01.31.2024 - Volume 2, Issue 10

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IN THIS ISSUE

SCHOOLS

SPORTS

Want to join the School Committee?

MHS swimmers are unsinkable

ARTS

NONPROFIT ORG PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

Marblehead’s Got Talent auditions this weekend

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PAID

MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25

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NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

TM

January 31, 2024

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VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 10

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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG

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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT

TOWN MEETING

Voters to take up recalls, leaf blower ban Petitions target variety of local issues

BY WILL DOWD AND LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead can’t seem to quit leaf blowers. The perennial issue will again come before Town Meeting this May via three citizen petitions.

Lead sponsor Sabrina Velandry of Prospect Street has proposed

citizen petitions expanding the existing summertime ban on the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

Velandry’s petitions would specifically: » Institute a year-round prohibition on gas-powered leaf blowers. » Remove exemptions for town employees.

» Expand fines up to $300

for both residents and landscapers caught violating bans.

“These things are so dangerous, it’s unbelievable,” said Velandry, citing noise and fumes alongside hearing loss risks like the tinnitus she claims leaf blowers triggered. “There is

no safe exposure...none.”

For the 2024 warrant, Town Clerk Robin Michaud has certified a dozen citizen petitions.

Establishing a recall bylaw Daniel Donato of Manataug Trail is the lead sponsor behind a proposed bylaw that would allow residents to recall elected officials. Massachusetts citizens have a state constitutional right

to recall public officials, but unlike most cities and towns, Marblehead does not have recourse to remove officials.

“I’m hoping residents will consider giving themselves more agency and more options,” said Donato. “This is about being prepared to deal with a situation, should it ever arise, where a WARRANT, P. A2

HISTORIC MARCH

Muskets blaze tribute to Gen. Glover

CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

On Saturday, Jan. 27, members of Glover’s Regiment fired a musket salute beside General John Glover’s tomb on Old Burial Hill, culminating in the annual lantern-lit march from the Old Town House to his final resting place.

TAX TROUBLE

STATE OF THE TOWN

Select Board, Kezer lambasted Administrator: No over reassessments, tax bills override needed

BY WILL DOWD

Just two days after the State of the Town address — where residents angrily challenged the Select Board and Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer over surging property tax assessments — the Marblehead Board of Assessors convened a closed-door executive session.

This move was undertaken to discuss and review assessment appeals.

Abatements may double As frustrated homeowners inundate Marblehead with appeals to reduce their newly inflated property tax bills, the chair of the town’s Board of Assessors says a white-hot real estate market — not assessing mishaps — primarily fueled the assessment frustration.

In a Friday afternoon phone call, Chair John Kelley said the board aimed to accurately reflect the town’s real estate frenzy last year when evaluating properties.

He maintains they properly executed their duty while

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Budget outlook improving, but challenges remain

BY WILL DOWD

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead residents hit the Select Board and Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer with a barrage of questions about property assessments and tax bills.

admitting not every new valuation will hit the mark.

“Only a fool would say that we are 100% correct. That’s why we have the abatement process,” Kelley said, adding he believes the abatement process will work things out.

“Anyone who thinks they’re over-assessed, by all means, fill out an abatement application and let us know why.”

The assessors typically receive 90 to 100 abatement requests annually, but since the latest round of tax bills reflecting 2022’s sales landed in mailboxes this month, that number may double.

“If I had to take an educated

guess, we might end up with 200,” he said. “We have a week to go, so you never know what’s going to happen.”

While Kelley called the influx “relatively low” compared to the 450 appeals submitted amid the 2008 housing crisis, he cited an influx of wealthy buyers settling down in Marblehead from as far as California and pricing out plenty of current residents.

The eye-popping sale prices concentrated within particular neighborhoods skew individual assessments upward at more variable rates, he said.

TAXES, P. A3

At his annual State of the Town address, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said officials intend to balance Marblehead’s projected $111.3 million budget for fiscal year 2025 without asking voters for a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override.

However, it remains to be seen whether the school district will require an override to avoid teacher layoffs and program cuts.

Members of the Marblehead Education Association, the union representing teachers, attended the State of the Town Wednesday evening wearing black and red.

MEA co-chair and sixth-grade teacher Jonathan Heller warned more education cuts could negatively impact the financial health of the whole town.

“If we continue to strip our budget, we will lose high-quality people who can go elsewhere,”

Heller said. “Families may leave or choose not to come to Marblehead due to concerns over the quality of the school system.”

Kezer projected a $4.2 million gap in the $111 million budget, split evenly between the town and the schools. Rather than using an override, part of the initial proposal to close the gap would involve having Town Meeting pass localoption meals and rooms taxes.

“We’re not out of the woods, in a long-term sense, of dealing with our structural deficit,” Kezer told a standing-room-only crowd in the Select Board room at Abbot Hall.

“Very likely at some point our only option is going to be an override.”

Kezer presented the following numbers: Projected revenues for fiscal year 2025: $107,013,225 » Base property tax levy + 2 1/2 BUDGET, P. A3

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marbleheadcurrent.org

A2 Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Marblehead Current

OPEN SEAT

Want to join the School Committee?

One former member is paying close attention

nEWS FOr PEOPLE, nOT FOr PrOFIT. CO-CHAIRPERSONS

Jessica Barnett Ed Bell

BY LEIGH BLANDER The School Committee and Select Board are inviting people interested in filling a vacant seat on the School Committee to apply to complete the term, which runs until the June election.

School Committee member Meagan Taylor resigned earlier this month, after serving nearly six years.

Asked whether he might consider returning to the School Committee either temporarily or more long-term, former member Tom Mathers said, “I am hopeful that many highly experienced candidates with appropriate governance experience will volunteer to be considered. We will have to see how the situation

NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Community Editor - Will Dowd wdowd@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

There is a seat on the School Committee up for grabs.

develops in the next week or so.”

Mathers was appointed to the School Committee in January of 2023 to fill Emily Barron’s seat when she stepped down. He served through the June election.

Anyone interested in filling Meagan Taylor’s seat is asked to send a cover letter and resume to School Committee Chair Sarah Fox and Select Board Chair Erin Noonan. The materials should be submitted to Fox and Noonan on the same day, no later than Feb.

5 at 3 p.m. Late applications will not be accepted, according to a press release sent by Fox. The School Committee and Select Board will meet jointly on Feb. 7 at Abbot Hall to interview candidates and name the interim member.

Applications should be emailed (which is prefered), mailed or hand-delivered. The contact information is: » School administration office, attention Sarah Fox,

40 Baldwin Road / fox.sarah@ marbleheadschools.org » Office of the Select Board, attention Erin Noonan, 188 Washington St., Abbot Hall / wileyk@marblehead.org With emails, write “School Committee application” in the subject line.

If the appointee wants to stay on the School Committee beyond June, the individual will need to seek election to a new three-year term.

DESE visits schools for routine special education review

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Warrant From P. A1

town official shows such disregard for the will of the voters and the responsibilities of their office that a large majority of voters want them removed.”

Donato continued: “There is the potential that people might seek to misuse the power of recall. I would hope that this is reserved for egregious cases and not when voters disagree with decisions here and there in the normal course of town governance,” Donato said. “Even knowing that this potential exists, I believe it’s worth the risk to have this safeguard in place.”

School Committee member Jenn Schaeffner declined to comment on the recall petition specifically, but did speak about the importance of the citizen petition process.

“I do honor the commitment to the democratic process which is our open town meeting structure,” she told the Current.

“Citizen articles are the embodiment of this form of democracy and governance.”

Key features of Donato’s proposal include a requirement that at least 50 registered voters sign an initial affidavit and that at least five percent of voters sign the recall petition. Then, a significant majority — 60% — of voters in a special election would be required to recall an official.

Protections against repeat or immediate recalls are also in place, such as barring recall petitions within three months of an official taking office and within six months of an unsuccessful

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

STUDENT SERVICES

The Department of Secondary Education visited Marblehead schools last week as part of its routine three-year review of services for special education students. It comes just one month after Marblehead’s Student Services director and assistant director stepped down amid a student restraint crisis and no-confidence vote by town teachers.

The district is also awaiting results of an independent review of its student restraint policies.

That review is expected to be finished by Feb. 1. Four Glover educators have been placed on paid leave until the review is completed.

“Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Julia Ferreira did an excellent job focusing on the preparation and planning over the last two weeks absent a director of Student Services,” interim Superintendent Theresa McGuinness told the

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

Current. The district has been planning for this review since June 2023.

McGuinness said the onsite visit included the following: Review of records from the special education student roster to determine if procedural and programmatic requirements are being met.

Review of additional documents for “special education or civil rights.”

Interviews with staff Interviews with SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory

Council) representatives and other parents or members of the public.

Classroom and facility observations to determine compliance with requirements.

Jeff Levin, co-chair of Marblehead SEPAC, met with DESE reps about the “importance of driving an inclusive mindset across the district, and providing amplified professional development for our general education teachers about de-escalation techniques and the importance of meeting our kids where they are,” he said.

“One of the observations that has been shared with us by parents of children with IEPs and 504s is that while the special education instructors are deeply empathetic and well-versed in their child’s needs, there is far more inconsistency with the general education teachers that interact with our kids on a daily basis,” he said. “Sharing leading practices through better peer-topeer coaching can quickly advance

the concept of inclusion across the entire district.”

Levin added that communication with families is more important than ever.

“While acknowledging the tumult, we’re focused on getting leadership to amplify their communications to the impacted families,” he said. “On the ground, we see the teachers and service providers doing all they can with what they have in this environment. But more can be done to educate parents on current status for their child, as well as communicating to the wider population regarding plans and vision for the future.”

After the Student Services resignations, McGuinness named Veterans School Student Services Team Chair Ashlee Leibman the temporary Student Services coordinator.

Meanwhile, a search is underway for a Student Services interim director.

Stay with the Current as new information becomes available.

recall attempt.

“This effort is not intended to be a shot across the bow of our officials. Instead, it’s giving voters one more lever to pull (hopefully rarely) when and if they need it,” Donato said. “In rare cases, when we may discover that a person we elected to office has hidden important and highly relevant information prior to the election, the voters of Marblehead may want that person removed.”

Rolling Select Board back to one-year terms A petition sponsored by Dwight Grader of Mill Pond seeks to rescind last year’s Town Meeting decision to change Select Board terms from one to three years.

Last year’s vote essentially sent a home rule petition seeking the Legislature’s approval and the governor’s signature to make the term change. The new petition surfaced just weeks after the state Senate granted preliminary approval on the matter. The decision now sits in the House.

Website overhaul Resident Jim Zisson sponsored a petition to overhaul Marblehead’s website. He says that the town identified overhauling Marblehead’s website as a priority, but it’s been placed on the back burner.

“I’m hoping to work with the Finance Committee to get funding for the website,” said Zisson. “If they don’t put the funding in the budget, we’ll ask Town Meeting for the money.”

Parliamentary procedure, traffic safety Dan Albert of Leicester Road has put forth three petitions aimed at amending Town Meeting

parliamentary procedure, Traffic Safety Committee oversight and the timely implementation of required road safety measures.

The first petition aims to improve operations and participation at Town Meeting by updating several sections of the town bylaws.

Regarding the “seating of strangers” — or nonvoting attendees — during Town Meeting, Albert said: “The current rules prohibit ‘strangers’ from being seated, but we’re really talking about welcoming student groups and other visitors.

The changes just make it more inviting for a civics class or others to observe the meetings.”

On motions to indefinitely postpone business, he explained: “The tradition in Marblehead has been allowing a motion to postpone before the main motion is even presented. This goes against parliamentary procedure.

The changes would require hearing the motion first, then allowing motions to table it or postpone consideration.”

Finally, on reconsidering previous votes on the Town meeting floor, Albert noted: “Currently the moderator has to determine if someone voted ‘yes’ originally before allowing a reconsider. But that’s difficult with secret ballots. Updating this procedure relieves pressure on the moderator and follows best practices.”

His second petition aims to correct some clerical issues in the bylaw creating the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, which was originally passed through his citizen petition at Town Meeting.

“There are a couple typos — a missing word or two,” Albert said.

His third petition calls for painting road safety shoulders on Maple Street between Lafayette and Humphrey, as required by a 2012 site plan approval that has gone unfulfilled for 12 years.

“There was no sense of urgency in town officials” on meeting these safety requirements, Albert said. He said he has shared relevant documentation with the police chief, School Committee and town engineer asking for a firm completion date. His petition sets a hard deadline of June 1, 2024, to finally implement the measures. Albert said if the date needs adjustment, “June 30th is better. Big deal.” The goal is spurring action on “road safety features that have been missing for 12 years,” he said.

Albert hopes officials will collaborate on the petitions but filed them because “it’s been long enough” waiting for the safety improvements.

Other citizen petitions that passed certification muster: » Philip Blaisdell of Front Street sponsored a citizen petition to “maintain and keep open the State Street restroom on a year-round basis.” » Kenneth Grant of Haley Road sponsored a citizen petition to “increase the size of sheds requiring just a building permit from 81 square feet to 121 square feet.” » Charles Nordstrom of Knight Avenue sponsored a citizen petition to waive beach and transfer station sticker fees for honorably discharged veterans residing in Marblehead.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

The Department of Secondary Education was in Marblehead last week for its routine Student Services review.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 31, 2024 A3

Budget From P. A1

percent: $73,202,404 » New growth (from new construction/renovations): $300,000 » Debt exclusions: $10,993,076 » State aid: $8,240,155 » Local receipts: $7,092,340 » Other available funds: $35,000 » Free cash: $6,500,000 » Municipal Light surplus: $330,000 » Water, sewer, harbor, general government: $320,250 » Projected expenditures for FY 2025: $111,269,738 » Town expenses: $50,636,849 » School expenses: $48,224,813 » Warrant articles: $1,350,000 » Debt: $11,058,076 ‘We’re making progress’ Kezer said the goal is to keep pushing the need for a general override out further.

Taxes From P. A1

Still, some taxpayers question whether assessors improperly appraised certain areas.

“It’s difficult. The real estate market’s been crazy,” Kelley said. “And we have to assess on the basis of sales that have occurred. That’s it. That’s all we can do.”

He added, “My assessment went up 30% from $1.1 million to $1.4 million.”

Where does accountability lie?

Residents showed up to the assessor’s meeting on Friday morning, but the Board’s decision to meet privately — legally permissible to comply with specific laws or to discuss sensitive matters — seemingly fueled the ongoing debate over transparency and accountability in local government.

Kelley said disputes over individual property tax abatements almost always involve confidential review of applicants’ personal financial data, which officials require to gauge eligibility for reduced valuations. State privacy laws protect that sensitive information from public view.

Still, that lack-oftransparency-andaccountability sentiment is strong. Tempers flared near the end of Kezer’s State of the Town address Jan. 24. Residents interrogated the Select Board and him about the recent spikes in property property assessments.

Local residents, like James Full, are angry that some assessments vastly exceed home values and set dangerous precedents.

“I need someone from the town to just fess up and say, ‘Wow, we screwed the pooch on that,’” Full said, demanding an explanation as to why tax assessments on nearidentical homes in the same neighborhood could diverge so wildly.

“I know there are taxpayers in town that would like to hear the answer to that.”

Kezer walked through what he described as “the macro process” dictating property taxes — last year’s levy plus 2.5% annual growth allowed under Proposition 21⁄2.

But he conceded that the assessor’s individual appraisal of each property and sales driving up values in select neighborhoods led to disproportionate

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

“We think that our duty to the taxpayers is to look at every other option there is so as not to have to impose a broad-based tax increase on everybody. so as far as addressing the structural deficit, we’re making progress.”

Revenue growth remains slow due to Prop 2 1/2, the state law that limits property tax increases to 2.5%, and a lack of new construction. That leaves the town little room to maneuver as salaries, contractual obligations and a projected eight percent increase in health insurance costs outpace revenue.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking on several union contracts, including for police, municipal employees and teachers, which expire this summer.

“We are working to address the structural deficit in light of these expiring agreements and the need to negotiate fair contracts,” Kezer said.

hikes.

“For every one of those people that saw that, because there’s a 16% average (increase), there are a whole bunch of other people whose values didn’t go up or went down,” Kezer said. “Obviously the ones we hear from are the ones where their values went up.”

That failed to satisfy Full, who accused officials of making excuses and deflecting accountability rather than owning the crisis facing residents.

“So Thatcher, you honestly believe that the Assessor’s Office is using whatever market analysis system to generate these tax dollars?” he said. “You honestly think it’s fair for someone’s property taxes to go up $4,000 a year?”

Select Board member Moses Grader stressed

Among the bright spots Kezer highlighted is an intention to use less free cash. He said the town would use about $5 million in free cash to balance this year’s budget, about half the amount they needed two years ago.

“We continue to face significant budget challenges,” Kezer said, “But we have also made major strides toward stabilizing our financial footing over the past two years.”

The work ahead Kezer said growing the town’s reserves has helped protect its AAA bond rating.

The work ahead, as the town puts the budget together, is closing the $4.2 million gap, Kezer said. He believes the town side should be able to reach a balanced budget.

Efforts are underway to introduce new revenues to alleviate budget pressures. Two proposed home-rule petitions,

the Assessor’s Office — overseen by an elected three-member body separate from the Select Board — functions as “statutorily separate” from other municipal departments. The Select Board lacks “visibility into it,” he noted, but said ultimate accountability lies with voters who elect the Board of Assessors.

Tensions escalated further when resident John DiPiano lambasted the Select Board for its “consistent lack of transparency” and failure to adequately prepare for taxpayer frustrations.

Resident Alastar Connor challenged local officials over who bears ultimate responsibility for addressing citizen complaints.

Connor asked, “Who is accountable to the

if Town Meeting approves them, would implement a rooms and meals tax that could generate $800,000 to $1 million. Kezer also noted that his office is sponsoring an article to look at raising some town fees.

“We need to drill down and focus on making sure we’re doing all the things that we need to do to capture every ounce of newgrowth revenue,” Kezer stressed.

Efficiency gains through investments in technology and staff training represent another priority that can bend the cost curve over time, Kezer said.

To illustrate the latter point, he announced the debut of ClearGov transparency software on the town’s website. He also noted the transition to Office 365 Suite and the newly hired human resources director.

“Sometimes, we have to spend money to create improvements in productivity that pay themselves

people of the town?”

She argued that even if oversight bodies like the Assessor’s Office fall outside direct supervision by the Select Board, residents still look to Select Board members and Kezer as leaders obligated to tackle problems causing community upheaval.

Assessor Karen Bertolino did not return requests for comment earlier this week.

“I would say the ultimate accountability for the people of the town would lay with the Board of Selectmen and the town administrator,” Connor said. “So that’s why I’m wondering — where’s the accountability of each independent board?”

If other departments or boards fail to adequately respond to resident

back over time,” he explained.

Kezer also spoke about developing a consistent fiveyear capital planning process that would help identify needed projects and find ways to fund improvements in a sustainable manner. He has sponsored an article to update the capital improvement committee bylaw to reconstitute the committee with new membership.

Kezer emphasized that longterm financial planning is crucial.

“Step one is reviewing revenue streams and proposing new recurring revenues and restructuring fees to support operations,” he said. “Step two involves reducing costs through improved efficiencies, such as reprogramming old completed capital projects to fund new capital needs.”

He continued, “Finally, step three would be an override request to address the structural

concerns, Connor said accountability “defaults” back to executive figures like the Select Board.

“This situation exposes gaps in accountability and transparency that should force us to reexamine flaws in the current

system,” Select Board member Bret Murray said. “As we explore a possible charter change, we need to strongly consider reconstituting how the Assessor’s Office operates.”

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A4 Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

The power of one

Can one person make a significant and positive difference in the world? Philosophers and leaders have asked and answered that question over the centuries with a resounding “yes.” We on this page don’t have to cast our gaze that far to answer it for ourselves. All around us, our fellow Marbleheaders are doing so with their extraordinary actions. We highlight four here:

Robert McNulty

The founder and executive director of Applied Ethics, Inc. recently talked to the Current about his courageous and critical effort to continue education for girls in Afghanistan, where the Taliban banned their studies after sixth grade upon retaking power in 2021.

For a decade, McNulty and his organization’s Pax Populi Academy offered one-on-one online education in partnership with Bentley University. After being forced to close after coalition forces withdrew from the country, the Academy regrouped and launched a virtual “underground” school, offering language classes to prepare students for college outside Afghanistan, at first serving 10 students with a goal of growing to 50.

McNulty is hopeful the Taliban might change their minds and believes a legacy of U.S. involvement is the willingness of parents and students to take risks to get an education.

“Each of these families is taking a very significant bet: that this is worth it for them that they do not want to see their daughters languish away, losing all their hope and their intellectual development, and becoming essentially household servants,” he says.

We are awed by his courage and commitment to young women a half a world away.

Dr. Patricia Sullivan

With the publication this month of her memoir, “Boston, Bangkok, Bombay & Beyond: The Journeys of a Physical Therapist,” Trish Sullivan’s healing work around the world will become known to a broader audience.

Those who have long thrived in her care, whether through her leadership at Rotary, rehabilitation practice or teaching are cheered by this prospect.

“Dr. Sullivan takes readers on a precarious motorcycle ride up a steep mountain path in Nepal, on an elephant ride in the jungle of Thailand, and makes stops at the majestic Taj Mahal and Hagia Sophia. Amidst these adventures, Dr. Sullivan sheds light on the challenges of providing care in unfamiliar environments, cultures and languages,” according to the book’s summary.

From our vantage point, taking this ride with Sullivan and her emphasis on respecting diverse cultures is a much-needed tonic in these divisive times.

Lisa Sugarman

We are overjoyed that Sugarman’s wise and penetrating prose will be a regular feature in the Current. And we are inspired by her new mission to shed light on the remaining stigmas around mental health and in particular the ongoing epidemic of suicide.

She recently spoke to us about learning later in life that her father had taken his own life when she was a child — not perishing from a heart attack, as she had been told — and the resulting impact of the discovery.

“It has permeated all the areas of my life,” Sugarman told the Current. “It revealed itself as my purpose, what I am meant to do in this world. I need to talk about mental illness and dilute the stigma of suicide to that point where it isn’t happening at the rate it’s happening now.”

In a country where, according to the Centers for Disease Control, more people died by suicide in the United States last year than any other year on record, we can’t think of a better person to take this challenge head on.

Heather Walker

Her family, friends and community still mourn her loss daily, but Walker’s positive impact on the world continues to inspire.

Most recently, it was the Marblehead High girls and boys’ basketball teams who illustrated Walker’s enduring legacy by presenting a $5,000 donation to the Heather Walker/Dana Farber fund, at a post-game reception in TD Garden.

We hope and believe the opportunity to contribute to Walker’s legacy of funding brain cancer research will glow inside these young Marbleheaders, along with the thrill of playing in that famed arena, for years to come.

It was Nelson Mandela who said, “It is in your hands to make a better world for all who live in it.” Send a note to info@marbleheadnews.org about others in our community doing just that. This space, and our hearts, will continue to show them our gratitude.

WE ARE WHO WE ARE

Why we need to be sharing our stories

BY LISA SUGARMAN In my debut We Are Who We Are column from last month, I talked at length about the importance of getting vulnerable as a way for all of us to resolve to be more transparent with our feelings and emotions as we head into the new year. Well, this month, it felt like a natural continuation of that conversation to encourage everyone to go one step further and start sharing our stories of loss or trauma or grief or mental illness or whatever challenge(s) we’ve faced that have tested us.

Because when we repurpose our lived experiences for the benefit of others, those experiences become like breadcrumbs that we drop to help show others the way.

And we could all use a little help and guidance every once in a while.

See, when we transition from being honest with ourselves about how we’re feeling and begin sharing what we’ve gone through with the people around us, we’re gifting our unique experiences (and what we’ve learned from them) to the people in our orbit.

Because, when you really break it down, vulnerability goes hand in hand with sharing. At least I believe it does. The way I see it, being vulnerable (or open, for lack of a better word) almost always has that sharing component built right in. That’s because sharing what we’ve gone through with the outside world is just a logical extension of being honest with ourselves. It just takes that honesty and launches it out into the world in the form of our story — a story that has the power to help and influence and guide and heal.

And while it’s true that not all our stories are heartwarming or uplifting, even the tough ones have value. In fact, it’s often our hardships and pain that can benefit us, and others, the most. Because it’s within our darkest moments where we can extract the most powerful lessons—lessons of resilience and courage and hope.

So, in my mind, vulnerability is simply a gateway to the natural next step which is telling people our stories. Because unless we share our human experiences openly and honestly, there’s no other way people will know what we’ve gone through and how we’ve met those challenges. That’s why the art of storytelling is so critical.

It’s no secret that storytelling is the most age-old and powerful way of connecting over our shared humanity. Because, if it’s one thing we’ve all got, no matter who we are or where we come from, it’s a story to tell. And believe me, our stories matter.

I mean, not only do our shared experiences remind us that we’re not alone in the world, but they also

strengthen our bonds with each other and create a sense of connectedness that few other things have the capacity to do. According to Samaritans Health Services, sharing personal stories can help to bring people together across divisions. Often, in the hearing of another’s story we hear something that reminds us of our own experiences, and this has potential to build bridges between generations and cultures, helping us focus on commonality over difference.

Look, if you’re a pragmatist like me, then you’re gonna benefit from a bunch of valid reasons why it’s beneficial for us to share our stories. So, I’m gonna give them to you as proof that opening up to each other really can be the agent of change for so many challenges we face, like loneliness and the stigma of mental illness and addiction and grief and loss.

Because when someone shares something they’ve experienced — good or bad—it creates a point of connection that proves that we’re not alone.

That said, here are a handful of reasons why we need to get comfortable sharing our stories: Sharing helps us create connections and find our community.

Opening up to others with our lived experience(s) creates a safe space for others to do the same .

Talking about our fears and challenges allows people to see our humanness, and, in turn, their own.

Hearing someone else’s story of loss or sadness or hopelessness is a learning experience that can give us new perspectives on challenges we’ve never considered and that creates empathy.

Telling our story is one of the most effective ways of inspiring and motivating and educating others.

Sharing our stories can help us heal.

So, consider this your invitation to start sharing.

You won’t be sorry.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline and a trained lifeline counselor will be there to help. You can also bookmark my Mental Health Resources page at lisasugarman.com/resources, so you’ll always have the resources you need when you need them most.

Lisa Sugarman is an author, nationally syndicated columnist, three-time survivor of suicide loss, mental health advocate and crisis counselor with The Trevor Project. She’s also a storyteller with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the host of The Suicide Survivor Series on YouTube. Lisa is also a Survivor of Suicide Loss Grief Group facilitator for Samaritans, Inc. and she’s the author of “How To Raise Perfectly Imperfect Kids And Be Ok With It,” “Untying Parent Anxiety” and “LIFE: It Is What It Is.” Her work has appeared on Healthline Parenthood, GrownAndFlown, TODAY Parents, Thrive Global, The Washington Post, LittleThings and More Content Now.

Decoding tech on your phone

BY STEPHEN BACH Ah, technology. The great equalizer, the gateway to information and the source of more confusion than a family reunion with distant relatives.

Let’s face it: Tech jargon can make even the simplest smartphone make you feel like a three-yearold. But fear not, for I, your trusty digital doctor and fellow grandparent, am here to navigate the labyrinthine jungle of tech lingo and bring you back with both sanity and, dare I say, a chuckle.

First base: The hardware haven Let’s start with the building blocks, shall we? Your fancy phone isn’t just a brick you stare at, it’s a brainbox (CPU or central processing unit) nestled in a sleek shell (chassis) with eyes (camera) and ears (microphone) to keep you connected to the digital zoo.

Don’t worry, you don’t need a degree in anatomy to use it, just remember: The brainbox crunches the numbers, the eyes see, the

ears hear and the shell ... well, it just looks pretty (unless you drop it, then it cries). And remember: The phone you have today has more computing power than the computer they took for the moon landing.

Second base: The software safari Now, onto the stuff that makes your phone tick (or, more accurately, swipe and tweet). Apps are like those little shops in a mall, each one serving a different purpose. Got a hankering for virtual window shopping? Open a shopping app. Feeling hungry?

Order some grub through a food delivery app. Need to stalk your friend’s dog’s second cousin?

There’s an app for that too (probably).

But beware, too many apps can turn your phone into a digital hoarder’s attic. So uninstall the ones you haven’t used since the dinosaurs roamed the internet (remember dial-up? Yeah, those were the dark ages).

Third base: The lingo lookout Alright, time to tackle the jargon beast. Ever heard of “the cloud”?

It’s not actually made of fluffy

cotton candy, but it’s where you store your stuff online, like a magical attic in the sky. There are many cloud services: iCloud, OneDrive, iDrive, Google Drive and others are cloud services.

And when things get wonky, don’t panic. Just reboot your device (turn it off and on again), like giving your digital brain a good shake.

Remember, even the most techsavvy folks started somewhere. So embrace the journey, laugh at the occasional error message (they’re just the tech gremlins playing DOC, P. A5

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 31, 2024 A5

ASK LIZZIE

A sudsy suggestion for good, clean fun

BY LIZZIE ASSA Dear Lizzie, My child loves messy, sensory play and it keeps him busy on these long winter days, but I hate the mess! Can you recommend a messy/not-somessy activity to keep us both happy?

Dear reader, Your child is on to something! Sensory play is particularly appealing in the winter, as we miss the natural sensory experiences often found outdoors in the summer. It makes a whole lot of sense that tactile play would be keeping your little one engaged.

As a parent who spent many years at home with little ones, I know messy play doesn’t always feel manageable. If the mess is too much, it’s not good for anyone.

But don’t worry, I have a clean(ish) solution in mind for you.

Have you ever tried playing with soap foam? Soap foam offers a sensory activity that is both engaging for children and manageable for the grownups. It’s incredibly simple to make, easy to clean and offers endless possibilities for creative, engaging sensory play.

How to make soap foam: Combine 2/3 cup of water with 2 tablespoons of tear-free soap.

Use a hand mixer to whip the mixture on high until stiff peaks

form, which should take about two minutes.

Optionally, add a drop of food coloring for an extra fun twist.

You can set this up in the kitchen sink or a large bin on the floor. I like to set it up inside a bin on a big towel or dropcloth.

The towel provides a physical boundary for your child. Tell them, “Foam stays in the bin and

on the towel only. Pretend the floor is lava and the towel is your island.”

This way, the play remains contained and cleanup is much easier for you. You can even set them up in the bathtub!

I love soap foam for children of all ages. Baby can play with a small amount on a high chair tray, while your toddler explores

with scoopers, whisks or other kitchen tools. Throw in a few favorite toys, like cars, dinosaurs or waterproof dolls.

Remember, the key to successful sensory play is finding activities that are enjoyable for your child while being manageable for you. Do yourself a favor and whip up a batch of soap foam. The five minutes you invest in making it will set you up for a long play session.

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

PLAYING THE GAME

Human gems

BY BOB BAKER When I was with the Harold Cabot ad agency in 1972, our client Boston Gas asked us to come up with “feel good” image commercials — federal regulators had forbidden hard-sell product sell.

The theme I came up with: “We’d like to share with you one of the many wonderful kinds of warm in the world.”

The setting for one of the commercials was a ballet class for young girls. The opening scene showed four girls practicing steps as an instructress keeps time tapping a staff on the floor. Suddenly, the woman stops tapping — calls out “Susie!”to the littlest girl who’s obviously been struggling. Susie approaches the woman, a worried expression on her face. The woman leans over, puts her hand on Susie’s shoulder and with a smile, in a faintly Russian accent, softly says, “One day, my Susie, you are going to be a beeyootyaful dancer.” Susie beams.

As I found out much later, finding beauty in things imperfect and transient, humble, spontaneous … human … is the mark of the Japanese worldview called “wabi sabi.” Independent of that discovery, I’ve always taken delight in things about our less-thanperfect human condition that have a certain spirit about them, almost a nobility about them. n n n

Back in my 1990s early bird days, I was in Vinnin Square one Sunday morning at 5:30 a.m. picking up some medications at the (then) 24-hour CVS pharmacy. In line right after me comes Marblehead Veterans Agent Dave Rodgers. I ask Dave what brings him out at that ridiculous hour.

“Oh, one of my veterans gave me a call,” he said. “He needs his heart medicine bad.”

Needless to say, going out of his way like that was hardly in the veterans agent job description. But that was Dave Rodgers then, and — in every regard — that’s Dave Rodgers to this day. n n n

Ney Tejada is a robust 51-yearold fellow spilling over with life, now a U.S. citizen, who came here from the Dominican Republic in 2001. He’s maintenance chief for a number of buildings in the area, including the one I live in.

It’s been my good fortune over the years to have frequent conversations with Ney, and I’ve gotten to know him well. He’s not only a man of many know-how and can-do talents, he’s one of the brightest happiest campers imaginable.

If I ever hit the lottery, I’ll provide backing for him to support his family and get the education necessary to teach history — he’ll light the light for hundreds of young people for decades to come. As with Achilles, Ney does have one flaw, though: He’s a fan of David Ortiz. n n n

Every year, there’s a new crew of high school and college-age kids that work as wait staff at one of my favorite summer hangouts. The word that best describes them is “refreshing.“ Refreshing, because management screens the team so well they defy my expectation of today’s screen-jaded, too-hip-tobe-true young breed. These kids are as bright, upbeat, friendly and interested as they themselves are interesting.

In the course of the summer, I’m able to engage a number of them in the long lost art of conversation.

And sometimes I’m even able to pass along some ideas from my various experiences in career consideration and job hunting that strike a spark — and may be of help.

There’s a possibility of tangible long term benefit that makes me feel I’m maybe doing more than just taking up space hereabouts. n n n

I had the fun of getting to know the painter of mystical elegance Carol Anthony whose works are in the Smithsonian and private collections of such as Jack Connors (an early discoverer), Michael J. Fox and Oprah Winfrey back in the early ’70s when I was creative director at K&E in Boston and she was a freelance illustrator fresh out of RISD. She had a magic about her that shone in her work. Which made me happily surprised when we were done discussing a project one day and she said, “I like the way you write. Why don’t you write a kids book, and I’ll illustrate it?”

So I did. I wrote “Let Me Be Me,” a “message” story of a little kid who resisted the world’s pressures to forsake childhood and hurry up and become an adult. Carol created a 48-page concept dummy enlivened with her whimsical full-color illustrations. Though I returned the dummy to Carol a couple of years ago, I still have her marvelous pencil-sketch pages with my accompanying text.

The reason I cite the book is something the boy says, which I believe is the inherent birthright descriptor and starter kit of every one of us whoever walks the earth: “I’m no better than no one, and no one’s better than me.”

Bob Baker is an award-winning marketing/advertising practitioner of Mark Twain’s dictum that “thunder is impressive, but it is lightning that does the work.”

COURTESY PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER

A snowy owl roosted on the thawing ground at Goldthwait Reservation.

CUZNER IN NATURE

Snowy owl sightings scarce this winter

BY RICK CUZNER

I have yet to see any snowy owls this year.

There just have not been many sightings locally. Usually, I see at least a handful in Marblehead, Gloucester, Plum Island, etc.

The lack of migrating numbers may be due to plentiful food sources in the north, but I am not sure. I dug into the archives for a few photos taken in Marblehead over the past several years. Hopefully we will be lucky enough to see more locally in the near future.

According to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, snowy owls are winter visitors to Massachusetts, typically arriving in November and staying until April before returning to their Arctic breeding grounds.

They seek out habitats that resemble the open tundra, like large salt marshes, extensive agricultural fields and even airports. Popular sighting hotspots include Westport, New Bedford, Nantucket, Orleans, Duxbury Beach, Salisbury State Park and Plum Island. The number of snowy owls that visit each year varies, as they are what’s called an “irruptive species,” one that migrates irregularly in response to fluctuations in food supply and other conditions in the Arctic. During winter in Massachusetts, “snowies’’ hunt rodents, rabbits, birds like ducks and gulls, and even other raptors. They swallow their prey whole and later spit up indigestible parts like bones and fur as pellets.

Snowy owls face many threats during winter in Massachusetts. They risk getting hit by vehicles, electrocuted by

Doc

From P. A4 tricks) and, most importantly, have fun.

Technology is your playground, not your overlord. Now go forth and conquer the digital world, one meme at a time.

Bonus tip: For my fellow grandparents out there, don’t be afraid to ask your grandchildren for help. They’ll be thrilled to show off their skills, and you might just learn a thing or two (like how to do that

A snowy owl perched on the shingled roof of a West Shore Drive home.

power lines, poisoned by rodenticides and disturbed by people while roosting and hunting. Providing these owls with ample space is crucial — observers should keep at least 150 feet away, view from one location rather than surround the owl, and immediately back off if the owl becomes alert or distressed. Disturbing roosting owls can prevent them from resting and conserving energy needed to survive the winter.

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

TikTok dance everyone’s talking about).

Just be prepared for some eye rolls and exasperated sighs — that’s just their way of saying they love you.

So there you have it folks — a crash course in phone tech, delivered with a sprinkle of humor and some grandparent wisdom. Now get out there and explore the digital world, one byte at a time. And remember, if you ever get lost, you can always call a doc.

Until next time.

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

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A6 Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Marblehead Current

CURRENT EVENTS

Marblehead’s best bets happening 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

‘Harnessing Human Creativity to Combat Climate Change’

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

‘Rhapsody at 100’ Saturday, Feb. 10 p.m.

The New England Yankees big band, led by Marblehead’s Matthew Arnold, will present “Rhapsody at 100: The Experiment Continues” featuring piano virtuoso Matt Savage, strings, brass and percussion.

“I’ve been dreaming about this concert for three years,” said Arnold, who is music director at Star of the Sea Church.

“This concert is in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of George Gerswhin’s ‘Rhapsody In Blue.’ We will also perform a number of other exciting and rarely heard pieces that were written for the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. Mr. Whiteman commissioned Rhapsody In Blue for his orchestra and we will perform the original orchestration as it was heard in 1924.”

For more info and to reserve tickets, visit https://loom. ly/lYmqAys.

Sustainable Marblehead hosts this program on creating a more eco-friendly world through human creativity and social change. The Peabody Museum’s Art & Nature Center director Jane Winchell will preview PEM’s upcoming exhibition “Our Time on Earth,” celebrating the power of global creativity to transform the conversation around the climate emergency.

Frank Lowenstein, senior director at Rare, will also discuss the link between human behavior and policy change, and how Rare’s Climate Culture Boston initiative is helping the City of Boston reach carbon neutrality by influencing how people eat, travel and use energy.

Winchell and Lowenstein will also describe their work together on the visitor engagement zone that will be

part of the PEM exhibition.

Church of St. Andrew, 135 Lafayette St. Tickets are $20 for

adults, $10 for students. More info at SustainableMarblehead.org.

Latin music adventure Friday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m.

Me&Thee Music kicks off its 2024 winter season with the awardwinning PanLatin ensemble, Sol y Canto, featuring Puerto Rican/ Argentine singer and percussionist Rosi Amador and New Mexican guitarist, singer and composer Brian Amador. The concert is at the UU Church, 28 Mugford St. More info and tickets at MeandThee.org.

Blind date with a book Thursday, Feb. 8, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Abbot Library is ready to help you find another book to love this Valentine’s Day. Books of various genres will be wrapped and decorated with a short description to help readers find their match.

Unwrap your book and stay for a small craft, or wait to open your book until Valentine’s Day. Light refreshments will be served.

Christine Lucas Band Friday, Feb. 2, 9 p.m.

Enjoy music by The Christine Lucas Band at The Beacon Restaurant, 123 Pleasant St. Lucas performs in clubs across the Boston area.

Round-the-world racing Wednesdayw, Feb. 7, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD CONSERVATION COMMISSION The Marblehead Conservation Commission will hold a VIRTUAL (zoom) public hearing beginning at or after 7:00 PM on February 8, 2024 on an application filed by Mason Daring (applicant) for management of invasive vegetation on coastal bank at 10 Mariner’s Lane (Map 148, Parcel 78) on Town of Marblehead Land in an area subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and the Marblehead Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Superseding Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: engineers@marblehead.org For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the hearing.

The link to the agenda is: https://www.marblehead.org/conservation-commission David VanHoven, Chairman Marblehead Conservation Commission

Site Plan Approval Public Hearing Marblehead Planning Board The Marblehead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the application of Richard Jordan, for a site plan approval special permit for the construction of a new single-family structure located at 10 Naugus Ave within a Shoreline Single Residence District. This public hearing will be held under Section 200 -37 of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw on Tuesday February 13, 2024 at 7:30 pm and can be attended either in person at Abbot Hall 188 Washington Street in the select board’s meeting room or remotely on zoom. Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order Suspending Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18 the public can listen and or view this meeting while in progress via the remote participation platform Zoom https://us06web. zoom.us/j/85295668870?pwd=TcbA65vuPi2NpaI0FkXPBWLXoR7eaA.1 or Dial in +1 646 558 8656 US Meeting ID: 852 9566 8870 Passcode: 949199 project materials available for download at Town of Marblehead website planning board page https://www.marblehead.org/ planning-board under the date of meeting. Interested persons may attend the meeting or may submit comment in writing electronically and send to lyonsl@marblehead.org or rebeccac@marblehead.org and the comments, will be read aloud and entered into the record.

Robert Schaeffner Chairman

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR PROCESSING SERVICES FOR MARBLEHEAD PAYROLL FUNCTIONS The Town of Marblehead, in accordance with Ch. 30B invites qualified vendors to submit proposals to the town for payroll delivery functions.

Request for Proposals may be obtained at https://www.marblehead. org/bids on or after January 31, 2024. Technical Proposal and Price Proposal to be submitted in separate sealed envelopes with the proposer’s name and address clearly indicated on the outside of the package. Proposals must be delivered in sealed packages, plainly marked “PAYROLL SERVICES” price and non-price must be in separate envelopes and addressed to Aleesha Benjamin, Mary Alley Building 7 Widger Road, Marblehead, MA no later than 10:00 AM on February 14, 2024. Any proposals received after such time will not be accepted, unless this date and time has been changed by addendum. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure proper and timely delivery. The Select Board is the awarding authority. The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to only award a contract if it is in the best interest of the public to do so.

Rebecca Curran, Chief Procurement Officer

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD CONSERVATION COMMISSION The Marblehead Conservation Commission will hold a VIRTUAL (zoom) public hearing beginning at or after 7:00 PM on February 8, 2024 on an application filed by Scott Patrowicz, P.E., Patrowicz Land Development Engineering (applicant) on behalf of Domenic & Erica Marinelli, Trustees of The BL&E Revocable Trust (owner) for proposed building additions to an existing single-family house, site work/landscaping at 6 Foster Street (Map 907, Parcel 5C) in an area subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and the Marblehead Wetlands Protection Bylaw. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order Superseding Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: engineers@marblehead.org For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the hearing. The link to the agenda is: https://www.marblehead.org/ conservation-commission David VanHoven, Chairman Marblehead Conservation Commission

Joe Harris raced solo, around the world, non-stop, by way of the three great capes and competed in Globe 40 Round-the-World race in his Class 40 GryphonSolo2.

He’ll present a multimedia program describing his sailing career and both round-the-world voyages.

Marblehead Yacht Club, 4 Cliff St. Free and open to the community.

Help Do you have adWanted sales experience?

Or do you want to have ad sales experience?

Advertising Sales If you love Marblehead, are interested in

If you love Marblehead, are interested in playing a role in the playing a role in the advancement of our advancement of our local, not-for-profit, independent newspaper, and like local, not-for-profit, independent newspaper, to have fun, then let's talk!

and like to have fun, then let’s talk!

We are looking for a top notch sales executive to help us to take the We are looking for a top notch sales Marblehead Current to the next level. Prefer at least 20 hours per week, executive to help us to take the Marblehead but since the compensation will be 15% commission on all sold, feel free Current to the next level. 15% commission to work as many hours as you like.

paid on all print and digital ads sold.

You should be a creative thinker and problem solver, with a keen attention You should be able to work directly with to detail. Be able to work directly with advertising clients and prospects to advertising clients and prospects to correctly correctly place advertisements allowing them to reach the Marblehead place advertisements allowing them to reach community, business owners, and leaders.

the Marblehead community, business owners, and I Interested? leaders.

Send an email to us at mhdcurrentads@gmail.com Interested in learning and tell usPlease a little about yourself. more? email

Mhdcurrentads@gmail.com

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ABBOT HALL

Board wants to add affordability tests to MBTA zoning plan

BY WILL DOWD The Planning Board moved Monday to integrate affordability requirements into the multifamily zoning proposal for Town Meeting in May. Pending approval from town counsel, the Planning Board voted 4-1 to mandate that 10% of any new developments with six or more units in the new MBTA zoning districts — which Town Meeting will weigh in on — be set aside for those meeting the area median income (AMI)

threshold.

Affordable units make up only 3.9% of all housing in Marblehead, far short of the 10% mandated by the state.

According to Town Planner Becky Cutting on Jan. 23, the state law requiring certain MBTA communities to allow multifamily housing does not mandate affordable housing.

Towns may decide to add affordable requirements capped at 80% AMI. Marblehead’s AMI limits for affordable housing eligibility are:

» 1 person: $86,050 » 2 people: $98,350 » 3 people: $110,650 » 4 people: $122,900 The state law, known as MBTA zoning or multifamily zoning, was passed by the Legislature in 2021 and requires approximately 177 communities served by the MBTA to have at least one district allowing multifamily housing by right at minimum densities.

The law requires Marblehead, an “adjacent community” to commuter rail stops, to rezone

at least 27 acres for multifamily housing at minimum densities of 15 units per acre. Failure to comply could result in lost state funding and fair housing lawsuits according Cutting, who oversees the rezoning.

Just days earlier, the Planning Board proposed three new multifamily districts: » Tioga Way: 28.3 acres, capacity for 483 units at 19.2 units per acre » Pleasant Street: 20.2 acres, capacity for 297 units at 14.7 units per acre

» Broughton Road: 6.1 acres,

capacity for 119 units at 19.5 units per acre Together the districts include 54.7 acres. With 51.5 acres available for development, the plan allows 899 total new units at 17.5 dwellings per acre.

The Planning Board also voted on keeping off-street parking at two spaces per new unit for the Pleasant Street zone, passing on a 4 to 1 vote.

The Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the warrant article in April.

NEWS IN BRIEF

BY WILL DOWD

at 1 p.m. on Feb. 21 to discuss his 20 years of helping local veterans. The free event is open to the public at the Council On Aging. Registration is requested at marblehead.org/council-agingdepartment. Rodgers will explain how he pioneered his role since becoming the town’s veterans agent in 1999.

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

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.

“This is huge. This is part of the whole transparency effort,” said Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer at his State of the Town address on Jan. 24. “It took hours and hours and hours and hours to get to where we’ve just launched this to make this budget information available to the public.”

While Kezer said the available data is currently mostly at a summary level, he explained the town will continue improving and learning how to utilize ClearGov best to increase transparency into Marblehead’s finances.

“There are lots of features, so they can go into the revenues, they can look at past spending,” said Finance Director Aleesha Nunley Benjamin. “It has some

Facility stickers

COURTESY PHOTO

The Council on Aging Speakers Series will host Veterans Agent Dave Rodgers at 1 p.m. on Feb. 21 to discuss his 20 years of helping local veterans.

school data on there as well.”

She added, “And there is still more to do.”

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 from Feb. 5 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. The program follows Treasury Department ethical standards and does not discriminate against taxpayers.

Rodgers to discuss local veterans’ services The Council On Aging Speakers Series will host Veterans Agent Dave Rodgers

Marblehead has set the 2024 fee for resident facility stickers at $80 per sticker.

The stickers, which allow access to the Transfer Station and resident parking at Devereux Beach, are available for purchase at the Treasurer/Collector’s Office and Transfer Station.

Additional stickers for vehicles registered to the same household address cost $25 each. Lost or stolen stickers also require a $25 replacement fee.

To purchase stickers, proof of Marblehead residency and vehicle registration is required.

Stickers must be affixed to the left front bumper to be considered valid. The 2024 stickers expire Dec. 31.

Residents can purchase stickers with cash, check payable to the Town of Marblehead, or credit card (with a three precent convenience fee) at the Transfer

Station only.

Questions about the facility sticker program can be directed to Public Health Director Andrew Petty at the Board of Health office, 781-631-0212.

Dog license renewals

Pet owners are reminded that the deadline to renew dog licenses for 2024 is Jan. 31. Town law requires annual renewal of dog licenses. There is a $50 per month late fee assessed for any licenses renewed after Feb. 1. Owners who no longer have a dog should notify the Town Clerk’s office.

Licenses can be renewed online at epay.cityhallsystems. com or by filling out an application at bit.ly/48RJA3s.

Completed applications should be mailed or dropped off with payment at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., or the Mary Alley Building, 7 Widger Rd. Payments should include the renewal notice or completed application, along with a check made out to Marblehead. Rabies and neuter certificates should also be submitted if not already on file.

Contact the Town Clerk’s office at townclerk@marblehead. org or 781-631-0528 with any questions.

CASHING IN

Filmmakers collect check for ‘Currently a Paperboy’

BY LEIGH BLANDER

COURTESY PHOTOS

Wyatt Foley directing and filming

The Marblehead High School writers and directors of the film “Currently a Paperboy” picked up a $1,980 check for their six sold-out screenings in December at the Warwick Cinema.

“The film performed better than Napoleon at the time,” said Johnny Ray, managing partner at the Warwick.

MHS senior Wyatt Foley told the Current, “We’re using it (the money) to put “Currently a Paperboy” into festivals. And also looking to establish a film scholarship.”

The movie — written, directed

and starring MHS students — tells the story of two brothers.

“The older brother, Jackson, is going into his senior year. He plays football, he’s a jock,” Foley explained. “His younger brother, Willard, is just coming into high school, and they don’t get along.”

In an effort to salvage their relationship, their mom forces Jackson to bring Willard out on a Friday night.

“Currently a Paperboy” can now be viewed on YouTube and on the Warwick TV app, which is available on the app store as well as Roku, Amazon Fire Stick and Apple TV.

The Warwick’s managing partner Johnny Ray (left) presents a check to Wyatt Foley and Gwyn Anderson, who wrote and directed ‘Currently a Paperboy.’

STAR POWER

Marblehead’s Got Talent auditions coming up at The Beacon

BY LEIGH BLANDER The Marblehead’s Got Talent contest is back after a hiatus last year, and auditions will be held Saturdays, Feb. 3 and 10, 10 a.m.noon, at The Beacon. The Rotary Club of Marblehead, which has run the contest for 16 years, will award nearly $20,000 to student winners.

Marblehead High senior Brady Weed will be auditioning again after competing in 2022.

“I performed a cover of ‘I See Fire’ by Ed Sheeran and Howard Shore, written for the second ‘Hobbit’ movie,” Weed told the Current. “That won me third place in the competition, which was a $3,000 scholarship. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.”

Rotary’s David Deutsch has organized MGT for the last 11 years.

“This is kind of a passion of mine,” he said. “Hopefully, this will be the biggest year ever.”

Students who live in Marblehead and are 13 years old through high school are encouraged to sign up to audition at marbleheadrotary. com/page/mgt.

A panel of judges, all local musicians, will pick about 20 semifinalists, who will go on to compete at MHS on Wednesday, March 13.

“Their peers come in and vote.

Everybody in the audience gets a voting card,” Deutsch explained.

The crowd chooses eight to 12 finalists, who will compete on March 27 at the Cabot Theater in Beverly.

‘Star quality’ So, what are the judges looking for at auditions?

“As much star quality as they

MHS senior Brady Weed, shown performing at Marblehead’s Got Talent two years ago, will be auditioning again this year.

can find,” Deutsch said. “They’re looking for people who are comfortable on stage, people who are good musicians, good singers. We’ve had a comedian win in the past.”

These are the prizes this year: » 1st place, $6,000. » 2nd place, $4,000. » 3rd place, $2,500. » 4th place, $500 each (four

winners).

Weed says he doesn’t enter for the money, though.

“I compete in MGT because of the energy,” he said. “Two years ago, this competition was a highlight for me. The green room (where performers hang out before going on) above the Cabot facilitated some sort of friendliness and camaraderie that I don’t see that often. I’m hoping to find that feeling again

this year.”

Deutsch looks forward to MGT every year.

“I can take these students who — at the most, they’ve been in a band or a play at school — and I give them a big stage to perform on,” he said. “You make it something so exciting and so big and so real it gives them something to look forward to. “ Weed says it’s a great way to put a spotlight on students.

“What I like best about MGT is its display of young, local talent,” he said. “There is so much skill and artistry in the young people around here, and MGT is a great way to show that off. I recommend anyone who’s even a little interested sign up for an audition time and try out.

It really is a great experience.

There’s a reason I’m doing this again.”

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A8 Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Marblehead Current

ARTS FESTIVAL

Artist Nicole Habin Lynch stands by her winning Arts Festival logo.

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COURTESY PHOTO

MFoA unveils its 2024 logo

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BY LEIGH BLANDER The Marblehead Festival of Arts unveiled its 2024 logo on Jan. 23 at a premiere party at The Landing Restaurant. The winning logo is a stylized image of waves and sun in coral and navy colors.

Artist Nicole Habin Lynch, a Marblehead native, was celebrated at the event.

Lynch has been involved with the Festival for many years. She has a background in marketing/ communications and works at Keurig Dr Pepper.

“Nicole’s artwork beautifully captures the essence of our Festival and the coastal allure of Marblehead,” said Bill Smalley, co-chair of the Festival’s logo committee.

“It’s a visual celebration of our community’s artistic journey.”

The Festival received 41 entries from 27 artists.

Three judges picked 13 semifinalists and then whittled it down to three.

The public voted for their favorite in December at locations in Marblehead, Swampscott and Salem.

The 58th annual Festival of the Arts will be July 4-7.

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Sports

Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 31, 2024 A9

MORGAN’S MESSAGE

MHS student-athletes encourage peers to talk about mental health challenges

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead High School student-athlete Maddie Forbes knows the pressure of earning good grades and performing at a high level on the field or court.

Forbes feels the stress “when school work is piled up and the team is going through some troubles… just a bunch of factors that pile up on top of each other,” she said.

A junior who plays basketball and lacrosse, Forbes and three friends launched a local chapter of Morgan’s Message, a national nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community. The group also aims to equalize the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.

“It’s about realizing that you’re more than an athlete; you’re also a human,” Forbes explained.

“Being a human comes before being an athlete. You’re more than just your performance on the field.”

Morgan Rodgers was a lacrosse player at Duke University. She struggled with mental health issues in high school and did well with treatment. But in January 2017, just before the beginning of her sophomore season, she suffered a dream-shattering knee injury. She spent the next 12 months determined to return

Courtesy photos

Morgan’s Message ambassadors on the MHS and Beverly basketball teams show off their T-shirts.

to the field, undergoing surgery and dedicating herself to an intensive rehab program.

Rodgers struggled with the abrupt change and felt she had lost control within her life. This time, she didn’t tell anyone and suffered alone until she died by suicide in July of 2019. She was 22 years old.

Marblehead psychologist Melissa Kaplowitch, who serves on the Marblehead Mental Health Task Force, agrees that student-athletes face immense pressure.

“Often, students struggle to find the time to do it all,” Kaplowitch said. “Without effective coping skills, supports and resources, we see increases in anxiety, depression, substance use and suicidal ideation. Rather than seek help, some students suffer in silence because of the shame or guilt they feel or because they fear disappointing their family or teammates.”

Maddie Forbes and friends.jpg Morgan’s Message ambassadors are, from left, Maddie Forbes, Ramona Gillett, Kate Burns and Maddy Bontaites.

As a Morgan’s Message ambassador, Forbes leads meetings where “we talk about Morgan’s message. There’s a podcast called ‘The Mental Matchup,’ where they interview people and athletes who have struggled with mental health.

We listen to those.”

Forbes organized what’s called a “dedication game” at a recent MHS-Beverly High School basketball game where

ambassadors spoke about Morgan’s Message to the crowd and wore special T-shirts. Forbes hopes to plan another dedication game during lacrosse season this spring.

“As teammates, we support each other,” she said about how student-athletes cope with stress. “We talk about how making a mistake doesn’t define you. All sports are pretty much a mental game. It’s about being in the right mindset.”

MHS math teacher Caroline Faherty is the faculty advisor for Morgan’s Message. She is the former coach of the girls’ basketball team.

“Having a club that is focused on student-athletes is so empowering because being a student-athlete is not easy and it is not always easy to share the hardships,” Faherty told the Current. “This club gets the word out that student athletes are not alone in this and have a

safe space to go when life gets hard trying to balance school and sports.”

Kaplowitch has this reminder about why it’s important to seek help.

“If an athlete sustains a physical injury, they seek treatment from a doctor,” she said. “We have to normalize seeking treatment for emotional injuries in the same way. Doing so can save lives. In the event of a mental health emergency students should call 9-8-8 for immediate assistance.”

Forbes encourages studentathletes dealing with stress, depression and any mental health issues to reach out.

“If you are struggling, you’re not struggling alone,” she said.

Learn more about Morgan’s Message at MorgansMessage. org. The MHS chapter has an Instagram page at @ Morgan_Message_MHS.

ON THE RUN

Track teams pick up their fifth wins

BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High indoor track teams won a couple of more Northeastern Conference meets on Jan. 24, when the boys defeated Gloucester, 60-26, while the girls also dominated their Fishermen counterparts, 55-20. As a result, both teams still have identical winning records of 5-2.

Boys high jump Graham Tips led the way with a first-place jump of 5-6. He has been dealing with shin splints over the past few weeks, but still continues to jump very well, according to coach Nolan Raimo.

Alex Hersey (5-4) finished second. Ralph Pierre (5-2) had a personal best leap to account for a third-place finish.

Girls high jump Paige Tredwell and Elise Burchfield carried on the momentum of personal bests, with both clearing 5-0.

Burchfield won the event based on misses, while Tredwell ended up second. Philine Heuermann (4-8), who was recovering from illness, still managed a third-place finish to complete the sweep.

Boys shot put Riley Schmitt (40-0.5) took second, missing first by just a few inches. Graham Firestone (36-7) was third after fouling twice, before hitting his mark to account for a personal best throw by two feet.

Girls shot put Rachael Albert finally hit 30-feet in her career on her first throw to earn a personal best, before topping that mark just one throw later with a 31-2, more than a foot and half

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Marblehead junior Elise Burchfield leaps over a hurdle, while participating in the 55-meter hurdles during the MSTCA Northeast Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury on Jan. 14.

improvement from her previous best six weeks ago. Lillian Reddy (30-0.5) also continued to throw well to get a second-place finish against Gloucester.

Boys long jump Hersey (22-4) turned in a spectacular leap to win the event. Thomas Carlson (19-7.5) finished second. Jake Bobowski (18-5) was third.

Girls long jump Burchfield led the way for the locals in the long jump with a leap of 17-4 to finish on top. Sadie Halpern (16-10.5) was second. It was a 6.5-inch improvement from her jump in the freshman/sophomore meet earlier this season. Ava Machado (16-0) came in fourth.

Cora Gerson (15-0) ended up sixth. It was only her second time participating in the event.

Campbell Crane (14-5), making her debut, recorded an eighthplace finish.

Boys 55-meter dash

Carlson (6.65) sprinted to a personal best time to win the event, barely missing the automatic qualifier to the New Balance Nationals (6.62).

“Chris Barone, now a senior captain at Holy Cross, is currently the MHS record holder (6.58). He ran a 6.76 in his junior year, so Tommy now as a junior is well on pace to be the best sprinter in school history, especially after Chris mentored and trained him this past offseason,” said Raimo.

Jake Bobowski (6.97) set a new personal best time against Gloucester, which dropped him below the seven-second mark for the first time. Ethan Harwood (7.38, personal best) was fourth.

Girls 55-meter dash Machado (7.47) continued her undefeated season in the dash by tying her own personal best time. Sadie Halpern (7.57, personal best) finished second.

LeDaisha Williams (7.64,

COURTESY PHOTOS / CAT PIPER

Marblehead sophomore Graham Tips at the start of the long jump during the MSTCA NortheastInvitational at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury on Jan. 14.

personal best) was third.

Boys 55-meter hurdles Hersey ran away from the field with a new personal best time of 8.01, barely missing the New Balance automatic qualifier (7.96). Marc Grazado (9.34) and Riley Schmitt (9.50) took second and third. In the JV heat, Noah Jackson (10.59) ran an impressive time for a freshman.

Girls 55-meter hurdles Tredwell (9.20) continues to improve each week, and had a massive 0.34 improvement against Gloucester to win this event.

Burchfield (9.67, personal best) was second, and Crane (11.06) fourth.

Girls mile Maren Potter (6:13.28) finished second. Shannon Hitscherich (6:36.51, two-second personal best) was third. Abbie Goodwin (6:53.13) ended up fourth, Thea Shaw (7:22.10) fifth.

Boys mile

Nate Assa (4:46.71) and Will Cerrutti (4:48.93) topped the ticket.

“These two boys pushed each other throughout the race, and were rewarded with great times on the flat Gloucester track,” said coach Will Herlihy. “I expect them to be big players in the postseason.”

Will Cronin (5:11.01) came in third to complete the sweep.

Boys 300 Isaias Aguasvivas Pena (40.38) won in impressive fashion.

Slater Johnson (41.44) finished third, followed by Ethan Horgan (41.62) fourth. In the JV race, Julius Galante (42.63) ran the best race of his track career to place fourth.

Girls 300 All-around sprinter Gabby Hendy won with a time of 46.50.

Manuela Puente (47.50) finished second. Cora Gerson (48.57) TRACK, P. A12

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A10 Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Marblehead Current

IN THE POOL

Swimmers beat Gloucester, Salem in back-to-back meets to remain undefeated

BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High School boys and girls swim/dive team chalked up two more wins on back-to-back days against visiting Gloucester (Jan. 18) and host Salem (Jan. 19). The Magicians defeated the Fishermen, 105-72, before taking down the Witches, 91-72 to remain undefeated after seven meets.

“We clinched even more postseason qualifying times during both of these meets,” said veteran coach Sue Guertin.

Against Gloucester in the 200-yard medley relay, Ian Chemel, Cale Nelson, Brady Leveroni and Logan Doody (1:47.96, state qualifying time) teamed up to finish first. Sophia Weiner, Song Waitekus, Finn Bergquist and Bella Takata (2:04.29, sectional qualifying time) came in second.

Nate Rosen (1:59.29), Chemel (2:06.36) and Brinleigh Callahan (2:12.31) swept the 200-yard freestyle. Nelson (2:10.90, state qualifying time) and Weiner (2:32.66) topped the ticket in the 200IM. Quinn Sullivan (2:46.05) ended up fourth.

Doody (22.30, state qualifying time), Owen Torstenson (24.88) and Takata (27.94) experienced similar results in the 50-yard freestyle.

Elixabeth Hayes (146.32 points), Caroline Crosby (144.75) and Maxine Hall (141.10) took the top three spots in the diving competition. It was more of the same in the 100-yard butterfly, with Leveroni (58.71), Rebecca Vaynshetyn (1:07.32, sectional qualifying time) and Maddy Auerbach (1:10.24) doing the honors.

Doody (52.65, state qualifying time),

COURTESY PHOTO

Marblehead High swim captains Sophia Weiner and Owen Torstenson lead the celebration with their teammates in the pool after another win this winter. The Magicians have won their first seven meets.

Nelson (54.36) and Greg Podstrelov (55.97) maintained the trend in the 100yard freestyle.

Waitekus (5:39.14) went to the head of the class in the 500-yard freestyle. Monica Pexchhold (6:15.31) was third.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Leveroni, Torstenson, Rosen and Greg Podstrelov (1:40.30) finished on top. Abby Moore, Emiyah Setalsingh, Vaynshetyn and Auerbach (1:59.25) accounted for fourth.

Bergquist (1:05.55, state qualifying time) and Weiner (1:06.73) topped the ticket in the 100-yard backstroke. Setalsingh (1:18.80) was fifth. Gary Podstrelov

(1:10.70), Torstenson (1:12.97) and Rosen (1:14.42) swept the 100-yard breaststroke.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Doody, Rosen, Greg Podstrelov and Nelson (3:47.21) teamed up to finish first. Tataka, Bergquist, Waitekus and Weiner (4:15.51 (sectional cut) came in second.

It was a fun meet against Salem, according to Guertin, where the Witches honored their seniors on Senior Night.

In the 200-yard medley relay, Chemel, Greg Podstrelov, Leveroni and Doody (1:50.19, sectional cut) came out on top.

Weiner, Watekus, Bergquist and Takata (2:02.53, sectional cut) were third.

Rosen (2:02.12), Chemel (2:08.69)

and Callahan (2:12.62) swept the 200-yard freestyle. Gary Podstrelov (2:19.30) and Waitekus (2:23.91, state qualifying time) were second and third in the 200IM. Zoe Stachera (2:49.35) was fifth.

Chemel (25.56) came out on top in the 50-yard freestyle. Yuri Volkov (25.87) and Weiner (27.20) were credited with third and fourth place finishes. Gary Podstrelov (59.04), Simon Quicken (1:00.78) and Auerbach (1:10.94) did the same in the 100-yard butterfly.

Doody (53.34), Takata (58.53, state qualifying time) and Weiner (1:00.78) swept the 100-yard freestyle.

Bergquist (5:50.02, sectional cut), Callahan (5:56.31, sectional cut) and Vaynshetyn (6:05.15) experienced similar results in the 500yard freestyle.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Rosen, Nelson, Leveroni and Doody (1:37.78, state qualifier) finished on top. Chemel, Ezra Reid, Quicken and Volkov (1:45.40) chipped in with a second-place finish.

Nelson (59.34, state qualifying time), Leveroni (1:01.13) and Setalsingh (1:16.58) dominated the 100-yard backstroke after capturing the top three spots. Greg Podstrelov (1:08.13), Quinn Sullivan (1:22.50) and Monica Pechhold (1:22.90) took second through fourth place, respectively in the 100-yard breaststroke.

In the 400-yard freestyle relay, Nelson, Rosen, Leveroni and Doody (3:37.84, state qualifier) bested the entire field, with Waitekus, Bergquist, Weiner and Takata (4:02.36, state qualifier) finishing second.

MHS BASKETBALL

Hoops teams head into February feeling positive vibes

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Girls crush Salem for sixth win

The Marblehead High girls basketball team (6-5) came back after losing to Winthrop, 46-38 on Jan. 22 to beat Salem three nights later, 46-14.

“We had a lot of players in the scoring column against Salem,” said coach Paul Moran. “We also rebounded well, and were sharp defensively, which helped slow down the Salem offense.”

Sophomore Tess Andriano paced the attack with six points. Her classmate Marri O’Connell chipped in with five.

Juniors Maddie Forbes and Sierra Leinberry, freshman Kathryn Commoss, senior captain Kate Burns and freshman Ainsley McDonald were next in line with four apiece. Senior captain Katie Pine, freshman Carys Moran and junior Samara Dosch tallied three apiece. Sophomore

Hailey Schmitt, junior Liv Goldwater and freshman Ashley Mortensen each netted two points. Junior Ramona Gillett contributed five rebounds to the winning cause.

“We spread the scoring around quite nicely against Salem, with everybody getting into the game,” said Moran.

Against Winthrop, Andriano was the team’s leading scorer with 17 points. Pine accounted for nine. O’Connell had five.

Burns and McDonald netted three apiece.

“Tess (Andriano) is certainly getting better after coming back from a broken wrist earlier this season,” said Moran of his young sophomore star. “We had a good 10-point lead in the first half, but Winthrop fought back, and had a threepoint lead late in the game. However, we just couldn’t convert in the end to wipe out their advantage. We just didn’t have enough to get it done.”

With still 10 games left on the regular

season schedule, the Magicians are in great position to secure a top postseason berth. But first things first, they will begin a brand-new month at home against rival Swampscott Feb. 1, starting at 7 p.m.

Danvers then comes to town the next day for a game on Senior Night at the same time.

Boys enjoy another winning week The boys basketball team (7-3) also split their games against Winthrop and Salem with the results only in reverse.

They defeated the Vikings, 75-50, but then lost to the host Witches on Jan. 26, 54-49. Between both games, they defeated Masco on the road, 71-55 on Jan. 23.

The Marblehead boys had a 42-21 halftime lead against Winthrop. Nick Lemmond (17) and Ryan Commoss (13) were the top two scorers for the local quintet. Scott Campbell and Cam

Comstock scored eight apiece. Sam Thompson and Christian Weston chipped in with seven.

Coach Mike Giardi admitted after the Salem game that it wasn’t their best effort. “Unfortunately, we both players and coaches had an off night,” he said. “We didn’t get into any rhythm at all, and as a result it gave Salem some momentum. We will have to make some adjustments going into (our next game).”

Lemmond (14), Commoss (11) and Campbell (10) were Marblehead’s double digit scorers against Salem.

Adrian Baron scored five points. Finn Baron and Comstock each scored four points. Weston sank one free throw.

The Marblehead boys have since taken on non-league Salem Academy on Jan. 30 after press deadline, before getting ready for host Danvers Friday night, Feb. 2, starting at 7 p.m.

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Black & Blue wrestlers take two at Triton

BY JOE MCCONNELL It was a solid day on Saturday, Jan. 20, at Triton Regional for the Marblehead/Swampscott Black & Blue co-op wrestling team (5-13-1), where it wrestled against North Middlesex, Lynn co-op and New Hampshire powerhouse Pelham.

The Black & Blue defeated North Middlesex (60-24) and Lynn (78-0), but lost a 51-30 decision to Pelham.

At 106, Brady Haskell won all three of his matches to increase his record to 26-1 on the season.

At 120, Liam O’Brien did the same, and he bettered his record to 24-5 this year. At 215, Angelo Knight (17-12) also won all three of his matches. At 144, Mason Hinshaw (25-5) went 2-1, as did Clive Connolly (11-11) and Ben O’Brien (12-12) at 150 and 190, respectively.

Four days later on Jan. 24 at Saugus, the Black & Blue went back and forth with the Saugus/ Peabody co-op, and as a result the match ended in a tie, 38-38.

At 106, Haskell pinned his

opponent in the third period after building up a 12-0 advantage. At 113, Jaymes Carey continued his hot streak with a pin on Jake Murray in the first period. At 120, Jackson Deleidi of Saugus gave captain Liam O’Brien all he could handle, but Liam still prevailed in a tight 3-0 decision. At this point, the home team started its comeback from a 15-0 deficit.

At 126, the Black & Blue’s Andrew Delisle was pinned by Landon Rodriguez. At 132, eighth grader Chuck Conlon was also pinned by his senior opponent Elias Diaz. In a chippy 138-pound bout, Devin DiBarri lost via technical fall to Max LoRusso, 16-1.

The Black & Blue regained its winning form at 144, when captain Mason Hinshaw secured his own technical fall against Michael Maraio, 18-2. But the Sachems ended up winning the next three matches.

At 150, captain Clive Connolly managed to keep from being pinned by Justin Bremberg, but still lost by technical fall, 19-2. At 157, Alejandro Haven refused to

be pinned by Sam LoRusso, but he too lost by technical fall, 17-2.

At 165, Phineas Jakious fought off his back four times against Luke Calder to also keep from being pinned, before losing 19-2 by technical fall. The tide began to turn once again after this match.

At 175, Colin Hart continued to find his form. Taken down first

by Freddy Espinal, he was able to nail a reversal to eventually pin his opponent to win the match.

At 190, senior Ben O’Brien bottled up and pinned Donny Santosfano.

At 215, senior captain Angelo Knight rose to the occasion to pin Kaleb Corner in the second period, and then for the second year in a row Justin Gonzalez went up against Antonio Anzalone at 285. Gonzalez made it to the second period, where he was able to escape from underneath Anzalone, before being eventually taken down that produced the tie in the overall match.

“It was a very tight, wellplayed high school wrestling

match, and that’s how it should be,” said coach Mike Stamison.

Boys hockey makes it three straight After defeating the Peabody/ Saugus co-op, 10-3, the Marblehead High boys hockey team (5-8) maintained the winning momentum against non-league Hopedale (5-2) and Gloucester (3-1). The Headers began the season against the Fishermen at Salem State on Dec. 14, where they lost a heartbreaking 3-2 decision. But on Gloucester’s home ice on Jan. 24, coach Mark Marfione’s team got revenge to secure its third straight win.

The Fishermen led, 1-0 after one period. But the visitors tied it up in the second on a goal

by Cam Waldman from Ben Wales. They then scored two more unanswered goals in the final stanza to seal the deal.

Kyle Hart accounted for the game-winner assisted by Sean Dolan, before James Caeran added some insurance on an unassisted empty-net goal with

eight seconds left on the clock.

The Headers outshot Gloucester in the game, 22-14.

Marfione’s squad went up against Medford on Jan. 28 after press deadline, before hosting Masco at Salem State’s Rockett Arena later today (Jan. 31), starting at 7:30 p.m., as they look to continue the streak of positive results with the postseason looming in the distance.

Girls hockey ties up Medford The Marblehead girls co-op hockey team (2-8-1) tied Medford, 2-2 after both clubs battled through a scoreless overtime period.

Eighth grader Madi Reno scored the first Marblehead goal from classmate Addie Co-Peeps.

Teyah Fleming netted the second tally assisted by Melanie Earl.

Freshman goalie Scarlett Lee came up with 10 saves to preserve the point for her teammates.

Sophomore defender Paige Waldman and forward Madi Reno stood out in this game, according to coach Hadley Woodfin.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 31, 2024 A11

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Visit the Devereux School

BY MELISSA STACEY

The following is an interview with Paul Baker, head of school at the Devereux School, conducted by Discover Marblehead. Devereux School was founded in 1932 and is located at 44 Smith St. To learn more about the school and its admission process visit DevereuxSchool.org.

Tell us about Devereux School. Devereux School is a Montessori-inspired school.

We accommodate preschool students from three years old all the way up to the third grade. Our nearly 100 Devereux students are taught in five classrooms/buildings. In addition to teaching traditional school subjects, Devereux inspires a love of nature with daily walks in the woods and yoga, as well as piano, art and chorus. All students receive daily French lessons from our French language directors.

The Devereux School was purchased in 2010 by Dr. Todd Zion, whose three children attended the school. Zion’s ownership coincided with substantial investment in both infrastructure and faculty.

Although the school has grown in both size and enrollment under Zion’s leadership, we’ve been cognizant of the importance of carefully balancing the traditions and history of the past with the needs of our 21st-century families.

We’re also pleased to offer a fourth/fifth grade class, Devereux@Waring. The D@W

classroom accommodates 16 students and is located on the Waring School campus in Beverly. Our fourth/fifth-grade program was founded in 2016.

D@W attracts students from all over the North Shore and students get to experience not only the wonderful scenery of the Waring campus but also enjoy all the fantastic Waring facilities such as the gym, theater, art studios and greenhouse.

Our students also benefit from participation in the weekly Waring all-school meetings as well as additional tutoring from Waring seniors. While many of our graduating fifthgraders move on to sixth grade at Waring, others return to their local school districts or other area private schools. No matter their destination, our students are well prepared for the next stages of their education.

What sets Devereux School apart from other schools?

Our student-teacher ratios are unparalleled across all grades.

We have five native Frenchspeaking teachers, and our students begin to learn French at three years old. We provide at least one full day of French immersion to all nursery students, with our older nursery

students receiving two days.

Also, we encourage community service, even among our youngest students. The Merry Mixers, My Brother’s Table, Spur, LifeBridge and Newhall Fields Community Farm are just a few of the organizations that benefit from our group efforts.

Additionally, our school day ends at 4 p.m. and we offer daily afterschool care to all age groups.

Lastly, our tuition rates are the lowest of any private school on the North Shore.

What type of camp programs do you provide? We

offer seven weeks of summer camp. Families can sign up for individual weeks or all seven weeks. For new incoming school students, a couple of weeks at Camp Devereux is a great way for them to become accustomed to their new surroundings.

Since 1932, Devereux School has offered Camp Devereux to both our own students and the public. It’s a wonderful summertime environment ideal for traditional summer activities such as designing a sandcastle, making bead jewelry or organizing a basketball or soccer game with old and new

MARBLEHEAD CHRONICLES

MARBLEHEAD TRIVIA

The town and the American Revolution: 1775 Leslie’s Retreat

BY WILL DOWD

Question:

BY PAM PETERSON In February of 1775, Gen. Thomas Gage, the British commander in Boston, was informed that cannons were being refitted for use by Colonial militia in Salem. He made immediate plans to capture the weapons, ordering Col. Alexander Leslie with 240 troops to do just that.

Leslie headed to Marblehead by ship and planned to march from there to Salem. He chose a Sunday to embark, as he thought that all the people would be at church, thus giving him the advantage of surprise. He was unaware of the differences between Marblehead and Salem in this regard. Many Marbleheaders attended church, but not all.

Leslie landed at Homan’s Cove on Marblehead Neck.

Marbleheaders observed him and suspected his plans. Under the leadership of Maj. John

COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM COLLECTION

J.O.J. Frost stands with his painting, ‘Major Pedrick Sounds the Alarm,’ which depicts the story leading up to Leslie’s retreat.

Historical Commission Chair Pam Peterson

Pedrick, the alarm was quickly spread, and the Marblehead militia headed to Salem. Leslie and his men marched through Marblehead, the fife and drum corps playing “Yankee Doodle.”

They got as far as the North Bridge in Salem. There they were halted, as the bridge had been drawn up, and a large group of militia and townspeople blocked their way.

It was there that the confrontation took place.

The Colonial militia faced the British Redcoats. Capt. John

Felt shouted at Leslie, “If you fire, you will all be dead men!” A few Redcoats accosted Colonial Joseph Whicher, who had scuttled the few boats the British might have used to cross the river. He defied them, bared his chest, and dared them to bayonet him. One Redcoat got close enough to prick him and draw blood. This is considered by some to be the first wound of the American Revolution.

Parson Thomas Barnard of Salem intervened and spoke of peace. Leslie restored order and saw the futility of the situation.

He proposed to withdraw if the Colonial militia would allow him to search the north side of the river for weapons.

The delay had given the

Colonials time to hide everything in safe locations, so they agreed. Leslie marched his soldiers “50 rods” past the bridge, which had been let down, and then turned and headed back the way he had come.

Leslie retreated and marched his troops back through Marblehead as they played “The World’s Turned Upside Down.”

This was the same tune that would be played at Yorktown at the end of the Revolutionary War in 1781. Leslie and his men sailed back to Boston empty handed.

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

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Buyer(s)

Seller(s)

Address

Date

Price

Carol E. Lloyd LT and Carol E. Lloyd

10 Lincoln Park

Jan. 9

$555,000

David Aptaker and Sheila M. Popeo

53 Greenwood Ave.

Jan. 8

$715,000

Marblehead Mary E. Gray Swampscott Daniel Werzanski

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

friends. Campers can help in the vegetable garden or observe butterflies in our newly planted butterfly patch. Campers enjoy the use of our newly refurbished and heated pool and receive daily swim instruction under the guidance of our aquatic director and two certified lifeguards.

Throughout the summer we provide activities that express Devereux School’s appreciation of the arts such as music, nature, yoga, gymnastics and French.

The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. To learn more, visit Discovermhd.com.

In our Jan. 26 eCurrent newsletter, we asked, “Residents fought against building this town landmark in the late 1800s, taking their case all the way to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

What building are we talking about?”

Answer:

Abbot Hall

On May 22, 1875, Marblehead residents voted to construct Abbot Hall on the town common. However, people who lived near the common — known as commoners — opposed using that location because they wanted it preserved for public use. On April 17, 1876, as construction began on the Abbot Hall site, the commoners took action.

They filed a “bill in equity,” a complaint document seeking an emergency injunction, in Massachusetts’ highest court, the Supreme Judicial Court, asking Judge Seth Ames to immediately stop the town’s building plans.

The commoners claimed it was unjust for the town to erect Abbot Hall on the town common without their approval. They argued the land belonged to them, not the public. Ames ruled for the town on July 25, 1876. The Abbot Hall cornerstone was laid soon after. To subscribe to the eCurrent newsletter, visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.

To subscribe to the eCurrent newsletter, visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.

Courtesy photo/Samuel Chamberlain, Phillips Library at The Peabody Essex Museum

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A12 Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Marblehead Current

LETTERS

‘Dishonesty by omission’ is reason for concern

you feel different, but please be transparent.

Jody Magee Guernsey Street

To the editor: The Jan. 24 editorial, “Follow the money,” was an eye-opening summation of a serious issue in our town: the lack of transparency employed by some of our town leaders in conducting affairs that have large monetary ramifications.

The exposure of various town departments “crying wolf” about their critical need for override money to finance their urgent needs and the armageddon that would follow turned out to be incorrect. Somewhere, the necessary funds were found to satisfy the imminent crises.

By asking where the monies came from to save the day, you let us all know that funds were available then. The dishonesty by omission gives serious reasons for concern.

Shame on the departments and officials for their less-thanforthright ways of conducting our affairs. Nobody likes the idea that they are being manipulated, particularly when it concerns money.

Most people, if given all available information (transparency) about a pressing situation, can understand it and are willing to help solve it. Asking for more taxpayers’ money when there are available funds is simply fraud.

It is time to hold departments and officials seeking money accountable for all the information and variables that play roles in their requests.

Hey, maybe I’ve missed something big. Do write in if

‘Be prepared’ before you run for the School Committee To the editor: Nobody runs for School Committee because they are happy with the job being done by the existing board. And nobody leaves feeling satisfied that they personally have done what they set out to do and now it’s time to move on. So to anyone thinking of applying for the vacancy on the School Committee or running for the full term, my advice is to talk to past and present School Committee members; find out what the time commitment really is, what the job actually does and be prepared for everything you think you know about the School Committee to be wrong.

If you run because you want to make changes, listen to past meetings and you will frequently hear “not our purview,” “not our job,” “not under our control,” “nothing we can involve ourselves in,” “nothing we can do.” My children will be seniors next year and many of the issues we saw on their first day of kindergarten will still be issues on their last days as students.

Anyone thinking they can be the “voice of the people” on the School Committee, we are not a monolith. If you speak up for something you believe in, you need to be prepared for anger from those who believe the opposite and who will crucify you for your words.

Own a small business in town?

Be prepared for unhappy parents and students to boycott your business and call for others to do the same if you won’t bow to public pressure on one issue or another. Are you prepared for people to stop you on the street in front of your children to tell you off, call you a bigot or leave nasty messages on your home or car? Think it won’t happen to you because you are one of the good guys? It might.

A little skeleton in the closet?

Something thoughtless posted on social media or sent in a text years ago? A child on an IEP or with a medical condition? Be prepared for it to end up public knowledge and used against you.

Want to run because you care about Marblehead teachers and students? Be prepared for sleepless nights because you just found out about something terrible that someone did or something that happened to them, and you are powerless to help.

Think you are strong enough to just vote your conscience and get the job done? Be prepared for relentless pressure from all sides trying every tactic you can imagine, including dragging your character and even your family through the mud, to try to influence you.

Local elections are popularity contests where people vote for their friends. But if you run and win, you will lose friends.

You will lose time with your family. You risk losing your own self-respect and the respect for others you once thought infallible, especially now that education has become so political. I’m not trying to put people off running, I’m really not. But people need to know

the realities of serving. And be prepared.

Xhazzie Kindle Jersey Street

Trump’s rhetoric raises alarm bells To the editor: I refer to the letter by Mr. Ferrante — “Sorry not sorry part 2” — in your last edition. Is this the pot calling the kettle black?

Mr. Ferrante accuses “liberals” of name-calling.

Now, let’s count his namecalling: Racist, liberals, communist, fascist, drunks and teenagers, mental disease, fool, corrupt and treasonous. Wow! My fear of Trump is real and intense. It baffles me how any person can ignore his own words and actions. Do you remember the time he was caught on audio saying he could grab any woman by the ... and get away with it?

Do you remember the time in New York when he said he could kill anyone and get away with it? Have you read recently that he said he did not take a vow as president to uphold the Constitution? Do you really think he was serious when he said he is above the law? Do you really think he refers to himself as the Chosen One, chosen by “God” and “Jesus Christ”? Why are his most admired foreign leaders Putin, Orban of Hungary, Bolsonaro (former president of Brazil), Duterte (former president of the Philippines) and, last but not least, Kim Jong Un of North Korea? Did he say he would act like a dictator on “Day 1”? Does he encourage his MAGA followers to use violence?

Are you aware of the reported death threats by his followers

against various judges and Jean Carroll? Mr. Ferrante, all of the foregoing are from his own mouth and can be proven. These are not fake news perpetrated by a corrupt media.

I fear you, Mr. Ferrante. I believe the MAGA followers will destroy our democracy. Please allow me one more observation as follows: On my father’s side I am of German heritage. I have an aunt who was gassed under Hitler because she was mentally impaired. Recently I have seen replays of the film footage of Hitler addressing mass rallies.

He promised to make Germany great again, to address the ills besetting Germany after World War I. He espoused hate, anger, racism and fear of others. He roused the masses up to a fever pitch. He was mesmerizing.

And what do I see in Trump? Do I see a man who is using the same rhetoric and fear as Hitler? Do I see a man who wants to scapegoat a whole segment of humanity? Do I see a man who embodies a sense of bravado and arrogance who knows he has all the answers?

Have you noticed how he “aced” a mental test? Do I see a man who believes dominance and war are the answers? Do I see a new image of Hitler but in a modern, threatening form? This may seem far-fetched to many, but never in my years have I been so concerned about the direction of our country. The hate and fear are so strong among so many people.

And Trump is exploiting this in a very calculated and clever way.

Hitler was also very brilliant in this same way. Could we actually vote into office a westernized version of “Mein Fuehrer”?

Walter Haug Highland Terrace

Track

From P. A9 placed fourth.

In the JV race, Abby Ross (50.17) finished on top out of 13 competitors. Charlotte Amalie Dye (52.97) was fourth, and Julia Betz (57.98) 10th. Madelyn Gelb made her event debut, and came in 13th.

Girls 600 In a similar race to the NEC Winter Invite back in December, Grace Mortensen (1:54.89) and Juliet Burchfield (1:54.91) finished right next to each other, with Grace coming out in front this time.

“The Gloucester runner gave them a good race, taking the lead on the penultimate lap, but then both Grace and Juliet had enough in the tank to take back the lead to finish first and second, respectively,” said Herlihy.

Boys 600 Peter Sullivan (1:41.53, threesecond personal best) captured a solid third place finish against some very formidable Gloucester opponents.

Girls 1,000 Herlihy said after this event: “Unfortunately, the officials

COURTESY PHOTOS / CAT PIPER

Marblehead junior Juliet Burchfield poses for a photo after running in the 600 during the MSTCA Northeast Invitational.

miscounted the laps so the times weren’t kept for these girls, who were all having a tremendous race. However, they did still score the event as if they finished the full distance.

Kate Twomey, who was on pace to complete the race in 3:15, finished first, with Avery Wysor and Isabel Mortensen ending up third and fourth, respectively.”

Boys 1,000 Henrik Adams (2:54.24, threesecond personal best) came out on top after having the best race

of his track career against one of the fastest runners in the NEC. “Adams took over first about halfway through the race, and instead of waiting for a foot race on the last turn he put down the hammer with over a lap to go and never let his Gloucester counterpart Colby Rochford get close,” said Herlihy.

Will Cruikshank (2:59.28) finished third, and Xavier Grazado (3:01.87) fourth.

Girls two-mile Promising young distance

runner Jesslyn Roemer (13:45.80) broke the tape first to pick up the five points for her teammates.

Boys two-mile Isaac Gross (9:51.04) took first, with Ryan Blestowe (11:05.19, 17-second personal best) coming in second.

Boys 4x400 “This was an instant classic with three Marblehead teams competing against two Gloucester teams, and it also featured a hodgepodge of

Marblehead senior indoor track captain Xavier Grazado runs in the 600.

athletes from many different events,” said Raimo.

Coming in third was the quartet of Marc Grazado, Will Cronin, Nate Assa and Felix Regnault. Ralph Pierre, Slater Johnson, James Pulido and Nate Jendrysik (4:13.42) followed right behind them in fourth place.

Dylan Whitman, Cole Barbeau, Jack Connolly and Noah Jackson (4:36.12) kept pace for fifth place.

Girls 4x400 Sarah Munroe, Lidia Jasmine Tiedra, Morgan Zion and Gabby Hendy ran a combined 4:48.64 to finish second.

MHS VARSITY SPORTS SCHEDULE Wednesday, Jan. 31 4 p.m., girls hockey, vs.

Gloucester, at Talbot Rink, Gloucester 4:30 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, vs. multiple schools, at Marblehead High 7:30 p.m., boys hockey, vs.

Masconomet Regional, at Salem State O’Keefe Center Thursday, Feb. 1 5:30 p.m., alpine ski racing, vs. TBA, at Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton 6 p.m., girls and boys swimming/diving, NEC League, at YMCA Sterling Center, Beverly 7 p.m., girls basketball,

vs. Swampscott, at Marblehead High Friday, Feb. 2 7 p.m., boys basketball, vs.

Danvers, at Danvers High 7 p.m., girls basketball, vs.

Danvers, at Marblehead High 7 p.m., gymnastics, vs.

Peabody, at Lynch-van Otterloo YMCA Saturday, Feb. 3 7:30 a.m., wrestling, vs. TBA, at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High 1 p.m., boys hockey, vs.

Winthrop, at Larsen Arena, Winthrop 6 p.m., girls hockey, vs.

Beverly, at Salem State

O’Keefe Center Sunday, Feb. 4 10:30 a.m., girls hockey, vs.

Pope Francis, at Salem State O’Keefe Center Tuesday, Feb. 6 5:30 p.m., alpine ski racing, vs. TBA, at Ski Ward Ski Area, Shrewsbury 5:30 p.m., girls basketball, vs.

Peabody, at Marblehead High 7 p.m., boys basketball, vs.

Peabody, at Marblehead High Wednesday, Feb. 7 6:10 p.m., girls hockey, vs. Winthrop, at Larsen Arena, Winthrop 7:30 p.m., boys hockey, vs.

Swampscott, at Salem State O’Keefe Center Thursday, Feb. 8 5:30 p.m., alpine ski racing, vs. TBA, at Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton 7 p.m., boys basketball, vs.

Masconomet Regional, at Marblehead High Saturday, Feb. 10 TBD, girls and boys indoor track, vs. TBA, at Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury TBD, girls swimming/diving, state sectionals, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute TBD, wrestling, state sectionals, at Burlington High 1 p.m., girls basketball, vs.

Pope Francis, at Pope Francis 3 p.m., boys basketball, vs. Pope Francis, at Pope Francis 3 p.m., boys hockey, vs.

Danvers, at Salem State O’Keefe Center 3:30 p.m., gymnastics, NEC League, at YMCA Sterling Center, Beverly 5 p.m., girls hockey, vs.

Shawsheen, at Salem State O’Keefe Center Sunday, Feb. 11 TBD, boys swimming/diving, state sectionals, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute 11 a.m., girls basketball, vs.

Holyoke, at Holyoke High

1 p.m., boys basketball, vs.

Holyoke, at Holyoke High Monday, Feb. 12 5:30 p.m., alpine ski racing, vs. TBA, at Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton Tuesday, Feb. 13 6 p.m., girls basketball, vs.

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

Gloucester, at Marblehead High 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

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 31, 2024 A13

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

See the world in black and white Rachael Albert, Senior, Assistant Editor

January 31, 2024

E. Brown and Marilyn Monroe. I bet I had you at Marilyn Monroe. Disregarding the significance this movie had on the film industry, of which there is a lot, it is simply a joy to watch.

It follows two musicians from New York who, after their old band breaks up because of a runin with the police, need to find new work. They find a band that is traveling to a gig in Florida, which is perfect because they are also running from the Italian

mafia. The one problem is: it's an all-female band. Dressing in drag, they make their way to Florida, all the while trying to hide their true identities. Some Like it Hot explores taboo themes through comedy, which is one of the best ways to introduce people to new ideas. Saying uncomfortable things through jokes tells the audience, “I know this is awkward to watch, but it's funny when we all feel awkward together.”

Yearbook: Senior Parent Ads Marblehead High School Class of 2024

The only reason I like old films may be because of my dad, who forced my brother and me to watch them, even though I'm sure we would've preferred Toy Story or Aladdin. As an 8-yearold, all the jokes went over my head, except for the physical comedy, but I am now able to watch these films and laugh even harder because I understand the more sophisticated humor. I am an avid enjoyer of black and white comedies, and they have become some of my favorite movies. Here are my top five old-school films (in no particular order), whose casts are made up of some of the most famous actors and actresses of their times, from Jack Benny and Carole Lombard to Joe E. Brown and Marilyn Monroe.

The Marx Brothers: Duck Soup Renowned as the best Marx Brothers' movie of all time, Duck Soup is set in Freedonia, a fictional country that runs into financial troubles.

Their neighboring country tactfully sends spies to Freedonia to scope out the situation, and chaos follows as tensions grow.

Full of slapstick comedy, this film is the first Marx Brothers movie I fell in love with. Each of the brothers' personalities and shticts shine through. It's a great introduction to black and white film if you are unsure where to start. And, if you don't know who the Marx Brothers are, you may want to Google it, because they are one of the most famous comedy groups of their time, first as a Vaudeville act, and then expanding onto Broadway and beyond.

they can no longer put on a play about Hitler, they use their acting skills to become spies for Poland and attempt to thwart the Gestapo.

This movie always has me laughing from start to finish, and, similar to the Marx Brothers, has a great mix of slapstick and sophisticated comedy. It also has an element of thrill, for the whole movie is a great chase. I cannot recommend this movie enough, especially if you like to laugh.

The Marx Brothers: A Night at the Opera My personal favorite Marx Brothers film is A Night at the Opera. I could watch it until I memorized the entire script and still not get bored. You might guess that a story about a famous opera singer, a stowaway, and an agent who is terrible at his job all on a boat together would end badly, and you'd be right. A Night at the Opera has that chaotic charm that I wish more modern films had. The first line in the movie is a joke and so is the last, a standard that every Marx Brothers film meets. In addition to the comedy act itself, the movie also stars Kitty Carlisle and Allen Jones, who both give amazing performances.

My Man Godfrey Starring William Powell and Carole Lombard, My Man Godfrey shows the romance of old cinema, which I love. This movie definitely has less physical humor than the others on this list, but it is just as ridiculous. It follows Mr. Godfrey, a homeless man who was found by a young woman in order to win a scavenger hunt. Godfrey ends up butlering for the rich family and begins to work his way up in the world. The story is cliché but heartwarming, and it reminds me of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. Again, it's romantic, and if you were to watch an old movie just for the sake of watching an old movie, I would recommend this one, though I hope you get more out of it than a title to check off on a list.

To Be or Not To Be Shakespeare in comedy, perfect! Well, not quite. This film stars Carole Lombard and Jack Benny, and it has about as much to do with Hamlet as Star Wars does with Disney. To Be or Not Be is a family favorite of ours, but it has a self-deprecating humor that may not appeal to everyone. The premise is that some Polish Jews are putting on a play Some Like it Hot about Hitler in 1939, but then the The most famous of this war breaks out. Devastated that list, Some Like it Hot's main cast is Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Joe

Parents of Marblehead seniors!

Don't forget to include a personal ad in the yearbook for your student to help them remember their time at MHS and show them how proud you are! The deadline for submission is February 20th, 2024.

Gorilla Girls Ila Bumagin, Senior, Editor-in-Chief

When she hugs me wraps those paws around my heart beats slow.

She wants me to stay in that hug until I know why

When fur and warmth and mama shutter my eyes to sleep,

I must stay there.

How should I know unless I break out?

Too young am I to know the shame my comfort becomes.

She knows me and she knows the world, but I need proof

Then I slam the door against love just because I can.

Despite her warning cries of truth that only we can stop

Mama fought so that I can, but rage against our age is what we do.

The cold. Just a mom and her daughter hugging against the world.

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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A14 Wednesday, January 31, 2024 Marblehead Current

Keep the Current Coming!

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