett spotted a badly wounded squirrel in her yard and remembered that Treadwell is a wildlife and animal rescue professional. She
gave her a call. The animal ran off, but the two women reconnected and started talking about their shared passion: art. They decided to create pieces for the Maudslay
exhibit.
Bartlett described the subject of each of the canvas flags, which they hung between two trees using a halyard line.
“There’s the old woman
in an orange shawl; she represents where we have been,” Bartlett said. “Then there’s Pacha Mama, a South American earth goddess. She represents current day, Mother Nature, the woman who is responsible for all growing, living things.”
She added, “Finally, there is a young girl who represents the future. She’s a superhero. On that one there are six smaller prayer flags. My 6-yearold granddaughter, Harper, painted those for us. Each one is a dragon and each dragon represents an element.”
The Maudslay exhibit runs through Sept. 29. Bartlett isn’t sure what she and Treadwell will do with the flags after that.
“We’ve had a few people offer to buy one of the three,” she said. “But we may donate them to the library where more people locally would be able to see them.”
The Maudslay exhibit can be viewed at 74 Curzon Road, Newburyport. For more info, visit maudslaysculpture.org.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The JCC of the North Shore is hosting its 35th Jewish Book Month speaker series Oct. 9-Nov. 21.
“JBM brings the community together to highlight Jewish culture and promote Jewish authors,” said Sara Ewing, the J’s director of adult programs. “It provides a space for the community to learn, socialize and hear directly from authors. It’s a special opportunity for people to ask authors questions about their process, inspiration and research.”
This year, JBM’s opening night features Adam Nimoy, son of the legendary Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, to talk about his book, “The Most Human.” Leonard Nimoy grew up in Boston’s West End.
“This is a memoir about Adam’s complicated relationship with his father,” Ewing explained. “There are themes of reconciliation and acceptance.”
Nimoy will be interviewed by Boston Globe columnist Robin Abraham, a confessed Trekkie. The JBM series features six authors and one illustrator over seven events. Some highlights include: Live jazz brunch with author
Larry Tye (a former Globe writer) talking about his book, “The Jazz Men.” The book looks at how icons Louis Armstrong, Count Basie and Duke Ellington transformed America. There’s an event for young families, too.
“We’re bringing in illustrator Jill Webber to talk about her book, ‘One More Story, Tata.’ It’s a really cute story about a little girl and her relationship with her grandmother and how they celebrate Shabbat,” Ewing said. All of the events, except
one, will be held at the JCC, 4 Community Road. Author Alyson Richmond will speak at an event at the Tedesco Country Club about her book, “The Time Keepers.” She’ll be interviewed by New York Times best-selling author Jenna Blum. Richmond’s
novel transports readers from 1979 suburban New York to wartorn Vietnam and reveals that “sometimes the most unexpected friendships can save us,” according to the JCC website. Jewish Book Month has featured many renowned authors over its 35 years, including playwright Wendy Wasserstein, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Alice Hoffman, Martin Fletcher and Leslie Stahl.
The JBM schedule is: Adam Nimoy, “The Most Human,” Wed., Oct. 7, 7 p.m., $30
» Yardena Schwartz, “Ghost of a Holy War,” Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m., $20
Larry Tye, “The Jazz Men,” Sunday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m., $36 (with brunch) » Elizabeth Grader, “Kantika,” Thursday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m., $20
» Alyson Richman, “The Time Keepers,” Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. at Tedesco Country Club, $45 (with dessert and drink)
» Dr. Sarah Glass, “Kissing Girls on Shabbat,” Thursday, Nov. 20, 7 p.m., $20 For more information and tickets, visit jccns.org/ jewish-book-month.
Moments of humor are often followed by unsettling twists.
COURTESY PHOTO Carla Perotta and William Engelbrecht play Betty and Ignatius Dullfoot in MLT’s production of “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui.”t
COURTESY PHOTO / TONI BALLARD
Joyce Bartlett, left, and Diane Treadwell stand with their prayer flags at an exhibit at Maudslay State Park.
Shining a light on the news you care about!
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2024 - 2025 Issue
www.mhsheadlight.com
Impressions of senior year
Benji Boyd, Senior, Editor-in-Chief
What did we all think of when we imagined senior year? Did we remember our first day of high school, looking at all the tall guys with beards and wondering how they could possibly go to the same school as us? Did we picture that senior from our sophomore year who we thought was the coolest ever? Did we think of our friends from last year, the ones we keep looking for in the hallways, even though they’re probably walking down some other hallway now, hopefully still thinking of us?
We all probably wondered what kind of seniors we’re going to be. The cool ones, the stressed ones, the mean ones who give freshman directions down the stairs that lead nowhere? I think we’re still figuring it out.
The first thing we did on day one of our senior year was fill out a form for our caps and gowns. It felt a little weird to begin a year thinking about the end. That’s a first. This year probably won’t have many firsts, but it will have a lot of lasts. Last first day, last last day. First last day. Well, first really last day.
The initial piece of advice they gave us on that first day was “Don’t get Senioritis!”
Of course, we’ve all heard about the notorious illness known for dipping grades and ruining futures left and right. It runs rampant every year. Some of us have already caught its sister disease, Junioritis, and maybe only partially recovered. Too bad it’s not like chickenpox. If you have it once, it doesn’t mean you won’t get it again.
But we’ll try our best, because we can’t get ahead of ourselves. After telling us the dates of prom and graduation, the next order of business on day one was to remind us to stay focused on the present. Don’t let yourself slip, because colleges are still watching. But keep an eye on those deadlines – they come up fast! We’ve got our futures to consider, after all. And the best way to consider it
is to stay in the here and now. But also start planning ahead, because you need to get a head start.
So if the key to success beyond high school is to plan ahead, and the key to success within high school is to stay in the here and now, and the key to success beyond high school is to achieve success within high school, then what are we supposed to do? Our best, I guess.
And so we try to divide our time equally between the future and the present, but the balance always ends up tipping to one side. We start researching some colleges, we get excited, and we forget to write that essay due tomorrow. We work hard to pass those AP tests we signed up for (because we were thinking about the future when we chose them) and before we know it, the early decision deadline is weeks away and we haven’t even answered the supplemental questions yet. Sometimes, keeping everything straight feels like scaling a cliff. Pay attention, or we’ll senior slide right off.
The good news, or so we’re told, is that it won’t last for long. Everyone promises that once we’ve decided where we’re headed next, all the stress melts away. Until then, we pull all our stops, play all our tricks, and spend all our Ritchie Bucks/Costello Cash. Once it’s over, we’ll be glad we did.
Just imagine how great it’s going to be. Imagine it’s April, and our friends are texting us with twenty exclamation points that they got into the school they wanted. Imagine it’s May, and we’re plotting our senior projects and neglecting to study for our AP tests because who cares? Imagine it’s June, and we’re happy but we’re also a little sad because everything went so fast, despite what we thought at the beginning. Imagine it’s this time next year, and everything is about to start all over again – so different but also the same.
Now stop imagining. You have a Lang essay to write.
School is here, whether we like it or not
Georgia Marshall, Sophomore, Assistant Editor
With a little less than a month of school over, summer is now a thing of the past; a hazy memory of hot wind on bare arms, restless nights, sandy shoes, hair matted by salt water, and occasional boredom. It’s hard to conjure the image of an evening untarnished by the blue glare of my computer screen, right hand free of its reliable mechanical pencil. It feels like a million years have passed since
that carefree limbo, that magical time floating in perpetual freedom with no thoughts of GPAs, assignments, or an ever expanding list of extracurricular commitments.
Now, having been lessthan-gently thrown back into the chaos of due dates and math tests, I’ve been forced to come to terms with the fact that something pretty important was lost this past summer. It's been made even more glaringly obvious now that I’m
Headlight Staff 2024 - 2025
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Benji Boyd
taking my first AP class and have some form of a test or quiz every day: I’ve forgotten how to be a student. The majority of my vacation was purposefully dedicated to a lot of nothing, and rightly so. I’m not saying that I should have spent my break following a work schedule or studying, but these past few weeks have been… less than seamless. My recent weekends have been mostly the same; eight hours each day at my desk, hunched over function composition worksheets, pages of notes on the fall of Rome, and… YouTube videos.
Due to my recent lack of stamina with homework, and, well, work in general, I’ve fallen back into an all-too-familiar rabbit hole: intertwining study peri-
September 25, 2024
ods with major procrastination. This is something I’ve fallen prey to many times before, especially when under major stress, consequently leaving me more overwhelmed (a vicious cycle, I know - you should see me during finals week).
As I attempt to cultivate a solid routine for the year, I'm also learning to appreciate the changes that aren't so focused on deadlines and schedules. I often let those little transitions, from needing to wear a sweater in the morning to that one flame-tipped leaf on the tree outside my English classroom, go unnoticed. So, in the spirit of fall, I’m going to force myself to stop worrying so much about the big picture and embrace the change in both season and lifestyle. See you at the football game!
Grey Collins, Junior, Assistant Editor
If you are a freshman at Marblehead High School, eager to find a way to fit into our community, or a sophomore, junior, or senior looking to improve your resume, Headlight offers a unique opportunity for you. Joining the MHS Headlight will give you experience that you can’t get anywhere else at MHS: How to communicate with others.
Communication is an essential skill to have, but modern technology and culture is making it rarer. Every year, countless more students go through high school without getting an opportunity to learn this skill, and few try to seek it out. Learning to communicate is an important part to living a successful life, because it will help in school, work, and in developing relationships with others. There is truly no better place to develop that skill than at the MHS Headlight.
In my very first assignment early in my sophomore year, I interviewed three people who I barely knew for an article about the new MHS cell phone policy. At first, I was extreme-
ly apprehensive because I was afraid of making mistakes and being judged by my peers. Despite dreading it, I followed through. I carried out my interviews, wrote my story, and turned in my first ever newspaper article. Even though I wasn’t comfortable with it at first, stepping outside of my comfort zone despite that was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I continued writing more, and each article became easier than the last. Eventually I ended up writing for the Marblehead Current by becoming an intern there. With every interview I do and article I write, I become more and more comfortable with communicating with others, and making my voice heard. This would never have been possible without the MHS Headlight.
While writing for your high school newspaper is probably not something that you have planned out, now is the perfect time to give it a try, and get out of your comfort zone. It’s a new school year, and you have a clean slate. There is no better time to try new things and find out what you are passionate about.
REPORTERS: Anna Baughman, Nathaniel Carper-Young, Evan Eisen, Anya Kane, B Lorenz, Niko Mahan, William Pelliciotti, Peter Sullivan, Nasira Warab, Grace Wolverton
Karen Doub, 78, founder of Irresistibles
Karen Doub (nee Alexander) passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday, Sept. 15, in Marblehead, following a multiyear battle with cancer. She is survived by her devoted husband John, with whom she celebrated 54 years of marriage in August. She was mother to John (Tania) of Marblehead; Kelsey (Trevor) of Swampscott; and adoring grandmother to Johnny and Christian Doub and Clara, Deacon and Silas Henry; and grandpup Lucky. She is also survived by sisters Nancy (Bill) Morrison of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and Janet Alexander of Tequesta, Florida,
Gallup to account for the first of three scores in that period for the home team.
After senior Drew Goldman recovered a Shepherd Hill fumble on the visitors’ 29, Wales, who took his turn behind center, eventually scored on a four-yard run.
With 1:36 left in the first half, senior captain Bodie Smith intercepted the ball on the Rams’ 35. It was Gallup’s turn to quarterback the offense, and with three seconds left, he hooked up with senior Cam Quigley for a 14-yard scoring strike.
The Marblehead offense was not done yet. They went on to score three more touchdowns
and brother John (Karen) Alexander of Menifee, California.
Karen was born on Sept. 11, 1946, to Gerard and Olive Alexander, in the original Mary Alley Hospital. Their family moved away from town when she was 6 months old, so she remained unsure if she was considered a true “Header.” Her father’s career with companies like DuPont and B.F. Goodrich pulled the family to different homes in Massachusetts,
Mary H. (DiAnno) Sullivan, 99
Mary H. (DiAnno) Sullivan, 99, passed away Aug. 29, at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers surrounded by her family.
She was a lifelong Marbleheader and graduated
in the second half to eclipse the mythical 50-point threshold that turned this home opener into an official rout.
Garcia began the game with a touchdown, and he once again got it going in the second half with a 70-yard power run for six more points on the second play from scrimmage.
Six minutes after that score at 5:23 of the third quarter, senior Bernardo Bannis busted through the Rams’ defense that resulted in a 44-yard run to paydirt.
The Magicians still had one more touchdown in them. It occurred at the 5:05 mark of the fourth quarter, when sophomore Oscar Galante made his first varsity touchdown something to remember. Galante scampered an electrifying 83 yards for those six points.
challenged, but the girls used this as an opportunity to step up and they all did,” said Wales.
Pennsylvania, Delaware and Ohio, where their parents often hosted company parties; Karen would always be found late at night on the stairs, watching and reporting on the party down below.
Upon graduation from Denison University, Karen moved to Boston and met her husband John when they both worked at IBM. In 1970, they moved to Marblehead, fell in love with the seaside town, and stayed to raise their family. After leaving IBM, Karen went to First National Bank of Boston where she continued to work following the birth of son John, before eventually leaving to found Irresistibles, the business that would become one of her legacies.
Karen took advantage of the opportunity offered by the redevelopment of Faneuil Hall Marketplace in 1977 to open Irresistibles’ first storefront
from Marblehead High School with the Class of 1943. Mary was the wife of the late Henry Sullivan and is survived by her three children, Maureen Hartmann of Marblehead, Judith Sullivan of Swampscott and Henry E. Sullivan of Danvers. Mary was a proud grandmother of Christopher Hartmann of Boston, Justin Hartmann of Kansas City, Missouri, Joshua Ingemi and his wife Laura of Milford, Matthew
For that matter, this home opener won’t be forgotten by those who witnessed it. But the team has to quickly put it behind them, because they have another critical non-league contest ahead of them Friday night (Sept. 27) against Merrimack Valley Conference powerhouse North Andover on the road in Scarlet Knights country, starting at 7 p.m. Another win by the Magicians would even their record at two, just before they begin the Northeastern Conference schedule. Momentum would definitely be on their side.
“It felt really good to play on the new turf; I mean playing at Piper Field is a blessing when you have some of the best fans in the state cheering you on, even in the rain,” said Monaco. “I
point in the standings for their teammates.
and never looked back, with 10 locations currently. While the offerings and locations up and down the East Coast have changed throughout the past 47 years, the key to Irresistibles’ success has always been Karen’s keen eye for what her customer wanted. Husband John joined her one year in, and for the past 46 years they were an unstoppable team at the helm of the company. Karen loved her work and loved the relationships she had with her customers, co-workers, manufacturer reps and everyone she encountered at Irresistibles. But no matter how much joy Karen found at Irresistibles (where daughter Kelsey joined her in 2008), her first love was always her family. Ever present in her children’s lives, she served on the board of trustees at Shore Country Day School for six years. Karen never missed a game, swim meet or water polo match, from Marblehead town
Ingemi and his wife, Allie, of Salem and Andrew Sullivan and his wife, Jo of Portland, Oregon. She also is survived by three great-granddaughters, Olivia, Alexa and Juliana of Milford.
Mary was an oncology nurse at Salem Hospital for 40 years. She was a devout Catholic and parishioner of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Marblehead.
She was active at the Marblehead Senior Center and was fond of
think the difference in this game against Shepherd Hill was that we needed this one. We knew starting the season with three losses like last year would be a big hill to climb, and as a result this home opener was a must win.
“North Andover has a really good program, and they beat us last year,” added Monaco. “But I think this win is definitely going to give us confidence going into this game on a tough opponent’s home field. We’ll be practicing hard this week, and I know the boys will be fired up for another much-needed win.”
Colt added that the difference in this game against Shepherd Hill was that they had to win. “It was nothing more than that,” he said after the home opener. “The second we lost to
programs all the way through high school and college games at Exeter, Dartmouth and Middlebury, often driving seven hours roundtrip to watch 60 minutes of play. This continued with her grandchildren’s soccer, football and lacrosse games, where she was a constant presence on the sidelines. She was a great mom and a terrific grandmother; she spoiled her grandchildren rotten and loved every minute of it.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, at 11 a.m. at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 135 Lafayette St. in Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, her pastoral home for 54 years and where she was baptized 78 years ago. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Karen’s family.
line dancing and the Red Hat Society.
After a funeral Mass at Star of the Sea Church, burial was at Star of the Sea Cemetery, Marblehead.
Donations in Mary’s memory may be made to My Brother’s Table, 98 Willow St., Lynn, MA 01901. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Mary’s family.
King Philip, the focus shifted to Shepherd Hill. There wasn’t anything special we did in practice or walkthroughs, but the team was ready this week. One big thing is our Thursday practices. We need to have good Thursday practices or else we won’t have a good game, and Thursday was a fantastic practice before the home opener. The boys focused up for the game, and I’m very proud of that.
“Momentum is all it is against North Andover. We know what we are capable of doing now. If we can carry this momentum like we did last year, we’re going to be hard to stop,” Colt added. “The North Andover game will be a dogfight, but we are already preparing for it. It will be a fun one.”
Halpern assisted by Liv Carlson. But Beverly was able to tie it up on a free kick 20 minutes later to help secure a point in the standings.
“Our girls played hard,” said coach Lisa Wales. “They were physical, when they needed to be, and there was also no quit in them. Hailey Gilmore made a great save in the first half to keep the game scoreless. Overall, I’m proud of the entire team’s efforts.”
Lucy McDonald, Courtney Hitscherich and Sadie Halpern were all singled out by the second-year coach for their significant contributions in this game.
The Magicians then settled for another tie, this time against Saugus two days later, 2-2.
Callle Gilmore and Sammy Dosch scored the Marblehead goals. It was Gilmore’s fifth goal of the year.
Dosch also assisted on Gilmore’s tally, while Hitscherich set up her score.
“We knew Saugus was going to be tough, and with two of our starters out — one on concussion protocol and the other one less than 30 seconds into the game — we were
“Our back four — Ainsley McDonald, captain Ava Macado, Cam O’Brien and Cora Gerson — played a fantastic 80 minutes against a strong Saugus offense,” the coach added. “Our midfield did a terrific job layering when necessary to get the ball out wide. The midfielders were led by Courtney Hitsherich, Callie Gilmore and Lucy McDonald.”
Dosch came off the bench, and was the difference maker, according to Wales. She set up the first goal by taking the ball to the corner, before perfectly placing a cross to Gilmore, who headed it home.
Dosch then scored the tying goal with 15 minutes left in the game after heading home a well-placed corner kick by Hitsherich, who always has three goals and three assists this season.
Wales also praised the contributions of strikers Lucy Church, captain Sophie Robinson and Liv Carlson, who worked hard to move the ball in order to press the Saugus defense with many shots on net.
Goalies Lily Heller and Callie Gilmore were solid in net, with Lily making five saves and Hailey four that helped secure another
“Sometimes a tie feels like a win, and this was one of those games,” said Wales. “We (as a coaching staff) couldn’t be prouder of the effort and grit shown by the girls against the Sachems.”
After games against Danvers (Sept. 20) and non-league St. Mary’s of Lynn (Sept. 23) after press deadline, the Marblehead girls will head to Boxford Sept. 25 to take on the Masconomet Chieftains, starting at 4 p.m. They will be at Salem to face the Witches two days later at the same time.
Volleyball team wins twice more
The Marblehead High volleyball team (5-2) won two more matches against Peabody and Beverly last week.
After a tough first game, the Magicians won the next three to beat the Tanners in four games on Sept. 13.
Greta Sachs once again dominated the offense with 15 kills and five blocks. Mari Modryznksa made shots at critical moments to secure the win. She was credited with nine kills, four aces and 11 digs to help seal the deal. Setter Eva Burke picked up 28 assists during the win over Peabody.
“We continue to work on confidence and coming out strong in matches,” said coach Killeen Miller. “Although we started slowly making many errors in the first game, we took back possession in the second game to carry that through into the next two to beat Peabody.”
The Magicians then defeated Beverly in three games on Sept. 18. Modryznska (11 kills) and Sachs (10 kills) led the offense in all three sets. Burke came up with 26 assists to maintain the momentum.
“Our (receiving) serves remained consistent and strong that gave us an opportunity to run a hugely effective offense,” said Miller.
Megan Parkman led the team in digs with seven. “(Parkman’s) communication and hustle as the libero continues to enable our offense to become more consistent,” added Miller.
The Magicians took on host Notre Dame Academy of Hingham last Friday after press deadline.
Golfers keep on winning
The Marblehead golfers (8-2) won three more matches last week against Danvers, Masco and Salem, as they continue to right the ship after a slow start to the season.
On Sept. 19 at Tedesco, the Magicians took care of Danvers, 38.5-33.5. Marty Ryan (5.5-3.5), Tyler Forbes (6.5-2.5), Jacob Hershfield (6.5-2.5) and Max King (6-3) won their matches against the Falcons.
James Bickell, Greyson Leventhal and Will Macrina ended up with ties. Ryan and Hershfield were the team’s medalists after they each shot 36.
The Magicians took a trip to Ferncroft to go up against Masco the next day and proceeded to take care of the Chieftains to the tune of 39-33.
Hershfield (6-3), Bickell (5-4), Leventhal (5.5-3.5), King (8-1) and Macrina (5-4) won their matches at Ferncroft. Ryan tied his to account for the final score. Ryan and Bickell each shot 38 to end up as the team’s medalists. It was then back home to face Salem at Tedesco to wrap up three matches in as many days, and they dominated the Witches, 59.5-12.5.
Ryan, Forbes, Hershfield, Bickell, Leventhal, King, Macrina and Dylan Whitman swept their bordering neighbors off the course. Ryan was this match’s medalist with a 35.
These Magicians have since had a few days off, before taking on host Peabody at The Meadow Sept. 25, starting at 4 p.m.
