03.01.23 - Volume 1, Issue 14

Three override requests on warrant

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

AND LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead officials will present Town Meeting this May with three requests to override Proposition 2 1/2 and raise taxes, according to the 2023 town warrant released Friday afternoon.

While no dollar amounts have been attached yet, the warrant’s publication officially confirms

that there will be not one but two general override requests in addition to a debt-exclusion override.

Towns pass general overrides to permanently increase the tax base to cover deficits with operating budgets, while debtexclusion overrides are one-off requests to fund specific capital improvement projects.

The overrides must pass by a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting

on May 1 and then by a majority vote in a town election in June.

“Once approved, the general override amount becomes a permanent part of the tax levy limit and increases by 2.5 percent each year after its acceptance,” the Massachusetts Division of Local Services explains.

Marblehead officials argue a general override is needed to plug a looming budget deficit,

caused by the cost of town services outpacing revenues.

To this point, the town has managed to avoid requesting an override by identifying other sources of funding, most notably what is known as “free cash.”

However, that revenue source has dried up in recent fiscal years.

One can find the general overrides — absent dollar amounts — under the warrant’s

Marblehead photographer lifts the curtain on natural world

Article 31 and Article 32, with the Marblehead Finance Director sponsoring one and the Marblehead School Committee sponsoring the other.

Schools override, capital request School Committee Chair Sarah Fox told the Current that the “leadership team and School

WARRANT, P. A5

School openings drawing interest

Applications coming in for MHS principal, assistant superintendent

BY LEIGH BLANDER AND WILLIAM J. DOWD

The searches for a new Marblehead High School principal and assistant superintendent for teaching and learning shift into high gear this week. Superintendent John Buckey has already 26 applications for the assistant superintendent job and eight for the principal position. Current principal Dan Bauer and assistant superintendent Nan Murphy are both leaving at the end of the school year to become superintendents in other districts.

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

A snowy owl roosting among the dried-out driftwood and grass of Devereux Beach. A coyote keeping low to the ground as it stalks prey. A deer foraging for food on a forest floor. The Milky Way’s stars littering the night sky.

Rick Cuzner’s photographs lift the curtain on a natural wood seemingly hidden in plain sight. But with enough

arTS

patience and interest, one can lift this veil, too, he says. For the past 15 years, Cuzner has taken thousands of nature photographs that have captured the wild animals who call Marblehead home.

“It’s a good stress relief running around in the woods,” Cuzner said. “I love hiking. I love nature. I love the wildlife.”

The Marblehead native’s family lives in a home near Steer Swamp, where

Cuzner often escapes during what photographers call the golden hours when the light is just right.

“My family loves to sleep in, and I love to get up early,” he said. “I’ll get a coffee just before sunup, and I’ll make my way into the woods.” Cuzner will retreat back into the woods when he finds “pockets of time here and there.”

For both positions, Buckey said he is “looking for someone to build upon the good work of those who have preceded them. Both Dan and Nan have big shoes to fill. Education is about relationships. I want someone who will prioritize getting to know our students and staff first.”

Job descriptions have been posted for both the assistant superintendent and principal

New Festival president: ‘Everyone has a story’

BY LEIGH BLANDER

For Jodi-Tatiana Charles, the town of Marblehead is her office, whether

she’s making calls from a bench at Fort Sewall or leading a meeting at a table in the Muffin Shop. She seems to know most people in town and is quick to start

conversations with passersby.

“Everyone has a story,” she said.

Charles is a marketing strategist, author, speaker, podcast host, marathon runner and — now — the new president of the Marblehead Festival of Arts. The festival will run July 1-4 this year.

“I love community building,” she told the Marblehead Current. “It’s the way I was raised.” Charles’ parents immigrated from Haiti and settled in Brockton, where she grew up. Marblehead, though, is definitely home to Charles. She’s been here for more than a decade.

“People here come through for each other,” she said.

Charles has volunteered with the MFoA for a decade, leading children’s programs and working on the annual champagne reception. She took over as president of the festival in October.

“It’s the longest running communitybased festival in the state with all volunteers,” she said. “We have more than 400 volunteers. I want to make sure the legacy and history live on.”

Charles has been working about 45 hours a week on the festival, meeting with volunteers on popular events like Painting the Town and the Devereux Beach sand sculpture contest. She’s also bringing back some old favorites, including the literary festival and writing competition.

People can expect some new additions this year, too.

“We’re adding a 5K race this May,” Charles said. “That’s the art of physicality.”

Also new, artists will paint 2-to-4-inch

COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER

Marblehead photographer Rick Cuzner captures the Milky Way from Castle Rock.

All Chic 152 sells clothing, accessories

BY MELISSA STACEY

The following is an interview with Siobhan Phelan, Owner/ Buyer of All Chic at 152, conducted by Discover Marblehead. To learn more about the business, stop by the store at 152 Washington St. or check out their website at allchicat152.com.

Tell us about All Chic at 152. All Chic at 152 is a boutique with clothing from the U.S., Canada and Europe. We sell trendy and affordable clothing and accessories for women. One of my favorite things to do is shop for unique pieces for my customers/clients. We have new merchandise arriving daily and I love every minute of it!

What made you decide to open your store? I started in business in 1992 with my first store, Rags to Riches, which I owned for many years before it was destroyed alongside my shoe store, Funky Feet, and many other businesses in the devastating fire on School Street on February 19, 2003. Shortly after the fire, I went into real estate but within about a year, I decided to reopen Rags to Riches on Pleasant Street. When I began heading in the direction of selling new clothing, I moved my store to 41 Atlantic Ave. Not long after that, I opened All Chic Boutique and moved down the street. After many years at that

Animal shelter accepting volunteers

Volunteers are always needed to help feed and care for abandoned animals housed at the Marblehead Animal Shelter, 44 Village St.

The nonprofit Friends of Marblehead Abandoned Animals was formed for this purpose. To volunteer, call 781-631-8664.

Got volunteerism?

The following is a list of appointed town boards, commissions and committees with vacancies. Anyone interested in serving on one should submit a letter of interest and a resume to the Select Board, Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or email wileyk@marblehead.org. Call the Select Board’s Office at 781-631-0000 for more information.

One-year term, Housing Trust Fund.

» One three-year term,

location, we relocated to Florida, where I continued to sell real estate. When I returned to Marblehead, an overwhelming number of people requested that I reopen. So, in October 2021, I opened All Chic At 152 and I am so happy I did!

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? My parents always told me, “If you work hard, you will be rewarded.” I can truly say they were right.

What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? My favorite spot in Marblehead is Washington Street. The foot traffic is awesome, and I love all the customers and their pets who pop in to do some shopping and visit with me.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? Something people may be surprised to know about me is that I was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and I love to get my hands dirty in my garden.

The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is “dedicated to the promotion of our majestic seaside town of

Marblehead, Massachusetts. Our mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach.” To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.

The Marblehead Current news in brief is a compilation of need-to-know news items from various sources. Marblehead residents, governmental entities and nonprofits can email 150200-word submissions for inclusion in the weekly list to info@marbleheadnews.org.

Design Review Board.

One-year term, MBTA Advisory Board.

Five, three-year terms, Marblehead Cultural Council.

» One-year term, Marblehead Forever Committee.

One-year term, Task Force Against Discrimination.

Historical Commission seeks volunteers

The Marblehead Historical Commission is looking for two volunteers to help fulfill its mission of preserving Marblehead’s history. The commission specifically seeks a director of communications and an office director.

Read the full volunteer descriptions at bit. ly/3Y4k2uD. Those interested should email to historic@ marblehead.org an expression of interest and qualifications and/or resume.

Mattress, textile waste bans

As of November, landfills, transfer stations and waste-to-energy facilities across the state can no longer accept mattresses and textiles for disposal.

Beds must be recycled, and fabrics must be donated for reuse or other secondary uses.

The fee for recycling a mattress and box spring at the Marblehead Transfer Station is $25. Textiles include clothes, shoes, linens, towels, curtains and cloth accessories.

At the Marblehead Transfer Station, residents with facility stickers can recycle textiles in the clothing collection bins for no

fee. Items must be dry and in trash bags.

Volunteer at Health Department

Residents may volunteer to serve on the Marblehead Recycling Committee, appointed by the Marblehead Board of Health. The Swap Shed is another place where volunteers can help. Volunteers must also sell facility stickers and check cars for up-to-date stickers as they enter the transfer station. Contact the Public Health Department at 781-631-0212 for additional volunteer information.

Upcoming Marblehead Museum events

» Growing up in the Shipyard: Beginning Wednesday, March 1, experience the 20th century in the shipyard neighborhood through the eyes of the Nybergs, a Swedish immigrant family who arrived in 1906 and

made Marblehead their own. The exhibit is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 170 Washington St.

» A Night of Spirits: Bourbon at the Old Town House: On Friday, March 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., sample signature bourbons paired with exquisite appetizers and topped off with a delicious dessert.

» Wild Women of Boston: On Thursday, March 16, in person and over Zoom at 7 p.m., Dina Vargo will reveal the scandalous stories of the reformers, socialites, criminals and madams who helped create Boston from the colonial era to present.

» Unearthing the Past: Lee Mansion

Archaeology: On Thursday, March 23 at 7 p.m. in person and over Zoom, Christa Beranek of the Fiske Center for Archaeological Research will reveal the results of last summer’s dig at the Lee Mansion.

» Dinner at The Landing Restaurant: On Tuesday, March 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., join the Marblehead Museum at The Landing for good food and a good cause to help raise money for a Lee Mansion/Brick Kitchen project.

All lectures will be hybrid. Register for events online at marbleheadmuseum. org or call 781-6311768. All lectures are $10 for members; $15 for nonmembers. All events at 170 Washington St. unless otherwise noted.

CO-CHAIRPERSONS

Jessica Barnett     Ed Bell

NEWSROOM

Managing Editor - Will Dowd  wdowd@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Staff Reporter - Leigh Blander lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Sports ReporterJoe McConnell jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

CONTRIBUTORS

Tristan Ashlock

Linda Bassett

Nicole Goodhue-Boyd

Scot Cooper Laurie Fullerton Mark Hurwitz John Lamontagne Christine McCarriston

Eyal Oren Frances Roberts Hill

Pam Peterson

Chris Stevens

Linda Werbner

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gene Arnould Jessica Barnett Ed Bell James Bryant - President Virginia Buckingham - Secretary Francie King

Donna Rice Kate Haesche Thomson

Richard Weed - Treasurer

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Kathryn Whorf

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Marion Warner Greely

FOUNDERS

Jessica Barnett Ed Bell

Leigh Blander  Will Dowd

David Moran

Kris Olson

Marblehead News 217 Humphrey St.  Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945 781.910.8658 info@marbleheadnews.org

www.marbleheadCurrent.org

Marblehead Current is published every Wednesday by Marblehead News Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is mailed to all homes and businesses in Marblehead, MA 01945.

DONATE

Help us deliver sustainable local journalism. Please consider supporting the Marblehead Current by making a tax-deductible donation at marbleheadcurrent.org/donate. For stock transfer donations, please contact: Kathryn Whorf at kwhorf@marbleheadnews.org.

ADVERTISE

Advertising is available on our website and in our weekly printed newspaper. To learn more, contact our Director of Community Relations, Marion Warner Greely, at mgreely@marbleheadnews. org, or visit www. marbleheadCurrent.org/ads.

VOLUNTEER Join us. We invite you to help support our effort to establish and maintain a free press for a strong community. To get involved, visit www.marbleheadCurrent org/volunteer.

REACT

We’re standing by to listen to your ideas. Please drop us a line and let us know what you would like to see in your community newspaper. Send your thoughts to info@marbleheadnews.org.

All Chic 152 owner Siobhan Phelan: ‘I love all the customers and their pets who pop in’

“I like to find new owls,” he said. “I may find one in the afternoon and return when the light is really good.”

He might frequent Steer Swamp the most, but he has shot wildlife on just about every conservation land in Marblehead, from the bird sanctuary on the Neck to the Lead Mills property.

“I’ve seen coyotes and foxes and raccoons,” he said. “Up in the trees, we’ve got barred owls, screech owls and the great horned owls — all right here in Marblehead.”

By far, owls make up the majority of his portfolio. He attributes the start of his nature photography to trying to shoot a snowy owl.

“I remember marching up and down Crane’s Beach and finally found one,” he recalled. “From that point on, it has been an obsession.”

He was in heaven during a once-in-a-century snowy owl irruption that Marblehead experienced in 2014 and 2015. Residents spotted the majestic birds all over town — it was like something out of a Harry Potter book.

Cuzner is self-taught, saying he primarily learned how to use a camera from the internet and YouTube videos.

“Growing up, I was that kid who always had a camera,” he said.

Cuzner’s photography has extended into astrophotography, taking images of the night sky and deep space objects

from Devereux Beach, his backyard and Castle Rock. His celestial images are jaw-droppingly clear for having been taken in a metropolitan area with so much light pollution.

“I have a pretty elaborate setup with a star tracker, which moves the camera at the same pace as the earth moves,” he said. “I’ll take a series of

long-exposure photos over three or four hours and meld them together.”

He’s shot a beautiful image of the Andromeda

galaxy as it hurtles toward the Milky Way. He has also created a series of star trails. He produced a stunning image of the

Milky Way, taken from Castle Rock.

“Right now, there’s this one nebula called the witch’s nebula that I’ve

been trying to get,” he said, “but it’s really hard to find, so that’s been a goal for this winter.”

Cuzner says his photography is truly a passion. He makes very little money from this hobby.

“I just love sharing them with people, showing them the wild animals that are all around them,” he said.

He said even his eyes opened to local wildlife through the years.

“When I started walking through the woods, I didn’t see so much,” he said, “but now I see a lot more.”

The Marblehead Current is excited to welcome Rick Cuzner as a regular contributor. His photography will appear in the Current every two weeks. Check out his Flickr page at https://bit. ly/3EHOF1F.

For about 15 years, Rick Cuzner has photographed Marblehead’s wildlife.

Rick Cuzner captured the reaction of a coyote in Marblehead as the wild animal spotted the photographer.

A screech owl peeks out of its home in Steer Swamp.

Sprocket Rockets gearing up for spring

New mountain biking team seeks additional members

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Mountain biking has become more popular in Marblehead since the pandemic, and a new bike park is expected to open this spring at the corner of Green and Beacon streets.

Now, a group of parents and kids is launching a mountain bike racing team, called the Sprocket Rockets, and is looking for more kids to join.

“As a family, we’ve been getting more and more interested in mountain biking the last couple of years,” said Geoff Duckworth, coach for the Sprocket Rockets. “When my son found out there was mountain bike racing, he was like, ‘Woah, this is awesome.’”

The Sprocket Rockets will compete in the New England Youth Cycling League, which is for girls and boys in grades 5-12. Races are held across southern New England.

“There are about 700 kids at some of these races,” Duckworth said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm for it. The races are on terrain like Lynn Woods. There’s no steep or gnarly stuff.” He added, “The kids are going to breathe hard and sweat.”

Foster Goodall, 11, of Marblehead is on the team. He has always loved to bike and started mountain bike racing about a year ago, competing in New Hampshire.

“I get to be outdoors. It’s really fun. You get to meet all kinds of people and challenge yourself,” he said.

Starting in April, the Sprocket Rockets will practice twice during the week, with occasional longer rides on Saturdays. They’ll practice “in the woods in the Marblehead area, in friendly

spaces,” Duckworth said.

“We’re not looking to ride on the roads,” he noted.

Practices will move to the bike park once it opens.

Duckworth is aware that the Conservation Commission banned teens from riding on conservation land during the pandemic.

“We want to teach kids skills and racing stuff, but also outdoor stewardship and how to get along with other trail users,” Duckworth said.

Mountain bike racing is especially good for kids who don’t enjoy team sports, according to Duckworth.

“There are a lot of kids who don’t fit in the traditional baseball, hockey, football kinds of sports world,” he said. “My

kids are some of them. They didn’t really connect with those kinds of sports. This is an adventure sport. We’re out in the woods. It’s individual, but it has a team element because you work with your team and get skills and get strong.”

Foster Goodall’s father, Rob, is excited for the upcoming season.

“It’s great for him to challenge himself,” Rob Goodall said. “Anytime you’re in an organized sport, it allows you to become more competitive and allows you to build that drive and manage relationships, which is important as you get older.”

To learn more about the Sprocket Rockets or to sign up, contact Duckworth at geoffduckworth@ gmail.com.

Hard in the ’Head to deliver dose of punk rock energy

BY LINDA WERBNER

Marblehead is celebrated for its proud maritime and American Revolutionary history, yachting and beautiful beaches. Impresario and musician Matt Nicholas plans to add “punk rock hub” to the list.

The Marblehead resident is putting together a concert called Hard in the ’Head on Saturday, March 18 at Gerry No. 5 VFA, which will showcase original punk rock bands from Boston’s storied early ’90s noise rock scene, where Lucas’ longtime band, Black Helicopter, has its roots.

While there will be no mosh pit at the Gerry, he promises that the four bands on the roster will deliver a dose of “pure energy straight to you.” This will be a night to remember for anyone sentimental about slam dancing at long gone and much missed Boston venues such as Bunratty’s or the Rat while hardcore punk bands Gang Green or the F.U.’s shook the rafters with their signature buzzsaw thrash.

What’s more, Lucas stresses that all of the bands on the bill share a North Shore connection as well as an “antiestablishment, DIY ethic of self-expression.”

While acknowledging that Hard in the ’Head “is not an easy listening event,” Nicholas assures there a many people in the area who are interested in punk rock.

“There’s a fertile appetite for this kind of music on the North Shore,” he said

As the frontman of Black

Helicopter, a band that has been together for two decades, Lucas has an encyclopedic knowledge of Boston’s rich and storied rock music scene.

By his own account, he has been “playing music for over 30 years with various guys” whom he describes as lifelong friends.

When asked what Black Helicopter sounds like, he pauses for a moment and says thoughtfully “a noisy indie rock band with a lot of distortion and good pop hooks.”

Of the other two bands on the bill, he characterizes Duck and Cover as a “pop punk band” and Cuidado as “panic rock.”

“Imagine a crazy hardcore band with saxophones,” he said.

The jewel in the punk rock

crown, however, is having the hardcore legends the F.U.’s headlining the show.

While Lucas has booked his band in conventional clubs over the years, putting together a group show like this is something new.

“Yes, I would totally like to do it again,” he said.

At the moment, he is getting the word out in the town’s roughly 4.4 square miles through a combination of social media and good oldfashioned “guerrilla marketing” — posters, stickers and handbills.

The genesis for Hard in the ’Head came from a “parking lot” show in Rhode Island that Lucas’ band Helicopter did with the

F.U.’s.

“I was talking with one of the guys in the band, and he told me that he lives in Salem, and I told him I live in Marblehead,” Lucas said. “I said, ‘What if we did a show at the Gerry 5?’ I’m a member there, so I went to the manager, Art, and asked. He said, ‘Sure.’”

Once he had secured a venue, he began reaching out to bands that he knew were based on the North Shore and was overjoyed that all of them said, “Hell yes!”

Lucas hopes that Hard in the ’Head will attract a new generation to punk rock and hardcore and spark a revival to the live music scene.

But at the end of the day, he said, “I just want to play a show

in my hometown that highlights the lineage and history of it all.”

As any musician can attest, the live music scene took a painful hit during the pandemic. Club after club shuttered, leaving bands with very few venues to play once things began opening up again.

“During the pandemic, we all masked up and went back to our practice spaces,” Lucas recalls of those two difficult years. “We could do everything but play live. And there are not many places to play in Marblehead to hear an original rock band.”

With its DIY spirit, Hard in the ’Head promises to flip the script. 1-2-3-4!

Hard in the ’Head is scheduled for Saturday, March 18 at Gerry No. 5 V.F.A., 210 Beacon St., Marblehead. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the music starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10. See eventbrite.com/e/hard-in-thehead-tickets-485050106927. This is an 18+ show.

Foster Goodall loves racing his mountain bike.

COURTESY PHOTO

The pop punk band Duck and Cover is one of four band slated to play at Hard in the ’Head on Saturday, March 18 at the Gerry No. 5 VFA.

Four bands slated to play at Gerry No. 5 VFA on March 18

An intentionally garish flier assaults the senses in the same way the four bands slated to play at Hard in the ’Head at the Gerry No. 5 VFA on March 18.

Caption: Foster Goodall, left, and Fox Duckworth are ready for a mountain bike race.

jobs, and Buckey has released timelines for the two searches.

Principal search

The principal search committee was expected to meet for the first time on Feb. 28. The committee includes the following people: Buckey; Murphy; administrators MHS Vice Principal Lindsay Donaldson and Veterans Middle School Principal Matt Fox; staff Christine Chaykowski, Michael Giardi, Gina Hart and Susan Shatford; parents KerryFrances Bourne, Melissa Kaplowitch, Cindy Schieffer and John White; students Audrey Bathurst, Jeremy Sorkin, David Alpert and Lucy Sabin; Jennifer Jackson with SEPAC and Nikkia Bell with METCO; and School Committee member Tom Mathers.

“We had quadruple the number of parents interested in being on the search

Warrant

From P. A1

Committee continue to work through the iterations of the budget. We are committed to finding a balance that meets the needs of our students and is fiscally responsible.”

The School Committee has scheduled a budget hearing on March 21 at 7 p.m. at Marblehead High School auditorium.

It is unclear whether the town’s override request will include funding for the schools. Without an override, the school district will need to cap any budget increase at 1.8%, or $800,000 over the FY 2023 spending plan. Superintendent John Buckey has cautioned that level of funding would trigger drastic cuts, including layoffs of more than 30 staff members.

“As superintendent, I see it as my number one priority to advocate the needs of our district’s students and staff,” Buckey told the Current. “We have listened to the feedback from last year and this year and have worked hard to incorporate that into our planning and development of the FY24 budget.”

The School Committee is also sponsoring a capital needs request to make “renovations and extraordinary repairs, including all professional feasibility studies, design, architectural and engineering fees to the Brown, Glover, Village, Veterans Middle and High School and their respective school grounds, and to purchase technology software and equipment,” according to the warrant.

“Our facilities subcommittee approved a prioritized list of approximately $1.3 million worth of capital improvements,” Buckey said. “We submitted this to the town and are awaiting word on what projects will be approved.”

BrIEF

[committee] than we unfortunately have spots for,” Buckey told the School Committee. “And we had triple the number of students.”

Buckey said the principal search committee has a diversity of parents and students, “providing a voice to all stakeholders — academics, athletics, the arts and co-curriculars.

“We tried to get one student from each grade level and looked at their involvement in clubs,” he added.

The group is expected to start interviewing candidates on March 7.

“We will have them visit the district, and that will provide our community an opportunity to have forums with the finalists,” Buckey said. “They will have a faculty meeting and a student panel.”

Buckey hopes to have a new MHS principal named by April 10.

Mathers ended up on the principal search committee after School Committee Chair Sarah Fox appointed herself, but then backpedaled when

Mathers said he felt the School Committee should discuss the appointment and take a vote.

“I just think from a governance perspective, this committee, we need to function from a perspective of deliberation,” he said. “I have no interest in having previously raised my hand, but I will do what the will of the committee is.”

Fox said she was merely going off precedent.

“Our process in the past has been to the discretion of the chair,” she said. “But we can absolutely have that discussion.”

Sarah Gold said she thought a School Committee member who does not have “a kid queued up” to attend the high school would serve the principal search well.

Fox, who has more than one child enrolled in the district, countered that she does not have any children in the high school.

“I certainly don’t want to be on it,” Gold said. “I have a very vested interest in [the next principal] as a parent. I don’t

think it would be appropriate.”

Mathers doesn’t have children in Marblehead Public Schools, and Gold said his service on the search committee would be a good decision “optics wise.”

Assistant superintendent search

The 13-member search committee for the new assistant superintendent includes the following people: Buckey; Assistant Supt. for Finance & Operations Michelle Cresta; administrators Paul Donnelly and Hope Doran; faculty/staff members Marissa Hunt-Pomeroy and Mary LeBlanc, parents Reece Dahlberg and Emily Moore; Brian Birke with SEPAC; Jacqui Holmes with METCO; School Committee member Meagan Taylor and community members Paul Baker and Mark Pelletier.

The committee will begin meeting March 6 and interviewing candidates on March 20. Buckey hopes to have the new assistant superintendent named by April 17.

and heat pumps in the Old and Historic District. The article would empower homeowners to help the town reach its goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

Article 47 and 48 are dueling articles targeting the leaf blower bylaw. Article 47 proposes undoing the leaf-blower ban passed in 2022 altogether, while Article 48 aims to add an enforcement clause to it.

If passed, the latter article would empower the Marblehead Police Department and the Marblehead Public Health Department to issue warnings and assess fines between $100 and $200, depending on the number of violations.

Resident Daniel Albert sponsored Article 49 and Article 50, which propose the creation of a traffic advisory committee and certain zoning changes.

Resident Rosalind Nadeau has sponsored Articles 51 and 52, which would mandate that Marblehead’s regulatory bodies hold hybrid public meetings and specify how they post their minutes.

Marblehead published the 2023 Town Warrant on Friday afternoon, more than two months before Town Meeting convenes May 1.

The Franklin Street firehouse Article 40 requests to override Proposition 2 1/2 through a debt exclusion to finance the restoration of the Franklin Street firehouse. The Select Board-sponsored article comes after an assessment of the condition of the historic building revealed it needed a $2.3 million restoration.

In a Marblehead Current interview, Fire Chief Jason Gilliland acknowledged the timing of the debt-exclusion

request comes as the town faces a possible general override.

“I think the main thing we have got to stress is that we’re not losing sight of the financial condition and challenges of the town,” Gilliland told the Current.

The citizen petitions

The 2023 warrant includes a whopping 54 articles. Among the citizen petitions is resident James Zisson’s proposal under Article 44 to change the length of Select Board terms from one-year terms to staggered,

three-year terms. The only other Marblehead officials elected annually are the town moderator and the members of the Parks and Recreation Commission.

Resident Ronald Grenier is the main sponsor of Article 45, a proposal to bring what the article deems to be “best practices and oversight” to Marblehead’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Review.

Article 46, sponsored by Mark Adams, proposes lifting certain limitations on solar panels

Former School Committee member Jonathan Lederman has sponsored Article 53, proposing a local adoption statute that would change the final date that a resident could obtain nomination for local office to 48 hours before papers are due to the registrar of voters for certification.

Megan Sweeney sponsored Article 54. Its passage would create “standard operating procedures manual that will define for the public the process regularly executed and the fundamentals employed for decision making by the Select Board, Board of Health, Harbors & Waters Board and Recreation & Parks Commission.”

This is a developing news story. Check back MarbleheadNews.org for updates.

Clifton Improvement Association seeks treasurer

The Clifton Improvement Association (CIA), a local organization that operates, maintains and improves Beach Bluff Park and the adjacent parking lot, is seeking a treasurer to serve on its board of directors

The primary responsibilities of this volunteer position are to prepare financial reports for review at monthly board meetings, manage expenses and

LETTErS POLIc Y

file reports. The CIA’s outgoing treasurer will remain on the Board and is available to help with the transition. The treasurer must be able to manage financial accounts, reconcile bank statements, manage cash/ check receipts, maintain CIA books and records, create budgets and report actuals to budget.

Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. The Marblehead Current reserves the right not to publish submissions over the word limit and may instead return the letter to the writer for editing.

Letters must include:

1. The author’s name.

This is an ideal position for a member of the community who would enjoy the opportunity to be a part of the organization and support its mission to maintain, beautify and educate the community about its park and the surrounding coastal environment. The CIA also welcomes other community members to become involved in various committee roles.

2. The name of the street the author lives on in Marblehead. Only the street name will be published next to the author’s name — not their full address.

3. Author’s daytime/cell phone number (not for publication) for verification purposes.

Email President@ciabeachbluff.

org if you are interested in learning more about this role or visit our website, CIABeachBluff. org, for more information about our organization.

As a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the CIA’s mission is to preserve, protect, and improve the scenic, historic and natural character of the local open and public

4. If letters seek to introduce into a discussion purported facts that are not commonly known, writers may be asked to provide the source for those purported facts.

5. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday to be published in the

spaces through information, education and advocacy. Beach Bluff Park, which sits on the border between Swampscott and Marblehead, and the adjacent parking lot at the corner of Atlantic and Seaview avenues in Marblehead, are owned by the CIA and are maintained by private funds generated through membership, donations, and gifts.

following Wednesday’s print edition of the Marblehead Current. Letters will be published to our website at the earliest opportunity, after verification.

Email submissions to info@ marbleheadnews.org.

CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD

EDITOrI a L

Sour taste lingers

At quick glance, one could see that no one seems 100% satisfied with the compromise that had been expected to allow the tennis courts at the Veterans School reopened for pickleball last week as a sign that the Recreation & Parks Commission did its job.

However, look closer, and you can see the opposite is true.

To review, the group Marblehead Pickleball raised about $65,000 to help convert four tennis courts at Vets into six dedicated pickleball courts. Then, this fall, it partnered with Rec & Parks to create four additional pickleball courts at Seaside Park.

But even though Marblehead had been enjoying an unseasonably warm winter, the pickleball nets came down in January. The town’s pickleball players — some 400 strong — were mystified and struggled to get a clear explanation.

Apparently, at least part of the rationale was that the contractor who had worked on the Seaside courts reported that pressure from the pickleball nets was causing the posts to which they were attached to lean.

Might the same group that raised such a substantial sum to convert the courts in the first place have agreed to pay for the repairs? They were never offered that deal, it seems.

Though it was not raised at the Feb. 7 Rec & Parks meeting, at least one pickleball player says she had been told that the nets came down because the town was concerned about liability.

Even if the department needs a refresher course on the state’s recreational use statute, G.L.c. 21, §17C, which shields property owners who freely open their land for recreation in the absence of wilful, wanton, or reckless conduct, any such concern has never prompted the department to cordon off the town’s basketball courts or fields.

Nearly a quarter century ago, in his groundbreaking book “Bowling Alone,” Robert D. Putnam demonstrated how people had become increasingly disconnected from family, friends, neighbors and democratic institutions.

You don’t need to be a social scientist to know that the social fabric has hardly been mended in the years since. True, something resembling “communities” have emerged on social media, but online discourse — even in its best form — has proven to be less than nourishing.

The “online disinhibition effect” — the tendency of people to act out more frequently or intensely than they would in person — is always lurking. At least one study suggests we are ruder to one another online due to the lack of eye contact.

Now, add a once-in-a-century pandemic to the mix. In a May 2021 American Perspectives Survey, Americans reported having fewer close friendships than they once did, talking to their friends less often, and relying less on their friends for personal support.

Enter pickleball, which in Marblehead and elsewhere has shown the ability to break through and buck these trends. We may be bowling alone, but we are playing pickleball with a partner — or three. When neighbors come together for some friendly face-to-face competition, they are getting some stress-relieving exercise to boot.

Given the obvious benefits, one would think that a commission with “recreation” in its name would bend over backwards to keep a good thing going.

Yet to the bitter end, the pickleballers had to fight to get the commission to give an inch.

Why, exactly, did the commission need to delay the reopening of the courts until Tuesday (Feb. 22), instead of allowing play over a long holiday weekend? Unclear.

And why did the courts then not reopen as planned on that Tuesday? Sure, the weather was less than ideal. But in the first half of the week, some pickleball players showed up ready to play, only to be greeted by locked gates.

Tell us again, too, why players are being required to supply their own nets? Or why pickleball programming has not been a priority for Rec & Park — if for no other reason than to allow the town to reap a return on Marblehead Pickleball’s investment?

We do not mean to diminish the challenge our local boards often have in balancing competing interests. Nor do we doubt the testimony from neighbors of the Veterans School courts that the sounds of pickleball play in winter travel more easily in the absence of a canopy of vegetation that exists in other seasons.

Nonetheless, given the obvious benefits of allowing the pickleball players to pursue their passion, the baseline for the Recreation & Parks Commission should have been “what can we do to keep the courts open?” Closing them should have been a last resort, and getting them reopened should not have required the pickleballers to go to war.

As the Current was going to press, pickleball — specifically a “sound mitigation request” — was again on the agenda for the Rec & Parks’ Feb. 28 meeting.

Representatives of Marblehead Pickleball told the Current they planned to attend and have no objection to sound mitigation. They just want to play.

Here’s hoping that, by the time this editorial hits the streets, some common ground will have been found. Right on its website, the Recreation & Parks Department describes its mission as “to enhance the environment and the quality of life for the residents of Marblehead.”

Yes, the mission statement goes on to talk about “care and maintenance” of parks and fields. But the people come first, as it should be.

Perhaps current members of the Recreation & Parks Commission should recite the mission statement at the start of meetings and pledge themselves to its stated hierarchy — people first, then facilities.

EVErYThING WILL BE OK aY

Reconsidering the seagull

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM

“Rats with wings.” That’s the common derogatory descriptor about that common sea bird, the gull. Last summer, one wily airborne rodent grabbed an entire overflowing lobster roll from my hand just as I was taking a first bite. Darn rat! Mostly though, gulls are a casually observed but uncontemplated part of our daily landscape. We might notice one pecking at an unlucky crab or perched on a neighbor’s chimney. But we don’t give their presence a second thought, even seconds later. Unexpectedly for me, the merely observed recently became the deeply contemplated.

I was given the gift of a week staying in a friend’s apartment overlooking Boston Harbor. It was a respite from construction at home, as well from the frustration of a mobility-reducing broken ankle.

Dreams of wandering the city though became the reality of mostly staying put and staring at the view out the apartment window. And oh, what a view! The only object between the oversized glass windows and the water was the flat roof of the federal courthouse. I figured my gaze would be held by the fuel-filled tankers moving through the harbor, the daily commuter ferries, the ubiquitous coast guard craft, the distant Tobin Bridge. In fact, though, it became the courthouse roof itself which held my fascination. Or rather, the late afternoon and evening arrivals on the roof. Starting at about 4:30 p.m., gulls of all shapes and sizes, from all directions, began appearing, descending directly like graceful drones as opposed to the glide path of planes landing on a runway. At first, there were just a handful — three gulls from this direction, two gulls from that. They each arrived alone, some purposeful about choosing their landing spot, others circling above as if checking out their options.

Then as the light started to fade, dozens more arrived, then tens of dozens and then seemingly hundreds. It was as if every gull from Chelsea Creek to Castle Island had been summoned to a mandatory family meeting. Because I have the sense of humor of a third grader, I chuckled out loud as I imagined them exchanging gossip from the day. ‘Hey Fred, did you see all the mussels broken open on the dry dock by the Design Center? I did that!’

But mostly, I just watched. The first day. The second. Until I made a point of being at the window at the same time each late afternoon that week. Without effort, the watching transformed into something else, more akin to meditation, conscious of each gull instead of each breath. One early evening, something, a strong gust of wind, or a loud sound, sent all of the gulls back into the sky — some flying so high they looked like black specks about to alight on the emerging stars. The disrupted gulls circled at varying heights, as if contained by an invisible

RE: Living within your budget....

TO THE EDITOR:

I would like to echo concerns stated by Mr. Jack Buba in last week’s letter (Feb. 22).

Evidently, many town citizens (and administrators) need to be reminded that since 1995 the Marblehead Community Charter Public School (MCCPS) has been successfully operating on a fixed state-funding budget based on a per-pupil expense (PPE).

For 28 years, 230 students per year, in fourth through eighth grades, have been receiving a firstclass education without incurring deficits and/or overrides. How does that happen, and why isn’t that possible for all our public school districts?

The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 changed how the Commonwealth supported, administered and funded the education services of our public school students in local school districts. The fact that many MCCPS students go on to high school in advanced placement classes and receive scholarships to

funnel, hundreds calling out, a dance and a song of their own creation. Eventually, each settled back on the roof. In their exact same spot, like a reserved parking space? Impossible to know, but I wished I did. By dawn, they were gone, I never was up in time to see the departures, to know whether it was a reverse of their arrivals, first a few, then dozens and then tens of dozens flying east or south, all directions of the compass. Passing their day mostly ignored, until they were summoned once again to the roof by the fading light. There was a majesty to their movement, a purpose to their presence. The common sea gull had not only been reconsidered, it had been transformed.

Here are a few other items for reconsideration from my week in the city:

The Tobin Bridge

From my Seaport vantage point, the Tobin looked like a piece from a Thomas the Train toy set, a child’s hand having cantilevered it at the narrow neck of the inner harbor. Unlike its nearby cabled, Springsteenanointed cousin the Zakim, there’s a faded elegance about the Tobin, its green metal profile a relief from the gray and brown winter landscape. I won’t oversell it, it’s no Golden Gate, but it’s cool. And it will be a lifeline for the North Shore when the Sumner Tunnel closes seven days a week this summer.

The Embrace

I’d read the reviews of the newly installed tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Many were bluntly unimpressed. I was blown away. The meticulously recreated buttons on his jacket cuff. The bracelet on her arm. The wrinkles on his hand. The nail beds on her fingers. The diversity of people gazing up at it, walking under it, touching it. The handmade memorial to Tyre Nichols nearby. The craftsmanship of The Embrace is extraordinary. The simple message of the power of love was profound.

Cabs

My Uber app was only working intermittently, and as mentioned, I wasn’t walking anywhere fast. I needed a cab. Where were the cabs? What happened to the cab stands? I hobbled from The Embrace to the corner of School and Beacon Streets, a long hobble, because that’s where the cab stand I knew used to be. It was empty. Technology has decimated cabs. I used to not consider what that meant to city life. I’ve reconsidered. What can we do to support traditional cab drivers?

I have no larger meaning to impart from these reconsiderations. It was just a good reminder to myself that looking at something from a different vantage point is, in its own small way, transformative. And I wanted to share that thought with you.

Virginia Buckingham is a member of the Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.

North Shore private high schools enhances the reputation of a public school education administered and operating within budget constraints. Perhaps our town finance and school committees et al. need to be “schooled” on how to manage expenses within our citizen taxpayer means?

R.A. EBETTA CHESTNUT STREET

Cross-pollination is critical

TO THE EDITOR

Just got through reading Virginia Buckingham’s column, “Bringing Back a Bookstore,” and I could not agree more about the void that Spirit of ‘76 left in our community by closing. It cut right to the core and spirit of Marblehead.

Marblehead has been faced with years and years of small businesses opening up and closing their doors, almost to the point now where our streets are lined with real estate offices and the dentist office that occupies our former bookstore.

Yes, a bookstore sounds like a touching new option for someone to open, but it’s rough out there.

Never mind the challenges of the

internet, but Marblehead needs to re-define itself as a destination in terms of a total experience.

Throughout the greater North Shore, it is not known as a place to go for a total shopping experience.

The Massachusetts Express Grant Program is designed to provide small-to-medium size businesses the tools they need not just to survive, but succeed. It would certainly make a lot of sense if several of the small businesses would consider taking full advantage of this opportunity.

To take it to another level, I would imagine the Express Grant Program could help design a strategy to help the town of Marblehead.

By the way, the Spirit of ‘76 formerly operated stores in Swampscott, Andover, Newburyport and Marblehead — now only in Andover.

If a store is going to survive, my opinion is it has a much better chance if all the stores are strong. Cross-pollination is critical. Shop owners need to pull their resources together to give people a reason to shop in Marblehead.

The art of popover perfection

BY LINDA BASSETT

I am a cook. Not a baker. Not a pastry chef. I do not bake cakes, cupcakes, pies, breads or pizza from scratch. But from time to time, I am prompted by occasion, necessity, emergency — or ego. Never if the item must be kneaded, rolled or yeast risen.

My pies are prepared with gluten-free pie shells from Crosby’s Market. (This has nothing to do with gluten. These New England-produced pie shells are much superior than any of the national brands.) I soak my cakes, from a mix, drizzled with enough liqueur or topped with enough fresh fruit and whipped cream to thoroughly mask the chemical taste often present in a mix.

Several years ago, when I took my chef’s exam, bread was on the list of the requirements. I chose to make quick bread. No yeast. No proofing. And, it was easy to remember the recipe. I refused to waste time rolling out dough that I might need to defang a monkfish or shell a lobster.

Motherhood is a reason to bake. When my daughter turned five, she wished for a “castle tower” birthday cake, multicolored sparkles on each layer. I borrowed four graduated cake pans from a pastry chef buddy and baked a cupcake for the top. (Actually I had to bake a whole batch of cupcakes to yield just one for the top turret.) When I put the cake together, the slippery frosting eased the layers into a tilt. I grabbed

long skewers, the kind used for toasting marshmallows, and stabbed them through all the layers to anchor them from top to bottom. Still the layers refused to stand upright, so the cake turned out to be a rainbow-hued leaning tower of Pisa. I nearly cried. But, my daughter, seeing the confection through her little girl eyes, pronounced it the most beautiful birthday cake ever!

Today, I’ve thoroughly mastered one baked good from scratch: popovers. These large somewhat bready things emit a deliriously delicious puff of steam when opened. It is a smaller version of the English Yorkshire pudding, the recipe that traditionally partners with roast beef. This very simple whisking together of flour, eggs and milk, cooked in a hot oven in a pan of scalding meat drippings. No yeast. Yet they rise!

Most people think that baking popovers is a difficult project, all that fuss over whether or not they will rise. Yet, it isn’t that difficult to turn out a decent batch. In our household, we consider them special occasion brunch food. And in spite of the many mimosas guzzled during preparation, they manage to pop nearly every time. Why do they perk up when other popovers lie listlessly at the bottom of the pan? Basically I stick to a few tricks I’ve worked out over years of practice.

I use a pan specifically made for popovers. Those shallow muffin tins work only when the mood moves them. Maybe they’re too shallow to carry the heat upward. Even when the oven is pumped up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit!

For ingredients, I use largesize eggs (not extra) and real

butter or vegetable shortening. And always whole milk. I sit these ingredients on the countertop until they reach room temperature before starting. Popping failure can result from cold ingredients.

Batter ready, I prep the pans. Whatever amount of butter (or shortening) seems too much is not enough! Double the effort and thickness gets it into the seams. I made this discovery teaching a children’s cooking class. The enthusiastic little fingers did a thoroughly messy job “greasing the pans” and the popovers slipped out easily when done.

I pour the batter nearly to the top of each well in the pan. Not all the way, just over three-quarters.

The baking pan goes on the center rack of the 450 F oven, with lots of head room for

rising. I turn the heat down immediately(!), and watch them rise through the window. NEVER open the oven door to peek. Why? Because an oven door will invariably slam closed, even a little bit, and deflate all the nice poofy batter.

POPOVERS

MAKES 6

Serve these hot from the oven with butter and jam. Alternatively, slit them open to fill with scrambled eggs and smoked salmon or homemade meat pie filling.

` Butter or vegetable shortening

`

2 large eggs

`

1 cup all-purpose flour

`

1 cup whole milk

` Pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Grease the insides of a 6-well popover pan thickly.

Blend the eggs, flour and milk in a food processor or blender until smooth. Alternatively, hand-whisk or use a stick blender.

Pour an equal amount of batter into each well, filling nearly to the top.

Transfer the pan to the oven. Immediately turn the heat down to 400F. Bake for 20 minutes. By now, they will be tall, puffed and golden.

Remove from the oven and gently pierce the tops with the point of a knife to allow steam to escape. Wait three to five minutes before removing them from the baking pan. To get them out of the pan in one piece, run a very thin knife, a boning or paring knife, around the edges to loosen them. Serve them still hot before all the steam escapes.

BY COURT MERRIGAN

There are vast stretches of Wyoming where you go days without encountering another person. The solitude becomes the very reason to venture there. I’ve been going up into the mountains in Medicine Bow National Forest since before I could walk, and I took my own kids there from the same age. Every time I came down off the mountain back to civilization into cell phone service and my phone exploded with notifications, it felt like being wrenched from paradise.

Now I live in the Northeast, where civilization stretches west for days from the deep green sea. More people pass by my house in one afternoon than I might see in Wyoming in a solid month, and every time I drive down Route 1A I share the road with roughly Wyoming’s entire population. By way of comparison, the population density of Marblehead is 4,656 souls per square mile. The population density of Goshen County, Wyoming? Six. (Not a typo).

So imagine my surprise when the other day I found myself all alone in Steer Swamp.

Now, the sign for Steer Swamp off Beacon Street indicates the area comprises 48 acres. I’ll admit my inner hiking snob scoffed just a touch. Medicine Bow National Forest encompasses 1.1 million acres. (That makes 88 Marbleheads, for those of you counting at home.) I expected the experience to be something like a stroll through a public park. Some trees, some picnickers. Carefully tended grass.

Well, friends, when I’m wrong, I’m wrong. Within moments of stepping on the trail the street sounds vanished, replaced by birdsong and shifting branches. I followed the meticulously maintained trail down to a pond that would not have been out of place in a vaster wilderness. Brooks babbled underfoot. The trees were mature and healthy. This is a credit to the fine folks of the Marblehead Conservancy, who do the hard work of keeping our local natural spaces natural. I was particularly impressed by the wood chipping along the trails that prevents erosion and ruts.

Hard to believe, but I didn’t encounter another person during the hour that I spent traversing the trails. Talk about a truly unexpected surprise. My professional life centers on people and relationships, and I embrace the possibilities in every new person I’ve gotten to know here. Nonetheless, solitude matters too. I hadn’t realized

how much I’d missed the feeling until I stood alone under that winter canopy.

But the day wasn’t done with me. That evening, I attended my first yoga class.

About a year ago, my partner (she of the sea witches from my last column) asked if I’d like to join her daily hardcore fitness regimen.

Just show up and hit “play” on the streaming video, she said, and she’d help coach me remotely, as she traveled for work and I was in Wyoming. The workouts would include yoga. At the time, I wore boots every day, owned farmland (still do), and drove a pickup truck. I was skeptical that yoga and I were a match. But darn sure she and I were, so I said yes.

Now, I give my best effort to everything I do, but I am also somewhat less flexible than pig iron. You likely have a wrench in your garage that can touch its toes more easily than I can. Fortunately, my partner sticks with me as I sweat myself into clumsy approximations of yoga positions while she dives into a chaturanga with the

grace of a dancer.

Ever thoughtful, my partner thought I might like to try out a real yoga class with a live instructor, so she gifted me some yoga sessions down at The Yoga Loft for my birthday. She even promised to come with me. I do admit to some trepidation as I envisioned sleek pros pretzeling themselves into nirvana as I toppled over at the basics. But I’m nothing if not game. I figured I could hang at the rear while my partner made us both look good.

But here again I was surprised! The lights were dim, the music was soft and my classmates were folks just like me. No one seemed to mind my struggles. An hour is a long time for me to do yoga, but the time flowed with ease as I basked in the calm of the collective effort. Much like the way the Marblehead Conservancy maintains the reservations, the Yoga Loft made the practice into something more than just a workout.

The two of us walked out refreshed and determined to return, just as I will surely return to Steer Swamp. That’s the thing I’ve noticed about these Marblehead first-time experiences – I always want to come back for another round. Ask the Cranks. I’m now a regular with the group.

If you’ve got an idea, shoot me an email at court. merrigan@gmail.com or catch up with me on the Current Facebook page. Thanks to those who’ve reached out so far! I’ll be back soon with another edition of “My Marblehead First Time.”

Wyoming transplant Court Merrigan is a new Marblehead resident. His column, “My Marblehead First Time,” appears regularly in the Current.

COURTESY PHOTO

Linda Bassett, the Marblehead Current’s cooking columnist, has mastered the art of baking popovers.

orbs that will be hidden along trails in town for people to find and keep.

Charles wants to work with local restaurants to get them more involved in the festival. And “there will be more theater and music,” she said.

Charles has three main goals for the festival this year:

» Attract a younger crowd of people 25-40 years old. “We need to think about what we’re doing for them,” she said.

Partner more closely with artists and organizations throughout Essex County to make the festival more of a regional event.

» Raise money for student scholarships.

» She also hopes people start to see the festival as more than just a weekend event.

“There are so many ways to touch the

festival,” she said. “There’s the holiday marketplace in December and the logo contest in February. In May, we’ll focus on restaurants and the 5K. In June, there’s the champagne reception.”

Charles runs LCG Brands, a marketing firm with international clients. LCG stands for La Capoise Galerie, a nod to her Haitian heritage. She has worked as deputy press secretary for Gov. Mitt Romney, a producer for the “Matty in the Morning” radio show, and on New England Cable News. She hosts the podcast Minding Your Business, which has featured several Marbleheaders.

In all of her jobs, storytelling has been key, Charles says. And the festival will be no different.

“We want to capture and share the history of the festival,” she said. “We are a town of talented people. It’s mind blowing.”

Learn more about the Marblehead Festival of Arts at marbleheadfestival.org.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Jodi-Tatiana Charles pauses for a photo after a meeting at the Muffin Shop.

Indoor track teams enjoy success

Girls finish fourth in Division 3, boys 10th

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead High indoor track teams took part in the annual Division 3 state championship meet at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury on Feb. 19. The boys finished 10th, while the girls ended up in the top five in fourth place.

Boys 55-meters

The season-long friendly rivalry between Harrison Curtis and Thomas Carlson ended with a narrow victory for Curtis (6.88), who finished 13th overall. Carlson (6.89) was right behind him in 14th place.

Carlson’s future is bright, because the top sophomore time in the division was 6.88, according to coach Nolan Raimo.

Girls 55-meters

Cate Trautman led the way finishing sixth overall with a new personal best time of 7.54. She easily bested her previous time of 7.62.

Ava Machado finished 11th with a time of 7.65, and Sadie Halpern (7.76) ended up 21st.

“At the beginning of the season, Cate wanted to focus on the 300 after a successful 400 spring campaign the previous year,” said Raimo. “Cate ran a 7.78 three years in a row, but was frustrated with the 55. However, she still came out for the event this season after a fantastic offseason and ended up shattering the school record by over a tenth of a second that also shaved a quarter of a second off her previous best time.”

Boys 55-meter hurdles

Alex Hersey finished seventh with a new personal best time of 8.50. Errol Apostolopoulos (8.99) was 19th.

“Alex and Errol have made tremendous progress over the course of the season in the hurdles, and they will have one last shot in the event at the

TIMELY rOLL

pentathlon on March 1,” said Raimo.

Girls 55-meter hurdles

Devin Whalen (9.36) finished eighth after running a personal-best time of 9.17 in the preliminary round. Claire Davis (9.58) was 15th, and Elise Burchfield (9.92) 25th.

“It was a day of bad luck for the hurdlers,” Raimo said.

“Devin tagged the last hurdle in the finals that set her back a bit, and Claire battled back from an illness this week to compete.”

Boys long jump

Apostolopoulos finished sixth with a huge jump of 20-2.25 that

places him third all-time in the school record books.

Hersey (19-3.75) missed the finals by three inches to finish 10th.

“For multi-event participants like Errol and Alex, bad events inevitably happen when you’re competing,” Raimo said. “Errol had a herculean effort in the long jump following a sub-par hurdle race. His tenacity was on full display, and it was awesome to witness it.”

Girls long jump

Charlie Roszell finished 19th with a leap of 14-6. Claire Davis (13-7) was 27th.

Boys high jump

Apostolopoulos finished 13th with a clearance of 5-7.

“Errol, with his other events already mentioned, has a limited amount of time to practice the high jump, and so a 13th-place finish at the state divisional championship meet is great,”

Raimo said.

Girls high jump

Keira Sweetnam (5-4, personal best) continued to climb the ladder to finish second. Burchfield (4-8) was 12th. “Elise, like Errol and Alex, bounces around between a lot of events, and her clearance of 4-8 at the state divisional championship meet is quite impressive,” Raimo said. “Keira’s jump of 5-4 qualifies her for the nationals. She is the first athlete to qualify for nationals in my tenure, and I imagine the first one since A.J. Ernst in the last decade.”

Boys 300 Curtis (37.09, personal best) continued his long-sprinting career with an eighth-place finish. Sebby Pantzer (37.29, personal best) was 11th “Harrison and Sebby are

Girls

basketball wins three straight Postseason begins at Masconomet

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead High girls basketball team (10-7) is surging at the right time with March Madness looming on the horizon.

A team loaded with talented freshmen started the season trying to find itself, but once the calendar flipped to 2023, it was able to develop that competitive edge, and the wins soon followed.

Since Jan. 3, the team has gone 9-6 and built a three-game winning streak as the regular season ended during school vacation week.

The Marblehead girls’ latest two wins were against Swampscott (49-30, Feb. 17) and Ipswich (4136, Feb. 21). The team’s newfound cohesiveness was quite evident to opponents who had seen them play earlier on in the season.

The Magicians defeated their Big Blue rivals in early January, 16-14, but six weeks later they were able to score three times as many points, while resembling a team nobody wants to face in the postseason.

“We definitely made a lot of strides since the first time we played Swampscott,” said coach Paul Moran.

A freshman has led them with a hot shooting hand. In her latest display of offensive dominance, Tess Andriano poured in 23 points against Swampscott to lead the way.

Samantha Dormer helped out her teammates in multiple ways with 10 points to go along with several assists, blocks and rebounds, according to Moran.

“(Dormer) has been playing great lately,” he added.

Senior captain Isabelle Ferrante chipped in with five points against Swampscott. Junior Katie Burns accounted for four points and 12 rebounds. Mari O’Connell, sophomore Olivia Goldwater and Greta Sachs scored two apiece. Romana Gillette buried one free throw.

The game against Ipswich also showed evidence of the team’s marked improvement since the start of the season. It had lost to

the Tigers the first time around, 43-34. But the team turned around that score with another demonstration of all-around team play.

Andriano was once again the team’s leading scorer with 16 points. Dormer was next in line with nine points. O’Connell netted six. Burns collected four. Sara Bosio and Samara Dosch contributed three points apiece to the winning cause.

“We trailed by 15 at halftime against Ipswich, but then we started to put it all together in the second half,” said Moran. “We started the game flat. We couldn’t press and couldn’t make our shots. But I was proud of the comeback. We didn’t give up, despite trailing by double digits.”

Moran singled out O’Connell, one of his talented freshmen, for making three clutch free throws at the end of the game.

“This effort against Ipswich

Boys basketball wins McIntire Tournament

10th-seeded Magicians

to

begin postseason at home

BY JOE MCCONNELL

As the regular season wound down, the Marblehead High boys basketball team (13-4) built up momentum for the postseason. After defeating Swampscott (83-64, Feb. 16), Bedford (79-73, Feb. 19) and Gloucester (71-67 in OT, Feb. 20), the Magicians have won six out of their last seven games.

“We may have played one of our best halves of basketball all year long in the Swampscott game,” coach Mike Giardi said. “We jumped out to a big first half lead (58-24). Swampscott then picked up the pace in the second half, but they were trailing by so much, it was too much to overcome for them.”

Ryan Commoss paced the attack against the Big Blue with 19 points. Isaiah Makor and Nick Lemmond were next in line with 17 apiece. Tryone Countrymon accounted for 13. Scott Campbell had six. Magnus McCarthy and Cameron Comstock each scored four

COURTESY PHOTOS / CAT PIPER

The Marblehead girls 4x800 relay team of, from left, sophomore Juliet Burchfield, junior Kate Twomey, freshman Isabelle Mortenson and junior Grace Mortenson are shown on the podium after finishing sixth during the Division 3 state championship meet at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury Feb. 19.

Marblehead girls indoor track senior captain Cate Trautman is on the podium after finishing sixth in the 55-meters.

Marblehead boys indoor track junior captain Alex Hersey is shown after finishing seventh in the 55-meter hurdles.

rEGUL ar SE a SON FINa LE

points. Matthew Sherf tallied three.

The Magicians then hosted the annual Larry McIntire Board 130 Tournament. Bedford was their first-round opponent, and it was a battle, according to Giardi.

“They are a team that we may face in the state tournament down the road, and we were able to hold on this time to secure the close win,” the coach added.

The Marblehead boys led at halftime, 43-30. But the Buccaneers outscored the home team in the third quarter, 22-14, to trim the deficit to five, 57-52.

Countrymon was the top scorer in this game with 26 points. Commoss chipped in with 19, and Lemmond had 16 to round out the top three Marblehead scorers.

Campbell netted nine.

McCarthy contributed six points to the winning cause. Makor tallied three. The win over Bedford set

up the title game against Northeastern Conference rival Gloucester.

“While we got out to a big lead in the third quarter (47-35), Gloucester fought back and actually took the lead with under a minute to go in the game,” said Giardi. “We then hit a big shot to tie it, followed by a great defensive stretch to force overtime. In the overtime period, we were able to pull ahead to come away with the championship.”

Lemmond and Countrymon led their teammates on offense with 19 and 14 points, respectively, against the Fishermen. Makor was next up with 13. Commoss was credited with 12. Campbell had seven, and McCarthy six.

The Magicians will begin the Division 2 state tournament as the 10th seed. They are scheduled to face Pembroke, the 23rd seed in a Round of 32 game at 7 p.m. Thursday night, March 2 at home.

MhS VarSITY SchEDULE

Wednesday, March 1 Time Sport

3:30 p.m. Boys indoor track State Pentathlon Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury

7 p.m. Girls ice hockey MIAA tournament vs. Haverhill Veterans Memorial Rink, Haverhill

7:30 p.m. Boys ice hockey MIAA tournament vs. Norwood Salem State O’Keefe Center

Thursday, March 2

7 p.m. Boys basketball vs. Pembroke Marblehead High School

Saturday, March 4

10:30 a.m. Boys and girls indoor track New Englands Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury

BOYS hOcKEY

Magicians begin postseason as 16th seed

Marblehead hosts Norwood in Round of 32

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Next stop: the postseason. After the Marblehead High boys hockey team (8-3 in the Northeastern Conference, 13-5-2 overall) completed a sensational regular season under the direction of new coach Mark Marfione, it is ready to take on the rest of the state in the

Division 2 state tournament.

As the 16th seed, the Magicians will host Norwood (12-6-2), the 17th seed, in a Round of 32 game at Salem State University’s Rockett Arena on Wednesday, March 1, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

In their last four regular season games, the Magicians went 2-1-1 to get ready for March Madness. They defeated

Shawsheen (3-2) and Beverly (4-2) before tying Lowell (1-1) and dropping a 2-1 decision to Triton on Feb. 23.

Junior captain Hogan Sedky is one of the team’s leading scorers with 10 goals and 16 assists.

Sophomore James Caeran has 12 goals and 11 assists. Sophomore Kyle Hart ended the regular season with six goals and 14 assists.

Group art exhibit at the Cloister Gallery

just showed how much the young players have matured since the start of the season,” the coach said. “I’m particularly proud of our three captains (Carlin McGowan, Stella Monaco and Ferrante), who made the varsity newcomers feel welcome on and off the court.”

Junior point guard Katie Pyne hurt her arm in the

Track

From P. A9

second Swampscott game, but the likes of Dosch and O’Connell have been filling in nicely for her to keep the offense going in the right direction.

The Magicians, the 42nd seed, will begin the Division 2 state tournament against a familiar foe, Masco, the 23rd seed, in a preliminary round game on the Chieftains’ Boxford campus Feb. 28 (6 p.m.), after the Current’s press deadline.

absolute competitors, and they’ve pushed one another to have incredible indoor seasons,” Raimo said.

Girls 300

Cate Trautman flew to a new personal best time of 42.12 this season to capture fifth, a near .05-second drop. This time qualifies her for the All-State championship meet.

“Cate put in hundreds of hours in the weight room throughout the entire off-season, and she rightfully deserves this recognition for having one of the best individual state divisional championship performances in school history,” Raimo said.

Boys 600

Ryan Thompson (1:24.60) bested the entire field to finish first.

“Ryan Thompson was in third place for 580 meters, but when he came off the final turn, with 50 meters to go, he wasn’t going to be denied,” said coach William Herlihy. “Nothing in this race went the way we planned, and his splits for the first two laps weren’t what he wanted, but none of that mattered when he was climbing onto the tallest podium platform as a state divisional champion with a new school record.”

Herliihy added, “Ryan’s season isn’t over yet, but he’s already had so much success, and all of it derives from the work he puts in everyday and his competitive fire when he races. It was an extra special moment for me, as Ryan’s 1:24.60 bested my 1:24.69, and I couldn’t have been happier. Honestly, I’ve never been more excited to be in second place.”

Ryan’s season was expected to continue at the All-State championship meet on Feb. 26 and then at the New Balance

The Cloister Gallery will feature a new show entitled “Welcome Spring! Works” by members of the Swampscott Art Association. The exhibit will run from Sunday, March 12 through Sunday April 30. There will be an opening reception for the show on Sunday, March 12 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. The Cloister Gallery at St. Andrew’s Church, 135 Lafayette St. Spring is just around the corner and who isn’t looking forward to longer days, shorter nights and a whiff of fragrance in the air? Come and lose yourself for a while in interpretive images of emerging life and new energy by artists and photographers of the Swampscott Art Association. All you stand to lose are the winter doldrums.

The gallery’s hours are Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to noon. Ring the doorbell at the back door for admittance. The gallery is handicapped accessible. For more information, please call 781-631-4951 or visit standrewsmhd.org/cloistergallery. html.

team out to a strong start. Grace Mortensen (2:42.03) followed that up with another great leg, before handing off the baton with an even larger gap.

Freshman Isabelle Mortensen (2:43.76) then ran way above expectations as someone who has been training for the 300 all season and had never run an 800 before. When she handed the baton off, the team was firmly in the lead.

Juliet Burchfield (2:36.98) had some competition with two teams that were a full lap behind, which helped her push the pace, while improving on her previous 800 split of 2:43.

“This group delivered a full effort, and it’s a shame they weren’t in the fast heat to really push themselves,” Herlihy said.

Indoor Nationals.

Boys 1,000 Gabe Bayramian (2:45.39) accounted for a 17th-place finish in his final indoor race, matching his personal best time from the recent conference meet.

“Gabe had an incredible season across a couple of different events, and he will look to pick up right where he left off this spring,” Herlihy said.

Boys 2-mile Isaac Gross (9:49.96) was credited with a sixth-place finish.

“Running the 2-mile as your primary event is incredibly taxing over the course of a full season,” Herlihy said. “Isaac grinded out this race, and although it matches his personal best, he should be tremendously proud of how well he did under the circumstances, and how well he’s done this season.”

Herlihy added, “The amount of growth I’ve seen from Isaac this season in terms of race strategy and execution is way beyond what I would expect from one person in just one season. His indoor season has come to a close, but he will look to improve further in the spring.”

Girls 2-mile Cat Piper (14:04.40) ended up 27th overall.

“Sometimes the best outcome of a race is just to finish,” Herlihy said. “Cat’s final indoor race may not have gone the way she could have hoped, but she should be proud of seeing it through. The 2-mile is never an easy race, but when you know things aren’t right early on, it’s even harder to take it to the finish, but that’s exactly what Cat did. After a short break, she will look to come back even stronger in the spring season.”

Boys 4x200

“Unfortunately, the team was disqualified for a handoff outside the zone between Curtis and Pantzer,” Raimo said. “The team battled through the entire race to win the heat to finish what would’ve been third overall. Luckily, they already qualified for the All-State Championship Meet via the supermax qualifier. Exchanging a baton in a 20-meter zone at full speed is a difficult task, and even though the boys worked diligently on their handoffs, bad outcomes are inevitable.”

Girls 4x200

Trautman, Machado, Whalen and Davis banded together to win a state divisional title with a time of 1:48.78.

“It’s been a two-year journey for Cate, Ava, Devin and Claire, and to capture the title is welldeserved,” Raimo said. “Devin and Claire ran brilliant legs. Devin passed a Burlington girl to give Claire the lead in the final lap. Claire, with the toughest job in track as the anchor, still held off one of the best runners in this meet.”

Girls 4x800

These Marblehead girls finished sixth with a time of 10:34.25.

“This group represented how track is truly a team sport,” Herlihy said. “Two of the four runners opted to scratch from individual events they qualified for in order to run fresh for the 4x800, and it paid off for the team. This group ran fantastic races from top to bottom, and could’ve run even better had they been seeded in the fast heat.

According to Herlihy, Kate Twomey (2:31.48) ran an excellent leadoff leg, getting her

“But it’s a young group that will absolutely get another chance in the future.”

Twomey, Grace Mortensen and Burchfield will continue running track in the spring, while Isabelle Mortensen plays softball.

Girls 4x400

The team did not finish the race after Sadie Halpern’s legs got tangled up with a runner about 225 meters into it.

“She fell very hard but is going to be OK,” Raimo said.

“Although we won a couple of state divisional titles in other events, I was most proud of the way Cora Gerson, Le’Daisha Williams and Charlie Roszell handled the disqualification. Le’Daisha and Sadie didn’t run the 300 in order to stay fresh for this relay with the opportunity to go to the All-State championships. Cora came to the meet to just run the 4x400. But together, they immediately rallied around Sadie. I’ve seen plenty of runners fall here at the Reggie Lewis complex, but I’ve never seen 10-plus athletes immediately surround and support a fallen athlete. That was pretty cool stuff.”

COURTESY PHOTO / CAT PIPER

The Marblehead girls 4x200 relay team of, from left, sophomore Ava Machado and senior captains Claire Davis, Devin Whalen and Cate Trautman are all smiles on the podium after finishing first.

ST. a NDrEW’S ch U rch

Taft and his ‘Summer White House’

BY MARK HURWITZ

Every summer from 1909 to 1912, President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft escaped the oppressive heat and humidity of Washington D.C. for the cool, ocean breezes of Beverly.

The fact that he picked Beverly as his summer destination was not as unusual as it might seem. Beverly was part of what was then known as the “Gold Coast,” a string of waterfront mansions that attracted the country’s rich and famous from around the nation, including a number of Republicans and Republican allies.

Beverly Hills/Beverly

In the year 1900, Burt Green purchased land in California to drill for oil. After he didn’t find enough oil to make a profit, he renamed the property “Beverly Hills” and subdivided it and began selling lots.

The development was named after Beverly Farms in Beverly, where he summered, and the hills around the Los Angeles area.

Once word spread that Taft was staying in Beverly, both the press and the general public

BY BOB KATZEN

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill

Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from early February sessions. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

MORE TIME

TO CONSIDER

AMENDMENTS (H 2023)

House 23-130, rejected a rule that would prohibit technical or perfecting amendments from being considered until 30 minutes after representatives have received a copy of the amendment. The rule would allow such an amendment to be considered in less than 30 minutes if a two-thirds vote of the House agrees to the shortened time.

“Providing a half-hour to review a technical or perfecting amendment would give members an opportunity to ask questions, get answers and better understand the amendment before a vote takes place,” said sponsor GOP House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R-North Reading).

“I think this change is eminently reasonable and fair, and it also provides an option for the 30-minute review period to be waived or suspended if enough members agree to it.”

Opponents of the rule said technical amendments are just that — technical, and don’t need a half hour to review. They argued that the 30-minute requirement is unnecessary and noted members are currently informally given sufficient time to see the amendments before they are considered.

(A ”Yes” vote is for allowing 30 minutes.

A “No” vote is against allowing 30 minutes.) Rep.

Jennifer Armini: No

GIVE 1-WEEK NOTICE (H 2025)

House 24-129, rejected an amendment that would increase from three days to seven days the amount

camped outside the front gates of the “Summer White House,” hoping to catch a glimpse of him and his family.

Marie Antoinette Evans

For the first two years, Taft rented a guest house (Stetson Hall) located on the property of Marie Antoinette Evans located on Ober Street. Stetson Hall was a 14-room “cottage” used by Evans as a guest house.

of advance notice for committees to notify the House and the public of the time, location and agenda of all public hearings and executive sessions.

“A public hearing before a committee is the only opportunity that a person has to be directly involved in the legislative process,” said Rep. Todd Smola (R-Warren). “By expanding the notification window for when hearings take place from 72 hours to one week, we are providing the public with more time to prepare and participate in the process. We welcome the viewpoints of our constituents on bills before the Legislature, bills which are often nuanced and very complex. It is not unreasonable to provide people with a few more days’ notice before a hearing commences.”

Opponents of the amendment said three days is more than sufficient and noted that under House rules, members of the public no longer have to plan far in advance to come into the Statehouse to testify since they can now testify online from their home. They noted that the increase to a week unnecessarily goes too far. (A ”Yes” vote is for requiring seven days’ notice. A “No” vote is against requiring seven days’ notice.) Armini: No

BILLS, BILLS, BILLS

House and Senate clerks continue to process the thousands of bill filed for consideration in the 20232024 session including: DONATE FOOD (SD 263) – Would provide civil liability protections to individuals, restaurants and organizations that make direct food donations to persons in need. The donor would also receive a tax credit of up to $5,000. A similar bill received a favorable report from the Judiciary Committee last year but died from inaction in the House.

“Massachusetts saw the greatest percentage

Along with his wife and children, Taft also brought along his Secret Service detail. The Secret Service was kept very busy keeping the large crowds forming outside the gates from entering the property and disturbing the president. They would also handle the many visitors who came to see the president, including members of the third estate and foreign dignitaries.

growth in food insecurity in the nation during the pandemic,” said sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “It could have been even more severe had it not been for commonwealth farmers who came forward again and again with donations of produce, dairy and meat — all the while acutely aware that they make 94 cents for every dollar they spend.

Through a tax credit, this bill further incentivizes already committed farmers, as well as generous local restaurants, to donate food to food banks, meal sites and pantries — allowing them an opportunity to give within an expanded liability protection framework while strengthening our food system.”

TAX CREDIT FOR DONATION OF OYSTER SHELLS (SD 432) – Would provide a tax credit of $5 per full 5-gallon bucket to individuals or businesses that donate oyster shells to an oyster shell recycling organization.

“A shell recycling tax credit presents a creative and thoughtful tool to help diminish landfill waste, create habitat and mitigate pollution in our waters,” said sponsor Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “A $5 tax credit per 5-gallon bucket of recycled shells for restaurants will help encourage this environmentally friendly practice.”

LAST MONTH’S RENT AND SECURITY DEPOSIT (SD 141) –

Would amend a current law which allows landlords to charge both last month’s rent and a security deposit to new tenants.

“If this bill is enacted, landlords will only be permitted to charge last month’s rent or the security deposit,” said sponsor Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton). In short, this bill significantly lowers the upfront cost of renting.”

Located just a few yards away stood the main house where Evans lived with her family.

When word spread about the president staying on the Evans estate, people would jump the fence and literally rip the clapboards off the guest house as souvenirs to keep and sell.

After two years of hosting the president at her estate, Evans contacted the White House and

(SD 617) – Would require any presidential candidate who files to appear on a primary ballot in Massachusetts to release the most recent four years of their federal tax returns.

“For half a century, it has been a bipartisan custom for presidential candidates to release their tax returns before the election,” said sponsor Sen. Becca Rausch (D-Needham). “I filed this legislation because voters deserve transparency from presidential candidates. Tax returns provide the necessary information to assess the details of a candidate’s potential conflicts of interest or possible corruption, which could have an undue influence on candidates should they be elected to office.”

ESTABLISH CHILDREN’S CABINET (SD 2242) – Would establish, under the governor’s office, a Children’s Cabinet to develop and implement a cohesive vision using integrated services to improve child, youth and family outcomes, including issues relating to child poverty, educational preparedness, mental health, homelessness, foster care, juvenile justice and the health, safety and welfare of children.

“I am proud to sponsor this legislation so we can ensure the wellbeing of our children is prioritized and elevated across the most powerful cabinets of state government,” said sponsor Sen. Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett). “Children across our state were some of the hardest hit individuals throughout the pandemic.” He noted the new cabinet will coordinate government agencies to use every lever of power to feed, house and protect our kids.

$1,500 TAX CREDIT FOR HEARING AIDS PURCHASE (SD 355) –Would allow a $1,500 tax credit for taxpayers 55 and older who purchase hearing aids.

“Hearing loss is one of the most common struggles for our seniors

told the administration that her guest house would no longer be available to the president.

Even with the president no longer staying at her guest house, strangers would continue to trespass on her property and steal things.

Evans had the guest house cut in half and floated by barge across the bay to Peach’s Point in Marblehead, where it was reassembled. In its place, she installed an Italian rose garden, today the site of Lynch Park, off Ober Street in Beverly Cove.

During the final two years of his presidency, Taft continued to summer in Beverly. He rented a property called ‘’Parramatta,” the 18-room former estate of late merchant and shipowner Henry W. Peabody in the Montserrat section of Beverly.

Archibald Butt (1865-1912)

Archibald Butt was an Army officer and served as military aide to both President Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft.

After spending six weeks on vacation in Europe, Archibald Butt booked passage on the RMS Titanic for New York. He later died aboard the vessel shortly after it struck an iceberg in April of 1912.

and many times these devices are out of their financial reach,” said sponsor Sen. Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth).

“Insurance companies will often only cover the cost of one hearing aid, even if the patient may need one in each ear to hear. Every citizen should have the right to a comfortable life and this tax credit would help reduce the financial burden many seniors face and allow them to carry on with everyday life.”

QUOTABLE QUOTES

“[We] appreciate the support and partnership with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and remain committed to ensuring that our most vulnerable populations, including elders, have access to local, fresh food. At a time when food insecurity rates remain high, the added benefit will provide elders with high-quality, nutritious food while supporting our Massachusetts farmers and food producers.”

Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner John Lebeaux announcing that Massachusetts has been awarded $1.4 million to

expand the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.

“Massachusetts has completely lost its economic competitive edge, now having the highest top tax rate for income taxes in New England, and seventh highest in the entire country. Despite this setback, some Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing forward with ways to add more taxes such as penalizing couples when they file their taxes as married.”

— Paul Craney, spokesman for the Mass Fiscal Alliance on a new Tax Foundation report.

“His public health expertise and military service make him uniquely qualified to serve as Massachusetts’ first-ever Secretary of Veterans’ Services. I’m confident that he will be the leader our veterans need and deserve and will always stand up for their health, safety and wellbeing.” — Gov. Maura Healey on appointing Rep. Jon Santiago (D-Boston), a major in the U.S. Army Reserve and a physician as the state’s Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs which was recently elevated to a cabinet level position.

COURTESY PHOTO / DIGITIAL COMMONWEALTH

In 1910, Marie Evans tired of people trampling across her estate to see where President and Chief Justice William Howard Taft was summering. After he left, she had the Stetson Cottage, which the president rented, cut in half and sent by barge across the harbor to Marblehead.

Programs, classes, events for seniors

All programs are held at the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center, 10 Humphrey St., unless otherwise stated. Questions? Call 781-6316225 or email councilonaging@ marblehead.org.

St. Patrick’s Day

Luncheon

Join us Friday, March 17, noon to 1 p.m. for Louise Moore’s traditional St. Patrick’s meal at the Masonic Hall. Cost is $7 per person. RSVP and payment due Friday March 10.

Lunching at the COA

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

Grab-n-go lunches

Grab-n-go lunches are offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Council on Aging. Pick-up time is from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Reservations must be made the Thursday before by calling 781-631-6225.

The Traveling Chef

Shepherd’s pie is on the menu Friday, March 24, at the COA. (There will be no grab-n-go lunch this day.) RSVP by Friday, March 17. Suggested donation is $2.

State Rep. Jenny

Armini visit

Armini will tour the COA and have an informal meet and greet on Monday, March 6, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Friends of the Council on Aging fundraiser

Save the date: This fundraiser

will be Thursday, April 27, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Landing Restaurant. More details to follow.

Hearing screenings Atlantic Hearing Care., Inc., will offer hearing screenings on Wednesday, March 22, 10 a.m. to noon. Call 781-631-6225 to schedule an appointment.

iPhone classes Kevin Figueroa, founder of Kev Tech, will lead these classes. Reserve your spot by calling 781-631-6225.

Movie Days

Enjoy “Queen Bees” about a fiercely independent senior who moves into a retirement home on Friday, March 10, at 1 p.m. Then on Friday, March 24, at 1 p.m., enjoy “The Fabelmans” which is loosely based on director Stephen Spielberg’s childhood in post-World War II America. RSVP at 781-631-6225.

Caregiver Support Group dinner

Enjoy a modest dinner followed by a guest speaker and discussion on Wednesday, March 15, 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. RSVP by Monday, March 13, at 781-631-6225.

Flying Solo with Sharon

This group is designed specifically for people who live alone. This month’s topic: How living alone changes you. Tuesday, March 28, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Book Club

The March book is “The Underground Railroad” by Colson White. Discussions on Wednesdays, March 8 and 22, 2 p.m. tp 3 p.m.

Trips & Tours

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

Coffee with a Cop

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

Blood Pressure Clinic

Drop-in blood pressure clinic on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Fitness Center is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Passes can be purchased for $10 for five visits.

Chair Volleyball

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

Muscle Conditioning

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

Stay Active

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

Zumba Gold

Zumba Gold classes are held on Wednesdays at noon. It is

a lower intensity dance class inspired by Latin and world music.

Parkinson’s Fitness

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

Indoor Curling

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

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

Stretch & Strength

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

Step it Up

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

Weight Training

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

Yoga with Evie

This yoga class is held on Mondays at 9 a.m., Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. and Thursdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

Chair Yoga

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

10 a.m., Two Grannies on the Road

10:30 a.m., A Culinary Journey

Line Dancing

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

Quilting

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

Knitting Group

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

Cribbage

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

Mahjong

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

I Love Bridge

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

Canasta

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

Medicare Advantage open enrollment

If you’re currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan you can make a change to your coverage or change to Original Medical with a supplement and a Part D drug program. Changes can be made until March 31. If you’re new to Medicare or considering a review of your plan, call the COA at 781-631-6225 and schedule an appointment with a trained counselor.

WEDNESDAY,

Community Partners

6:30 p.m., ‘Headliner — The News of Marblehead

7 p.m., Abbot Public Library Presents Salem Sound Coastwatch “Shoebert’s Shenanigans and Other Seal Stranding Stories”

8 p.m., MHTV Community Partners

9 p.m., ‘Headliner — The News of Marblehead

9:30 p.m., 502 Sessions

10:30 p.m., MHTV Community Partners

11 p.m., Paltrocast with Darren Paltrowitz

11:30 p.m., MHTV Community Partners

MONDAY, MARCH 6

8 a.m., Democracy Now!

9 a.m., ‘Headli ner — The News of Marblehead

9:30a.m., Up For Discussion

11 a.m., MHTV Community Partners

Noon, ‘Headliner — The News of Marblehead

12:30 p.m., Delicious and Nutritious

1 p.m., Eat Well Be Happy

1:30 p.m., MHTV Community Partners

3 p.m., Portrait Presentation to the Lucretia and Joseph Brown School

4:30 p.m., MHTV Community Partners

5 p.m., Get Healthy with Holly

5:30 p.m., Valda’s Seeds of Life

6 p.m., IMAGINATION Artist Profiles

6:30 p.m., ‘Headliner —

The News of Marblehead

7 p.m., Up For Discussion

7:30 p.m., Marblehead Council on Aging Speaker

Series “A Tour of English Gardens” by Ginny Von Rueden

9 p.m., ‘Headliner — The News of Marblehead

10:30 p.m., MHTV Community Partners

TUESDAY, MARCH 7

8 a.m., Democracy Now!

9 a.m., ‘Headliner — The News of Marblehead

9:30 a.m., Public Safety Roundtable

10 a.m., Knowledgeable Aging

10:30 a.m., Ooma’s Cookie Jar

11 a.m., MHTV Community Partners

Noon, ‘Headliner — The News of Marblehead

12:30

MhTV PrOGra M SchEDULE

March schedule at Abbot Public Library

New digs

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

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

» Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

» Wednesday*: 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday: Noon to 6 p.m.

Friday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

» Sunday: Closed.

*Note: The Children’s Room will close at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Returns are accepted inside the library in the blue bin near the main desk or, if the library is closed, outside its main entrance in the black Library Return bin. Book donations are only accepted on Book Donation Days.

For updates on the renovations, visit abbotlibrary. org/news/renovation-news.

Sign up for the library’s newsletter at tinyurl.com/ Abbot-News.

Fines no more

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

Tech and misc. things

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

Need to use a copier?

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

Get your museum on Visit abbotlibrary.org/whatwe-offer/get-a-museum-pass to reserve passes and promo codes for some of the best museums in

OBITUarIES

Ellen Marie (Sissy) Holder, 66

A resident of Marblehead, Ellen Holder was born November 6, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died peacefully, surrounded by family, on February 22 after a valiant battle against Aspergillosis.

Holder was the daughter of Robert Francis Mattson Sr. (deceased) of East Boston and Dorothy Mae (West) Mattson of Beverly. She is survived by her

F. Parker Caswell 1931-2023

F. Parker Caswell, 91, formerly of Marblehead, passed away peacefully in his sleep February 4. He was the beloved husband of the late Carolyn (Rolfe) with whom he shared 42 years of marriage before her death in 2001.

Born in Marblehead in 1931, he was the son of the late Herbert and Grace (Parker) Caswell. He was predeceased by his two brothers Herbert (Ethel) and James (Priscilla). Parker lived in Marblehead most of

the Greater Boston Area.

Thanks to the generous support of the Friends of Abbot Public Library, the library offers passes and promo codes to:

» Boston Children’s Museum

Harvard Art Museums (coming soon)

The House of the Seven Gables*

» The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston*

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum*

Museum of Fine Arts

» Museum of Science

» New England Aquarium (now a digital promo code)

» Peabody Essex Museum

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

Courageous Aging: A support group for older adults

Fridays, March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

This weekly program is led by Carol O’Brien.

Tax Counseling for the elderly program

» Mondays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays, April 3 and 10, 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

To reserve a spot, please call the Reference Desk at 781-631-1481. You will need your last year’s tax returns and 2022 paperwork. For more information, please visit abbotlibrary.org/ tax-prep-program.

Open Lab

Mondays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27, Drop-in from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Do you have a question about your computer, smartphone or tech gadget? Do you want time to practice with someone who can help if you get stuck? Every Monday, join a staff member

for one-on-one help with your device. Windows laptops will be available for attendees who cannot transport their devices. No registration required.

Adult Crafternoon: seed bombs and painted rocks

On Wednesday, March 8, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Abbot Public Library will host an Adult Crafternoon event to demonstrate how to make seed bombs and painted rocks to get ready for decorating your home and garden for spring. The library provides materials. This event is free and limited to ten people. To register, please visit tinyurl.com/ Mar-2023-Crafternoon.

Adult book club via Zoom

Tuesday, March 21, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

On the third Tuesday of every month, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., book club members can log on to Zoom to discuss the latest and most highly recommended titles led by a library staff member. March’s pick is Horse by Geraldine Brooks. Copies are available in the Reference Room. To join, please register here: tinyurl.com/March-2023Zoom-Book-Club. For more information, please get in touch with Head of Public Services Librarian Morgan Yeo at yeo@ noblenet.org.

Mystery book group

Tuesday, March 28, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

For more information, Contact Adult Services Librarian Rachael Meneades at rmeneades@ noblnet.org.

Community craft and chat

Tuesday, March 28, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come for an afternoon of crafty camaraderie! Bring your knitting, beadwork, sketchbook or any personal craft to create and share ideas. This program is for adults. Registration is recommended at tinyurl.com/

March-2023-Craft-and-Chat.

Consumer protection series

Thursday, March 30, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Abbot Public Library will host Robin Putnam from the Office of Consumer Affairs & Business Regulation in Boston, who will present a monthly series on safe practices for consumers. Putnam will discuss the topic of skimming devices and how to identify and protect yourself against credit card fraud. To register, visit tinyurl.com/ Mar-2023-Skimming

Teen DIY: Button making Tuesday, March 14, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Express yourself by decorating your stuff! Choose from a range of templates, use pictures from magazines or create your design to turn into a magnet or pin. No registration is required. For ages 15-18.

Teen DIY: Lanyard keychains

Tuesday, March 28, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.Prepare for springtime with a summer camp favorite. Make a simple box stitch keychain with two colors, or learn to do more advanced shapes with three and four colors. Instructions will be provided, and no registration is required. For ages 15-18.

Story Time A-Go-Go

Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Children are invited to our weekly Wednesday program with stories and movements led by early childhood educator Debbie Leibowitz. This program is for kids ages 1-4 in the Program Room.

Chess players meet-up Wednesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Students in grades 4-6 who already know how to play the game are invited to play each other on Wednesdays after

school in the Children’s Room. Boards and pieces will be provided. Players rotate through to give maximum practice with players of different skill levels. This is not an instruction class. The maximum number of participants is eight, and registration is required. Call the Children’s Room at 781-631-1481.

3D printing workshop

Mondays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Children in grades 5-6 are invited to learn to code and create laser print objects using their coding instructions on a 3D laser printer. Jared Lederman leads this class with hands-on learning and challenging projects. Participation is limited to six, and class registration is required. Call the Children’s Room at 781-631-1481.

Story time yoga with Lindsey Kravitz

Tuesday, March 7, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Songs and games enliven interactive yoga instruction. Caregivers are asked to please bring a small blanket or mat. This program is open to children ages 18 months to 4 years, and caregivers must be present. Registration is required. Call the Children’s Room at 781-631-1481.

Books and Brushes

Tuesdays, March 7, 14, 21 and 28, 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Children in grades 1-3 are invited to come and explore painting materials and styles. The emphasis will be on having fun with the process, and painting experience is not required. All materials will be provided. Bring an old shirt or t-shirt to protect your clothes! Participation is limited to eight, so registration is required. Call the Children’s Room at 781-6311481. The schedule will be as follows:

» March 7, stencils/prints

» March 14, watercolors March 21, acrylics March 28, painting on fabric

Holder is also survived by her brothers Robert Francis Mattson Jr. and his wife Donna (Webber) Mattson; David Mattson; Michael Mattson and Richard Mattson. Holder was predeceased by two brothers Charles Mattson and Daniel Mattson.

husband of 47 years, Paul Donald Holder; her eldest son Jason Paul Holder and his wife Elaine and their children Anthony, Ethan, Devorah and Nathanial; and her youngest son Geoffery Donald Holder, his wife Diane and their daughter Kaitlyn.

In her younger years, Holder liked to go candlepin bowling, play horseshoes and dance. She thoroughly enjoyed these activities, especially dancing, until rheumatoid arthritis began making these activities more and more painful. She also continued to enjoy gardening, cooking and making a home for her family. Holder was known for her

wonderful laugh and ready smile. She loved animals, with a special affinity for strays, several of which she took in and made a home for as the family pet. She liked to entertain house guests, hated the clean-up the next day and her last words to many guests as they left were “Here, take this with you,” which could refer to anything from leftover food to jewelry or any number of small items that she wanted her guests to have. She was truly a loving and giving woman of great tolerance, but if pushed beyond the limit of her tolerance, which took some doing … watch out.

Her family would like to say a

events.

his life, and graduated from Marblehead High School in 1950. At MHS, his passion was sports, playing basketball and baseball but excelling in football where he was a three-year starter and All-Scholastic player. Parker attended Dartmouth

College, continuing his football excellence, and participating in the U.S.M.C. Officer Training Program. After graduation, he served in the Marines for two years in California and Hawaii, reaching the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He then returned to the east coast where he began his teaching and coaching career at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, and then for 35 years at Marblehead High School where he was a beloved math teacher. Parker briefly coached baseball and basketball at MHS, but his love was coaching football. He also worked closely with the athletic office as faculty manager, taking care of ticket sales for games and school

During his free time, Parker enjoyed working in his vegetable and flower gardens, watching the games of all of the Boston sports teams, reading and Friday evening slide shows. He loved family and being a part of his kids’ lives, having coached each son in youth baseball and football. When his wife got sick, he retired early to take care of her. Caswell spent the last few years of his life at the John Bertram House in Salem. Our family would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the staff of JBH for all the love and support they gave our father. We would also like to thank the Kaplan Family Hospice House in

special thank you to the doctors and nurses of the Salem Hospital ICU for the special care they provided to Ellen in her final months.

Her husband pleads with anyone who is immunosuppressed, or knows someone who is immunosuppressed, to please wear a mask capable of filtering mold spores when gardening or doing any activity where mold spores could be present in abundance.

Holder’s wake/viewing will be held at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem, on Wednesday, March 1. Viewing hours are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Danvers for making his last few days peaceful. Caswell is survived by his three sons, Peter (Joanne), Andrew (Nancy) and Jonathan; his two grandsons, Andrew, Jr. and Gregory (Meghan); one great-grandson, Mickey; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and family friends.

A celebration of Caswell’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Caswell’s name to the John Bertram House, 29 Washington Square, Salem, MA, 01970. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at EustisandCornellFuneralHome. com for the Caswell family.

up for the 2023 road race season

BY BRIAN FLYNN, LVO YMCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Y’s 2023 road race events are quickly approaching. Thesefamily friendly road races raise funds for the Y’s financial assistance program and will allow the Y to continue to support those who need the Y most. The Marblehead Y is thrilled to bring the Head to the Hill 5K back for the second year in a row as part of a series of races from April to December across the North Shore. The Head to the Hill 5K starts May 21 at 9 a.m. at the Marblehead Y and winds through Swampscott and back through Marblehead up the hilly road to the Y.

In all, there are seven road races to choose from. Pick one close to home or join in one in a variety of towns across the North Shore. Try the Rhino Run 10K (April 30), Homecoming 5K (August 3) and Reindeer Run 5K (December 2) in Beverly; the Fiesta 5K in Gloucester (June 22); the River Ruckus 5K in Haverhill (September 23) or the Witch City 5K in Salem (October 14). Pets are welcome. Learn more about each race by visiting northshoreymca.org/ programs/2023-road-races.

In 2022, with support from events like the road races and other generous donations, the YMCA of the North Shore reinvested $4.3 million in financial assistance and scholarships. This ensured that 4,000 families and individuals across the 25 communities the Y serves, including

Marblehead, had access to the Y programming, services and resources. Need help getting ready for your first 5K or just want some additional motivation and encouragement to get out there and run? The Y has created a specially designed 60 Days to My 5K program that can help you gain all the tools you need to run a 5K. 60 Days to My 5K begins March 13. Let our team of health and wellness professionals give you all the support you need, plus a detailed running plan. The program is designed to build your muscles and your mind so you are ready to run. For more

information, contact Jane Rizza at rizzaj@northshoreymca.org.

Save the date: The Y’s first golf tournament at Tedesco

The Y’s first-ever golf tournament at Tedesco Country Club is on Monday, June 12.This new event will support the Y’s annual campaign which enables the Y to say ‘yes’ to everyone who wants to be part of the Y regardless of their ability to pay.

Arthur Athanas, major gifts officer at the YMCA of the North Shore, said, “This new tournament joins a long list of YMCA of the North Shore golf

tournaments hosted on three of the most beautiful courses in Massachusetts: Essex County Club, Turner Hill Golf Club and Bass Rocks Golf Club. We are thrilled to be adding Tedesco to this group and look forward to the community coming out to support this exciting event.” To participate visit northshoreymca.org/ communityevents.

Remember, the Y is better with friends

Refer a friend to the Y and we’ll thank you with a free month of membership while your friend receives a $0

enrollment fee. Reach out to Membership Director Jane Rizza at rizzaj@northshoreymca.org.

About the YMCA

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits, strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For more than 160 years, the YMCA of the North Shore has been the foundation of the community. It serves more than 40,000 members and program participants in 25 cities and towns across the North Shore and in southern New Hampshire.

Houses of worship service schedule

CATHOLIC

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA 85 Atlantic Ave.

» 781-631-0086

» sosmarblehead.org

Regular Mass Schedule

Saturday Vigil: 4 p.m.

» Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m.

» Every weekday (Monday-Saturday): 9 a.m.

Confessions: 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Saturday

» Adult choir rehearsals: Thursdays, 7 p.m., organ loft

» Children’s choir rehearsals: Sunday, 8:15 a.m., organ loft Centering Prayer group: Mondays, after 9 a.m. Mass until 11 a.m.

» As the season of Lent continues, the sacrament of Reconciliation will also be offered on Wednesdays, 6-7 p.m.

» Also during Lent, a simple supper of soup and bread will be offered at 6 p.m. Fridays, followed by the Stations of the Cross.

» Lenten Scripture Study, “Exodus: Journey Towards Freedom”: Tuesdays, 7 p.m. or Wednesdays, 1 p.m.

“Little Black Books” with sixminute Lenten meditations are available at the rear entrance to the church while the supply lasts. Donations gratefully accepted.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST

134 Elm St. 781-631-3868

» fccsmarbleheadma.wordpress. com

» Sunday Church Service: 10-11 a.m.

Sunday School (open to children and young people under the age of 20): 10-11 a.m.

Wednesday Testimony Meeting: 7:30-8:30 p.m.

» Reading Room (in church building): Open just after Sunday service and before Wednesday testimony meetings Thursday, March 9: 7:30 p.m.,

free online lecture on Christian Science, “How to Make Change for the Better.” Link will be published on the church website soon.

COMMUNITY CHURCH

GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH

» 17 Pleasant St.

» 781-631-9343 gracemarblehead.org

Discipleship Class: 9:15 a.m.

Sunday

» Worship Gatherings: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday

Grace Kids (Grades K-5): 4:30 p.m. Wednesday

» Youth Group: 7 p.m. Wednesday

» Women’s Bible Study: 10 a.m.

Thursday Prayer Gatherings: 1 p.m.

Thursday

» Men’s Bible Study: 6 a.m. Friday

» Friday, March 3: 7 p.m., Movie Night, “Show Me the Father”

CONGREGATIONAL

OLD NORTH CHURCH, THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN MARBLEHEAD » 35 Washington St.

» 781-631-1244 onchurch.org

Wednesday, Feb. 22: Bell ringing for George Washington’s birthday; 7:30 p.m., Festival Chorus in Parish Hall

Wednesday, March 1: 10 a.m., Staff meeting; 7:30 p.m., Festival Chorus rehearsal

» Thursday, March 2: 7 p.m., deacons’ meeting in Great Room

Sunday, March 5: Communion

Sunday; 8 a.m., worship service; 9 a.m., choir rehearsal; 10 a.m., worship service; 11 a.m., grief workshop in Great Room; 11:15 a.m., Confirmation class in Beals Room

» Monday, March 6: 6:30 p.m.,

Women’s AA in Parish Hall

» Tuesday, March 7: 8 a.m., Community Life Board meeting; 9 a.m., Lectio Divina; 7:30 p.m., Bell Choir

» Wednesday, March 8: 7:30 p.m., Festival Chorus rehearsal

EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST. ANDREW, EPISCOPAL

» 135 Lafayette St.

» 781-631-4951 standrewsmhd.org

Regular Sunday services (Rite II of the Episcopal liturgy): 8 a.m., spoken service; 10 a.m., musical service

Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m.: Gospel Reflections on Zoom

» Alternate Tuesdays, 11 a.m.: “This Magic Moment” Memory Café on Zoom, a judgment-free zone for those with memory loss and their caregivers

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:153:30 p.m., Parish Hall open for exercise

» Wednesday, noon: Eucharist

Second Saturday, 8:30-9:30 a.m.: Coffee Cups informal conversation and fellowship ST. MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

» 26 Pleasant St. » 781-631-0657

» stmichaels1714.org

Sundays: Holy Eucharist, Rite II, 10 a.m.; in-person and online on church’s YouTube Channel

» Wednesdays: Morning Prayer, 9:30 a.m. on Facebook Live

First Sundays: Choral Evensong (September through May), 5 p.m.; in-person and online on church’s YouTube Channel

Sunday, March 19: 5 p.m., Organ

Concert Series, Boston-based organist Erica Johnson

JEWISH TEMPLE EMANU-EL, REFORM CONGREGATION

393 Atlantic Ave. 781-631-9300

» emanu-el.org

» Shabbat: Friday, 6 p.m., in person and on Facebook Live Torah Study: First and second Saturdays of month, 10 a.m. on Zoom Religious School: 9 a.m. Sundays

» Senior Connection: 11 a.m.

Tuesdays

Mah Jongg: 7 p.m. Tuesdays

Chai Baby: 9:30 a.m. Fridays

Wednesday, March 1: 5:45 p.m.,

Pre-Confirmation; 7 p.m., Monthly

Movie Night

» Sunday, March 5: 10 a.m., Purim

Carnival

Monday, March 6: Erev Purim; 5:15 p.m., Family Hamentaschen Baking; 5:45 p.m., Family Megillah Reading; 6 p.m., Dinner; 6:30 p.m., Adult Megillah Reading

Tuesday, March 7: Purim

Thursday, March 9: 7:30 p.m., Board of Trustees meeting

TEMPLE SINAI, CONTEMPORARY CONSERVATIVE SYNAGOGUE 1 Community Road 781-631-2762 templesinaiweb.org

» Kabbalat Shabbat: Fridays, 6 p.m.

» Shabbat Service: Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.

Minyans: Saturday, 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Monday, 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.;

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (at Congregation Shirat Hayam, Swampscott)

» Wednesday, March 1: 6 p.m., Jewish Prayer Workshop with Rabbi Michael Schwartz

Monday, March 6: 6 p.m., Purim

celebration, dinner, Purim Cake Walk, “Jew-pardy!” with Rabbi Michael, music by the Temple Sinai Band, a make-your-own-sundae bar and Megillah readings

LUTHERAN CLIFTON LUTHERAN CHURCH

150 Humphrey St. 781-631-4379

» cliftonlutheran.org

» Weekly worship service: Sunday, 10 a.m., live stream on Zoom

» Sunday School: Sundays, 9 a.m.

Coffee Hour: Sunday, 11 a.m. Choir Chat: Tuesday, 4:45 p.m. over Zoom

» Midweek Fellowship: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

» Bible Study: Wednesday,

7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 4: 9 a.m., Marblehead Co-op Youth Ministry retreat at Church of St. Andrew, Episcopal METHODIST

ST. STEPHEN’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH » 67 Cornell Road 781-631-2756 » www.marblehead.church

St. Stephen’s is open for Sunday morning worship. Every Sunday, they have traditional worship at 10:30 a.m. with a time of refreshments and fellowship afterward. Worship may also be attended via Zoom.

Tuesday mornings: Conversation and prayer on Facebook Live with Pastor Isaac (see facebook.com/ marblehead.church)

Wednesday, March 1: 7 p.m., Wednesday Evening Vespers UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead 28 Mugford St. » 781-631-1215 uumarblehead.org

» Sunday service is at 10:30 a.m. and on Zoom: bit.ly/3EIRKiF All persons attending a regular Sunday Service in person are asked to wear masks in the sanctuary.

» Wednesday, March 1: 9 a.m., Small Group Ministry; 7 p.m., Committee on Ministry

Saturday, March 4: 9:30 a.m., Caring for the Caregivers;

Sunday, March 5: 9 a.m., Sunday Seminar; 10:30 a.m., Sunday Services; 11:30 a.m., After Service

Social Hour

» Monday, March 6: 2 p.m., Aging, Decaying, Dying, and Divinity

» Thursday, March 9: 4 p.m., UUCM serves at Lifebridge, Salem

» Friday, March 10: 4:30 p.m., UUCM Youth serve at Lifebridge, Salem

On your mark, get set … It’s almost Y race season.

Online sale of $20 speakers causes flap; man vows to sue, move over holiday work

Friday, Feb. 17

10:03 a.m. Officers investigated a report that a parked car had been struck on Atlantic Avenue and Hawkes Street.

12:19 p.m. An out-of-town caller reported having received harassing phone calls.

1:06 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a vehicle crash on Humphrey Street.

10 p.m. Officers restored the peace after the report of a disturbance on Washington Street.

Saturday, Feb. 18

1:20 a.m. A 48-year-old Marblehead man was arrested and charged with a second offense of operating under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident with property damage after officers investigated the report of a crash on Bowden Street.

8:56 a.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Creesy Street and filed a report.

1:10 p.m. Officers assisted a person on Washington Street and filed a report.

1:54 p.m. Officer spoke in the police station lobby with a man who six weeks earlier had purchased a speaker system on Facebook Marketplace for $20, which he subsequently learned did not work. The man had dropped the speaker system back off at the seller’s house and left him a note that the speakers were defective and to call him to arrange a refund of the $20. The man had finally heard back from the seller earlier in the day, but when he went to retrieve his $20, an argument ensued. The seller refused to return the money because, though a wire was missing, he believed the speakers worked just fine. Officer spoke to the seller in the hopes of brokering a settlement, but he resisted the suggestion to give the buyer a full or partial refund, saying he would only do so after he found another buyer for the speaker. Officer relayed that information to the buyer and suggested that he might be able to get further assistance from Facebook.

4:01 p.m. Officers investigated the report of a missing person

OBITUarIES

William E. Walker Jr., 94

William E. Walker Jr. died peacefully on Feb. 15, 2023, at the age of 94.

Bill was a lifelong resident of Medford. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of MassachusettsAmherst and his master’s degree in civil engineering from Northeastern University,

Margaret Connolly Hoffman, 94

Margaret Connolly Hoffman, 94, of Bellport, New York, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, Jan. 28.

“Peg” or “Peggy” was preceded one week in death by her beloved youngest sister, Mary Lane Connolly Cairns of Marblehead.

As one of four daughters of Eugene T. and Eloise L. Connolly of Marblehead, Margaret was known for her wry sense of humor, her beauty and her

on Clifton Avenue and filed a report.

6:26 p.m. An officer assisted a person on Cheever Avenue and filed a report.

8:41 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a minor car accident on School Street.

Officer arrived to find one vehicle pulled off to the side of the road with its registered owner standing by its side. The man said that the other car involved in the accident had left before he arrived. Man said that as he was pulling out of his parking space in front of the Marblehead House of Pizza, a dark-colored SUV that was coming through the stop sign from Washington Street struck his vehicle. He had spoken briefly to the other driver, a young woman, but as he was bringing back his insurance information from his vehicle, the young woman drove off. The damage to the man’s vehicle was limited to some minor scrapes on the front right bumper. He told the officer that he did not want an accident report done and that he was all set.

9:03 p.m. Officers investigated the report of a break-in and/or burglary at a building on Norman Street and filed a report.

Sunday, Feb. 19

11:14 a.m. Officer was dispatched to the First Church of Christ Scientist on Elm Street to investigate the report of a broken window, possibly vandalized. Officer was shown the damage to a second-floor storm window, which had been pulled back slightly from the building, and there were shards of glass from it directly below. There was no damage to the inside window pane or any other windows. Officer determined that, based on where the glass had landed, it appeared that the wind had pulled the storm window off the building just enough to flex the glass and cause the pane to shatter, and then the wind had blown the broken piece further back before it struck the ground, as the winds overnight had been a sustained mid-20s mph with gusts into the mid-30s. The

church representative was relieved by this explanation and asked for a report for insurance purposes.

11:43 a.m. A caller reported a squirrel dead in the road on Carlton Road.

5:15 p.m. The report of an unruly customer on Pleasant Street led to the arrest of a 44-year-old Marblehead woman on charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing.

Monday, Feb. 20

7:33 a.m. A caller complained about construction work occurring on a holiday on Redstone Lane.

10:18 a.m. Police received another call complaining about the contractors working on Redstone Lane on a holiday. Officer arrived to find the complainant standing in the street directly in front of his neighbor’s driveway across the street. The man began explaining the ongoing issues that he had been having with his neighbor’s renovation projects. The man had admitted that he had approached and confronted a worker about working on the holiday and that the employee had responded by telling him that he was trespassing and threatened to beat him up if he did not leave. At the officer’s suggestion, they went inside the caller’s house to continue the conversation. While there was a van in the neighbor’s driveway, the officer said he could neither hear nor see any work being done. Officer explained that he was not aware of any laws that he could enforce to stop the work that was being done on Presidents’ Day, using his phone to show the caller information on the state’s website indicating that Presidents’ Day is not a holiday to which the state’s Blue Laws apply. The resident was “not satisfied” with that answer and said he was going to sue the town or move. Officer told the man that if he could produce a statute that showed the work was illegal, he would be happy to enforce it. The officer also told the resident that he would double check with his supervisor about his determination. The officerin-charge agreed that there was

at Badger Engineering, which became a division of Raytheon, making lifelong friendships with his colleagues.

Bill served in the U.S. Army, 2nd Armored Division, during which time he was stationed in Germany and had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe.

where he later taught classes in engineering. He worked for many years

athletic prowess in diving and sailing at the Pleon Yacht Club and Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead. She graduated from the Pingree School, the Windsor School and Briarcliff College in 1949. She raised a family of five children in New Canaan, Connecticut, with her husband, Edwin F. Hoffman Jr., who predeceased her in 1982 after 31 years together.

Following Ed’s unexpected sudden death, Peg worked as a receptionist at IESC in Stamford, Connecticut for many years. Then, after being lured north by an old admirer and new “beau,” Edwin “Ned” Stephenson, to Franconia, New Hampshire, and Southport, Maine, Peg retired

nothing in the town bylaws or state laws to give the police the power to order the work to cease for the day. Officer advised the resident to call the police if there were noise disturbances before 7 a.m. on any day.

10:27 a.m. Officer investigated a report that a man had gone swimming on Atlantic Avenue and filed a report.

10:59 a.m. Officer investigated a report that a truck had struck a garage on Redstone Lane and filed a report.

12:11 p.m. An officer investigated a report that a loaded clip of ammunition had been found in a repossessed vehicle on Anderson Street and filed a report.

12:39 p.m. Officers responded to the scene of a vehicle accident on Atlantic Avenue and Washington Street and filed a report.

7:07 p.m. An officer investigated a report of vandalism on Humphrey Street and filed a report.

Tuesday, Feb. 21

11:44 a.m. An officer spoke at the station with the woman who had been the apparent victim of an internet scam. The woman explained that she listed a table and several chairs on Facebook MarketPlace for sale. A person had reached out and offered to purchase the chairs using a Zell payment. After some back and forth, the buyer said that he would send her $800 if she sent him $300 first, which the resident had done. The resident then received a strange email, purportedly from Zelle, and came to the conclusion that the transaction was a scam. The woman had gone to National Grand Bank, where an employee told her that they would contact Zelle to try to get her money back. The officer advised the woman to also contact her credit agencies for credit monitoring. The case was forwarded to detectives for follow-up.

12:21 p.m. An officer spoke at the station with a man who reported that someone had intercepted a check that he had mailed on Feb. 8 and forged it. The man had used the mailbox

with a “slit-style” opening on Lafayette Street on the corner of Everett Paine Boulevard, which should have prevented the envelope from being fished out of the box. The check had originally been made out to a lawn care company in New Hampshire for $623.24 but was forged and cashed by a man for $9,100. The resident had received a voicemail from the bank about the suspicious check on Feb. 18. The man had been able to get a copy of the forged check from his bank, which he shared with the officer. He pointed out that the signature on the check was not his. The only writing that was his was the date and the memo. The case was forwarded to a detective for follow-up.

4 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle on Atlantic Avenue. The vehicle could not be located.

4:07 p.m. An officer met a woman at the station who wanted to file a report of possible unemployment fraud. The woman told the officer that she had received a credit card in the mail on Feb. 17, stating that she was receiving the credit card because of her unemployment claim with the state. The woman said that she had not applied for unemployment benefits. On Feb. 21, the woman had called the state unemployment office’s fraud line, and an employee confirmed that a claim had been made on her behalf but that the claim had also been flagged as potential fraud. The woman had then called one of the major credit bureaus, and an employee told her that the other credit agencies would be notified about the situation. The officer took the brochure that had come with the debit card and shared it with a detective along with a copy of his report.

Wednesday, Feb. 22

8:48 a.m. An officer investigated the report of a break-in to a vehicle on Elm Street and filed a report.

12:29 p.m. Officers assisted with a disabled vehicle on Humphrey Street. The vehicle was towed.

members.

Bill was recently predeceased by his sister, Janice, and is survived by his brother, Dick; sister-in-law, Nancy; and his beloved nieces and their families: Amy and Dave Martin, Stephanie and John Jennings, and Allison and Andrew Chader. They brought great joy into his life.

Among his happiest times were the summers Bill spent at the family cottage in Marblehead. He loved sailing and racing his Day Sailor with the help of his brother, Dick, and other family

to the comfort of family and loving grandchildren in 2003 to Bellport, Long Island, New York, where she resided until her death. She was known for her generosity and her love of family. She is survived by her sons Ned, Tim, Derek and Jon and eight grandchildren. She was predeceased by her older sisters, Barbara Connolly Guild and Ellen Connolly and, tragically, by her smart, beautiful daughter Holly, next to whom she will be interred in Beverly Farms Cemetery, Beverly. She is also survived by her brother Eugene T. Connolly of New Haven, Connecticut, and a large number of adoring nieces and nephews.

He also took great pleasure from his grand-nieces and nephews and followed their activities with great enthusiasm.

Because the nieces, as toddlers,

had trouble pronouncing his name, Bill became lovingly known to the family as “Uncle Boo.” Godspeed, Uncle Boo! In accordance with Bill’s wishes, a family burial service will be held. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Greater Boston Food Bank, 70 S. Bay Ave., Boston, MA 02118; 617-427-5200. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Walker family may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.

MLT’s ‘Tuck Everlasting: The Musical’ runs through Sunday

Production explores existential questions, transport

BY LINDA WERBNER

“We are in the home stretch,” said Trudi Olivetti, director of the Marblehead Little Theatre’s production, “Tuck Everlasting: The Musical,” as she prepared to head out for one of the final rehearsals before the premiere on Friday, Feb. 24.

“We’re doing full runs in costume, figuring out where the furniture will go, and especially the lighting.”

As Olivetti explained, the lighting is a crucial element in the MLT production. “It helps identify a location, the time and tells the story.”

The musical is based on Natalie Babbitt’s timeless children’s classic written in 1975 about the friendship between an 11-year-old girl, Winnie Foster, and the Tuck family who live nearby. The Tucks drank from a magic spring which made them immortal. Jesse Tuck, who is17, asks Winnie to drink from the magic spring when she turns 17 so that she can join the family and be immortal. The book was adapted to a popular 2002 film and a Broadway musical in 2016. “It made the rounds of community theaters since it closed on Broadway after a fairly short run,” Olivetti noted.

“It definitely plays well in community theaters.

“The music is quite delightful,” she added. “The tunes are going around in my head all day.”

While the book is considered a children’s classic, Olivetti believes the story’s message is a profound and philosophical one: what does it mean to be immortal, stuck in time forever?

Over the years, Olivetti, who hails from Swampscott, has acted, produced and been

involved with the MLT children’s theatre program. In 2022, she directed Irish playwright Brian Friel’s “Translations,” a work she had long dreamed of presenting.

“It was quite a great experience,” she said.

Presenting a musical with a larger than usual cast, dancers and orchestra posed some challenges in the MLT’s compact black box theater, she noted.

“We needed to honor the size of the space and but not have

a big complicated set. We are embracing that this is a fantasy and the story has an abstract quality to it.”

When asked how directing a drama like “Translations” differs from a musical such as “Tuck Everlasting,” Olivetti paused before responding. “It’s a very different experience. The size of the extraordinary cast, for one thing. But the biggest is that there is a team. You have to be very much in sync. Our team

is so talented and we get along really well.”

The “team” that Olivetti referred to includes the choreographer, music director, producers, stage manager, light and set designer, dancers and especially musicians. Olivetti has worked with several members of the team in the past, including music director Thom Smoker whom she has known for years.

“I also feel like I didn’t go into this project with a preconceived notion. My process for this has been very different than with “Translations.” I wanted to be very clear about the deepest message of the story. The songs convey a lot of the ideas.” Olivetti marveled at how well and how swiftly the production came together. “We couldn’t get in to rehearse because “Party?” (the MLT’s previous production, which ran in January). We had only eight weeks to rehearse.” Despite the tight turnaround, Olivetti credited the genial and professional cast and team for pulling it off. “We had zero problems. Everyone was so good and followed instructions.”

“Tuck Everlasting – The Musical” runs February 24-26 and March 2-5 at the Marblehead Little Theatre, 12 School St. www.mltlive.com

MAA unveils several new exhibits in March

The Marblehead Arts Association (MAA), a 100-yearold community arts association, is proud to present several new exhibits at King Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St. The exhibits will run March 4 to April 16, with an opening reception on Sunday, March, 5, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The exhibits include:

Through the Student’s Lens PHOTOGRAPHS, BALLROOM GALLERY

This exhibit looks at how seven student photographers from five North Shore high schools use photography to present their view of the world around them.

CONNECTEDNESS –AMISHA KASHYAP

Photographs, Larrabee Gallery

Amisha Kashyap’s photographs explore the idea of connectedness. She shoots landscapes in New England and in this exhibit all the pictures are from Northbridge, Concord and Minuteman National Park in Lexington.

FROM THE HOLLOW –PAMELA BERKELEY

Paintings, Dining Room Gallery Pamela Berkeley paints what she sees as honestly as she can. Combining still life objects, landscape and sometimes portraits of people and animals intrigues her. Her main preoccupation in painting is the tension between the still objects close to the picture plane and the distant imagery that is

farthest away.

THE RED SHOW – MAA

ARTIST MEMBERS

All mediums, Emerging Gallery

Over the years, the MAA has presented a series of shows with environmental themes.

The GREEN SHOW: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle took place in April 2009. The King Hooper Mansion was filled with works

in various media depicting the beauty of our planet and the threat of possible destruction. A few years later, the BLUE SHOW took place. Works of art related to our precious resource, water, were exhibited, and just before the pandemic in January 2020 we organized the TREE SHOW.

Now, inspired by the Boston Globe headline, “Into The Red – Climate And The Fight Of

WEDDING Payne, Skopin marry

Elizabeth Payne and Matt Skopin were married Feb. 18 at Tupper Manor in Beverly. Julia Semeraro, a close friend of the couple, officiated.

The maid of honor was the bride’s sister, Samantha Payne of Marblehead, and the best man was the groom’s brother, Michael Skopin of Mahwah, New Jersey.

The bride is the daughter of John and Dorothea Payne of Marblehead, and the groom is the son of Jeffrey and Allison Skopin of Mahwah, New Jersey.

The bride is the granddaughter of Cornelia Payne (nee Mitchel) and the late Elmer Palmer Payne,

who grew up in Marblehead and later relocated to Maine, and the late Janice McKenna (nee Carter) and Charles McKenna of Beverly.

The couple’s honeymoon destination is Croatia and the Greek Isles. The pair met at a dinner party held by a mutual friend five years ago.

The bride is a clinical research manager at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The groom is a professor of product design at Northeastern University and a roboticist at a Boston-based startup. The couple lives in Boston.

Our Lives,” we chose to do the RED SHOW, featuring artworks inspired by climate change.

MARBLEHEAD SEASCAPES

– HARIKLEIA KULIOPULOS

Paintings, Schrage Gallery

Until September 2021, Harikleia Harriet Kuliopulos’ view of Marblehead had been predominantly from the water looking towards land, since her family has been sailing in Marblehead since she was a small child. While painting a series of seascapes last fall, her view shifted; now landbased, looking out over the water. The series began an unexpected love affair as she both rediscovered her childhood wonder and explored her new view and relationship to Marblehead.

The MAA galleries are open and free to the public. The above exhibits will run from March 4 to April 16, and will be available for viewing in person Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. As with all MMA exhibits, the artwork will be available for online viewing in a virtual exhibit located on the MAA website www.marbleheadarts. org.