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.

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“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.