10.4.23 - Volume 1, Issue 43

Schools one step closer to new leadership

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The School Committee was expected to meet Monday evening, Oct. 2, for public interviews with two finalists for the district’s interim superintendent position.

One of the candidates is a familiar face: Theresa McGuinness, who was the Village School principal from 2012 to 2016.

The other candidate is Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, who recently completed an interim superintendent job in western Massachusetts.

McGuinness was a finalist when Marblehead hired a

FALL-ING FOr GOOD

The School Committee was scheduled to meet on Oct. 2, after the Current’s print deadline. For coverage of Mnday’s meeting, including the results of a possible vote, visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.

» School Committee members, acting super say they can’t find deleted texts. Page 2.

permanent superintendent in 2020. That job ultimately went to John Buckey. The School Committee came to a controversial separation agreement with Buckey in August, without ever disclosing why it wanted him to leave.

Upon leaving the Village School, McGuinness, a Swampscott resident, went to Watertown, where she

is currently the assistant superintendent and did a stint as the district’s acting superintendent as well. School Committee member Brian Ota worked as vice principal at Village under McGuinness.

Pearson-Campbell last worked as interim superintendent of the Northampton Public Schools from 2022 to June 2023. Before that, she was an assistant superintendent of teaching and learning at Old Rochester Regional School District from 2020 to 2022.

Pumpkins for a purpose

Overdoses prompt calls for help

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead Police have responded to eight drug overdoses so far this year, two of them fatal.

“Of the fatalities, one we believed to be opiates and the other cocaine,” Police Chief Dennis King told the Current.

In 2022, police also responded to eight overdoses, including one fatality.

All but two of those overdoses were Marblehead residents, King said, and ranged in age. Roughly two-thirds of victims were male, one-third female.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, opioid-related incidents among Marblehead residents jumped from nine in 2021 to 17 in 2022.

Local ‘patch’ benefits Navajo community

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Clifton Lutheran Church launched its annual pumpkin sale today with

ScHOOL cHOIce

1,400 pumpkins displayed on its front lawn at 150 Humphrey St.

Another 600 pumpkins will be delivered and sold later in October.

“A big shout-out to the Marblehead High School Interact Club, Scout Troop 79, parishioners and neighbors who helped us unload all the pumpkins,” Rev. Jim Bixby told the Current.

This is the seventh year that Clifton Lutheran has hosted its pumpkin sale with proceeds going to a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. By the end of this year’s sale, the church will have sent more than $100,000 to the community.

“We’ve been seeing a lot more people interested in Indigenous

The Board of Health is now providing free Narcan and fentanyl test strips. Fentanyl is a deadly opioid that is sometimes added to marijuana and other drugs. The test strips can identify whether a drug is laced with fentanyl. Narcan is an opioid overdose treatment.

“There are people in Marblehead suffering from opiate addiction and other SUDs [Substance Abuse Disorders],” King said. “It affects everyone, regardless of economic status, race, age or gender. Programs like Narcan and fentanyl strip distribution can aid those in a crisis. It’s part of a total,

What should happen to the Coffin School property?

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Town and school leaders are debating the fate of the Coffin School property on Turner Road. Built in 1948, Coffin closed in 2021, and neighborhood students moved to the new Brown School on Baldwin Road. Initial discussions were that Coffin would be sold to a developer to create affordable housing.

The School Committee has the authority to determine if the Coffin property no longer has any educational use and should

be handed over to the town. Until that happens, the town cannot move forward with plans to sell it.

In recent meetings, School Committee Chair Sarah Fox spoke about demolishing the school and possibly holding onto the property.

“Whether we sell it for affordable housing or retain it for possible school use purposes, whatever happens, that building is a problem,”

DrUG USe

COURTESY PHOTOS

The two finalists for Marblehead’s interim superintendent job — Jannell D. Pearson-Campbell, left, and Theresa McGuinness — were set for public interviews on Monday, Oct. 2.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Two-thousand pumpkins will be on the lawn of Clifton Lutheran and sold to benefit a Navajo community.

School Committee members, acting super say they can’t find deleted texts

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The school district is reporting that School Committee members and acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta — who deleted text messages from the weeks when they were discussing the fate of former superintendent John Buckey — could not retrieve the texts, after being ordered by the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office to try.

“Ms. Cresta, Ms. Fox and Ms. Taylor confirmed that they followed up with their cell phone carrier and the text messages could not be retrieved,” wrote

Lisa Dimier, the district’s public records officer, referring to School Committee Chair Sarah Fox and member Alison Taylor.

“As a result, the district is unable to produce any additional documents,” she added.

Dimier included information from School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner.

“Ms. Schaeffner also informed counsel of the following that she wanted to clarify: I have no text messages on the dates requested between me and Sarah Fox on my cell phone. I have no backup records of any texts and my carrier does not have

re AL eStAte tr ANSFerS

any records of text messages between me and Sarah Fox on those dates.”

Dimier went on to say that the district’s lawyer is emphasizing the importance of keeping texts moving forward.

“Please note that counsel for the district has made it clear that communications such as text message can be considered a public record and must be preserved in a manner that the District is able to archive and produce when requested. It is our hope that our efforts will allow us to be appropriately responsive to requests moving

forward.

“Pursuant to Massachusetts regulation 950 CMR 32.08 and MGL Ch. 66, Section 10A, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Division of Public Records in the Office of the Secretary of State if you are unsatisfied with the district’s response to your request,” Dimier continued. “You may also seek redress through commencing civil action in the Superior Courts.”

This is a developing story. Please visit MarbleheadCurrent. org for updated information.

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Community Editor - Will Dowd  wdowd@marbleheadnews.org

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Virginia Buckingham - President

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The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to News in Brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.

Veterans Day town hall

The Select Board has approved Congressman Seth Moulton’s request to host a Veterans Town Hall at Abbot Hall on Nov. 10.

The unanimous approval came during the board’s Sept. 27 meeting. Moulton plans to hold the town hall as a forum for veterans to share stories about their time in the military and discuss issues important to them. The event will be open to the public and begin at 3 p.m.

Moulton, a Democrat from Salem, is a Marine Corps veteran who served four tours of duty in Iraq. He was first elected to Congress in 2014.

4th annual Fall Fair

The Marblehead Museum will host its 4th annual Fall Fair Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Lee Mansion gardens, 161 Washington St.

The family-friendly event will feature local artists, live music and fun activities throughout the day. Attendees can stroll through the gardens, mingle with featured artisans, get portraits done by students from the Acorn Gallery or play lawn games.

Admission is free. The Lee Mansion gardens are located in historic downtown Marblehead. For more information, visit marbleheadmuseum.org.

Intro to Intellectual Freedom

The League of Women Voters of Marblehead, in partnership with Abbot Public Library, is hosting an “Introduction to Intellectual Freedom” program on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 6-8 p.m. The event will take place at Abbot Public Library, 3 Brook Rd., and will also be accessible online via Zoom.

Featured speakers include Jennifer Billings, a 20-year educator from Marblehead, and Susan Caulfield, co-chair of the Massachusetts Library Association Intellectual Freedom/Social Responsibility Committee. Abbot Public Library staff and board members will moderate the discussion.

The program pays tribute to Joan Ehrich, a former Marblehead school librarian and League of Women Voters member. A gathering in Ehrich’s memory will precede the program at 6 p.m.

Advance registration is mandatory for both in-person and Zoom attendance.

Registration can be done at tinyurl.com/Intellect-Freedom.

For more details, visit abbotlibrary.org, email mar@ noblenet.org or call 781-631-1481.

St. Michael’s Organ Concert Series

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church will kick off its 2023 Organ Concert Series at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15.

existing single-family dwelling on a preexisting non-conforming property with less than the required lot area and rear yard setbacks, located at 20 Euclid Road in the Single Residence District. The new construction will be within the rear yard setback and exceed the 10% expansion limits for nonconforming buildings. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker ’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web. zoom.u s/j/87878 347282?pw d=enlw RXd3V2xmdHE3cy92Sk 1TU1BTUT09 Dial in +1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 878 7834 7282 Passcode: 404568 Those only dialing in will not have access to the visual presentation at the meeting, but can follow along with the project materials available for download at https://www.marblehead.org under the zoning board of appeals page and the date of meeting. Members of the public attending this meeting virtually will be allowed to make comments if they wish to do so, during the portion of the hearing designated for public comment. Interested persons may also submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org and the comments, will be included in the record. Alan Lipkind Secretary

The opening concert will feature organist Rosalind Mohnsen, who will perform works by Handel, Karg-Elert, Coleridge-Taylor and others on the church’s 1975 Fisk mechanical action organ. The concert series will continue through the year with programs held on the third Sunday of each month. Concerts are followed by receptions in the parish hall.

Suggested donation is $10 per concert or $50 for a full subscription. More information can be found at stmichaels1714. org.

Road race series resumes in October

The town’s Road Race Series resumed on Oct. 1, and continues with three running and walking events through Nov. 5.

The series, reintroduced this year by a coalition of race organizers, seeks to cultivate community among the local running and walking enthusiasts. Participants who finish four of the six series races will earn a hooded sweatshirt. For those who have already completed the first two races, taking part in just two of the next three will make them eligible. Though there’s no series fee, individual races may have their own registration costs.

Here’s the upcoming race lineup:

» Oct. 14: Miles for Mary 5K Walk/Run — In association with Miles for Mary, this event supports brain cancer research at Mass General Cancer Center in honor of Mary Park. More information can be found at milesformary. com

Oct. 15: Fund the Field 5K

— Sponsored by Marblehead All-Sports Boosters, this race focuses on the upkeep and upgrades of Piper Field. To register, visit: https://bit. ly/3resMnq

Nov. 5: Rotary Club 5K — Organized by the Rotary Club

of Marblehead, the event promotes mental health programs for local youth, along with scholarships and other youth-centric initiatives. Registration link: http://bit.ly/3NjgeDP For more information, contact Nate Walton at nywalton@gmail. com.

MCC accepting grant proposals

The Marblehead Cultural Council is welcoming proposals for 2024.

As part of its mission to foster cultural enrichment, artistic endeavors and scientific exploration, the MCC will allocate substantial financial assistance to both individuals and nonprofit organizations in the community. These grants will aid in advancing arts, humanities and sciences projects.

The MCC has a history of providing financial backing to various initiatives. Over the years, recipients have included live performances, immersive art installations, murals and educational field trips.

In line with its commitment to benefiting local residents and ensuring widespread accessibility, the council insists that all initiatives be accessible to the general public and create a positive impact on the Marblehead community.

A notable emphasis in this year’s selection process is on supporting emerging and established artists, alongside a focus on local venues. The MCC aims to encourage programming that is both racially and culturally diverse.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their proposals online at https://bit.ly/3Pl5vIv.

Questions can be directed to MarbleheadCulturalCouncil@ gmail.com.

The application deadline is set for Oct. 17.

Town employment opportunities

The town is currently accepting applications for several employment opportunities, including building commissioner, Transfer Station operator in the Health Department, mechanic pipefitter II in the Sewer Department and human resources director under Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.

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Beloved former MHS teacher dies of ALS

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Jennifer Chavez, who taught Latin at Marblehead High School for years, has passed away after a battle with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Friends and former colleagues at MHS posted about her death on social media with the Latin phrase “Ave atque vale,” which means “I salute you and goodbye.”

The saying was used in eulogies to Roman heroes.

“Jennifer was our rock,” Spanish teacher Candice Sliney told the Current. “Her kind and compassionate personality combined with her wit made her an absolute joy to be around. She was always teaching us. We turned to her for so much support.”

Sliney shared one story that highlighted Chavez’s passion for teaching.

“She was so dedicated to her students that one year she brought her young daughter, who was under the weather, to her midterm exam,” Sliney recalled. “She had a little cushion on the floor for her to rest on. Jennifer didn’t want her students taking an important test with a substitute. She later got in trouble for bringing her daughter, but she told us, ‘I wouldn’t have done it any differently. I needed to be there for them.’”

On Facebook, Sliney added, “Jennifer brought passion to her curriculum, which often included teaching multiple levels in one class. Her students enjoyed her classes and

Overdoses

From

holistic response the town needs to embrace.”

‘Anyone can overdose’ Board of Health member Tom McMahon is passionate about keeping Marbleheaders safe from fentanyl and overdoses. For him, it’s personal.

“I’ve unfortunately had more than one friend die of an overdose,” McMahon told the Current. “One in particular hit me harder, though, and it was when I was about 25. He was Superman.”

McMahon said that friend, who lived in Marblehead, was healthy, fit and not a regular drug user.

“Anyone can overdose,” he said. “I was close to him and had

developed strong skills which helped them in a myriad of ways in their continuing education.

Chavez practiced mindfulness and shared her calming strategies with others, Sliney explained.

“Jennifer was spiritual and found comfort in her faith,”

Sliney wrote.” Unfortunately, her body was not as strong as her mind and continuously failed her. We can only hope to be as much of a fighter against adversity as Jennifer was.”

Chavez taught at MHS from 2006 to 2021 before leaving for a job at Austin Prep.

“After she started in her new job, Jennifer realized something was not right when she lost her balance a few times and noticed weakness in her right hand,” her friend Maria Brosnan wrote on a GoFundMe page for the Chavez family. “She went through a grueling process of

see people of all ages using to this day. Education is not the problem when it comes to adults. You can do your best to educate the youth, but adults know the risks, and that’s why we need fentanyl strips available to limit the damage.”

Police and more personal response

King says his officers do the best they can to help.

going from doctor to specialist and undergoing every test imaginable until finally getting the dreaded diagnosis of ALS in April 2022.”

Chavez lived in Swampscott, where she and her husband, Rob, raised their children, Julian and Isabella.

peer support specialist, but that hasn’t finalized. We have access to recovery coaches as well, if needed, and provide resources to individuals and families when appropriate. Our mental health clinician will also assist as needed.”

McMahon is asking for the community to step up and get involved.

no idea he was experimenting. From what I learned after, it was his second time trying Oxy that he got on the street. These drugs don’t care if you’re a one-time user or a daily user. The damage it did to his family and to our community when it happened still pains me to think about, and I see it in his mother every

less than the required lot area, lot width, frontage and front and side yard setbacks, located at 160 Green Street in the Single Residence District. The new construction will be within the front & side yard setback and exceed the 10% expansion limits for nonconforming buildings. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker ’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law G.L. c. 30A, § 18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https:// us06web.zo om.us/j/87878347282?pw d=enlwRXd3V2xmdHE3cy92SklTU1BTUT09 Dial in+ 1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 878 7834 7282

Passcode: 404568 Those only dialing in will not have access to the visual presentation at the meeting, but can follow along with the project materials available for download at https://www.marblehead.org under the zoning board of appeals page and the date of meeting. Members of the public attending this meeting virtually will be allowed to make comments if they wish to do so, during the portion of the hearing designated for public comment.

time I see her. Again, he was Superman, and it took him out.”

McMahon believes many people, especially parents, don’t realize how prevalent drug use is in town.

“And it’s not just young adults,” he said. “Even growing up, I saw some parents using some pretty heavy drugs. I still

“MPD officers are trained in handling overdose calls and the follow-ups that are needed,” he said. “We work with agencies like the Essex County Outreach program and PAARI [Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative] to provide connections to resources that are vital for survival and success.”

King continued, “We are working on hiring a follow-up

“We need members from this town affected by tragedies to speak to the youth and show that it does happen here and show the pain,” he said. “It’s my goal to find enough people that would bravely step up into this role to make a difference.”

McMahon added, “So if you’re reading, and you think you’d be willing to be a part of this or would just even like to know a little more, please contact me.” McMahon’s email is TomMcMahonBOH@gmail.com.

and Preschool teachers for part and full time positions.

MCC’s philosophy is that children learn best through play We are seeking enthusiastic dedicated professionals who will engage in and uphold our mission We provide a collaborative and supportive environment where teachers have oppor tunities to develop their skills through education and training We’re proud of the positive impact MCC continues to have on children, families and our community

Please contact us at 781-631-1954 for more info about salary + benefits (including free childcare)

COURTESY PHOTO

Former MHS Latin teacher Jennifer Chavez is surrounded by friends and teachers, from left, Andrea West, Candice Sliney, Mary Francois, Elmer Magaña, Holly Grose and Laura Alvarez last October.

The Board of Health now makes fentanyl test strips and Narcan available for free to residents.

Increase seen in student vaccine exemptions

BY LEIGH BLANDER

As Massachusetts lawmakers debate a bill that would ban such dispensation, the number of Marblehead students requesting and receiving religious exemptions from vaccines has increased, matching a statewide trend.

“According to DPH [Department of Public Health] data, the total exemption rate for students is six times higher than it was 35 years ago,” state Rep. Jenny Armini of Marblehead told the Current. “And dozens of Massachusetts schools have vaccination exemption rates above 5%. That places them in danger of not having herd immunity for measles (which is 95%). Maintaining that immunity is critical — for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated.”

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade are required to stay current with the following vaccines: DTaP/ Tdap, which protects against

diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough; polio, MMR, which protects against measles mumps and rubella; varicella (chicken pox) and hepatitis B, according to the DPH.

The bill to eliminate religious exemptions was debated by the Joint Committee on Public Health in late July but has not been reported out to the full Legislature.

“I do have concerns about the increased usage of the religious exemption to avoid vaccinations, and I will be watching this bill closely as it continues through the legislative process,” said Sen. Brendan Crighton, who also represents Marblehead.

He continued, “As a father to two young children, I want to ensure that all our students and teachers can thrive in safe and

healthy classrooms. Students, and their families, deserve the peace of mind that comes from following the best public health practices. We want to encourage the highest possible vaccination rates within these critical shared spaces.”

Board of Health member Tom McMahon is against getting rid of the religious exemption.

Asked why, he responded, “Religious freedom, for one. People need to make decisions appropriate for them. We live in a diverse society, and people have different views that need to be respected. When it comes to anything medical, I’d say talk to your trusted doctor and do what’s best for you.”

Board of Health Vice Chair

Joanne Miller is concerned by the trend to not vaccinate.

“Parents want to do what is best for their children and understand the importance of car seats, baby gates and other ways we keep our children safe,” she said. “One of the best ways to protect our children is to make sure they get all of their vaccinations.”

Miller added, “Vaccines are one of the greatest medical advances in history. Some diseases that at one time killed thousands of children have been eliminated completely. I hope that parents that have questions or concerns speak with their pediatricians.”

Crews move historic building to new home

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

As the move of a 64-ton building on Pleasant Street that once housed a Bank of America branch nears completion, the impressive engineering feat has drawn small crowds standing behind a fence.

A team from Atkinson, New Hampshire, led by Stan Wildes and his grandson, Bryce, initially maneuvered the mid-19th century structure 15 feet to make room for a new foundation, by positioning the building on skates that resemble miniature upside-down tanks and using a crane to move it. This week, they slid the building into its new foundation using a complex series of pulleys, levers and chains. Before the move, the developer who bought the building had a bank vault torn out of the back.

“Each project has its challenges, but we figure things out and get it done,” Stan Wildes, who has relocated 30-50 houses a year for decades, told the Marblehead Current.

The building will be sold as a single-family home after the move wraps up, and Wildes hinted at possible additions like another structure or garage down the line.

Ray and Diane Curran live in a home that was once the stable for the building being moved. The couple said they and other neighbors are happy the building will become a singlefamily residence rather than a commercial space.

“It’s going to be a home, and we couldn’t be happier,” said Diane Curran.

They noted the Bank of America building was originally a Hooper family mansion, as was another residence across the street. The most famous Hooper mansion, on Hooper Street, is home to the Marblehead Arts Association.

Maryann Criswell, who has lived in Marblehead for 50 years, said she has seen neighbors conversing about the project.

“I think curiosity,” Criswell said of the neighborhood’s reaction. “I had heard it was being moved today, and I called and texted several of my neighbors.”

Criswell added she was pleased to see the owners invest in moving the structure rather than razing it, calling the latter approach “wonderful.”

The structure received approval

for the transition to residential use from Marblehead’s Old and Historic Districts Commission. The project is being helmed by CenterCorp, owner and developer, and SaltsmanBrenzel Architects and Builders. Thomas Saltsman, the chief architect who also lives down the street, said his team is committed to maintaining the building’s historic aesthetic.

“We were thrilled that they didn’t want to turn it into condos and townhouses,” he said. “There were a lot of discussions about that.”

The move puts the building closer to the Pleasant Street sidewalk.

“We pulled it up here in relation to the other houses on the side of the street,” said Saltsman. “This used to be all

asphalt parking, so it just makes the residential area feel more continuous.”

Resident John Hope said he thinks the project is “progress” and called the repurposing “pretty sustainable.”

“You could buy a new construction home, and it’s a lot less expensive than maintaining one of these older homes,” he said. “I think it’s pretty awesome

that they are passing it on to the next generation.”

Mariann Vaida, an architect and member of the Old and Historic District Commission, said the project honors Marblehead’s history.

“It’s also transforming what was once a large, underutilized commercial building with a big parking lot into a nice residential space.”

building on the move.

COURTESY PHOTO / CDC ON PEXELS.COM

More Marblehead students received religious exemptions from vaccines last year.

Crews were hard at work moving the former bank.

Carpet replacement to cost $120K after bloody break-in

BY WILLIAM J . DOWD

Marblehead plans to shell out an estimated $120,000 for carpet replacement in the Mary Alley Municipal Building due to extensive damage from a break-in a year ago.

Insurance is expected to reimburse the town around 50% of that amount.

“This unfortunate incident has presented an opportunity to refresh the interior of the municipal building through new flooring,” said Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. “Once completed, we expect the upgrade will significantly improve the appearance and feel of the space for both employees and residents.”

On a Monday morning in September 2022, Anthony Graciele smashed a window to get into the Mary Alley, and cut himself.

“Blood got everywhere,” Kezer said, adding Graciele allegedly tried to clean his blood up with chemicals — damaging the carpets beyond repair. “The asbestoscontaining floor tiles underneath also prevent replacing just sections, so the most cost-effective solution is to install new commercialgrade carpeting throughout the affected offices and hallways.”

Kezer mentioned that during the carpeting phase, the building’s upper level will be off-limits, prompting a brief

relocation of town offices or a transition to telecommuting. The installation process is pegged at two to three days,

causing a brief disruption to town services. No dates have been set for the work. Gracielle was convicted of

breaking and entering with intent to commit a feloney and malicious destruction of property valued over $1,200.

Fox said at a meeting of the School Committee’s facilities subcommittee on Sept. 21.

Fox made the case again at a School Committee meeting that evening, saying the Coffin building will depreciate the property’s value, if the town decides to sell it.

The demolition would likely cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Acting Superintendent Michelle Cresta said the only way to fund that is to repurpose remaining funds from the Brown School project. That money, while already approved, was never borrowed and would need a new Town Meeting vote this May to be used for a demolition.

Select Board Chair Erin Noonan told the Current that she doesn’t believe taxpayers should have to foot the bill for the demolition.

be AcON HILL

“It would be unusual for a municipality to get into the business of demolishing a property,” she said at a Sept. 26 meeting of the Housing Production Plan Implementation Committee, which she chairs.

“That can be absorbed into the discussion of the sales price.”

Kurt James, who sits on the HPPIC, said developers may prefer the property with the school building still there.

“The building is over 50 years old. The developer would be entitled to federal and state tax credits,” he said. “That might be millions of dollars.”

He added, “The neighbors indicated that they wanted to preserve the building”

‘Bursting at the seams’

Fox believes the Coffin property may be needed some day for a new school.

“We’re already, believe it or not, bursting at the seams in some of our buildings,” she

said. “Especially in a town like Marblehead, where land is king, there is no additional land. We all know that.

She continued, “If we give up this land in the north end of town, and we need to bring another facility on line, we’re not putting anything in the neighborhood north end of town, which I think is really unfair to them. The idea that we’d be putting kids on buses and busing them to what would become a four-story elementary school (Brown) is very educationally inappropriate and inequitable.”

Fox added that she’s spoken with neighbors who don’t want the property sold.

“I’ve heard from several people in that part of the town that they’d like the building retained… for educational purposes,” Fox said. “They loved the idea of turning it into green space in the interim.”

Noonan said Marblehead

“doesn’t need three elementary schools” but does need more housing, especially for seniors and young families. She pointed out that the median home value in town is now $1.1 million, making it difficult for seniors and young families to afford to live in town.

“MSBA [the Massachusetts School Building Authority] is not interested in funding an elementary school at that location,” Noonan said. “We just went through that process [for the Brown School]. It’s kind of inconceivable to me, but within the next decade or so if we have some need, which I can’t imagine because we just went through this process, it wouldn’t be something eligible for MSBA funding. So whatever [school] goes on that property would have to be funded 100% by taxpayers.”

Inside Coffin

The building contains asbestos and would require abatement

before demolition, according to Fire Chief Jason Gilliland.

“The roof is leaking and has caused a number of 2x2 ceiling tiles on the second floor to become saturated and collapse on the floor,” he said. “There was also a light fixture that was attached to the ceiling tiles that let go as well.”

The Fire Department has responded to the Coffin School approximately 24 times since it closed.

“The building is still being protected by the fire alarm system, the doors are all secured, with no-trespassing signs posted, and it is under 24-hour camera surveillance,” Gilliland explained.

“In addition, I had the natural gas main going to the building terminated last Friday. So I would say it is as safe as an empty building can be without being occupied on a regular basis.”

The Coffin School’s fate will be on an upcoming School Committee agenda, Cresta said.

Rep. Armini, Zisson advocate for three-year Select Board terms

Marblehead is the last town with one-year terms

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

State Rep. Jenny Armini told colleagues on Beacon Hill that the time has come for Marblehead to transition to three-year terms for its Select Board. At a Sept. 26 hearing, she emphasized that the constant campaigning required by oneyear terms is detrimental.

Town Meeting last May approved the change, but it needs to be approved by the Legislature to take effect.

Testifying before the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, Armini pointed out that Marblehead is the only Massachusetts town that still elects its Select Board members to one-year terms. This annual election cycle, she said, hampers long-term planning.

“Expertise and leadership are developed with consistent service insulated for a reasonable time from electoral considerations,” Armini testified. “That’s why the citizens of Marblehead voted to approve this change.”

Armini spoke in support of a home rule petition, S.2415, that would implement three-year staggered terms, stemming from the passage of Article 44 at May’s

Marblehead Town Meeting. The change would require the top two 2024 vote-getters to receive three-year terms initially, while the next two would have two-year terms. The fifth-place finisher would serve just one year before facing reelection in 2025.

“We prize our history, we protect our traditions, they make us who we are. But there’s one distinction that has outlived its usefulness,” she added.

“Perhaps, one-year terms were good governance in 1649. But it is not good governance today, campaigning every 12 months even at the local level demands

time and resources that distract from the Select Board’s essential tasks.”

Jim Zisson, the Article 44 sponsor, submitted written testimony, asserting that Select Board members function as the town’s chief executives today. He argued that one-year terms, originating in 1649, are outdated.

If the Municipalities Committee approves the home rule petition, it will advance to the full House and Senate for votes at a time to be determined. The petition would need to pass before landing on the governor’s

desk. Marblehead would then implement the new three-year Select Board terms starting with the 2024 local election.

In the lead-up to the 2023 town election, the proposed home rule divided the Marblehead Select Board. New members Erin Noonan and Alexa Singer favored three-year terms for enhanced long-term planning, while Moses Grader defended the one-year terms, arguing they allow voters to rapidly address dysfunctional boards.

In his written testimony, Zisson mentioned he anticipates resistance based on tradition,

as one-year terms have been a fixture since Marblehead’s inception. However, he countered by noting that the town has evolved from other early practices, such as having seven Select Board members and excluding women from Town Meeting.

“Adopting a three-year term aligns with the School Committee and other town boards,” Zisson wrote. “Annually, one or two seats would be up for election, hence the term ‘staggered.’

This maintains an experienced base even as new members join.”

Mary Alley Municipal Building, soon to undergo interior renovations following last year’s break-in.

State Rep. Jenny Armini spoke in support of three-year Marblehead Select Board terms on Tuesday, Sept. 26.

Coffin

On solar, deliberate pace would be best

We applaud the Light Commission and the School Committee for beginning discussions about placing solar panel arrays on school buildings in town. But we want to add a word of caution about the developing technology for storage.

Municipal Light General Manager Joe Kowalik says adding lithium-ion storage batteries increases the value of solar. But it also increases the risk.

In a 2023 study, the NTSB issued warnings to first responders on how to safely handle lithiumion battery fires. We believe the Fire Department should be part of the discussion.

Kowalik agrees that more training and research is needed. He met recently with the School Committee’s Facilities Subcommittee to talk about placing solar arrays on the five public school roofs. A sixth would be proposed for the Charter School.

The school department is one of the local utility’s largest customers for power. The solar arrays would provide 2 1/2% of the school department’s annual energy needs. New federal tax credits of between 30% to 40% have made solar more financially attractive, but there are lingering questions about whether 2 1/2% yield of power is worth $1 million per array investment.

The Municipal Light Department got ahead of the curve with the construction of the new Brown School. The Brown School already has conduits in the parking lot to accommodate batteries, and utility management met with the building committee and architects to make sure the roof would support a solar array. Unfortunately, the roof on the new school leaks and will need to be repaired before moving forward with the plan.

In addition to the Brown School, the Municipal Light Department is also investigating battery placements at the high school and Village School. In addition to the community benefit, Kowalik believes the schools will reap non-economic benefits from solar power at schools by making it part of the STEM curriculum, and we agree. But adding batteries to the mix prompts us to urge the town to go slowly and engage appropriate stakeholders.

Marbleheaders already get their power from a diverse portfolio. The Municipal Light Department has ownership in the remaining two nuclear power plants in the region and the newly opened solar power farm in Ludlow. It also purchases power from Quebec Hydro Electric and wind power from the Berkshires. There are some fossil fuels in the mix.

The state has mandated that 50% of power be generated carbon free by 2030. In Marblehead, 44% carbon-free power is already going to local homes and businesses.

We are impressed by that number and hope that, after careful consideration and further coordination with the Fire Department, local solar can be added to the mix.

LetterS POLIc Y

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Comfort me with goulash

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM

I devour books by chefs like I sometimes try to make and devour their recipes. There’s something about a chef’s appetite for life that’s alluring. Some favorites are by Bill Buford (“Dirt” and “Heat”), Gabrielle Hamilton’s “Bread Bones and Butter” and anything by Ruth Reichl. Her “Tender at the Bone,” “Garlic and Sapphires” and “Save Me the Plums” are akin to having the opportunity of sitting at the knee of a perfect observer of what matters in life (read: family dinner).

Which brings me to goulash. If I could write a chef’s memoir, which I can’t because I’m a recipe follower, not one who is at ease playing with the combinations of “Salt, Acid, Fat, Heat” (h/t Samin Rosnat), I’d riff off of Reichl’s “Comfort Me with Apples.” But I’d sub in Hungarian goulash instead. Yes. Goulash.

When was the last time you made or had the dish?

For me, it was probably when my kids were little. But the time I remember was making it for David when we were first married and living in an apartment in Boston. I was quite proud of my effort in the little galley kitchen but when I served it, David said it wasn’t firm enough. That’s how they served it in his elementary school, he said, and it wasn’t called goulash, it was called American Chop Suey. We were new at the marriage thing — it takes, what, a month to learn not to criticize your spouse’s cooking? I got up from the table and went into the bedroom and slammed the door. I vowed never to make goulash for him again, or whatever they called it in that godforsaken school he went to.

But I did for my kids once in a while, because it was easy and filling, a way to warm them inside on a cold evening.

My mom made goulash all the time, stretching the cheap ground beef to feed our big crew. Like Shake ‘n Bake pork chops, chicken drumsticks covered with Campbell’s mushroom soup or beef stew with Bisquick dumplings, it was fine dining in that it was certainly “fine,” not gourmet. To me, it’s the definition of comfort food.

I subscribe to the New York Times cooking newsletter and have the app. Every few days, I get a newsletter in my inbox from the Times’ cooking curators. The newsletter is a list of recipes aligned with the month or season or holiday, and, wonderfully, it’s often a lyrical rundown of spices and flavors and methods that are reminiscent of a cook’s memoir. Like the magazines filling the racks in the supermarket, last week the theme was, unsurprisingly, fall comfort food. What was surprising is the recipe that topped the newsletter’s list of recipes — Hungarian goulash. The writer extolled the virtue of bright, sweet paprika, like it was the key to a long life and maybe it is.

I got a kick out of the reaction of a friend by text whom I share recipes and pictures of finished dinners with. “I saw that in NYT,” he wrote, “How is it? I grew up eating that. My mom threw crap in a skillet and hoped for the best.”

I made it last Sunday, and marveled at the direction to cook the macaroni right in the sauce. One less pan to clean! I thought the ratio of pasta to meat (I subbed ground turkey) was perfect and not too firm, just how it should be if you’re not in third grade. I ate it for dinner, and then for lunch two more days in a row. It felt like I was giving myself the first gift of fall. Next up, meatloaf. And yes, I’ll need a recipe for that, too.

Virginia Buckingham is the president of the Marblehead Current’s board of directors. Her column appears weekly.

After my cancer diagnosis, I knew I needed a theme for my recovery

BY CHRISTINE MCCARRISTON

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?”

- “Seasons of Love” from the musical “Rent”

After receiving the news kindly, but matter-of-factly, I had labs drawn as my husband and sister who accompanied me tried to process the life-changing diagnosis.

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. While the Marblehead Current will make every effort to let writers have their say, it reserves the right not to publish letters.

For me and mine, this year could be measured in health scares, fears, prayers and, incredibly, joy. On September 27, 2022, I was diagnosed with cancer. After a myriad of tests, I learned I had two cancers, they were forming a third which thankfully never materialized, and I would need a temporary colostomy bag to prevent a possible blockage. My diagnosis changed everything, but at the same time it couldn’t change the most important things: the people I love lifting me up, joy in the little things and gratitude.

Lone tree? If not in Brooklyn, then here

To the editor:

I would like to add my support to the cause espoused by Starr Campbell last week (“Visible neglect hurts Marblehead”). Here are some of my observations as examples of non-maintenance of new trees.

» Two trees were planted along the sidewalk of Glover School a few years ago. They never had

I am a self-proclaimed wimp when it comes to needles. Not only was this news impossibly hard to digest, we also wondered how this wimp could handle it physically. I haven’t been challenged with health trouble much but here I was, onto labs that would become the norm for me.

As always when I get blood drawn, I promised to be a good patient but asked not to see the needle. I then spoke my diagnosis out loud for the first time. While taking my blood, Ketia asked me about my family, keeping my mind focused on happier thoughts. When she finished, she said: “You will thank your body for all it has given you to this point, your beautiful daughters and your health up to now, and your body will be strong.”

water bags. One has survived.

» The new intersection of Village and Pleasant streets. Nice patch of weeds. Why not also one tree?

Outside CVS on Atlantic Avenue. Any bets as to how long these survive? One is already showing signs of fatigue.

» How about Starbucks and its plaza? Dead or dying trees there also.

Once leaving the Village Plaza (which also is no example of promoting green), the only green on Pleasant Street is the privately owned “island” next to

Ketia made me stronger with her words. I became who my family and I call Christine 2.0. This new me was no wimp, proven when my sister had to give me shots at home for 28 days (she’s not a nurse). Christine 2.0 came just in time.

As we exited the hospital that day, I told my husband I needed joy. We aren’t going to tell anyone, I said. There were too many unanswered questions, so many tests scheduled. I couldn’t bear our girls, my parents and my friends worrying and stressing over my diagnosis. I wanted to share in their everyday joys and challenges. That plan is not right for everyone, of course, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It was very difficult for my husband, but he honored my request with love. Always loving a theme, I declared one for this journey: joy, grace and gratitude. To get through the

The Beacon.

A few years ago, we voted $50,000 for more trees. I guess maintenance was not included, just planting.

Go to Salem. They recently planted the strip running up to Washington Square with trees and shrubs. Double water bags on every tree and being kept replenished. Now there is a commitment to maintenance! A lone tree where? If not in Brooklyn, then in Marblehead.

Walter Haug

Highland Terrace

Boy Scout reflects on an epic hike

BY CLIVE CONNOLLY

Ten scouts and six adult chaperones from Marblehead’s Scout Troop 11 are back from a two-week hiking trip to Antelope Canyon and the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks over the summer. The Scouts, ages 14 to 18, faced 110 degree temperatures and water shortages. They also braved challenging conditions on the trails, but they persevered and had the trip of a lifetime.

Thirst aid

The central adventure for the trip was backpacking at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Scouts split into two groups. The older Scouts descended to the bottom of the Canyon and the younger scouts hiked along the edge of the north rim, gaining some great views into the canyon.

The older crew backpacked 30 miles over four days along the North Kaibab Trail down to the Colorado River and then back up to the north rim. Heading down the canyon, the group was hit by a freak cold snap on the first morning. In one day, conditions ranged from hypothermia to near heat stroke temperatures. But they were greeted with the most gorgeous sunrise they had ever seen.

Later, the hikers sometimes felt like they were trekking across a frying pan with temperatures getting as hot as 110 degrees. Salt pills and electrolytes became their daily fare. Pacing themselves by hiking only from pre-dawn to midmorning, the Scouts were rewarded with stunning canyon views. The younger Scouts backpacked 15 miles over two days in a remote section of park along the north rim itself. The end point of the hike was Tiyo Point which offered spectacular 270-degree views down into the canyon making the journey well worth the effort.

There are no reliable water sources in this section of the park, so the crew needed to carry all the water for the hike with them from the start, giving them very heavy backpacks. Getting to the trailhead in this extremely remote section of the park was an incredible challenge, and the crew was thrilled they overcame it. They stayed a third day to enjoy the pristine wilderness

before returning to the north rim campground.

Getting soaked and loving it

From the Grand Canyon, Troop 11 traveled to Zion National Park, where they hiked the famous Zion Narrows, a series of slot canyons that wind along the Virgin River. The Narrows was a wet hike, with

water levels often getting up to the hikers’ shoulders and at times even over their heads.

To prepare for this the scouts were equipped with waterproof gear. They also had to be careful not to slip on the rocks, but getting dunked in the river was a welcome relief from the heat that soared to over 100 degrees every day of the trip.

Among the ‘hoodoos’

The final stop on the trip was Bryce Canyon, where the scouts hiked the Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden Trail. This trail takes hikers past some of Bryce Canyon’s most famous “hoodoos,” rock spires created over millions of years by erosion. The scouts and chaperones were awed by their epic excursion. They learned

about teamwork, perseverance and desert survival, most importantly never to waste water again. Troop 11 is already planning its next backpacking adventure for summer 2024 and is actively seeking new Scouts to sign up and join them.

Clive Connolly, a Marblehead High School junior, is a member of Troop 11.

five weeks before my surgery while keeping the news quiet, my sister and I began sharing Today’s Joy daily. Today’s Joy came from simple things: pictures of children we love, funny stories, acts of kindness. I couldn’t have gotten through those weeks without focusing on the happy things in my girls’ lives and my sister sharing daily joy.

The theme of grace was a reminder for me to be graceful to all who were working to help me through this. The gratitude was easy. I don’t take little things for granted. I adopted my mother’s motto ‘Celebrate Everything’ and live it. I learned from practice that when you start the day with gratitude, it’s harder to get negative. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, it just happens less for me when I start with gratitude.

We told our girls and my parents a week before my surgery, when I could assure them we were taking action soon to heal me. As they were through every step, my husband and sister told them with me. Add those conversations to

the list of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I then made a list of people I wanted to tell personally. Imagine my gratitude when that list surpassed 30 names of people who gave me love, great memories and joy. With their loving arms, they would pull me through this most difficult time. I never wanted to need them all at once but when I did, they showed up big.

My daughters were a constant source of comfort, love and laughs. My support crew was there with everything from cards to blankets, food, wrapped gifts with tags stating when to open them (before first chemo treatment: a Life is Good water bottle) and more. They wouldn’t let me do this alone.

During the week of my surgery, my work family dressed in the theme of things I like. They know I love a theme. I answered the door one December day to find them on my lawn singing Christmas carols! No, they aren’t talented singers, but it was the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. They dressed in brown when I had my colostomy bag reversal surgery which made me laugh so hard in recovery, I had to press my medication button. My work family was only

getting started. When several of them attended a conference I was supposed to join them at, my friend Christen printed out pictures of me and created a few Flat Christines. As in the children’s book “Flat Stanley,” they brought “me” everywhere they went. Flat Christine crisscrossed the country attending conferences, an NHL hockey game, Disneyland, anywhere they went. They made me feel included for the entire eight months I wasn’t at work that school year. Talk about joy.

My neighbors cooked delicious meals for us. Who knew what great cooks they were?! I could fill this paper with the countless acts of love and support that got me through the day and up the next day.

After my treatments, surgeries and, miraculously, two clear PET scans, I began to think about how I could possibly thank everyone. I decided I would go on a thank you tour, celebrating each of them in different ways. My family had a different plan. They threw a thank you party for those who gave me strength all those months. On Memorial Day weekend, 110 people came to celebrate my good health and share in the joy together.

They got me there under the ruse that we were going to see my friend’s son’s band play. Christen drove me and opened the door to reveal my husband and sister and a large crowd smiling behind them. This is for you and your friends; it’s a thank you party for them, they told me. I doubled over in shock. The magnitude of this night was so great and powerful. My husband, sister, daughters and parents planned for months to ensure they didn’t forget anyone who helped me. Christen helped with the work connections.

I entered the hall overcome with love and happiness. It was the most incredible feeling to be healthier and be with all my favorite people. We all danced when my boss requested my theme song “Unstoppable” by Sia. Pictures of moments that brought me joy printed by Shanna decorated each table, on theme of course. My sister penned a poem as thank you cards for the attendees. “You cooked, you baked, you made us fat. You called, you wrote, you bought her hats,” it started. She ended with “You saved her.” She was right. Everyone in that room, along with many doctors and nurses, saved me. My family

was floating on air all night. They were able to breathe and thank the people who brought me, brought us, joy through it all. My theme of joy, grace and gratitude was wrapped in my family and friends. Without them I couldn’t have lived my theme of joy with grace through it. Because of them, it wasn’t difficult.

I smile as I think back on celebrating and dancing with my support group at the party. I hope everyone experiencing difficult times has the love and joy I felt during my toughest time. It’s the best medicine. The party showed me that when you do something kind for someone, you also do it for their family. My family appreciated the support I received as much as I did. It eased their burden to know I was connected to and cared for by so many. It wasn’t all on them.

I returned to work last month, dancing in my car all the way-to “Unstoppable,” of course. I’ve reflected a lot as I approach this September 27. I am a lucky girl. Grateful, joyful and lucky. “Five hundred twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?” I measure in joy, grace and gratitude.

COURTESY PHOTO

Marblehead Scout Troop 11 hiking through Antelope Canyon in Arizona.

At Clifton Lutheran Church, they’re getting into the fall spirit, and supporting indigenous people.

From

People’s Day [Oct. 9], especially as a town that had a large presence of the Massachusetts tribe,” Bixby said. “You may ask, ‘What can I do, when that population’s gone?’ This is something you can do. Buy a pumpkin that will benefit a community that would otherwise have really high employment.”

The pumpkins will be on sale through October.

“You can buy one weekdays after school until evening and weekends, noon ’til sundown,” Bixby said. “There’s also a selfserve option any time.”

The “patch” features new decorative pumpkins this year, including some in the shape of a starfish.

“I think Marbleheaders might like that,” Bixby said. “They’re so cool and unusual.”

As for cost, there’s a “pumpkin for any budget,” Bixby added.

“You can spend $12 and come home with three decorative pumpkins, or you can spend $100 and cover your own lawn with pumpkins,” he said.

18tH ANNUAL

Breast Friends Walk set for Oct. 8

Marblehead is gearing up for the 18th annual Breast Friends Walk on Oct. 8 at Devereux Beach. This 2-mile loop event around Marblehead Neck will see supporters from various backgrounds come together to raise funds.

The proceeds will aid the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center in its mission to support breast cancer patients. The funds will enhance essential services like transportation, childcare, appointment scheduling and translation — crucial for facilitating early cancer screenings.

The Breast Friends Walk shares a deeprooted connection with Marblehead.

Founded in 2006 by Sara Bryant, after her breast cancer diagnosis, the initiative grew under the stewardship of her family and later local champions like Grace Elmer and Emily Lucien.

With over $464,848 raised to date, the event, backed by strong local connections, draws support from all over New England.

For more details, donations or registration, visit: bit.ly/3F15DYC.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Sports

Rockett on ‘Top 10’ national stage again

ESPN spotlight shines once more on star wide receiver

BY JOE McCONNELL

Having lost a close contest to Ivy League rival Harvard, 34-31, Marblehead native Wes Rockett was oblivious to the national fame ESPN was sending his way — again.

“It may sound like a cliché, but I was mainly focused on the loss on the bus ride home, and how we can get better, instead of just talking about a play that happened in the second quarter,” Rockett said. “I’d rather be celebrating a win together.”

But then he noticed a few of his teammates trying to get his attention, gesturing toward their phones. Rockett did not have his own phone with him, but he had no shortage of volunteers on the team bus to show him theirs.

As it turned out, producers at ESPN had selected a dazzling 51-yard catch Rockett had made against Harvard as one of its “Top 10 Plays of the Day.” The play — “a double-move deep shot that our coaches had schemed up against what is a very aggressive defense,” Rockett said — came in at No. 3.

“I was definitely surprised (to be on the list) because I was just sitting on the bus replaying the game in my head as I always do,” Rockett said.

Rockett, a graduate of St. John’s Prep, was already familiar with the network’s popular daily segment. He made the Top 10 Plays last year, too, for a play he made against Princeton.

By the time Rockett got his hands back on his phone, it was filled with text messages from

friends and family. When the unexpected moments of fame have come his way, “it’s definitely cool to see the support,” added Rockett, who finished the Harvard game as his team’s leading receiver with 149 yards.

Rockett, the youngest son of Bill and Kate, said he is also proud to have had the opportunities to serve as an accidental ambassador for the Brown program.

As for last year’s Top 10 play,

Magicians repeat as champs at Ocean State Invitational

BY JOE MCCONNELL

For the second year in a row, the Marblehead High boys crosscountry team came out on top in the Varsity 2 race during the annual Ocean State Invitational at Goddard State Park in Warwick, Rhode Island on Sept. 23.

The Magicians accumulated 121 points, outdistancing Point Pleasant Boro, New Jersey, the second-place squad, by 35 points. The Garden State harriers accounted for 156 points. Danvers, a familiar rival, came in third with 158 points.

The Marblehead boys were led by Isaac Gross (16:01), who topped all competitors with a first-place finish. “Isaac led wireto-wire. His closer competitor finished 19 seconds behind him,” said coach Brian Heenan. Nate Assa (sixth, 16:29), Will

for

Brown

Cerrutti (34th, 17:20), Henrik Adams (42nd, 17:35) and Ryan Blestowe (45th, 17:37) rounded out the top five Marblehead runners. Will Cruikshank (84th, 18:17) and Will Cronin (149th, 19:29) also competed in the varsity race for the Magicians.

In the JV race, Jonah Potach also led wire-to-wire with a winning time of 18:02. Zach Pike (6th , 19:10) and Xavier Grazado (17th, 19:38) also ran well for Marblehead in this meet. The JVs finished second overall.

The Magicians participated in the annual Frank Kelley Invitational in Wrentham last Saturday. They then resumed the Northeastern Conference schedule Oct. 3 against the Vikings at Winthrop.

Results from both meets will be in next week’s Marblehead Current.

it came on a Friday night against Princeton and was quite similar, according to Rockett.

“That play last year essentially played out the same way as this one against Harvard,” he said.

That play, too, fell just short of the top spot on ESPN’s list, which his grandfather did not miss an opportunity to point out — in jest, of course.

“My grandpa always has fun with that one, because I couldn’t manage to be No. 1,” he said.

Prep provides good foundation

Rockett played lacrosse and football at the Prep, and it played a huge role in his development as a student-athlete.

“Having 1,200 boys under what is essentially one roof definitely creates a competitive environment, especially when everybody was the best or some of the best players coming from their respective towns,” he said. “You learned quickly that what

you get is going to be earned.”

He added, “In life, in academics and in athletics, that is a critical lesson to learn. Learning this from the get-go had a profound impact on my future.”

Rockett calls his Prep football coach, former NFL quarterback Brian St. Pierre, and his lacrosse coach, John Pynchon, a Division I athlete in his own right, “two of the greatest coaches I have ever had.”

“Both offered infinite amounts of wisdom, and they also instilled values in myself and my teammates,” Rockett said. “I still refer back to (those values) because they have molded me into the person and player that I am today.”

Rockett graduated from the Danvers Xaverian Brothers high school in 2019, months after celebrating the Division 1 2018 Super Bowl championship at Gillette Stadium with his teammates, which they won by defeating Catholic Memorial, 40-22. Rockett was credited with

Undefeated Peabody upends Magicians

Marblehead now gets ready for divisional games

BY JOE McCONNELL

Marblehead High football coach Jim Rudloff said after the game against North Andover, his team’s fourth straight nonleague loss to begin the 2023 season, that the Northeastern Conference divisional season is right around the corner with all the preseason goals still intact.

Rudloff was not talking about last Friday night’s game at Peabody. He was actually referring to the games against Masco and Beverly over the next two weeks.

“Moving forward, we are fortunate enough that our (divisional schedule) doesn’t start for another week against Masco,” said Rudloff after the North Andover game. “And with that said our goals remain the same, and that’s to have a winning record, win the (division), make the playoffs and win a state championship. As of right now, all of those goals are still ahead of us. We just need to get healthy, continue working hard and improve our mental and physical approach (in) our practices.”

But first, they still had to play the host Tanners (4-0), and although the game was

competitive the visitors still ended up on the short end of the scoreboard, 41-21.

Two Peabody touchdowns in the final minute of the first half blew open a close game. The game was tied at seven after one quarter, when the opportunistic Tanners took advantage of some good fortune to take a 38-14 lead into the break.

Peabody’s Alex Silva scampered 81 yards to the house to give his teammates the first of two late first half scores, much to the surprise of the Marblehead defense. Then, the special teams failed to recover the kickoff, and one play later Silva had another

touchdown. It was definitely a dagger in Marblehead’s heart, coupled with an earlier field goal by Dom Scalese that ignited the surge.

But the Magicians were still fighting in the second half, looking to break their threegame losing streak.

Peabody led in total yards, 300-248, but the visitors, playing catch-up, were credited with 142 all-purpose yards in the last two quarters, compared to just 48 for Peabody, which definitely pleased Rudloff.

Junior quarterback Colt Wales and sophomore signal caller Finn Gallup were very

bOYS SOccer

COURTESY PHOTO

The Marblehead High boys cross-country team is all smiles after winning the Ocean State Invitational for the second year in a row on Sept. 23.

COURTESY PHOTOS / EYAL OREN

Marblehead senior running back Brooks Keefe (29) runs past the Peabody defense during last Friday night’s game at Peabody.

COURTESY PHOTO/CHIP DeLORENZO/BROWN UNIVERSITY

Brown University senior wide receiver Wes Rockett of Marblehead scores a touchdown against Central Connecticut State in his team’s home opener last Saturday. The Ivy League school won going away, 42-20. The St. John’s Prep graduate has already scored three touchdowns in the early going for the 2-1 Bears.

Courtesy photo / Brown University Marblehead native and St. John’s Prep product Wes Rockett.

MHS VA rSIt Y ScHeDULe

Wednesday, Oct. 4

3:45 p.m. golf vs. Saugus at King Rail Golf Course

4 p.m. boys soccer vs. Salem at Bertram Field, Salem

4:30 p.m. girls soccer vs. Salem at Piper Field

5:30 p.m. volleyball vs. Salem at Salem High

6:30 p.m. field hockey vs. Lynnfield at Lynnfield High

Thursday, Oct. 5

4 p.m. field hockey vs. Beverly at Beverly High

4:30 p.m. unified basketball vs. Salem at Marblehead High

5 p.m. volleyball vs. Haverhill at Haverhill High

Friday, Oct. 6

6:30 p.m. football vs. Masconomet at Masconomet Regional High

Monday, Oct. 9

10 a.m. boys soccer vs. Beverly at Beverly High

Tuesday, Oct. 10

4 p.m. girls soccer vs. Beverly at Piper Field

4 p.m. volleyball vs. Peabody at Peabody Veterans Memorial High

Wednesday, Oct. 11

4 p.m. girls and boys cross country vs. multiple schools at Bradley Palmer State Park

4 p.m. golf vs. Salem at Olde Salem Greens

4 p.m. boys soccer vs. Danvers at Piper Field

5:30 p.m. girls soccer vs. Danvers at Danvers High

6:30 p.m. field hockey vs. Gloucester at Piper Field

Field hockey shuts down Peabody again

BY JOE McCONNELL

The Marblehead High field hockey team (3-5) defeated Peabody in the rain last Friday afternoon, 6-0.

“The entire team was amazing against Peabody, and I’m so proud of them. They are finally putting all the things we have been working on in practice into a game,” said firstyear coach Mia Maccario.

“(Maggie) Beauchesne did an amazing job in net coming up with many sensational kick saves,” added Maccario.

Gabby Hendy assisted by Avea Salem, Savannah Caruso and Lauren Zisson notched half of the team’s goals.

The Magicians began the season with a 3-0 win against these same Tanners. They also defeated Saugus, 1-0 on Sept. 26, but lost to Danvers (5-0), Gloucester (8-0), Danvers again (2-0), Masco (6-0) and Swampscott (5-0).

Coach Maccario’s team will be at Lynnfield to take on the non-league Pioneers Oct. 4, 6:30 p.m., before facing host Beverly the next day, beginning at 4 p.m.

O’Connell once again dazzles against regional foes

The Marblehead High girls cross-country team (3-0 in the Northeastern Conference) participated in the annual Ocean State Invitational on Sept. 23. It was held at Goddard State Park in Warwick, Rhode Island.

In the girls 5K small school championship race, sophomore Mari O’Connell (18:28.6, sixsecond personal best) finished 10th overall.

“O’Connell had the fastest time of the day for a Massachusetts runner,” said coach Will Herlihy. “That six-second personal best understates just how impressive this showing was for her, considering her prior best time came on a much faster course at the end of last season when she was in peak form.”

Abbie Goodwin (104th , 23:55.7, personal best), Shannon Hitscherich (122nd, 24:31.9, personal best) and Angie Fischer (160th, 26:39.4) also competed in this invitational meet for coach Herlihy’s squad.

“Abbie (Goodwin) took an outstanding 3:30 off her time from last year’s race in what was her best race of her career,” said Herlihy.

bOYS SOccer

Magicians drop three straight against formidable foes

BY JOE McCONNELL

The Marblehead High boys soccer team (2-5-2) plummeted back to earth last week, losing three straight games after it previously had defeated Peabody and Saugus.

On Saturday, Sept. 23, the Magicians traveled to Andover to face the Golden Warriors, only to lose by the narrowest of margins, 2-1. It was also the first time this fall they had played on natural grass.

Host Andover was able to surge ahead to take an early lead after striking a bullet through traffic midway through the first half. They then scored another one just before halftime.

With little room to invoke their aerial attack on a smaller field, the Marblehead boys struggled to sustain an offense as their long passes were continually intercepted by Andover’s goalie.

However, momentum started shifting in Marblehead’s favor, which slowed down the Golden Warriors attack. Midfielder London McDonald then scored on a broken defensive play to trim the deficit in half, 2-1. But the home team was able to hold off the visitors from that point on to win this close contest.

The Magicians then faced two highcaliber opponents, Northeastern Conference North Division foe Masco (5-0-1) on the road in Boxford and Division 1 powerhouse ConcordCarlisle (5-0-0), also away from home.

In a face-paced battle, Masconomet first edged the locals, 1-0. The Chieftains’ superb defense kept the Magicians from sustaining any type

of offensive attack inside the 18-yard line throughout the entire game.

Concord-Carlisle, a quarter finalist in last year’s state playoffs, before losing to eventual champion St.

John’s Prep, was by far the most skilled opponent the Marblehead boys had gone up against so far this season.

Though the locals were competitive in the first half, trailing by only a slim 1-0 margin, the Patriots’ discipline and speed proved to be too much for Marblehead to overcome in the second half.

Concord-Carlisle made the necessary adjustments at halftime, and began using lateral runs

inside the goal box to find seams in the defense. They crossed the ball from the sides to the center, before firing a consistent barrage of shots on net. The Patriots also capitalized on several direct kicks to break open a close game to win going away, 8-0.

The Magicians followed up that loss with a game against winless Waltham (0-5-1) on Oct. 2 after press deadline. They will follow up that contest with a short trip to Salem (2-4-1) to face the Witches Oct. 4, starting at 4 p.m., before heading to Beverly for an Oct. 9 morning game against the Panthers at 10 a.m.

The Marblehead girls took part in the Frank Kelley Invitational last Saturday in Wrentham, before resuming the NEC schedule Oct. 3 against the Vikings at Winthrop. Results from both meets will be in next week’s Marblehead Current.

Girls soccer falls to Masco

The Marblehead High girls soccer team (3-4) dropped a close 2-0 decision to Masco on Sept. 27.

“We know Masco was going to be a tough opponent, and they were,” said first-year coach Lisa Wales. “That being said, we were inconsistent in our play.”

Goalie Kate Burns kept her teammates in the game making 10 saves. “Quite frankly, it could have been much more. This was her best game so far this season,” said Wales.

Katie Pyne and Talia Selby also played well on the defensive side of the pitch, according to Wales.

These Magicians hosted non-league Weston on Oct. 2 after press deadline, before taking on Northeastern Conference rival Salem Oct. 4 at Piper Field, starting at 4:30 p.m. Beverly comes to town Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.

Golfers win two more matches

The Marblehead High golfers (8-1) defeated Gloucester at Winthrop, 48.5-23.5 on Sept. 27.

Six Magicians won their matches, including Simon Quicken (7.5-1.5), Marty Ryan (6-3), James Bickell (7.5-1.5), Adrian Baron (6.5-2.5), Matt Mahan (6.5-2.5) and Toby Grenier (7-2). Ryan was Marblehead’s medalist after shooting a one-under par 34. Mahan (38) also played well, according to coach Bob Green.

The Magicians then defeated host Beverly the next day, 41.5-30.5. Quicken (6.5-2.5), Ryan (7.51.5) and Toby Grenier (8-1) won their matches against their Panther counterparts. Baron and Mahan tied their matches.

Toby Grenier was Marblehead’s medalist in this match, shooting a 37. Quicken and Ryan ended up with identical scores of 38. Charlie Grenier and Mahan (39) were one stroke behind them.

The Magicians began a new week against rival Swampscott Oct. 3, with the winner taking home the High School Tedesco Cup. They will then be at Lynnfield’s King Rail Golf Course Oct. 4, 3:45 p.m., to take on Saugus.

COURTESY PHOTOS

The Marblehead High boys soccer team huddles up before the Masco game on the Chieftains’ Boxford campus last week.

Marblehead High boys soccer captain Jack Burke gets out of trouble with a pass past his Andover counterparts during a recent game.

BY JOE McCONNELL

The Marblehead High girls cross-country team participated in the annual Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association’s Frank Kelley Invitational at the Wrentham Developmental Center on Sept. 30. The meet featured two separate races, one was designed for just the freshman and sophomore runners, while the other one was designated for junior and senior harriers with a few exemptions in both the small and large school divisions.

The Magicians had one of those exemptions, and to nobody’s surprise sophomore Marrietta O’Connell (10:51.2) rose to the occasion to win the 3k small school race with plenty to spare, even with just wearing one shoe. O’Connell has been an elite varsity runner the last two years, and nothing and nobody seems to intimidate this Marblehead whiz.

“Marrietta stepped right up (to run in the older race), and she won it by nearly 20 seconds, even running the second half of the race with only one shoe,” said coach Will Herlihy. “Her time was the fastest 3k time on the day, including the large school races.

“Overall, it was a strong showing for all the Marblehead runners in the Junior/Senior race, and it’s a great sign on how the team is shaping up at this stage of the season,” added Herlihy.

Beyond O’Connell’s firstplace finish, senior Cat Piper (12:08.5, 11 th ), junior

Maren Potter (13:14.4, 27th ) and senior Shannon Hitscherich (14:09, 62 nd ) also ran exemplary races in this invitational competition.

In the freshmen/ sophomore race, freshman Willow Waddington (15:22.8, 133rd), sophomore Susana Garcia (15:33.8, 141st), sophomore Avery Barbeau (15:50.9, 150th ) and freshman Ivana Nguyen (16:55.9, 180 th) competed for the Magicians. The Top 10 2023 Frank Kelley Invitational finishers in the small school junior / senior girls division were as follows: sophomore

Marri O’Connell of Marblehead (10:51.20);

freshman Abby Flagg of Whitinsville Christian (11:10.20); senior Ella Kane of Medfield (11:43.50);

junior Natalie Martin of Norwood (11:45.40);

senior Blake Parker of Newburyport (11:47.20);

junior Anna LaRowe of Medfield (11:47.30); junior Addy Hunt of Wilmington (11:47.80); junior Madeline Mahoney of Nauset Regional (11:57.50); junior Gabriela Friel of Weston High (12:06.40); and senior Hannah Bryson of Wilmington (12:06.90).

Susie Likins is keeping Kids in Motion

BY MELISSA STACEY

The following is an interview with Susie Likins, owner of Kids in Motion Dance Studio, conducted by Discover Marblehead. Kids in Motion offers a wide variety of dance classes for all levels and ages, preschool through high school. To learn more, visit kidsinmotiondancestudio.com.

Tell us about Kids in Motion Dance Studio and why you started it. Kids in Motion Dance Studio began 17 years ago. My girls grew up dancing at a studio in Marblehead and I loved every

minute of their experience. I felt like Marblehead needed an option for children to dance recreationally, meaning that dance didn’t have to be their main activity and children could take as little as one class or as many classes as they wanted. At

LYNcH/VAN OtterLOO YMc A

Kids in Motion, children can take hip-hop without having to take ballet. We offer a wide variety of dance classes for all levels and ages, preschool through high school. The instruction from our staff is high-quality in a relaxing, caring and family-feel type studio.

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received, or advice you would like to share? When it comes to business advice, I would say, “Always trust your gut and follow your Instincts.”

What is your favorite spot

in Marblehead, and why? I love all of Marblehead. I grew up and raised my family here in town. One of my favorite spots is Gatchell Park. It holds a lot of great memories for me of the hundreds of baseball games my son played there.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? I think people would be surprised to learn that I love to knit. It’s a relaxing hobby that I really enjoy. The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is dedicated

Susie Likins started Kids in Motion for young people who want a more recreational approach to dance.

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

Jr. Celtics Rookie Hoops and Academy are back at the Y

BY BRIAN FLYNN, LVO YMCA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jr. Celtics registration opens at the Y on October 6. First games and practices start the week of December 4. Jr. Celtics provides an instructional program for children of all ages to learn, stay active and feel connected. This fun-filled, action-packed youth development program for ages 3-14 years old is a great way to learn the game or improve your skills.

Nick Harshaw, sport director at the Y said, “We are so excited to get all the kids back in the gym for this incredibly fun basketball program. We are thrilled to have an amazing partnership with the Celtics that enables us to share their basketball expertise with the community through this player development program. This engaging program provides a recreational basketball experience that gives kids the skills they can use on and off the court.”

Jr. Celtic Rookie Hoops This 12-week program for ages 3-5 is a great place for young players to start. It focuses on skills and

Football

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impressive splitting up the job to give opposing future defenses one more thing to worry about in their pregame preparations.

The defense also figured into the scoring column when captain Jake Scogland intercepted a pass in the second quarter, and then rambled 40 yards to the endzone to trim the deficit at that time to seven, 21-14.

Junior Justin Gonzalez then recovered a fumble, giving his team the ball in great field position at the Peabody 27. But the offense failed to get a first down on four tries.

It was then all Tanners for the rest of the half, started by that field goal by Scalese, his first

Rockett

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63 receptions during that Super Bowl campaign.

Love of sports begins early

Rockett developed his love for sports in the town’s youth leagues — and his Marblehead backyard.

“I played any sport that I could when I was growing up, whether it was in the backyard on Schooner Ridge with my older brothers (Owen and Hayden) or in the Marblehead youth sports programs,” Rockett said.

“I played football, basketball, lacrosse and baseball. I also played some soccer way back in

Jr. Celtics are back the Y with kids basketball programs.

drills and basic motor functions with an emphasis on listening, discipline, social emotional skills and group play. This is a perfect landing spot for any child’s first basketball experience. Our coaches teach the basics of the game in a fun and engaging way.

Jr. Celtics Academy

This 12-week basketball league teaches fundamental basketball skills for ages 6-14. Program highlights include a skills test, Celtics game watch party at the TRACK at New Balance and enhanced combine

of two in the game. His second one was a rocket launcher from 48 yards out to account for his team’s only points in the second half. Following Scalese’s second quarter field goal, the host team scored those two aforementioned touchdowns in the last minute to balloon their lead from a seven-point advantage to 24 points at halftime, 38-14.

But then, Rudloff liked the heart that his team displayed in the second half, outscoring Peabody, 7-3. It’s an encouraging sign for what lies ahead on the schedule with road games at Masco Friday, Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m., and then Beverly on Oct. 14 at 1 p.m. This is the part of the schedule, where they can get back into playoff contention, keeping all of those preseason

the day. But I wouldn’t exactly say that was my destiny.”

The town helped him in several different ways, he said.

“Everyone in town that supports the youth programs makes sports so readily available to each and every kid — not something that can necessarily be said anyplace else,” Rockett said. “We certainly can take that for granted sometimes. No matter the season, it seemed like every kid in town was active playing any string of sports with their friends while bouncing from practice to practice. Additionally, there are so many great athletes here who have a widespread hunger for success, which can only create

and evaluation days. Each child receives a custom Jr. Celtics jersey and a strong connection with the Celtics, which helps to set this program apart from others. The emphasis of the league is on a healthy player/ coach development based on the Y core values of honesty, respect and caring.

Jr. Celtics Academy is divided into three divisions:

Pro division, level 1 & 2 (ages 6-8), 8-foot hoop

All-star division, level 1 & 2 (ages 9-11), 9-foot hoop

MVP division (ages 12-14)

goals very much in play.

The Magicians were able to challenge the Tanners throughout without the services of captain Andy Palmer and Brady Selvais, who were out with injuries, another reason why Rudloff was impressed by the effort.

But Palmer and Selvais weren’t the only ones not suiting up for the Tanners. “We had 12 varsity players out at different times (last week) in practice due to a stomach bug and injuries,” said Rudloff. “We had to bring freshman Chris Tardie up to the varsity just to have a practice earlier in the week. But he was injured three plays in, and had to leave that practice, so our third string quarterback Drew Goldman had to start at tailback. This unfortunately has been a

a certain atmosphere of healthy competition from a young age.”

Too soon to think about NFL

The 6-foot, 185-pound collegiate offensive threat has always dreamt about playing in the NFL someday, but right now his focus is on the Bears and doing everything he can to win each week this fall.

“Everything else will take care of itself when the time comes, because the priority now is the opponent in front of us and putting ourselves in the best position possible to be successful as a unit,” Rockett said.

So far, so good, in that regard. The Brown Bears opened up this

10-foot hoop

There is a one-hour practice and one-hour game each week. The Boston Celtics and the Y understand that youth sports experiences can pave the way for children to learn teamwork, leadership, and hard work. Our partnership ensures every child participating in a Jr. Celtics YMCA program will experience the game in a positive way and foster a lifelong love of the game. Did you know basketball was invented at the YMCA? The very first game of basketball was played on December 21, 1891, in Springfield. The creator was James Naismith, a 30-year-old physical education faculty member at the YMCA International Training School (later to be named Springfield College.) He was tasked with creating a game that could focus young men and be played indoors in the winter.

Naismith knew he wanted the game to be interesting to keep the attention of players and yet easy to play and safe. At the first game, the height of the “hoop” was placed at 10 feet, determined solely by the height of the Y’s indoor running

microcosm of our season so far.”

Despite the absences, the veteran Marblehead coach had nothing, but praise for his team’s efforts. “This game against Peabody was our best game of the year for 95% of the snaps,” Rudloff added. “It was the other 5%, however, that we did some really exceptional things to beat ourselves.”

Wales called his own number to complete a first quarter drive with a six-yard run to the endzone.

Scogland’s aforementioned interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter shifted momentum temporarily back to the visitors.

Sam Thompson was credited with the lone second half touchdown for both sides, when he hauled in a 40-yard scoring

season with a win against Bryant College on Sept. 16, 29-25. Rockett caught eight passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way.

After losing to Harvard by three — don’t blame Rockett, who hauled in nine passes for 149 yards, including the ESPNworthy highlight — Brown then defeated Central Connecticut State last Saturday in its home opener, 42-20. Rockett totaled 148 yards on eight receptions, several of which extended drives, and he also again found the end zone

Next on the schedule, Brown will host the Rhode Island Rams Saturday, Oct. 7, beginning at noon.

Besides being a prolific

track. The score of the first game was 1-0 as Naismith hadn’t yet thought to cut out the bottoms of the peach baskets.

Instead, someone had to climb a ladder to claim the ball from the basket.

The game was a success from the start and word spread. Within a few days, the class was attracting a crowd. Teachers from a nearby girls’ school asked the Y to organize a girls team. In 1936, basketball became an Olympic sport. Still time to join the Y’s Annual Raise a Racquet squash tournament Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14

This round-robin team tournament raises funds for the Y’s annual campaign which allows the us to provide financial assistance to ensure that every family, regardless of their ability to pay, has access to all Y programs and services. Sponsorship opportunities and $100 per player. For more information, please contact Samantha Gambaccini at gambaccinis@northshoreymca. org

Register at raceroster.com/ events/2023/80230/2023-raise-aracquet.

strike from Wales. Sure-footed Greg Motorny did his part again with three successful extra point tries after each touchdown.

Wales led the team in rushing with 62 yards on eight carries. Drew Goldman and Brooks Keefe each picked up 15 yards more on the ground.

Wales completed six passes for 87 yards. Gallup had 10 pass completions for 67 yards. Keefe caught seven of those passes for 63 yards. Ryan Commoss had six for 54. Crew Monaco, Rylan Golden and Thompson caught one pass apiece.

“Scott Campbell, Jake Scogland and Rylan Golden all played solid games,” said Rudloff, “and Drew Goldman stepped up and filled in for our injured players and looked good.”

receiver, Rockett is also a punt and kick returner, which is a source of stress for his mother, he acknowledged.

Rockett is majoring in behavioral decision sciences but has no plans to be a neuroscientist. He signed up for the major “to leverage the unbelievable research opportunities that Brown has to offer in order to conduct a concussion study on my team, which was a very cool experience,” he explained.

Instead, if the NFL does not open its doors, Rockett plans to pursue a career in business, having done internships in the private equity realm the past two years.

COURTESY PHOTO

Marblehead’s best bets Oct. 4-Oct. 11

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current associate editor/senior reporter Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.

Leigh Blander

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’

Runs Oct. 6-15 Marblehead Little Theatre presents “Arsenic and Old Lace.” This screwball mystery/comedy revolves around the Brewster family, “descended from Mayflower settlers but now composed of maniacs, most of them homicidal,” says MLT. 12 School St. More at mltlive.org.

Wreaths Across America fundraiser

Saturday, Oct. 7, 6-11 p.m.

Come to the VFW, 321 West Shore Drive, for the Wreaths Across America fundraiser and enjoy live music by the “Melody Makers,” food and raffle prizes. $20 covers the purchase of a wreath to be placed on a veteran’s grave. This event is open to the community.

Catie Curtis at Me&Thee

Friday, Oct. 6, 8 p.m.

The New Yorker calls her a “folk-rock goddess.” Award-winning singer-songwriter Catie Curtis is bringing her socially conscious music to Me&Thee Music at 28 Mugford St. More info and tickets at meandthee.org

Eastern Sun Drummers and Singers

Monday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m.

This Indigenous Peoples Day, experience a performance by Eastern Suns Drummers and Dancers of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation at the Lee Mansion, 165 Washington St. Eastern Suns share songs as a way to keep traditions alive. As song keepers, they honor the sacredness of sound as healing modality and community-builders

Card reading salon

Wednesday, Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m.

Join Peyton Pugmire — artist, card reader and intuitive guide — for an evening of card reading, reading instruction and intuitive guidance. Pugmire will provide a variety of card decks, both oracle and tarot, for you to use, or you can bring your own. He’ll offer tips and tricks on how to do a perfect reading for yourself and others. He’ll then pull cards and openly discuss what they reveal. He’ll conclude the gathering by offering a reading for each guest. Event is at MacRae’s Sustainable Goods, 108 Washington St. Cost is $55. creativespiritma.com

INDIGeNOUS PeOPLeS DAY

Dance party

Saturday, Oct 7, 8-11 p.m.

Come rock out and dance with the Guy Ford Band at The Beacon Restaurant, 123 Pleasant St.

Marblehead’s original inhabitants: The Naumkeag Tribe

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

This Indigenous Peoples Day Oct. 9, it’s interesting to note that long before European settlers arrived in what is now Marblehead, the area was home to the Naumkeag people, part of the larger Massachusett tribe. Naumkeag history and heritage are deeply intertwined with the coastal town’s origins.

The Naumkeags were one of several Algonquin-speaking tribes in the coastal regions of present-day Massachusetts. Their sachem, or chief, was Nanepashemet, who oversaw territories from Salem to Gloucester. Native people had inhabited the area for millennia, evidenced by abundant archaeological sites.

When English colonists established Salem in 1626, Nanepashemet agreed to a peace treaty and mutual aid. But the partnership was cut short when Nanepashemet was killed in 1619, leaving his surviving wives Squaw Sachem and Wenaumet to lead the Naumkeag.

In the following decades, Naumkeag settlements dotted the shoreline and interior hills of Marblehead, with Native place names like Mugford, Wigwam Hill and Powder House surviving today. The people sustained themselves through agriculture, fishing and hunting.

After Nanepashemet’s death, colonists and Naumkeag relations grew more fractured.

The Naumkeags were hesitant to convert to Christianity or adopt English customs. Squaw Sachem continued to assert Naumkeag territorial rights.

In 1649, Marblehead was officially incorporated as its own township, separate from Salem. But the Native American presence remained strong. In an account by settler Robert Moulton, he described the many Naumkeag survivors in Marblehead during King Philip’s War, evidence that it was still part of their ancestral land.

Despite Naumkeag occupation, Marblehead’s claim to the land originated with the 1629 royal charter establishing the Massachusetts Bay Colony. After

the charter was revoked in 1684, the Naumkeag survivors and heirs moved to reassert their

territorial rights. Sagamore George or George No-Nose, the grandson of

Nanepashemet and Squaw Sachem, came forward as the heir to Marblehead lands. No-Nose agreed to sell the territory for 16 pounds sterling. But before the deed could be signed, he passed away.

In September 1684, No-Nose’s widow Ahawayet and other Naumkeag descendants signed the deed with their marks. The original recording took place in Salem, with spelling changes in the copy that remains today.

The sale of Marblehead represented the significant loss of land and territory experienced by Native communities across New England in the colonial era. Yet the 1684 deed also represents an important legal acknowledgement of Naumkeag ownership and rights.

Today, the deed hangs in Abbot Hall, in the Select Board Room. It serves as a symbol of the Naumkeag people who inhabited the area for hundreds of years before Europeans arrived. Other traces of this indigenous past remain. Archaeological excavations in Marblehead continue to uncover Naumkeag artifacts. Native place names dot the local landscape.

And in the deed itself, the marks of Ahawayet, Weecowet, Nanesemt, Ned and John Umpee represent the long history of Marblehead’s original inhabitants, the Naumkeag people, and their heritage as part of the town’s founding origins.

COURTESY PHOTO / ESSEX INSTITUTE

Native American skeletons were exhumed in Marblehead on Nov. 10 and 11 in 1874.

A photo of the 1684 deed that hangs in Abbot Hall: A testament to the Naumkeag Tribe’s legacy and rightful claim to the lands of Marblehead before Colonial settlements

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Headlight

Mr. Dan Richards Interview

Ila Bumagin, Senior, Co-Editor-in-Chief

Meet Dan Richards, new Assistant Principal for grades 11 and 12. Assistant principals often get a bad reputation. But Mr. Richards proves there is a fun side, too.

Mr. Richards has his graduate degrees from Salem State (Education Administration Leadership) and Cambridge College (Negotiation and Conflict Resolution). He has worked in numerous middle and high schools across the Metro-West and North Shore. In these other districts, he has worked as an assistant principal, a teacher, a dean, and an acting assistant superintendent. He says, "I've circled back to assistant principal because during that career path, I was removed further and further away from students and teachers, and that's why I got into education in the first place. I climbed the ladder, and circled back. I've liked all of those positions, but this is where it made most sense."

Although he is from the North Shore, Mr. Richards is loving Marblehead. He says, "In Marblehead, I'm finding the students very open, not scared to have a conversation. The teachers are very professional collaboratively, and very dedicated to the students. The parents have been welcoming and open as well." In addition, he loves the culture of the football games and town spirit. I asked him what his main goals are in his first year at Marblehead. He states, "In any new position, there are several things you have to focus on. First off, building relationships with faculty, that's a priority. That takes time, but is very important. Lower down on the list, I need to figure out the operational things, getting to know how things run been here." So, getting adjusted

and working with new people. To better know the students, he has attending football games and asking questions. He says he really wants to involve himself in the traditions and cultures we have in Marblehead.

I brought up how assistant principals are often seen only as discipline positions. He says, "My goal is to kind of break that mindset because it's more than that [discipline]. It's happening naturally, and I love that. That's the best part of the job. Greeting people, being at the football games, any sporting events, plays." He says the best way students can help break that barrier is by stopping by his office and greeting him in the morning at his daily post outside. Already students are welcoming to him, and he encourages that to continue. He really loves the daily interactions with students and faculty. "My destresser is students. Just randomly talking to students; that's why I've come back to this job. It gets you away from that paperwork, the duty things I have to do."

Finally, I asked if he had any fun facts for us, and he did not disappoint. Mr. Richards used to live in Lake Placid, and he got involved with winter sports there, specifically "skeleton racing." Just as dangerous as it sounds, this is face-down, head-first sledding. He explains, "I was on the USA Bobsled Skeleton Federation, which selects people to qualify for the Olympics." He said that he wasn't actually in the Olympics, but was still involved in the sport at a very high level.

I certainly had fun getting to know Mr. Richards, so make sure to stop by his office and say hello. And a thank you to him for the interview!

Marblehead is An Arts Town

Benji Boyd, Junior, Assistant Editor

In high school, it’s easy to lose sight of what isn’t directly before your eyes. Between keeping up with classes, extracurriculars, jobs, and attempting to fit sleep into their schedule, few students have time to appreciate what their hometown has to offer.

This summer, I became an intern at the Marblehead Current Newspaper. Traveling around town, talking to people, attending events, and covering arts and culture has taught me more about the town I’ve lived in for sixteen years than I ever thought possible. Learning that the Marblehead Arts scene is much more than the Festival of Arts in July and the school musical has opened my eyes to a world that has always existed around me, that I can only hope more people my age will find ways to engage with and enjoy.

One of my first assignments was to cover a gallery at the Marblehead Arts Association, located in the Hooper Mansion. After googling the location of this mansion (spoiler: it’s on Hooper Street), I drove down to view their members’ exhibit. Though I was unsure of exactly what I was going to find, I went in prepared for the usual sailboats and lighthouses. While the traditional Marblehead aesthetic was certainly represented, local motifs took on a new life in a diverse variety of forms. Artists experimented with mediums ranging from printmaking to photography to depict themes of nature and life

that I would not have expected to find just down the street.

I’ve since discovered that the MAA is much more than a gallery for displaying art, but a community organization as well. They organize solo shows for their members, who range in age from senior Marbleheaders to high school students. The Hooper Mansion’s basement ‘tavern’ and garden are open spaces available for public use. There are so many ways to interact with art in this town, and taking a trip down to a free exhibition is a great way to start.

Since then, I’ve covered several performances at Marblehead Little Theater and the Me & Thee Coffeehouse. In a town as old and established as ours, it's easy to take our cultural scene for granted. In fact, the trends of people enjoying these types of performing arts are reflected in what kind of entertainment is offered. Though most of our local content isn’t directed at younger audiences, being in tune with what kind of entertainment is available is worth it.

Trying new things around town has convinced me that despite the urge to think constantly about my next steps in life, I should soak up all that Marblehead has to offer. Anyone my age will have their head filled with college visits, applications, and potential new homes all over the world. For some, they may want to stay close to home. For others, they may count the days before they can get away. Whether you love it or hate it, we live in an artsy town. My advice is to take a look.

Halloween Candy Recipes

Rachael Albert, Senior, Assistant Editor

October is here, which means it’s time for pumpkin spice, and more importantly, Halloween candy! But why go out and buy candy that is so easy to make at home?

Today I am sharing with you easy and family friendly Halloween candy recipes with no oven or stove required.

Before we begin, many recipes call for melting chocolate, so we must know how to melt it easily and safely. Instructions: Place your chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between each one. This ensures that the chocolate does not burn. Be careful, because often there will be chunks of chocolate when the bowl is taken out of the microwave, but they will melt when stirred with the hot chocolate. Alternatively you can melt the chocolate over the stove in a double boiler. Use your preferred chocolate for all recipes.

Crunch Bars! Ingredients: 2c chocolate chips, 2/3c Rice Krispies or other puffed rice cereal.

Directions: 1) Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 2) Melt

chocolate. 3) Stir in cereal, careful not to crush the cereal. 4) Spread in a rectangular layer about ⅛-¼ in. thick. 5) Run a toothpick or butter knife across the warm chocolate to create bite-sized bars. When the chocolate cools, it will be easy to snap it apart following these lines (optional). 6) Leave to set in the fridge. 7) Break the bar apart and enjoy! Store refrigerated or frozen. Candy Buttons! *This recipe contains raw eggs* Makes: 4 sheets.

Ingredients: 4 tbsp powdered sugar, 1 ¼ tsp lemon or other fruit juice, 1 egg white, food coloring (optional).

Directions: 1) Cut 4 strips of wax or parchment paper about 3 in. thick. 2) Whisk your egg white until frothy, it should not be opaque. 3) Add your powdered sugar and juice to a small bowl and mix until well combined. 4) Add 1 tsp of your egg white and mix until combined. Add food coloring now if desired. 5) Using a syringe or chopstick, drop the mixture onto the paper sheets, making about 5 drops per row. 6) Allow to dry for 24-48 hours. When dry, eat right off the paper, just like old times.

Headlight Staff 2023-2024

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Ila Bumagin and Mona Gelfgatt

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Benji Boyd, Rachael Albert TECHNOLOGY EDITOR: Kate Twomey

REPORTERS: John Bender, Grey Collins, Tucker Crane, Aislin Freedman, Samuel Jendrysik, Anya Kane, Nina Lees, Luke Menslage, Peter Sullivan, Livia Weiss, Benjamin Zaltsman

FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The Marblehead Current is pleased to announce that it will be publishing Marblehead High School’s student newspaper, The Headlight, each week.

The Headlight has been printed for decades, but MHS faculty advisor and English teacher Thomas Higgins isn’t sure exactly when it started. “I do have copies of the Headlight from the early 1960s, when the newspaper was published by the high school,” said Higgins, who has overseen The Headlight for 23 years.

“There was a 20-cent fee for a paper! The relationship with the Marblehead Reporter seems to have begun in the late 1980s.”

The Reporter continued printing the Headlight until now. This year’s Headlight staff

Audrey April Allen, 95

Audrey April Allen passed away Sept. 30 at age 95.

April, as she was known to all, was born April 26, 1928 in Fristan, England, to Jessie Dale and Herbert George Allen. She had five half-siblings from her father’s first marriage and five siblings from his marriage to her mother: Monica, Myrtle, Clifford, Colin and Iris. April grew up in the midst of World War II and told many stories of life at that time, including

consists of about 20 student reporters and editors, including editors-in-chief Ila Bumagin and Mona Gelffatt, both seniors who have worked on the paper for four years.

The staff reports about three to four stories per week.

When asked about the Headlight’s biggest story over the decades, Higgins responded, “For me, the biggest story is that Headlight is still in existence and is run by students who care about journalism and its place in the world around them. The latter part is the one thread that has stayed strongly woven into our club and firmly tied by former longtime MHS Headlight faculty advisor and English teacher Marilyn Day.”

Look for the Headlight in the Current every week and online at MarbleheadCurrent.org.

one where she and a friend were fired on by Nazi planes on their way to school and then scolded for arriving late by the headmaster.

April studied and became a professional nanny in England for several years but decided to move to the United States in the late 1950s. Her first job was at the New England Home for Little Wanderers in Boston where she was admired for her dedication and expertise. She left the Home to attend Northeastern University and obtained a degree in education specializing in language and learning disabilities. While at school she became a nanny to a family in Boston. In the late 1960s, she moved as a nanny with another family to Houston, where she ultimately became

a beloved first grade teacher. Many of her students returned to thank her for all she had done for them. About 17 years ago, she retired and moved to Marblehead to be with the families she had helped to raise. She spent her retirement caring for the children of these families and enjoyed knitting, playing cards at the Senior Center and making new friends. April leaves behind many nieces, nephews and their children in Canada and England whom she loved dearly. And, although she never married and had no children of her

own, she will be missed by the families she helped to raise: Dave Zanger of Medford; Barbara Zanger and her sons, Allyn and Tony of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Jonathan Zanger of Bellaire, Texas; Lyn Holian and her daughters, Katie and Megan, of Marblehead; and Jim Hildebrandt of Warner Springs, California.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St. with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, April asked that donations be made to your favorite charity supporting children.

MPD responds to fraudulent checks, speeding car, debit account hack

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log Sept. 18-25. Consistent with state law, Marblehead Police have adopted a policy of not providing media outlets reports related to incidents involving domestic violence, juveniles and matters that remain under investigation.

Sept. 20

1:32 p.m. — Officer Nicholas Michaud was dispatched to the station lobby concerning a fraud report. Upon arrival, the reporting party, a male, informed the officer that he is the owner of a Salem business. The individual reported that his bookkeeper discovered an unauthorized check written for $23,44.40 and a subsequent review revealed an earlier check written for $36,226. Both checks, which did not originate from his standard checkbook, were cashed on August 24.

The reporting party communicated with his distributor

regarding these checks, but the company denied any knowledge. Following the discovery, he contacted his bank, Marblehead Bank. The bank addressed the fraudulent activity by refunding the amount and closing the affected accounts, with new ones subsequently opened. Details of this incident, along with the fraudulent checks, were forwarded internally for further investigation.

4:55 p.m. — Officer Tyler Bates was dispatched to the station concerning a report of a potential scam. Upon arrival, he spoke with a female who expressed concerns regarding a friend’s recent involvement in what she believed to be a scam.

The male, who lives on High Street, had reportedly provided his credit card information to a website purporting to be affiliated with the United Parcel Service (UPS), identified as uspzsuzou.top. The female had reached out to UPS, confirming

be AcON HILL rOLL c ALL

that the aforementioned website has no connection with the company. At the time of reporting, it remains uncertain if the male has incurred any financial loss due to this incident, as the female lacks access to his financial records. Notably, the male had been victimized by scams previously. The female requested that a detective converse with the male on the following day to gain insight into the recent scam. Officer Bates informed her of the procedure and suggested contacting the station the next day to arrange a report from a patrolman.

Moreover, due to recurring fraudulent activities affecting the male’s finances, the female urged Bates to alert North Shore Elder Services regarding his vulnerability. Complying with her request, Bates filed a report with North Shore Elder Services at 7:25 p.m.

Sept. 21

9:51 a.m. — Officer Luke Peters, patrolling in cruiser 67, was tasked with overseeing the downtown sector during the 7:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. shift. As part of his duties, from 8:56 a.m.-9:54 a.m., Officer Peters executed selective traffic enforcement on Brookhouse Drive. Within this duration, he spotted a vehicle exceeding the speed limit. Choosing to exercise discretion, Peters issued the driver a verbal warning for the speeding violation and allowed them to continue without further penalties.

Sept. 23

3:01 p.m. — Officer Timothy Morley was dispatched to address a report of a missing phone. The complainant reported that their iPhone was last confirmed to be at the Eat Well Kitchen on Atlantic Avenue around 11 a.m. The phone’s tracking application indicated a

vague location in the vicinity of Gilbert Heights Road. Morley promptly conducted a search in the indicated area, interviewing several residents and inspecting various parts of the neighborhood, including a portable toilet shed. All attempts to locate the missing phone, which was on silent mode, proved unsuccessful. Upon returning to the station, Morley informed the complainant of the unsuccessful search. The individual mentioned that the phone contained essential items including a credit card, a debit card and their driver’s license. Morley advised the individual to notify their financial institutions about the missing cards and to procure a replacement license if the phone remains untraceable. Before parting, the complainant was provided with a copy of their license data from the MPD system, and a report number was issued for any necessary reference in the future.

Legislature passes tax relief package

BY BOB KATZEN

THE HOUSE AND SENATE:

Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ and senators’ votes from the week of Sept. 25-29.

LEGISLATURE APPROVES TAX

RELIEF PACKAGE (H 4104)

House 155-1, Senate 38-1, approved and sent to Gov. Maura Healey the conference committee version of a tax relief package. It was drafted as a compromise to the different versions approved by the House and Senate. Supporters say this will provide $561.3 million in tax relief in fiscal year 2024

and $1.02 billion per year in subsequent years.

Provisions include increasing the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000; reducing the estate tax for all taxpayers and eliminating the tax for all estates under $2 million by allowing a uniform credit of $99,600; increasing the refundable tax credit for a dependent child, disabled adult or senior from $180 to $310 per dependent in taxable year 2023, and then to $440 in subsequent years while eliminating the child/dependent cap; doubling the refundable senior circuit breaker tax credit from $1,200

to $2,400; increasing the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit from 30 percent to 40 percent of the federal credit; and reducing the short-term capital gains tax rate from 12 percent to 8.5 percent.

Other provisions double the lead paint tax credit to $3,000 for full abatement and $1,000 for partial abatement; ensure that employer student loan payments are not treated as taxable compensation; make public transit fares, as well as ferry and regional transit passes and bike commuter expenses, eligible for the commuter expense tax

deduction; increase from $1,500 to $2,000 the maximum that municipalities may pay seniors to do volunteer work to reduce their property taxes; raise the annual authorization for the low income housing tax credit from $40 million to $60 million; and allow cities and towns to adopt a local property tax exemption for affordable real estate that is rented.

The measure also includes two provisions that the Mass Fiscal Alliance says will result in tax hikes. One would require Massachusetts married couples who file income tax returns jointly at the federal level to

do the same at the state level. The other changes the system under Chapter 62F that requires that annual tax revenue above a certain amount collected by the state go back to the taxpayers. Under current law, the money is returned to taxpayers based on what he or she earned and paid in taxes. The new tax package changed that and provides that each taxpayer will receive a flat rate refund, unrelated to what they earned or paid in taxes.

(A “Yes” vote is for the tax relief package. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Jennifer Armini: Yes

Sen. Brendan Crighton: Yes

HEADLIGHT PHOTO

The MHS Headlight staff, from left: Kate Twomey, layout editor; Ila Bumagin, co-editor-in-chief; Mona Gelfgatt, co-editor-in-chief; Rachael Albert, assistant editor; and Benji Boyd, assistant editor.

ObIt UA rY

Recreation and Parks Commission

DATE: Sept. 19

LOCATION: Jacobi

Community Center Conference Room

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Matt Martin. Present: Commissioners Karin Ernst, Linda Rice-Collins and Rossanna Ferrante, along with Recreation Director Jaime Bloch. Absent: Superintendent Peter James and Commissioner Shelly Bedrossian.

Appearances

» Rick Smyers re-presented the plans for Phase II of the bike park. He has plans for two wooden bridges to be built by the Recreation and

Parks Department after approval by the Conservation Commission. Abutting neighbors had been invited, but no one came.

Ken Klaiman presented his personal pickleball survey. He would like to have more open play time.

» Lisa Spinale presented her concerns for the Marblehead pickleball group, which included more weekend hours at Vets, lights on more at Seaside, repairs to

the courts, permanent lines on Court 5, portapotties, a storage shed and an AED.

» Karin, Shelly, Jaime and Peter have formed a committee to discuss all the issues surrounding pickleball, hopefully to satisfy players and neighbors.

» The dog park was locked by an unknown source and is being looked into.

Ferrante met with Town Planner Becky Cutting about the plans for Fountain Park, including the new steps and shoe factory. After the cost for the architect plans is established and approved, donations for memorial steps will be solicited.