Virginia activists target local work of Marblehead parent, DEI advocate
BY LEIGH BLANDER
In a report on their website, conservative activists in the Virginiabased nonprofit organization Parents Defending Education targeted Marblehead parent, educator and diversity, equity and inclusion consultant Henry Turner, highlighting the $10,000 Turner was paid to lead several DEI workshops for Marblehead teachers, students and parents.
Superintendent John Buckey confirmed that Marblehead Public Schools paid Turner $10,000 for
four different programs, the most recent in February 2022. The money came from a METCO grant, he said. Turner included a $1,000 “hometown discount” in his invoice.
“We’re fortunate to have grant funds available to engage his services to deepen our work in creating a sense of belonging among parents, students and educators across MPS,” Buckey said. “[Turner’s] work attends to one of the five focus areas outlined in our ‘Planning for Success’ district strategic plan.”
Turner’s work has value in Marblehead and beyond, Buckey said.
“With continued incidences of transphobia, antisemitism, racism and homophobia in the forms of words and symbols, it is clear that this work is important,” Buckey said.
There have been several cases of racist, antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ graffiti in Marblehead schools in recent years, including at the Village School in March. Police are still investigating that case.
Turner, who is a man of color and lives in town, serves as principal of Newton North High School. He
Brown School students show off STEAM projects
More than 200 entries submitted in inaugural event
BY WILLIAM J. DOWD
The inaugural Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fair at the Lucretia and James Brown School drew an impressive, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd on Thursday evening. The atmosphere was filled with lively banter and laughter as families navigated through row after row of STEAM projects in the Baldwin Road school’s gymnasium.
“I love that they’re engaging in this type of experiential learning,” said Sarah Fox, the School Committee Chair, amid a happy frenzy of activity. “The children learn so much more.”
The STEAM fair, co-organized by the Brown School PTO and staff, welcomed participation from all students in the kindergarten through third-grade school.
“We want to encourage our students to be curious about the world around them and how things work,” said Brown School Principal Mary Maxfield. “The STEAM fair is a perfect opportunity for them to create experiments, test their ideas and share their learning.”
Maxfield’s call for participation received 200 entries, with projects ranging from a girl who concocted a sports drink formula to another who studied the osmosis of gummy bears.
Second-graders James Jeon and Gideon Cohen-Mavros tested and compared the electrical output of a Granny Smith apple, a lemon and a large potato.
FinCom weighs in on articles
Officials give $2.5M general override favorable report
BY WILLIAM J. DOWD
Marblehead Finance Committee and Select Board members have voted to favorably recommend that Town Meeting send a nearly $2.5 million general override to a town-wide vote.
The FinCom followed the Select Board in voting to recommend the override during the annual warrant hearing on April 10. Residents get their first say at Town Meeting beginning May 1. If the override passes by a two-thirds vote there, it goes to a town-wide vote in June.
The override request targets the projected structural deficit stemming from the town’s past reliance on free cash to balance its annual budget.
As a general override of Prop. 2 1/2, the new taxes would become a permanent part of the town’s revenue base, helping the town avoid similar shortfalls in future years.
“We discovered that a potato has more electricity than a lemon,” said Cohen-Mavros. “However, the apple has even more electricity than both,
due to its higher juice content.” The pair inserted small metal rods into the NEW
Meanwhile, the proposed $112.1 million FY2024 budget also received a favorable recommendation. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said the spending plan reflected a requirement that the town “deliver a balanced budget with no override considered.”
“We have to do that based on the revenues
Rip Tide’s new manager gets thumbs up from Select Board
J. DOWD
WILLIAM
BY
The Rip Tide Lounge is one step closer to securing a new lease on its long life.
During an April 12 public hearing, the Marblehead Select
Board approved the transfer of an all-alcoholic liquor license to Mikael Vienneau, the incoming manager of the iconic dive bar located at 116 Pleasant St.
“Mikael has the property under agreement, encompassing
both the real estate and the Riptide business,” stated Paul Lynch. “He plans to continue the business as the Riptide while introducing improvements to the building and the business itself. We’re eagerly anticipating these changes.”
Lynch emphasized that Vienneau brings extensive experience in the restaurant
industry to the venture and intends to maintain the cherished character of the Rip Tide Lounge while enhancing its appeal.
George Ciampa has owned and operated the lounge since the late 1960s. In January, the property and business were put on the market for $1 million. Back then, broker Sam Gifford
of Churchill Properties told the Marblehead Current that while Ciampa had “dedicated a significant portion of his life” to the Rip Tide, he would happily step aside and enter retirement for the right buyer.
George’s daughter-in-law, Jamie Ciampa, told the Select
YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN BLACK TM April 19, 2023 | VOlUME 1, i SSUE NO. 21 | MA r Bl EHEADCU rr ENT.OrG | ON SOCi A l @MHDCU rr ENT NONPROFIT ORG PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25
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Marblehead parent and Newton North High School Principal Henry Turner is being targeted for his DEI work here in town.
Vienneau plans business as usual at iconic dive bar
CURRENT PHOTOS / NICOLE GOODHUE BOYD
Harper Vining, 9, adds some baking soda to her exploding volcano during the inaugural STEAM fair on April 13 at the Brown School.
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The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to News in Brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org.
Securing a future for African elephants
Kenyan wildlife conservationist
Gini Cowell, manager of Elephant Aware Masai Mara, will be at the King Hooper Mansion on April 22 from 3-6 p.m. Cowell focuses on the future of wild elephants and educating local communities on coexistence with wildlife. Elephant Aware Masai Mara funds education for Maasai girls.
Cowell, from Kenya and educated in Nairobi, has traveled to raise awareness and funds for the project. She has written for publications such as National Geographic and has a blog at elephantawareblog.wordpress. com.
The event includes a presentation by Cowell, a question-and-answer session and a reception. Donations are suggested at different levels for individuals and couples. Preregistration is recommended, with tickets available at elephantawareusa.org or through email.
Elephant Aware has protected elephants, wildlife and habitat in Kenya for 15 years, using strategies to prevent conflict, engaging in anti-poaching efforts and supporting community outreach and education.
The organization, funded by private donations, provides a refuge for endangered species. For more information, visit elephantawareusa.org or email elephantawareusa@gmail.com.
Conservancy Earth Day event
Marblehead’s Conservancy is calling on residents to celebrate Earth Day/Arbor Day by participating in an annual community effort to preserve and protect the town’s open spaces. The event, co-sponsored by Gilbert & Cole, the Conservation Commission and the Recreation and Parks Department, will take place on Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to noon in Lead Mills.
Participants are invited to join in the festivities by meeting at the Conservancy’s tent, located just off Lafayette Street near the Forest River bridge. Activities for the day include planting wildflowers and cleaning up the beach.
To ensure that everyone can participate, the Conservancy will provide seedlings, tools, water and trash bags. Participants are encouraged to wear gloves and sturdy shoes.
Maureen Ashley, the event’s
contact person, can be reached at 781-367-0923 or maureenashley@ gmail.com for additional information about the event.
BYC, Rotary Club blood drive
The Marblehead Rotary and Boston Yacht Club, in collaboration with the American Red Cross, will host a blood drive on Monday, May 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Boston Yacht Club, 1 Front St. The drive will occur in the club’s lobby and dining room.
Community members are invited to donate blood. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-7932767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter “Marblehead.”
Donors can save up to 15 minutes by completing pre-donation reading at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.
Community Golf Day
The Marblehead Select Board invites you to participate in the Community Golf Day on Monday, May 15, at Tedesco Country Club, 154 Tedesco St. Registration begins at 10 a.m., with an 11 a.m. tee-off, rain or shine.
The final date for registration is May 12, and the $175 player fee includes a round of golf with a cart, a box lunch, a post-play celebration with awards, hors d’oeuvres and beer/wine. To learn more, visit bit.ly/3ZWr8Sm.
The event supports the Marblehead Counseling Center, which has served Marblehead, Swampscott and surrounding communities since 1969.
MCC provides mental health counseling, family support services, community education and charitable assistance in a safe and confidential environment.
Driftwood Garden Club
On Saturday, May 13, the Driftwood Garden Club will host its annual plant sale at the Masonic Hall, located at 62 Pleasant St.
The event begins at 8:30 a.m. and offers a variety of perennials, annuals, ground covers and herbs, many sourced from local gardens.
Members of the Driftwood Garden Club, an all-volunteer organization, will be available to answer questions and provide assistance in selecting plants.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to maintain and improve several gardens and support civic projects in the town of Marblehead. The club invites you to attend the event to acquire plants for your garden while supporting the community.
Friends of the COA auction
The Friends of the Marblehead
Council on Aging will hold their annual auction fundraiser on Thursday, April 27 at the Landing Restaurant, 81 Front St., beginning at 5:30 p.m.
The event supports COA services and programs for senior citizens not funded by town or state budgets. The Landing will donate a portion of proceeds from meals and drinks sold during the event.
Items, services and events will be available for bid, with Gene Arnould of Arnould Gallery & Framery serving as the auctioneer.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 781-639-1266.
Birdwatching program
Mass Audubon is hosting a free bird-watching walk at Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday, May 26, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Participants will learn about bird migration, breeding behavior and basic identification skills regardless of their skill levels.
Although the event is free, registration is required at https:// bit.ly/3Mnmtpy
The event is made possible by the Marblehead Cultural Council.
Nomination papers available
Nomination papers are now available for voters interested in running for local office in the Tuesday, June 20, municipal election.
Prospective candidates must submit a formal request in writing to pull nomination papers in person. Access the application at https://bit. ly/3yIIWFG.
“After receiving nomination papers, you will need to put your name and address (as registered to vote) on each nomination paper before obtaining the required 50 signatures from Marblehead registered voters,” according to the Town Clerk’s office. “You should obtain more than 50 to ensure you have enough.”
The cutoff to return signatures is Monday, May 1, at 5 p.m.
“If you are submitting papers on May 1, make sure to have extra signatures,” the Town Clerk’s office writes. “You will not be able to submit more papers after the deadline.”
Town Clerk Robin Michaud also reminds prospective candidates of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance’s filing requirements. All candidates must file three campaign finance reports, notwithstanding the election’s outcome or the amount of
personal money spent.
Critical dates to file campaign finance reports are as follows:
Eight days before the election or June 8
Thirty days after the election or July 30
» End-of-year report, Jan. 20, 2024
Appointed vacancies
The town is currently seeking volunteers to fill several vacancies on appointed boards, commissions and committees. Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest and a resume to the Select Board, Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or via email at wileyk@ marblehead.org.
For more information, contact the Select Board’s Office at 781631-0000. Below is a list of open positions: Task Force Against Discrimination, one-year term.
» Affordable Housing Trust Fund, one-year term.
Charter to host youth entrepreneur fair
On May 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Marblehead Community Charter Public School will host an entrepreneur fair.
This event will feature student businesses offering homemade dog treats, soup kits, jewelry and sea glass pictures, among other booths.
Young entrepreneurs between the ages of 8 and 16 who would like to sell their items can sign up at bit.ly/40O4n4a.
Students from all over the North Shore are participating in this event. The Charter School will have 30 to 40 vendors, and the public is invited to come and support the students.
Anyone with questions is invited to email jessicagelb1@ gmail.com.
Job openings
The town has several job openings across various departments that it is currently seeking to fill:
» Seasonal laborer in Cemetery.
Transfer station operator in Health.
Mechanic pipefitter II in Sewer.
» SR seasonal harbor assistant and seasonal pump out assistant in Harbormaster.
Part-time building attendant in Recreation and Parks.
Two volunteer positions in the Historical Commission. All of these positions are open until filled. Interested applicants should download an employment application at bit.ly/3i9ct6j and follow the instructions provided in the job description to apply.
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Rip Tide
From P. A1
Board during the hearing that Vienneau appears to be just such a buyer.
“The new people taking over seem to be wonderful,” she said. “They appear to have a solid
plan in place, with intentions to beautify the Rip Tide while maintaining its identity as a bar.”
She added, “We’re thrilled to have new ownership carry on the legacy, as we’ve held it for 55 years — but we’re tired.”
Established in the late 1930s or early 1940s, the Rip Tide Lounge
was initially named Kylie’s and is believed to have received Marblehead’s first license to serve alcohol following the end of Prohibition. In the 1950s, the name was changed to the Rip Tide.
The two-story building, characterized by its blue wooden shingles and red door, was built
around 1900.
Marblehead native Betsey Withum, a long-time Rip Tide regular, expressed her hope that the establishment remains intact under new ownership.
“It would be a tragedy if it were to disappear,” Withum said.
“For those who know this place, it’s a five-star dive.”
NEWS iN BriEF
iNDEX Business 1, 14 Education 1, 4-5, 7-8 Environment 4 Government 1, 13 History 16 News 1-2, 4, 8, 13 Opinion 5-6
14-15
12 Religion 11 Seniors 12 Sports 9-11
Public safety
Recreation
NEWS FOr p EOpl E, NOT FOr prOF i T.
COURTESY PHOTO / TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD
Mikael Vienneau, the new manager of the Rip Tide, and lawyer Paul Lynch address the Marblehead Select Board on April 12.
marbleheadcurrent.org A2 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A02
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New rules ease up on solar panels, heat pumps in historic neighborhoods
BY LEIGH BLANDER
It may have just gotten a little easier to install solar panels and heat pumps in Marblehead’s historic neighborhoods. The Old and Historic Districts Commission has updated its guidelines to be more open to eco-friendly changes to homes and buildings, averting a Town Meeting vote forcing them to do so.
“What are we preserving old town for if it’s going to be ravaged by climate change?” asked Mark Adams with Sustainable Marblehead, who proposed the Town Meeting warrant article and will now withdraw it. “We’re facing an existential threat … it’s especially important in a coastal community like Marblehead that’s going to feel the impact of rising sea levels.”
Adams’ warrant article would have required the OHDC (which approves changes to buildings in Marblehead’s Old Town and Gingerbread Hill neighborhoods) to update its guidelines for heat pumps and solar panels. Instead, Adams met with the OHDC and came to “an agreement that changes the guidelines in two places,” he told
the Marblehead Current.
“Solar panels were strictly forbidden in the district if any part of any component was visible from a public way,” Adams said. “That’s no longer the case. The guidelines now say solar panels will be evaluated and will be allowed at the discretion of the committee.”
The OHDC has also updated its guidelines regarding heat pumps, Adams said.
“Most people use air-to-air heat pumps, which require a
refrigerant line and that line has to go up to the second and third floors,” he explained, adding that it’s most convenient and affordable to run those lines on exterior walls.
“There is no longer a ban on line sets on the exterior of the house,” said OHDC Chair Charles Hibbard. “We will consider it. But it’s going to be challenging to find a historicallyappropriate solution to that.”
Hibbard emphasized that projects with solar panels and
heat pumps still need to respect the historical nature of any property.
“If they [solar panels] are large, flat panes of reflective glass and sit on a metal framework which is bolted on top of an asphalt or woodshingled roof, the commission is going to say, ‘I don’t see how that is a historically-appropriate appearance. I don’t see how that respects the original architecture of your 18th- or 19th-century house. Is there
another way you can approach this?’
“The door is always open,” Hibbard added, ‘but the path to success depends very much on the specifics.”
Adams said he’ll monitor decisions made by the OHDC, to make sure members are approving reasonable sustainability projects.
“We’ll just have to see how it plays out,” Adams said.
Also, the Marblehead Green Committee, commissioned by the Select Board, is “coming out with a report that says changes have to be made within the historic district to meet our 2040 goal of net zero,” Adams said. Town Planner Becky Curran said she has consulted with the OHDC and plans to apply for a grant to explore ways buildings in the historic district can become more sustainable.
“We want to find out what other towns do and how this can be done without degrading the character of the historic district,” Curran said.
“That should result in new guidelines that confirm balancing the preservation of historic properties with making them more energy efficient,” Adams said.
By not memorializing public comment, Select Board runs afoul of law
BY WILLIAM J. DOWD
The Division of Open Government of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office found that the Marblehead Select Board violated the Open Meeting Law when it failed to sufficiently capture public comments from its meeting of May 18, 2022.
The state office issued its determination April 12 after reviewing a complaint from Marblehead resident Allen D. Waller, which noted that the Select Board had failed to include two comments made during the May 18 public comment period when it approved the minutes for the public meeting in June.
“The first comment was that, since at this meeting, a new town administrator had been appointed, an agenda item, it would be an opportune time to issue
a [request for proposals] for the position of special town counsel, the current incumbent firm being Mead, Talerman, and Costa, who authored the Town’s response in this matter,” wrote Waller in an email to the Attorney General’s Office.
“The second comment pertained to the choice made by the Select Board for the town administrator position, an agenda item.”
Special Town Counsel Elizabeth Lydon, in an August letter to Waller, responded that meeting minutes are meant to summarize what occurred during public meetings, not offer a complete transcription.
“The comments which you refer to were not made as part of any discussion by the [Select Board],” Lydon wrote to Waller. “As noted in my previous responses to
your complaints, the Open Meeting Law requires that minutes set forth the date, time, and place, the members present or absent, a summary of the discussions on each subject, a list of documents and other exhibits used at the meeting, the decisions made and the actions taken at each meeting, including the record of all votes.”
However, the state underscored that public comment was an agenda item and therefore needed to be memorialized in the minutes.
“The relevant facts are not in dispute,” wrote Elizabeth Carnes Flynn, assistant attorney general in the Division of Open Government. “The Select Board held a meeting on May 18 which included a public comment period at the end of the meeting.
Members of the public spoke during the public comment period. The minutes of the May 18 meeting, which were approved by the Board on
June 15, do not record the public comment period at all.”
Flynn ordered the Select Board’s immediate and future compliance with the Open Meeting Law and cautioned that similar
of that meeting within 30 days of the date of the letter.
Select Board Chairman Moses Grader said the board has taken corrective administrative action and would amend the May 18 minutes. He added the violation was not intentional wrongdoing.
“We believe that — for the reasons stated by town counsel in its response letter to Mr. Waller — that we were in compliance with Open Meeting Laws regarding the omission of public comments in the minutes, which did not relate to specific meeting agenda items and did not involve any discussion by the Select Board,” Grader told the Marblehead Current.
also does consulting work with school districts around DEI.
“My family and I are proud residents of Marblehead and send our daughter to Marblehead schools, where she receives an excellent education,” Turner told the Marblehead Current. “As a member of the community, I am happy to help Marblehead Public Schools when support is needed.”
Turner continued, “In my presentation to Marblehead faculty, families and students, I spoke of my daughter’s experience at the Gerry School, where she drew her self-portrait
with brown skin and described her face as special. Because of this classroom activity and others in MPS, I am grateful to all of the educators in Marblehead for helping my daughter and so many other students to feel seen and welcomed.”
This is not the first time
Parents Defending Education has set its sights on Turner. The organization filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education against Newton North last fall, saying a student-led theater production broke the law by limiting auditions to people of color. The case was closed with no findings of discrimination, Turner said.
On its site on April 12, PDE
also reported on Newton North’s ToBeGlad (Transgender Bisexual Lesbian Awareness) Day April 14.
PDE has targeted many school districts across Massachusetts and the country. Its website says the group is “working to reclaim our schools from activists promoting harmful agendas” and is “fighting indoctrination in the classroom.” It features what it calls an “indoctrination map” and a list of school districts’ “transgender/gender nonconforming policies.”
PDE posted photos of invoices paid to Turner by the Marblehead schools.
“We posted invoices sent to us by concerned parents who don’t want to see other schools go down the path Newton North
future violations might be considered evidence of intent to violate the law.
Additionally, the Select Board was ordered to amend the minutes of its May 18 meeting to include the public comment period
has taken,” Erika Sanzi, PDE’s director of outreach wrote in an email sent by a public relations firm.
Through its own public records request, the Marblehead Current learned that three Marblehead women made separate requests for those invoices in 2021 and 2022. Two of the women are vocal critics of the schools on local social media pages. So far, two of the women responded to the Current’s request for a comment and declined.
Racial justice advocates in town were quick to react to the PDE report.
“It’s hard for the Marblehead Racial Justice Team to find words strong enough to
He added, “We have always endeavored to provide as much transparency as possible within our understanding of the law and are happy to comply with the judgment of the Attorney General’s findings on this issue.”
denounce an ‘incident report’ on the website of a regressive non-profit, ‘Parents Defending Education,’ targeting Dr. Henry Turner,” the Marblehead Racial Justice Team wrote in a statement. “Dr. Turner is a Marblehead resident, respected educator and presenter, and a visionary about practical steps to combat systemic racism.
The MRJT statement continued, “As small as the population of people of color is in Marblehead, our town needs to exude admiration for a resident as accomplished as Dr. Turner. That group’s criticism of Dr. Turner revolves around his scholarship and presentations that aid diversity, equity and inclusion in schools.”
GOiNG GrEEN
ABBOT HA ll
CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD
The cover letter to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s determination that the Select Board violated the Open Meeting Law.
Town counsel believed minutes met Open Meeting Law’s requirements
Turner From P. A1 marbleheadcurrent.org A4 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A04
Solar panels that can be viewed from public ways are no longer banned outright in Marblehead’s historic districts.
Opinion
Send override to ballot
Marblehead’s town budget has a projected $2.5 million “structural deficit”; in other words, that’s the gap between the cost of maintaining the same level of town services and the revenue available to provide those services.
Over the years, the town has squeaked by without asking for an override, relying on “free cash” — unspent money from previous fiscal years — to balance the budget. But depending on free cash has always been an unsustainable strategy.
Now, the town’s day of reckoning is here. It will either have to raise more money or slash services.
The numbers are as follows: The budget for the current fiscal year of approximately $100 million was balanced with $10.6 million in free cash. However, in the fiscal year 2024, Marblehead’s free cash is projected to be $8.5 million, $2.1 million less than in FY23.
This decline in free cash, along with growing costs such as employee health insurance and contractual obligations like cost-of-living increases for town employees, are the main drivers of the projected deficit.
Marblehead’s current financial situation illustrates the risks of relying on a volatile source like free cash to balance the budget. Rather than counting on free cash to fund 10% of the town’s operating budget, as Marblehead has been doing, the best practice is to use free cash for one-time expenses and capital projects or to simply save it, according to Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.
In other words, on the revenue side of the budget ledger, the line for free cash should read “zero.”
By its nature, proposing a general override of Proposition 2 1/2 will always be a controversial subject. Unlike a debt-exclusion (temporary) override, which comes off the rolls once a building or project is paid for, a general override becomes a permanent part of the tax base, meaning the town will be allowed to increase the tax levy by 2.5 percent above a new, larger number in subsequent years.
That is a significant commitment, especially at a time when many of our residents, especially those on fixed incomes, are struggling with the impact of inflation and other pressures on their household budgets.
Nonetheless, at this stage, the Current believes a “yes” vote is the right vote on Article 31, mainly because the process dictates that Town Meeting May 1 will not be the final stop for the proposal. Rather, if the override achieves a two-thirds vote at Town Meeting, the matter will land on June’s town election ballot, giving all residents — not just those able and motivated to attend Town Meeting — the final say.
A decision this consequential deserves a fuller airing, which the time between Town Meeting and the election would provide.
We would expect that time to be filled with at least one public hearing — perhaps more — where town officials could explain their longterm strategy and attempt to reassure that this extraordinary request of taxpayers will not become a regular occurrence.
In our current economic climate — which also includes Beacon Hill so awash in revenue, legislators are discussing where to cut taxes, not raise them — that may prove to be a tough sell. But the town would still benefit by having the town as a whole render the ultimate verdict, rather than having the Veterans Middle School auditorium be the only “jury box.”
We urge Town Meeting attendees to extend this important discussion by voting “yes” on Article 31.
lETTErS pOliCY
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Letters must include:
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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 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.
Unplug the outrage machine
BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM
Why are people so angry all the time? And how can we help calm things down?
My questions are prompted by two completely unrelated incidents, one in western Massachusetts and one in the western part of the country.
First, let’s turn to “Ladies-Gate” in Easthampton. There, outrage has been directed at the chair of the school committee for overreacting to an email where she and the board’s executive assistant were addressed as “ladies” by a prospective job candidate.
That’s how I see it. She overreacted. It was silly. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being addressed as “ladies.”
Also, as with most things, there’s likely much more going on behind the clickbait headlines.
For instance, after reading a little more, I learned that the job candidate in question served as the principal of the town’s high school for several years. Might that account for the close 4-3 vote to make the superintendent job offer and the overreaction to “ladies”? Surely, the chair and committee had a strong opinion about a former important school leader.
I’m not agreeing — call me “lady” any day of the week. But instead of assuming some missing context, shrugging off the incident as overblown or — even better — laughing at the state of affairs where being called a “lady” is an insult, people blew their stacks and even made threats.
The second incident was a recent speech by a federal appeals court judge at Stanford Law School in California. The judge, Stuart Kyle Duncan, had been invited by the campus’s Federalist Society chapter, a conservative group, to address the students. That didn’t sit well with some.
Instead of peacefully protesting, though, the students who didn’t like the judge’s past rulings and private attorney representation reacted with such wrath that the judge couldn’t give his speech. He had to endure slurs and attacks, including one protester suggesting his daughter deserved to be raped.
The judge asked for an administrator to step in, and that unlucky administrator happened to be the associate dean for diversity, equity and inclusion, Tirien Steinbach. Rather than calm the situation down, she seemed to agree with the protesters,
’HEADErS HiSTOrY
asking whether the “lemon was worth the squeeze.” In other words, was Duncan’s speech worth the division caused at the school?
In the aftermath, the dean of the law school and Stanford’s president apologized to Duncan, and the associate dean was placed on leave. In sum, the incident followed the typical outrage/apology/blame trajectory.
Then this. In a Sunday New York Times front-page report, the head of the Federalist Society chapter, Tim Rosenberger, who was presumably offered a fastball down the middle to stoke further outrage, did the opposite. He offered support to the suspended associate dean.
The two had worked together in the past, he noted, including bringing conservative speakers to campus. Her support of other controversial speakers took “courage,” he said. And he found her willing to partner with the Federalist Society in ways others at the school would not.
Rosenberger said, “People have called her stupid and incompetent. She’s a smart and good person who was just put in a really bad spot.”
Wow. In normal times, his words would be simply kind, but given the temperature, they are extraordinary.
What did he have that others apparently didn’t or chose not to consider? Context. He knew there was more to the story than was reported.
Obviously, we can’t know everything about a situation we read about or see on TV, but perhaps one step to calming down the resort to outrage is to assume there’s a broader context — or even better, dive deeper and look for it.
To my first question, why are people so angry all the time? Certainly, traditional and social media play a role in pressing our buttons. Financial anxiety and post-COVID adjustment also lead to short fuses. Bottom line, a lot of us are pretty stressed out, and anger is a natural reaction.
As Town Meeting and other opportunities to jump down each other’s throats come our way, though, may I suggest we try to channel Mr. Rosenberger: Assume broader context, be a voice of reason, and when given the opportunity to amp up the volume of the outrage machine, unplug it instead.
Virginia Buckingham is the president of the Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.
Marblehead’s fraternal organizations
BY MARK HURWITZ
For many years, residents of Marblehead occupied themselves by joining a variety of fraternal organizations. By the 1920s, there were nearly 20 different organizations in Marblehead that both men and women could join.
One of the oldest fraternal clubs in Marblehead that still holds meetings is the Philanthropic Lodge. The Philanthropic Lodge was originally chartered as “The Marblehead Lodge” in 1760 by St. John’s Lodge No. 1 under the Provincial Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
Since the Marblehead Lodge was constituted during the reign of King George III, it was considered an English provincial lodge, and all rituals were conducted according to English Masonic customs. The Philanthropic Lodge seal bears the initials “F. & A.M.” referring to the “Free and Accepted Masons” traditions of England.
A 1760 candidate was John Pulling Jr. (1737-1787), a Marblehead shipmaster who lived in Boston in the 1770s. The same John Pulling Jr. hung two lanterns in the belfry tower of the Old North Church in Boston.
The Marblehead Lodge changed its name to Philanthropic Lodge
in the 1790s. Philanthropic Lodge is the third oldest Masonic Lodge in Massachusetts and the 19th oldest Masonic Lodge in the United States.
Independent Order of Odd Fellows
Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a non-political and nonsectarian international fraternal order of Odd Fellowship. It was founded in 1819 in Maryland by Thomas Wildley, evolving from the Odd Fellows founded in 18th-century England.
Like many other fraternal organizations at the time, the IOOF began by limiting their membership to white men only. Years later, they became the first fraternal organization to allow white women when they established the “Daughters of Rebekah” in the 1850s.
Over the next half-century, the Odd Fellows became the largest among all fraternal organizations, including the Freemasons.
The Great Depression and the introduction of FDR’s New Deal led to a decline in membership.
During the 1930s, people could not afford Odd Fellows membership fees, and when new social programs started to take effect, the need for
the social work of the Odd Fellows declined.
By the 1970s, the IOOF changed its constitution, removing its whites-only clause.
The Independent Order of Rechabites
The Independent Order of Rechabites, also known as the Sons and Daughters of Rechab, is a fraternal organization and friendly society founded in England in 1835 as part of the wider temperance movement to promote total abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
Always well connected in upper society and involved in financial matters, it gradually transformed into a financial institution that still exists and promotes abstinence from alcohol. The order has been active in Australia since 1843, promoting temperance and functioning as a benefit society. A branch was established in the United States in the 1840s.
The Marblehead chapter of the I.O.O.R. held its meetings in a building they constructed on Pleasant Street in 1889 (Rechabite Block building). They generated income for their organization by
EVErYTHiNG
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FRATERNITIES, P. A6 marbleheadcurrent.org Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 19, 2023 A5 CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A05
NIMBY: An affliction that hurts us all
I was embarrassed and most saddened to read the comments made by my neighbors concerning the sober living home at the April 3 meeting. I hope that everyone read the wonderful article from Laura McKowen that accompanied the article on the hearing, as it debunked the mean-spirited and ignorant concerns voiced on what a sober community really is and what its true impact is for all of us. If we truly cared about our community and our fellow man, we should be welcoming these homes.
I know that most of the ill feeling revolves around the sad but ever-present Not-In-My-Backyard
(NIMBY) sentiments that we ‘Headers can too often easily exhibit. We saw the same with myriad suits, hearings, articles and misinformation presented — and the subsequent years of delay — for the Mariner Project on Pleasant Street, nearing completion now. We see this often with green projects.
These are projects that almost all would agree are best for all of us, the environment and our
Fraternities
From P. A5
renting out space in the building to tenants.
Today, the first floor houses a dental office.
Improved Order of Red
future, yet look at what the Cape Wind project went through — overa-decade-long delay and millions of dollars wasted on both sides.
There is a hearing taking place in Portland, Maine this week to allow hydro transmission lines to traverse the state so that Massachusetts can meet its green energy goals. Maine has blocked it for years, yet they consider themselves leaders in protecting the environment and perpetuating green ideals.
NIMBY is an affliction that hurts us all. It alienates, it drives division, it sends messages to our children that what the individual wants should trump what is best for the whole. That thinking is misplaced and unsustainable in the world that we live in.
I know alcoholics and addicts, and they reside in every neighborhood and likely almost every street in our town. How can we not support these people? They are part of our communities, many of us know these people and/ or know their families and friends.
I used this same argument when I mentioned to friends that lived on Pleasant Street that I would hope that if you or I needed assisted
Men, Manataug Tribe
The Improved Order of Red Men is a fraternal organization established in North America in the 1830s. It claimed direct descent from the colonialera Sons of Liberty. Their rituals and regalia
living that we would prefer to stay in town and be near our families and what we know. Isn’t that best for the town and the collective? Why should a few ruin it for all? Is that who we really are?
I often find it ironic that we have so many activists that vehemently purport their desires for inclusivity and acceptance, for open immigration and clean energy, at all costs, yet the first time that they are possibly inconvenienced by the reality of what they exclaim, it becomes a different story.
The NIMBYs amongst us can rationalize almost anything in pursuit of what they want and easily ignore the blatant hypocrisies that they exhibit.
Kevin Maguire Auburndale Road
Column touched ‘head, heart and spirit’
To the editor:
I was moved by the honesty and beauty in the perspective piece by Laura McKowen (“Our dreams are not in conflict,” Marblehead Current, April 12). Her writing manages to touch the head, heart and spirit all at once.
As someone who knows
are modeled after those assumed by men of the era to be used by Native Americans.
Despite the name, the order was formed solely by — and for — white men. The whites-only rule was part of their bylaws until the 1970s, when the all-white-male clause was eliminated.
In the 1950s, the order created the Degree of Hiawatha, a youth auxiliary for males ages 8 and up. Most members of the Degree of Hiawatha were concentrated in New England. The order’s female
the good folks of Marblehead and other similar towns, I can attest that we don’t intend to be hypocritical, but often, we are. We don’t want alcoholism and addiction in our communities, but by burying our heads in the sand and pretending it doesn’t exist, we only make these problems worse. Addiction is everywhere, hiding in plain sight, and not acknowledging it and addressing it only makes it worse.
That’s why the fact that the town is supporting people in recovery is something to be applauded. These individuals have taken the life-changing step of going to rehab and are now taking another major step of trying to live a sober life. They have committed to the strict requirements of living in a sober home and should not only be supported but also congratulated for taking such an important step in their recovery journey.
Having such a resource in your town is a blessing. You never know when a friend, family member or loved one might need such services. We can’t pretend that addiction and alcoholism are issues that only happen in other places, and that our beautiful, picturesque towns are immune from the problems plaguing
auxiliary is the Degree of Pocahontas, which dates back to the 1880s, and the Degree of Anona, a junior order of the Degree of Pocahontas, was formed in the 1950s.
The Improved Order of Red Men is now open to people of all ethnic backgrounds.
The Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization founded in Washington, D.C., in the 1860s by Justus H. Rathbone. It was the first fraternal order to receive a charter from the U.S. Congress, after President Abraham
communities all across this country.
So, what can we do? If it is not your dream to help people in recovery, that’s fine. Continue to go about your daily life. But please don’t invest energy into trying to hinder people in recovery whose dream is to lead a successful sober life in a safe and supportive environment. Instead, let’s come together as a community to support and uplift those in recovery, and work towards a future where addiction and alcoholism are no longer stigmatized or ignored.
Cynthia Nagrath Harwich, Massachusetts
Thank you for donating to the Bruins PJ drive
To the editor:
As part of the 16th annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive, Abbot Public Library collected pajama donations for babies, children and teens from February 10 through March 15. With the generous support of our local community, we collected 72 pairs of pajamas for the children who need them most out of a grand total of more than 9,302 donated.
To those who
Lincoln approved of its mission and values.
The order is based on the story of the friendship of Damon and Pythias, members of a school founded by Pythagoras, the father of Greek philosophy.
The order has domains and lodges in the United States, Canada and Europe, and follows the principles of friendship, charity and benevolence.
The first AfricanAmerican dictation lodge was organized in Mississippi in the 1880s.
Grand Army of the Republic, John Goodwin
Jr. Post, GAR Hall
Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, Union Navy and Marines who served in the American Civil War.
It was founded in 1866 in Illinois and grew to
contributed to the drive, whether by donating pjs, making an online donation, liking and sharing our social media posts or articles from the newspapers or spreading the word in any way: thank you! Because of your generosity and support, so many children will be getting much needed pajamas.
If you were unable to make a donation and still want to contribute, donations can still be made online at cradlestocrayons.org/ boston/pjdrive. The drive benefits Cradles to Crayons and Wonderfund MA, two nonprofits that ensure positive living conditions for children, and is run annually in collaboration with the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners and other libraries, schools and organizations. Read more about Abbot Public Library’s donation drive at tinyurl.com/ Abbot-PJ-Drive.
The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners works with the Boston Bruins to coordinate library participation in the PJ Drive. For more information visit nhl.com/ bruins/community/pj-drive. Abbot Public Library staff
include hundreds of posts across the North and West. It was dissolved in 1956 at the death of its last member.
Patrons of Husbandry
The Grange, officially named the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, is a social organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture.
Founded after the Civil War in 1867, it is the oldest American agricultural advocacy group with a national scope.
The Grange actively lobbied state legislatures and Congress for political goals, such as the Granger laws to lower rates charged by railroads and rural free mail delivery by the U.S. Post Office.
lETTErS TO THE EDiTOr
marbleheadcurrent.org A6 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A06 Lux Leisure Essentials for your Active Lifestyle 40 ATLANTIC AVENUE •MARBLEHEAD,MA Follow us on lnstagram @twinlion.com Town of Marblehead Fence and Gate - Marblehead Municipal Light Department Section 00 11 13 ADVERTISEMENT TO BID MGL c.30 §39M Over $50K The TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD the Awarding Authority invites sealed bids from Contractors for the Fence and Gate - Marblehead Municipal Light Department in in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in accordance with the documents prepared by The Project consists of but not limited to: New perimeter fence and entry gates at the Marblehead Municipal Light Department located at 80 Commercial Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts. The scope of work includes: 1.Salvaging for reuse items noted in the Scope of Work document: a. Paybox b.Granite Pavers 2.New perimeter fence as designated on site plans. 3.Manual pedestrian and vehicle gates as designated location along fence. 4.(2)new electronic gates and associated equipment at property entrances. 5.(2)new manual gates to separate employee parking from visitor parking. 6.New electrical as required to power gate operators and sensors. 7.Relocation of existing paybox and granite landscaping. 8.Add Alternate #1: New railing and fence at seawall as designated on plans. The work is estimated to cost $280,000.00. All bidding Requests for Information (RFIs) shall be submitted online by 04/28/2023 at 5:00PM EDT for general bids. Bids are subject to M.G.L. c.30§39M and to minimum wage rates as required by M.G.L. c.149 §§26 to 27H inclusive. THIS PROJECT IS BEING ELECTRONICALLY BID AND HARD COPY BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please review the instructions in the bid documents on how to register as an electronic bidder All Bids shall be submitted online at www.biddocs.com and received no later than the date and time specified. General Bids will be received until 05 May 2023 on 10:00AM EDT and publicly opened online, forthwith. General bids and sub-bids shall be accompanied by a bid deposit that is LEG AL NOTIC E SE WER US E R FEE QUES TI ON S TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD, MA BOARD OF WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS The Marblehead Water and Sewer Commission hereby notifies all owners of property who are currently paying sewer user fees that, if there is any question as to whether the property being charged sewer user fees is connected to the Town sewer system, a written notice must be filed with the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners. Failure to provide written notification to the Commission will limit any future request for sewer system abatements to current charges only F. Carlton Siegel, Chairman Water and Sewer Commission Everyone has a story. Let me help you tell yours. Writing / Content / Public Relations Serving Individuals, Brands & Agencies Strategic Campaigns Ghostwriting | Speeches | Voice-Overs Call (617) 480-4430 E-mail jennifer@jenniferkronstain.c Visit w.jenniferkronstain.com BOSTON | NEW YORK | PHILADELPHIA Former local print & broadcast reporter proudly supporting the rebirth of community news TO WN OF MARBL EHE AD MASSACHU SET TS BOARD O F WATE R AND SEWER COMMI SSIO NERS CONT RAC T NO 188 ABC MATERI AL PROCESS ING 2023 ADV ERTIS EMENT The Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the Town of Marblehead, MA will receive sealed Bids for the ABC Material Processing 2023 until Thursday May 4, 2023 AT 3:00 P.M. local time, at the Office of the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, 100 Tower Way, Bldg. 11 Marblehead, Massachusetts at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read. All Bids shall be submitted within a sealed envelope addressed to the “Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners, 100 Tower Way, Bldg. 11 Marblehead, MA 01945” and entitled “Bid for Contract No. 181”. The US Postal Service forwards this address to Post Office Box resulting in potential delays. Alternative delivery methods should be used. The project consists of crushing and processing of ABC materials and mixing with on-site earth fill materials. Work includes loading and disposal of excess earth fill materials in accordance with local and state regulations. Successful bidder must furnish all labor materials and equipment for the completion of work as shown on the Contract Drawings and as herein specified or reasonably implied. The OWNER reserves the right to eliminate certain sections of the work or parts of sections, as may be determined by them as a basis of award, to keep within the limits of available funds, or to add sections of the work previously eliminated. Bidding documents are available in electronic PDF format and hard copy format. Electronic files can be obtained by contacting Haley and Ward at (978) 648-6025 or AFord@haleyward.com Hard copy documents may be reviewed at the office of the Marblehead Water and Sewer Department, 100 Tower Way, Bldg., 11 Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945, during normal business hours, generally 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday Each bid shall be accompanied by a Bid Bond, Cash, a Certified Check or a Treasurer ’s or Cashier ’s Check issued by a responsible Bank or Trust Company in the amount of five (5) percent of the submitted bid, as Bid Security Attention of the Bidder is called to the requirements for minimum wage rates to be paid under this Contract and the reporting associated thereto. Minimum wage rates are required as per M.G.L, Chapter 149, Section 26 to 27D inclusive. Minimum wage rates determined by the Commissioner are as contained in the Supplementary Conditions section of the Contract Documents. The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Payment and Performance Bond each half the full amount of the Contract. Contract payment will be by the lump sum price and/or unit price method as indicated on the Bid Form. No Bidder may withdraw his Bid for a period of thirty (30) days after the date designated above for the opening. Bids for this Contract are subject to the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) Chapter 30, Section 39M. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Bids, and to limit the extent of the work to keep within the limits of available funds. TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS BOARD OF WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS F. Carlton Siegel, P.E., Chairman Thomas Carroll Gregory Bates Barton Hyte Thomas L. Murray SUPERINTENDENT Amy McHugh HALEY WARD, INC. Maynard, MA 01754 ET – 4/19/23 CO MMONWE ALTH O F MASSACHU SET TS THE TRI AL COU RT PROB AT E AND FA MILY COURT Essex Division Docket No. ES23P1149EA INFO RMAL PRO BATE PUBLI CATION NOTICE Estate of: Maria P. Grasso Also Known As: Maria Grasso Date of Death: 2/23/2023 To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Martin J. Grasso, Jr of Swampscott, MA a Will has been admitted to informal probate. Martin J. Grasso, Jr of Swampscott, MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond. The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any can be obtained from the Petitioner
Art, music and more
BY SUPERINTENDENT JOHN BUCKEY
Good People of Marblehead Public Schools: Reflection provides us an opportunity to make sense or meaning of observations, experiences and events.
Monday is Patriots Day, also known as Marathon Monday here in Massachusetts.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. Making sense of the tragedy that took the lives of three and injured hundreds of others is hard. Seeing the resilience and perseverance of Boston Strong and how we commemorate and honor it via service and charity is easier.
Patriots Day is a day set aside to commemorate the battles of Lexington and Concord, which started the Revolutionary War. As we celebrate that historical first step toward our freedom and independence, let’s also reflect on the continued sacrifices that exist in maintaining them.
CPR classes
After Damar Hamlin collapsed during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, there was renewed national and local interest in CPR training. I am pleased to announce that Marblehead Public Schools in collaboration with Marblehead Fire Department will offer two CPR classes — April 26 at 6 p.m. and April 29 at 9 a.m. Both sessions will be approximately two hours and
FOOD 101
will be held at the Brown School. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to me via email with your preferred session.
Mu sic events
The Friends of the Performing
Arts have quite a few events coming up. I am delighted to be able to share them with our readers.
“Legally Blonde: The Musical!” April 28, 29 and 30 at MHS: This is going to be one to remember! The kids have all been working
so hard on this fun show. Get your tickets and help spread the word. Assigned seating, so don’t wait too long! ticketstage.com/T/
MHSCHOOLS
Rock the Arts Night, May 11, 7 p.m., at the Dolphin Yacht Club: Marblehead Friends of the Performing Arts are hosting their second annual gala. If you can’t attend, there are plenty of ways to be involved. Donate some beer or wine to the raffle, sponsor a teacher and/or tell all your friends.
Tickets are $75 for adults and $50 for seniors. Links for sign-up and tickets are below. » eventbrite.com/e/ rock-the-arts-nighttickets-598461864547 signupgenius.com/ go/5080849a5ac22a64rock/4971099#/
Art awards
Congratulations to Saylor Caruso for winning a Gold
Key for her photograph and a Silver Key for her photography portfolio, and to Chloe Nickerson for winning a Silver Key for photography, in the National Scholastic Art Competition. Gold medalist winners and their teacher, Ms. Bordieri, will be celebrated at a special ceremony in Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 8, followed the next day with student and educator workshops. Gold key winners will also have their work displayed in a New York gallery. It is quite the honor!
Nominate an outstanding teacher
We have excellent educators in Marblehead. Each year there is an opportunity to recognize one of our outstanding teachers with The Margaret Voss Howard Teacher Recognition Award. A nomination form and additional information is available at teacherrecognition. wordpress.com.
Superintendent coffee
The April Coffee will be held Friday, April 28, 8:30 a.m. at Village School. As always, it is an open forum for families and the community to bring topics of interest for the superintendent.
Vacation
And, it’s officially April Vacation! April 14 was National Reach as High as You Can Day. According to the Googler, “It’s a day to believe in yourself and to take a chance that you may have shied away from before.”
As we embark on our final vacation week of the year, carpe diem, reach as high as you can.
Roasting peppers is the right choice anytime of year
BY LINDA BASSETT
At the supermarket, spring doesn’t burst as suddenly as crocuses and forsythia. It dawns up slowly.
Thick winter vegetables, like parsnips, sweet potatoes, leeks and beets give way to artichokes, snap peas and tiny new potatoes as the days incrementally lengthen.
As a cook, my head spins at this time of year deciding whether to squeeze the last flavors out of the old or perk up plates with the new.
Fortunately, I count on one vegetable from autumn through winter, spring and summer — bell peppers. Those big beautiful greenhouse goddesses. Pick a color. Yellow, red, orange, sometimes purple. Rarely boring, and bitter, green.
Roasting brings out their best flavor, the smoky char on the skin an added enhancement. There are several ways to do this, probably the easiest is to buy them in a jar already roasted. But once you try homemade, the store-bought are just a pale imitation.
My grandmother taught me to roast peppers. She did it “the hard way” — directly in the fire of her gas stove, turning them with a long-handled fork. Opening her front door was a deliriously delicious experience with homemade bread and roasting peppers! Hers was a truly scratch experience. She grew the peppers in her garden.
The day my first gas stove was delivered, I had a whole rainbow of peppers waiting. (I graduated from her “green only” rule.) I immediately dirtied up the whole stove top. It’s a messy job. To do this, I put the peppers directly into the flame, turning them with tongs as they char.
(The juices leak out when using a fork.) Then I steamed them.
My grandmother used a paper bag, but I like aluminum foil. I wrap them tightly and let them sit until they are tender from the steam, then unwrap and rub off the skin with my fingertips. My grandmother once slapped my hand doing this under running water. I said it was easier. She said it ruined the flavor. She was
right. I still do it her way.
I sometimes roast peppers more easily on the outdoor grill. They turn out fine as long as I get them as close to the flame as possible. The cleanup is faster by taking the grill apart and washing the pieces down with a garden hose. And the third way, in the oven, is perhaps the neatest. To do this, cut the peppers in half lengthwise and put them on a foil-lined sheet pan as close to the broiler element as possible, still looking for that ideal char. In both methods, steaming and fingertip-peeling is still needed. Call it nostalgia or just plain pigheadedness, I love the flavor — or maybe the memories — of the stovetop method.
So what to do with all these roasted peppers? Cut them into strips and try any of the following:
» Toss with olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar, slivered black deli olives, capers, fresh basil and a little salt and pepper. Garnish with goat cheese or feta crumbles and enjoy as a salad with French bread on the side.
» Toss the above mixture with hot pasta. Sprinkle with parmesan and some extra olive oil.
Use them as a pizza topping.
Put them into a quiche-style pie. Use an assortment of cheeses in the filling.
» Use them as a topping for
pan-seared salmon filet or a breaded chicken cutlet. Make a stew by simmering with vegetable stock and potato, carrots, green beans and asparagus. When all is tenderly juicy, shower with fresh green herbs. Or skip the herbs and add flavorings like chipotle, cumin, chili powder.
FIRE ROASTED PEPPERS
MAKES 6
` 6 large bell peppers, assorted colors
` 2 tablespoons good extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
` Sea salt
` Balsamic vinegar, optional Wash and pat the bell peppers dry with a paper towel. Turn on the fire on the stovetop, light the outdoor grill, or set the oven at broil.
Place the peppers directly as close to the heat source as possible.
Roast peppers, turning with tongs, every few minutes until nearly charred on all sides, about 15 minutes.
Remove peppers from heat; wrap tightly in aluminum foil, 15 minutes, to fully cook.
Unwrap peppers; peel the charred skin by rubbing with fingertips. The skin loosens easily. (Yes, this is messy, but worth it in flavor.)
Using a paring knife, remove core, stem and seeds, and discard them.
Slice the peppers into strips. Place in a bowl and drizzle with a bit of very good olive oil. Salt to taste.
SU pEriNTENDENT U pDATE
Roasted peppers are always in season.
Chloe Nickerson at MHS won an award for this photo.
marbleheadcurrent.org Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 19, 2023 A7 CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A07
MHS student Saylor Caruso snapped this award-winning photo.
fruits and root vegetable and utilized a handheld meter to measure each item’s voltage output. Jeon noted, “An AAA battery has
about the same amount of electricity as a potato.”
Second-graders Ryan Aniello, Henry Chamberlin and Teddy Sheehan explored the physics of catapults on a miniature scale. Using their minicatapult, they launched ping pong balls, marbles and cotton balls to test their hypothesis. “We learned about the different weights of objects and how they impact a catapult’s launching ability,” Sheehan said. Prompted by their moms, the boys said in near unison: “It’s a simple machine that propels objects into the air and lifts things much easier.”
During the STEAM fair, the boys set up a series of targets — mini basketball hoops and circles — and invited attendees to strike them using their catapult. They gave out small keychain-sized prizes, so their booth proved to be a hit.
“Thirteen Brown School staff members volunteered their time to serve as judges tonight,” said Kate Schmeckpeper, co-president of the Brown School PTO. “They’re walking around in white lab coats, talking with students to learn about their projects and ideas.”
The STEAM projects not only educated children on the scientific method but also cultivated public speaking skills because they had to articulate their ideas and findings.
“I’m so impressed with the skills they’re practicing with confidence, presenting and explaining their projects,” Schmeckpeper said. “That’s a deeper form of learning.”
YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN BLACK
Jared Biancardi, 11, tested a tongue depressor catapult.
Alexander Zinin, 6, tests out a marble slide.
CURRENT PHOTOS / NICOLE GOODHUE BOYD
Kindergartener Henry Norfleet, left, listens as Samantha Nelson and her son Alexander ask questions about his aeroponic garden during the inaugural STEAM fair on April 13 at the Brown School.
STEAM From P. A1 marbleheadcurrent.org A8 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A08 OF FA MIL Y, FOOD A FUN 75 YEARS 16 atlantic ave•marblehead,ma 781.631.0149 •www.shubies.com ShubiesMarketplace @shubies @shubies Your one-stopshop for all things Town Meeting. Town Meeting canbedaunting, even for theveterans among us.Enter the Guide to Town Meeting: onecentral sourcefor context, informationand citizen perspectives. We'readding content dailyuntil May 1. The2023 Current Guide to Town Meeting is brought to you by: marbleheadcurrent.org/townmeeting2023 Preser ving fa mil y, cor porate &o rg ani zati on hi sto ries since 1997 WRITERS C W CAMDEN Meet the CamdenWriters Photos: PeterLentini Marblehead,MA Camden, ME CamdenWriters.com 781 929 5057 camdenwriters@gmail.com We workboth nationally and inter nationally References available Turn memories into memoirs. A rt you can live with and enjoy... Or iginal ar tworks with a Nort hSho flai rbyl al andregionalart ists si nce1978. pai nt ings | pr ints | fi af ts custom fr am ing | andmore Gift Ce rtificate sAvailable “Enjoy ingt he View” Oi loncanvasbyFrederick Kubitz 111 Washington Street | Marblehead |781-631-6366 genearnould@verizon.net 218Beacon Street Marblehead, MA 01945 Open Monday-Friday8 a.m.-5 p.m. 781-886-7075 And Unleash the Singer Inside You! CA LL TO DAYTOS CHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH CHRISTINE +617-817-5461 http://taketwolive.com/voice-lessons/ LEA RN TO SI NG !
Wylie Cook and Holden Philip, both 9, position their marble run and domino setup
Sports
Track teams off to convincing wins
BY JOE McCONNELL
Coach Nolan Raimo’s spring track teams opened up at home against Gloucester on April 7 with essentially identical winning results. His Marblehead girls won, 87-43, while the boys took care of the Fishermen, 88-50.
In the girls high jump, Keira Sweetnam (4-10) carried her momentum over from the indoor season to secure another win in less-than-ideal conditions.
Elise Burchfield (4-8) jumped a new personal best to finish third.
Errol Apostolopoulos (5-2) finished third in the boys high jump.
“The high-jump mats didn’t arrive at the outdoor track until two days before the Gloucester meet; Merryl Thompson helped organize the move to make sure it happened on time,” Raimo explained. “But before that, in earlier practices, Errol, Keira, Elise and Campbell couldn’t practice that much, which was unfortunate.”
Girls long jump
Claire Davis (15-11.5) leaped to a first-place finish. Burchfield (15-1) had another personal best to finish third again. Ana Vina de Gamica (14-2) was fourth.
Boys long jump
Alex Hersey (19-11) came in first, which considering the conditions was very impressive, according to Raimo.
Harrison Curtis (19-4) returned from his college visits to finish second, and he was followed closely by fellow sprinter Thomas Carlson (18-10).
Tommaso Santoni, an exchange student from Italy, had an impressive first meet, jumping 16-11. He has only been participating in the sport for three weeks.
Girls triple jump
Sweetnam (32-10) led the way for Marblehead to place second overall. She was followed by Ava Machado (32-1).
Kate Twomey (30-2), a middistance runner, has joined the triple-jump squad this spring and ended up fifth against Gloucester. She was followed by Morgan Zion (28-0).
BASEBA ll
Boys triple jump
Apostolopoulos (38-8, personal best) hopped, skipped and jumped his way to a win in the cold. Ryan Thompson (35-8) was third after only learning the event a few days prior to the meet. Claudio Gusmao Gonzalez (34-5, personal best) was fourth.
“Claudio is instrumental to the success of our jump squads in terms of his efforts to maintain the pits, while watching his teammates’ marks on the board,” Raimo said. “He’s also always the first to help cover or uncover the pits.”
Girls shot put
Rachael Albert (28-3.5, personal best) took first in the shot put.
“Rachael had an incredible indoor season, and it was great to see her continue that success right away in the first meet,” the coach said.
Hannah O’Brien (20-7.5), who normally throws the discus, finished fifth.
Boys shot put
Justin Gonzalez injured his ankle earlier but worked hard
Magicians show no mercy
After three straight wins, red-hot Marblehead to take on Beverly, Salem
BY JOE McCONNELL
Since dropping a 17-8 game to visiting Danvers on Opening Day April 5, the Marblehead High School baseball team (3-1) has rebounded very nicely with three straight wins.
The Magicians first defeated host Gloucester, 20-6, in a shortened five-inning mercy rule game on Friday, April 7. The visitors scored five runs in the second, third and fourth innings, and tacked on four more in the fifth. They also scored one in the first. The Fishermen produced all of their runs in the third.
Right-fielder Shane Keough (6 RBI) and Riley Schmitt (4 RBI) paced the offensive attack with three hits apiece.
Senior captain Drew Whitman got the win on the mound after going the first two innings and yielding four earned runs on two hits and four walks while fanning three. Cody Selvais pitched one inning, giving up three hits and two runs. He whiffed one. Chris Cannuscio hurled the final two frames,
to recover and compete in the first meet to throw a personal best of 35-4.5 to end up second, just ahead of Hersey (35-2), who finished third.
Lycurgus Cohen (31-4.5) was fifth. Asher Oren (29-5) came in seventh.
Girls discus
The dynamic duo of Albert and O’Brien captured the top two spots, with Rachael throwing a personal best of 94-7, and Hannah was right behind her with a throw of 72-4. Sienna Day (49-3) was sixth.
Boys discus
Angelo Knight (79-9), a phenomenal wrestler who is competing on the track team for the first time, finished second.
“Angelo has worked diligently on his throws, and soon we will see great results from him,” added Raimo.
Alexander Humphreys threw an impressive 73-3 to finish third after only learning the event earlier that week.
Tucker Crane (62-5) finished fifth, and Grady Norfleet (58-5) was sixth.
rEpEAT BiD UNDErWAY
Girls javelin
Sierra Leinberry (76-9) bested the field in her first-ever meet.
“I believe that was the furthest throw we’ve had in my four years here,” Raimo said. She was followed by Adelyn Cruickshank (61-11, fourth), Devin Whalen (55-3, fifth) and Song Waitekus (53-0, sixth).
Boys javelin
Knight took first with a throw of 94-10, barely beating out teammate Phineas Jakious (9311), who ended up second. Asher Oren (89-9) was third and Colin Hart (79-11) seventh.
“This javelin group is relatively new, and their early success is a credit to coaches Plunkett and Leveroni for getting them ready to compete so early on in the season,” Raimo said.
Girls 400-meter hurdles
Whalen casually ran a 74.7 to open up the season with a victory. She was followed by Claire Davis (79.3), who finished second.
“The 400-meter hurdles is incredibly exhausting and difficult on a sunny, calm day,
but with bad winds and cold temperatures, it was very impressive that Claire and Devin did so well,” Raimo said.
Boys 400-meter hurdles
Apostolopoulos (63.6) finished third against two of the best hurdlers in the Northeastern Conference.
Magnus McCarthy (64.9) ended up fourth, while Quinn Schein (82.9), making his debut, came in fifth.
Girls 110/100-meter hurdles
Whalen (16.0) cruised to another victory in the 100meter hurdles. Davis (16.9) was just behind her in second, and Burchfield (18.6) completed the sweep with a third-place finish.
Boys 110/100-meter hurdles
Hersey, who won the long jump, also won this event with a blistering fast time of 16.1, despite stumbling off the final hurdle. Apostolopoulos finished third with a time of 17.3. Elian Colon (20.1) was fourth.
Girls 100
In one of the fastest
Laxmen perfect after four games
Boys lacrosse team hosts Danvers Wednesday
BY JOE McCONNELL
The defending Northeastern Conference champion Marblehead High boys lacrosse team (2-0 in the NEC, 4-0 overall) is already showing signs of a club that is determined to repeat.
The Magicians played their first two NEC games on this year’s schedule last week, and they were definitely not taking them for granted. On Monday, April 10, they handled Beverly with ease, 16-6. Three days later, they then smoked rival Swampscott to the tune of 16-2.
The Marblehead boys had opened the season with a couple of non-league victories against Winchester (6-5 in overtime on April 1) and Wakefield (7-4).
But despite their fast start, coach John Wilkens says there is
still room for improvement.
“We still have a lot of work to do,” the veteran coach said.
“We’re trying to figure out some pieces like positioning on the field.”
Against Beverly, Connor Cronin helped pace the offensive attack with four goals and three assists.
Charlie Grenier collected four goals and one assist. Reece Moore accounted for three goals and three assists.
Carter Laramie chipped in with two scores. Baxter Jennings was credited with two goals and one assist. Andrew Nelson notched one tally.
Goalie Finn Maniaci did his part to keep the Panthers at bay with nine saves. His teammates jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and they never looked back.
“We had great faceoffs and defense in this game, and blocked
well down the field,” Wilkens said.
In the Swampscott game, Laramie and Grenier led the way with three goals and two assists apiece, along with Cam Waldron who had four scores, which is a career high. Gio Garaboto netted a couple of tallies.
Reece Moore and Cronin were credited with a goal and two assists. Jack Whipple and Jennings each contributed one goal to the winning cause.
Maniaci (5 saves) split the goaltending chores with Finn Gallup (1 save) to help secure another triumph.
After taking on Peabody Monday, April 17, after the Current’s press deadline, the Danvers Falcons come to town April 19 for an 11 a.m. game during spring school vacation week.
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COURTESY PHOTO / CAT PIPER
marbleheadcurrent.org Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 19, 2023 A9 CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A09
Marblehead High girls spring track athletes junior Kate Twomey, sophomore Juliet Burchfield and senior captain Cat Piper run the 800 last week against visiting Gloucester. The Magicians defeated Gloucester going away, 87-43
TRACK, P. A10
MHS VA rSiTY SpOrTS SCHEDU lES
Wednesday, April 19
11 a.m.
boys lacrosse vs. Danvers at Marblehead High Piper Field
Noon baseball vs. Beverly at Beverly High
3:30 p.m. softball vs. Winthrop at Marblehead Veterans Middle School
Thursday, April 20
11 a.m.
Friday, April 21
10
4
boys tennis vs. St. John’s Prep at Marblehead High
vs. Beverly at Marblehead Veterans Middle School
tennis vs. Gloucester at Marblehead High
tennis vs. Gloucester at Gloucester High
4:30 p.m. baseball vs. Salem at Seaside Park
Monday, April 24
4 p.m. baseball vs. Manchester-Essex at Memorial Park, Essex
4 p.m. sailing vs. Belmont at Pleon Yacht Club
4 p.m. softball vs. Peabody at Kiley Brothers School, Peabody
Tuesday, April
From P. A9
100-meters anybody will see this year, Cate Trautman was victorious with a time of 12.5. Ava Machado (12.9, second) followed close behind. There was a foul-up in Sadie Halpern’s time by the officials, and as a result she finished fourth, not fifth.
Boys 100
Harrison Curtis led the sweep with a blazing fast time of 11.0. Sebby Pantzer (11.2, second) and Thomas Carlson (11.4, third) came in second and third.
Girls 200
Gabby Hendy took off like a rocket out of the blocks to win in convincing fashion with a time of 27.5.
“Gabby missed a significant portion of the indoor season due to an illness, and it’s awesome to see her open up the spring season on such a strong note,” Raimo said.
Liv Carlson (29.4, fourth) and Ariella Kahn (30.9, sixth) also earned points for their teammates.
“Liv and Ariella stepped up from the JV team seconds before the race because of an injury that also resulted in a reorganization of the 4x400 relay team,” Raimo said.
Boys 200
“Similar to Gabby, Thomas Carlson (22.6) absolutely ran away from the field, which was one of the fastest hand-timed 200 I have ever witnessed in high school track,” Raimo said. “Tommy is a workhorse, and it’s awesome to see his hard work translate into well-deserved success.”
Aidan Vizy (26.0, fourth) and Elian Colon (26.3, fifth) also had solid performances in this event to open up their seasons.
Girls 400
Charlie Roszell (62.8) emerged as one of the team’s best 400 runners at the end of last spring, and she picked up right where she left off to earn another victory.
She was followed by Grace Mortenson (67.2, fourth) and Burchfield (69.2, sixth).
“Grace typically runs the 800, but she stepped down to the 400 to help the team out,” Raimo explained.
Boys 400
Colin Hart (61.1) led the way for Marblehead to finish second, and he was followed closely by Logan Doody (62.1, third).
Slater Johnson (73.6) was fourth while making his debut in the 400.
Girls 800
Kate Twomey (2:36.9) ran a solid first race to come in second behind a Gloucester runner, who is one of
the best mid-distance runners in the conference. Juliet Burchfield (2:50.9) was fifth.
“Juliet had to rush over to the starting line from the jumping pits after waiting around for over an hour without getting a jump in,” coach William Herlihy said.
“Managing multiple events and staying warmed up is difficult on its own, and it’s especially tough in the cold weather. Expect her to bounce back in a big way in future meets.”
Cat Piper (2:52.6, an eight-second personal best) was sixth in this event. She was able to hit a pretty significant personal best, which is doubly impressive considering she also ran in the 2-mile earlier in the meet, which also earned her a personal best, according to Herlihy.
Boys 800
Ryan Thompson (2:04.7) was challenged by a Gloucester runner, but as always he did enough to hold him off and take first.
Gabe Bayramian (2:11.4) and Xavier Grazado (2:22.4) came in third and fourth, respectively.
JV girls 800
Max Arbo (3:02), also a field hockey player in the fall, was the lone JV competitor for Marblehead against seven or eight Gloucester runners but was able to hold them off throughout.
“This is a 27-second improvement from the combine and a great opening race for Max,” Herlihy said.
JV boys 800
David Alpert (2:37.9) finished first after taking an early lead and never looking back, which is a big step forward for him, according to Herlihy.
James Marcey (2:43.8) was second, and Zach Plum (2:46.1) and Zach Pike (2:46.3) were right on his heels.
Sam Tanger (2:50.3) and Jeremy Sorkin (2:51.3) rounded out the Marblehead understudies.
All of these runners turned in times that were significant improvements on their combine times. As many of them are underclassmen, it bodes well for the middle-distance events, Herlihy said.
Girls mile
Maren Potter (6:09.6) finished second. Her goal is to break six minutes this season, and turning in one of her best times this early is an encouraging sign, Herlihy noted.
Maya Mahoney (6:27.1) was fifth.
Emma St. George (7:25, a 28-second personal best) had a monster race, crushing her previous best by nearly 30 seconds.
Boys mile
“Will Cerrutti (4:46.8) remains one of the most electric racers I’ve ever seen,” said Raimo. “He ran an
issuing just one walk.
“We got some big hits at the right time to extend some innings that allowed us to put up a big number against Gloucester,” said coach Mike Giardi.
The Marblehead boys then began a new week with the same lopsided winning results, defeating the visiting Manchester Essex Hornets, 12-1, on April 10.
The Magicians were able
MAGiCi ANS NOTEBOOK Schedule
heats up for girls lacrosse, tennis teams
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Girls lacrosse keeps working towards first win
On April 10, the Marblehead High girls lacrosse team (0-2 in the Northeastern Conference, 0-5 overall) gave visiting Beverly everything they could handle only to come up just short once again, 13-11. At halftime, it was even closer, with the Panthers holding a slim 6-5 advantage.
excellent race, while also turning on the jets in the final 200 meters to take first by nearly five seconds. That time matches his best time from last spring, and already puts him as one of the top milers in the conference.”
Ryan Blestowe (5:07.6) finished fourth. Henrik Adams (5:18.3) was fifth.
“This was an impressive time for Henrik, who doesn’t have a lot of experience at this distance as of yet,” Raimo said. “I expect that time to come down as he learns how to pace himself, and as he builds off his training.”
Girls two-mile
Marrietta O’Connell (12:49.7) cruised to her first win of the season after running an intentionally controlled race for the first six laps.
“Marri is still recovering from a minor injury, but this first race was a great sign for her recovery as she aims to keep her undefeated streak in the NEC intact since the crosscountry season,” her coach said.
Cat Piper (13:06.5, a 19-second personal best) has been on the brink of a breakout race, according to her coaches, and she was finally rewarded with that significant improvement in time.
Boys two-mile
Isaac Gross (10:10.0) took first after getting out to his patented fast start. His time also qualifies him for the state meet, which is great to accomplish this early in the season.
Harrison Kee (10:18.3) made his return to the track and ran a very controlled, smart race to end up second.
Jonah Potach (11:42) was fifth, just shy of his best time.
Girls 4x100
Gabby Hendy, Liv Carlson, Morgan Zion and Ariella Kahn stepped up to finish second with a solid opening time of 55.6.
Boys 4x100
Jake Bobowski, Aidan Vizy, Slater Johnson and Michael Carlson battled Gloucester the entire race. Slater ran an incredible third leg to set Michael Carlson up with the lead. Carlson then battled the wind to secure the win with a time of 49.7.
Girls 4x400
Cate Trautman, Le’Daisha Williams, Ava Machado and Sadie Halpern (4:22.2) combined to win the race.
Boys 4x400
Harrison Curtis, Sebby Pantzer, David DiCostanzo and Ryan Thompson flew to victory with a time of 3:42, which was incredible considering it was the first meet of the season, and the conditions were anything but ideal, according to their coaches.
Sydney Langton (5 goals, 1 assist), Lucy Wales (2 goals), Isabelle Ferrante (1 goal), Caroline Scroope (2 assists), Ramona Gillett (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 ground ball), Maddie Forbes (1 goal) and Gretchen Smith (1 goal) contributed offensively for the Magicians to keep things close.
Kate Burns (1 caused turnover) and Saylor Caruso (1 ground ball) stood out on defense throughout, while goalie Addie Lydon made five saves in net.
Three days later, the Marblehead girls dropped a 13-6 decision to host Swampscott. The Big Blue was also in control at halftime, 8-2.
Langton (1 goal, 1 interception, 1 draw), Wales (1 goal, 1 assist, 1 caused turnover), Ferrante (1 assist, 1 ground ball), Gillett (2 goals, 2 ground balls), Forbes (2 goals, 2 ground balls, 1 interception, 1 caused turnover) and Burns (1 interception) were the standouts in this game against the Big Blue.
Lydon was able to come up with eight saves in goal. Girls t`ennis perseveres past Beverly
The Marblehead girls tennis team (3-0) opened up the 2023 season with a shutout win over a formidable Beverly squad, 5-0.
“It was the season opener for both teams, and it was a battle, with both sides playing great tennis,” said Marblehead coach Tracy Ackerman. “It was a gritty win all-around, and it was a perfect way to open the season because it was a good test for us against a strong opponent. I was especially pleased with the way all three of our singles players played incredibly close matches and were still able to come out on top.”
The Marblehead girls secured wins right away in first and second doubles. The first doubles team of Courtney Yoder and Aviva Bornstein won their match in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, while the second doubles team of Aoifew Bresnahan and Lucia Levin did the same, 6-4, 6-3.
Marblehead then got the all-important third point to clinch the match after third singles player Charly Cooper persevered in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
First singles player Andrea Potvin also won a backand-forth match in second singles, 7-6 (8-6), 3-6 (10-7). German exchange student Pauline Geissler completed the shutout win in first singles, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
The Marblehead girls made it two in a row on April 11, when they defeated non-league Malden Catholic, 5-0.
Geissler (6-0, 6-1), Potvin (6-3, 6-1) and Cooper (6-1, 6-2) took care of business once again to secure wins in their singles matches.
Yoder and Bornstein (6-0, 6-2) came through with another victory in first doubles, and Bresnahan and Levin (6-0, 6-2) experienced similar results in second doubles.
It was then time to get back to the Northeastern Conference the next day against host Swampscott, and the results were the same, another 5-0 verdict to account for the team’s third straight win in as many matches.
Geissler (6-3, 6-4), Potvin (6-4, 6-1) and Cooper (6-2, 6-4) were able to maintain their winning streak, albeit with more competitive scores.
Doubles were no different. The Big Blue girls gave their longtime rivals good battles, but in the end the Magicians had the upper hand.
Yoder and Bornstein (6-2, 5-7, 6-4) persevered in first doubles. Bresnahan and Levin (6-1, 6-1) had a relatively easier time dispatching their second doubles counterparts to help produce another team shutout win.
ROUNDUP, P. A11 CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A10
to bust it open with some big hits, including a bases-loaded triple by Charlie Sachs in the third inning, followed by a bases-loaded double from Bodie Bartram in the next frame to account for three more runs.
The game was called after five innings because of the mercy rule once again. The home team only needed six hits to score into the double digits against the Hornets. Cannuscio (2 RBI), who played first base in this game, designated hitter Chris Dewitt, center fielder Drake Wyman (1 RBI), Keough (2 RBI), Sachs
and Bartram were credited with those hits.
Ian Maude pitched all five innings to secure the win. He allowed five hits, five walks and one earned run. He fanned three.
It was more of the same the very next day, when the local nine took down host Peabody, 14-1.
Marblehead took an early lead, but the game was relatively close until the visitors exploded for eight runs in the sixth to seal the deal. After the Tanners failed to score a run in the home half of the sixth, this game was also cut
short because of the mercy rule.
Whitman pitched the first five innings against the Tanners, giving up just one earned run on three hits to earn his second win in four days. He walked two and struck out three. Matt Mahan pitched one inning and accounted for one strikeout.
Keough collected three hits in as many at-bats. He knocked in two runs and scored twice to help pace the offensive attack. Dewitt also had three hits in four at-bats and scored two more runs.
Brooks Keefe and Riley Schmitt each collected a couple
of hits, with Keefe knocking in one run and scoring twice. Schmitt, who also walked once, came home all three times he was on base. Wyman and Whitman also chipped in with two hits apiece to complete the team’s multiple-hit players in this game. As a team, the Marblehead boys banged out 17 hits.
After the Magicians took on Masco at home on April 14, they had a few days to get ready for host Beverly on April 19. They will then return home to Seaside Park to take on Salem on Friday, April 21 at 4:30 p.m.
a.m. softball
10
a.m. girls
p.m. boys
25 4 p.m. boys tennis vs.
4:30 p.m. girls lacrosse vs.
4:30 p.m. boys lacrosse vs. Masconomet
Field
Hamilton-Wenham at Marblehead High
Masconomet at Masconomet Regional High, Boxford
at Marblehead High Piper
Track
Baseball
From P. A9 marbleheadcurrent.org A10 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current
Marblehead Museum’s 2023 spring events
See the slate of Marblehead Museum spring programs. To sign up or learn more about upcoming programs, visit https://bit.ly/3lRxrJj.
Women’s History Tour
April 15 and 22: Women’s History Tour led by Jarrett Zeman. Explore new sites and stories of Marblehead women. Tickets cost $15 per person. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Annual meeting and lecture
April 27: Get updates on museum business, and learn about Myron O. Stachiw’s investigation of Jeremiah Lee’s Brick Kitchen. Free admission. 6:30 p.m.
‘Inferno’ lecture
May 11: Anthony Sammarco will reveal the story of New England’s biggest fire, based on his new book “Inferno.” 7 p.m.
Spring fair in Lee Gardens
May 13: Spring Fair at Jeremiah Lee Gardens, tot Washington st. Enjoy local artisan vendors, lawn games, and more! Free entry. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Lee Mansion Paranormal Investigation
May 19 and 20: Lee Mansion Paranormal Investigation. Boston Paranormal will lead an investigation of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion and show you how to communicate with ghosts. Tickets cost $20 for members and $25 for the public. 8 p.m.
Classical music in the parlor
June 3 at 7 p.m. and June 4 at 2 p.m.: Classical Music in the Parlor. Viennese pianist Daniel Adam Maltz will perform Mozart and Haydn on a reproduction pianoforte in the Lee Mansion. Tickets cost $35 per person.
Bette Hunt Trolley Tour
June 16 and 17: Bette Hunt Trolley Tour. Join Bette Hunt on a tour of downtown Marblehead history on the Salem trolley. Tickets cost $25 for members and $30 for the public. 7 p.m.
“There were some great quality tennis matches played by both sides today,” said Ackerman. “I also saw some outstanding sportsmanship between the two teams. Our team continues to impress me with its scrappiness. We have not lost a single match yet, and this team has great camaraderie that just does not give up.”
Boys tennis begins right
In the first match of the 2023 Marblehead High boys tennis season, the Magicians were able to take down a strong Beverly team, 5-0. Buoyed by two excellent exchange students in the first two singles spots, the Marblehead boys secured the victory. Marblehead also won all the sub-varsity matches.
Junior Mika Garber beat senior Federico Clavarino in first singles, 6-0, 6-1. Mika’s classmate Jost Eggebrecht followed suit against senior second singles player Matteo Quattrocci, 6-3, 6-4. Sophomore Matthew Sherf outlasted senior Ryan Dunleavy in third singles, 6-4, 6-2.
Sophomores Etan Farfel and Jayden Janock topped Liam Timpone and Luka Pasquarello in first doubles, 6-1, 6-4. Senior co-captain Jimmy King and sophomore Luke Miller swept past Rae Gedangoni and Alexander Alexeyev in second doubles, 6-1, 6-1.
In sub-varsity action, senior co-captain Jack Wykes and sophomore Anthony Vizy won, 6-3. Sophomores Austin Bacon and Quinn Fletcher blanked their counterparts, 6-0. Sophomores Leo Winocour and Ben Zaltsman followed that same script to win, 6-0.
Next up was a home match against rival Swampscott on April 12. The Magicians were able to withstand the Big Blue threat to get their second win on the young season, 4-1.
“Our three singles players swept their respective matches without losing a set, which is no easy task against Swampscott,” said coach Elisabeth Foukal, “while first doubles had a comeback win after losing the first set, and second doubles also had to go three sets that could have gone either way.”
Garber began the match the right way with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) win over Charles Schepens. Eggebrecht was able to beat Sam Schepens in second singles, 6-4, 6-3. Sherf defeated junior Maxim Zeissig in third singles, 6-1, 6-3.
The first doubles team of Farfel and Janock took care of juniors Trevor Talebian and Nick Custer in three sets, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5.
“This was a highly skilled doubles match with Etan and Jayden playing their best tennis to win in three sets,” said Foukal.
King and Miller ended up on the losing end of their three-setter against Julian Flacke and Simon Wybno, 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
In sub-varsity action, Bacon and Vizy won, 6-2. Fletcher and Winocour were also victorious, 6-0. Zaltsman was leading 4-1, before the match was halted.
But the very next day on April 13, the Magicians lost to nonleague host Brookline, last year’s
state finalist, 5-0. Despite the final score, there was some excellent tennis taking place by both teams, according to Foukal.
“The score does not reflect how well we competed against this Division 1 team,” she said.
Garber lost to Deven Devaiah in first singles, 6-1, 6-0. Eggebrecht dropped a 6-2, 6-2 decision to Devin Nahata in second singles. Sherf then succumbed to Peter Khudyakov in third singles, 6-3, 6-2, despite Sherf playing his best tennis yet, according to Foukal.
Farfel and Janock fell to the Bhatia twins — Ravin and Kiran — in first doubles, 6-1, 6-0. King and Miller didn’t have much luck either against their second doubles foes, Owen Esker and Jacob Kapusta, 6-0, 6-1.
In sub-varsity action, senior co-captain Jack Wykes teamed up with Vizy, only to lose to Aidan Vandor and Tony Lee, 6-3. Bacon and Fletcher lost, 6-4. Winocour and Zaltsman (3-1), Nico Altonian and Quinn Sullivan (3-2) and Evan Murtagh and Ryan Duggan (3-1) all trailed before all of their matches were stopped prematurely.
“I was encouraged to see the progress all the (double) teams have made since the season began,” Foukal saidl.
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 » Rosary Group: Thursdays, following the 9 a.m. Mass (approximately 10 a.m.).
» 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.
» Wednesday, April 19: 7 p.m., Parish Pastoral Council meeting in Parish Center
Sunday, April 23: 4 p.m., third concert in concert series
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
A link to watch a replay of the recent free online lecture on Christian Science, “How to Make Change for the Better,” is available on the church website.
»
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
Monday, April 17: 7 p.m., Crafts & Fellowship
CONGREGATIONAL
OLD NORTH CHURCH, THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN MARBLEHEAD
» 35 Washington St. 781-631-1244 onchurch.org
Wednesday, April 19: 10 a.m., worship planning meeting; 7:30 p.m., choir rehearsal
» Friday, April 21: 9 a.m., Rhod
Sharp
Sunday, April 23: 8 a.m., worship service; 9 a.m., choir rehearsal; 10 a.m., worship service; 11:15 a.m., Confirmation class; 12:30 p.m., memorial services
» Monday, April 24: 6:30 p.m., women’s AA
Tuesday, April 25: 9 a.m., Lectio Divina; 7:30 p.m., bell choir
» Wednesday, April 26: 7:30 p.m., choir rehearsal
» Thursday, April 27: 7 p.m., Old North Church Reading Group
Friday, April 28: 7:30 a.m., men’s
breakfast
Saturday, April 29: 10 a.m., memorial service
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; 11:30 a.m., Lenten Study
Mondays: 11 a.m., Prayer Shawl
Ministry
» Wednesdays: 9:30 a.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite II; 10:15 a.m., Bible study
» Thursdays: 7:30 p.m., choir rehearsal
First Sundays: 5 p.m., Choral Evensong (September through May), in-person only
» Friday, April 28: 10:30 a.m., Wisdom & Friendship
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, April 19: 7 p.m., Jewish Music Neighborhood
» Thursday, April 20: 7 p.m., Brotherhood/Sisterhood monthly cooking
Monday, April 24: 7 p.m., congregational meeting with Rabbi Crystal 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. North Shore Minyan: Congregation Shirat Hayam in Swampscott and Temple Sinai unite to provide a joint daily morning and evening North Shore Minyan. The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Temple Sinai, Zoom only).
Monday, 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Temple Sinai, in person and Zoom)
» Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, online only).
Thursday, 7:30 a.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, Swampscott, in person and online).
» Thursday, 7 p.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, online only).
Friday, 7:30 a.m. (Congregation Shirat Hayam, online only).
Sunday, April 30: 5 p.m., Brotherhood Paid-Up Dinner and a Movie
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.
Sunday, April 23: 1 p.m., Mindful Meals
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)
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.
» Thursday, April 20: 7:30 p.m., board of trustees meeting
Sunday, April 23: 9 a.m., Sunday Seminar; 10:30 a.m., Sunday Services; 11:30 a.m., After Service Social Hour
» Thursday, April 27: 7 p.m., choir rehearsal
EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ST.
rEliGiON
COURTESY PHOTO / CAT PIPER
Roundup From P. A10 marbleheadCurrent.org Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 19, 2023 A11 CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A11
Senior captain Ryan Thompson leads the pack, followed by classmate Gabe Bayramian, as Marblehead High boys spring track athletes run the 800 last week against visiting Gloucester. The Magicians defeated the Fishermen, 88-50, to open up the season on a successful note.
Programs, classes, events for seniors in April
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
Friends of the COA auction
The Friends of the COA annual auction is Thursday, April 27, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Landing Restaurant. In past years, the auction has raised thousands of dollars to support programs like Tuesday lunches, rides to grocery stores and medical appointments, and fitness and recreational equipment. Reservations can be made by calling The Landing at 781-631-1266.
Lunch 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.
COA Speaker Series
Preview to Town Meeting:
Hear from Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer and Town Moderator Jack Attridge as they discuss the May 1 Town Meeting. Wednesday, April 19, at 12:30 p.m. To RSVP, call 781-631-6225.
Movie Day
On Friday, April 28, at 1 p.m., watch “To Catch a Thief.”
American expatriate John Robie, living in high style on the Riviera, is a retired cat burglar. He must track down a copycat thief to keep a new wave of jewel thefts from being pinned on him. RSVP at 781-631-6225.
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.
Tai Chi/Qigong
Tai Chi/Qigong is an excellent form of exercise for low-impact strengthening, stress relief, balance and flexibility. Qigong is an ancient Chinese system that combines breathing, movement
and meditation to cultivate health and wellbeing. Thursdays at 1 p.m. $5.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Canasta
Canasta is now at the COA on Thursdays and Fridays, 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Get a senior Charlie Card
People who are 65 years or older are eligible for reduced MBTA fares with a senior Charlie Card. These cards are valid for eight years. Call Nadine Lepick at 781-631-6225 Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to ask questions or make an appointment to process an application. Cards can also be reloaded with cash on any bus.
Want a lift?
The COA offers transportation services to both in-town and outof-town medical appointments and in-town errands such as the hairdresser, bank, to vote or to the COA for programs and/or lunch. Weekly grocery shopping trips to Crosby’s and Market Basket and bimonthly trips to the North Shore Mall are also available. Transportation runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To schedule a ride, call 781-631-6225.
Home safety audits
The town offers home safety audits to local residents. A representative from both the Marblehead Fire Department and the Council on Aging will schedule a time to meet seniors at their homes and review and discuss home safety options. Also, free fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and lock boxes can be installed. To learn more, contact Sharon Doliber at 781-631-6225.
Y announces new board president and director of camp, youth, family programs
BY BRIAN FLYNN, LVO Y EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA is pleased to announce that Pat Milner of Marblehead was recently elected president of the its board of directors, succeeding Swampscott’s Brendan Nolan, whose term expires in May.
Milner has served on the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA board since 2016, and currently heads the Strategic Planning Committee and is a member of the Squash Community Council.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, she has lived in Marblehead with her husband and two children for 16 years. A cyclist, swimmer, squash player and triathlete, she’s been a YMCA member wherever she has lived.
Phil Gloudemans, chair of the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA Board Governance Committee, said, “It is wonderful to see Pat step into this role and continue the great work that Brendan has done to enhance the Y experience for its members and the community. With Pat’s leadership, the Y will remain a vital resource for Marblehead and the surrounding communities now and for generations to come.”
Milner is the vice president of client solutions at Ballast Lane Applications, a design and development agency co-based in Marblehead and Medellin, Colombia. A graduate of England’s University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, she has more than 20 years of experience building and managing
digital solutions. The Y is also thrilled to welcome Sarah Dowd to the team as the new director of camp, youth and family programs. Sarah will oversee Children’s Island this summer and in the offseason will spearhead and reinvigorate youth and family programming.
We are excited to bring back staple programs like Parent’s Night Out and add new programming like Teen Leaders.
Sarah joins the Y from Brooklyn, NY, where she’s been working in after-school programming with TEiAM Corps.
Though she is new to the Marblehead Y, Sarah has a long history with the Y through her work at the Camp Hazen YMCA in Connecticut, where she advanced from counselor to director during the pandemic. Sarah holds degrees in anthropology and global studies.
With a passion for the great outdoors and love for all aspects of summer camp, Sarah is looking forward to meeting all our campers and their families as we welcome our repeat campers and new campers this summer. With Sarah’s experience and enthusiasm, youth and teen
programming will grow and adapt to the needs of this population in our community.
The YMCA offers a summer camp experience for more than 3,000 children each summer.
Children can be outside, unplug from their technology, make new friends and discover new interests. Day camp at the Y provides a physically and mentally enriching summer. Built around a weekly theme, campers get a taste of sports, gymnastics, STEAM activities and swim time in our aquatics center. Children’s Island offers a beautiful ocean oasis in
Marblehead Harbor that has been operating for more than 65 years. The rustic island setting offers unique opportunities to explore the seacoast while swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. The island also offers an art barn stocked with arts and crafts activities, a saltwater pool, sports, gaga pit and more. With weekly themes and STEAM activities, this island experience is like no other day camp on the North Shore.
There are still a few spots left for YMCA summer camp. Learn more at northshoreymca.org/programs/ lynchvan-otterloo-ymca-camps.
The Y is Better Together, Refer a Friend
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. Visit the welcome center or reach out to Membership Director Jane Rizza at rizzaj@northshoreymca.org.
About the YMCA of the North Shore
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 50,000 members and program participants in 25 cities and towns across the North Shore and in southern New Hampshire.
COUNCil ON AGiNG HA ppEN iNGS
lYNCH VAN/OTTErlOO YMCA
marbleheadcurrent.org A12 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A12
Pat Milner is the Y’s new board director. Sarah Dowd will lead the Y’s camp, youth and family programs.
that we have available,” Kezer told the meeting. “We worked with the departments ad nausea to make sure that the requests are level serviced, meaning providing the true costs of providing the services that we currently provide to this community.” He thanked “the big departments — police, fire and public works – they took 4% cuts from level services down” to meet what Kezer characterized as obligatory cuts. “We worked with the schools on having a number based on a traditional allocation between the school and the town,” Kezer said. “They stepped up to the plate, and they hit that reduced bottom line number.”
He added, “Everyone stepped up to have a balanced budget.”
The 2023 Marblehead Town Meeting Warrant features 54 articles across 16 pages, and FinCom weighed in on nearly all of them over a five-hour period.
Here’s how it voted:
Article 1: Requests Town Meeting to take up articles (agenda items) on the warrant (the meeting’s agenda) in numerical order. No recommendation.
Article 2: Requests Town Meeting to allow town committees and officers to give reports on the Town Meeting floor, especially those who may not be voters to speak. No recommendation.
Article 3: Requests Town Meeting authorization for the town to accept responsibility for any damages that may occur as a result of work done by the Massachusetts Highway Department to improve, develop, maintain and protect public beaches, rivers, streams, harbors and shores. The town may need to provide a bond of indemnity to the commonwealth to cover any potential liabilities. Favorable recommendation.
Article 4: Requests Town Meeting authorization for officials to accept money from grants awarded and assets in trusts bequeathed to the town during the fiscal year. No recommendation.
Article 5: Requests Town Meeting to permit appropriate town officials to lease town-owned land, buildings or structures on the terms they decide. Favorable recommendation.
Article 6: Requests Town Meeting authorization to pay $26,787 in unpaid bills from previous fiscal years. Favorable recommendation.
Article 7: Asks if the town will allow the Select Board to make contracts that last more than three years but less than ten years if it is in the town’s best interest. No recommendation.
Article 8: Requests that Town Meeting place a cap on department revolving funds in the amount of $3.9 million.
Favorable recommendation.
Article 9: Requests that Town Meeting appropriate $388,488 to purchase equipment for several departments, from an electric lawn mower for the Marblehead Recreation Department to radio replacements for the Police Department. Favorable recommendation.
Article 10: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $467,553 to lease equipment, including a backhoe and a tree chipper truck. Favorable recommendation.
Article 11: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $302,451 for capital improvements to public buildings, including replacing a cellar door at the Fire Department’s central headquarters to creating a storage yard behind the animal shelter on Tower Way. Favorable recommendation.
Article 12: Requests Town Meeting appropriate funds for Marblehead Public Schools’
capital needs. Indefinite postponement, but the town included district capital improvements for High School main entry doors and the Glover and Village Playgrounds resurfacing, both of which cumulatively total $94,500.
Article 13: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $50,000 toward seawalls and fences.
Favorable recommendation.
Article 14: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $400,000 from taxation to fund storm drainage construction. Favorable recommendation.
Article 15: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $400,000 through retained earnings from water-usage fees to fund Water Department construction. The Water and Sewer Commission had yet to vote on the amount, so the amount requested could change. Favorable recommendation.
Article 16: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $400,000 through retained earnings from sewer fees to fund Sewer Department construction. The Water and Sewer Commission had yet to vote on the amount, so the amount requested could change. Favorable recommendation.
Article 17: Marblehead Water and Sewer Commission is preemptively asking Town Meeting for permission to take advantage of a zero interest loan from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority should the need for water distribution improvements arise. Favorable recommendation.
Article 18: Requests Town Meeting to authorize the Water and Sewer Commission and the Select Board to work together to settle any claims or lawsuits related to damages that may occur during the construction of the water or sewer systems, or to take any other action related to the matter. Favorable recommendation.
Article 19: Requests Town Meeting approve a 2% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the town’s administrators. Favorable recommendation.
Article 20: Requests Town Meeting approve a 2% COLA for traffic supervisors. Favorable recommendation.
Article 21: Requests Town Meeting approve a 2% COLA for seasonal and temporary personnel. Favorable recommendation.
Article 22: Requests Town Meeting approve Town Clerk Robin Michaud’s $88,342 salary –which reflects a 2% COLA. Town Meeting must approve the salary of elected officials. Favorable recommendation.
Article 23: Requests Town Meeting approve the Marblehead Compensation Committeesponsored reclassification of a dozen jobs. More information would be presented at Town Meeting. Favorable recommendation.
Article 24: Requests Town Meeting amend the bylaws to create a Human Resource Department. No recommendation.
Article 25: Asks Town Meeting to preemptively authorize the Conservation Commission and other proper officers of the town to apply for financial assistance from public and private
sources to be expended by the Conservation Commission for the purchase of vacant land and any other purpose. Favorable recommendation.
Article 26: Requests $468,762 (about $116,000 less than last year) to cover the cumulative tuition costs for 26 Marblehead students in the Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District. Favorable recommendation.
Article 27: This article sought to transfer funds to the Special Education Stabilization Account, which currently contains $250,000. Indefinite postponement.
Article 28: Requests Town Meeting permission to release $5,260 in fees collected from ride-sharing platforms, like Uber and Lyft, to put toward transportationmaintenance costs. Favorable recommendation.
Article 29: Passage would put $8.3 million toward offsetting the fiscal year 2024 budget proposed under Article 30. Of the $8.3 million, Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Nunley-Benjamin and Finance Committee Chairman Alec Goolsby sourced $8 million to a projected $8.5 million in certified free cash as well as a $330,000 payment from the Marblehead Municipal Light Department. The remaining $500,000 in projected free cash would remain unappropriated, increasing Marblehead’s reserves to $1 million. Favorable recommendation.
Article 30: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $112.5 million to fund the town’s municipal budget in fiscal year 2024. Favorable recommendation.
Article 31: Requests Town Meeting permanently override Prop. 2 ½ to raise $2.5 million to close a projected deficit due to the town’s reliance on free cash.
Favorable recommendation.
Article 32: Given Article 31 includes funding requests for Marblehead Public Schools, Article 32 is no longer needed. Indefinite postponement.
Article 33: Under this article, the Marblehead Retirement Board has proposed an increase in the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) calculation base for retirees and beneficiaries of the Marblehead pension system. At present, the COLA adjustment of 3% is applied to the first $12,000 of a person’s total pension, known as the “COLA base.” The Retirement Board has unanimously voted to raise the base to $14,000, citing inflation. However, the proposal still requires approval from the Town Meeting to become official.
Favorable recommendation.
Article 34: Requests Town Meeting appropriate $18,625 to provide the administrative town employees with longevity bonus in lieu of sick time payments.
Favorable recommendation.
Article 35: Requests to amend bylaws to specify employees who are required to get physicals as a cost savings. “Currently, any new employee we hire has to get a physical examination, no matter the position,” said Kezer. “We want to limit [the physical requirement] to only people being hired into specific positions that we think are
worthy of getting a physical.”
Favorable recommendation.
Article 36: Requests amendment to general bylaws that authorize use of electronic counting devices at Town Meeting, starting at the 2024 Town Meeting. Kezer said the cost could run anywhere between $10,000 and $15,000.
Favorable recommendation.
Article 37: Town Clerk Robin Michaud is asking the town to accept G.L.c. 41, §110A, which would authorize the Town Clerk’s Office to remain closed and treat Saturdays as a legal holiday for the purpose of calculating the time frame for election-related filing.
Passage would affect the last day to register to vote in town elections, which is 10 business days before the election. Taking one Saturday out of the mix would back that deadline up by one day. The registration deadline for state elections would not be affected because state law requires clerks’ offices to remain open on Saturdays for voter registration as those elections approach, Michaud explained.
Michaud suggested that the availability of online voter registration should help mitigate the minimal impact of officially closing her office on Saturdays.
Favorable recommendation.
Article 38: Requests Town Meeting set a date for the annual town election of town officers a week earlier, moving it to the “second Tuesday after the first Monday in June each year” instead of the third Tuesday. When the town voted back in 2019 to change the election date, voters could not foresee that the Juneteenth holiday, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, would soon gain widespread recognition, including by the federal government, Michaud explained. No recommendation.
Article 39: Requests Town Meeting adopt zoning that permits single-family homeowners to construct accessory dwelling units. No recommendation.
Article 40: Requests Town Meeting send a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion that would finance a renovation of the Franklin Street Fire Station to the ballot box, but officials have decided to postpone the ask. Indefinite postponement.
Article 41: Passage would put the Marblehead Tree Department under the Highway Department. No recommendation.
Article 42: Passage would amend a bylaw to authorize the town to place public trees on private property with permission of the land owner. No recommendation.
Article 43: Passage would provide for local property tax exemptions for the surviving parents or guardians of soldiers and sailors, members of the National Guard and veterans whose proximate cause of death was related to their service. If this article is passed, these individuals would not have to pay property taxes on their homes. Favorable recommendation.
Article 44: Requests Town Meeting amend bylaws to change
the current term of Select Board members from one year to three. No recommendation.
Article 45: This article proposes what the sponsor of the citizen petition called enhancements and best practices for public sector reporting of Marblehead’s annual audit. These enhancements include directing the independent auditor to include several reports in the final audit report, requiring the town finance director to post these reports on the town’s website and establishing a town audit committee with the town administrator as an ex-officio member. The proposed changes aim to increase transparency and oversight of the town audit. No recommendation.
Article 46: Requests Town Meeting amend guidelines of the Old and Historic Districts Commission in Marblehead, in order to reach the goal of using 100% carbon-free energy that was approved at the 2018 Town Meeting. No recommendation.
Article 47: Requests Town Meeting repeal the summertime leaf-blower ban that it passed in 2022. No recommendation.
Article 48: This article endeavors to strengthen the existing leaf-blower bylaw, adding enforcement provisions and penalties for noncompliance. Marblehead police and health departments and their designees would enforce the bylaw, targeting property owners upon whose land infractions occur — not landscapers or lawn care businesses. Favorable recommendation.
Article 49: Requests Town Meeting create a Marblehead Traffic Advisory Committee. No recommendation.
Article 50: Tabled this article because officials needed more information on the citizen petition. Will weigh in closer to, before or during Town Meeting.
Article 51: Requests Town Meeting amend local bylaws to require regulatory committees, commissions and boards post recordings of their meetings online. On this citizen petition, officials and sponsor Lynn Nadeau disagreed on the language and whether it went too far without proper technological infrastructure in place. Will weigh in closer to, before or during Town Meeting .
Article 52: Requests Town Meeting amend local bylaws to require regulatory committees, commissions and boards convene hybrid meetings. Tabled for the same reasons articulated under Article 51.
Article 53: Resident Jonathan Lederman is proposing that the town accept the provisions of a state law, G.L.c. 53, §9A, which would clarify that the final date for obtaining blank nomination papers for nomination to town office shall be “48 weekday hours” prior to the hour on which nomination papers are required to be submitted for certification. No recommendation.
Article 54: Requests Town Meeting recommend that Select Board, Board of Health, Harbors and Waters and Recreation and Parks Commission document processes and decision-making fundamentals in manuals. Megan Sweeny, the citizen petition’s main sponsor, said the manual would offer insights into each board’s purpose, membership, member qualifications, appointments, powers and duties, organizational structure, communication processes, recommendations for town meetings and quality assurance. Sweeney argues the initiative will enhance transparency and streamline operations.
Kris Olson contributed reporting and writing in this article. Be sure to check out the Current’s 2023 Town Meeting guide at https://bit. ly/3H8MaXJ.
CURRENT PHOTO / WILLIAM J. DOWD
Articles From P. A1 marbleheadcurrent.org Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 19, 2023 A13 CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A13
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer addresses Marblehead Finance Committee members.
in the wild
Cub Scouts from Pack 79 made kites out of the Marblehead Current to earn their “Air of the Wolf” activity belt loop. “They flew them in the parking lot of the community center,” said Dave Leahy, the pack’s den leader. “They flew quite well, actually.” From the left in front are Cub Scouts Jackson Burbage, Ben Adams, Tyler Torrance, Theo Adams, Christian Leahy and Shea McFarland, and in the back from left are den leaders Geoffrey Torrance and Dave Leahy.
SpOTliGHT
Edit Marblehead helps people tell their stories
BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Edit Marblehead owner Lauren Weiss, conducted by Discover Marblehead. To learn more about Lauren’s writing services, visit her Facebook page at facebook.com/EditMarblehead or contact her at lauren.r.weiss@ gmail.com.
Tell us about Edit
Marblehead and why you started it. I started helping high school students with their essays and college applications when my oldest was in high school seven years ago. I really loved the process, so I started Edit Marblehead. I use my background in psychology and creative writing to help each student tell their story. My main focus is application essays for college-bound students and private school applicants.
However, since I started my business, I’ve helped middle schoolers with writing skills, tutored high schoolers in reading and writing for SAT prep, and worked with adults on blogging, social media and business writing. I love working with people, no matter their age, to help them find their voice.
If someone is struggling with any type of writing assignment,
pOliCE lOG
Saturday, April 1
2:29 p.m. A wire was reported down on Pleasant Street.
3:25 p.m. Officers responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Green Street and Lincoln Avenue and filed a report.
4:37 p.m. An officer investigated a report that a golf cart had been stolen on Tedesco Street.
Sunday, April 2
10:49 a.m. A caller on Pleasant Street reported a lost iPhone.
11:38 a.m. A health card was found on Atlantic Avenue.
3:15 p.m. A backpack was found on Commercial Street.
6:33 p.m. A past hit-and-run was reported on Anderson Street.
10:47 p.m. Officers investigated a report of a woman yelling downstairs on Creesy Street.
Monday, April 3
8:35 a.m. An officer assisted at the scene of a vehicle crash on Tedesco Street.
9:49 a.m. Wires snapped and low-hanging lines were reported on Pleasant Street.
10:34 a.m. An officer spoke at the police station with a man who had recently received a letter in the mail that asked him to partner up to claim a life insurance policy in Canada worth $10 million. As luck would have it, the man had attended a “coffee with a cop event,” where
I’m able to help.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? The best business advice I’ve ever received is, “Under promise and over deliver.”
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? I love the Harbor Light Inn in the historic district. I worked there for a number of years and met so many wonderful people from Marblehead. When my family visits, they love to stay there. The Conway family, who own the inn, are some of the best people I know, and the friendly staff will go above and beyond to make everyone feel special. Since working there, I understand the true meaning of hospitality and why the smallest details are important. Although I no longer work there, I love to visit my colleagues and enjoy a cocktail in their tavern. One day I hope to be an overnight guest!
police had spoken at length about this type of scam and others. With this information, the man had been able to identify the letter as a scam and did not communicate with the sender but instead brought it to police, which he was told had been the right thing to do.
12:33 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Franklin Street to investigate a past hit-andrun. A man told the officer that someone had struck his Nissan Maxima while it was parked in front of his house on the street. The officer observed the driver’s side mirror to be shattered and the mirror housing pushed towards the front. No information had been left with the vehicle, and no witnesses had come forward.
2:26 p.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on South Street, and the log indicates a person was taken to the hospital.
5:33 p.m. A woman came to the police station to file an identity fraud report. She said she had gotten a Bank of America VISA card in the mail that she had not requested. She called Bank of America and canceled the card, which someone had requested using a fake email address that incorporated her name. The woman said there had also been a request made at the post office to forward mail to an address in the Bronx, which the postmaster had discarded. The officer
Lauren Weiss: ‘I love working with people, no matter their age, to help them find their voice.’
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I can recite the alphabet backwards, from Z to A. I’m actually able to do it faster than from A to Z. Weird, I know!
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.
Their 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.
advised the woman to check all her accounts and credit cards and to contact the credit bureaus to make sure her identity had not been compromised. The woman said that, as of now, nothing appeared to have been compromised.
Tuesday, April 4
6:23 a.m. A wallet was found on Front Street.
9:05 a.m. An officer investigated a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Wharf Path.
11:25 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street and filed a report.
4:54 p.m. An officer assigned to the downtown sector of town in a marked patrol cruiser conducted selected traffic enforcement in the area of West Shore Drive and Waterside Road until 5:28 p.m. but observed zero traffic violations.
4:59 p.m. An officer conducted speed enforcement in the area of Ocean Avenue and observed approximately 13 vehicles with an average speed between 22 and 27 miles per hour.
8:55 p.m. An officer investigated a report that kids were making noise on Lighthouse Lane.
10:33 p.m. An officer restored the peace after a disturbance was reported on Lincoln Avenue.
Wednesday, April 5
1:59 a.m. An officer
investigated a report of loud music on Farrell Court.
4:18 a.m. Officers investigated a report of suspicious activity on Pond Street.
11:41 a.m. An officer rendered services to a Hewitt Street resident who reported a possible case of mail fraud.
3:07 p.m. Vandalism was reported on May Street.
7:22 p.m. An officer assisted a Beacon Street resident and filed a report.
9:10 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Jersey Street and West Shore Drive.
Thursday, April 6
6:59 a.m. A lost wallet was reported on Arnold Terrace.
12:42 p.m. An officer investigated a report of annoying phone calls received on Green Street.
2:09 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle accident on Pleasant Street.
9:41 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle accident on Tedesco Street.
11:01 p.m. An officer answered questions about a license to carry a firearm.
Friday, April 7
10:18 a.m. An officer assisted in the investigation of an odor reported inside a building on Creesy Street.
11:42 a.m. An officer helped
the driver of a tractor-trailer navigate Hawkes Street and Atlantic Avenue.
2:20 p.m. An officer investigated an MBTA bus alert on Pleasant Street.
3:18 p.m. Officers assisted at the scene of a vehicle crash on Humphrey Street.
5:17 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Sheldon Road and filed a report.
5:58 p.m. Officers investigated suspicious activity reported on Commercial and Prospect streets.
7:01 p.m. A backpack was found on Wyman Road.
9:18 p.m. While driving around the back of Star of the Sea Community Center, an officer noticed what appeared to be something smoldering on one of the Seaside Park tennis courts. The officer exited his cruiser and observed a small fire pit had been constructed against the tennis wall, and there was an open bag of marshmallows laying next to it. The officer found that the fire had extinguished itself and appeared to have not been burning long. While investigating the fire, the officer also observed a lot of graffiti, written mostly in black, on the tennis wall and court itself, which appeared to be new. The Park Department was notified to
BUSiNESS
Current
POLICE, P. A15 marbleheadcurrent.org A14 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A14
clean up the area.
10:58 p.m. Officers assisted at the scene as a brush fire was extinguished on Frost Lane.
Saturday, April 8
5:06 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Farrell Court to investigate a resident’s report that her neighbor was playing loud music, which was an ongoing issue between the two. Upon his arrival, the officer could not hear any noise from the unit from which the music had allegedly been coming. The officer then noticed the caller looking out of her window, so he went over to her residence to talk to her. The woman invited the officer in to try to hear the alleged loud music, but he could not hear any loud music or noise at all. When he shared this with the resident, the woman said her neighbor must have turned it down. The woman said she would be having a meeting with the Marblehead Housing Authority on April 18 to talk about this ongoing issue. The officer planned to forward his report to the Housing Authority.
8:51 a.m. An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle on Lafayette and Pleasant streets.
10:44 a.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a woman who reported that over the last couple of weeks, she had been getting mail addressed to another woman at her home. The mail included correspondence from the Registry of Motor Vehicles and State Police regarding a traffic stop on Jan. 19, where the other woman had used the resident’s address and was being summoned by State Police for falsifying a window tint waiver from the RMV. The woman reported that she had also gotten an annual census from the town clerk that listed the other woman as a resident of her address. The resident explained that the other woman has never lived or even visited at her address, and she believed that the other woman, a Lynn resident, was using her address to defraud her auto insurance provider, as it was most likely cheaper to insure a vehicle in Marblehead. The resident added that she has known the other woman’s mother for a long time and had reached out to her about her daughter using her address. The resident stated that the other woman’s mother stopped speaking to her. The resident did not want to be complicit in the other woman using her address. The officer advised the woman to stop in at the town clerk’s office when they opened for business to clarify the census. The officer also advised the resident to refuse any future mail addressed to the other woman by writing that the addressee does not live at that address directly on the piece of mail and return it to the post office to be returned to sender.
5:43 p.m. At the police station, an officer took a report of a past hit-and-run from a woman whose vehicle had been parked in the back lot of the Warwick Cinema while she watched a movie. When she returned to her vehicle at around 5:30 p.m., she observed damage on the driver’s side rear quarter panel that had not been there prior. The woman believed that there had been a silver vehicle parked on that side of her vehicle when she arrived, which was not parked there when she left. The officer inspected the damage, which consisted of deep scrapes and partially torn-off wheel well trim. The woman had noticed several cameras affixed to the building, which should have captured the crash. The officer followed up with management of The Beacon Restaurant, who advised that they were not certain that the cameras record.
The officer left his business card with restaurant management, who advised they would check with the building’s management company, as they only rent space and have no access to the cameras on the outside of the building. As of the end of his shift, the officer had not heard from building management.
7:58 p.m. Officers were dispatched to investigate a report that teenagers had used a dumpster to climb up to the roof of 7 Eleven on Pleasant Street.
They parked in the rear parking lot of the National Grand Bank and then one of the officers activated the flood light on his cruiser to illuminate the top of Coastline Marine Center, which revealed six teenagers sitting on the roof. An officer ordered them to come down, which they did using the same dumpster. Officers determined that they had just been hanging out up there and advised them that they were not allowed to be up there and sent them on their way.
Sunday, April 9
12:31 a.m. Officers investigated a report of loud people on Commercial Street but could not find them.
8:39 a.m. Officers investigated a report of an open door on Pleasant Street.
10:14 a.m. A bike was reported missing on Sewall Street.
10:36 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Washington Street to investigate the report by the owner of Flores Mantilla that someone had stole a jar of daffodils and pot of hyacinth from her sidewalk display, which had been captured on security video at around 3:30 a.m. A middle-aged caucasian man is seen walking up to the display from lower Washington Street, picking up the two items and walking back in the direction from which he had come. If the man was identified, the owner said she did not want to pursue charges or be compensated. The owner emailed the officer a copy of the security footage, which he forwarded to detectives.
Noon An officer was dispatched to Dodge Road to investigate a vandalism complaint. A man reported that sometime overnight April 7 into April 8, someone had entered his driveway and punctured three of the tires on his Chevy Suburban, leaving the two front tires and rear passenger tire all with slow leaks. The man filled the tires up because he initially did not see any damage to them. The tires showed no obvious signs of being slashed, but they were also not holding air. The officer was unsuccessful in locating any cameras that might have recorded the incident. The officer forwarded his report to detectives.
1:16 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Broughton Road to investigate a report of harassment. Upon his arrival, he was met by a woman who had been receiving Snapchat videos from a woman screaming about how the Marblehead resident better pay her for the damage to her storm door. The resident showed the officer a video she took on her phone of one of the voice messages from the other woman, in which the woman threatened to damage the resident’s storm door in retribution for the damage the resident had allegedly done to hers. The officer informed the resident about her 209A rights and the process of obtaining a restraining order. The resident did not want to obtain a restraining order immediately but said that she would keep that in mind for the future. The resident just wanted the incident documented in case the harassment escalated.
9:35 p.m. Officers assisted a resident on Lafayette Street and filed a report.
Monday, April 10
8:41 a.m. An officer investigated a report of vandalism on Wyman Road.
11:51 a.m. While on patrol, an officer observed a van drive through a red light on West Shore Drive and Lafayette Street, where there is a “no turn on red” sign posted. The driver cooperated with police and was courteous throughout the vehicle stop. The man admitted to making the turn on red, explaining that he had not seen the sign until he was already making the turn. Upon further investigation, the officers discovered an issue with his license, which the man believed to be a mistake from an incident in Maine that he thought he had resolved, with the help of an attorney. The officer explained that this would result in a criminal application, which would require him to go to court.
The man said he understood.
The officer advised him to keep a close watch for paperwork coming from the court so that he could resolve the issue without further complications. The vehicle, which was registered to the man’s business, was towed, and the man ordered a ride from a ride share service to get home.
3:12 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Sheldon Road to investigate a report of items left in the street, which indicated a possible continuation of a dispute between neighbors.
Upon his arrival, the officer met with town Health Director Andrew Petty and observed a small silver trash can on the side of the roadway, which was filled with bags of dog feces.
The officer and Petty then made contact with a resident to whom Petty explained that leaving items in the street on trash collection days may result in fines. He said that he was there to clarify what was not permitted to prevent her from receiving fines in the future.
The officer explained the role of police is to investigate complaints about her placing items in the roadway and, if substantiated, to document them, at which point the Board of Health might take action.
The woman moved the trash can from the roadway. Petty explained when and for how long she could place items out for trash and recycling pick up on the roadside, and the woman said she understood. During the conversation, the woman reported ongoing harassment from her neighbors. The officer asked the woman if she had been threatened by her neighbors, and she said no. The woman was advised that her neighbors have the right to park in front of her home, and if they choose to greet her from the roadway using profanity and rude hand gestures, she could report them to police to substantiate a request for a harassment prevention order. The woman said that she had attempted this in the past and that “the judge laughed me out of court.” The officer explained that she could attempt to try again but that in the meantime should try to avoid contact with her neighbors altogether. The officer told the woman that he would speak with her neighbors and ask them to refrain from any contact with her as well. The neighbors told the officer that they have been avoiding contact with the woman and denied harassing her. The couple told the officer that the judge had refused to give the other woman a harassment prevention order because they had not done anything. They explained that they have been neighbors for years, but that in recent years they have had a falling out, which prompted the couple to install cameras on their property as a safeguard against any false allegations their neighbor might make. The officer explained their rights to a harassment prevention order
and reiterated the advice to stay away from their neighbor, if possible.
4:45 p.m. A caller reported a hole in the sidewalk on Shepard and Garfield streets.
5:12 p.m. Officers responded to the scene of an accident involving a vehicle and a bicyclist on Lafayette and Maple streets. Upon their arrival, the bicyclist was laying in the intersection and being attended to by firefighters and EMS workers. The officer went to speak with the driver of the vehicle, who explained that she had been traveling outbound on Lafayette Street and stopped at the set of lights at the intersection of Lafayette and Maple streets to make a lefthand turn onto Maple Street. She explained that she had been fully stopped while waiting for the inbound traffic to clear to make the turn, making the turn onto Maple Street after the last vehicle cleared. While making the turn, she collided with the bicyclist, whom she had not seen after the last vehicle passed her. She explained that she had a green light and estimated her speed at roughly 3-4 mph when she collided with the bike. The woman’s vehicle had damage to its front left side. The officer then went to speak with the bicyclist to get a statement. The bicyclist explained that he was traveling inbound on Lafayette Street. While traveling through the intersection at Lafayette and Maple streets, a vehicle that was making a left-hand turn collided with him. The bicyclist explained that he was behind a vehicle following the flow of traffic. He estimated that he was riding at around 10-15 mph. In a follow-up investigation, it was determined that the man had been wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The man also said that someone at the scene, possibly a firefighter or EMT, had estimated he had been thrown 12 feet from the bike. An officer also spoke with two witnesses who confirmed the details of the crash, including that the vehicle and the bicycle both had a green light at the time of the crash.
In his report, an officer noted that traffic flow was “extremely heavy,” that road conditions were dry, that it was sunny and clear, and that there was solar glare affecting the outbound lane on Lafayette Street in which the vehicle had been traveling.
6:45 p.m. An officer met and spoke with a parent whose son had received several text messages over the course of a half-hour from an unknown source, which included content that the parent deemed inappropriate for a 10-year-old. The parent planned to download the contents to a printer and email a copy for police to follow up. The parent had blocked the sender from sending any further messages.
8:32 p.m. An officer assisted with a bus stuck at Market Square.
Tuesday, April 11 11:52 a.m. A caller reported having lost three credit cards on Pleasant Street.
4:08 p.m. An officer began to conduct enforcement of the state law permitting only handsfree cell phone use while driving. He issued at least two citations and two verbal warnings before day’s end.
4:35 p.m. Officers investigated suspicious activity reported on Victoria Lane.
5:03 p.m. An officer assisted as a brush fire was extinguished on Green Street.
5:22 p.m. The officer assigned to conduct traffic enforcement observed a vehicle pass by his location near the police station being driven by a man holding a cellphone while heading outbound on Atlantic Avenue.
After stopping the vehicle, the officer found that the driver did not have a driver’s license, only
a card from the Guatemalan Consulate, despite having been in the United States for seven years. The officer explained to the driver why he had been stopped and told him to call someone to come pick him up. The registered owner of the vehicle arrived with a friend and drove the car and the man away.
Wednesday, April 12
2:01 p.m. A Weston Road resident reported having received a scam call.
2:44 p.m. An officer was dispatched to the Richdale convenience store on Smith Street to investigate a report of a person bothering the store owner. Upon his arrival, the officer met with the owner, who stated that he had been having an ongoing issue with an individual, who was later identified, who today had been standing in the doorway of the business, holding the door open and blocking the entrance, which the owner had documented on video. The owner stated that he had asked the man to close the door and not block the entrance but was ignored, which is when he called the police. The officer looked at the picture of the individual involved and walked the area to see if he could locate him. The officer saw the person in front of the post office next door with a group of kids and began to walk over. When he noticed the officer walking toward him, he began to walk away. When the officer got close, he motioned for the young man to stop, which he did. The officer asked what had transpired at Richdale with the owner, and the young man said that he was just holding the door open for people. The officer asked if the owner had asked him to close the door and not block the door, and the young man said that the owner had not. The officer informed him that he had watched the video, which showed that he was not merely holding the door open for people. The owner stated that he did not want the young man in his store again, even if it is in the doorway. The officer informed the young man that he was not allowed in the store again and informed him that standing in the middle of the doorway holding the door open and blocking the entrance would be considered trespassing, and he would be subject to charges if he were to do so. The young man had been served a no-trespass letter for the store by another officer the previous June. The owner stated that he did not wish to pursue charges this time but would if the young man caused problems again.
3:54 p.m. Officers were dispatched to Starbucks on Pleasant Street to investigate a report of a group of 12 to 15 children causing a disturbance, who had already left the area by the time they arrived. The manager reported that the same group of children had been causing problems in Starbucks for several weeks, yelling at one another and participating in horseplay. The manager believed that the children go to the Marblehead Charter School, as they arrive at Starbucks shortly after the Charter School day ends, but the manager did not know any of their names. The officer informed the manager of the process of obtaining a no-trespass order against the children, and he stated he would keep it in mind. He also said that he would call the police if he had issues with the group of children in the future. While two officers were speaking with the manager, another officer searched for the children but was unable to locate them.
8:52 p.m. A 43-year-old Everett man was arrested and charged with driving with a revoked license and speeding in violation of a special regulation after a traffic stop on Seaview and Atlantic avenues.
Police From P. A14 marbleheadcurrent.org Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 19, 2023 A15 CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A15
Barn on the move
The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer and historian Dan Dixey, who regularly shares photos of Marblehead from his extensive collection, along with information about each shot.
“Linc Hawkes moved this barn from one side of Redd’s Pond to the other, where it still sits, in this 1965. This 35mm slide was taken by Harry Wilkinson,” Dixey said.
YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN BLACK Di XEY COllECTiON
marbleheadcurrent.org A16 Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Marblehead Current CP_MBHC_20230419_1_A16 A S election of is Month’s Newest Images from Wednesdays in Marblehead wednesdaysinmhd.com Enjoy our Innovative Seasonal Cuisine overlooking the Harbor of Marblehead multiple gluten and dairy free menu items Gift Cer tificates Dinner Club Cer tificates Holiday and After Holiday Parties Function space • Weddings etc... 81 FRONT ST. MARBLEHEAD, MA 781.639.1266 THELANDINGRESTARAUNT.COM