Combative teacher contract talks resume
Educators now in second month without a deal
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The two sides in Marblehead’s contentious teacher contract talks were expected to meet for the 13th time on Tuesday, Oct. 1. The School Committee planned to meet in executive (private) session for an update on the negotiations in the days after.
(Visit MarbleheadCurrent.org for the latest on the talks.)
“There doesn’t seem to be
a lot of traction,” said School Committee member Al Williams at a Sept. 25 meeting, referring to the contract talks. “I’d like as a committee to be able to change things.”
Member Alison Taylor added, “I feel strongly that we owe it to the community to have a discussion about what is happening, the process and potential changes.”
At a Sept. 23 negotiating
session, the School Committee’s bargaining subgroup made a new offer.
“We increased our wage proposal for Unit A (teachers) resulting in a wage increase of 9% for the majority of staff over three years,” School Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner told the Current.
The Marblehead Education Association responded, “This offer is the first the committee has made since they received ours in June, and completely contradicts their previous position in bargaining that no
additional money is available in the first year of the deal. The committee still has not provided an answer as to how they will work with us and the community to ensure that Marblehead Public Schools offers wages that are competitive with our neighbors on the North Shore.”
Marblehead educators are the lowest paid in 13 communities across the North Shore, according to the MEA.
“They increased their salary proposal in years one and three of the contract, raising their total three-year offer from 4%
Celebrating sustainability
Hundreds of people came out for Marblehead’s second annual Sustainability Fair on Saturday, where kids planted seedlings, created butterfly art and rode in a bike rodeo. More than 70 local vendors connected with residents about everything from solar panels to electric vehicles.
BY WILL DOWD
Marblehead faces a delicate balancing act: How to build out the town’s tax bases and maintain its historic character. Town officials are turning to “new growth,” additional tax revenue from construction and property improvements. For a largely built-out town like Marblehead, which aims to preserve its historic charm, this presents a challenge. Town leaders say addressing
interconnected issues around capturing new growth has become a critical focus. They must find ways to boost new growth, retain experienced staff and modernize financial systems.
New growth is particularly important because it allows the town to expand its tax base beyond the limits set by Proposition 2 1/2, a Massachusetts law that caps annual property tax increases at 2.5% plus new growth.
The Massachusetts Division
of Local Services reports that Marblehead’s new growth figures have fluctuated over the years. Those figures peaked at $622,843 in fiscal year 2006 but have since declined, typically hovering around $300,000 to $350,000 annually in recent years.
For fiscal year 2024, there’s a glimmer of improvement, says Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. Marblehead captured $468,709 in new growth, pushing the town’s tax levy from $69,217,826 in FY 2023 to
to 6%, for all members who are not at the top salary step. Top salary step members would receive 9%,” the MEA continued. “This wage offer would only exacerbate the catastrophic turnover our schools are experiencing.”
Parental leave
The School Committee’s bargaining sub-group said it “increased the paid parental leave we are offering by 20% over our previous offer.” The
Elderly man accused of attack over leash law enforcement
Suspect, two officers sent to hospital
BY LEIGH BLANDER
A 76-year-old Marblehead man faces multiple charges — including assault and battery on a public employee, assault with a dangerous weapon and threatening to kill — after allegedly attacking Animal Control Officer Betsy Cruger on Sept. 23. The incident prompted a large police response. The suspect, Cruger and a police officer were transported to Salem Hospital.
According to a 33-page police report obtained by the Current, Cruger approached Arie Golos, who lives on Arnold Terrace, as he walked his dog off-leash on Stramski Way. Cruger noted that she had previously encountered Golos this summer — again with his dog off-leash — in Waterside Cemetery.
Town bylaws prohibit dogs being off-leash in public spaces.
On Sept. 23, Cruger started to write Golos a ticket when he “spat ‘F—K YOU!’ at me and made a spitting sound,” Cruger wrote in her report. “I felt a spray of spit on my face, he was that close. While I was attempting to call for assistance he sucker-punched me to my left shoulder, catching me off-guard.” Golos allegedly punched Cruger again, threw rocks at her and threatened to kill her. A woman who was nearby yelled that she
$71,416,980 in FY2024 when combined with the allowable 2.5% increase.
“That’s an improvement from recent years, but it’s still well below what comparable towns are achieving,” Kezer said. “Andover, with a population of about 35,000, had new growth of $1.9 million compared to our $468,000. Even Wayland, with 13,000 residents compared to our 20,000, saw $1.5 million in new growth.”
“Marblehead’s new growth has always been low relative to other communities mainly because of the density of our settlement and smaller commercial sector,” Grader said. “So it is all the more important to track and administer any new growth that we have.” Why did the town’s new growth decline? With over 95% of property cONFrON tAtION
Select Board Chair Moses Grader explained the town’s
position.
MCAS results trend mostly lower
District
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The latest MCAS results are out and show that Marblehead still has a way to go to get back to its pre-pandemic numbers.
The English language arts results are the most concerning. The percentage of students who scored “meets or exceeds expectations” dropped at every school over 2023, except for Glover, where it held steady. Every school scored lower than in 2019. (The Brown School did not exist in 2019.)
In math, scores dropped this year by two percentage points at MHS and Veterans School, and increased one percentage point at Village and Glover. The Brown School offered a bright spot with an eight percentage point increase in math. MHS, Veterans and Village are all down from 2019.
In science, MHS students dropped three percentage points, Veterans students increased by one perccentage point and Village students stayed the same.
“MCAS data takes some time to address in detail,” interim Superintendent John Robidoux told the Current about the reslts. “Our administrator team will dive deeper into the data, celebrate the many areas in which we excelled and look into the areas of growth and development to determine what supports, resources and assistance might need to be in place moving forward. It is always a thoughtful process as we cull the data and determine the appropriate steps for student success.”
Robidoux said the MCAS results would be discussed at upcoming School Committee meetings.
“Our youngest kids’ scores aren’t where they should be,” School Committee member Alison Taylor said at a Sept. 25 meeting. “They just aren’t.”
At the Marblehead Community Charter Public School, which serves students in grades four to eight, 42% of students scored “meets or exceeds expectations” in ELA, down from 51% last year. In math, 33% of students scored “meets or exceeds expectations” down from 35% in 2023. In science, 39% of MCCPS students scored “meets or exceeds expectations,” down from 52% last year.
MPS 10th graders scored higher in ELA, math and science than the state average of 57%, 48% and 40% respectively.
` Read the Current’s editorial on Page 4 about the November ballot question that would remove the MCAS requirement for graduation.
million
Housing authority tenants list complaints
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Marblehead Housing Authority Board again delayed a vote designating WinnDevelopment as a partner in a $67 million project at the Broughton Road public housing community.
“Strategically, you’re in a better negotiating position if you don’t designate,” said Emily Achtenburg, a housing and development consultant working for the MHA.
“Once they have a designation, it allows them to feel empowered and to negotiate from a position of strength,” she said.
The MHA and Winn remain at odds over who has decisionmaking power during the development ownership period, according to Achtenburg.
“We want this to be a joint project,” she said. “That’s not what Winn wants. All the significant issues — design, affordability, management — should have the approval of the housing authority.”
Achtenberg added, “I personally would like to have some
crIMe & PUNISHMeN
sense that we’re on the same wavelength about the decision making. They have not gotten back to us on the decision making roles.”
Chair Jenn Schaeffner expressed concern that the board had not received any details about the negotiations. She proposed an extra meeting in the next couple weeks to “really understand what it is you have negotiated this far.”
“I feel like I only have half the picture, frankly,” Schaeffner said.
“We are stewards of this property. We want to be able to see everything that you have seen.”
Stains, dirt and mold
Also at the meeting, MHA
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead resident and chiropractor Ilan Amar, 50, pled guilty to two counts of indecent assault and battery and three counts of open and gross lewdness in Superior Court on Sept. 20. Three victims came forward after indecent assaults at his chiropractic practice at 444 Humphrey St.
residents complained about conditions in some of the units.
Elaine McGrath, who lives at the Roads School, read a two-page statement and said apartments were “stained and dirty,” that there was mold and a lack of adequate maintenance staff.
McGrath said tenants had mentioned these complaints before, but addressing them was not included in the MHA’s annual plan, which the housing board approved unanimously at the meeting,
“If the statements of the MHA administration about the importance of tenant input and collaboration are sincere, then tenant information and
suggestions need to be reflected in the annual plan,” McGrath said. “Otherwise, it leads to cynicism and lack of engagement by tenants and a lost opportunity to work effectively together.
Also, MHA Director Cathy Hoog announced that the Salem Food Pantry’s food truck will now be coming to two MHA properties twice a month with free food.
The MHA’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Oct. 15 at Marblehead High School. People are invited to come at 5:30 p.m. for a meet and greet with new board member Kristin duBay Horton. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
“The actions that led to these charges are reprehensible,” said Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker. “Those seeking treatment in a healthcare setting are often at their most vulnerable, placing the utmost trust in the provider. The defendant chose to take advantage of and violate that trust. The victims in this case showed tremendous courage in coming forward to ensure the
defendant would be unable to do this to anyone else.” Amar was sentenced to two and a half years, with two years to be served. The remaining six months will be suspended for three years. Upon probation, Amar will need to register as a sex offender, stay away from the victims, abstain from drugs, undergo random drug screenings, and refrain from working in healthcare.
Local climate activist arrested in NYC, vows to keep up local protests
BY LEIGH BLANDER
You’ll find Marblehead climate
activist Judith Black and friends from the environmental group
350Mass protesting outside Chase Bank in Vinnin Square the first Saturday of every month, demanding that Chase stop investing in fossil fuels.
Black’s passion on this front landed her in a New York City jail cell this summer. (You can watch a video of her arrest at MarbleheadCurrent.org.)
“I was there as part of Summer of Heat on Wall Street,” Black told the Current about protests outside CitiBank in Manhattan.
“Several national organizations worked on it. It was a concerted campaign of three months to try and get Citibank, the second largest funder of fossil fuels, to eschew that income flow.”
She explained, “We didn’t just start by putting our bodies in their doors. You write, you call, you let them know their lending practices are destroying a livable climate.”
Black traveled to New York City to protest outside CitiBank three times over the summer.
“We made signs that read ‘I’m doing this for…’ and we put pictures of our grandchildren,” she explained. “I could start
crying on a dime to think about what the world is going to be like. It’s going to be a living hell.”
Black says the protesters were nonviolent.
“We come in, we’re linking arms,” she said. “We’re getting in front of the doorways. The security guys are behind us. They look so nervous, like a bride on
was calling the police, and Golos allegedly threw rocks at her and threatened to kill her.
According to the police report, Golos then took off on foot, cutting through a wooded area to Dodge Road, where several police officers approached him. He allegedly refused to follow their commands and appeared ready to attack. Officers tasered him at least twice in the chest and stomach areas, which had no effect, according to the report. It wasn’t until an officer sprayed him with pepper spray that he covered his eyes and police were able to subdue him on the ground.
During the confrontation, Officer Andrew Clark fell onto a small stone wall and broke several ribs. He was taken to Salem Hospital. Golos was also transported and remained hospitalized overnight.
Cruger brought Golos’ dog to the animal shelter and then requested transport to the hospital for unspecified injuries sustained in the attack.
Dodge Road residents who witnessed Golos’ arrest shared concerns that officers tasered him too many times.
“He’s a elderly man,”
Club, big banks are among the worst offenders in funding the fossil fuel industry. From 20162023, CitiBank funded more than $396 billion in fossil fuels.
her wedding day,” she laughed.
Each protestor gets their own arresting officer, “like at a square dance,” she said.
Black was charged with being a public nuisance.
“I’ve been a public nuisance for a long time,” she said.
Fossil fuel funding
According to the environmental nonprofit Sierra
Emery Glass said. “They could have caused him to have a heart attack.”
Another neighbor, Paul Mason, said Golos regularly walks his dog
JP Morgan Chase is the single biggest funder of fossil fuel overall at $431 billion, Sierra Club says. The Current reached out to Chase and CitiBank for comment but did not receive a response.
‘More than willing to put my body in the way’
This isn’t Black’s first arrest. She was arrested protesting outside the Seabrook nuclear power plant in the early 1980s.
off-leash in the area and that he always seemed “calm and mild.”
Contacted by the Current, Golos admitted that he was “aggressive,
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too” on Monday. He declined to comment further. His attorney, Alexander Shapoval, also declined to comment.
At his arraignment in
“Nonviolent civil disobedience is one of our tools… I’m more than willing to put my body in the way,” she said.
Black is a founding member of Sustainable Marblehead and has been active with 350Mass for a decade. She was among six people who went on an eight-day hunger strike to “bring attention to what a bad idea the Peabody peaker (gas-powered plant) was and spoke at organizations throughout the North Shore to educate them on this issue.” She encourages people to join the monthly protest outside Chase in Vinnin Square, the first Saturday of every month, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p,m.
Lynn District Court on Sept. 25, Golos pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was released without bail. His next court date is set for Nov. 19.
COURTESY PHOTO
Black and other climate activists protest outside Chase Bank in Vinnin Square the first Saturday of every month.
A screenshot of a video that shows Judith Black being arrested at a climate protest outside CitiBank in Manhattan this summer.
Opinion
eDItOrIAL
Retain MCAS stakes
This November, voters in Marblehead and across the state will decide the fate of the requirement that students pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests, familiarly known as the MCAS, in order to receive a high school diploma. The disappointing MCAS results released last week here and echoed statewide should persuade voters to retain the test’s so-called “high” stakes. More on that misnomer in a moment.
First, it’s more than fair for interim Superintendent John Robidoux to suggest the scores in math, English and science, which dropped in most grades, need to be more closely examined to determine action steps in response. We look forward to hearing more on those soon.
And it’s no surprise that advocates for removing the graduation requirement took the bad news as more fodder for their position, notably Max Page, president of the statewide teachers’ union sponsoring Question 2. “We’ve long believed that this fixation on this one test does not help us understand how a student or school is doing,” Page told The Boston Globe after the released results showed just 78% of Massachusetts’ public school 10th graders last spring passed the exams in the three subjects on their first try, compared to 87% in 2019.
The Marblehead Education Association similarly noted in a statement to the Current, “Tests alone can’t fully measure whether a student is ready to graduate from high school. Right now, regardless of their GPA or teacher evaluations, a student can be denied their diploma if they do poorly on a test. This stressful assessment doesn’t accurately test students’ knowledge — it only shows which students are better at taking standardized tests.”
The MEA’s position is hard to justify when contemplating Marblehead’s results. As reported in the Current, in the English language arts category, the percentage of students who scored “meets or exceeds expectations” dropped in every school over last year, except for the Glover, where it held steady. In math, scores dropped by two percentage points at MHS and Veterans School and increased one percentage point at Village and Glover. The Brown School offered a bright spot with an eightpercentage-point increase in math. In science, MHS students dropped three percentage points, Veterans students increased by one percentage point and Village students stayed the same. The Charter School also saw scores decline across the board.
It’s worth comparing these to pre-pandemic performance, when Marblehead 10th graders scored 80% in English language arts and 79% in math. Last spring’s 10th graders were only in sixth grade when the pandemic hit, shuttering in-person learning. It’s no surprise that their learning loss continues to reverberate.
But the notion that the best response to any ongoing struggle is to remove the standards established to hold them, and as importantly, their educators, accountable strikes us as missing the point of the standards in the first place — having a consistent measurement of performance, rather than 300 different ones, to ensure students are prepared for the workplace or further education.
Proponents of keeping the requirement point to one bright spot statewide that is echoed here as well — students’ scores increased from the eighth grade to the 10th grade, an argument that the stakes of the 10th grade test had an impact on their performance. Similarly in Marblehead, 10th graders improved their eighth grade performance by 2% (ELA), 11% (math) and 21% (science) respectively. Those are significant gains.
Finally, a word on the nature of the stakes involved. Of course, not receiving a diploma is an important consequence. But proponents mislead when labeling the stakes as high, giving the impression that students have only one chance to pass. In fact, there are numerous remediation paths available to students who need them.
The proponents promise, vaguely, that instead of the MCAS graduation requirement, students will be required “to demonstrate proficiency through schoolwork and teacher assessments.”
Sounds an awful lot like the pre-1993-education reform era where plenty of children, to borrow a phrase, were left behind.
Let’s not go back. Vote no on Question 2.
MUNIcIPAL
MUSINGS Is Marblehead right-sized?
BY SEAMUS HOURIHAN
Marblehead has a “structural deficit.” The late comedian George Carlin would have a field day extrapolating the meaning of these two big words. No, it doesn’t mean that Abbot Hall, the Old Town House or the Lee Mansion are in danger of falling down. No, it doesn’t apply to our deficit of affordable housing structures for young families and seniors. Simply put, we are living beyond our means. We have an ongoing town budget deficit. Taxes, fees and grants are not enough to cover our expenses. We have been borrowing a diminishing amount of a budget surplus generated in prior years called “free cash” to cover our apparent extravagances. Or are they extravagances?
Recognizing the looming possibility for a significant budget override in FY26 starting July 1, 2025, Fincom chair Alec Goolsby proudly announced at the July 24 Select Board sitting that Fincom had already started the budget planning process. This is some three months earlier than last year. Fincom’s goal is to develop a longer, more detailed forecast covering the next three to five years. Their initial focus would be on personnel costs (salaries, benefits, insurance and pensions) representing 83% of the FY25 budget. The “traditional” budget process entails defining a “level services” budget and meeting with town department heads to understand their FY26 needs and beyond.
While getting started early on the FY26 budget is admirable, the term “level services” is inwardly focused. Like looking only at your belly button to decide where to go next. And maintaining “tradition” in the budget process has no role in operating a modern town government.
The town is a business. It competes for residents and businesses with other towns. The competition is based upon the services offered (schools, police, fire, DPW, trash, etc.), the cost of residence (taxes and fees) and the availability of other amenities such as beaches, parks, waterfront access, presence of family and friends, businesses in town, traffic
Calls for transparency grow in School Committee negotiations
To the editor:
At the Sept. 19 School Committee meeting, the School Committee’s Bargaining Subcommittee — Jenn Schaeffner, Sarah Fox and Thatcher Kezer — gave the first public update since negotiations with the Marblehead Educators Association began in March. The subcommittee’s presentation made clear that the two sides remain far apart. It’s difficult to see how the parties will find common ground on a contract that fairly compensates our teachers and staff given Marblehead’s fiscal realities. Information from the MEA is circulated to the community on a regular basis. But without
to, from and within town, volunteer opportunities and overall vibe. Crisis in a town is not attractive. Businesses also evaluate the presence of target customers.
The very first question in the budget process that should be answered: Is Marblehead rightsized? Asked another way, does the town have the appropriate resources in terms of personnel and money for operating and capital expenses? Does it have too few employees, does it have too many employees, in which departments?
Benchmarking competitive towns
I definitely do not know the answer to this question. But it doesn’t appear that anyone in town government is asking the question let alone trying to answer it. But it needs to be answered before asking the voters to support a significant override. This question needs to be answered on a department-specific basis — schools, police, fire, DPW, etc.
Since the schools have the largest budget — 41% of the town’s total — it makes sense to start there. Back in April, the School Committee pronounced its “vision” for Marblehead to be a “model school district.” But they still have no qualitative or quantitative definition of what that means. There is no benchmark data comparing Marblehead to comparable towns in the areas of student academic performance, curriculum used, cost per student, student to teacher and staff to teacher ratios, teacher salaries, teacher satisfaction, student satisfaction, etc.
Benchmark data comparing Marblehead to comparable towns would also be needed for the other departments. Cost per resident and household can be easily calculated. But each department has unique metrics that should be understood. Department-specific metrics should be developed in conjunction with the department heads. For example, in the Police Department, these other metrics might include the cost per registered vehicle, officer to supervisor ratio and officer to police vehicle ratio. In its annual town report, the Police Department comprehensively tracks numerous activities such as medical calls,
substantive updates from the school committee it is impossible to develop a balanced perspective and understand both sides of the coin.
Here are some things we need to see in future SC communications: How do the MEA’s wage proposals compare to other districts? The MEA has consistently said that Marblehead educators are underpaid when compared to other districts. Does the SC agree? Where would compensation stand relative to other communities if the SC agrees to the MEA’s wage requests?
» What is the SC offering for compensation? In the Sept. 19 presentation, the SC editorialized on the MEA’s wage proposals, but offered the public little information about the SC’s proposals. The SC reportedly made a wage proposal to the
property checks, arrests, parking violations, etc. Calculating the ratio of these activities to officers and the historical trend might be insightful.
The income side of the budget also needs to be evaluated. The percentage of funds coming from various taxes, fees and grants would be needed for comparison. This analysis should also include the underlying assessed value of real estate and other property.
How to get a benchmark study done
What is needed is a multiclient study of several Massachusetts towns comparable to Marblehead. While we all believe that Marblehead is truly unique, in many ways it is not. Other towns have schools, police, fire, etc. Comparable towns would be similar in terms of the number of residents, households, school-aged children, housing stock composition, in-town road mileage, income, waterfront presence, etc. The comparable towns would agree to share data on the metrics described above. Since Marblehead is unique in some ways, some interpolation of results would be required for drawing conclusions.
This study could be conducted by the individual town departments if they were underworked or an egregiously paid consulting group for all departments. Alternatively, Marblehead with its reputation for being a bunch of penny-pinching Yankees might enlist a business school program to perform the study as part of a semester-long project for course credit and food. Given how cash-strapped the town is, this may be the best path forward.
From this study the town could assess whether the town is rightsized or not. Cost reduction opportunities may be uncovered. However, if more money is needed in a dreaded override the voters would understand not only HOW MUCH money is needed but WHY.
James (Seamus) Hourihan was born in Marblehead and is a MHS graduate. For 35 years, he worked in finance, marketing and executive management roles at high-tech companies. He has lived here full-time since 2009 and currently sits on the Charter Committee.
MEA this Monday that would give staff between a 6% and 9% pay increase over the next three years. The SC certainly needs to protect its bargaining position, but with personnel compensation accounting for 80% of the school budget the SC must be transparent about what it is offering the MEA and how those offers will impact school and town finances.
» The MEA contends that our schools are understaffed, compounding student safety issues for staff members.
The SC has indicated that staff cuts could be necessary to fund the MEA’s wage proposals. Does the SC disagree with the MEA on staffing levels in our schools? What should staffing levels be and why?
The SC chose to compare Marblehead’s tax levy and new growth to four other
Do you have a high or a low social battery?
BY LISA SUGARMAN
Question: Have you ever hit a point when you felt so emotionally depleted that you just lacked the capacity to cope with, you know, life?
Like you just needed to shut down and hide from the world because you just couldn’t find the emotional energy reserves to engage?
To be clear, I’m not talking about depression, I’m talking about something different. What I’m referring to is that thing we’re all hard wired with called a social battery — that internal storeroom of emotional energy each of us has that allows us to do things like interact with people in social situations. It’s a metaphorical thing that can be charged and drained depending on the circumstances.
I’m sure as hell acutely aware of my own social battery, that’s for damn sure. And I know I’m not alone, because I’ve heard from way too many people lately that they’re feeling emotionally fatigued (or irritable or disconnected or anxious) in ways that have left them feeling exhausted and void of the energy
to manage their emotions.
That’s why, this week, I’d like to talk about our social battery. Because it’s when we talk about the things that challenge us emotionally, put a name to them and learn how to, in this case, recharge, we regain control. In my case, I’ve noticed that, as much as I love engaging and socializing with people, I also need equal parts of quietude and solitude to avoid feeling drained. And it’s taken me decades to not only come to that realization, but to put boundaries in place to ensure that I can maintain that precarious balance.
Now, some of us just naturally have a higher capacity than others to handle more socializing, while others have a much lower threshold for being with people and just need extra time to recharge. (And as I’ve already said, I 100% fall into the latter bucket.)
Over the years, I’ve watched my own social battery capacity change drastically, a lot like how the integrity of our cell phone battery weakens over time. That’s kind of what’s happened to mine. Because while I’ve always loved and thrived on human connection, the older I get, the more I’ve noticed that
competitive with surrounding towns/cities.
communities: Wayland, Andover, Hingham and Swampscott. How does Marblehead compare to these towns on educational metrics such as school performance, class size and teacher and staff compensations?
Without relevant information, distributed to the community on a regular basis, a lack of confidence in the School Committee will remain. Communication could be done through more comprehensive public updates by the bargaining committee. Others advocate for opening the negotiations to the public.
What do you think? Email the School Committee (schoolcommittee@ marbleheadschools.org) and advocate for a different approach to sharing the data and insight to explain the School Committee’s negotiating position. If you would like to subscribe to our emails please visit marbleheadersforchange. com to opt in for updates.
Seth Gummere, Jersey Street
Christine Nuccio, Dameys Way
Open dialogue vital for MPS success
To the editor:
Well, well, I have to say this year’s School Committee workshop was nothing like last year’s. This year’s was civil and even had a few smiles. There were discussions on policies and what the SC and superintendent’s goals should be. A SC member did mention she felt uncomfortable that the media and a member of the community were present. The SC acknowledged that this last year has been difficult. We all agree with that.
Unfortunately, there was no community input allowed at the workshop.
Well, here goes, here is my input. The stakeholders, teachers and staff do need to be heard. Communication needs to improve so we can give our teachers and staff wages that are
I need more quiet time than ever to re-energize and reset. And a lot of that has to do with maturing and developing a better understanding of what each of us needs to stay emotionally healthy.
The most important thing to remember is that everyone’s battery size is different. And that’s OK. We just need to make sure we’re paying attention to when our needle is on empty and give ourselves the recharge we need.
So, if you’re noticing yourself feeling anxious or overwhelmed or unusually tired after lots of social time, that could be a signal that a) you have a smaller social battery size to begin with, or b) your battery is empty and you need to take time to recharge.
But what are the signs to look for to even know that our battery is weakening? Well, here are some of the reasons why your internal battery light may be in the red:
» You’re neglecting your selfcare practice.
You’re worrying too much about things you can’t control.
» You’re getting caught in negative thought loops.
» You’re overwhelmed and not asking for help.
The SC needs to have open discussions with the community. I am sure that we could use the mailing lists from either the election, electric or water departments to get information out to the stakeholders to inform them why we need an override to have a school system that we can be proud of. Parents of school-age children see that teachers need more support. They need better wages and benefits. They need parents to work with them concerning the increase of behavioral problems in our schools each day to keep students and staff safe.
The MEA is willing to have negotiations open to the public.
One SC member says their lawyer has advised against it.
Since we have had over $350,000 in legal bills this year, then provide the MEA, media and the public with a letter detailing the reasons why the public cannot be present; we do not need more legal bills. It would also be important to outline legal fees that are coming down the road for the stakeholders.
We need the whole town to be on board to vote for an override, if not we will lose multiple teachers and staff. We will incur more bills for outsourcing students with individualized education programs because we will not have the appropriate staff to keep students in house. We all need to work together for the sake of our students, teachers and staff to be the best they can be.
Mary McCarriston Pinecliff Drive
Bike tricks on busy streets?
Let’s hit the brakes
To the editor:
This is an open letter to the packs of adolescent males (and the parents thereof) who ride fat tire mountain bikes during late evening hours down Washington Street or Atlantic Avenue. They are usually en route from CVS or another store with chips, candy or a Coke and sometimes ride directly in front of the police station — pulling
» You’re overthinking too much.
» You’re spending too much time doom scrolling on social media. You’re saying “yes” to everyone else and neglecting your own needs.
» You’re too worried about making everyone else around you happy.
You’re not prioritizing your own needs.
» You’re not holding your personal boundary line.
» And you’re not giving yourself any downtime.
And if you checked off even a few of the bullets on the above list, then you need to plug back into a power source to recharge or risk burning out altogether.
There are some easy ways, though, to recharge. And it starts with recognizing the signs that you may need a break and then committing to take action.
Here are a few easy ways to refuel your social power bank: Set (and keep) boundaries. Consider practicing meditation or mindfulness.
» Talk with supportive friends or a therapist if you have one.
» Take time to power down and rest.
Devote some time to
wheelies at high speeds or flying down the road with two or three friends on the single seat (with no helmets and often in just flip flops). Look, many of us were errant youth ourselves. We understand the thrill of independence and the goofy camaraderie about showing off to your friends. But there are safer and more appropriate locations to have fun than in the middle of a public road. And there are plenty of wide open areas on public property to freestyle.
It is an unfortunate reality in this world that a young man must learn most lessons the hard way. But getting crushed by a truck just to prove that you’re ready to learn is no way to go, my friends.
Christopher Hardy Wharf Path
Reconsider zoning changes for Marblehead’s future
To the editor:
I was disheartened to see that the Select Board decided not to schedule a town meeting to reconsider the zoning bylaw vote that was defeated last May. I was especially concerned to see that those who opposed reconsideration overwhelmed the Select Board, whose role it is to advance the best interests of the town.
The Planning Board in its five-year plan, offered in 2019, pointed out that 77% of Marblehead housing stock is zoned as single family. That is 15% more of such singlefamily units than Essex County, the North Shore and the Commonwealth. As of the time of the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey for the period 2010 to 2017, the number of Marblehead households headed by someone 55 years and older had increased by 21%, whereas the number of those led by someone 25-44 years old had shrunk by 63%. These trends have continued to the present day. We all know that the cost of single-family units in town has skyrocketed in the past few years. Something must be done to make it possible
hobbies or activities that bring you joy.
» Develop a self-care plan. Stop worrying about other people’s stuff. Get out into nature to walk or run or hike.
» Get to bed an hour early.
» When you’ve hit your social limit, don’t be afraid to say your goodbyes and leave. Just remember, we all reserve the right to set our own social limits. And no one knows our own threshold better than we do, which means we always need to be taking inventory of how charged or depleted our battery is day to day. Because if we’re going to show up as our best selves, we need to prioritize and make the time to recharge properly to ensure our social battery is full when we need it most.
Lisa Sugarman is a local author, a nationally syndicated columnist, a three-time survivor of suicide loss, a mental health advocate and a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project. She’s also a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the host of “The Suicide Survivor Series” on YouTube. Sugarman is also a Survivor of Suicide Loss Grief Group facilitator for Samaritans. Visit her online at lisasugarman.com.
for seniors to downsize without leaving town, and to attract young professionals and young families that will support Marblehead’s future. At present it is nearly impossible for our teachers, firefighters and police officers to afford to live here in town. Small businesses and restaurants cannot hire staff. So who or what is it that the opponents of changes in the zoning bylaw want to keep out, by opposing the permitting of multi-unit housing. Do they want to live only among millionaires? Can we not permit expanding denser housing in the three limited areas selected by the Planning Board? Only 10% of new developments with six or more units are required to be “affordable.” The rest will be fair market value. Smaller but not cheap.
So then it’s just because the state government is pressing for these changes? It sometimes sounds like teenagers saying to their parents “You can’t make me” even in the face of reasonable requests. From my point of view, Marblehead has everything to gain by agreeing to make these changes.
Carolyn Corzine May Street
The true cost of level funded in MPS
To the editor: I am watching from the sidelines the contract negotiations between the town of Marblehead and the Marblehead Education Association. I am not a novice to contract negotiations. I previously was on a union negotiation committee. Negotiations are stressful and full of angst. Both sides are representative of many and have a responsibility to negotiate in a professional respectful manner. I feel I am in a unique position to see both sides of the dialog after spending a year as a member of the Marblehead Public Schools. The majority of my career has been spent in nonprofits and focused on being fiscally responsible for decisions and outcomes while being aware of how my behavior could impact my department
and/or agency. Being in the public sector, my wages were always lower than what I could be making in the private sector and at times had been frozen while the Marblehead School Department was looking to increase its budget. I must admit, in the past I have not always been in favor of overrides for the school department. What I saw the past year was kind, dedicated staff providing supports for our children. There were many days children were dysregulated. Children become dysregulated for a variety of reasons, but since the pandemic isolation and lack of socialization, students are still deficient in social skills which may account for some dysregulation. There were many days staff was stretched and many times unable to handle the added needs due to lack of staffing.
I was grateful to be hired by the MPS while knowing that the salary was less than I had been making, but based on what I anticipated my responsibilities would be, I thought it would be OK and less stressful than my previous job. In actuality, it was about the same level of stress. I was seeing more kids than I saw at a middle school in Lynn working with another nurse. However, there were more expectations in Marblehead than in Lynn, and less training. I feel now that the salary is insulting given my years of experience and education and expected duties and, additionally, because I am a nurse, could not rise to the highest step in the contract even though as a nurse, I was responsible for more students, faculty and visitors than any teacher in the building.
In my opinion, level funding has gone on too long and if not counter acted, will do harm, if it hasn’t already. There should be additional support staff in the schools and administration office. In my opinion, the School Committee has frequently demonstrated its disregard for the union, does not seem willing to negotiate and is not professional in its willingness to negotiate or follow the rules.
The town employees need to
bargaining subgroup had previously offered 10 days of paid leave. The union is asking for 12 weeks of paid leave.
Again, the MEA pushed back.
“They increased the number of paid parental leave days in their response from 10 to 12, and framed these additional two days as a ‘20% increase.’ Their proposal still discriminates against the parents of children born over the summer and nonbirth parents. It does not reflect an appreciation for the critical importance of a parent bonding with a new child.”
Safety task force
The bargaining subgroup said it offered new language regarding a proposed safety task force. The MEA says the new language isn’t strong enough.
“They proposed the word ‘may’ instead of ‘shall’ regarding the total number of MEA members on a district safety committee,”
the MEA said. “They refused to agree to language that says this committee ‘will’ do anything or be held accountable to the community.”
At a School Committee meeting on Sept. 19, Schaeffner and member Sarah 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% of MPS staff.
taxes coming from residential sources, the town struggles to diversify its tax base. Factors like staffing issues, technological limitations and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have hindered Marblehead’s ability to capture new growth, leading to missed opportunities highlighted by Finance Director Aleesha Nunley Benjamin.
“During COVID, many residents throughout the state updated their homes as many were now working from home,” she said. “These improvements, depending on type and value, could potentially be identified and recorded as new growth,” she said.
A resident approached the Finance Committee to express frustration about adding extra square footage to their home and wanting to insure it at a higher value. It took three years for the town to update their property record to reflect the improvements.
Grader elaborated on the impact: “There was substantial personnel turnover in the offices of the building inspector’s and assessors, which appears to have impacted the number of inspections, updates to the
be treated with respect which includes living wage increases across the board.
Marietta Collins Guernsey Street
A beacon of customer service
To the editor:
I’m writing in praise of our local Village Pharmacy. Sabino Russo and the entire staff consistently provide exemplary service but, when they were not able to fill a prescription for me recently, Sabino went above and beyond. He could have told me to find a participating pharmacy, but he didn’t. He could have told me to call my doctor to resubmit to that pharmacy, but he didn’t. Instead, he found a pharmacy
‘We’re going to etch-a-sketch you guys’
The School Committee met Sept. 25 with a field director from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees to talk about goal setting, both for the committee itself and for interim
Superintendent John Robidoux.
“We’re going to etch-a-sketch you guys and start over,” MASC’s Alicia Mallon said about the School Committee’s protocols
building card records and field assessments following up on the valuations of new construction.”
On Sept. 20, the Board of Assessors hired Todd Laramie of Marblehead to lead the town’s Assessor’s Office. This move comes after major property validation errors last year skewed tax bills and angered residents, leading to the firing of the previous assessor. Laramie plans to take a hands-on approach to capturing new growth, such as home additions, that may have been missed.
“It’s very important to go out and look at stuff,” Laramie explained, drawing from his experience in HamiltonWenham. He emphasized the importance of field work, stating, “We’d be hitting the streets pretty hard. You can look at 10 properties a day.”
that did stock the medication; he sent the prescription to them; then, he called to make sure I was all set.
In the age of big box stores and national chains, please support local treasures like Village Pharmacy with your business.
Nancy Goldstein Rock Cliff Road
Your voice matters in every election
To the editor: By virtually all accounts, the November election is going to be a close one. So, no matter what side of the fence you are on, the message is the same. VOTE. And this applies not just this year, but every year for national, state and local elections. And speaking of local elections, next spring when you see candidates holding
This active approach could help Marblehead more accurately assess and capture new growth, potentially boosting tax revenue without raising rates.
Technological limitations have compounded the challenges. Recent server upgrades exposed compatibility issues with older software in departments like the assessors’ office, leading to complications, as Kezer explained.
“What’s happened is it’s requiring a whole bunch of manual processing that then is fraught with errors,” said Kezer of the town’s software.
Override?
The town has faced structural deficits due to expenditures outpacing allowable tax increases under Proposition 2 1/2. Even with new growth, a general override may be needed.
signs at the Transfer Station or Farmers’ Market, don’t just wave. Instead, stop for a few minutes, introduce yourself and ask some tough questions. Challenge the candidates. Ask for a contact phone number or email. Make your opinion clear.
Jim Zisson Mound Road
Finding middle ground in MBTA zoning
To the editor: First, I would like to commend Anthony Chamay for his excellent letter in the Current of Sept. 11, 2024. He provides much useful factual information as the basis for his reasonable suggestion. I can only add my opinion.
I voted for the housing plan presented at the Town
and goals. Etch-a-sketch is a drawing toy that, when shaken, erases everything so the artist can start fresh.
“Your roles and responsibility — we’re going to refine that,” Mallon added. “We’ll put together some operating protocols — who does what, how things get done, rules of engagement with each other and with the district.”
School Committee members filled out an anonymous
“Simply put, Marblehead’s recurring general fund operating expenses have been growing at a rate that exceeds the allowable increases in property tax revenue under Proposition 2½, leading to a structural deficit,” said Alec Goolsby, chair of the Finance Committee. “An increase in new growth levels would be beneficial in mitigating or potentially eliminating the annual deficit.”
However, he acknowledged the challenges in achieving this given Marblehead’s limited commercial activity and builtout residential areas.
“In the absence of an operating budget override being placed on the warrant and successfully approved at both Town Meeting and the ballot box, if the overall annual property tax revenue increases continue to remain around 3% annually (consistent with the new growth levels captured in recent years), I anticipate further reductions in services in the future,” he said.
The work ahead
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, town officials are pursuing a multi-pronged approach to address the new growth shortfall.
“One, ensure we’re capturing everything that is already
Meeting in May. I thought it was a reasonable plan. I still think so, and I will vote for it again if the opportunity comes up. But I would also vote for a revised plan with fewer housing units that still meets the state requirements, as Mr. Chamay suggests.
I disagree with the suggestion by Mr. DiPiano, expressed in a previous letter, that we wait to see what happens with the town of Milton, which also voted not to conform to the state law. As Mr. Chamay points out in his letter, this is not a new law; it merely an amendment to a previous law. The argument of the opposition that the state has no right to regulate the zoning of our town has no merit; the original law has been there for years. Our representatives in the State House voted for this change, and they were right, in
MASC survey about their communication style and other performance areas. One question read, “Do members treat each other with courtesy and respect?”
“This seems to be a touch point,” Mallon said. “In the spirit of therapy… having meetings like this will help smooth the way forward.” Schaeffner suggested, “This is a subject for a workshop.”
The School Committee created a subcommittee with Taylor and Brian Ota to further discuss goal setting.
Initial goals for School Committee included: Reviewing, updating and condensing policies, and making them easier to access. This will be handled by the policy subcommittee of Schaeffner and Taylor.
» Adjusting and creating operating protocols. This will also be handled by the policy subcommittee.
» Improving communication via a newsletter, the press, its website, etc.
The School Committee’s next scheduled meeting is Oct. 17.
happening,” Kezer outlined the town’s priorities. “Two, find ways to encourage more positive development for the community. And I say positive meaning it fits the character of the community.” The challenge also lies in finding development opportunities that complement the town’s historic character while expanding the tax base. Kezer outlined potential strategies for balanced development.
Benjamin added that the town has a new Planning and Community Development to “focus on economic growth and smart growth to support Marblehead’s future.” This new department is expected to play a crucial role in identifying and implementing strategies to boost new growth while preserving the town’s character.
For now, Grader emphasized the importance of execution and the town’s limited options.
“With the constraints presented by density, a small commercial sector and limited options for subdivisions, condominiums and other growth,” he said, “the lowest hanging fruit is to capture available growth accurately and completely.”
Leigh Blander contributed reporting.
my opinion. The state needs more housing, and so does Marblehead.
Consider what might happen if we fail to conform to the state law. I am not a lawyer or any sort of expert, but here is what I think is one possibility: A developer comes in, buys some land and proposes to build a big building with lots of market rate (expensive) apartments. Of course, the town denies him a permit. Then he says something like this: “Your zoning regulations are in violation of the state law. The court will declare them null and void. See you in court.” May this never happen here. Most towns have voted to conform to the new rules. People need more places to live. We should do our part. Tim Parker Arthur Avenue
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
The School Committee met on Sept. 25 to talk about goal setting. Members also discussed teacher contract negotiations.
BY WILL DOWD
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Marblehead receives $34,851 traffic safety grant
The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded Marblehead $34,851 as part of a statewide $12.4 million federal traffic safety funding initiative. This grant, part of the Municipal Road Safety Grant Program, aims to promote safer roads in communities across Massachusetts.
The Marblehead Police Department plans to utilize the funds for various traffic safety measures. According to their recent statement, “This grant will cover funding for handheld radar equipment, pole mounted speed feedback signs, and selective traffic enforcement efforts for speeding, distracted driving and impaired driving.”
Additionally, the department will use the grant to send an officer for certification in Advanced Roadside Impairment Driving Enforcement.
Lafayette Street sidewalk project underway
Department of Public Works
Director Amy McHugh says sidewalk construction on Lafayette Street will last three weeks. The project stems from a 2021 Town Meeting article — worth $24 million — for, but not limited to, roadway and sidewalk improvements. McHugh said she will not know the exact figure until the project wraps.
D & R General Contracting Inc. is carrying out the project, which involves installing a new sidewalk on the inbound side of Lafayette Street from the Salem line to Maple Street. The work includes resetting existing curbs, installing new curbing and paving sidewalks. Residents and commuters are experiencing temporary lane narrowing during work hours, which begin at 7 a.m. daily. DPW advises caution when traveling through the construction area and urges drivers to follow the directions of on-site police details.
The Lafayette Street project is part of a larger initiative to improve Marblehead’s infrastructure. The town is also considering redesigns for several intersections, exploring the possibility of roundabouts and working on a comprehensive bike plan expected to be completed by the end of the year. Updates on the sidewalk project can be found at marblehead.org. Questions can be sent to highway@marblehead. org.
Chamber honors
2024 community award winners
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce honored the 2024 Community Award recipients Sept. 26 at its 72nd annual meeting, held at the Corinthian Yacht Club. The event celebrated outstanding contributions to the Marblehead community and introduced the new board leadership and directors for the 2024-2025 year. 2024 community award winners are:
» Rey Moulton Person of the Year: Dave Rodgers
» Business of the year: The Harbor Light Inn
Frank Regan Community
Service Award: Teresa Collins
Nonprofit organization of the year: The Abbot Public Library Foundation
» Harbor award: Jordan’s
Launch Special Recognition: Bette Hunt
Town Hall scheduled on Veterans Day
The Marblehead Select Board
Washington Street, Atlantic Avenue and Pleasant Street.
has approved a request by Congressman Seth Moulton for the use of Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., for a Veteran Town Hall event on Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. The event, aimed at providing veterans a platform to share their experiences, marks the continuation of a tradition that began in 2015. The Veteran Town Hall supports the transition of veterans from military to civilian life and fosters greater understanding within the community.
Cecropia Strong hosts annual gala at The Landing
Cecropia Strong will hold its fourth annual gala and auctions on Oct. 9 from 5-8:30 p.m. at The Landing Restaurant. The event aims to raise funds for the organization’s mission of supporting physically disabled individuals. Founded by Julie Hahnke, a Marblehead resident who overcame a stroke, Cecropia Strong provides hope and assistance to those facing similar challenges. Proceeds will help the organization continue its work in the community. To learn more, call 781-771-8721.
Halloween trick-ortreating downtown
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce will host the annual trick-or-treat event in the business districts on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 4-6 p.m. The celebration invites children and families to enjoy trick-ortreating at businesses along
The following streets will be closed during the event for safety:
Main closure: Washington Street will be closed from the bottom of Pleasant Street to Rockaway Street.
Detour routes: Traffic at the end of Pleasant Street will be detoured to turn left onto Washington Street.
» Traffic on Washington Street will be directed to turn left onto Rockaway Street. Additional road closure: There will also be a closure at the top of Summer Street.
These closures, effective from 4-5:30 p.m. on the day of the event, will ensure a safe environment for all attendees. Residents and visitors are encouraged to look for a Halloween pumpkin image displayed in the windows of participating businesses, signaling where treats are available. For more information about the event and specific street closures, visit marbleheadchamber. org or contact their office at 781-631-2868.
Early voting begins Oct. 19
Early voting for the upcoming election on Nov. 5, begins Oct. 19. Voters can cast their ballots early at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., from Oct. 19 through Nov. 1. The detailed schedule is as follows:
Saturday, Oct. 19: 9 a.m.-3
p.m.
» Monday, Oct. 21: 9 a.m.-1
p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22: 9 a.m.-1
p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 23: 1-5 p.m.
» Thursday, Oct. 24: 9 a.m.-1
p.m.
» Friday, Oct. 25: 9 a.m.-11
a.m.
Saturday, Oct. 26: 10 a.m.-4
p.m.
Monday, Oct. 28: 8:30 a.m.-
4:30 p.m.
» Tuesday, Oct. 29: 8:30 a.m.-
4:30 p.m.
» Wednesday, Oct. 30: 8:30
a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 31: 8:30 a.m.-
4:30 p.m.
» Friday, Nov. 1: 8:30
a.m.-Noon
Town Clerk Robin A.
Michaud urges residents to take advantage of these times to vote early. For further details or inquiries, call 781-631-0528.
Dollars for Scholars to host 5K
Marblehead Dollars for Scholars will host its 11th annual Run for the Fund 5K and Family Walk on Sunday, Oct. 6, at 9 a.m. at Devereux Beach. The scenic course loops around Marblehead Neck and is open to runners and walkers of all levels. Proceeds benefit needbased scholarships for local college students. Pre-register by Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. for $35 (adults) or $25 (students ages 10-18). Race day registration begins at 7:30 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to top finishers. Register at tinyurl.com/bp57zy9t. Race day registration accepts cash, checks and Venmo.
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. Preregistration $30; race day $35. Research Seminar: Nov. 4 at Eastern Yacht Club. Registration $60. The organization honors Mary Park of Marblehead, who died 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 at wpark05@gmail.com or Nate Walton at nywalton@ gmail.com.
Overgrown cedars to be removed
The Marblehead Department of Public Works plans to remove overgrown Northern red cedars, Rugosa rose and weeds along Fort Beach Lane near Fort Sewall. The trees are being cut down because they obstruct
access for emergency vehicles, particularly fire trucks. The DPW plans to replant them elsewhere.
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 police detail will be present to direct travel.
“See alternate routes when possible. Stay clear of the work area, take extreme caution and follow directions if traveling near the mowing operation,” read an announcement from the town.
Marblehead Select Board seeks volunteers
The Marblehead Select Board seeks volunteers for various town committees and commissions. Current openings include:
» Cable Television Advisory Committee: Three vacancies, one-year terms.
Conservation Commission: One vacancy, three-year term.
» Design Review Board: One vacancy, three-year term.
» Fair Housing Committee: One vacancy for an alternate member, three-year term.
Marblehead Cultural Council: Four vacancies, three-year terms.
» Marblehead Community Access and Media, Inc.: One vacancy, three-year term.
MBTA Advisory Board: One vacancy, one-year term.
Task Force Against Discrimination: Two vacancies, one-year terms.
The board encourages applicants to attend a meeting of their chosen committee and contact the chair for more information. Interested residents should submit a letter of interest and resume to the Select Board at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or email wileyk@marblehead.org.
Current Trivia Night winners
Congratulations to team “Know Nothings” who won first place at the Current’s second annual Trivia Night. The winners went home with the hottest new fall fashion accessory: Current baseball caps. Thanks to everyone who came out to
play!
COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Dave Rodgers, Marblehead’s longtime veterans agent who retired this summer, was awarded Person of the Year at the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd annual meeting Sept. 26 for his dedicated service to local veterans and the community.
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Workers from D & R General Contracting Inc. install new sidewalks along Lafayette Street on Sept. 25.
COURTESY PHOTO / TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD Overgrown northern red cedars at Fort Beach Lane are being removed to clear the way for emergency vehicles. The town’s Tree Department says the trees block public safety and access.
COURTESY PHOTO
Team “Know Nothings” claimed first place at the Current’s second annual Trivia Night.
Teen helps Current capture Marblehead life
BY WILL DOWD
At 16 years old, Grey Collins has already made his mark as a photojournalist and writer for the Marblehead Current, capturing the essence of his hometown through both lens and pen.
Collins, a junior at Marblehead High School, began his internship with this newspaper this past summer, initially focusing on photography for a recurring “Where in Marblehead” feature. His keen eye and natural talent quickly expanded his role to include writing as well. He will now continue his internship into the academic year.
“I just love capturing a moment,” Collins said. “With the click of a camera, you can capture a beautiful moment that you don’t get an opportunity to do when you’re not [taking photos].”
The budding journalist’s roots in Marblehead run deep. His mother was raised in town, while his father hails from Iowa. The couple met in college and settled in Marblehead to raise their family.
Collins’ passion for photography was nurtured from a young age by his mother, a photographer and writer herself. He recalls tagging along on her photo shoots around the North Shore.
“She taught me a lot about photography,” Collins said. “She would take me out on lots of photo shoots just around the North Shore, just to see cool stuff and take pictures of it. So that really gave me a passion for photography.”
While Collins has been
dabbling in photography since childhood, including wildlife shots at Yosemite National Park when he was 11 or 12, he says his interest truly ignited in early 2023.
“I really started getting into it in January, February last year,” he explained. “That was when it really clicked.”
His work for the Marblehead Current has ranged from photographing local events to nature scenes, each image telling a story of the community. One of his favorite assignments involved photographing Redds
Pond boat races on July 4. Collins’ talents extend beyond still photography. He has proven equally adept at writing.
“I love history and I love English, so I love writing,” Collins said. “I think that’s partially led to my journalism because I feel like I just love learning the stories of things and people. I just think every person has a story to share.”
This perspective was reinforced by a school project where Collins interviewed senior citizens at the local Council on Aging, creating a website to
We arelooking for people to join our Board
Dear friends of the Marblehead Festival of Arts, Areyou readytostepupand play abigger role in supporting the arts and community spirit in Marblehead? The Festival of Arts is looking for enthusiastic individuals likeyou to join our vibrant team!
As the oldest and largest all volunteer arts festival, we've been celebrating creative expression and community unity for 58 unforgettable years. From painting and photographytomusic and literature, we showcase the talents of EssexCounty's local artists while bringing joytoour town through events likeour cherished Fourth of July celebration.
We invite you to visit MARBLEHEADFESTIVAL.ORG to relive the excitement and see firsthand the impact of our festival on our community.Whether you'rea seasoned art enthusiast or simply passionate about contributing to the arts and business development in our town, your dedication is what fuels our success year after year
Now, as we look aheadtomaintaining our festival's vibrancyand expanding its legacy, we need your energy,vision, and expertise.The Festival Nominating Committee is actively seeking volunteers to fill keyroles on our BoardofDirectors:
•President
•Second Vice President
•Director of Marketing and Communications
•Director of Events
Regardless of your background or artistic abilities, if you'repassionate about the arts and excited to contribute,weencourage you to reachout. Express your interest by emailing the Festival Nominating Committee at Nominating@ marbleheadfestival.orgbyMonday,October 7th. Please include your resume and indicate your area(s) of interest. If you knowsomeone who would be agreat fit, nominate them or encourage them to get in touchwith us.
The Nominating Committee will review all submissions and followuptoschedule aconvenientmeeting to discuss your interests and answer any questions you may have
Join us in shaping the futureofthe Marblehead Festival of Arts and making our upcoming festivals even morememorable.Thank you for your continued support—we look forwardtowelcoming new faces and ideas!
Warmest regards,
The Marblehead Festival of Arts Nominating Committee
Eric Knight, Chair
Peter Jackson
Cynda Rohmer
Meghan Perlow
Ilise Ratner
Bill Smalley
Please send all responses to: Nominating@marbleheadfestival.org
share their life stories.
“That really taught me that every single person out there has got a story that’s worth sharing,” he said. “I’ve just wanted to uncover that ever since.”
Among his proudest achievements so far is an article about sharks off the Marblehead coast. The story required Collins to step out of his comfort zone, approaching local fishermen at the docks for interviews.
“I love the shark one because I went and talked to some local fishermen,” Collins recalled.
As for his immediate
goals, Collins is focused on maintaining good grades and preparing for college.
“I just want to get into a good college,” he said. “Maybe study journalism or political stuff, like international relations.”
For aspiring young journalists, Collins offers: “Just go for it.”
“I thought what I was doing now was a big long shot. I didn’t think I was going to be able to do this, but I tried it and it worked out,” he said. “The only thing holding most people back is just they’re afraid to try.”
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Marblehead High School junior Grey Collins, 16, reports and takes photographs as an intern for the Current
GrIDIrON
Sports
Magicians explode past North Andover
BY JOE MCCONNELL
It was never doom and gloom around here after the Marblehead High football team lost its first two games of the year against Bishop Fenwick (25-6) and King Philip Regional (40-13). There was always that positive belief throughout the entire program, starting with veteran head coach Jim Rudloff. Their faith was rewarded right away with back-to-back dominating wins against Shepherd Hill (55-8) and North Andover (37-6) to even their record at 2-2 heading into the bye week. That’s outscoring both opponents by a combined score of 92-14. Talk about domination, the Magicians took it to new heights last Friday night by going on the road and beating up a perennially solid Division 2 team that plays in the highly competitive Merrimack Valley Conference.
Captain Colt Wales thought they were much more dominant in this game against North Andover.
“Going into a hostile environment against the number one team in Division 2 and pulling out the win, what we did was pretty dominant,” said Wales. “We knew their whole defense had flaws, specifically their pass defense. But instead, we ran the ball all over them, and that’s because of our line. All offseason and now, they have been working their tails off with coach Broughton, and against a bigger and stronger team like North Andover, it really showed. The read option was there all night. Seeing three down defensive linemen and an outside backer play side, it allowed me to read that area or whichever defender was there (to make it work).”
Captain Crew Monaco echoed similar sentiments. “We were prepared super well going into the North Andover game,” he said, “and as a result we just executed so well. Our defense also came ready to play. (North Andover) couldn’t really do
much, and we were flying to the ball on every run play to shutdown almost everything they did.”
The Magicians were in control from the start, and led 17-0 at halftime. There was no let up in the second half. The North
Andover Scarlet Knights came into the game with a 2-0 record after beating Dracut (44-6) and Beverly (40-14), but their Marblehead counterparts weren’t fazed by the home team’s recent history or its penchant for success in the
playoffs, most recently winning the Division 2 Super Bowl in 2018.
Prior to last Friday night’s game, the first 2024 fall sports power rankings came out, and North Andover was number one 1 in Division 2 with that aforementioned 2-0 record, while Marblehead was ranked 10th in Division 4. But after the dominating win over the Scarlet Knights, you know these rankings are going to change dramatically this Friday (Oct. 4).
Despite another dominating win for a second straight week, Rudloff says there’s value in every game.
“I think after what North Andover did to us last year (a 22-7 win at Piper), we felt it would be an uphill climb to get a win against them,” he said. “But a win is a win, and we’re very happy to come out of there with a win against a real good opponent.”
The Marblehead boys scored one touchdown in the first quarter against the Scarlet Knights on a four-yard run by Brady Selvais (six carries for 11 yards; one catch for four yards). Sophomore kicker Finbar Bresnahan nailed the extra point, once again. He then made a 20-yard field goal to begin the second quarter to successfully complete another drive with points.
Rylan Golden (three catches for 62 yards; one run for seven yards) closed out the first half scoring after being on the receiving end of a 10-yard scoring strike by junior signal caller Finn Gallup. It was followed by Bresnahan’s extra point to give the visitors a commanding 17-0 halftime lead. North Andover temporarily
Magicians defeat Winthrop on senior night
BY GREY COLLINS
On Sept. 25, the Marblehead boys and girls cross country teams squared up against Winthrop at Gatchells Park for the last home meet of the season. It was senior night, meaning posters of each senior runner were placed along the fenceline, and the team gathered there to feel some nostalgia before the race. It was the seniors’ last chance to run on their home course, so it was an emotional moment.
“I know there is a lot more to look forward to this season,”
said Jonah Potach, a senior runner, “and this is just a part of the process, but it is a little bit emotional for us.”
After reminiscing about the last few years, both teams lined up at the starting line and took off. The punishing 3-mile course (which the runners have a love-hate relationship with) goes around the Gatchells Park baseball fields, winds steeply through Wyman Woods, around Lead Mills Conservation Area and goes down the Marblehead Rail Trail. After two laps, the runners crossed the finish line in the corner of Gatchells Park.
David Alpert won the boys race with a time of 20:17, but it was a team effort. The top five finishers in the race were all Marblehead seniors. Marblehead junior and captain Marri O’Connell got first place in the girls race, and both boys and girls teams defeated Winthrop.
The seniors looked back on all of their great experiences in high school cross country and looked forward to their hopes for the future.
“It’s been great learning how to be a teammate and a captain, and all of my teammates have been so helpful these last four
years,” said Maren Potter, a senior captain of the girls team.
“I don’t really like our course so I’m happy to be rid of the hills, but I’m definitely going to keep on running.”
Cross country allows these athletes to grow as leaders and as parts of the community. Many of them think that it has been a very rewarding experience.
“I feel like I’ve really grown as a runner and a teammate this year,” said O’Connell. “I’ve watched my teammates get better from day one, and Maren and I push them to go the extra mile. They’ve definitely helped
me to push myself more too.”
This last home meet also gave the seniors a chance to reflect on the lessons they learned during their years in cross country that they wanted to carry with them after school.
“When I first got here I was focused on myself, but I’ve really learned to put that aside and focus on the team and the potential that we have,” said Potach. “I’ve learned to put my race times away and focus more on my teammates because I care about them a lot, and I hope they feel the same way about me.”
The Marblehead girls team takes off from the starting line.
CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS
David Alpert, Nate Assa, Will Cerruttie and Henrik Adams leading the pack at the start of the boys race.
COURTESY PHOTOS / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD
The Marblehead defense converges on this North Andover back to prevent him from gaining any additional yards during last Friday night’s game.
Marblehead High senior football captain Colt Wales sees nothing but daylight ahead of him as he runs to keep another drive going against host North Andover during last Friday night’s game.
FOOTBALL, P. A10
Boys soccer earns critical point in NEC standings
Magicians head to Gloucester Monday for another conference matchup
BY JOE MCCONNELL
After a narrow 2-1 loss in Boxford last month, the Marblehead High boys soccer team (5-2-2) knew they could compete with Northeastern Conference rival and perennial juggernaut Masconomet (7-1-1).
Reflecting on the loss, the Marblehead boys rallied around their stout defense and tenacious offensive attack that could spell victory.
Anticipating last Wednesday’s (Sept. 25) rematch at Piper Field, co-captain Quinn Fletcher said: “We know Masco is going to come out hard after its game against Salem (1-0 loss on Sept. 18). We’ve had a long rivalry with them, and we need to match that intensity. For many of us, this is going to be our last time playing Masco, and we want to give them a good game.”
At game’s end, the Magicians left everything on the field to come away with a hard-fought 2-2 tie, which made a strong statement on their emerging presence in the NEC.
The Chieftains struck first five minutes into the game. At 34:56, following a foul, a Masco midfielder scored off a direct kick from the 25, where he
carefully sized up his shot to send the ball spinning into the top right corner of the net past a wall of defenders.
But Marblehead countered less than a minute later. Displaying some brilliant scrappy play, Miles Fontela-Tuttle scored from close range, despite a defender and goalie smothering him after he took a cross from David Magen.
Twelve minutes later, Magen was instrumental in another score. After receiving a beautiful, 20-yard crossing pass from London McDonald, Magen put
through a power shot that had no possible chance of being saved by the Masco goalie to put his teammates ahead, 2-1.
The team’s level of intensity and discipline in the first half gave them momentum. There were not going to be any surprises this time, because they now understood Masco’s tendencies and strengths, and would not be caught off guard.
But Masconomet still ended up scoring the tying goal in the aftermath of a penalty kick that was initially blocked by goalie Rory Zampese. Masco first aimed
left, but Zampese anticipated it perfectly, and seemingly prevented the equalizer.
However, in the ensuing melee, the visitors had another attempted shot, only to be stopped by Zampese, once again.
Despite averting disaster, an unfortunate deflection caused the ball to sail into the net. It was a wild sequence of second half events that went in Masco’s favor.
With the score now tied at two, Marblehead still had chances to go ahead. Ilan Druker brought the ball expertly through the middle, before
pushing it left to Stefan Shepard, who sent a rocket off his foot that was wrapped up by the Masco keeper.
With seven minutes left in the game and Masco threatening, Zampese made a highlight reel save on a direct kick just outside the left line of the penalty box. The ball was destined to hit the back of the net, but he perfectly timed his dive to prevent the game-winning score.
While not coming away victorious, the Marblehead boys knew they gave maximum effort. Zampese offered these thoughts after the game: “Masco is a high-powered offensive team, so we weren’t caught off guard when they scored first. Instead of putting our heads down, we dug deep and played our hardest from that point on.”
The Magicians continued to rise to the highest levels of play when it matters most to earn this tie against a formidable opponent.
After celebrating Senior Night against Salem Friday (Sept. 27), the Magicians then took on Peabody Oct. 1 at home after press deadline. They will now head to Gloucester Monday, Oct. 7, to face the Fishermen, beginning at 4 p.m.
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Girls soccer loses two, but saves the week with win over St. Mary’s
The Marblehead High girls soccer team dropped back to 3-3-3 after two losses to Danvers (3-1, Sept. 20) Masco (4-0, Sept. 25). But between those defeats, the Magicians defeated nonleague St. Mary’s of Lynn, 1-0 on Sept. 23.
Callie Gilmore scored the lone goal against the Falcons in the second half assisted by Lucy Church, which trimmed the deficit in half, 2-1.
Goalies Lily Heller (5 saves) and Hailey Gilmore (6 saves) shared the duties in net to come up with their share of stops to keep their teammates close on the scoreboard.
“Lily Heller, in particular, made a fantastic save on a breakaway (against Danvers} in the first half,” said second-year coach Lisa Wales. Wales added that Ainsley MacDonald and Ava Machado continued to play solid defense that helped out the goalies from facing too many shots.
“But the Danvers offense was a bit too much for us overall,” Wales continued.
The Marblehead girls then shut out the Spartans the very next day on a header by freshman Lucy McDonald, who took a free kick from Ainsley MacDonald in the first half. It was her first career varsity goal. Gilmore did her part in net once again, coming up with several crucial saves in the second half to help secure the shutout victory.
During the Masco game, the Chieftains dominated early. They scored three goals in the first 20 minutes, and never looked back. But Marblehead played much better in the second half, according to Wales.
“Ainsley MacDonald was a standout on defense for us,” the coach added.
These Magicians had games at Salem (Sept. 27) and Peabody (Oct. 1) after press deadline, before beginning another week at home against Gloucester on Monday (Oct. 7) under the Piper Field lights, starting at 7:15 p.m.
Volleyball secures sixth win against Danvers
The Marblehead High volleyball team (6-3) lost to nonleague Notre Dame Academy of Hingham in five competitive sets on Sept. 20.
Middle blockers Greta Sachs and Issy Browning dominated Marblehead’s offense with a combined 31 kills that included 23 by Sachs.
“Setter Eva Burke was steady running the offense for us, while earning a double-double with 41 assists and a team-leading 19 digs,” said coach Killeen Miller. “We fought hard throughout the match, and overcame a tough fourth set when we were handed a few back-to-back rough calls. But overall, the team has drastically improved in just two weeks.”
The Magicians then defeated Danvers in four sets on Sept. 26.
After a slow start, the Marblehead girls started off the second set making adjustments to their passing game, and as a result the serves were much better, according to Miller.
“Sachs (12 kills, 3 aces, 5 blocks) played a fantastic match, and sophomore Sammy Walker had one of her best efforts of the season with 9 kills, 9 digs and 3 blocks,” the coach added.
The Magicians were at Reading on Sept. 27, before hosting
Masco on Oct. 1 after press deadline.
Golfers take down host Peabody
With just one match last week, the Marblehead High golfers (9-2) defeated host Peabody at The Meadows in Peabody, 41-31.
The Magicians prevailed in a match that was much closer than the final score would indicate, according to coach Bob Green. Four Marblehead players were victorious against the Tanners, and they were Tyler Forbes (7-2), Jacob Hershfield (5-4), Will Macrina (6.5-2.5) and Dylan Whitman (5-4). Marty Ryan, Greyson Leventhal and Joy Meshulam tied their matches. Forbes was the medalist of this match after shooting a 35.
The Magicians faced host Beverly Tuesday (Oct. 1) after press deadline. They will then be at Ferncroft on Monday (Oct. 7) to take on host Danvers, starting at 3 p.m. It will be the first of four straight days of matches to wrap up the regular season. Host St. Mary’s of Lynn follows on Tuesday at 3 p.m., before Winthrop and Swampscott come to Tedesco Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Those encounters will start at 4 p.m.
trimmed that large deficit, when Jeff LaVolpicelo caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Billy Vincent. But once again, it was all Marblehead after that.
Senior fullback Bernardo Bannis completed the first successful offensive drive in the second half to get those points back in a hurry on a six-yard run to the endzone, his only carry in the game. Bresnahan’s kick made it 24-6 after three quarters.
Gallup (nine carries for 57 yards; 5-for-6 in completions for 101 yards) began the fourth quarter with a 21-yard run to paydirt, and Bresnahan’s boot made it 31-6. Yandel Garcia scored the final six points of the game from 10-yards out.
Colt Wales completed two
passes for 49 yards, and he had six runs for 35 yards. Crew Monaco caught three passes for 84 yards.
“Our kids do a real nice job in keeping things balanced with the run and pass, while moving the ball both inside and outside,”
Rudloff explained after the win over North Andover. “Having multiple players on our team capable of scoring in the air and on the ground makes it harder to
defend us.”
Rudloff singled out the contributions of Justin Gonzalez, Jayvery Monegro, Pete Rhodes, Declan Gibson and Gunther Fehrenbach for doing an outstanding job on both sides of the ball against North Andover. He also credits the offensive line for leading the charge downfield once again with consistent blocking
throughout.
The Magicians are now in the middle of a bye week to get ready for the start of the Northeastern Conference schedule. It will get underway next Thursday night, Oct. 10, against Beverly at Piper Field, beginning at 7 p.m. While Rudloff would love no bye week to keep the winning momentum going, he knows it’s necessary to heal up those nagging bumps and bruises. “The kids can certainly use a rest,” he said. “We will only have a couple of days of practice this week, because of the holiday.”
Wales is looking forward to the week off without a game. “This is a great time to have a bye week,” he said. “We haven’t been necessarily dealing with injuries, but we have been dealing with sickness. All of our guys were sick (last week), but now we have a whole week off to get
better from that. But honestly, we would love to play Beverly right now. That’s how fired up we are after the win over North Andover.”
With only a couple of practices scheduled by Rudloff this week, Wales expects he and his teammates will still be doing a lot of lifting and running to stay in shape for the Panthers next Thursday night.
From this point on, Monaco said that the team’s only goal is to get better every day and continue to work hard in order to get everything out of what they have been putting in during practice for the upcoming games. He’s also not afraid they might lose any sharpness during the time off.
“The momentum will keep on going as the boys are still going to be hungry to play that next game,” he added.
COURTESY PHOTO / TROY MILLER
Marblehead High boys soccer midfielder London McDonald prepares to send the ball downfield during a home game against Masco on Sept. 25.
COURTESY PHOTO
Marblehead High girls soccer freshman Lucy McDonald celebrates her first career varsity goal with teammates during the St. Mary’s of Lynn non-league game on Sept. 23.
COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD
Marblehead senior running back Yandel Garcia pushes the North Andover defense aside to gain more yards Friday night.
Winthrop resident to head veterans services
BY WILL DOWD
From patrolling as a military police officer in Germany to investigating crimes for the Army, Roseann TrionfiMazzuchelli has dedicated her life to service. Now, at 63, she’s bringing her wealth of experience to a new role as Marblehead’s veterans service agent.
Trionfi-Mazzuchelli, who took over the position in September following the retirement of longtime agent David Rodgers, arrives with 21 years of military service and a decade of experience advocating for veterans in other Massachusetts communities.
Trionfi-Mazzuchelli, whose mother was born to Italian immigrants and whose father was an Italian immigrant, grew up in Revere after her family moved from Boston’s North End. At 18, she joined the Army to avoid an arranged marriage, she said with a chuckle.
Trionfi-Mazzuchelli served from 1979 to 2000, rising to staff sergeant as a military police officer and criminal investigator. Her service took her across the U.S. and to Germany, Korea, Honduras and Panama.
‘I loved the work’
Trionfi-Mazzuchelli navigated the challenges of being a woman in a predominantly male field.
“I was often the only woman in my unit, especially in investigations, where out of thousands of agents, only around 200 were women,” she said, seated behind a desk in her Mary Alley Municipal Building office. “I earned respect through fairness and by building rapport, even with those we apprehended. It was a tough
MUNIcIPAL MAtterS
environment, but I loved the work.”
She handled serious cases like rape, murder and terrorism while also supporting agencies like the Secret Service and FBI.
After leaving the military in 2000, Trionfi-Mazzuchelli worked as a private investigator and security director. She also considered law school, but with four children, the financial burden seemed too great.
It was her experience as a veteran that eventually led her to find her true calling as a veterans service officer. She served in this role for nine years in Winthrop, where her office was “half a jail cell,” as she humorously described it.
“I had a pole in the back of my office, which I camouflaged, and my kids all joke at me. They’re like, ‘Oh, full circle, Ma, now you’re on the other side of the law. You’re in a cell,’” she said with a laugh.
Following her tenure in Winthrop, Trionfi-Mazzuchelli
spent two years overseeing services for Melrose, Wakefield and Saugus before coming to Marblehead.
Massachusetts law mandates each city and town to have a veterans service officer, a unique requirement that separates Massachusetts from other states. These officers connect veterans with benefits, healthcare, housing and mental health support. In Marblehead, she aims to expand outreach by collaborating with town departments and engaging community groups to ensure all veterans access services.
“I want to ensure that they’re aware of what they’re entitled to, what their benefits are here,” Trionfi-Mazzuchelli said. She aims to start a coffee group for veterans, potentially in partnership with the senior center, to provide a space for vets to connect and share experiences.
“The older veterans don’t talk about their experiences. Young ones have no problem talking,”
she noted.
Trionfi-Mazzuchelli also hopes to establish a food bank for veterans in Marblehead, drawing on her experience creating similar initiatives in previous roles. During the COVID19 pandemic, she witnessed increased food insecurity among veterans and their families.
‘So why would I stop?’
The role of veterans service agent has evolved significantly over Trionfi-Mazzuchelli’s career, particularly in the area of mental health support, she said. She recalled the stigma around seeking mental health care during her time in service and is proud of recent changes that have made these services more accessible.
“When I was in the military, you couldn’t go see a mental health person, really, because they’d take away your gun and your badge and be sitting at a desk,” she explained. “We did a deep dive as veteran service officers into the regulations that
govern our programs. Now we cover mental health, which is amazing.”
Trionfi-Mazzuchelli leads Marblehead during a time of expanding veteran benefits at state and federal levels. The 2022 PACT Act expands healthcare for veterans exposed to toxins, while Massachusetts’ HERO Act increases property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and broadens the definition of “veteran.”
She encourages all veterans to meet with a service officer, even if they’re unsure about their eligibility. “Go see a service officer,” she advised. “If you’re not comfortable with the one that’s in your town, go to another town.”
For Trionfi-Mazzuchelli, the most rewarding aspect of her job is the direct impact she can have on veterans’ lives.
“I get to directly interact with somebody one-on-one, getting them help, or just being a friend, or getting them a resource,” she said. “They know they could pick up the phone and find me.”
Her dedication to veterans extends beyond office hours. She recounted instances of accompanying veterans to medical appointments and assisting with various personal matters.
“A lot of times I think of myself as a counselor, because some guys would just come to my office, just sit, talk and cry,” she shared.
As she settles into her new role, Trionfi-Mazzuchelli is eager to become a familiar face in the Marblehead community and to continue serving those who have served their country. At 63, she shows no signs of slowing down.
“I love what I do,” she said. “So why would I stop?”
Cemetery Commission quorum restored after resignations
BY WILL DOWD
The Select Board appointed two new interim members to the Cemetery Commission on Sept. 25, addressing recent resignations that had left the commission unable to conduct business. Dave Rodgers, the town’s recently retired veterans agent, and Jerry Tucker, a former Recreation and Parks commissioner, were selected to serve until June 2025.
The appointments were prompted by the resignation of two commissioners in August, who expressed concerns about the department’s structure and administration. These resignations highlighted ongoing tensions between the commissioners and cemetery leadership, particularly around issues like communication, transparency and long-term planning. Former commissioner Janet Merrill, one of those who stepped down, wrote in her resignation letter that she “cannot work with the cemetery administration and as such I have been unable to fulfill the duties required.” Pam Peterson, another
commissioner who resigned, wrote that while “the structure of the Cemetery Department is clearly defined, it is not being followed.” She added, “I no longer wish to continue in this manner, and hope that by stepping aside, I will make way for someone else who can be more effective.”
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
MHS VA rSIt Y SPOrtS ScHeDULe
Saturday, Oct. 5
2:30 p.m., field hockey, vs. Gloucester, at Gloucester High
Monday, Oct. 7
3 p.m., golf, vs. Danvers, at Wenham Country Club
4 p.m., field hockey, vs. Malden Catholic, at MHS Piper Field
4 p.m., boys soccer, vs. Gloucester, at Gloucester High
4:30 p.m., unified basketball, vs. Swampscott, at Marblehead High
5:30 p.m., volleyball, vs. Saugus, at
Saugus High
7:15 p.m., girls soccer, vs. Gloucester, at MHS Piper Field
Tuesday, Oct. 8
3 p.m., golf, vs. St. Mary’s, Lynn, at Gannon Golf Course, Lynn
4 p.m., field hockey, vs. Peabody, at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School
Wednesday, Oct. 9
4 p.m., golf, vs. Winthrop, at Tedesco Country Club
4 p.m., boys soccer, vs. Beverly, at Beverly High
had were never revealed to either [her or Chairman Richard Coletti].”
The resignations left the commission without a quorum, prompting the Select Board and the Cemetery Commission to seek interim members.
Rodgers brings his experience as Veterans Agent to the role. He emphasized his recent service to the town and his familiarity with veterans’ issues, which often intersect with cemetery management.
“As the town’s past veterans agent I have first hand knowledge of the workings and history of the town’s cemetery,” Rodgers told the Select Board
4:30 p.m., girls and boys cross country, vs. multiple schools, at Bradley Palmer State Park, Topsfield
5:30 p.m., volleyball, vs. Peabody, at Marblehead High gym
7 p.m., girls soccer, vs. Beverly, at MHS Piper Field
7:30 p.m., field hockey, vs. St. Mary’s, Lynn, at Manning Field, Lynn
Thursday, Oct. 10
4 p.m., golf, vs. Swampscott, at Tedesco Country Club
7 p.m., football, vs. Beverly, at MHS Piper Field
in his application materials. “I would also like to see the plan for a new veterans lot at Cressey Street completed.”
He added, “the veteran section at Waterside Cemetery is filling up.”
Tucker, who previously served on the Recreation and Parks Commission for nine years from 2012 to 2021, expressed his motivation for joining the Cemetery Commission in his application letter.
“As someone who was born and raised in Marblehead … I have always thought it was a privilege to give back to the town in any way possible,” Tucker wrote. He added, “I believe that my background of growing up in Marblehead, spending years on the rec and park commission and my previous experience in the financial industry would all be beneficial to the town and the cemetery board itself.”
Tucker believes the commission’s current meeting frequency of four times per year is insufficient. After reviewing the commission’s meeting minutes, he noted most sessions last only about an hour.
“For a committee to meet
7 p.m., football cheerleading, vs. Beverly, at MHS Piper Field
Saturday, Oct. 12
8:40 p.m., girls and boys cross country, Twilight Meet, Cape Cod Fairgrounds, Falmouth
Monday, Oct. 14
11 a.m., girls soccer, vs. Manchester-Essex, at Manchester-Essex Regional High
6 p.m., field hockey, vs. Swampscott, at MHS Piper Field
Wednesday, Oct. 16
11:30 a.m., golf, NEC Open, at
five to six hours a year and determine things, important things, doesn’t seem like it’s enough time,” Tucker said. He suggested increasing the meeting frequency, potentially to monthly, in order to get things done in a more timely fashion.
Among the candidates who were not selected was Peter Lake, a longtime Marblehead resident. Lake had proposed an idea to generate revenue for cemetery maintenance based on his experience in Washington D.C. “When I lived in Washington I joined the Congressional Cemetery K-9 Corps. I was allowed to walk dogs in the cemetery after paying $100 a year membership plus $5 a dog, attach a special tag to my dog, agree to leash laws and attend a clean up social cocktail party for the cemetery, if I had time,” Lake wrote in his application. He noted that the program had raised $100,000 for cemetery maintenance in a single year. The newly appointed commissioners will serve until June 2025, at which point they could choose to run for elected positions on the commission.
Tedesco Country Club
4:30 p.m., girls and boys cross country, vs. Peabody, at Peabody Veterans Memorial High
4:30 p.m., unified basketball, vs. Saugus, at Marblehead High gym
5:30 p.m., field hockey, vs. Malden Catholic, at Malden Catholic
5:30 p.m., volleyball, vs. Beverly, at Beverly High
6:30 p.m., boys soccer, vs. Danvers, at Danvers High
7 p.m., girls soccer, vs. Danvers, at MHS Piper Field
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Winthrop resident Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli, Marblehead’s new veterans service agent, brings decades of military and veterans advocacy experience to her role.
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Dave Rodgers, center, was appointed to the Cemetery Commission on Sept. 25.
For finicky kids: Dinner on a stick
BY LINDA BASSETT
For years I focused my home cooking on the most finicky eaters: children. I cajoled — occasionally tricked — them into eating good, healthy food. Introduce me to little ones whose diet consists solely of chicken fingers, pizza and mac-andcheese, and I am enchanted! I love bringing little guys to the table with a smile instead of a squabble.
To begin:
Kids are apt to try food that seems fun, colorful or innovative. Think in terms of carnivals, fairs, food trucks, takeout or ballparks. I try to imitate these at home.
Kids are interested in trying food they had a hand in preparing. A cooking project can be rewarding. It takes patience. It means ignoring small — or even major — messes.
My latest venture into this world was “dinner-on-a-stick,” also known as kebabs or skewers. Think cotton candy, corn dogs, etc. to pique interest in small, fussy eaters. Kids may be intrigued enough to try it, but also enough to help thread the food onto skewers.
Choose from wooden or metal (stainless steel). I like the eye appeal of long wooden skewers. They do need soaking for 30 minutes prior to keep from burning once they hit the oven or grill. (I’ve seen them catch fire).
Metal skewers are a bit trickier. Food tends to twirl around on them, making it difficult to cook on all sides, so it’s important to find one that holds the food securely in place.
Now, choose a cooking technique. Oven or grill. I keep my outdoor grill at the ready all winter. An oven broiler serves the same purpose but leaves out the smoky flavor.
Protein is the main event. Kids may like sausages, chicken or a tender cut of beef. The more courageous may accept unexpected offerings like shrimp, fresh salmon, tuna or swordfish. Treat the fish to a short bath (10 minutes) in a flavorful marinade, the chicken and beef a little longer (up to two hours).
Now sneak in a few vegetables. Try tiny red or white potatoes or a larger potato, cut in cubes, anything but russet. Slip on a few fat cherry tomatoes, and squares of bell peppers — as many colors as you can find. (I skip the green.)
A wily cook might twist some cauliflower or broccoli florets, carrot chunks, whole radishes or winter squash onto the skewers. First, cut or trim each element to fit the skewer. The denser vegetables, e.g. potatoes and squash, will need more time to be skewer-ready than cherry tomatoes. Give them a head start
of 10 to 12 minutes in boiling water, then test them by piercing with a skewer for readiness. This can be done up to a day ahead. A cook needs to pay attention as to which foods might need softening up. (Corn-on-the-cob, broken into smaller pieces, looks great on a stick, but the center never tenderizes enough to be pierced by wooden skewers. Use metal skewers for this).
Next, mix up a marinade. Separate it into two parts: the first to bathe the meats and fish before cooking; the second to slather over the vegetables once established on the skewers. (Kids love “painting” the food with a kitchen brush before sending it to the fire). If you don’t want to whisk up a marinade from scratch, substitute a favorite bottled salad dressing, just not the creamy type. (This can get messy, so maybe cover the table with a disposable plastic tablecloth.)
Here’s my favorite marinade.
It works on meat, poultry or seafood.
ALL-PURPOSE MARINADE
Makes just short of 1 cup. Can be easily doubled, and kept, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to two days. If kept longer, the garlic will overpower the other flavors.
` 3/4 cup pure olive oil
` 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
` 1 clove fresh garlic, minced
` 1 tablespoon coarse grain sea salt, or to taste
` 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence
` 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
` 1/2 to 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel
` Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
Pour all of these into a jar with a tight cover and shake vigorously. Set aside. Shake it up again before using.
Considering the presence of protein, vegetables and carbs, a skewered dinner is a complete meal. To be more indoors-y, plate it over a mixed salad of
lettuces and herbs. Alternatively, you can skip the potato cubes and serve the sticks on a heap of fluffy rice, mashed potatoes or steamed fresh greens.
(An aside: skewered hot dogs sit nicely on a hill of baked beans or mac-and-cheese; meatballs on a pile of pasta. But then, that defeats the original premise of steering kids toward better alternatives).
When the novelty of vittles on a stick wears off, conjure up a new plan. Take a hint from all types of eateries. Try dinner in imaginative ways, e.g. in a takeout box, piled into a paper cone, wrapped in soft flour tortillas, lettuce leaves or thin pancakes.
Works for me.
Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-andcoming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.
Fighting fires with a bucket brigade
BY JARRETT ZEMAN
In the days before modern fire engines, Marbleheaders fought fires with buckets like this one. The bucket is emblazoned
with the Roman god Mercury, the messenger of the Gods, who trumpets the call for help as his winged feet glide across the sky. When ‘Headers discovered a fire, they
rang church bells to sound the alarm and citizens answered the call by grabbing their fire buckets and running to the source of the blaze.
To fight the fire, friends and neighbors lined up in a bucket brigade, which consisted of two lines. One line of people filled the buckets at a water source, usually a trough.
The bucket brigade passed these full buckets down the line, where they threw the water onto the flames. Then a second line passed the empty buckets back to the water source.
Their goal was to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring
buildings and causing a town-wide blaze, rather than saving the building where the fire started.
When the smoke cleared, ashen Marbleheaders retrieved buckets with their name written on them. The bucket pictured here belonged to Samuel G. Rea, a shoemaker active in the 1840s.
By the late 1800s, organized fire companies and steam-powered fire engines made the bucket brigade obsolete.
Jarrett Zeman is the assistant director of the Marblehead Museum. “From the Vault” is a partnership between the Marblehead Museum and the Current.
FrOM tHe VAULt
CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT
Dinner on a stick, threaded by children’s hands.
cU rreN t e
Marblehead’s best bets
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
Fall Fair
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.
International journalist speaks about girls education
Friday, Oct. 4, 2 p.m.
Join international journalist Asha Jaffar at Abbot Library, 235 Pleasant St., as she shares the powerful story of how her life was transformed by education. Jaffar attended the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, a free high school that serves 150 girls every year in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. KGSA helps girls who have no other opportunity to continue their studies after eighth grade.
Jaffar’s presentation will include a
Learn the tarot, three-class series
Monday, Oct. 7, 7-8:30 p.m.
Me&Thee Music
Friday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m.
Award-winning Canadian folk duo Scott Cook and Pamela Mae are on a performance trek across the American continent and are heading east toward Marblehead. Cook and May have chosen Me & Thee Music, 28 Mugford St. Cook and Mae perform “optimistic and straightforward songs and stories in the spirit of Woody Guthrie,” according to Me&Thee.
‘Wayfinding’ art reception
Sunday, Oct. 6, noon
The community is invited to the opening reception for Paula Borsetti’s solo show at the Unitarian Universalist Church’s Stetson Gallery. The exhibit, “Wayfinding,”
features abstract, acrylic paintings. Borsetti’s work is a “visual representation of navigating personal journeys, reflecting on the known while allowing a wander into the unknown, a dance between the two,” according to Linda Weltner at the gallery.
Learn the tarot with librarian and third-generation tarot reader Wesley Sueker. This three-session course will introduce you to the structure and meaning of tarot and get you started in reading your own cards. This series doesn’t require any particular set of beliefs, and you are encouraged to build your own connection with cards in whatever way feels right to you. Register at tinyurl.com/Learn-Tarot. Abbot Library, 235 Pleasant St.
Escape from Salem rock concert
Saturday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m.
Several North Shore bands, including Marblehead’s own Black Helicopter, will play at the Gerry 5 VFA, 210 Beacon St. Doors open at 6 p.m. Event is 18+. Tickets are $15 at the door or online at https:// loom.ly/od-KumU.
MHS singers release a cappella EP
MARBLEHEAD A CAPPELLA
In spring 2024, Marblehead High School’s two auditioned a cappella groups, The Jewel Tones and Luminescence, had the opportunity to record and release a joint EP titled “Glitz & Glimmer.”
The Jewel Tones had wanted to cover “Everybody Talks,” a pop song by the Neon Trees, for many years, and 2023 was the year it finally happened. Luminescence, the all-treble group, chose to record “Light On,” by Maggie Rogers.
Rehearsals began in early September 2023, led by Marblehead A Cappella directors Andrew Scoglio and Colleen Inglis. By the end of October, the groups knew the songs by heart. They were instant crowd-pleasers, bringing excitement and attitude
to the stage. Because of each song’s energy and success, it was an easy decision to record and release “Everybody Talks” and “Light On” for the Marblehead A Cappella EP, “Glitz & Glimmer.”
Recording began in May, led by MHS and Jewel Tones alum Dan Howells (MHS ’20). Howells recorded each voice separately, and while each part sounded great on its own, it was
the blending and unity of voices that created something truly magical.
Ava Genovesi (MHS ’24), a Luminescence member and graphic artist, designed the cover art using performance photos from both groups.
“It was breathtaking, and so much fun to record with my brother,” says Charlotte Howells (MHS ‘24), Dan’s younger sister and Luminescence member.
Jewel Tones member
Dante Genovesi agreed, stating, “The recording process was smooth and productive, and I’m very happy with the results.”
Once the pieces were ready, the two groups gathered to listen to the results of their hard work for the first time. For the seniors, this was their last time being a part of a recorded Marblehead
A Cappella song, and for the new members, it was their first. Jewel Tones freshman Lucy Key commented, “There’s something about hearing yourself in a professional recording that fills you with immense joy.”
Both groups added unique twists on the original songs while staying consistent to the popular melodies we know and love.
“It was fascinating to be able to hear what we as a group could do together, from an outside perspective,” says Niko King, a current Luminescence member.
“Glitz & Glimmer” can be found on Apple Music, Spotify and Youtube.
For more information and tickets ($28 adults, $10 students), visit meandthee. org.
COURTESY PHOTO
MHS Acappella has recorded and released the EP, “Glitz & Glamour.”
video, program and Q&A with KGSA Foundation Executive Director Katy Troyer.
Margaret Santry, 97
Margaret Santry died peacefully in her sleep on Sept. 5, at the age of 97.
Born in Boston on Nov. 21, 1926, Marg was daughter of the late Arthur Joseph Santry and Suzanne Cawley Santry. She was predeceased by her siblings Arthur J. Santry, Jr., Joseph R. Santry and Suzanne Santry Connolly.
Raised in Brookline, Margaret attended The Park School, The Winsor School and Pine Manor Junior College. Upon graduation from Pine Manor in 1947 she began her teaching career as an apprentice at The Shady Hill School. In 1948 she moved to Manhattan where she resided for the remainder of her teaching career and well into retirement. She taught kindergarten and first grade at The Dalton School for approximately 20 years and then moved to The Brearley School
where she remained until her retirement in 1992.
Marg was a lifelong learner and teacher. She loved to travel and often went to distant lands during her summer vacations. She always brought her travel experiences back to her classrooms where she shared her learning (artistic, cultural, musical, food-related, religious, environmental) with her students at an age-appropriate level. Her multicultural focus in her classrooms was ahead of its time. Marg’s classroom was always vibrant and filled with
awe. After she retired, it was common for her to be walking in her neighborhood and be approached by former students who would enthusiastically recount their time with their favorite teacher.
Although her home was New York City, every June Marg returned to Marblehead, where she had summered as a child. She was near many family members and could play tennis and enjoy time on the water sailing and being outdoors.
Aunt Marg was very generous, especially when it came to family. We all have countless stories of the times that she hosted us in Manhattan and abroad for our many adventures. Perhaps more importantly, Marg believed in getting all her family together. Over the decades she organized several family reunions in Marblehead, strengthening family ties for all of us. Marg enjoyed her role as the silly and slightly irreverent aunt but above all, she got us together. And you could be sure of lots of
laughter and shenanigans. When it came to special occasions, Marg never missed a birthday or an opportunity to send a thoughtfully chosen card, gift or book.
Marg participated in a variety of groups that gave back to the city that she loved. For many years Marg volunteered with the City Gardens Club of New York City. She participated for decades in their program of collecting natural specimens from the outdoors. She then helped assemble nature kits which were distributed to science teachers in the New York Public Schools to enhance their programs. She served on the committee that gave scholarships to NYC Public Schools science teachers for continuing their education by attending ecology, plant science and gardening workshops. Marg was also a longtime member of The New York Junior League. After she left the classroom, Marg enjoyed her time at The Colony Club in New York where
she formed many friendships — especially with many who were younger than her. She played bridge regularly and attended the formidable lecture series that always inspired her to read and discuss history, politics, current events and more. Marg loved the theater and was also a subscriber to the New York Philharmonic.
Marg is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families: Arthur J. Santry III (Trina), Susie Santry Cochin (Claude), Peter T. Santry (Mimi), Charles N. Santry (Anni), Robert T. Santry (Molly), Janet Santry Houser (Scott), Betsy Santry Hancock (Don), Stephen J. Connolly IV (Ducky), David Connolly (Stephanie), Suzanne Connolly Levere (Larry) and Claudia C. (Tina) Emmet. We will always remember how Aunt Marg drew us all together. A memorial service will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Oct. 26 at 11 a.m.
scams, missing child and truck mishaps
BY WILL DOWD
Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Sept. 9-23. Consistent with state law, police have adopted a policy of not providing media outlets reports related to incidents involving domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation.
Sept. 9
9:11 a.m. — Officer Adam Mastrangelo responded to Broughton Road for a report of suspicious activity. A resident reported damage to her back door and shared concerns about missing keys and potential unauthorized access to her apartment. Mastrangelo documented the damage and advised the resident on security measures. The incident remains under investigation.
11:03 a.m. — Officer Andrew Clark took a report from a resident on Gallison Avenue regarding a suspicious email received early that morning. The email, allegedly claiming to have accessed the resident’s computer through malware, demanded payment in Bitcoin.
Clark advised the resident on cybersecurity practices and documented the incident for further investigation by the department’s cybercrime unit.
2:43 p.m. — Officers responded to Shorewood Road for a report of a lost child. Officer Douglas Mills located the child and, with approval from supervisors, transported him to a nearby residence where he was reunited with his caregiver. The incident was resolved without further complications.
4:02 p.m. — Officer Tyler Bates met with a resident at the police station regarding a potential scam email. The email, similar to previously reported incidents, demanded payment in Bitcoin to prevent the release of compromising information. Bates provided guidance on cybersecurity and scam prevention. The case was forwarded to the department’s investigative unit for further review.
4:11 p.m. — Officer Andrew DiMare responded to the police station lobby to take a report of alleged fraud. A resident reported falling victim to an
online scam involving the purchase of gift cards totaling $4,100. DiMare advised the victim on steps to mitigate financial damage and initiated an investigation into the incident.
6 p.m. — Officers responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Ocean and Atlantic avenues. Officer Andrew DiMare interviewed witnesses and drivers, documenting that one vehicle had allegedly run a red light, causing the crash. Both vehicles were towed from the scene, and the incident remains under investigation for potential citations.
Sept. 11
11:30 a.m. — Officer Andrew Clark met with a resident at the police station about possible identity fraud and larceny. The victim alleged unauthorized transactions on their bank account and changes to their social media profiles. Clark advised the victim on identity protection measures and initiated an investigation into the fraudulent activities.
Sept. 12
9:35 a.m. — Officers responded to Tucker Street for a report of a stuck truck. Sgt. Eric Osattin arrived on scene to assist with the complex extrication process. During the operation, a tow truck operator caused damage to private property and later lost control of the trailer on Washington Street, resulting in a collision with a parked vehicle. The incident is under review for potential safety violations and property damage claims.
2:34 p.m. — Officer Adam Mastrangelo took a report of credit card fraud at the police station. The alleged victim reported an unauthorized online purchase attempt using their credit card information. Mastrangelo provided guidance on credit monitoring and initiated an investigation into the fraudulent activity.
Sept. 13
6:15 a.m. — Officer Samuel Rizos conducted a random plate query on Mount Vernon Street, discovering a vehicle with mismatched registration
information. The vehicle was towed and the plates were seized. The registered owner arrived on scene and was informed of the discrepancies. The incident remains under investigation for potential motor vehicle violations.
2:34 p.m. — Officer Dennis DeFelice met with a resident at the police station regarding a report of identity fraud. The victim had allegedly received an alert about an attempted credit card opening in their name. DeFelice provided guidance on identity protection measures and documented the incident for further investigation.
Sept. 14
9:07 a.m. — Officer Douglas Mills spoke with a resident at the police station regarding a compromised email account. The resident reported someone gained unauthorized access to their account and missing emails containing financial information. Mills advised on cybersecurity practices and provided information on reporting identity fraud to relevant authorities.
Voters to pick first new register of deeds in 48 years
BY WILL DOWD
A race is underway for the open seat of South Essex Register of Deeds as accusations of impropriety fly between candidates vying for the open seat, a position responsible for maintaining crucial property records for 30 communities. Republican candidate and Rockport resident Jonathan Ring has leveled allegations against his Democratic opponent, Gloucester resident Eileen Duff, including claims of concealing support for Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk in a debate she moderated and pushing an unqualified political supporter for a judgeship.
“Duff moderated a mayoral debate while concealing support for one of the candidates,” Ring alleged in a letter to local media. He also accused Duff of pushing “an unqualified political supporter for judgeship.” Duff vehemently denies these allegations, characterizing them as “unsubstantiated” and suggesting they stem from past political rivalries.
“I don’t even know what to say to Mr. Ring about this,” Duff said. “My reputation speaks for itself , I have both Democratic and Republican support.”
Regarding debate moderation and other candidates that she donated to, Duff said that she always disclosed those donations. She defended her support of Ed O’Reilly for a judgeship, stating that while she backed his application, he didn’t ultimately secure the position.
“Just because I support somebody doesn’t mean they become a judge,” Duff explained.
The controversy has added an unexpected dimension to a race for an often-overlooked but crucial position, now open for the first time in nearly five decades after John O’Brien’s 48-year tenure.
Candidates experience Duff, a six-term Governor’s Councilor and realtor from Gloucester, sees her combination of public service experience and real estate background as uniquely qualifying her for the role.
“I know public policy, I understand the court system and I’m a super user of the registry because I’m a realtor,” Duff said. “I know how the registry works as a customer. And that’s a very different perspective.”
Ring, a Rockport resident with experience in local government,
emphasizes his management skills and customer service background.
“You need the management skills of people, and you need to be able to know how to hire people, because it’s a supervisory role,” Ring said. “I have retail management skills. I have customer service skills. I’ve hired people for different jobs.”
The register of deeds protects property rights and facilitates real estate transactions. The office is responsible for recording and maintaining all property records, including deeds, mortgages, and liens.
Both candidates stress the importance of modernizing the registry’s technology and
improving public outreach. Ring proposes auditing the registry’s technology and fraud prevention programs.
“I would probably be just auditing the technology aspect of it and seeing how it can improve both the website, you know, the search functions for the registry,” Ring said. Duff, while praising the current staff’s efficiency, sees room for improvement in fraud prevention, particularly in the face of increasing cyber threats.
“Our biggest challenge, to be really honest, we don’t know until it happens,” Duff said, referring to title and deed fraud. “But there are a few things we can implement now, you know, getting staff informed and as up to speed as we can on what to look for.”
A need for public outreach
Some have argued for the registers of deeds to be appointed, but others say elections provide direct public oversight, ensure financial integrity and maintain independence from political influence in managing crucial property records.
Ring supports keeping the position elected, saying, “I think
the importance is it puts the people in the driver’s seat. This really is a seat that belongs to the people, for the people to decide how this agency is managed.” Both candidates emphasize the need for enhanced public outreach to educate residents about the registry’s functions and services.
“We can run seminars for free that people can come to at libraries and senior centers, public spaces that are very accessible to people,” Duff said, highlighting potential programs on topics like homestead protection and fraud prevention.
Ring proposes expanding the registry’s services, including incorporating cemetery records and war memorials into the registry’s database to aid in genealogical research and historical preservation.
“Getting cemetery records digitized and transferred to the registry, and making it easy for people to search those records, you know, for genealogy and family history,” Ring suggested.
The election will be held on Nov. 5, coinciding with the presidential election, which is expected to drive high voter turnout.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Eileen Duff, left, and Jonathan Ring, right, are running for the position of register of deeds in southern Essex County, offering voters a choice between two candidates with different backgrounds but shared goals of modernizing the office.
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
October 2, 2024
Creation of women’s elite rugby: Why does it matter?
Kathleen Hanson, Junior, Assistant Editor
The creation of Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is a huge step forward for women’s sports in the U.S. Announced in April 2024, WER will be the country’s first professional women’s rugby league, starting its season in 2025. This amends the old payto-play system of the Women’s Premier League (WPL), allowing athletes to earn money from the sport. As rugby grows in popularity worldwide, this is an important move toward gender equality and making the sport more accessible.
WER builds on the foundation of the WPL, which has been the main women’s rugby league in the U.S. since 2009. While the WPL has led the sport for 15 years, it remains an amateur league and continues to force players to balance full-time jobs with their rugby careers. The pay-to-play model, though crucial for rugby's growth, has limited women's chances to become full-time athletes.
WER is focused not just on player development, but also on using rugby’s entertainment factor to attract fans. WER Vice President Katherine Aversano emphasized rugby's appeal to American sports enthusiasts, explaining that its thrilling tackles
and fast-paced action reflects what fans enjoy in competitive sports. The league plans to showcase these qualities to U.S. audiences, aiming to grow a diverse fan base and secure its place in the American sports landscape.
The launch of WER comes at a critical time, as the U.S. is set to host major rugby events, such as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Establishing a professional women’s rugby league now provides immediate opportunities for athletes and helps position the U.S. as a future leader in the sport. With a focus on strength, innovation, and empowerment, WER is ready to transform women’s rugby in the U.S., inspiring a new generation of players and fans, while breaking down barriers in professional sports.
The creation of Women’s Elite Rugby marks a major step for women’s rugby, aligning it with the worldwide growth of women’s sports. With its professional structure, investment in players, and commitment to expanding rugby’s reach, WER is poised to become a key player in the advancement of women’s sports in the U.S., opening doors for athletes and inspiring future generations.
New Tech-tickets for Marblehead’s football games
Nassa Warab, Freshman
First win for Marblehead! On September 20th at 7:00 P.M., Marblehead High School had its first home football game of the year. The match against the Shepherd Hill Regional Rams resulted in a win for the Marblehead Magicians, who scored a whopping 55 to 8 points. After the Marbehead Magicians got the first touchdown of the game, the crowd was ecstatic.
This year, Marblehead High School has decided to only accept online payments for tickets to the game. This new method doesn’t seem to have affected the number of attendees, as the crowd was just as large and lively as it has been at any other MHS football game, but some seem to think it won’t stay this way for long.
While a crowd of parents is almost guaranteed at every game, especially the ones taking place at home, some students believe the new online-only method will cause fewer people to arrive for the next few games. “It’s less practical, especially for students who only bring cash and can’t do online payment,”
said Juliana Navarette, an 8th grader at Veterans Middle School. “I wouldn’t come again if the payment methods are the same.”
However, while younger students disagree, some older students and adults are fine with the new methods. In fact, some believe it’s more practical. “It’s more efficient, and it made sure no money was lost to the wind,” said Mrs. Lindsay Donaldson, an assistant principal for grades 9-10, “Next year it’ll be a lot faster and smoother. It could be done better if we make sure that people have WiFi at the ticket checking tables.” A few volunteers on ticket-checking duty have similar beliefs. “We need to accept that society is going into a technological direction, and we need to match that,” a bystander added. However, Ms. Caitlin Fields, a science teacher at MHS, notes that, “It was a good idea, but so many people who didn’t bring cash just milled around until halftime, when they were able to be let in for free.”
As a student myself, I believe that these payments might cause the number of attendees only to drop by a few digits, though not significantly enough to be
Headlight Staff 2024-2025
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Benji Boyd
worrying. Whether the online payments really will cause less attendance at games or not, we won’t know until the next home game, which is scheduled to take
place at 7:00 P.M. on October 10th. For now, the change seems to have brought nothing but positives for the game.
Red shirt rally
Niko King, Sophomore
On September 16th, dozens of teachers rallied outside the high school. Others, like their friends and family, joined them. As someone who’s attended Marblehead public schools since 2018, I couldn’t help but be shocked by all the familiar faces. As a student, I had heard of the rally from a friend of mine who invited me. I made my way through the crowd, with my mother and dog trailing behind me, both of whom I was unable to leave in the car. The two of them followed me through the crowd of red until we came to rest on the side of the crowd. I couldn’t help but wonder, what was this for? Why hadn’t I heard of this as a student?
The teachers first rallied outside in front of the school, where several speakers addressed a growing crowd of red Marblehead Education Association (MEA) t-shirts. I weaved through the large group of familiar faces, holding a cowbell and a sign. We all moved en masse to surround the intersection outside Marblehead Bank and the high school. We held our signs and shouted our chants, encouraged by each honking driver who passed us by. After twenty minutes of shouting, stomping, and
cheering, the rally dispersed. By the end of the rally, I dove deeper into the MEA and what the rally was about. I took the time to read through the Marblehead Education Association's 16page proposal, but I’ll focus on the highlights here.
For starters, the teachers have been without a contract for 24 days as of the time I am writing this. The custodians have been without a contract for 85 days. Contracts are important because they outline a teacher's rights and responsibilities, as well as their terms of employment. The MEA has three main points to their demands for the new contracts. They want fair and competitive pay, specifically a livable wage for all “education support professionals.” They want more staff and student mental health support, including more support via district-wide policies for students with behavioral issues and special needs. Another item on their bargaining agenda is paid family leave so that they can support their own needs as well as those of their families.
The MEA continues to bargain with the Marblehead School Committee, as of October 2nd, 2024.
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Grey Collins, Kathleen Hanson, Georgia Marshall
REPORTERS: Nathaniel Carper-Young, Anna Baughman, Anya Kane, Evan Eisen, Niko King, William Pelliciotti, Peter Sullivan, Nassa Warab, Grace Wolverton
BY BENJI BOYD
On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 22, the Girl Scout troops of Marblehead gathered to celebrate their achievements in the annual bridging and rededication ceremony at Stramski’s Beach. Girls from kindergarten to 12th grade walked across a portable bridge set up in the sand, received new sashes and badges, and celebrated the achievements of one Girl Scout earning a special award.
Shrreya Narayanakumar is a senior at Masconomet High and has been in her troop for eight years. (She moved to Middleton in 2018, but stayed with her Marblehead troop.) For the last year, Narayanakumar has been working toward earning her
Gold Award, which is the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.
To do so, she had to undertake a project that would benefit and create a lasting impact in her community.
“I decided to tackle the root problem of the lack of healthcare professionals in the
world,” said Narayanakumar in a speech to the audience. She went on to describe her plan of creating a program to educate young children about the different career paths available in healthcare and spark an interest that they might carry into the future. Additionally,
Narayanakumar is the founder and president of the medical club at her high school, and plans for the club to continue after her graduation.
“You have demonstrated leadership, a passion to
positively impact your community and a commitment to excellence,” said Linda McNamee, the Scout leader who gave Narayanakumar the award. According to McNamee, the Gold Award is an extremely rare accomplishment that only 6% of Girl Scouts earn.
In addition to Narayanakumar’s ceremony, Girl Scouts of all ages got to celebrate moving up into a new ranking and receiving new sashes and pins. In order of age, the Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadets, Seniors and Ambassadors all got their chance to cross the bridge. Breakfast and hot beverages were set up on the beach, and after the ceremony, all ascending Girl Scouts were invited to take a plunge into Salem Harbor.
High school senior Shrreya Narayanakumar receives her Gold Award from Linda McNamee.
PHOTOS / BENJI BOYD The Girl Scouts of Marblehead gathered on Stramski’s Beach to celebrate their bridging ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 22.