Rec & Parks compromises with pickleball fans

BY LEIGH BLANDER

After a few heated exchanges with diehard pickleball players, the Recreation and Parks Commission reversed its decision to close all pickleball courts until spring and settled on a compromise. The six courts at Veterans School will reopen on Feb. 21 for players who can bring their own nets. In snowy or icy weather, the courts will be locked. The newer courts at Seaside will remain closed.

Pickleball fans flooded the Rec & Park commissioners with emails and calls to get the courts re-opened.

“I had someone call my cell phone while I was on vacation, aggravated that the nets are down. I’m getting badgered about pickleball nets,” said Commission member Matt Martin. “There’s a balloon flying over the Carolinas, but we’re worried about pickleball nets. I’m at my wit’s end with pickleball chatter.”

Martin later apologized for his comments.

There are more than 400 pickleball players in town, according to Lisa Spinale with the group Marblehead Pickleball.

History

From P. A1 hard work and resilience; Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker; Vice President Kamala Harris and former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.

“Throughout the month, classroom teachers integrate conversations, stories and create understanding about Black history in Marblehead and in America,” said Principal Mary Maxfield. On Feb. 17, Brown students will learn more about the story of Lucretia and Joseph Brown at a community meeting.

At the Glover School, in addition to morning announcements and readings, third graders are “learning and writing about the character traits of African Americans that have made large contributions,” said Principal Hope Doran. “Some of the character traits are bravery, perseverance and leadership.”

At the Village School, METCO Director Caja Johnson and some teachers put up posters of historic Black role models and information about each one.

“That next day, a couple of classes actually created a scavenger hunt during

The nonprofit has raised about $8,000 to help convert four tennis courts at Vets into six dedicated pickleball courts. Just this fall, the group partnered with Rec & Parks to create four additional pickleball courts at Seaside.

“The first courts opened in 2019 at Vets, and those nets have been up since then, except for two months during COVID,” Spinale said.

Players wanted to know why that changed this winter.

Commissioner Linda RiceCollins explained that the contractor who worked on the Seaside courts pointed out that the posts holding up the nets were leaning due to the pressure advisory based on those people,” said Village Principal Amanda Murphy. Village teachers also read aloud to students from works by Black children’s author Kwame Alexander. Veterans Middle School Principal Matthew Fox sent home information with a link to a video of Maya Angelou reciting her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” at President Clinton’s inauguration and encouraged parents to discuss it with their children.

In his email, Fox included several lines of the poem, saying, “The following excerpt speaks directly to the experience of African Americans. Ms. Angelou identifies three African nations that were destroyed by slavery. Reading this passage again, does Ms. Angelou have hope that things can change?”

You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought, Sold, stolen, arriving on the nightmare Praying for a dream. Here, root yourselves beside me.

I am that Tree planted by the River, Which will not be moved.

I, the Rock, I the River, I the Tree

I am yours — your passages from the nets. The contractor recommended taking down the nets for a period of time each year to preserve the posts. The Commission also said it wanted to close the Seaside courts in the winter to preserve the courts’ new surface.

Spinale said she “respected” the decision about Seaside, but asked that Vets be reopened.

“We’re like junkies,” she said. “It’s like you locked our gym.” Several other pickleball players spoke at the meeting, including Betsy Morris.

“I brought my kids up in have been paid. Lift up your faces, you have a piercing need For this bright morning dawning for you. History, despite its wrenching pain Cannot be unlived, but if faced With courage, need not be lived again.

At Marblehead High School, there are studentled messages in the morning announcements, a library display and a town, and they played on the playgrounds,” she said. “I’m 85 years old, and now I’m the kid who wants to play. I hope you’ll reconsider.”

After about an hour of discussion, Commission member Rossana Ferrante made the motion to open the courts on Feb. 21, as long as players bring their own nets and there’s no snow or ice. Portable pickleball nets cost anywhere from $50 to $2,000. The decision is pending approval from the Veterans School principal and superintendent.

Black History Month banner.

At Marblehead Community Charter Public School, there are presentations on supporting Black-owned businesses and the contributions of Black women in science, civil rights, music and the armed forces. Music classes are spotlighting the work of Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane and more.

TO WN OF MA RB LEHE AD BOA RD OF APP EAL S

The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 28, 2023 at 8:15 PM on the request of Denis and Carla Whelan to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct additions to an existing single-family dwelling on a preexisting non-conforming property with less than the required lot area, frontage, front yard setback and exceeds maximum height located at 172 Atlantic Ave in the single residence district. The new construction will be in the side setback and exceed the 10% expansion limits for a nonconforming building. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker ’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, § 18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting

Dial in + 1 646

558 8656 Meeting ID: 878 7834 7282 Passcode: 404568

Those only dialing in will not have access to the visual presentation at the meeting, but can follow along with the project materials available for download at https://www marblehead.org under the zoning board of appeals page and the date of meeting. Members of the public attending this meeting virtually will be allowed to make comments if they wish to do so, during the portion of the hearing designated for public comment. Interested persons may also submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org and the comments, will be included in the record.

Lipkind Secretary

When one player asked why the courts couldn’t open on Feb. 18, a Friday, rather than Feb. 21, an exasperated Commission Chair Derek Norcross replied, “Just push, push, push.”

While some players were disappointed the courts won’t open sooner, most seemed satisfied with the decision.

“We’re making baby steps and progress,” Spinale said.

“The meeting ended on a positive note,” said Paul Shepard. “Hopefully, they’ll come play with us.”

Pickleball is the nation’s fastest growing sport with about 5 million people playing it. And while its popularity started among older players, the average age is now 38.

The game is played with a perforated plastic ball (usually a Wiffle-Ball) and a special wooden paddle about twice the size of a ping-pong paddle. A pickleball court is 20 feet by 44 feet for both singles and doubles, so four pickleball courts can fit in one tennis court. The net is 34 inches tall in the middle.

To learn more about Marblehead Pickleball, visit MarbleheadPickleball.org.

“Our fifth graders in art class are doing a collage inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and artist Romare Beardon,” MCCPS Head of School Peter Cohen said. “We curate the artwork on our hallway walls and this month highlight other Black artists.”

Superintendent John Buckey emphasizes the importance of Black History Month in schools.

“Celebration of Black History Month provides our students an opportunity to learn about the significant accomplishments of African American to U.S. history and extend their understanding beyond slavery, segregation and civil rights,” he told the Current. “Morgan Freeman said, ‘Black history is American history.’ We take Black History Month as the opportunity to acknowledge both the adversity and accomplishments.”

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS

The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 28, 2023 at 8:15 PM on the request of Richard and Christina Gable to vary the application of the present Zoning Bylaw by allowing a Special Permit to construct additions to an existing single-family dwelling on a preexisting non-conforming property with less than the required lot area and side yard setback located at 6 Cleveland Road in the single residence district. The new construction will be in the side yard setback and exceed the 10% expansion limits for a nonconforming building. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker's Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, § 18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=en1wRXd3V2xmdHE3cy92Sk1TU1BTUT09 Dial in+ 1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 878 7834 7282 Passcode: 404568 Those only dialing in will not have access to the visual presentation at the meeting, but can follow along with the project materials available for download at https://www.1narblehead.org under the zoning board of appeals page and the date of meeting. Members of the public attending this meeting virtually will be allowed to make comments if they wish to do so, during the portion of the hearing designated for public comment. Interested persons may also submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org and the comments, will be included in the record.