02.14.2024 - Volume 2, Issue 12

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IN THIS ISSUE

NEDS

MUSIC

ROMANCE

Families make dreams come true for disabled athletes

Marblehead native Reardon releases new album

A Valentine’s Day spotlight

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Page 12

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February 14, 2024

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VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 12

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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT

HATE SPEECH

Meeting hit with racist, pornographic Zoombomb

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Police are investigating a racist, pornographic Zoombomb during a Health Board meeting

Police are investigating a racist and pornographic Zoombombing incident during the Board of Health’s hybrid meeting on Feb. 5.

During an in-person presentation by the executive director of the domestic violence services provider HAWC, written messages, drawings and video appeared on the Zoom

screen several times before the board recessed for 15 minutes and called police.

One message read, “Kill all n---s.”

A police officer arrived and spoke with Public Health Director Anderw Petty.

The meeting then resumed, undisturbed.

“I haven’t seen anything as graphic and hateful as this,” said Board of Health Chair Helaine

Hazlett, who is also the co-chair of the Task Force Against Discrimination. “This person is a bigot.”

Petty explained that he could not simply shut off Zoom and continue the meeting in person because the Mary Alley Building is not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

That means public meetings held there must include a virtual offering.

SEE SPOT RUN

Robot dog visits elementary students to spark their own ‘superpowers’

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead second and third graders met a special guest Tuesday — Spot, a robot dog who came to teach kids about computer coding and AI. Spot can dance, jump and walk up and down stairs, and visited the Glover and Brown schools, along with Dr. Lori Towle from the Code & Circuit school in Amesbury.

“We inspire kids with computer science and robotics,” Towle told the Current at Glover. “Every child has their own unique code and can grow their code. We teach them they can create and innovate.”

Spot was built by Boston Dynamics, but it was Code & Circuit student Will Schierey who designed the code to make Spot do special tasks.

When Towle asked the Glover second graders if they knew how to use the coding language Scratch, they all raised their hands. They learned it in school.

Towle explained all the ways Spot can be helpful to humans.

“He can carry up to 30 pounds on his back. With 18 cameras, he can be a seeing eye dog. Gas and heat sensors can be strapped to his back to keep buildings safe.”

She then asked students what other kinds of things Spot could ROBOT, P. A7

“Despite several attempts to remove the individual responsible for these acts from the meeting, they just kept coming back until we no longer could carry on with an agenda,” Petty said in a joint statement with Police Chief Dennis King and Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.

“The town of Marblehead, the ZOOM, P. A2

EDUCATION

New School Committee member appointed

BY LEIGH BLANDER

COURTESY PHOTO

After more than two hours of interviews and discussion Feb. 7, the School Committee and Select Board voted to appoint Al Williams as the newest member of the School Committee, filling a vacant seat.

Williams works »After petition as deputy chief service officer for with 720+ the state’s Office signatures, read of Technology what leaders, Services and residents hope Security and the School is retiring in five weeks. He Committee will has an Ed.D. in do next, Page 2 higher education and wrote his dissertation on whether school building conditions affect student achievement.

Williams has also taught at the high school and college level, including at Brandeis University. In Bedford, he served on the town’s capital expenditures and finance committee teams, and was elected to the library trustees board.

He was the last of seven candidates who interviewed for the seat left vacant by Meagan Taylor, who resigned last month.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity,” Williams told the Current minutes after being appointed. “My first goal will be establishing a good rapport with the committee members

Spot the robot dog visited students at the Glover and Brown schools last week.

WILLIAMS, P. A2

TOWN MEETING

After assessments spark uproar, board plans major overhaul

BY WILL DOWD The Select Board voted unanimously on Feb. 7 to sponsor a warrant article for the upcoming Town Meeting that would transition the Board of Assessors to an appointed (rather than elected) body under the Finance Department.

“The assessor’s department is responsible for $81 million of a projected $107 million that we have in revenue, yet they operate as a totally independent island,” said Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.

“That means all of the systems, the databases, the processes, staffing ... everything is outside our bubble.”

The proposed restructuring

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CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

The Select Board meeting discusses a proposal to restructure the Board of Assessors.

comes amid growing public pressure on town officials to address accusations of unchecked hikes in property

valuations and tax bills. It follows heated exchanges at the State of the Town address when residents interrogated

the Select Board over a lack of transparency around assessments.

Many local residents are angry

after receiving large property tax hikes they say vastly exceed home values and set dangerous precedents. They also argue assessments are inconsistent, with comparable neighborhood homes receiving substantially lower increases by 20-40%.

Under the current structure, Marblehead voters elect a threemember Board of Assessors operating autonomously from other municipal departments with its own staff led by a town assessor.

Select Board member Moses Grader has stressed the Assessor’s Office functions as “statutorily separate” from other municipal departments. The ASSESSMENTS, P. A7

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A2 Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Marblehead Current

EDUCATION

Concerned residents share what they hope happens next with School Committee

BY LEIGH BLANDER A group of residents is calling on the School Committee to demonstrate how it will do a better job with hiring, budgeting and communicating with transparency. The group announced its concerns and “lack of confidence” in letters to the editor and an online petition.

More than 720 people had signed the petition as of Monday, Feb. 12.

“We want to work with the School Committee to work on better outcomes,” said former School Committee member and chair Amy Drinker, who signed the letter. “Everyone is looking for some sort of action plan. It’s incumbent on the community to work with the School Committee to effect better outcomes and ways to resolve issues and get good leadership in the superintendent position.

It’s really important to have a transparent process to achieve that.”

Several familiar names signed the letter, including a former

A screenshot of the online petition that gives the School Committee failing grades

Marblehead superintendent and assistant superintendent, along with former members of the School Committee, Finance Committee, Select Board and Rotary. Parents and business owners also signed.

The letter gives the School Committee an “F” in four areas: reviewing and approving the school budget; setting policy; hiring, firing and managing the superintendent; and leadership conduct.

Dr. Philip Devaux, who worked as Marblehead superintendent from 1995 to 2002 and again from 2005 to 2007, also signed the letter.

“The School Committee needs a wake-up call,” Devaux said.

He continued, “There are some very serious situations upcoming: selection of a superintendent, building a budget, negotiating a teacher contract. There’s not any confidence at all that the sitting School Committee can accomplish those in a positive fashion.”

Former School Committee member David Harris told the Current what steps he hopes the board takes next.

“We want the School Committee to recognize that people have lost confidence in your leadership,” he said. “We’re calling on you to demonstrate

to all Marbleheaders how you’ll tackle these issues and improve your performance.”

Seth Gummere has four children in Marblehead schools.

He’s also looking for a plan.

“We know what the budget is; we know what the hiring is we have to do,” he said. “It’s now on the School Committee to really show to the town that they are able to put a plan together to tackle these things.”

Gummere emphasized that the people who signed the letter are from a “large cross section of people.”

“This isn’t just people who wanted the override or didn’t want the override,” he said.

“This is a group of people who understand we’re at a crossroads of action. It’s not about a political right or left; it’s about moving forward with a strong stewardship for the town.”

School Committee Chair Sarah Fox and members Brian Ota, Jenn Schaeffner and Alison Taylor declined to comment on the concerns addressed in the letter.

NeWS FOr PeOPLe, NOT FOr PrOFIT. CO-CHAIRPERSONS

Jessica Barnett Ed Bell NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Community Editor - Will Dowd wdowd@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

Intern - Benji Boyd CONTRIBUTORS

Jo Ann Augeri Silva Stephen Bach Bob Baker Linda Bassett Nicole Goodhue-Boyd Laurie Fullerton Mark Hurwitz John Lamontagne Christine McCarriston Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Chris Stevens Lisa Sugarman Linda Werbner BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Virginia Buckingham - President Gene Arnould Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Francie King Robert Peck Donna Rice Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD

HEALTH MATTERS

HAWC looks to increase impact

BY LEIGH BLANDER In the last year, HAWC (Healing Abuse, Working for Change) provided approximately 40 people in Marblehead with more than 400 services, including one-onone advocacy, legal help, support groups, shelter and children’s services. The nonprofit assisted two residents in town at risk for domestic homicide, according to HAWC’s executive director Sara Stanley.

Stanley spoke at the Feb. 5 Board of Health meeting, hoping to create new partnerships and have a bigger local impact.

“We would love to be a resource for everyone in Marblehead,” Stanley said. “This is a public health matter. Just like people are educated about the warning signs of a heart attack, they should be educated about the signs of domestic violence.”

HAWC serves 23 cities and towns in Essex County, providing comprehensive wrap-around,

Zoom From P. A1

Marblehead Police Department and the Board of Health unequivocally condemn the hateful comments made and acts displayed by the individual,” the statement read.

“We are a community that is inclusive to everyone, regardless of religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin or gender, and strives to maintain spaces for everyone to feel safe. That includes our public meetings, where openness to views other than our own is often required. However, we do so with mutual respect, and not

real-time support to people experiencing partner abuse or domestic violence. It offers five types of legal services, a 24-hour hotline and a shelter at an undisclosed location.

Stanley broke down demographics of the 40 or so Marblehead residents who received help in the last year: » 79% were 25-59 years old » 10% were 18-24 » 5% were 60-99 » 5% were 0-12 (This represents children specifically enrolled in crisis intervention programming, not the number of clients with children.)

Stanley said HAWC would be happy to offer training to Marblehead first responders, restaurant and bar owners and others on how to spot signs of domestic violence.

She wants people to know that HAWC and other victim service providers have lost a major source of federal funding under the Victims of Crime Act.

“We desperately need the state to include $20 million of VOCA bridge funding in the FY25 state budget to ensure level funding of services,” Stanley explained.

“Without this funding, HAWC’s legal services could be cut. We urge Marblehead residents to call their state representative and senator to urge them to support the VOCA bridge funding.”

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.

Stanley encouraged people to check out resources like loveisrespect.org and mass.gov/ respectfully for help with having age-appropriate conversations with the young people in their lives about healthy relationship dynamics.

The 32nd HAWC Walk & Run

by taking over a meeting through technology and sharing racist words or sexual lewdness for all to view.”

Rev. Jim Bixby with the Marblehead Racial Justice Team said the Zoombomb demands a strong response.

“Any death threats that are racially motivated like this are cause for high alarm and should not be treated lightly at all,” Bixby said.

“While what happens online cannot ever definitively be said to be local or nonlocal in terms of the actors perpetrating it, it nevertheless happened here in our community,” Bixby

continued. “And that comes with a sense of responsibility for addressing it, confronting it and articulating the opposite, which is that this a place of welcome and safety, where inclusivity is what defines us, as opposed to hatred.”

Bixby had this message for people in town: “I encourage all Marbleheaders of whatever identities define you to stand up now in this moment and say that this stuff will not go on unconfronted.”

The town’s joint statement said: “This type of incident reminds us of the importance to defend those who are marginalized in

Williams

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Al Williams smiles after being named the newest School Committee member on Feb. 7.

From P. A1 and the superintendent.”

The Select Board and School Committee jointly interviewed the candidates, many of whom spoke about the biggest challenges facing the committee: hiring a new superintendent and filling other key leadership roles, negotiating a new contract with educators whose contracts end this summer, and finalizing a budget with more than $2 million in anticipated cuts.

“It’s important to help people understand what the implications are around the different budgets that are being put together in a straightforward manner,” he said. “It’s helping the town

will be held on June 9. This year’s event will feature a new Youth Summit, Stanley said.

For more information, visit hawcdv.org. HAWC’s hotline is 1-800-547-1649.

Public Health Director Andrew Petty said he recently discovered that the town had not been donating the $4,000 a year to HAWC that had been budgeted.

Since the discovery, the BOH has written a $4,000 check to HAWC for 2024.

I AM bill

Also at the meeting, after hearing from resident Megan Sweeney, the board voted to write to state Rep. Jenny Armini, Sen. Brendan Crighton, Sheriff Kevin Coppinger and District Attorney Paul Tucker supporting the I AM bill.

The legislation would ensure free menstrual products to individuals in all public schools, homeless shelters, prisons and county jails.

our community as targets for racists and hate mongers. The town of Marblehead and all of the departments and boards that serve our citizens will not stand idly by while individuals try to create fear. We will work together to plan for and react with determination to address it.”

Petty told the Current that the BOH is considering moving its meetings to a Zoom webinar platform, which gives the host more control to block hackers.

In 2020, a School Committee meeting and a special education meeting were both Zoombombed with bigoted messages and

as best as possible understand what can and can’t be done and the implications associated with those decisions.”

“Victory happens in the classroom,” he added, saying he would try to avoid cuts directly impacting students.

Williams also spoke about ways to rebuild the community’s trust in the School Committee, suggesting it host town forums.

“More direct communication between the committee and the town’s folks might be a valuable option,” he said.

The other candidates interviewed Wednesday evening were Alexa Abowitz, Luisa Boverini, Ruth Farmery, Sarah Magazine, Tom Mathers and Brenton Speed.

The School Committee meets next on Thursday, Feb. 15.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 14, 2024 A3 Owen Anketell uses a sit ski to race down the slopes.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Owen Anketell, who cannot walk, has been playing adaptive sports at NEDS since he was 3.

Owen Anketell uses a hand-powered bike. He cycled from Maine to Florida one summer in high school.

‘IT WAS LIKE MAGIC’

Families change thousands of lives at New England Disabled Sports

BY LEIGH BLANDER Chris Baylow of Marblehead has a family member with autism spectrum disorder who loves sports but had trouble keeping up with his teammates.

“I used to coach baseball, and he was the only kid who couldn’t hit my pitching,” Baylow remembers.

Then, Baylow’s family discovered New England Disabled Sports at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire.

“It was like magic,” Baylow said. “He took to the program so well, and it opened up the world to him. Within just a few days, he was really making progress. And he had found a new social group with really caring people.

This allowed him to be connected to sports.”

Over the last 36 years, NEDS has worked with thousands of people with cognitive and physical disabilities, ages 3 to 85. The nonprofit offers lessons and camps for skiing, cycling, pickleball, kayaking, paddle boarding and more.

Seeing how much it helped his family member, Baylow became a NEDS ski coach. He is one of more than 200 NEDS volunteers.

‘He can do everything we can do’ Owen Anketell started taking ski lessons at NEDS when he was just 3 years old. He lives with a hereditary disease and is unable to walk. He’s now 20 and a multisport athlete.

“After my first lesson at NEDS, I couldn’t stop smiling,” Anketell said. “I took lessons through ninth grade and then started coaching.”

Baylow is in awe of Anketell’s athleticism. “He uses a sit ski, with one ski underneath him. He can do everything we can do.

He can ski any terrain; he can load and unload from the chairlift.”

Anketell loves the independence.

“It’s so much fun,” he said. “It’s something I can go out and do with my friends and family. I’m not holding them back. I can keep up. I can go out and do it myself.”

Anketell, who works in banking, earned a tennis

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scholarship at University of Arizona. When he was 16, he biked from Calas, Maine, to Key West, Florida. He competed in the Pan Mass Challenge last year and will do it again this summer using a hand cycle.

NEDS is open yearround and offers 2,600 adaptive sports lessons a year at Loon and Bretton Woods. People can take two-hour lessons or enroll in camps. (There is no housing, however.) NEDS also runs special programs for disabled veterans.

Several families in Marblehead participate in NEDS, including Kim and Vance Perry. Vance started as a volunteer ski instructor and is now on NEDS’ director of corporate development.

Kim is on the board of directors.

“This gives people a sense of purpose and builds confidence,” she said. “It’s a whole community. Being part of a community that supports you and understands you is a really special thing.”

Learn more about NEDS at nedisabledsports.org.

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A4 Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

Without fear or favor Being a journalist for the local newspaper in the community you reside in requires character, courage and a thick skin. The same people you cover, sometimes critically, always objectively, are in line with you at the coffee shop and grocery store. You might even bring your own teenage daughter to a public meeting, sharing lessons of civic engagement as you are reporting on important issues of public health.

Such was the case last week when the Marblehead Current’s editor attended a Board of Health meeting whose agenda included the important work by HAWC against the scourge of domestic violence.

That agenda got temporarily sidelined by what is known as a “Zoombomb” featuring horrific racist and pornographic content. The meetings of the Board of Health are held both in person and on Zoom to comply with ADA requirements, leaving it vulnerable to such digital attacks. We on this page have and will continue to condemn in no uncertain terms any racist, homophobic and hateful actions in this community. And we applaud the strong unified response by the Board of Health, the Director of Public Health Andrew Petty, the Marblehead Police and the Marblehead Racial Justice Team. They give true meaning to the slogan “Hate has no home here.”

What we won’t ever abide by are any attempts by public officials to dictate what should and should not be covered as news. Board of Health member Tom McMahon proclaimed at the meeting that “reporters” — and our editor was the only one present — should not cover the Zoombomb, calling it a distraction. He later doubled down and attempted to impugn our editor’s character in a series of comments on our Facebook post related to the Zoombomb story.

Mr. McMahon can have any opinion he wants of what is or isn’t considered newsworthy. That call, however, will never be his or any other elected officials’. It is crystal clear to us that both the nature of the Zoombomb’s content, the ability of the board to conduct its business given its vulnerability to such attacks, and the call for a police response rise to the level of news. Moreover, we strongly believe transparency is the hallmark of sound public stewardship. McMahon’s desire to keep the community in the dark is troubling in its own right.

Personal attacks and attempts at intimidation by Mr. McMahon or anyone else will not determine what the Current reports on in this community.

That will be guided solely by the professionalism, integrity and judgment of our experienced journalism staff. Our hats are off to them and the many hundreds like them, who cover local news in their own communities, informing citizens while also sometimes having to endure their ire.

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We want to hear from you The Marblehead Current loves to get letters to the editor. There are just a few rules you need to know.

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

Letters must include: 1. The author’s name. Unsigned letters and form letters will not be published.

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

3. For every letter, we will need an author’s daytime/ cell phone number (not for publication) for verification purposes.

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.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

What’s love got to do with it?

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM Here’s a radical idea to put into practice this Valentine’s Day: Love your neighbor. Last week, I was newly reminded how far we have strayed from this basic concept, 180 degrees to be exact.

Today, “disdain your neighbor” is not only the more common, but actually the preferred, approach to living in a community, a state, this country.

First, I don’t mean love your actual neighbor, hopefully you already do, or at least like them a lot. I mean neighbor in the larger collective sense.

David Brooks, the New York Times columnist and author summed up the “disdain your neighbor” era we’re in with a phenomenal The Atlantic piece entitled “Chicken Littles Are Ruining America.” Distilled to its core message, the piece basically argues that we are collectively in a negativity spiral that feeds on itself and blinds us to much that is positive about each other and our world.

When I read it, I immediately posted it on my family text thread and have said to virtually anyone I’ve had a conversation with this past week, “Please read this article, it is exactly what’s wrong with our country.”

I’m one who actually thinks there’s a lot right with our country, but what is wrong is perfectly stated

by Mr. Brooks, which he dubs “twenty-first-century communalism.”

He writes, “Twenty-first-century communalism is a peculiar kind of communalism. For starters, it’s very socially conscious and political. Whether you’re on the MAGA right or the social-justice left, you define your identity by how you stand against what you perceive to be the dominant structures of society. Groups on each side of the political divide are held together less by common affections than by a common sense of threat, an experience of collective oppression.

Today’s communal culture is based on a shared belief that society is broken, systems are rotten, the game is rigged, injustice prevails, the venal elites are out to get us; we find solidarity and meaning in resisting their oppression together.”

“How you stand against.” “Common sense of threat.”

“Collective oppression.” “Resist.” These all boil down to one mode of being — disdaining your neighbor because they don’t believe exactly what you believe,

denounce exactly what you denounce, behave exactly how you think they should behave. Disdaining your neighbor means you care. Therefore, ironically, you belong.

Brooks goes to some pains to assert this approach, also called “hostile solidarity” by other social scientists, is a plague of those on both the left and the right political spectrum and notes, “This mode of collectivism embeds us in communities — but they’re not friendly communities; they’re angry ones.”

Sound familiar?

His assertion immediately called to mind a ubiquitous bumper sticker I saw during the last national election and will surely see again this year: “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.”

That sentiment might as well be the membership badge in Brooks’ “club of pessimism.” And its acolytes are as distinct, yet not, as Donald Trump and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, neighbor- disdainers both.

“We have produced a culture that celebrates catastrophizing. This does not lend itself to effective strategies for achieving social change. The prevailing assumption seems to be that the more bitterly people denounce a situation, the more they will be motivated to change it,” Brooks writes. History, he illustrates, shows the opposite is true. Human progress has been most rapid in eras of positive communal effort.

Think the moon landing, think the Civil Rights movement, think the once common bipartisan passage of legislation like “No Child Left Behind.” Difficult but successful movements all, by people of goodwill working together with their neighbors.

I’m not advocating taking a rose-colored glasses approach to the things that ail our country and community. There are real problems in our society.

I’m suggesting we stop assailing each other’s motives, political beliefs and ways of approaching change.

Stop embracing rage, and embrace your communities instead. Loving your neighbor may be the greatest love of all.

President of the Marblehead Current’s board of directors, Virginia Buckingham is the former chief executive officer of the Massachusetts Port Authority, chief of staff to two Massachusetts governors, deputy editorial page editor for the Boston Herald and author of “On My Watch: A Memoir.”

ASK LIZZIE

Steps to unplug your child after too much screen time

BY LIZZIE ASSA Dear Lizzie, How can I get my toddler back into playing after an extended period of too much screen time? New baby, sicknesses and lack of childcare have led to too much TV, and now starting over seems impossible. She used to be so good at playing and now she just whines for TV. Hi reader, Please give yourself full permission to drop any lingering guilt about using screens as a parenting tool when you needed them. Parenting a sick toddler with a new baby and no childcare is no easy feat. Congrats on surviving that period. We do the best we can with the tools we have available to us and you did exactly that. You used a tool.

More good news — she will be back to happily playing soon.

When you decide you are ready to start over and get back to a play routine, be honest with your child: “We’ve been watching so much TV lately! It was fun, right? Which one is your favorite show to watch?

You know what else is fun? Playing with your toys and coloring and using playdough. Which do you like more, playdough or blocks? Playing is so important and you are good at it. It’s my job to make sure you have enough time every day to play. Today is going to be different than yesterday. Today, you can watch two shows after nap time, instead of watching all morning. Which shows will you choose? Let’s write that down so we remember that you want Bluey. Today, you get to play with toys until we go to the park! I can’t wait to see if you start with playdough, blocks, or dolls. Maybe you’ll even play a game about one of your favorite shows.”

Set up your home to support play over screens: Put iPads, remotes and gaming devices away and out of reach. If your child is used to rolling into the living room and clicking on the TV, they won’t be able to.

Replace the remote on the coffee table with a simple puzzle or some toy cars.

Expect your child to push back. It is their job to test the limit and your job to hold it steady. Allow them to whine and complain (you can too!). Respond by saying things like, “You miss watching Bluey. I do too! I wish I could turn it on right now, but your turn to watch is after nap time. It’s okay to be disappointed.”

At the end of the day, check in with your child. “Today was different. You played a lot and watched two shows.

What felt easy and what was tricky about that?” (They are allowed to have their opinion, but it doesn’t mean you have to change your mind.) “Tomorrow we will do the same thing. Two shows after nap. What do you think you might want to start playing with in the morning when you wake up? Should I set up your crayons at the table so we can start coloring right after breakfast? “ Be excited and realistic. Eliminating a screen habit can feel like an insurmountable hill to climb. It will take some time and lots of patience, but you will both feel great when it’s sorted. Good luck!

Lizzie Assa is founder of The Workspace for Children, a parenting strategist, play expert and mother of three who lives in Marblehead.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 14, 2024 A5

Thinking of a new laptop or desktop?

BY STEPHEN BACH

Word to the wise...

While it is a huge convenience in other ways, buying a computer on Amazon is rarely your best bet.

Here are a few reasons why: 1. They don’t vet vendors well.

Even products that are “fulfilled by Amazon” are sourced from third-party sellers.

Translation: Amazon has not properly vetted the product(s).

Some reviews note the laptop or computer they got didn’t match the specs advertised.

In others, the device was misrepresented. If this happens, you may be out of luck if the manufacturer won’t do anything without going through the seller, and the seller ignores communication. Counterfeiting is always a risk too. In fact, according to a recent CNBC story, this is a growing problem with tech products sold on Amazon.

2. You may wind up with a shorter warranty.

Most computers are sold with a one-year manufacturer’s warranty. But when it comes to Amazon sellers, they’re bought

by third parties and sit on the shelf for three to six months (or longer).

Result? Your standard warranty may expire soon after you buy. Some sellers will be responsive if you raise the issue, but there are no guarantees. Buy from anywhere else other than Amazon, and at least you know you can expect the full warranty.

3. You may miss out on savings.

Data from Savings.com shows 58% of the time you can get a better price on electronics at places that aren’t Amazon. This

could be because electronics retailers need to offer frequent deals to get people through their doors.

Bottom line, while there might be good computer buys to be found on Amazon, you need to be willing to do a ton of due diligence.

That’s why, for the average buyer, The Docs recommend you steer clear.

Until next time!

Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs.

I BEG TO DIFFER

Pack it up

BY JO ANN AUGERI SILVA On the flight home from our most recent trip, my husband forwarded me a New Yorker article that lambasted travel. Right. We are traveling, and he wants me to read something by a person who hates traveling. Makes all the sense in the world.

Our friends and family know well that, other than seeing them, what we missed most during the height of the pandemic was traveling. As a couple, we agreed many years ago that we’d prefer to live frugally in most other ways so we could have enough “disposable income” to visit other parts of the planet. Not that we don’t love our beautiful little corner, we do. A lot.

But seeing how other cultures live, how they eat, how they create art and music, how they worship, how they play, how they nurture the plants and animals that inhabit their world — all these have been and continue to be endlessly fascinating to us.

The curmudgeon writer at The New Yorker scoffs at everything we find delightful. She proudly quotes a screed by the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa in his “Book of Disquiet” that crackles with disgust: “I abhor new ways of life and unfamiliar places...

Travel is for those who cannot feel...Only extreme poverty of the imagination justifies having to move around to feel.”

Well, if I’ve ever begged to differ, now is the time. I happily counter with a quote from Portuguese writer Jose Saramago, whose travels and writings about travel are among the world’s greatest literature: “When the traveler sat in the sand and declared, ‘There’s nothing more to see,’ he knew it wasn’t true. The end of one journey is simply the start of another. You have to see what you missed the first time, see again what you already saw, see in springtime what you saw in summer, in daylight what you saw at night, see the sun shining where you saw the rain falling, see the crops growing, the fruit ripen, the stone which has moved, the shadow that was not there before. You have to go back to the footsteps already taken, to go over them again or add fresh ones alongside them. You have to start the journey anew. Always.”

Exactly. That trip we were flying back from is a prime example of Saramago’s point of view. We’d been to Sao Miguel, the largest island in the Azores archipelago, several times before, but hadn’t returned in nine years.

We’d never visited in winter, only in summer and early autumn. We weren’t entirely sure what to expect, other than a lack of ice and snow, and every step on ice on the way to our car here made that prospect more sweet.

And, it rained. Every day at least a bit, some days quite a lot. There was a pretty steady wind. And the fog on some days made our favorite views less visible (OK, invisible).

So, why return? For many of the same reasons Saramago gives in the quote above.

The Azores lived through a very difficult tourist-free time while the pandemic raged, and we wanted to support a culture we love. And yes, there’s a pattern here — my husband’s family background is in the Azores, as mine is in Sicily. That trip nine years ago was a family reunion-style celebration of his retirement, and our memories have been calling us back ever since.

We were sure many things had changed.

The curmudgeon writer at The New Yorker scoffs at everything we find delightful.

Happily, many had changed for the better, including improved roads, new museums and upgraded hotels. Even in places we’d visited before, we found new delights.

We chose a hotel on a side of the island we hadn’t explored before, so there was plenty to experience that didn’t require sun and warmth. And, we were once again delighted by the intensely green fields, the peaceful pace, the delicious food and the gracious, warm people.

Quick travelog: The Azores is comprised of a nine-island archipelago that is an autonomous region of Portugal. Sao Miguel is the largest island and is home to the capital city, Ponta Delgada. The archipelago is in the middle of the jet stream, so it’s never really cold and never really hot. The volcanoes that created the archipelago are dormant, but their heat rests just below the surface, warming natural swimming pools and steam for cooking the island stew, cozido.

We could read books to gather the information we’ve learned by visiting in person: that the Azores produce fully half of mainland Portugal’s dairy supply; that Sao Miguel has Europe’s only tea plantation; that the Nordeste region of Sao Miguel is the home of the nearly extinct pirolo or Azorean bullfinch, found nowhere else on earth; that the 22 volcanoes once active on Sao Miguel left behind pristine lakes in their calderas.

Of course, I could have read about the delectable cheeses crafted in the Azores, particularly the famous Sao George cheese, but nothing quite beats tasting it in a cheese shop filled with the aromas of ripening curds.

And then there’s the Azorean pineapple, grown in a unique centuries-old process inside greenhouses that produces a supersweet, low-acid fruit that I could eat all day, and did eat every morning we were there.

Not available at Crosby’s — you can’t get it anywhere but in the Azores.

If we’d stayed home, we would never have visited Ribeira Grande’s new contemporary art museum and admired the sea-inspired works of Azorean Portuguese artist Urbano, then realize on our way back to our room that his brilliant paintings adorn the walls of our hotel. We would never have chatted for an hour with the caretaker of the emigration museum, who emigrated to Fall River herself, only to return to the peace of her home island. And we never would have been blessed by the unexpected concert of two ethereal young voices rehearsing in a sound chamber like no other — a 15th-century Jesuit chapel whose nave is entirely made of hand-carved wood.

We always say we are never sad to return home — how could we be? Marblehead is one of the planet’s most beautiful, if not most perfect, places we’ve ever been, and our small comfortable home is just right for us.

There will come a time when age, means and mobility will curtail our ability to explore other beautiful places. I hope that when that time comes we are wise enough to be thankful for what we have and what we have seen. Until then, we will follow Saramago and continue to “start the journey anew.”

Marblehead resident Jo Ann Augeri Silva, a retired journalist, author, public relations professional and educator, was an editor of the Marblehead Reporter.

COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM COLLECTION

Capt. James Mugford of Marblehead

MARBLEHEAD CHRONICLES

Captain James Mugford

BY PAM PETERSON The story of James Mugford of Marblehead is a hero’s saga.

Mugford was a respected ship captain at a young age. His voyages were successful, and he made many trips across the Atlantic. In the 1770s, however, it became increasingly dangerous for Colonial vessels because of the risk of impressment by the British Navy. The British were always on the lookout for more men to serve in their navy. It was a poorly paid, difficult and undesirable job. To add to their numbers, the British Navy often captured merchant ships and impressed some or all of the crew members into service. Many Colonial crews were captured, and the practice was deeply resented.

Just at the start of the American Revolution, Mugford’s ship was overtaken and the entire crew was forced to serve in the British Navy against their will. During his time of enforced service on a British ship, Mugford began to hear rumors and stories of a “powder ship” full of ammunition that was scheduled to leave England headed for the American colonies. He realized the significance of this cargo, its potentially devastating effects for the struggling patriots, already short of ammunition and gunpowder, and the huge advantage to the British troops if the “powder ship” reached

its destination.

Not long after hearing this rumor, James Mugford was finally released from his service in the British Navy, and he headed back to the Colonies as fast as possible. Once there, he requested permission to be authorized as a privateer and to use his ship, the Franklin, to capture the British “powder ship,” named the Hope. He was duly authorized and set out in search of his prize.

Mugford was aboard the Franklin when he came upon the Hope heading toward Boston Harbor in May 1776. Mugford’s vessel was much smaller than the Hope but he used his boat to great advantage.

He soon overtook and boarded the Hope, and captured the crew. Then he forced the Hope into a tidal inlet where the ship grounded at low tide.

Once the Hope was immobile, the sea was suddenly full of every kind of small vessel available to patriots along the shore. They had all gotten word of the “powder ship” and its capture, and they quickly went into action to unload all the precious gunpowder as well as any other tools and weapons they could find. Soon the ship was stripped of everything and anything that could be of use. It was a great prize and a great boost to the patriotic cause.

But that’s not the end of the story... More about Capt. James Mugford next time.

Pam Peterson chairs the Marblehead Historical Commission. She is the former Marblehead Museum executive director.

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A6 Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Marblehead Current

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Meet the co-founders of Lopenote

BY MELISSA STACEY The following is an interview with Kristen Durand and Maggie Svirk, co-founders of Lopenote, conducted by Discover Marblehead. Lopenote helps you easily keep track of every birthday and mail beautiful, personalized cards to show how much you care. To learn more, go to lopenote.com Kristen, tell us about Lopenote and why you and Maggie started it.

Lopenote started over a fireside chat where Maggie and I talked about the struggles of remembering our friends and families’ birthdays and the challenge of keeping track of all the addresses. We felt we wanted to help people keep connections strong and what better way than to let people know you’ve remembered them on their birthdays. Lopenote enables you to easily remember important dates within your social and family circles and easily send cards with a personal

touch. The key feature of being able to upload a personal photo further supports our idea that in this world of personal disconnect due to our busy and sometimes demanding schedules, Lopenote can help to build those connections again.

Share with us the best pieces of business advice you’ve each received.

Kristen: Don’t let your insecurities get in the way when it comes to starting a project or business, just go for it.

Maggie: Don’t expect to know exactly what you’re doing from the start. It’s a long journey with many turns and pivots where hard work will lead to success.

Tell me about your favorite

COURTESY PHOTO

Kristen Durand, right, and Maggie Svirk, co-founders of Lopenote, display their personalized card service designed to help people remember and celebrate important dates.

Marblehead spots, and why they are your favorite.

Kristen: Preston Beach because it always feels like you’re on vacation. I have a close second favorite, which is the sweet little bar at the Harbor Light Inn. Maggie: Marblehead Harbor.

There is nothing better than a summer sunset looking out over all the boats in the harbor. Also, I love a great morning pick-up at Plus Café — best breakfast sandwiches in town.

What is something people would be surprised to learn

about each of you?

Kristen: I love getting tattoos.

Maggie: When I was born, I was almost 11 pounds … poor mother The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. To learn more, visit discovermhd.com

ABBOT HALL

Volunteers wanted for charter committee to restructure town government

BY WILL DOWD The Select Board is soliciting town residents to volunteer to serve on a nine-to13-member committee to create a town charter.

Marblehead currently does not have a formal charter outlining the structure and responsibilities of its town government.

In the same way a federal or state constitution establishes the foundational principles for governing at their respective levels, a town charter serves this role at the municipal level.

It outlines the framework for the governance of a town, detailing the interactions and collaborative efforts among elected officials, departments and citizens.

Since its inception in 1649, Marblehead’s governance structure has evolved under an amalgamation of state statutes and local ordinances.

This approach has led to the town adopting a series of incremental updates and modifications as necessary.

The result is a decentralized form of government where authority is spread across a myriad of elected and appointed bodies, ensuring that no single entity or individual holds disproportionate influence.

Creating an official charter will help codify the roles and responsibilities of Marblehead’s various boards, committees and departments, said Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.

Charter committee members will spend a year studying the

existing government, conducting analysis and seeking community engagement.

The Select Board plans to appoint the charter committee after a Feb. 28 informational presentation from the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Collins Center on the charter creation process.

“It’ll be very valuable for everybody,” said Kezer of the presentation, which will cover how best to put the committee together, including its ideal size and representation.

Once drafted, the proposed charter will be brought before voters at the 2025 Town Meeting to decide whether to adopt it.

This process is faster than the multiyear home rule petition process used by many towns.

Residents wishing to serve

COURTESY PHOTO

With a deadline of March 22, the Select Board urges residents interested in serving on the town charter committee to send in application materials.

on the charter committee should have an understanding of town government operations and challenges. Send letters of interest and resumes to the

Select Board office at Abbot Hall

by March 22. Email application materials to the Select Board’s assistant, Kyle Wiley, at wileyk@ marblehead.org.

NEWS IN BRIEF

BY WILL DOWD The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.

Select Board convenes private meeting on suspended officer The Select Board met in a closed executive session on Feb. 7 to discuss disciplinary recommendations for Christopher Gallo, the police officer who has been on paid leave for 2 1/2 years amid misconduct allegations.

Gallo is accused of spending over 100 hours at home during work shifts. At last week’s meeting, Select Board members reviewed a 550-plus page report from Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer, the disciplinary hearing officer, and may have decided on appropriate action.

Gallo was present with his lawyer Gary Nolan, but neither were allowed to speak during the meeting. Kezer declined to comment after the executive session, saying only that, “It’s moving.”

Police Chief Dennis King recommended Gallo be fired.

The board will issue notice to Gallo on its decision, which will become public record at a future meeting. Gallo has continued

Suspended Police Officer Christopher Gallo, center, is closer to learning his fate.

receiving his approximately $5,400 monthly salary through multiple delays.

Marblehead fills treasurer, tax collector post The Select Board has unanimously approved the appointment of Cami S. Iannarelli as town treasurer and tax collector through June.

Iannarelli, a Peabody resident, has served the Marblehead finance office for the past six years in roles including senior clerk and assistant and acting treasurer and tax collector.

“She’s been the acting treasurer and tax collector, I think, three times now,” Kezer said. “So on top of a very short staffed right now — we’re down to two people — and it’s a busy window.”

As treasurer and tax collector, Iannarelli is responsible for overseeing all revenue collections, investments, debt payments and other financial transactions for the town government. Key duties include issuing municipal tax bills, pursuing delinquent accounts, completing payroll, paying vendors and reconciling cash accounts.

Iannarelli fills the vacancy created when Rachel Blaisdell stepped down last year.

The Power of Speech

On Saturday, Feb. 17, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., the Power of Speech is celebrating its new location at 40 South St. with a Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting.

Come check out the new space and play. RSVP at Jessica@ thepowerofspeech.us.

CURRENT PHOTO

‘Sugar and Spice’

The Marblehead Museum will host a free event on Feb. 24 focused on 18th-century sweets.

At “Sugar and Spice: Sweet Treats of the 18th Century,” people will make gingerbread and pepper cakes in the Jeremiah Lee Mansion Kitchen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can also take a complimentary tour of the mansion and learn about how sugar and spices were produced and used in Colonial New England.

Abbot Library offers tax counseling service Registration is open for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program offered by AARP at the Abbot Library. The free tax preparation service will be held on Mondays through April 8.

Appointments are required.

Call the library at 781-631-1481

during open hours to sign up.

Tax forms are now available in the Reference Room.

The TCE program provides basic tax return preparation for low- to moderate-income taxpayers, with a focus on seniors. Participants do not need to be AARP members or meet an age requirement.

For more information, visit abbotlibrary.org/tax-prepprogram or email the library at mar@noblenet.org.

Bells to toll on Washington’s birthday The bells at Abbot Hall and churches across Marblehead will ring next month in honor of George Washington’s birthday.

The Select Board voted last week to continue the town’s custom of commemorating Washington’s Birthday. On Thursday, Feb. 22, bells will ring for 30 minutes in the morning, midday and evening.

Specific ringing times are 7:30 a.m.-8 a.m., noon-12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

ClearGov is live

Residents now have online access to more of the town’s financial information via the ClearGov Transparency Center at bit.ly/3Oi07pF. It’s part of the town’s new cloud-based financial software system.

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EDUCATION

MCCPS names new head of school

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead Community Charter Public School announced its new head of school is Stephanie Brant. Brant, who lives in town, has been Charter’s interim head of school for the past 11 months.

Brant started at Charter as dean of students in August of 2022 and then became assistant head of school in February 2023.

She was appointed interim head of school one month later, when Peter Cohen was placed on leave after an “adult allegation of misconduct.” Cohen later resigned after an investigation “unsubstantiated those specific allegations of discriminatory misconduct” according to Charter’s Board of Trustees.

COURTESY PHOTO

Stephanie Brant has been named the new head of school at MCCPS.

In a press release last week, Charter wrote that Brant’s “collaborative leadership approach has fostered a strong sense of teamwork among staff, students and parents alike and has positioned the school for success moving forward. In

addition to her collaborative nature, Stephanie is known for her fairness in decisionmaking, ensuring equitable opportunities for all students.

She believes in an open-door policy, encouraging open communication and fostering a supportive environment where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. She prioritizes projectbased learning, celebrates our diversity and embraces community outreach.”

After the announcement, Brant told the Current, “I am tremendously excited to share more about our school’s inclusive environment and hope to strengthen our ties to the community by developing new partnerships that will help our students connect learning to

real-world experiences.”

Prior to joining MCCPS, Brant worked for 17 years as clinical director of the Middlesex County district attorney’s Child Protection Unit.

She then worked in the Chelsea Public Schools as a middle school program coach, district liaison for social, emotional and behavioral intervention, and out-of-district coordinator. Next, she had roles at Shore Educational Collaborative as the school’s middle and high school educational coordinator, and later as a special education administrator for Salem Public Schools.

Brant is a licensed social worker and holds licensure with the Department of Elementary

and Secondary Education as a school counselor/school adjustment counselor, special education administrator and school superintendent.

“Most importantly, she makes sure every child who walks through the door feels seen and valued,” Charter’s press release said. “Our students and staff are more engaged and excited than ever about teaching and learning.

Stephanie focuses on upholding academic rigor and equity for all students. She has implemented innovative solutions to raise the bar for student achievement.

Her passion for excellence will continue driving our school to new heights.”

Charter opened in 1995 and serves students in grades four through eight.

SCHOOL NEWS

New hires, budget update and more

BY LEIGH BLANDER Interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness announced several staffing updates on Feb. 9, including an interim director of Student Services. Patricia Bell was expected to begin this week and stay through the school year.

“Her Student Services leadership roles include working at several Massachusetts districts such as South Deerfield, Shelburne Falls, Hadley, and most recently, Lexington, in the role of interim superintendent, director of pupil personnel services, assistant superintendent and consultant,” McGuinness wrote in an email to parents.

Bell will attend the School Committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15, and future

roles in several towns, including Swampscott.

The district has hired Mary Delai as a consultant in the business office on a part-time basis, while the search continues for a new finance director to replace Michelle Cresta who leaves next month.

Budget update

COURTESY PHOTO

Interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness announced several new temporary hires.

SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Committee) meetings.

Frank Kowalski is the interim assistant principal at the high school. He has held leadership

COURTESY PHOTOs

Spot the robot dog can run, dance and even climb up and down stairs.

Dr. Lori Towle shows students at the Glover School the tablet she uses to control Spot.

Robot From P. A1

help with.

“He can go on missions that aren’t safe for people,” suggested

Assessor From P. A1

Select Board lacks “visibility into it,” he noted, but said ultimate accountability lies with voters who elect the Board of Assessors.

The warrant article would

McGuinness will present her recommended fiscal year 2025 budget to the School Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at a budget workshop.

“The goal is to present useful budgetary information from each school and department — as it relates to staffing and student enrollment — that will provide all Marblehead educational stakeholders with a clear understanding of how

funding is appropriated to meet the instructional, learning and social-emotional-behavioral needs of all of our students,” she wrote.

McGuinness also said the outside review of the district’s student restraint policies, initially expected by Feb. 1, continues.

Coffee & Conversation

McGuinness also invited parents and guardians to a virtual Coffee & Conversation on Friday, March 1, 9 a.m. The central office leadership team will also participate. The Zoom link is https://loom.ly/yyA7dEE.

FMPS grant deadline The nonprofit Friends of the Marblehead Public Schools is accepting grant

applications through Fb. 29. FMPS encourages school personnel, parents, community members as well as businesses and community or school organizations that have innovative and creative proposals that impact the curriculum in Marblehead schools to consider applying for a grant. For more information, visit friendsofmarblehead.org.

Last season, FMPS funded 14 educational enrichment initiatives, including robotic engineering and coding, and film production programs. Other grants focused on enhancing teaching strategies to maximize student engagement.

FMPS has recently added three new members to its board — Bit Coppola, Tracy Darrin and Davin Wedel.

Dr. Lori Towle encourages students to be curious and try new things. ‘Every brain is special,’ she said.

one second grader.

Towle then showed a video of another Spot robot at Code & Circuit who is programmed with AI to speak. It uses its cameras to see items and then comment on them.

“Wow, that leaf looks really

interesting up close,” Spot commented after seeing a plant.

“With AI, robots can now think a little bit about what they’re seeing and interact with us,” Towle said.

Towle encouraged the young students to always explore and

try new things.

“Every brain works differently, every brain is special,” she said. “You each have your own super power, so keep trying new things.”

After the program, student Lucy Wedel said, “Robots are

amazing things. They’re a lot like humans even though they don’t have brains.”

If Wedel could bring Spot home, she said, “I would have him do my homework, so I can go outside.”

transition the assessor to an appointed body subordinate to the Finance Department leadership. The assessor would then report directly to the town’s chief financial officer — Aleesha Nunley-Benjamin.

“Frustration among residents over tax assessments made it clear there were issues

with transparency and communication surrounding the assessor’s office, “ Select Board member Bret Murray told the Marblehead Current.

Officials argue the shift reflects best practices that properly situate assessing as an integral function of the town’s overall financial

administration. They also feel it would also allow for greater coordination and oversight compared to the current arrangement.

Neither John Kelley, chair of the Board of Assessors or Assessor Kim Bertolina, responded to requests for comment.

The warrant for the 2024 Town Meeting in Marblehead has officially closed, and town counsel is currently reviewing the warrant articles.

Town Meeting is set for Monday, May 6, at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Middle School Auditorium at Duncan Sleigh Square, 217 Pleasant St.

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A8 Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Marblehead Current

Keep the Current Coming!

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 14, 2024 A9

Sports TRACK

Magicians split against Beverly, Saugus Boys, girls indoor track teams end regular season with identical winning records

BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High boys and girls indoor track team concluded the regular season against Beverly and Saugus in a tri-meet on Jan. 31. Both teams defeated Saugus, while coming up on the short end against the Panthers. The boys (6-3) topped the Sachems, 65-12, but fell to Beverly, 60.5-14.5. The girls (6-3) took care of business rather easily against Saugus, 79-6.

However, at the other end of the spectrum, they dropped a 48-38 close decision to the Panthers.

Boys high jump Graham Tips led the way for Marblehead after clearing 5-6 to finish second overall. Making his high jump debut, Seamus Crowley (5-4) ended up third.

Ralph Pierre cleared 5-0 to account for sixth place.

“Seamus began high jumping about a week ago, and he was able to quickly pick it up,” said coach Nolan Raimo. “He put in a ton of work during the offseason, and it was great to see that helped him find immediate success in this event.”

Girls high jump Paige Tredwell (4-10) came out on top after out-jumping Destiny Okoye of Saugus, who is the top jumper in the Northeastern Conference. Elise Burchfield (4-10) finished third based on misses. After a year-long hiatus from the high jump, Ava Machado returned to clear 4-6 to account for a fifth-place finish in what was a very competitive event.

Boys shot put Riley Schmitt won in dramatic fashion.

“Coming in from the hurdles, Riley fouled his first attempt, but then threw 33-9 on his second try, before hitting 38-6 to secure the win,” said coach Danny Plunkett.

Graham Firestone (36-9.5, personal best) had his best meet of the season, according to Plunkett. He was able to break 35-feet on all three of his throws, culminating with his personal best by inches to account for a third-place finish.

Dylan Gilmore (33-9, personal best by six inches) also had a fine finish to the regular season after a couple challenging weeks.

Tucker Crane rounded out the boys lineup of throwers with a solid toss of 32-0.

Girls shot put Lillian Reddy handily took first place with a 32-foot bomb, a four-inch personal best.

“It’s not hard to predict a

Marblehead High sophomore Slater Johnson runs in the 300.

COURTESY PHOTOS / ANGIE FISCHER

Marblehead High junior runner Maren Potter (219) is shown leading in the mile during a tri-meet against Beverly and Saugus on Jan. 31, followed close behind by senior teammate Shannon Hitscherich.

Marblehead High freshman runner Thea Shaw gives a thumbs-up while running the mile.

Marblehead High juniors Peter Sullivan and Quentin Fletcher, along with senior captain Jack Burke, from left, run together in the 600.

strong postseason for her, as she continues to tack on distance week after week,” said Plunkett.

Rachael Albert took second with a throw of 30-4.

“She’s been working tirelessly to improve the consistency of her rotational technique, which has set her up nicely to start pushing for more distance moving forward,” said Plunkett.

Hannah O’Brien closed out her shotput season with a solid toss of 23-3. Naomi Goodwin, who has been splitting time between running and throwing all season, capped off the regular season with a five-inch personal best throw of 21-6.

Boys 55-meter dash Jacob Bobowski finished fourth with a time of 7.2. Ethan Harwood (7.5) was seventh, and Matt Mahan (7.6) eighth.

Girls 55-meter dash Machado won the dash in a blazing fast time of 7.2. Sadie Halpern (7.5) came in second.

Lidia Jasmine Tiedra (8.0) was sixth.

Boys 55-meter hurdles Marc Grazado (8.9) led the way for Marblehead with a thirdplace finish. Riley Schmitt (9.3) was fifth, and Firestone (9.6) sixth. “This was a great race for all three hurdlers,” said Raimo.

“Marc was able to crack the nine-second barrier, and Riley tied his personal best, while Graham set a new personal best following his impressive throwing performance in the shot put.”

Girls 55-meter hurdles Campbell Crane (10.1) was the lone Marblehead hurdler, and she was able to finish third overall.

“Campbell has been an allaround competitor this season, as she also competed in the high jump, long jump and shot put,” said Raimo.

Girls mile The girls swept Saugus, but ended up third, fourth and sixth against the Panthers. Maren Potter (6:05) had the best race of her season, according to Raimo.

Shannon Hitscherich (6:36) ran a very competitive race for a slight personal best improvement.

Boys mile The boys were third and fourth against Beverly, but topped the ticket against the Sachems.

Ryan Blestowe (5:03.6) and Will Cruikshank (5:05.4) ran well in a very competitive field.

Boys 300 Slater Johnson (41.7) tied for fourth. Henrik Adams (41.8) was close behind after stepping down from the 600 for the first time this season to finish sixth. Ethan Horgan (43.1) came in a close seventh.

Girls 300 LeDaisha Williams (44.5) ended the regular season undefeated in the 300, which is unbelievable on Marblehead’s slippery, flat track, according to Raimo.

Manuela Puente (47.8) finished third. Gabby Hendy (49.1) was fourth.

“LeDaisha, Manuela and Gabby all had great regular seasons

Newburyport, at Salem State O’Keefe Center Sunday, Feb. 18 2:30 p.m., boys swimming/diving, state finals, at MIT, Cambridge 3 p.m., boys hockey, vs.

Haverhill, at Graf Skating Rink, Newburyport 6 p.m., boys basketball (Larry McIntire Tournament), vs.

Bishop Fenwick, at Marblehead High Monday, Feb. 19 TBD, boys basketball (Larry McIntire Tournament), vs. TBA, at Marblehead High 1:30 p.m., girls hockey, vs.

Leominster, at Wallace Civic Center, Fitchburg 3 p.m., girls basketball, vs. Everett, Everett High Tuesday, Feb. 20 TBD, boys hockey (tournament), vs. TBA, at Graf Skating Rink, Newburyport Wednesday, Feb. 21 5 p.m., girls basketball, vs. Ipswich, at Marblehead High Thursday, Feb. 22 5:30 p.m., vs. Salem, at Marblehead High Friday, Feb. 23 2:30 p.m., wrestling, all-state meet, at TBA

from start to finish, which isn’t easy in the long sprints,” said Raimo. “The training they’ve done all season long will now be crucial in the postseason.”

Girls 600 In her second career 600, Arielle Kahn finished third in a time of 1:57.8. Liv Carlson (2:03.1) was fourth. Grace Rowe (2:19.6) came in fifth.

Boys 600 Isaias Aguasvivas Pena (1:41.3) finished fourth, while making his 600 debut. Peter Sullivan (1:43.6) was fifth. Quentin Fletcher (1:44) came in sixth, and Jack Burke (1:45.9) eighth.

Girls 1,000 The Marblehead girls were third, fourth and fifth against Beverly, but were able to sweep Saugus. Avery Wysor (3:41.4, seven-second personal best) and Isabel Mortensen (3:45.1, 10-second personal best) both worked together throughout the race to push each other to secure top finishes, according to Raimo.

Savannah Caruso (3:54.5) matched her best time of the season, and is now only a couple of seconds off her personal best career time.

Boys 1,000 The boys were second, fifth and sixth versus Beverly, while also sweeping Saugus.

Making his middle-distance TRACK, P. A11

MHS VARSITY SPORTS SCHEDULE Wednesday, Feb. 14 5:15 p.m., girls hockey, vs. Peabody, at McVann/O’Keefe Memorial Rink, Peabody 5:30 p.m., alpine ski racing, vs. TBA, at Bradford Ski Hill Thursday, Feb. 15 5:30 p.m., alpine ski racing, vs. TBA, at Blue HIlls Ski Area, Canton 6:30 p.m., girls basketball, vs.

Swampscott, at Swampscott High 7 p.m., boys basketball, vs.

Swampscott, at Marblehead High 7:10 p.m., boys hockey, vs. Shawsheen, at Billerica Memorial High

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Friday, Feb. 16 2:30 p.m., wrestling, state tournament, at Algonquin Regional High School Saturday, Feb. 17 7:30 a.m., wrestling, varsity state tournament, at Algonquin Regional High School 10:30 a.m., girls and boys indoor track, state sectionals, at Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury 2:30 p.m., girls swimming/diving, varsity state finals, at MIT, Cambridge 5 p.m., boys hockey, vs. Beverly, at Salem State O’Keefe Center 7 p.m., girls hockey, vs.

Saturday, Feb. 24 7:30 a.m., wrestling, all-state meet, at TBA 10:30 a.m., girls and boys indoor track, all-state meet, at Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury Tuesday, Feb. 27 8 a.m., alpine ski racing, varsity state meet, at Wachusett Mountain Saturday, March 2 TBD, girls and boys indoor track, New Englands, at Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury

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IN THE POOL

Swimmers complete perfect regular season with win over rival Swampscott

BY JOE MCCONNELL Before the Marblehead High swim team wiped out its rivals at the annual Northeastern Conference (NEC) Meet in both the boys and girls divisions with historically high scores, they together wrapped up the regular season with a dominating performance against Swampscott on Jan. 25 at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA, 98-73. With this win over the Big Blue, the Magicians completed a perfect 7-0 campaign to secure another conference championship.

“This meet against Swampscott is always exciting and fun, but this one was also our senior celebration night, where we honored the seven seniors on the roster for their contributions to the program the last four years,” coach Sue Guertin said.

The Marblehead seniors included Stephen DoRosario, Emiyah Setalsingh, Bella Takata, Owen Torstenson, Song Waitekus and Sophia Weiner, all captains, and Rebecca Vaynshetyn.

Their junior teammates made posters for the occasion, and also presented roses and candy to each of them during the ceremony.

In the 200-yard medley relay, Ian Chemel, Cale Nelson, Greg Podstrelov and Owen Torstenson (1:51.87), and Sophia Weiner, Song Waitekus, Finn Bergquist and Bella Takata (2:01.82, state cut) topped the ticket in first and second place.

Nate Rosen (1:58.78) and Chemel (2:08.3) also finished at the top of the leaderboard in the 200-yard freestyle.

Brinleigh Callahan (2:13.48) ended up fourth. Nelson (2:11.44, state cut), Takata

COURTESY PHOTO

The Marblehead High swim team seniors on the diving board during the Senior Night ceremony before the final regular season meet against Swampscott at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA on Jan. 25. They are, from left, Sophia Weiner, Song Waitekus, Bella Takata, Stephen DoRosario, Emiyah Setalsingh, Rebecca Vaynshteyn and Owen Torstenson.

(2:24.90, state cut) and Bergquist (2:28.47) swept the 200 IM. Logan Doody (22.38, state cut), Torstenson (24.46) and Yuri Volkov (26.00) experienced the same results in the 50-yard freestyle.

Caroline Crosby (134.05 points), Maxine Hall (128.20) and Yuri Volkov (127.15) completed the diving competition in second through

fourth place, respectively.

Brady Leveroni (58.14, sectional cut), Gary Podstrelov (58.72) and Vaynshetyn (1:08.2) took all nine points in the 100yard butterfly, as did Doody (53.5), Weiner (59.14, sectional cut) and Takata (59.63) in the 100-yard freestyle. Nelson (5:17.92, state cut), Waitekus (5:35.53, state cut) and Brinleigh Callahan (5:55.51, sectional cut)

did likewise in the 500-yard freestyle.

Rosen, Torstenson, Greg Podstrelov and Doody (1:39.85, sectional cut) and Chemel, Leveroni, Volkov and Ezra Reid (1:45.43) were the top two quartets in the 200-yard freestyle relay.

Chemel (1:01.32), Leveroni (1:02.29) and Weiner (1:08.14) were the top three swimmers in

the 100-yard backstroke. Greg Podstrelov (1:09.25), Rosen (1:15.72) and Bergquist (1:18) maintained the trend in the 100yard breaststroke.

Nelson, Rosen, Leveroni and Doody (3:47.78) came out on top in the 400-yard freestyle relay, while Weiner, Waitekus, Bergquist and Takata (4:11.2, sectional cut) ended up second.

HOOPS

MHS beats Masco with second half comeback

BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead boys basketball Magicians (10-4) dropped a 58-51 decision to visiting Peabody on Feb. 13, but then rebounded quite nicely against Masco also at home two nights later to secure a 65-60 triumph.

The Peabody game was the continuation of the Jan. 6 contest that was suspended, because of a leaky roof. The game resumed with 3:08 remaining in the first quarter, with the Marblehead boys trailing, 13-11.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get much going offensively for a couple of different stretches in this game, which really put us in a bind,” said coach Mike Giardi.

“We did cut the lead several times, but just couldn’t get over the hump, because of those long scoreless stretches.”

It was more of the same at the start of the Masco game until the home team turned things around in the second half. “(Masco) just came at us early on, and we were not ready for them physically or mentally, particularly in the offensive end of the floor,” said Giardi. “But we

changed things up defensively in the second half, which in turn got our offense going. We went from being six down at halftime to win by five.

“We had good intensity and focus in the second half, especially from the likes of Scott Campbell and Ryan Commoss.

They both led us in scoring and on the boards,” added the veteran Marblehead coach.

Campbell poured in 24 points, while Commoss was close behind with 18. Nick Lemmond completed the double-digit scorers for Marblehead with 10 points.

Adrian Baron collected six

points. Christian Weston chipped in with four. Finn Baron was credited with two points.

Sam Thompson buried one free throw.

Lemmond was the scoring leader against Peabody with 18 points. Campbell was next in line with 14, and Commoss had 13. Weston netted four.

Thompson was credited with two points.

There are six regular season games left for the basketball Magicians. They traveled to Springfield on Feb. 10 for a rematch against Pope Francis after press deadline. The

Marblehead boys upset Pope Francis in a Sweet 16 game last March on a last second bucket by Miles O’Neill. The local quintet then continued its western swing of the state the next day versus Holyoke, coming home to host Gloucester Feb. 13.

Swampscott then comes to town Feb. 15 for a 7 p.m. game.

The Magicians are ranked 39 th in the Division 2 power rankings, as of Feb. 9. They are definitely in the postseason as a result of their winning record, but they’d love to tack on some more wins to move further up in the statewide standings.

ON ICE

Hockey Headers extend winning streak to seven after triumphs over Winthrop, Swampscott

Boys crack Top 10 in Division 3, to surge into eighth place in the statewide rankings

BY JOE MCCONNELL They started the season 0-6, and were 2-8 after 10 games.

For historical reference, they were 1-6 on New Year’s Eve. It certainly looked bleak for the Marblehead High boys hockey team. But instead of folding, they regrouped very nicely to rattle off seven straight wins, and were now staring at a 9-8 winning record with still five regular season games left on the schedule to improve their position even more in the Division 3 power rankings.

At the end of January, the

Headers were seeded 12th, but as of Feb. 9 they leapfrogged over Northeastern Conference (NEC) rival Danvers to the eighth spot in the statewide rankings. They have quickly become a team nobody wants to face.

What was the reason for this dramatic turnaround? Coach Mark Marfione has a simple explanation.

“I think we just stayed with the process, and just worked through the tough times,” said Marfione. “I don’t think there was anything terribly wrong with the early efforts, but we were

just lapsing with some of our details. I don’t think the kids realized the effort level that they needed on a consistent basis, but we also didn’t press the panic button,” added the veteran coach.

The Headers started the brand new of February with a 4-1 win at Winthrop. Four days later on Feb. 7, they handed rival Swampscott a 3-1 defeat.

Everything is just clicking now in the right direction.

Junior James Caeran paced the offensive attack against the Vikings with two goals, while his classmate Leo Burdge came up

with 26 big saves in net to help secure the three-goal triumph.

Burdge then made 14 more saves in the Swampscott encounter to propel his teammates to their seventh straight win.

Senior captain Hogan Sedky led the way on offense with two goals. Cam Waldman accounted for the other lamplighter to seal the deal.

Marfione understands that wins are never solidified unless the defensive effort is on par.

He then singled out the efforts of junior Sean Dolan for his contributions to the blue line

crew. “(Dolan) has been logging a lot of minutes, and playing great defense,” the coach said.

The coach also mentioned how well freshmen Will Sullivan and Noah Feingold have stepped up to take regular roles on the third line.

Following the game against Danvers on Feb. 10 after press deadline, the Headers will be taking on non-league host Shawsheen Feb. 15 starting at 7:10 p.m. They will then be going up against Beverly at Salem State’s O’Keefe Arena two nights later at 5 p.m.

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LOVE STORY

‘Always putting each other first’ Marblehead couple celebrates 50+ Valentine’s Days

BY WILL DOWD This Valentine’s Day, as thoughts turn to love and romance, one Marblehead couple is looking back on more than half-a-century of marriage.

Barbara Bell (then Michaud) of Salem first met Ed Bell of Peabody on a blind date in the early 1970s, arranged by a coworker. She thought he seemed “nice” but noted he was “not too tall.” Ed’s first impression was that Barbara seemed “pretty cool.”

Ed was a reporter and editor for WBZ Radio in Boston, while Barbara worked in human resources at the former GTE Sylvania electronics company.

Though details have faded, Ed remembers he brought his guitar when he picked up Barbara for that first date — a cookout with friends.

Ed played “‘This Land is Your Land’ kinda music ...,” Barbara said, recalling the era’s folk songs.

The relationship quickly blossomed. They married in 1972 and spent most weekends boating and hosting big family gatherings at their cottage on Lake Chebacco in nearby Essex.

“Every weekend, we had somebody coming down,” Barbara said.

They later sold it to buy a condo in New Hampshire as their young daughters, Andrea and Jennifer, took up skiing.

The Bells have now been married 52 years. Community continues to play a large role in their life and relationship — they regularly spend time at the Council on Aging, playing cards with friends or curling and bocce.

“She completes me,” Ed said.

“There were a lot of ups and

Track

From P. A9 debut, Will Cerrutti (2:48.8) ran unbelievably well, according to Raimo.

“Everyone knows Will is the ultimate competitor, but to see him take a very fast Beverly runner all the way to the finish line, while turning in an impressive time shows that he can compete at any distance,” the coach added.

David Alpert (3:07.8, a twosecond personal best) and

downs in life. And you need to really support each other.”

The Bells said the hardest time came more than 30 years ago when their 15-year-old daughter Jennifer died in a car crash on the way back from a ski trip. The family was together in the car when they were hit from behind by a drunk driver in a pickup truck.

“Is this going to destroy our marriage, or is this going to make it stronger?” Ed recalled himself thinking. “I think it made it stronger. Because we had to be there for each other.”

Over the decades there were moves to Virginia, Washington, D.C. and back to Massachusetts before finally settling in Marblehead. Siblings live nearby.

Family continues to be the cornerstone of their lives.

“They clearly put each other first and make compromises to make the other happy,” said daughter Andrea Bell Bergeron.

“Whether it was my dad turning down opportunities so not to upset my mom, or my mom moving to DC to support his career, they always consider what’s best for the other.”

She added, “They were always putting each other first, and that was the big thing.”

Ed and Barbara Bell’s advice for a happy marriage: » Put your partner’s needs first. » Support each other through difficult times. » Pick your battles/avoid “yelling at each other” over disagreements. » Make compromises so both people feel happy and supported.

CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

Ed and Barbara Bell chat at home recently. They’ve been married 52 years.

Ed and Barbara Bell on their wedding day in 1972

COURTESY PHOTO

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ed Bell co-chairs the Current’s Board of Directors.

Nicholas Regnault (3:08.3) ran side by side again to finish among the top runners.

“They made each other work harder to see who would ultimately get the win, with David this time having just enough at the end to beat out Nicholas,” said Raimo. “Special JV shoutout to Nate Assa, who ran a 2:50 in a very impressive performance.”

Girls two-mile The girls were second and third versus Beverly, while taking the top two spots against Saugus.

Cat Piper (12:51, personal best) is peaking at the right time after a series of fine runs, and is now on a trajectory for a potentially successful postseason, according to Raimo. Jesslyn Roemer (13:16) continues to consistently score points for the team after making the jump to this event.

Boys two-mile The boys ended up second, third and fourth versus Beverly, while sweeping Saugus.

Will Cronin (11:29.1), Zach Pike (11:54) and Jonah Potach (12:09) ran together throughout

most of this race. Zack’s time of 11:54 made for a very solid debut on an indoor track in this event.

Boys 4x400 “This relay is one of the most feared events in track, and is seemingly capable of taking every last bit of energy from a runner,” said Raimo. “In previous years, it’s been a tall task to find four runners to compete at the end of the meet after competing in other events.

But this year, we had 20 boys take up this challenge. There is a definite culture change among

the sprinters on the boys side, and it is awesome to witness.”

Girls 4x400 Sarah Munroe, Cora Gerson, Gabby Hendy and Morgan Zion (4:52.2) put together a quality relay to finish second.

“Kate Twomey, Rachael Albert, Grace Mortenson and Cat Piper formed a senior relay squad to run in this meet, and Rachael, in particular, a part-time shot put thrower and hurdler, was able to step onto the track and split a 76, an astounding feat without any sprint training,” said Raimo.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Wrestlers get ready for postseason

BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High Black & Blue co-op wrestling team was down four starters for the annual Travis Yell Memorial Dual Meet Tournament on Feb. 3, but was still resilient to give their opponents a legitimate challenge.

“We found ourselves in a pool with Essex Tech/Masconomet, Whittier Tech, the host team, Division 1 powerhouse Lowell and Winchester,” said coach Mike Stamison.

Round 1 loss to Whittier Tech, 52-27 The Magicians did get a win via pinfall from captain Liam O’Brien. Andrew Delisle also won, an 8-5 decision after being bumped up to 126-pounds.

Captain Mason Hinshaw then pinned his opponent in the second period. Phineas Jakious was trailing 7-1 when he pinned his opponent, before Justin

Gonzalez did the same in the second period. Brody Sullivan was credited with an exhibition win.

Round 2 win over Essex Tech / Masconomet, 51-30 Solid wins against a shorthanded Essex Tech/Masco squad came from Liam O’Brien, captain Clive Connolly bumping up from 150 to 157, Colin Hart, Ben O’Brien in a close 6-4 decision and Hinshaw.

Picking up forfeit wins were Devin DiBarri, Will Woodward, captain Angelo Knight and Justin Gonzalez. Andrew Delisle chipped it with an exhibition win.

Round 3 loss to Lowell, 64-18 “In this match, we were soundly defeated by the Red Raiders of Lowell,” said Stamison. “Kudos to legendary coach George Bossi and his co-coach Nick Logan and staff for developing such a tremendous team and culture.

It’s something we aspire to.”

Marblehead had wins via pinfall from Hinshaw, Hart and Jayvery Monegro. DiBarri and Gonzalez accounted for exhibition wins. Connolly and Jakious wrestled well, but came up just short.

Round 4 loss to Winchester, 45-33 It was Marblehead’s most exciting match of the day, according to Stamison. “We went up against Winchester for what I believe to be the first-time ever in dual meet competition,” added the veteran Magicians coach. “It was a very even match after which I connected with their coach to make sure we schedule them for next year.”

This match was decided in the last bout. The Magicians were down 12-0 quickly, before Liam O’Brien got his teammates on the board with a pin.

The Sachems then recorded

two more wins via pins. But Marblehead rallied back with two pins from Will Woodward and Hinshaw.

At 150, eighth grader Brody Sullivan made his varsity debut, and he actually scored a takedown before being pinned later on in the match. Connolly, bumped up again to 157, lost a minor decision. Jakious was then pinned at 165.

The Magicians then rallied, with Colin Hart breaking a 9-9 tie to net three near-fall points in the third period to take the 175-pound bout, 12-9. Ben O’Brien and Knight pinned both of their opponents at 190 and 215, respectively.

Winchester now led by only six, 39-33. Marblehead then chose to go with Jayvery Monegro, who almost pinned his opponent, before getting rolled and pinned himself.

“It was a great effort by all,” said Stamison.

Next up for the Magicians was the annual Division 2 North Sectional Tournament, which took place at Burlington High School on Feb. 10 after press deadline. This tournament starts the thepostseason for the local co-op. The top four wrestlers in each weight class, plus a fifth as an alternate, will then move on to the Division 2 state finals at Algonquin on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17.

Girls hockey shut down by Beverly On Feb. 3, the Marblehead High girls co-op hockey team was blanked by Beverly, 5-0.

Freshman goalie Scarlett Lee made 34 saves to keep her teammates close on the scoreboard. Eighth grade defender Melanie Earl stood out in this game for her great puck control and overall defense, according to coach Hadley Woodfin.

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‘FAST CAR’

Before fame, Tracy Chapman wowed crowds here Silva recalls emotional 1986 coffeehouse show

BY WILL DOWD Long before her “Fast Car” duet with country singer Luke Combs stole the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, singersongwriter Tracy Chapman performed at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead.

Chapman took to the Me&Thee stage in 1986, giving the audience a rare opportunity to witness the early stages of an illustrious career.

In 1985, Marblehead resident Anthony Silva discovered Chapman when he heard her performing in Harvard Square.

She was a sophomore at Tufts University.

“I crossed the street, and she’s busking. I mean, she’s a street singer, a street performer. And there she is performing,” Silva recalled. “I immediately asked her after she was done if she would play our coffeehouse up in Marblehead. And she immediately agreed.”

Chapman went on to play three shows at Me&Thee, and after her last in 1988, she signed with Elektra Records six months later, ultimately going on to win four Grammy Awards.

Silva said Chapman’s debut album showcased her unique blend of folk, rock and soul.

Her lyrics addressed real-life issues, resonating deeply with audiences. The album’s impact was solidified when Chapman won the Grammy for Best New

COURTESY PHOTO / STEPHEN BAIRD

Tracy Chapman busking in Harvard Square in the mid-1980s.

Artist in 1989, a testament to the powerful and distinct nature of her musical contributions.

“Fast Car” emerged as Chapman’s iconic song, captivating listeners with its compelling narrative that many found relatable, Silva said.

Combs breathed new life into “Fast Car” on his 2023 album “Gettin’ Old.” His version climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Silva said it was Chapman’s early appearances in Marblehead that hinted she was destined for fame.

“The minute she opened her mouth, the entire audience snapped their heads up to

attention, riveted,” Silva said, remembering the crowd’s response at her first show.

“Instantaneous standing ovation. Wows. Cheers. Applause instantaneously.”

Chapman was overcome with emotion by the enthusiastic reception. She embraced Silva and began sobbing into his shoulder. It was one of her first paid indoor concerts.

“She’d been to open mics — that’s different,” Silva said.

“That’s playing with other musicians. But for a paid audience, a paid gig? And she went back out and did two or three encores.”

Decades may have passed, but

COURTESY PHOTO / ANTHONY SILVA

A flyer from the Me&Thee Coffeehouse promoting Tracy Chapman’s performance on Jan. 31, 1986.

both the song and the performer remain relevant by tapping into universal human emotions, Silva said.

“I was in tears,” Silva said of the recent Grammy Awards performance. An hour after it was televised, Silva said Chapman’s original 1988 recording of “Fast Car” shot to No. 1 on Amazon’s download charts thanks to renewed

interest.

“Can you imagine a song being so popular decades after?” Silva asked. “A new generation being moved by those lyrics?”

Chapman could sell out shows at venues of any size today, Silva said.

Asked if he would invite her back, Silva replied without hesitation: “We’d have her back in a minute.”

FOLK MEETS FLAMENCO

Hometown hero Reardon releases new album

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead native and folk pop singer-songwriter Hayley Reardon just released her newest album, “Live at Starseed Studios,” recorded during a concert in Essex last summer.

Reardon partnered on the project with Barcelona’s Pau Gigueres on flamenco guitar and Arnau Figueres on acoustic bass.

The August concert was called, “Folk Meet Flamenco.” The album features 13 live tracks.

“Playing with Pau and Arnau is a great joy for me, and I’ve wanted for a long time to capture these special trop arrangements,” Reardon said. “It was a gift to get to do just that in a beautiful space filled with dear ones. These unique and intimate performances felt like a chance

COURTESY PHOTO / JOE ANGELINI

Hayley Reardon performed with Pau and Arnau Figueres at Starseed Studios in Essex last summer.

to take the musical magic and friendship I found during my time in Spain and bring it home

to New England, another corner of the world that is so dear to me.”

Over the next month, Reardon will play a series of concerts in New York City and across New

England with Catalan singer/ songwriter Judit Nedderman.

She’ll be playing at Club Passim in Cambridge on March 10.

Reardon started playing music at 15 and has spent much of the past decade writing, recording and performing music around the world. She spent three years based in Nashville, did a six-month artist-in-residency stay in Dachau, Germany, and then moved to Barcelona. She’s been back in the U.S. for about a year and lives in Gloucester.

Her songs have been featured on several Spotify editorial playlists and Apple Music playlists, with more than seven million streams on Apple Music alone.

Learn more about Reardon at hayleyreardon.com.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 7:30 PM on the request of Groom Construction Company, Inc. to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct a new existing single-family dwelling on a conforming property, located at 29 Pinecliff Drive in the Shoreline Single Residence District. The new construction will be within the side yard setback and exceed the maximum allowed height. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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.

Interested persons may also submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org and the comments, will be included in the record. be included in the record.

Alan Lipkind Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 7:45 PM on the request of Neha & Pratik Patel to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct an addition to an existing single family dwelling on a preexisting nonconforming property, with less than the required lot area, side and rear yard setbacks and parking, located at 291 Ocean Ave in the Shoreline Single Residence District. The new construction will be within the side yard setback.

This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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 MMLD General Manager is the awarding authority for this contract. MMLD reserves the right to reject any or all bids, if it is in the best interest of the Department.

Joseph Kowalik General Manager

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 7:30 PM on the request of Michael Phelan to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a modification of a Special Permit issued to construct additions to a single family dwelling on a preexisting nonconforming property, with less than the required lot area, front and rear yard setbacks, located at 5 Lafayette Street in the Single Residence District. The modifications involve eliminating the previously approved ramp and adding open deck, change in location of door doors and an hp lift. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https:// us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 7:45 PM on the request of Michael Ferraresso to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit for the change of use from a commercial/ residential use to a multifamily use and to construct an addition to the existing mixed use structure on a preexisting non-conforming property with less than the required lot area, side yard setback, open area an parking, located at 9 State Street in the Unrestricted District. The new construction will be within the side yard setback and further reduce the open area and parking required. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https:// us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 8:15 PM on the request of Richard Jordan to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct a new single family dwelling on a preexisting nonconforming property, with less than the required lot area and side yard setbacks, located at 10 Naugus Avenue in the Shoreline Single Residence District.

The new construction will be within the side yard setbacks, reduce the open area to less than required and exceed the 10% expansion limits for a nonconforming building.

This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.

30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation.

The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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

MARBLEHEAD MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT (MMLD) MARBLEHEAD, MASS THE MANUFACTURE AND DELIVERY OF PRECAST CONCRETE SECTIONS FOR FORCE MAIN GROUND BRIDGE The Marblehead Municipal Light Department, acting through its General Manager will receive sealed bids under MGL c.164 section 56D for THE MANUFACTURE AND DELIVERY OF PRECAST CONCRETE SECTIONS. Bids are to be delivered to the MMLD main office, located at 80 Commercial St, Marblehead, MA 01945. Attention: PRECAST CONCRETE BID. All bids received will be due on or before Wednesday February 21, 2024, at 10:00 AM and read aloud at that time.

Bidding requirements and Contract Documents may be obtained on or after Feb 14th after 8:00 AM at the MMLD main office at 80 Commercial Street, Marblehead, MA. Bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked in accordance with the instructions to bidders in the invitation to bid.

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CURRENT EVENTS

Marblehead’s best bets coming up soon Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.

—Leigh Blander

Lois Lane & The Daily Planets Friday, Feb. 16, 9 p.m.

The Beacon presents Lois Lane & The Daily Planets and their classic rock, rhythm and blues, soul, pop and dance music. 123 Pleasant St.

Amy Speace at Me&Thee Friday, Feb. 16, 8 p.m.

Come to Me&Thee Music, 28 Mugford St., and hear renowned folk singer Amy Speace. Heralded

by Rolling Stone and Billboard Magazine, Speace is one of contemporary folk and Americana music’s leading voices of the new generation. Over 20 years of touring, she has played concerts all across the U.S. and Europe. For tickets and more info, go to meandthee.org.

School to Sea Wednesday, Feb. 21, 6:45 p.m.-8 p.m.

Come learn about Salem Sound Coastwatch’s School to Sea program. Explore how nurturing a connection between learners and the ocean inspires the next generation of eco-literate leaders and learn about the local environmental stewards who are leading the way to a healthier sea and shore. Event is both on Zoom and in person at Abbot Library, 3 Brook Rd. More info at abbotlibrary.org.

Poetry Salon Thursday, Feb. 15, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.

The Poetry Salon will read and discuss the poetry of Palestinian-American Naomi Shihab Nye and Mosab Abu Toha, a Palestinian from Gaza. Along with a Guggenheim Fellowship and other honors for her poetry, Nye has won numerous awards for her books for younger readers. In her praise for Mosab Abu Toha, Nye has described him as “almost a seer with his eloquent lyrical vernacular, his visions of life, continuity, time, possibility and beauty.”

The salon is led by Claire Keyes and meets at Abbot Public Library, 3 Brook Rd. To attend via Zoom, register at tinyurl. com/Feb-2024-Poetry.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR Development Consulting Services As Part of a Potential Redevelopment Project For Marblehead Housing Authority Broughton Road Issued: February 6, 2024 Deadline: February 23, 2024 10:00 am Submit responses to: Development Consulting Services ATTN: Cathy Hoog Executive Director MARBLEHEAD HOUSING AUTHORITY 26 Rowland Street Marblehead, MA. 01945 Please see www.marbleheadha.org for the full RFP package and supporting documents.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 7:30 PM on the request of Bessom Associates Inc inclusive of Thomas Groom to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct a new single family dwelling with attached garage to replace an existing single-family dwelling and a detached garage on a preexisting non-conforming property with multiple dwellings on one lot and less than the required front yard setback, located at 2 Nonantum Road in the Shoreline Single Residence District. The new construction will be within the front yard setback. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web. zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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

Eat, Drink & Save the Glover Tuesday, Feb. 20, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

The home of General John Glover, Revolutionary War hero and Marblehead native who organized rowers to ferry Washington’s army of 2,400 men across the Delaware to defeat the British at Trenton is now threatened with demolition. Join Glover’s Marblehead Regiment to honor this American patriot and save his home for future generations by eating at The Landing and mentioning the flier. The restaurant will donate 15% of your bill to preserve this home.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 8:15 PM on the request of Deborah Clarke to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct an addition to an existing single family dwelling on a preexisting nonconforming property, with less than the required lot area, frontage, side yard setback and exceeds the maximum height, located at 124 Front Street in the Shoreline Central Residence District. The new construction will be within the side yard setback, further reduce the open area and exceed the maximum allowed height, and the 10% expansion limits for a nonconforming building. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https:// us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 8:00 PM on the request of Barry Yackolow to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct an addition to an existing single family dwelling on a preexisting nonconforming property, with less than the required lot area, frontage, lot width, side and front yard setbacks, located at 67 Glendale Road in the Single Residence District. The new construction will be within the front and side yard setbacks and exceed the 10% expansion limits for a nonconforming building. This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation. The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Docket No. ES23P3432EA INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE Estate of: Helena M. Mace Also Known As: Helen M. Mace Date of Death: 09/18/ 2023 To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Gerald M. Mace of Wallingford CT Petitioner Leslie A. Omonde of So. Dartmouth MA a Will has been admitted to informal probate.

Gerald M. Mace of Wallingford CT Leslie A. Omonde of So. Dartmouth MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond.

The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition, the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 27, 2024 at 8:00 PM on the request of Griffin Booth to vary the application of the present Zoning By-law by allowing a Special Permit to construct an addition to an existing single family dwelling on a preexisting nonconforming property, with less than the required lot area, side and front yard setbacks, located at 19 Linden Street in the Single Residence District.

The new construction will be within the side yard setbacks, reduce the open area to less than required and exceed the 10% expansion limits for a nonconforming building.

This hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.

30A, §18, this public hearing of the Board is being conducted via remote participation.

The public can attend this meeting via the remote participation platform through the following ways: Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87878347282?pwd=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. 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

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A14 Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Marblehead Current

LETTERS

‘Make us proud’ To the editor: I would like to applaud the eight community members that stepped up to interview for the vacant School Committee seat.

What incredible resumes I read.

Congratulations to Mr. Al Williams.

Mr. Williams, thank you for accepting this incredibly tough job. My advice is to be true to yourself. Communication has to be a main point to work on within the committee and our community. There is no time for workshops at the moment.

To the other School Committee members, roll up your sleeves and work as a team.

As you read in the Marblehead Current, our community

stakeholders are sending you a message, enough is enough. As I have said before, listen to your critics not to those that just say what you want to hear.

Wipe the slate clean and start working on antisemitic, racist and homophobic rhetoric that is engulfing our schools. Table the flag issue until the end of June. The budget and contracts for teachers are critical and fast approaching. There will not be

an override this year. I do not see a Hail Mary moment saving us. Wait, maybe if you work with the selectmen and sell the two vacant schools.

Michelle Cresta is starting her new job on March 25. What is the actual day she is leaving Marblehead?

We need a new superintendent. Sarah and Jenn, you both have been on search committees before. Let’s be

polite and if Allison doesn’t want to be on the search committee then let the men handle it this time. If she does, put Al, Alison and Brian’s name in a hat, pull out two names. Easy peasy, fair and square, then get busy. We don’t have much time, less than four months.

Now get to work and make us proud.

Mary McCarriston Pinecliff Drive

Allen Babson Mace, 89, of Marblehead, died on Wednesday, January 31 at the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea. He was the husband of the late Barbara L. (Rogers) Mace, with whom he shared 53 years of marriage.

Born in Marblehead, he was the son of the late Samuel H.

and Laura M. (Emerton) Mace.

He graduated from Marblehead High School with the class of 1952 and served in the U.S. Air Force in Alaska during the Korean conflict. He worked as a forklift driver for many years at Salem Oil & Grease Company until his retirement.

He was the loving father of Allen W. Mace and his late wifePamela, and Robert E. Mace and his wife Jayne; the cherished grandfather of Abby Mace; and the dear brother of the late Edward Mace and Doris

Torrey. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family members.

A memorial graveside service will be held at a later date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea Activities and Recreation Fund, 91 Crest Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be made at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for the Mace family.

Previously, Mrs. Faulkner was a paraprofessional working in the town of Wrentham school department.

In her youth, she attended Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church in Marblehead as a student and parishioner. She and Scott were married there in 1987.

Her favorite pastimes included reading, solving puzzles, sewing, baking and combing the beach for sea glass. However, her truest love was spending time creating lifelong memories with her cherished family, friends and especially her two grandsons.

In addition to her husband and mother, she leaves her two daughters: Sarah E. Faulkner

of Attleboro and Hannah M. Thibault and her husband, Gary Thibault, currently stationed in Honolulu; her grandchildren Logan Thibault and Caleb Thibault both in Honolulu; her siblings Barbara Graves of Marblehead, Thomas Graves of Alachua, Florida, Paul Graves of Sun City, Florida, Gerald Graves of Marblehead, Arthur Graves of Marblehead, Maureen Anderson of Waterboro, Maine, Therese Burgos of Billerica, Emily Graves of Keene, New Hampshire, and Philip Graves of Lynn; several nieces and nephews; members of her husband’s family; extended relatives and many dear friends.

Burial in Waterside Cemetery

will be conducted privately.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Carol’s name may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via danafarber.org/gift in honor of the wonderful care provided to her over the past 10 years.

For additional information or to send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at dyer-lakefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of the DyerLake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Ave., Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro.

508-695-0200

OBITUARIES

Allen Babson Mace, 89

Carol Graves Faulkner, 65 Carol Graves Faulkner, 65, of Attleboro, passed away at her home on Feb. 4 surrounded by family. Since 2008, Carol fought a valiant battle against breast cancer with courage, determination and hope. She was the beloved wife of Scott William Faulkner.

Born in Marblehead on Feb. 13, 1958, she was a daughter of Nancy T. (Simpson) Graves of Marblehead and the late Robert Gerald Graves. She was raised and educated in Marblehead where

she was a graduate of Marblehead High School, class of ‘76. She later attended and graduated from Salem State College and earned her master’s in education from Rhode Island College.

CHECK IT OUT

What’s happening at the library The Abbot Public Library is temporarily located at the old Eveleth School, 3 Brook Rd., while its Pleasant Street building undergoes a multi-million-dollar renovation. All programs require registration at abbotlibrary.org unless otherwise stated.

Teen movie screening

Abbot Library will screen the 1965 coming-of-age comedy “Moonrise Kingdom” for teens on Feb. 22 from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. in the library’s program room.

No registration is required.

Midday movie matinee

The library will show the film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3” on Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. Registration is required.

School to Sea environmental lecture On Feb. 21 at 6:45 p.mCarly McIver, director of Salem Sound Coastwatch’s School to Sea program, will discuss the youth education initiative in a lecture that is part of the “Underwater in Salem Sound” series. Come in person or on Zoom.

Adult book club

Abbot Library’s adult book club will meet virtually on Feb. 20 from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. to discuss “The Dictionary of Lost Words”

by Pip Williams. Registration is

required and print copies of the book are available.

Ghost storytelling event The library will partner with the Ashland Public Library for an online ghost storytelling event hosted by podcaster Jeff DePaoli on Feb. 15 at 6:30 p.m.

Registration for the Zoom webinar is required.

Poetry discussion solan

Local writer Claire Keyes will lead a poetry salon on Feb. 15, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., discussing the works of Naomi Shihab Nye and Mosab Abu Toha. The event will take place in-person and on Zoom.

Registration is required only for virtual attendance.

Valentine’s craft social

A Valentine’s Day card-making craft social is set for Feb. 13 from 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. People can also bring their own craft projects to work on.

Pom-pom workshop

On Feb. 9 at 1:30 p.m., the library will run an adult craft workshop focused on making pom-pom garlands. The event has limited space and requires registration.

Career networking group A career-focused networking group for job seekers age 50+

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Buyer(s)

will meet online via Zoom on Feb. 21 from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. run in collaboration with the Tewksbury Library. Registration is required.

Check out DVDs for longer DVDs are now renewable.

Patrons can check out DVDs for two weeks with one renewal for an additional two weeks. Note that any item that has been requested by another patron will not renew.

COURTESY PHOTO / RICK CUZNER

An eastern screech owl perches at the entrance of its tree hollow, displaying its distinctive ear tufts and orange-brown feathers.

Access library account online People can download the NOBLE app for access to their library account and a digital copy of their library card. The app allows users to renew checked-out items and place holds on materials they would like to borrow.

CUZNER IN NATURE

Fines no more

I was thinking the other day that I have not really seen many of the local screech owls around town that I have seen in the past. Lots of barred owls, but not many screech owls. Last Thursday, I was driving home from work, heading towards old town, when I spotted something “out of place” in the hole of a tree. I was thinking, “That can’t be a screech owl.” I pulled over, backed up a bit. Sure enough, it was an eastern screech owl enjoying the last bits of daylight. The light was not great but I managed a few shots. I went back a few times over the weekend, to no avail. Enjoy.

The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner. For the past 16 years, he has taken thousands of nature photographs.

Abbot Library is now fine-free.

Visit abbotlibrary.org/about/ general-info to learn more about borrowing materials and to get a library card.

Tech and misc. things

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

Hide and screech: Spotting a screech owl

BY RICK CUZNER

Seller(s)

Address

Date

Price

Driscoll Properties LLC

5 Abbot Court

Jan. 24

$740,000

Brayton Cherry and Kristina Goodman

Russell A. and Sarah S. Gray

8 Washington St.

Jan. 22

$1,128,000

Eranda Mihasi and Erjon Tata

Arielle and Ian. S. Kingsbury

20 Lincoln Ave.

Jan. 26

$710,000

Nicholas A. Arena

22 Beach Ave.

Jan. 24

$805,000

Marblehead Brittany and Michael Boerma

Swampscott Sarah and Steven Holshouser Melissa S. Dragon

Richard R. Press

22 Hardy Road

Jan. 25

$561,000

Helen McWilliams

Estate of Elsa A. Eckman and Carl E. Eckman

51 The Greenway

Jan. 22

$640,000

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Headlight

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2023 - 2024 Issue

www.mhsheadlight.com

February 14, 2024

A case against default whining Charlie Seliger, Sophomore

I am going to present you with a mildly uncomfortable scenario. It is mid-winter, or early spring if you’re the optimistic type. You’re on the way to a swim meet, or basketball game, or a capella event… the destination isn’t relevant, instead, the person beside you is. The bus is bursting with people, leaving no space for a solo sitter; all of your close friends have a torpifying case of the common cold.

You are seated with someone you know too well to ignore, yet not enough to be comfortable around. Let’s say this drive is 45 minutes long, and neither of you remembered headphones.

Sounds terribly awkward, right?

I’m sorry to do this to you. If you’re anything like me, you’re currently scrambling for topics of discussion like you would a life raft. Small talk is dreadful, but silence is worse. You can’t talk about the weather; that’s already known to be under the umbrella of small talk (do you see what I did there?). Talking about your destination can only get you so far (look at me go!).

What’s left? Hmmm…

In the back of your mind you register what song is playing over the speakers. It’s not an awful song, but you probably wouldn’t listen to it if you had the choice. Struck by inspiration, you blurt, “I hate this song.”

Success—this sparks a brief exchange. It’s a small respite from the discomfort, but it’s something. Since you feel you’ve cracked the code, you next complain about the cold, then of your exhaustion, then comment on how you would rather not be traveling by bus. Complaining is easy and relatable since everyone does it, especially

adolescents; we’re all a bunch of whiners. However, the more it is utilized to avoid the void, the more its negative vibes impact the psyche. Have you heard the phrase, “Fake it till you make it?” Or, if you’re a retired crystal girlie such as myself, you might be familiar with “manifesting,” in other words, using thoughts to bring a goal into physical reality. It all sounds a little silly, but believe it or not, things you say become what you feel. After all that complaining, aimless conversation or not, it’s likely that you feel worse.

Let’s return to that song you threw under the bus (wasn’t that clever?).

At this point you’ve convinced yourself to like it just a bit less, and that does you no good. Mithering about the cold doesn’t make one warmer, nor does bemoaning fatigue make one full of vim and vigor. We become unhappy for virtually no reason.

Lately, I’ve been attempting to combat my whiny instincts when it comes to small talk. Instead of searching for inconsequential vexations, I rely on equally inconsequential pleasures. If I’m to say vapid things for the sake of conversation, I might as well do it with a positive lens. Upbeat comments can guide an interaction forward, and make one a bit more cheerful overall. For example, “I love it when it snows” is a much more enticing opener than “My boots are soggy.” Yes, the appeal of an easy, mindless complaint is almost impossible to resist, especially when the alternative is awkward silence. However, embracing mundane positivity may be the way to go. You and your hypothetical bus buddy are already uncomfortable, so there’s no point in adding more negative emotions to the mix. Go say some nice things.

Ms. Bordieri’s favorites Grey Collins, Sophomore

While spending my first semester in the photography studio with Ms. B, I learned about rules of composition, dark rooms, and exposure. But what really impressed me was the

talent that the department was producing. I asked Ms. B to help me showcase some of the best work of this semester’s photography students. She chose some of her favorites and sent them over.

By: Caroline Crosby

By: Raine Hamilton

By: Laura Botnaru

By: Alexis Hallisey

By: Henrik Adams

Locked Damilola Graciella Olabisi, Freshman, Guest Writer

This photo was taken on the fifth day of my freshman year.

After going to the office to get a locker, I was handed a lock, one that I didn't know how to open.

The directions for opening the lock were written on the back, along with the combination.

I glanced at the outstretched hand with confusion written on my face, and the office lady offered to help. She displayed to me how the lock would loosen if she followed the instructions, but it didn't. Before she was able to open it, she had repeated the process twice more, by this point the directions had been completely forgotten. I went to class with a sealed lock weighing my bag down, waiting for me to unseal it.

Becoming a freshman is like having the instructions handed to you only to find out that they mean nothing. It's like gridlock.

In eighth grade, you have a vision of what high school will be like, the friends you'll make, the classes you'll have, and when

you get here it's so extremely overwhelming. The friends you once had are in different classes than you, only ever being seen rushing by in the halls. The classes are foreign, the atmosphere never quite right, not comforting, almost bare. The hallways are a labyrinth of confusion, sweat and people too old to be kids and too young to be adults, stuck somewhere in between.

For me, being a highschooler in 2023 is like a lock that won't open, expecting one thing and being handed something complex and difficult to understand, something that adults can’t even solve.

It seems so simple and easy, but it's an entirely new level of difficulty, one that I can't understand.

Some people have found the combination but even after years of attempts haven't deciphered it. I carry the lock in my bag, knowing that it seems simple but it's not.

Behind it are expectations, appearance, friends, family, and me, locked and hidden away, waiting for me to find the combination.

Headlight Staff 2023-2024 EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Ila Bumagin and Mona Gelfgatt

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Benji Boyd, Rachael Albert

TECHNOLOGY EDITOR: Kate Twomey

REPORTERS: Cole Barbeau, John Bender, Nathaniel Carper-Young, Grey Collins, Tucker Crane, Aislin Freedman, Samuel Jendrysik, Anya Kane, Nina Lees, Georgia Marshall, Charlie Seliger, Livia Weiss FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins

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A16 Wednesday, February 14, 2024 Marblehead Current

marbleheadcurrent.org

Enjoy the warmth of community living this winter

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To learn about The Mariner call: 781.731.1583 Independent Living, Assisted Living & Avita Memory Care 265 Pleasant Street | Marblehead, MA | MarinerMarblehead.com

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