01.22.2025 – Volume 3, Issue 9

FINAL-19 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A01 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:12:58 PM

IN THIS ISSUE

SPORTS

BURNS SUPPER

LIVE MUSIC

A new beginning for Magicians girls varsity hockey

Haggis by the harbor

Marbleheaders keep symphony strong

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PAID

MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25

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NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

TM

January 22, 2025

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VOLUME 3, ISSUE NO. 9

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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG

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COMPLIANCE PRESSURE

Fire grants threatened as MBTA deadline set

BY WILL DOWD Marblehead’s future fire safety grants could be at risk if the town fails to comply with the MBTA Communities Act. This marks the first time the Healey-Driscoll Administration has explicitly tied public safety grant funding to MBTA Communities Act compliance, a move that expands consequences beyond the previously targeted housing and infrastructure programs. The policy change, announced after FY 2025 grant applications had already been submitted and awarded, has sparked concern

among fire officials who rely on state funding for essential safety equipment. While Marblehead has secured $19,000 from the FY 2025 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant, as confirmed in a Jan. 17 letter from State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine, future funding beginning in FY 2026 remains at risk - part of a $5 million statewide program that historically supported critical equipment purchases without housing policy conditions.

The notification comes as Marblehead prepares to reconsider multifamily zoning at May Town Meeting, after rejecting a similar proposal

COURTESY PHOTO/MARBLEHEAD FIRE DEPARTMENT VIA FACEBOOK

Marblehead Fire Department’s ability to secure state funding for safety equipment is at risk if the town doesn’t adopt the MBTA Communities Act by July.

in 2024. Under emergency regulations filed by the state on Jan. 14, the town must submit an action plan by Feb. 13 and

achieve full compliance by July 14 to maintain eligibility for future state funding.

In a Marblehead Current interview, Fire Chief Jason Gilliland expressed concern Friday morning about the state’s decision to tie future fire safety grants to compliance with the state’s multifamily zoning mandate.

“They put the grants out at base value and to change it midstream is [not cool],” said Gilliland, arguing that any new requirements should apply to future funding rounds. “But I believe they shouldn’t punish public safety.”

State Rep. Jenny Armini, Democrat of Marblehead, emphasized that such grants should remain unaffected, stating, “Public safety grants should be held harmless.”

Regarding Marblehead’s compliance timeline, with a deadline set for July 2025, Armini expressed optimism.

She highlighted the governor’s administration’s initiative, noting, “The governor’s administration has requested a written plan to achieve compliance from each community. I am optimistic ZONING, P. A6

DINING SCENE

‘FORMIDABLE LEGACY”

Honoring veteran journalist and Current leader Ed Bell

Eateries play musical chairs

BY LEIGH BLANDER

COURTESY PHOTOS

Ed Bell, longtime journalist, died Jan. 16.

He hosted the MHTV program “Up For Discussion” for years.

Ed Bell at a luncheon with President Ronald Reagan.

BY JOSEPH P. KAHN “That’s kind of the way I operate. I move into a town and take over.”

So quipped Ed Bell, with a twinkle in his eye, in a 2023 interview. He was referring to his post-retirement involvement with a wide variety of local organizations, from the Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor and MHTV to the Council on Aging and Marblehead Current, which he co-founded in 2022 and has helped guide since with his energy, insight and unfailing sense of humor.

Yet Ed could also have been articulating a more expansive view of work and life, one that has inspired all of us privileged to “take over” with him, as he might put it, to now contemplate his formidable legacy.

A journalist’s journalist and pillar of the Marblehead community, Ed, who died last week at 84, commanded

Ed Bell interviewing President George H.W. Bush.

enormous respect in newsrooms, boardrooms, living rooms — pretty much anywhere and everywhere he held court throughout his adult life.

His death — Ed was with his beloved wife Barbara when stricken outside BELL, P. A12

Some of Marblehead’s most popular restaurants are on the move, but don’t worry — they’re all (or almost all) staying in town.

Fen Yang House on Atlantic Avenue bought Caffe Italia’s building on School Street last year. The Italian eatery is reportedly closing March 15 and moving into Soall Viet Kitchen’s space on Bessom Street (Village Plaza) this spring. Soall, which announced it was closing in November, will be moving to the former A&D Clam Box on Pleasant Street. A&D closed Dec. 31, with no word on reopening elsewhere.

Soall owner Sa Nguyen wrote in an email to customers Friday, “We can’t begin to tell you how excited we are to still be a part of this wonderful Marblehead community.

We’re even more excited for the possibilities of endless summer nights, romantic falls and springtime fare.”

She added: “We will stop service at our current location on Friday, Jan. 31, and plan to reopen at 195 Pleasant St. as soon as possible.”

Fen Yang owner Ling Chen told the Current the Chinese restaurant will move into the old Caffe Italia space sometime this spring.

“We’re not in a rush,” Chen said. She did not know what might be moving into the space at 40 Atlantic Ave. Meanwhile, the Rip Tide at 116 Pleasant St., will reopen in February under new owners John and Danielle Kaetzer of Salem.

“Everything on the menu will be under $10 — food and beverage,” John Kaetzer explained in December. “We want to get volume in and get the place packed.”

GET WELL

Health & Wellness Fair a hit for all ages

BY LEIGH BLANDER Hundreds of people turned out for the Board of Health’s first Health & Wellness Fair at the Marblehead Community Center on Saturday.

Nearly 30 vendors chatted with residents about various offerings, from fitness classes to nutrition, acupuncture, mental health services and more.

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

“People are asking great questions,” said Kristin Erbetta, a Salem State social work professor on the Marblehead Mental Health Task Force.

Board of Health member Tom McMahon organized the event.

“It’s been really great to see people connecting,” he said.

McMahon has spoken about all the wellness options in Marblehead.

“The variety of options is also

very robust, which is important since there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, the goal of this event is simple to connect residents with local vendors who specialize in the areas of health and wellness to help improve their lives and open doors that they didn’t know existed.”

McMahon hopes the Health & Wellness Fair will become an annual event.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Lauren and Sam Andler, with their children, 2-year-old Siggy and 8-month old Fletcher, play with Lighthouse Fitness owner Kim Crowley at the Health & Wellness Fair on Saturday.

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marbleheadcurrent.org

A2 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Marblehead Current

EDUCATION

School Committee planning two forums on flag policy New recess policy also being discussed

The School Committee started considering a flag policy more than a year ago after a Marblehead resident confessed to taking down the BLM flag in the Marblehead High cafeteria without permission. That prompted Principal Michele Carlson and then-acting superintendent Michelle Cresta to ask the School Committee about a policy.

BY LEIGH BLANDER The School Committee’s policy subcommittee is planning two forums in February — one for students and one for the community — to hear more input on a draft policy that would limit flags and banners in Marblehead schools to the United States, Massachusetts, Marblehead and P.O.W. flags.

The subcommittee — made up of Jenn Schaeffner and Alison Taylor — met Jan. 15 at the school administration building to discuss next steps in approving a new flag policy.

Nearly 20 people attended online and in person.

“I’m here as a representative and member of the Marblehead Racial Justice Team to share that we strongly oppose any policy would restrict or limit any symbols of affirmation and acceptance for our students … and that our students very much should be part of this conversation,” said Lindsay Smith, who has three daughters.

Several other residents complained that the meeting was scheduled when students could not attend.

“This is business that students have a personal stake in,” said Chris Bruell. “Holding this

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead High School students say they will speak out against a draft flag policy at the School Committee’s next meeting.

meeting at 9:30 in the morning when students can’t be here is not appropriate.”

Taylor and Schaeffner explained that subcommittee meetings, which often include administration leaders, are typically held in the mornings. No administration officials attended this meeting.

Resident Renee Ramirez Keaney said she had been asked to speak by two high school students, Maren Potter and Nina Johnson.

“I understand from them that there are many students who will be planning to speak at the next School Committee meeting, as well as others who have written comments,” she said. “They will speak for themselves at that time.

For now, they have asked me to relay that the overwhelming majority of students believe the decision regarding the flying of flags or banners should not rest with the School Committee but with professional administrators, principals and the superintendent, in consultation with students.

They feel strongly that those in

the school building have a right to voice how they chose to create, express and nurture their sense of community.”

MHS senior Maren Potter told the Current, “MHS students will be pushing back once again and are planning how to best approach the situation to make sure student voices are heard in these decisions.”

Resident Nyla Dubois spoke in favor of a flag policy that would bar the Black Lives Matter and Pride flags.

“Not everyone sees the same values in those particular symbols,” Dubois said. “Even the one (Pride flag) on the sidewalk outside the information booth… these symbols are what some people believe speak for everybody, and that’s just not true. You can’t say that the Pride flag stands for every lesbian or trans person.”

Dubois added that at some point “de-transitioners will be coming back into the schools” and might be upset by the Pride flag.

requires several steps before any decisions are made. Town Meeting must vote to formally release the property from school department control. After that, the Select Board would oversee the visioning process and any potential request for proposals for redevelopment.

Town officials said they expect to begin the community visioning process if Town Meeting takes action on releasing the property.

No timeline was specified for completing the planning process or making decisions about the site’s ultimate use.

Town Meeting remains open for citizens petitions until Friday, Jan. 24. Town government boards and commissions have until noon Jan. 31 to submit their own articles. Town Meeting, which serves as Marblehead’s legislative body, enables residents to vote on key matters such as budgets, bylaws, home-rule petitions and resolutions. For guidance, reach out to Town Moderator Jack Attridge at jack@allmarblehead. com or 781-883-3200.

More recess coming?

Taylor and Schaeffner also discussed a proposed new recess policy that would give all students from kindergarten through grade six two recesses a day.

Currently, students in grades 1-6 have only one, 20-minute recess, according to Taylor.

“It’s literally a crying shame that our children do not have two recesses,” said Taylor. “When a child is able to get the wiggles out, they are certainly able to focus more.”

The second recess was removed a few years ago, when COVID schedules raised concerns about time-on-learning requirements.

The second recess returned for one year before being removed again, Taylor said.

Schaeffner said recent changes to the teachers contract may make it easier to guarantee a second recess.

Taylor said she will write a draft recess policy, which will need to be discussed at least three times before the full School Committee can vote on it.

The soonest the second recess could become required is next fall.

NEWS IN BRIEF

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

Discussion on Coffin School Town officials are beginning to explore potential uses for the Coffin School property after the School Committee voted to release the former elementary school back to town control.

During a joint meeting of Marblehead’s Housing Implementation Committee and Fair Housing Committee on Tuesday, officials discussed initiating a public visioning process to determine the five-acre site’s future.

“It starts with going through a process of getting public input,” said Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. “You want to have significant input from the neighborhood, because they’re most impacted, but you need the input from the community as a whole, because there are broader community needs.”

Kezer and Town Planner Alex Eitler said they would engage consultants and seek grant funding to facilitate public input sessions.

Eitler noted that such projects often qualify for state support.

“The goal is to basically evaluate the land, and really have a thorough analysis of what is really the best use that benefits the most amount of people within the town collectively,” Eitler said.

The site is within a residential area, which Kezer noted would influence its future use. “The site is zoned residential,” he said. “I would be pretty confident about that.”

While housing could be one possibility, Kezer outlined multiple scenarios: “Looking at how much of five acres would be say for redevelopment housing, and how much would be reserved for some other maybe public use.”

The property’s future still

Northeast Arc honors Marblehead resident Julie Rainer Cummings of Marblehead will be honored at Northeast Arc’s “An Evening of Changing Lives” event on April 8 at Encore Boston Harbor.

Rainer Cummings, owner of Concept Capital and a 19-year board member of Northeast Arc, will receive the Changing Lives Award alongside Tom Gould, owner of Treadwell’s Ice Cream.

Her family has been involved with Northeast Arc since its 1954 founding, and her late sister Lisa Rainer lived in a Northeast Arc residential home for over 40 years.

The fundraising event will feature an inclusive fashion show pairing Northeast Arc clients with local celebrities and business executives. For more information, visit ne-arc.org/gala.

State of the Town address scheduled The annual State of the Town address is set for Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 6 p.m. in Abbot Hall.

The presentation will review financial successes and challenges from the past year and establish revenue projections for the FY 2026 budget and future forecasts.

These projections will determine available funds for next year’s budget planning.

Town Meeting warrant closes Friday for citizens petitions.

The warrant for the May 5

MBTA Communities Act forum planned The UU Church of Marblehead will host a program called “Multifamily Housing in Marblehead: Just the Facts” on Sunday, Feb. 2, from 2-4 p.m. The public forum will feature Angus McQuilken, co-founding member of the Marblehead Housing Coalition, and Bill Keaney, a coalition member and recently retired Boston College Graduate School of Social Work associate professor. The speakers will address current developments, noncompliance penalties and potential benefits of 3A Zoning for Marblehead. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

OMIA holds annual meeting and presents awards The Old Marblehead Improvement Association held its annual meeting Jan. 12 at the Old Town House, presenting several community awards and hosting key speakers. Award recipients included Titus Masonry for brick sidewalk restoration at the Old Town House, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for its 100th anniversary, Ann Stanley for preserving her 1663 Franklin Street home, Karyn Lang for community service and Glover’s Regiment for its 50th anniversary.

The Friends of the Park on Elm Street presented plans for a restored children’s playground at the former Gerry School,

announcing a fundraising goal of up to $200,000. New Town Planner Alex Eitler discussed initiatives including accessory dwelling unit bylaw updates, flood plain zoning revisions and grant applications for the Village Street bridge reconstruction and Five Corners intersection redesign.

Historical march to Burial Hill planned Glover’s Marblehead Regiment will hold its annual march to Burial Hill on Saturday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m., departing from the Old Town House. Capt. Seamus Daly will deliver an oration honoring Gen. John Glover, who died Jan. 30, 1797, and is entombed at Burial Hill. Regiment members will fire their muskets three times and march under lantern light and drumbeat. The public is invited to join, with participants encouraged to bring candle-lit lanterns.

Marblehead’s Carnevale re-elected as state GOP chair Marblehead resident Amy Carnevale won re-election as chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party on Jan. 13, defeating challenger Jimmy Davidson. Carnevale, who has led the party since 2023, has focused on revitalizing the state GOP, achieving three legislative seat gains in 2024.

A longtime Republican state committee member and former Marblehead Special Education Parent Advisory Council member, Carnevale has worked as a lobbyist for K&L Gates in Boston and Washington, D.C.

Renew your dog licenses

The Town Clerk’s office announced the annual dog license renewal period will run until Jan. 31. Licenses cost $20 for spayed/neutered dogs and $25 for intact dogs. After Jan. 31, a $50 fine will be assessed every 30 days. Current rabies certificates are required. Licenses can be IN BRIEF, P. A3

nEWS FOr PEOPLE, nOT FOr PrOFIT. CHAIR

Bob Peck Ed Bell — Forever our friend and mentor NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Community Editor - Will Dowd wdowd@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

Interns

Benji Boyd Grey Collins CONTRIBUTORS

Jo Ann Augeri Silva Stephen Bach Bob Baker Linda Bassett Nicole Goodhue-Boyd Laurie Fullerton James (Seamus) Hourihan Christine McCarriston Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Chris Stevens Lisa Sugarman BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Virginia Buckingham - President Gene Arnould Ed Bell Brian Birke Cheryl Byrne Robert Peck Donna Rice David Vigneron Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD

Brian Birke Virginia Buckingham Kris Olson Will Dowd Robert Peck Joseph P. Kahn DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Kathryn Whorf FOUNDERS

Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Leigh Blander Will Dowd David Moran Kris Olson DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

North of Boston Media Group Marblehead News 217 Humphrey St. Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945 617-545-5445 info@marbleheadnews.org www.marbleheadCurrent.org Marblehead Current is published every Wednesday by Marblehead News Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is mailed to all homes and businesses in Marblehead, MA 01945.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 22, 2025 A3

TRASH TALK

New compactor being installed at Transfer Station, impacting service for two weeks Board of Health also discusses new leash laws

BY LEIGH BLANDER The Transfer Station renovation project is taking a step forward after months of delays. A new compactor was being installed starting Jan. 20.

Weigh-and-pay services will be closed for two weeks during the work.

Public Health Director Petty said since the only general contracting bid for the larger Transfer Station renovation came in $1 million over budget, he recommends funding smaller pieces of the project.

At a Jan. 13 Board of Health meeting, Petty said the project will have three phases: Installing the compactor and completing site work Replacing the scale house (when funds become available) Building the swap shed (when funds become available) BoH member Tom McMahon agreed this is the best way

forward.

“We don’t have the money without going to the town for an override, so chipping away at it is the best route to go,” McMahon said. “It is frustrating, given the history.”

A new license-plate-reader system will be installed this spring, and at that point the residential entrance to the Transfer Station will be moved to Green Street. The exit will remain on Beacon Street.

New leash laws?

The Board of Health voted to support updated leash law bylaws being brought to Town Meeting this May. Recreation and Parks Commissioner Shelly Bedrossian and dog officer Betsy Cruger have been working with McMahon on new rules, which will increase fines for residents who let their dogs off leash and don’t pick up poop.

The new rules also ban dogs year-round from the town’s bathing beaches, including Devereux, Gas House, Stramski, Grace Oliver and Cove Lane (on the Neck).

Currently, dogs in Marblehead are only allowed off leash at the dog park on Lime Street and

COURTESY PHOTO

The new compactor was being installed at the Transfer Station Jan. 20.

in private yards. Bedrossian suggested increasing the penalties for off-leash pups as follows: » First offense: Up from $25 to $100 » Second offense: Up from $50 to $300 » Additional offenses: Up

from $50 to $500 The update would also stipulate that dogs be on leashes no longer than 12 feet long.

Poop pick-up

The updated bylaws would increase fines for people who don’t pick up after their dogs.

Penalties would jump from $50 for the first offense to $250 for the first and every violation.

“If you walk down the paved tracks, you’ll see dogs of waste strewn everywhere,” she said.

Petty added, “We’re really tired of this.”

Marblehead Counseling Center update Also at the Board of Health meeting, Marblehead Counseling Center President Ruth Ferguson presented an update. The MCC is located at 66 Clifton Ave. In 2024, MCC served 400 clients, providing 7,000 clinical hours of service. The center has seven licensed clinicians, two master’s level graduate students and one Salem State University intern.

The wait list for treatment is 235 people, including 100 Marblehead residents. About 25% of MCC clients are children.

The Board of Health typically gives MCC $60,000 a year, but this year hopes to provide $120,000. (Those funds must be approved at Town Meeting and used only for services to Marblehead residents or town employees.)

To learn more about MCC, visit marbleheadcounseling.org.

NEW BEGINNINGS

From theater to finance: Marblehead’s new grant coordinator’s unique path

BY WILL DOWD When Donna Cotterell was 19, she discovered her passion for grant writing while working for Rock Against Racism, a nonprofit that used breakdancing and rap to bridge racial divides among youth. Now, as Marblehead’s first dedicated grant coordinator, she brings that same creative spirit to addressing the town’s evolving needs.

“I feel like all of it has prepared me for this,” Cotterell said of her diverse background.

“Grant writing is finance, it’s budgeting, it’s project planning.

Pretty much everything you’re seeking funding for has to be managed and run.”

Cotterell joined the town’s newly formed Community Development and Planning Department in late 2024, part of a broader strategy to reduce burden on taxpayers through professional grant management and strategic planning. Her position, along with the department itself, represents Marblehead’s shift toward a more coordinated approach to securing state and federal funding.

The town recently received $130,000 from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to develop its first comprehensive

In Brief From P. A2

renewed by mail, drop box or online at marblehead.org.

Bible study group to launch at VFW A weekly book study examining “The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus” by John Cross will run Tuesdays from Jan. 28 through May 6, 6:30-8 p.m. at Grace Church, 17 Pleasant St. The free program, affiliated with Grace Community Church, will explore major themes connecting the Old and New Testaments. Books

master plan, a document she and Town Planner Alex Eitler say will help guide future grant applications and development.

“You can’t just pick pet projects,” Cotterell explained.

“Without a comprehensive plan, you’re really at a disadvantage.

When you’re dealing with a municipality, it’s everything from cemeteries to schools and everything in between.”

Her expertise comes from managing multimillion-dollar grant programs in Florida, where she oversaw agricultural funding cycles worth approximately $12 million, working with 30-40 grant recipients ranging from university researchers to nonprofits. She also earned certification in

grants management through Management Concepts in Washington, D.C.

Cotterell’s path to Marblehead wound through theater, education and nonprofit leadership. After earning a theater degree from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, she worked in graphic design before obtaining a master’s in finance from Boston University while at State Street Corporation.

When corporate layoffs pushed her toward education, she spent 11 years teaching middle school math.

“I had compassion for kids because I didn’t think

I was that smart in middle school,” she said. “It took my 10th-grade geometry teacher who encouraged me and acknowledged both my theater work and my ability to do theorems on the board.”

That blend of arts and analytics serves her well in her new role, where she’s tackling projects from coastal resilience to Americans With Disabilities Act compliance. Using Microsoft Planner, she’s already streamlined the town’s grant management process.

“We can see all the grants at a glance — what we’re applying for, what we’ve been awarded, what we potentially may apply for,” Cotterell explained. “We even track grants we were denied or moved away from, since they might be relevant next year.”

Her priorities include securing funding for coastal resilience projects and supporting affordable housing initiatives. She’s particularly passionate about giving voice to underrepresented communities in Marblehead.

“There are folks here that are just unseen and unheard,” she said. “We want to give them a platform and allow them to be part of this process. We want them to stay, have their children

will be provided at no cost. For information or registration, contact Rex Schaffner at 517795-7490 or rexschaffner@gmail. com.

also conduct a special Shabbat service that evening to honor Holocaust victims.

efficiency improvements.

Contact: 978-531-0767 ext. 136 or fuelassistance@nscap.org.

Home energy assistance program accepting applications

Snow emergency parking restrictions

CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

Donna Cotterell, Marblehead’s first dedicated grant coordinator, stands in the Planning and Community Development Department office at the Mary Alley Municipal Building.

Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony planned Marblehead will hold its third annual Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at noon on Jan. 31 at Abbot Hall.

The Select Board approved the 30-minute ceremony at the request of the Task Force Against Discrimination. Rabbi Michael Schwartz of Temple Sinai and Rabbi Jenn Mangold of Temple Emanu-El will lead the observance. Mangold will

A nomadic career

North Shore Community Action Programs is accepting applications for its Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps income-eligible households pay winter heating bills from Nov. 1 through April 30. Eligible households can receive direct payments to heating vendors, 29% discount on National Grid utility bills, protection from utility shutoffs during winter and possible no-cost energy

The Marblehead Police Department is reminding residents about parking restrictions during snow emergencies. When a snow emergency is declared, vehicles, including boat trailers, must be removed from the streets to allow for snow removal and ensure road safety. Violators risk ticketing and towing as part of the town’s efforts to maintain clear and treated streets during icy conditions. Residents are

go to school here, live here, work here.”

Marblehead charm

Living on the edge of the Historic District, Cotterell has embraced Marblehead’s walkable charm. She discovered Fort Sewall in late fall. “I fell in love with it,” she said.

She praised what she called a collaborative environment fostered by Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.

“He’s a manager that steers but doesn’t micromanage,” Cotterell said. “That’s how you thrive — when you have a manager who allows you to chart your own course but checks in every couple of weeks to make sure we’re still on the same path.”

The creation of her position comes at a crucial time as Marblehead navigates compliance with the MBTA Communities Act and seeks funding for various infrastructure projects. Kezer has said her role is a cornerstone to the town’s strategy of maximizing external funding opportunities while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

“I’ve felt very welcome here in Marblehead,” she added.

“I’m looking forward to helping create an inviting environment where everyone can thrive.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

encouraged to sign up for CodeRED alerts at marblehead. org/subscribe to stay informed about snow emergencies. The overnight parking ban for the 2024-25 winter season is now in effect.

Transfer Station and beach stickers available Transfer Station and beach stickers are now available for purchase online and in person at the Health Department Office, 7 Widger Road. The stickers are $100 and $40 for each subsequent car in the household. More info is available at marblehead.org/board-health/ health-department.

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A4 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

Civic engagement and you As we go about our daily lives, it is easy to overlook the web of people participating in town government that make decisions that shape our community. It is also common to assume that participating in local government is only for a select few. The truth, though, is that every voice matters. That is why we are highlighting some opportunities to step forward in local government and make an impact.

Marblehead currently has a number of open volunteer opportunities to engage with town government. As of Jan. 7, the Marblehead Disabilities Commission, Cable Television Advisory Committee, Conservation Commission, Design Review Board, Marblehead Cultural Council and Marblehead Community Access and Media Inc. each have one to three vacancies. The Select Board is responsible for filling these vacancies with interested residents. Let us give you some reasons to show an interest.

Direct engagement in town government has been part of Marblehead’s DNA since 1649. It was then that Marblehead first used Town Meeting to exercise its legislative power collectively and directly. The continued use of this extraordinarily open form of self-government speaks to our commitment to an informed, deliberative and active community, ingredients essential to a healthy democracy. Town Moderator Jack Attridge rightly puts it this way: “Our form of governance encourages civic engagement but relies on civic participation from our citizenry. We are at our best when we are respectful to others in that effort.”

These volunteer opportunities with Marblehead’s boards, committees and commissions give our community another opportunity to honor that commitment and provide residents control over our collective future. They have the power to play crucial and influential roles by creating and shaping the policies that inform town leaders’ decisionmaking and increasing the quality of our lives.

Filling these vacancies with residents possessing diverse skills, expertise and perspectives helps avoid potentially unrepresentative decisions and ensure a more balanced, responsive and inclusive approach to Marblehead’s governance.

There is another reason to show interest: social capital. Social capital refers to the social networks in our communities built on trust, reciprocity and cooperation from which we all benefit. And, as the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the “Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community” notes in addressing the nation’s loneliness and isolation epidemic, the size and participation in our social networks are waning. As a result, our civic organizations face diminishing performance, productivity and engagement and we individually face worsening mental, emotional and physical health.

The salve? Increasing social capital through local civic engagement helps turn the tide on these negative trends. On the community front, it sows the seeds for higher quality local governance, greater collective action, expanded voter turnout, more trust in our institutions and heightened awareness of the issues that most affect us. Put more simply, the more we participate, the more we prosper.

On the personal front, it leads to better overall health outcomes. The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory shows that civically engaged people have an increased sense of purpose and belonging in their community, decreased risk of depression, reduced risk of cognitive decline, more resilience to stressors and a longer life expectancy. Again, put more simply, the more you engage, the more you will thrive.

Whether you have a desire to uphold Marblehead’s democratic traditions, make a difference or improve your own health and happiness, there is a pathway for you. Do not underestimate the power of your voice to shape the decisions that impact our community. Raise your hand for one of the current or future volunteer opportunities in town government. Remember, your civic engagement is one of Marblehead’s strengths that we all can and should share.

Are you interested? Visit marblehead.org for more information on Marblehead’s volunteer opportunities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

On notice

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM

I consider myself a pretty observant person. If you’re wearing a new sweater, or just got your haircut, or re-arranged your living room artwork, I’m likely to notice and comment/compliment.

If you’re feeling out of sorts, or having a particularly bad (or good) day, I also tend to pick up on mood clues. I’m not talking about the buzzy “mindful” way of being, which I try and mostly fail at, just the normal everyday taking note of my surroundings, human and otherwise.

Therefore, I’m a little puzzled that in the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed three things in my immediate environment that I’ve never noticed before but were surely there multiple times in the past.

First, I walk by the Goldthwait salt marsh most days and I always look for the great blue heron which feeds there. It’s not always present but when it is, I see it at a distance, typically in the middle of the marsh. It stands as still as a statue, and while it’s too far away to observe clearly, there’s a majesty to it that holds me in place.

Only once did I see the heron closer to the marsh’s edge, and when I approached, it quickly moved deeper toward the center. Wow, it was something to see in flight, even close to the ground for that brief a distance.

Its wingspan could have been as much as 6 feet, and its color — deceptively gray at first glance — was a gorgeous charcoal blue.

Where does it go when it’s not in the marsh? I never really thought about it but one evening recently I was in my backyard and my eye was drawn upward by a dark movement. It was the great blue heron. Majestic at rest, yes, but in full flight? Arresting. And I stood, arrested, and watched it until it was no longer in sight, grateful I came outside at exactly the time it passed overhead.

It was the movement of the heron which drew my eye but what drew my eye to the tree branches on a windless afternoon? Yes, the recent snowstorm was New-England-of-your-dreams perfect. Fluffy, light,

more than a coating, less than a burden, reflecting the after-storm sun like a mirror. Trees covered in fresh snow are pretty. This was something more.

If there was a daytime version of up-lighting a naked tree in winter — putting a spotlight at its base — would it be called downlighting? The bare deciduous tree branches, everywhere I turned, seemed so on a recent afternoon — glowing from what could have been a perfectly applied coat of white paint. Each branch, every crevice where the branches met the trunk, were luminous. I don’t remember seeing winter trees quite like that before, smoothly white along the top, undersides gray, perfect silhouettes against a cerulean blue sky. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear Mother Nature was nearby holding a palette and brush, a small smile on her lips as she admired her handiwork.

One final new noticing. The sun rises every day.

This we know. The hardier among us make a point of bundling up and greeting it from the shore. Not me.

As soon as I sense the dawn, I open my blinds to the growing light, but stay cozy under the covers. One morning last week, my boss, also known as my pup, wanted to go out earlier than usual so I stood up and glanced out the bedroom window. I can’t see the water from where I live but I did a double take as I looked over the distant rooftops of my neighbors. Was that the surface of the sea giving way to the emerging bright orange sun? For a minute I thought so. I stood rooted in place and watched a perfect sun rise as if I were standing on the beach.

It must have been a low lying layer of clouds, giving the illusion of the surface of the ocean, that were present at the exact moment I stood up and looked out the window. I’ve never noticed that before.

I can’t wait to see what I notice next.

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

MARBLEHEAD CARES

Coping with the winter blues

BY GREGG MULFORD

Most of us love Marblehead during the summer as it’s a picturesque seaside town on the water with a lovely harbor, great beaches and many areas to swim and boat. Unfortunately, the fall and winter months here often feel quite different and can bring on feelings of sadness and depression.

The shorter days, cold temperatures, lack of green foliage and the holiday letdown can sometimes cause feelings of depression. Sadness, anxiety, “empty” feelings, guilt, helplessness and loss of interest in enjoyable activities are a few common symptoms of a disorder called seasonal affective disorder.

SAD is a type of depression that is triggered by the changes in the seasons, mostly fall and winter, which is why SAD is often referred to as “winter depression.” It is thought that the shorter days with less daylight may set off a chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression.

SAD often begins in adulthood and the risk of having it increases as we get older. Women tend to be affected by it more than men.

As mentioned earlier, common symptoms may include increased sleep and daytime drowsiness, loss of interest and pleasure in normal activities, social withdrawal from our friends and family, anxiety, feelings of guilt and hopelessness about life, feeling tired, overeating and difficulties with concentrating.

These symptoms often begin in the late fall to early winter months

COURTESY PHOTO / NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS MINNESOTA

Seasonal depression, or SAD, affects many during the colder months, but strategies and support can help ease symptoms.

and then ease off or fully disappear as the spring and summer months arrive.

So, what are some things you can do if you think you might be suffering from SAD? » Seek help from a professional.

Call your primary care doctor or a local psychotherapist to talk to. Therapy can help you understand better what you’re going through, talk about the stressors going on in your life and find alternative coping strategies. Likewise, your doctor can talk to you about the possible benefits of starting on an antidepressant medication. » Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Break large tasks down into small ones, set

realistic priorities for yourself and do what you can without criticizing yourself. » Participate in activities that make you feel better such as going to a movie, listening to music or taking part in religious, social or other activities. Additionally, try doing something nice for someone else as this can also help you feel better. » Try exercising regularly either at home, at a local gym or at a local rec center. Even just taking short walks outside can help increase your energy and build up endorphins we need during the winter.

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DEADLINE APPROACHES

Property tax abatement requests due by Feb. 1

BY WILL DOWD Marblehead is approaching the Feb. 1 deadline for filing property tax abatements, which coincides with the due date for third-quarter tax bills. The deadline comes one year after the town’s Assessor’s Office faced significant challenges with its property valuation process, leading to hundreds of erroneous assessments and a surge in resident complaints.

Abatement applications can be obtained from the Assessor’s Office at the Mary Alley Municipal Building or downloaded from the town’s website at marblehead.org/ assessors-office.

In early 2024, many Marblehead homeowners were surprised to receive property tax bills that had increased dramatically due to substantial hikes in their property assessments. Some residents reported assessment increases of up to 40%, prompting a flood of abatement requests filed with the Assessor’s Office.

According to Jonathan

CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

With the Feb. 1 deadline looming, the Mary Alley Municipal Building serves as the go-to location for abatement assistance.

Lederman, a member of the Board of Assessors, it’s still early to predict an exact total of abatement filings, but he said they anticipate significantly fewer filings compared to last year due to the substantial corrections made to the 2023 (fiscal year 2024) errors, as well as improved outreach and communication efforts. The publication of new valuations ahead of tax bill release also likely contributed to reducing the number and need for

abatements.

Following the challenges of 2023, the town contracted Patriot Properties to conduct a mini-revaluation in preparation for the upcoming town-wide revaluation. This allowed the Assessor’s Office to address the overvaluations identified last year and preview tentative valuations before finalizing them. The tentative valuations were published online and made available in print at public locations, including the Abbot

Library, Abbot Hall and the Assessors’ Office at Widger Road.

“While we did not inspect every property individually, we are confident that the vast majority of the gross 2023 overvaluation errors have been resolved,” Lederman said. “Our new assistant assessor and staff have been directed to assist taxpayers in understanding the updated valuations and, if necessary, filing abatements before the Feb. 1 deadline.”

Lederman noted that feedback from residents has been more constructive and less contentious compared to last year, with the proactive release of tentative valuations helping to minimize surprises and foster a more informed and cooperative response from taxpayers.

Lederman emphasized the importance of residents reviewing their property assessments carefully and filing for abatements if they believe their valuations are inaccurate.

“Homeowners who believe they are over-assessed should file an abatement application

by Feb. 1,” he said. “Abatement forms are available at the assessors’ office, where staff members are available to assist taxpayers and guide them through the process.”

Residents seeking more information about the abatement process or needing assistance with their applications can contact the Assessor’s Office at 781631-0236 or visit the town’s website at marbleheaad.org for guidance.

ATHLETICS & POLITICS

Moulton votes against bill in Congress to ban trans student athletes in school sports

BY LEIGH BLANDER The U.S. House of Representatives voted Jan. 14 to bar transgender women and girls from participating in school athletic programs designated for female students, with local Congressman Seth Moulton joining most Democrats in voting against the measure. In November, Moulton faced a backlash for his comments about trans student athletes.

“This is not the sort of balanced, fairness-oriented policy I’ve advocated for, and I won’t vote yes on this bill just because it is the first option that comes to the floor,” Moulton said Jan. 14..

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, prohibits federal funding to K-12 schools that have transgender students on girls sports teams.

In November, Moulton said, “Democrats spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face. I have two little girls; I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat I’m supposed

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» Try to be with other people

and confide in them as this will often reduce feelings of isolation and feeling alone with your thoughts and feelings. » Stay away from alcohol and recreational drugs as these can make depression worse. » Try to be patient and focus on the positives in life. This may help replace the negative thinking that is part of your depression. Also, these negative thoughts will go away as your depression responds to treatment. » Confiding in a friend or a family member as social support is helpful. » Try getting more exposure to sunlight by spending time outside, opening blinds or shades in the house or by sitting near a bright window.

If increasing sunlight is not

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Congressman Seth Moulton votes against a bill barring trans athletes from girls sports in schools.

to be afraid to say that.”

He went on to defend his statement in several interviews.

Last week, he said, “To be clear, I firmly believe that there should be reasonable restrictions on transgender athletes in competitive sports. This is a matter of safety and fairness for female athletes who have worked exceptionally hard to compete.

There is no denying that there are biological differences that result from being born male.

Ignoring this scientific fact and opposing any attempt at regulation is not only wrong, but it undermines what I believe

possible for you, exposure to a special light for a certain amount of time each day may help. Certain types of light therapy are best for SAD, so check with your healthcare provider for a recommendation on which one might be best for you.

With proper help and treatment, you can learn to manage and relieve symptoms of SAD this winter.

For help with evaluating your symptoms, please feel free to reach out to us at Marblehead Counseling Center as we are here to help. We can be reached at marbleheadcounseling.org or by calling at 781-631-8273. You can also go to marbleheadcares. org for more resources.

Gregg Mulford, LMHC, is the clinical supervisor at Marblehead Counseling Center.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Marblehead Cares is a column written by members of the Marblehead Mental Health Task Force.

should be a broader effort to enshrine core civil rights protections for transgender Americans.”

Moulton, who grew up in Marblehead, continued, “The problem with this Republican bill, however, is that it is too extreme; it simply goes too far.

Because it fails to distinguish between children and adults and different levels of athletics, school-aged kids who simply want to play recreational sports and build camaraderie like everybody else could be targeted by the federal government. My kids play co-ed sports today just

as I did when I was their age, and I don’t want any kids their age subjected to the invasive violations of personal privacy this bill allows.”

Moulton gave an example of why the bill is unfair.

“Under this law, a 10-year-old girl who seems ‘too tall’ or even just ‘too good’ could be targeted by officials and forced to release medical information or have her private parts inspected, which is disturbing to say the least and a slippery slope for school policy and youth athletics,” he said.

Moulton also referenced his past statements.

“While I’m a proud Democrat, I’ve stated my belief that our party has failed to come to the table in good faith to debate an issue on which the vast majority of Americans believe we are out of touch,” he said.

“We should be able to discuss regulations for trans athletes in competitive sports while still staunchly defending the rights of transgender Americans to simply exist without fear of danger or oppression. But instead, we’ve run away from the issue altogether. As a result, Republicans are in charge and continue to set the agenda with

extremist bills like this.”

His statements after the election outraged many Democrats.

Walter Horan, a member of Marblehead’s Democratic Board of Registrars, told the Current that Moulton’s comments about transgender women were “Trump-like, insulting and inflammatory.”

“Trans women are not playing soccer to bowl over little girls,” he said. “They are playing because they want to participate — they want to belong.

Arbitrarily saying that they are a threat to someone born female is simply flawed. The congressman is simply picking on one small marginalized group.”

The statewide grassroots advocacy organization MassEquality issued a statement of its own, noting that Moulton’s comments were ill-timed, coming shortly before the 25th anniversary of Transgender Day of Remembrance in Boston and as the transgender community “is grappling with both the personal and political challenges of the current moment,” including the election results and the threat posed by Project 2025.

LETTERS

Remembering Ed Bell To the editor: My story with Ed Bell goes back to the early 1970s when I was a teenager living in South Salem. The Riley family sold their home and the rumor swept the neighborhood that a celebrity family was about to move in. And in those golden days of Boston TV and Radio, Ed Bell was indeed a celebrity, albeit a humble one. But then the darnedest thing happened.

Ed, busy with career and family, almost instantly was on first-name basis with everyone in the neighborhood and city. It should be said at that time, Salem was a somewhat insular, multigeneration community

mostly divided on the many ethnicities that were still very strong, but Ed’s charm as always prevailed and he found a way to fit in. And in later years when I reconnected with Ed, I always good naturedly ribbed him about his celebrity status on Surrey Road.

Ed would go on to repeat this amazing ability to become part of a community in Danvers and then, of course, Marblehead. Perhaps it is in Marblehead that he shined brightest as he had the time in retirement to devote to his community. I would often see him in the Muffin Shop, and if he was standing in line, he would strike up a conversation with whoever would be in line with him, whether he knew them of not — perhaps a tourist who had no idea

the avuncular soft-spoken man had met national and international leaders all over the world. But he was just as interested in what the tourist had to say as any big deal politician.

I last saw Ed at the Masons/ COA Thanksgiving dinner. I spoke to him briefly. He had just got over a serious medical issue but looked good and was out and about and doing what he enjoyed most — being with people. He had shaved his trademark goatee/beard leaving just a mustache. I looked forward to seeing him again to tell him it made him look younger. It really did.

That day never came but I will always remember that young celebrity of the 1970s.

Jim Zisson Mound Road

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HAGGIS ON THE HARBOR

Burns night brings poetry, whisky to midwinter

BY WILL DOWD Inside The Landing restaurant on a frosty January evening, a distinctive ceremony unfolded as Pipe Major Jack Maclean of the North Shore Pipe Band paraded about the restaurant with the haggis (a traditional Scottish dish made from sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, which is minced and mixed with onions, oatmeal, suet, spices and seasoning) — a scene that may have been foreign to most Marbleheaders 15 years ago, but has now become a cherished midwinter tradition.

“It gets people through January,” explained Rhod Sharp, the Scottish expatriate and former BBC broadcaster who, with his wife Vicki Staveacre, brought Burns Night to Marblehead in 2010. What began as a parish hall gathering has evolved into an evening that balances centuries-old Scottish customs with modern American sensibilities.

“We had no idea what he was talking about,” recalled Sally Sands of those early days at Old North Church. “I brought my China from home. We were just kind of cobbled together. I was the one who brought in the haggis with the Piper ... we were carefully cooking it in the church kitchen at Old North. We didn’t use a caterer or anything.”

The Burns Supper tradition celebrates Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, whose life bridged art and necessity.

“He’s trying to take body and soul together the way whole groups of artists do, any which way they can,” Sharp explained, describing how Burns worked as an exciseman while creating some of Scotland’s most beloved poetry.

Professional vocalists Julianne Gearhart and Annie Burgett, both connected to Old North Church, brought Burns’ songs to life.

“The ornamentation is a style,” Gearhart explained of the technical challenges. “Once you get that right, you

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that once Marblehead’s plan is received, grant applications will be given the fair and thoughtful look they deserve.”

When asked about the potential influence of linking fire safety grants to compliance on Town Meeting’s perception and vote concerning the MBTA Communities Act, Armini acknowledged the current transitional phase.

“We are operating in a temporary space between

CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

Rhod Sharp, host of the 2025 Burns Supper at The Landing accepts the haggis from Pipe Major Jack Maclean of the North Shore Pipe Band and Chef Brayan Medina during the event Friday, Jan. 17. The celebration featured traditional Scottish music, cuisine and poetry honoring Robert Burns.

can really sink into it. The goal is always to fool the natives.”

The traditional format has been streamlined over the years.

Marblehead resident Stow Walker, a longtime attendee, remembered more formal, longer Burns Supper iterations.

“Unlike when I did the toast to the lassies and kept mine under two minutes, the night I did the life of Robert Burns, which I had made sure was less than 15 minutes,” he said. “Everybody felt they had to be witty. And so by the time I got up there, everybody’s heads were in their soup.”

Sharp’s historical commentary revealed Burns as both collector and adapter of Scottish culture in his storytelling.

“A lot of it was oral tradition,” he noted.

“And then when he writes it down, he often improves on it. He doesn’t have any hang-ups about it having to be original.”

the SJC decision and new regulations,” she said. “That’s why the governor’s office asked for a written explanation for how towns will be working toward compliance.”

The town’s proposed zoning would create three districts across 58.4 acres, allowing up to 897 multifamily housing units.

Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer has indicated the May vote timeline would enable compliance before the July deadline if passed.

Kezer declined to comment on whether withholding future fire safety grants will influence

This creative adaptation mirrors the evolution of Marblehead’s celebration itself.

“We used to have it at Old North and it pulled in a lot of Scottish expats,” Walker explained. “We had multiple constituencies coming together.”

Burgett, a 24-year-old graduate student, represents a new generation embracing the tradition.

“It’s an added element of research and learning something new,” she said. “The combination of the heritage and thinking about where we all come from, plus the beautiful poetry — it’s really interesting to have that contrast with it set to notes.”

Sharp’s address illuminated Burns’ complex life, including his work collecting taxes on whisky, a contentious issue in 18th-century Scotland.

The musical program highlighted Burns’ remarkable range.

Marblehead voters who previously rejected multifamily zoning.

“That would be a great question for residents,” he said. “We are focused on having a compliant and workable MBTA Zoning plan that fits Marblehead. The plan that was developed not only makes us compliant but also creates a plan that addresses housing needs for current Marblehead residents, such as seniors looking to downsize and stay local and first-time buyers who have no options to stay in Marblehead.”

“He was phenomenally, personally, incredibly prolific,” Sharp said. The songs performed included love lyrics, drinking songs and political commentary, demonstrating Burns’ ability to capture both personal emotion and national identity.

The celebration has found its place in Marblehead’s cultural landscape.

“When he was doing it at Old North, we had a huge crowd that would come down, quite a few British people,” Sands said.

“Rhod’s passion for Robert Burns ... we all got pulled in together.”

As Walker noted, the event has maintained its essence through various venues: “We did it at the Little Theater, like a theatrical version of it, and we’ve done it at Old North. What hasn’t changed is the faithfulness of the audience.”

The awarded fiscal year 2025 grant will fund the replacement of the department’s Vetter Airbag Rescue System on their ladder truck. The current system was purchased in 2008 and taken out of service on Aug. 1, 2024 due to age and safety concerns, having reached its usable life expectancy in accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards.

Town officials expect more clarity on the future grant situation next week at the Massachusetts Municipal Association conference in

Boston, where Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll will meet with local officials. Over 1,000 municipal and state officials are expected to attend.

The Planning Board has tentatively scheduled a March 11 hearing on the town’s zoning plan, a necessary step before the May Town Meeting vote. Because the multifamily zoning is being reconsidered within two years of rejection, state law requires Planning Board recommendation for Town Meeting to take up the measure.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

STEPPING UP

Marblehead children’s store launches relief effort for L.A. fire victims

BY WILL DOWD When Ellen Turkanis learned that friends and family in Los Angeles lost everything in the recent wildfires, the Marblehead business owner knew she had to act. Her children’s boutique, Pint Size and Up, at 41 Atlantic Ave., became a small but significant link between the East Coast community and devastated families on the West Coast. On Sunday, Turkanis shipped 18 boxes of new and gently used children’s clothing to L.A. “I needed to do something personally, and I needed to do something from the store,” Turkanis said. “We’re lucky that we live where we are. We have our own elements, but we’re lucky.”

Turkanis said the devastation in L.A. extends far beyond lost homes. Many evacuees are struggling to find temporary housing in an overwhelmed rental market, while others face challenges with displaced pets and lost documentation.

Local veterinary hospitals have stepped in to help, with some

CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

Ellen Turkanis, right, owner of Pint Size and Up, and her employee Lisa Finn, sorting donated children’s clothing at the Atlantic Avenue boutique. The store shipped 18 boxes to support families affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.

offering free boarding for pets whose families are staying in hotels that don’t accept animals.

“Some people who were out of town when it happened didn’t have the opportunity to grab important papers,” Turkanis explained. “They lost every piece of paper they own — insurance

documents, social security cards, everything you’d need to rebuild. And unless you’re going an hour or more outside the city, there’s not a lot of rental options because everyone’s looking for the same properties.”

The initiative focused on practical assistance, carefully

considering what would be most useful to recipients. While the store accepted clothing donations, it was selective about what it would ship to ensure resources were used effectively.

“They need everything — diapers, supplies,” Turkanis said.

“We’re not taking toys because

they’re very heavy to ship. We have to think about what’s practical to send.”

Tukanis said the crisis has created a complex web of challenges for L.A. residents.

Even in areas spared from direct fire damage, the disaster’s impact is felt daily.

Businesses are suffering as residents remain glued to local news coverage, while air quality concerns have forced many to stay indoors.

“People aren’t spending time outside because the air quality is bad, no matter where you are,” Turkanis said. “It’s hard to go on with your life when you have friends and neighbors that lost everything. You feel guilty going about your day, but part of you wants to support local businesses just like during COVID.” “I researched organizations and Baby2Baby really hit right to my heart,” Turkanis said.

“Anyone wanting to make a monetary donation can either bring it to the store or donate directly through their website.

The need is immediate and growing.”

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CURRENT EVENTS

Marblehead’s best bets

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

Organ concert Sunday, Jan. 26, 5-6:15 p.m.

The Our Lady Star of the Sea Concert Series kicks off its spring series with world-renowned organist Rosalind Mohnsen.

She will perform works

by Bach, Guilmant, Parker, Price, Langlais, H. Alexander Matthews and others. Discover the hidden gem that is the Star of the Sea’s organ.

Admission is free, however, if you

Rock out to True North Thursday, Jan. 23, 7-9 p.m.

Come out to The Landing Restaurant for live music in the old pub. Local band True North is performing.

Improve your emotional fitness

would like to support the arts and the concert series, a freewill offering will be taken.

Taste of the Town Wednesday, Feb. 5, 6:30- 9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25, 1 p.m.

This annual event will feature food tastings from a variety of the best restaurants across the North Shore. Sample delicious offerings from Ledger, Que Mas, The Landing, Mainstay Social, Delphine’s Kitchen, Njord Haven, G Bar, Elia Taverna, Ray Adea’s, Sala, Amores, Antique Table, Sea Salt and Three Hundred Fifty, to name a few. This year’s Taste of the Town offers an expanded selection of food, drink and entertainment, all while supporting a great cause — the temple’s

Start the new year with positivity with Shaun Zetlin of Zetlin Fitness at Abbot Library. Learn how fitness can help treat anxiety, depression, stress and trauma. Zetlin will demonstrate a new “gym bag” that offers master mantras, emotional guidance techniques, emotional triggers and a deeper understanding of someone’s “why.” 235 Pleasant St. Registration is required and limited to 40 attendants. Register at tinyurl. com/Emotional-Fitness.

programming.

Tickets start at $80. For more info and to purchase a ticket, visit emanu-el. org or contact Temple Emanu-El at 781-631-9300.

ARTS & CULTURE

Cultural Council grants to support more than a dozen local events, programs

BY LEIGH BLANDER The Marblehead Cultural Council has announced the recipients of its 2025 grants totaling $8,604. It is part of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which distributes about $7.5 million in grants each year.

“Our 11-member council enjoyed reviewing 29 broad and varied applications from members of our local arts and culture community,” said Marblehead Cultural Council President Jennifer Uhl. “We are pleased to announce that we have awarded 13 inspiration grants to enliven, enrich and deepen Marblehead’s creative arts scene throughout 2025.”

Marblehead singer Matt Arnold received $500 to present “I Remember Frank: A Celebration of Frank Sinatra — A Man and His Music” on March 8 at Star of the Sea auditorium.

Arnold said he’s grateful for MCC’s funding. “Their support, dedication and belief in the arts is a huge part of what makes Marblehead a cultural hotspot on the North Shore,” he said. “Putting on high-quality

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The Marblehead Cultural Council is funding another presentation of “100 Years of Boston Comedy” at Abbot Library.

concerts is expensive, but this grant money allows me to bring in top-tier talent and hopefully enrich the lives of those Marblehead residents who seek out live performance.”

Other grant recipients include: Brazilian-American artist Julia Cseko of Somerville is inviting Marblehead residents to share immigration stories using an Augmented Reality integration at her exhibit at Old Town Hall in Salem called “Social Fabric.”

The exhibit features a textile work inspired by dozens of immigration stories collected over the last year. The exhibit

runs through Jan. 31.

Joseph Dipoli received $500 for his project called, “The Slave Economy in Essex County and New England.” The project will explain how slavery was also a Northern institution. Location and date are to be announced.

Jordan Hamel received $500 for a poetry and spoken word workshop and performance.

The program is for new and experienced poets. Location/ date TBA Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary received $325 to present “Nature in Your Neighborhood — All About

Birds in Marblehead” at the Marblehead Neck Wildlife Sanctuary in May. Marblehead 250 received $1,500 for its two-day event in September honoring the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. Marblehead Museum and Historical Society received $1,529 for its annual Colonial Craft Fair at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion Gardens in May. Salem Sound 2000 received $1,200 to host STEAM workshops for students in grades K-5 focusing on design, biomimicry and engineering. The

Marblehead tenor Matthew Arnold will perform “I Remember Frank: A Celebration of Frank Sinatra — A Man and His Music” after receiving a Marblehead Cultural Council grant.

program will run spring through fall at Abbot Library.

SPUR received $500 to host its MLK Day of Service, which was Jan. 20. SPUR invited people to make dry soup jars for local Marblehead residents facing food insecurity. It partnered with the Marblehead Food Pantry to distribute the jars.

The Delvana Theatre Company received $300 to present its show, “Mangia, Meatballs and GRANTS, P. A8

MUSIC

Symphony by the Sea still serenading

BY LEIGH BLANDER North Shore orchestra Symphony by the Sea has many deep connections to Marblehead, with musicians, board members and countless fans here in town.

SBS, which launched in 1981, performed for years at Abbot Hall before moving to The Cabot in Beverly in 2015.

SBS President Marcia Duffy, who lives in Marblehead, has been involved with the nonprofit for about a decade.

“The part of my role that I enjoy the most is sitting at a concert and looking around at the audience and seeing a range of ages and people who are really engaged with the music,” she told the Current. “There’s a

COURTESY PHOTO / ERIC ANTONIOU

Symphony by the Sea is celebrating its 44th season.

transformative power to music that, in our chaotic world, is so welcome.”

Duffy estimates that Marleheaders make up about 40% of the symphony’s audience.

SBS and its 35-40 musicians perform four concerts a year,

with the next one coming up Sunday, Feb. 2. The program is called “A Family Affair” and features young violinist Keila Wakao and her father, Keisuke, who is the assistant principal oboist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. They’ll

be performing the music of J.S. Bach and his sons.

Marblehead professional violinist and teacher Sheila Vitale has performed with SBS for many years and will play at the upcoming concert. She has also performed with the BSO, Boston Pops and Boston Ballet.

“Symphony by the Sea has always had a very nice reputation, and it’s great that it’s so close so people don’t have to travel into Boston,” she said.

“The audience always really enjoys it.”

Duffy says SBS is lucky to have acclaimed conductor Donald Palma leading the orchestra.

“He is highly esteemed and has thousands of recordings,” she said.

Palma is also the founder of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in New York City and is a professor at New England Conservatory in Boston.

Duffy talks about the “secret sauce” at SBS, which has kept the orchestra playing for nearly half a century.

“Our programming enriches and excites people,” she said.

“And there’s an educational component, too. Palma offers free mini master classes before each concert where he weaves a compelling and interesting narrative about the music. It really adds to the value of the concert experience.”

To learn more about Symphony by the Sea or to get tickets, visit thecabot.org.

FINAL-19 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A08 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:13:10 PM

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A8 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Marblehead Current

MARBLEHEAD STORIES

Bette Hunt on growing up in town

BY GREY COLLINS The wooden floorboards cracked charmingly as Town Historian Emerita Bette Hunt navigated through the narrow halls and low ceilings of her historic Orne Street home, just a stone’s throw away from Gerry Island, Redd’s Pond, Old Burial Hill and the Old North Church.

She settled into her favorite armchair, surrounded by paintings and her famous Marbleheadthemed Christmas card illustrations, and began sharing what it was like growing up in the 1940s and ‘50s in Marblehead.

From hiding from German submarines in the 1940s to keeping her food cold in iceboxes and sledding down snow-covered hills, there were many stories to tell.

Hunt, 92, was born and raised in the shipyard area

of Marblehead and was the youngest of four siblings.

Bette’s parents were raised in Newfoundland before settling in Marblehead.

Hunt recounted how the town has grown from a small fishing town recovering from the poverty brought by the Great Depression into an affluent and bustling suburb full of Boston commuters.

“When I was growing up, it was the end of the Great Depression, and there were a lot of indicators all around town,” said Hunt.

“It has changed immensely from being very poor, to being like ‘If you’ve got a couple mil, I may be able to sell you my garage.’ My father would be whirling in his grave.”

Another change that Hunt remembers vividly is the switch from the traditional icebox to the refrigerator.

“Instead of a

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CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS

Town Historian Emerita Bette Hunt sits in her wingback chair in her historic Orne Street home, surrounded by artwork and memories of Marblehead’s past.

refrigerator, you had an ice box,” Hunt recalled. “It was this wooden thing that had a huge hunk of ice in it, and that’s what kept the things cold.”

Her family eventually made the switch to the modern refrigerator.

“Somewhere in the late ‘30s or ‘40s, my older brother felt sorry for my mother,” said Hunt.

“He scraped together some bucks and bought a refrigerator,” said Hunt.

She also vividly remembers what it was like living through the events of World War II. Although the fighting was across the Atlantic, the effects and unease of the war reached the shores of Marblehead. Widespread rationing and the constant

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threat of German U-boats are not easily forgotten.

“One thing we had growing up was blackouts,” said Hunt.

“We had to be very careful about light because there were indications of submarines off the shore. I can remember that people would even paint the top half of their headlights black.” Hunt’s father served as the town’s air raid warden, and they always kept blackout curtains and emergency supplies at the ready.

But she also remembers the good times, when there was always something fun to do.

“We would go sledding a lot,” said Hunt. “We used to get a lot of snow, and Seaside Park had some good hills for sledding. I used to play ball with my older brother.”

Hunt also recalls

MANAGEMENT DESIGN ASSOCIATES

Robert A. Erbetta

P.O. Box 44, Marblehead, MA 01945 (617) 293-8512 raerbetta@comcast.net

Help Wanted Full Time Infant/Toddler & Preschool Teachers

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Thank you to the generosity of the more than 100 business and organizations for their support in 2024!

MCC’s philosophy is that children learn best through play. Seeking enthusiastic, dedicated professionals who will engage in and uphold our mission.

A collaborative & supportive environment with the opportunity to develop teaching skills through education & training.

Your advertising with the Marblehead Current allows us to continue delivering local, independent news to every home and business in Marblehead each week.

Please contact gail@marbleheadchildrenscenter.com 781-631-1954 For info about salary + benefits (including free childcare for full time employees).

We are excited to continue working with each of you in 2025!

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BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

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Marblehead’s tight-knit culture when everyone seemed to know each other. “Growing up you couldn’t get away with a thing, because women didn’t work outside the home,” Hunt said. “So they were always around, and if you were acting up somewhere she’d know, and she would let your mother know, and you were in deep doo-doo.”

During this time, Marbleheaders were cautious of outsiders. She remembers how these feelings peaked when the idea of building a railway in Marblehead was proposed. The railroad and station were eventually approved and built, but not before lots of debate.

“It took a while for the railroad to come to Marblehead, and there was a lot of talk in our meetings about how they were gonna go downtown and see someone they don’t know,” said Hunt.

“People were very cautious of strangers, and we were a very insulated community.”

Hunt attended art school and later served as Marblehead’s town historian for 13 years, leading popular walking tours.

“I loved showing and telling people things about Marblehead that they didn’t already know,” said Hunt.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Hunt is also known for her illustrations of snow-covered Marblehead landmarks on Christmas cards.

“People really loved them,” said Hunt.

“Trouble was, I created a monster. They’d always ask me what I was going to do next year.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Hunt encourages Marbleheaders to be understanding of their differences.

“What’s bothering me a lot is the way people treat each other,” said Hunt. “I want you to be friendly with people and realize that everybody has their own peculiarities and that’s what makes us all wonderful.”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Grants From P. A8

Murder” at the Jacobi Community Center. Date is TBD. The JCC of the North Shore received $300 for its Seacoast Singers, a senior choir open to Marblehead, Swampscott, Salem and Lynn residents.

The Seacoast Singers meet once a week and will give concerts this spring. Stay tuned for dates.

Jon Waterman received $300 for his four-part series “Live Music Making History.” The series uses original songs and arrangements to get people excited about exploring history. The programs will happen at the King Hooper Mansion. Date is TBD. Nick Zaino received $250 for his presentation “The ‘80s Comedy Boom: A Boston Comedy History.”

Date and time TBD. For more information, visit the marbleheadculturalcouncil. org.

FINAL-17 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A09 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:13:13 PM

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 22, 2025 A9

Sports ON THE MAT

Black & Blue wrestlers take home first Gionet title since 2018

BY JOE MCCONNELL

COURTESY PHOTO

The Marblehead/Swampscott Black & Blue wrestling team proudly stands with the Daniel Gionet Memorial Tournament championship trophy during the annual event in Pelham, New Hampshire on Jan. 11. It was the first time the program has won this tournament since 2018. Team members, who participated in the New Hampshire invitational, were, from left, standing, assistant coach Chris Thomas, Colin Hart, Ilan Hod, Kenny Drolette, Eva Goodman, Alejandro Haven, Devin DiBarri, Xavier Tejeda, Phineas Jakious, Clive Connolly, Gary Podstrelov, Andrew Delisle and assistant coach Jeff Hinshaw. First row, Mason Hinshaw, Justin Gonzalez, head coach Mike Stamison, Liam O’Brien and Jaymes Carey.

The Marblehead/Swampscott Black & Blue wrestling team is still elated over its performance at the annual Daniel Gionet Memorial Tournament in Pelham, New Hampshire, on Saturday, Jan. 11. And it’s for good reason, because it was the program’s first invitational tournament since January of 2018, when that team also came out on top in the Gionet Tournament.

“We put our best 14 out there, and they all came through big time,” said a proud coach Mike Stamison.

At 106 pounds, sophomore Jaymes Carey won two matches via quick pin falls, before taking

on a Westerly, Rhode Island, wrestler in the finals, and he was able to bottle up his Ocean State foe, winning via a 19-3 technical fall.

At 113 pounds, sophomore Eva Goodman chipped in with another win via pin over her Woonsocket, Rhode Island, counterpart, going 1-2 on the day.

At 126 pounds, freshman Ilan Hod is getting so close to a win. “He’s improving in every match,” said Stamison.

At 132 pounds, junior captain Liam O’Brien continued his stellar season after winning his third Gionet championship.

O’Brien had a bye in the first WRESTLING, P. A10

ON ICE

New beginnings Boys JV coach Jon Strzempek steps up to save Magicians girls co-op hockey team season as its interim head coach

BY JOE MCCONNELL When Hadley Woodfin stepped down as coach of the Magicians girls co-op hockey team (2-5) –— made up of players from five communities (Marblehead, Swampscott, Hamilton-Wenham, Salem and Gloucester) — last month, Jon Strzempek stepped up to ensure that the games will go on. Strzempek took over the team on Dec. 20 as its interim head coach. The Magicians had already lost their first two games of the season to Leominster (5-2) and Newburyport (5-3), but since then they are 2-3, including back-to-back triumphs over Concord-Carlisle (7-5) and Gloucester (3-1) on Jan. 11 and 13.

“I took on the role as head coach on Dec. 20 in an interim capacity to help make sure that the games and practices would continue,” said Strzempek. “As that progressed, I really enjoyed working with this team, because their energy is just infectious. I

was not a part of Hadley’s staff.

I started this year as an assistant coach on the (Marblehead) junior varsity boys hockey team, and chose to step up to help the team on an interim basis, which has quickly turned into coaching this team for the rest of the season to make it official. My assistant is Megan Parthum, who was previously on Hadley’s staff, so there would be some continuity there.

Megan and I have been splitting responsibilities pretty equally.”

Strzempek started playing hockey when he was 3-years-old in the Westfield Learn to Skate program. He continued to play hockey through high school, before going the club hockey route. Once his playing career ended, he got into refereeing.

“I hope to instill the importance of hard work and effort in these girls to achieve success,” said Strzempek, “as well as a philosophy of doing the little things correctly that will

COURTESY PHOTOS / ANNALISA RENO

Marblehead High girls co-op hockey sophomore goalie Scarlet Lee of Gloucester guards the net to make it difficult on the opposition to get one by her during a recent game.

Marblehead High girls co-op hockey eighth grader Madilyn Reno of Marblehead patiently awaits the faceoff during a recent game.

HOCKEY, P. A11

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT

ON TRACK

BY JOE MCCONNELL

MHS girls remain undefeated; boys win three in a row

Marblehead Current athlete profile: Charlotte Roszell NAME: Charlotte Roszell AGE: 17 FAMILY: Parents: Jennifer and Matthew; brother: Clark, 14 SCHOOL YEAR: Senior SPORTS YOU PLAY: Track FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY: Track: I never really played a sport before high school, and I just fell in love with running and the team atmosphere.

MOST MEMORABLE MEET FOR YOU, AND WHY: The most memorable meet for me was when our relay team (Sadie Halpern, Ava Machado, Ledaisha Williams and Roszell) made it to the All-States during the indoor season in 2024, (where) we placed third in the 4x200 and sixth in the

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Magicians top powerhouse Masco in indoor showdown

BY JOE MCCONNELL

4x400 throughout the entire state. We almost qualified for nationals. It was a really big moment for me and my relay team. I was really proud of how far we had come, and I couldn’t have been happier.

PLANS FOR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: I’m committed to go to the University of Vermont.

MAJOR: Undecided DO YOU WANT TO PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE: Yes, I have been recruited to run track up there.

DESIRED CAREER: Sports psychologist

Both the Marblehead High boys (4-2) and girls (5-0-1) indoor track teams won their matchups against Masco, one of the best teams in the Northeastern Conference, in Gloucester on Jan.9. The boys took down the Chieftains in a close meet, 45-41, while the girls topped their worthy foes, 48-38.

Since then, the Marblehead girls swept Danvers (55-22) and Swampscott (51-26) in a tri-meet on Jan. 15. The boys did the same, beating Swampscott (48-29) and Danvers (56-21).

In the meet against Masco, the boys overtook the visitors with victories in the two-mile and high jump. The girls had solid performances across the board to secure their relatively easy triumph.

third. Ava Machado (4-6) was fourth.

Boys high jump

Freshman Clark Roszell (5-8, tying his own personal best) leapt to victory in the high jump.

Sophomore Owen Coyne (5-6, personal best) was second.

Freshman Noah Smerka (5-4) came in fourth, and classmate Noah Vanden Heuvel (5-2) was sixth.

Girls shotput COURTESY PHOTO / CHARLIE ROSZELL

Marblehead High sophomore Ryan Corrigan leaps into the long jump pit against Masco in Gloucester.

Girls high jump

Paige Tredwell (5-0) won the high jump in convincing fashion.

Elise Burchfield (4-8) finished

Hannah O’Brien (25-2) took second. Naomi Goodwin (238, 10-inch personal best) was right behind her in third place.

Campbell Crane had a fantastic set of throws of 21-0, 21-1 and 21-0, an encouraging sign for the TRACK, P. A11

FINAL-17 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A10 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:13:15 PM

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A10 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Marblehead Current

ROUNDUP

Magicians weekly sports notebook from the court and the ice

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Gibson finished up with four points.

Basketball Magicians bounce back against Danvers

Close wins becoming habit-forming for After dropping a 63-79 decision Moran’s crew

to Swampscott, the Marblehead High boys basketball team (4-4) bounced back last Friday night to beat visiting Danvers, 68-57 to even its record after eight games.

The Magicians were losing by one at halftime, 31-30.

“We jumped out to a fast start to take a big early lead, but Danvers (settled down) and eventually wiped out the deficit to lead by six, 20-14 after one quarter,” said coach Mike Giardi.

“But we then jumped out hard and heavy in the third to regain the lead, 50-44.”

Senior co-captain Sam Thompson led all scorers with 19 points. His classmate and fellow captain Matt Sherf chipped in with 14, right behind sophomore guard Finn Baron, who ended up with 16. Adam Loughlin netted eight, while Cam Quigley chipped in with seven. Declan

The girls basketball team (7-2) won two more games last week to extend its winning streak to four. Of the seven wins, they won four of them by five points or less. Their most recent victories were against non-league host Cristo Rey of Boston, 53-20, and Danvers, also on the road last Friday night, 31-30.

The Magicians were leading by 11 late in the Danvers game, but the Falcons kept on chipping away. The home team had a chance to win it with 11 seconds left on the clock, but excellent box-out defense, followed by a clutch rebound from junior Tess Andriano helped seal the deal for coach Paul Moran’s crew.

“We have done a good job in close games, and that has a lot to do with doing all of the little things right like rebounding,

Wrestling

Delisle added a win for the team via pin, while going 1-2.

At 150 pounds, senior captain Clive Connolly was gritty, pinning the same opponent for the second time this season, before losing two tight matches, while also grinding it out with an injury.

At 157 pounds, senior captain Mason Hinshaw again rose to the occasion, pinning his way through the tournament to join O’Brien as a three-time Gionet champion. Hinshaw initially pinned opponents from Deering, Maine and West Warwick to reach the finals, where he faced off against a Pelham wrestler, who was able to get out to a 12-5 lead over Mason, before he roared back to also pin him to secure the overall victory.

At 165 pounds, senior Alejandro Haven went 3-2 to place fourth. Haven won his first two matches, over his Pentucket and Westerly counterparts, before losing in the semis to

From P. A9

round, before pinning his quarterfinal and semifinal opponents. He then faced off against the 14th ranked wrestler in all of New England, and was able to beat the Woonsocket native in a close 4-3 decision to secure the title in his weight class.

At 138 pounds, senior Gary Podstrelov had himself a solid day, and as a first-year senior at a premier weight class it was everything that the coaching staff would have wanted from him. Podstrelov went 3-2, with two wins coming via pinfall. “(Podstrelov) continues to improve in every match,” said Stamison.

At 144 pounds, the Magicians had two entrants, and both helped secure wins for the team.

Junior Devin DiBarri went 2-2 with a pin and a nail-biting win, 16-15. Sophomore Andrew

passing, shooting and communicating, when it counts the most on the court,” said Moran. “We have fought through a lot of adversity to get through to this point right now.”

Andriano was the team’s leading scorer against Danvers with 14 points. Maddie Forbes was next in line with five.

Freshman Lucy McDonald was close behind with four. Samara Dosch sank three free throws.

Sophie Bacon nailed a three in the third quarter. Greta Sachs chipped in with two.

“Samara and Lucy did a great job in the Danvers game overcoming pressure in order to bring the ball up effectively,” said Moran. “Lucy, in particular, was phenomenal. She’s definitely not playing like a freshman anymore.”

The boys hockey team (9-11) shutout their third straight opponent last Wednesday night

(Jan. 15), when they pinned a 2-0 loss on non-league host Methuen. The Headers have been off since then, but they will lace up the skates again Jan. 22 against Masco in Middleton, starting at 7:55 p.m.

After what turned out to be a minor blip over New Year’s when they lost to Medfield and tied Hopkinton, it appears the Headers are back on track.

Coach Mark Marfione got them straighten out right away, telling them to concentrate on those little details again that carried them to the state championship last year, and five more wins to begin this season.

Captains Crew Monaco and Kyle Hart factored into the first goal of the game against Methuen last week. Monaco lit the lamp after receiving a pass from his senior classmate.

Junior Avin Rodovsky notched the insurance tally assisted by London McDonald. Of course, senior captain Leo Burdge did his part to secure another shutout win, the team’s fifth of

the season. Burdge was credited with 19 saves to frustrate yet another opponent.

“Crew Monaco had a great effort against Methuen,” said Marfione. “We had a few defensemen out sick for this game, and so Crew stepped back to play defense throughout the second half of the game. He never played there before, but he wanted to help the team out.

It showed great leadership from one of our captains.

“I think we are playing better, but we still have a lot of work to do to tighten things up in the defensive zone, and we also need to work on our conditioning,” added the veteran coach. “But we have a good group, and they all know the work that we need to put in to get us through the next couple of months.”

As of Jan. 17, the Headers are ranked third in the Division 3 power rankings, only trailing Nauset (8-0-1), the team that the Marblehead boys beat last year for the state title at the TD Garden, and Medfield (10-0-1).

his Pelham counterpart. He then dropped down to the consolation rounds, where he pinned a Woonsocket wrestler, before running into the Westerly wrestler again, but this time his opponent quickly gained the upper hand to best Haven, 14-7.

At 175 pounds, junior Phineas Jakious wrestled the most, six to be exact, to place fourth with a 4-2 record. After a pin in the first round, followed by a loss via technical fall, Phineas dropped down to the consolation round, where he pulled off three straight wins, all via pin fall, to make it to the finals, where he lost by a pin.

At 190 pounds, junior captain Colin Hart was also credited with several team points, three by pinfall to get to the finals, where he faced off against Pelham’s Billy Nicolls. Nicolls is the real deal, according to Stamison, and there was no shame to lose to him, 3-1, which still got him the silver medal.

At 215 pounds, Xavier Tejeda gained more experience. He, like Ilan, is getting so close, said Stamison. “He had a tough draw in the tournament, where he took on a Rhode Island champion from Woonsocket. He also lost to a Pentucket wrestler, who dropped down from 285.

But through it all, the X-man is poised for a great rest of the season,” added the veteran coach.

At 285 pounds, senior captain Justin Gonzalez quite literally brought the house down with pins on opponents from Pelham and Pentucket to get to the finals, where he faced a Tyngsborough/Dracut wrestler.

“It’s important to note that the team’s lead had dwindled down to just 4.5 points, and anything other than a win from Gonzo was not an option. And Gonzo didn’t let us down, he delivered,” said Stamison.

“After a scoreless first period, we won the toss and elected to

go down, and Gonzo was able to get away to go up, 1-0. In the third period, Merwin elected to go down, and was able to get away to tie up the match. After a scoreless minute in sudden death overtime, we won the toss and elected to go down in the second overtime. Gonzo was able to escape, and kept on wrestling hard to win, 6-2 to earn his first gold medal to go along with securing the team title for us. Prior to overtime, the kids sat around the mat, and were banging on it so hard that the referees had to tell them to stop. It provided an electric atmosphere for the final match.”

The Black & Blue finished with 178.5 first place team points, edging out sectional foe Tyngsborough/Dracut (170), Pentucket/Newburyport (156) and host Pelham (133.5).

“Everyone fought and no one quit,” summarized Stamison.

“That’s what it takes to win a tournament.”

Another win, another shutout for the Hockey Headers

MHS VARSITY SPORTS SCHEDULE Wednesday, Jan. 22 4:10 p.m., girls hockey, Newton North, John Ryan Arena, Watertown 6:15 p.m., swimming/diving, Swampscott, JCC of the North Shore, Marblehead 7:55 p.m., boys hockey, Masconomet, Valley Forum, Haverhill Thursday, Jan. 23 4:30 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, Saugus, Gloucester High School 6:30 p.m., wrestling, Beverly, Beverly High 6:30 p.m., swimming/diving,

Danvers, Lynch-van Otterloo YMCA 7 p.m., gymnastics, multiple schools, Lynch-van Otterloo YMCA 7 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Ski Ward Ski Area, Shrewsbury Friday, Jan. 24 6 p.m., swimming/diving, NEC Diving Championships, Peabody-Lynnfield YMCA 7 p.m., girls basketball, Beverly, Marblehead High 7 p.m., boys basketball, Beverly, Beverly High

The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Essex Probate and Family Court 36 Federal Street Salem, MA 01970 Docket No. ES25P0056PM CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF GUARDIAN FOR INCAPACITATED PERSON PURSUANT TO G.L. C. 190B, §5-304 In the matter of: Christine Soltys of Marblehead, MA RESPONDENT Alleged Incapacitated Person To the named Respondent and all other interested persons, a petition has been filed by Spooner Guardianship Services of Auburn, MA in the above captioned matter alleging that Christine Soltys is in need of a Guardian and requesting that Spooner Guardianship Services of Auburn, MA (or some other suitable person) be appointed as Guardian to serve Without Surety on the bond.

The petition asks the court to determine that the Respondent is incapacitated, that the appointment of a Guardian is necessary, that the proposed Guardian is appropriate. The petition is on file with this court and may contain a request for certain specific authority.

You have the right to object to this proceeding. If you wish to do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance at this court on or before 10:00 A.M. on the return date of 02/12/2025. This day is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline date by which you have to file the written appearance if you object to the petition. If you fail to file the written appearance by the return date, action may be taken in this matter without further notice to you.

In addition to filing the written appearance, you or your attorney must file a written affidavit stating the specific facts and grounds of your objection within 30 days after the return date.

IMPORTANT NOTICE The outcome of this proceeding may limit or completely take away the above-named person’s right to make decisions about personal affairs or financial affairs or both. The above-named person has the right to ask for a lawyer. Anyone may make this request on behalf of the above-named person. If the above-named person cannot afford a lawyer, one may be appointed at State expense.

WITNESS, Hon. Frances M. Giordano, First Justice of this Court.

Date: January 15, 2025 Pamela C. O’Brien, Register of Probate

Saturday, Jan. 25 8 a.m., wrestling, multiple schools, Triton Regional High 10 a.m., girls and boys indoor track, MSTCA State Coaches Invitational, Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury 2:30 p.m., boys hockey, Winthrop, Larsen Arena, Winthrop 3 p.m., swimming/diving, NEC League, YMCA Sterling Center, Beverly 6 p.m., girls hockey, Newburyport, Salem State University Monday, Jan. 27 7 p.m., girls basketball, Masconomet, Masconomet Regional High

7 p.m., boys basketball, Masconomet, Marblehead High Wednesday, Jan. 29 4:30 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, multiple schools, Marblehead High 6 p.m., girls hockey, Masconomet, Valley Forum, Haverhill 6:30 p.m., girls basketball, KIPP Academy, KIPP Academy, Lynn 6:30 p.m., wrestling, Gloucester, Swampscott High 7:30 p.m., boys hockey, Beverly, Salem State University Thursday, Jan. 30 6:30 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton 6:30 p.m., girls basketball,

INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE Docket No. ES25P0084EA Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Estate of Leslie Alan Kraning Also Known As: Alan Kraning Date of Death: March 30, 2024 Essex Division To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Mary Catherine Huddleson of Marblehead, MA A Will has been admitted to informal probate.

Mary Catherine Huddleson of Marblehead, MA has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond.

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

Salem, Salem High 7 p.m., boys basketball, Salem, Marblehead High Friday, Jan. 31 6:30 p.m., gymnastics, multiple schools, Winthrop Gymnastics Academy Saturday, Feb. 1 7:30 a.m., wrestling, NEC League, Triton Regional High 5:30 p.m., girls hockey, Beverly, Salem State University Sunday, Feb. 2 10:30 a.m., boys hockey, Peabody, McVann/O’Keefe Memorial Rink, Peabody Monday, Feb. 3 6 p.m., boys basketball, Malden, Malden High 7 p.m., girls hockey, Leominster, Salem State University Tuesday, Feb. 4 6 p.m., wrestling, Winchester, Winchester High 7 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Ski Ward Ski Area, Shrewsbury 7 p.m., girls basketball, Peabody, Marblehead High gym Wednesday, Feb. 5 4 p.m., girls hockey, Gloucester, Talbot Rink, Gloucester 7 p.m., boys basketball, Peabody, Peabody

Veterans Memorial High 7:30 p.m., boys hockey, Winthrop, Salem State University Thursday, Feb. 6 5 p.m., wrestling, Essex Tech, Essex Tech 6:30 p.m., alpine skiing, TBA, Blue Hills Ski Area, Canton 6:30 p.m., girls basketball, Notre Dame Academy, Notre Dame Academy, Hingham Friday, Feb. 7 7 p.m., boys basketball, Salem Academy Charter, Marblehead High gym Saturday, Feb. 8 7:30 a.m., wrestling, Whittier, Whittier Regional Vocational Tech, Haverhill 1 p.m., girls hockey, Winthrop, Larsen Arena, Winthrop 2:30 p.m., boys hockey, Danvers, Salem State University 6 p.m., gymnastics, NEC League, YMCA Sterling Center, Beverly Sunday, Feb. 9 10:30 a.m., girls hockey, Ursuline Academy, Salem State University 3:30 p.m., girls and boys indoor track, NEC League, Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury

FINAL-18 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A11 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:13:16 PM

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 22, 2025 A11

Hockey From P. A9

eventually allow for creativity on the ice.”

In a short period of time, Strzempek sees the team coming into its own. “The girls are playing successful team hockey, and we have also had some incredible performances from our goalie Scarlet Lee.” Swampscott’s Samantha Demady, and Marblehead’s Ava Laham and Paige Waldman are the team’s three captains.

In the win over ConcordCarlisle, the Magicians started out dominating early on to lead after one period, 5-1. But then, they took their foot off the gas in the second period, according to Strzempek, and the Patriots took advantage of it by scoring three goals.

Both teams came out hot in the third period, with C-C netting another goal to trim the deficit to one, 5-4. They then pulled their goalie late in the game, but the Magicians scored an empty net goal to extend the lead back up to two, 6-4. The Patriots, with the goalie still out of the net, notched another lamplighter, but the Marblehead co-op registered another empty net goal to account for the final 7-5 score.

Nola Conley (1), Layla Dulac (1), Emma Johnson (2), Madilyn Reno (1), Viola Fazio (1) and Waldman (1) notched the goals for the Magicians. Vera Conley (1), Emma Johnston (1), Ava Baughn (1), Reno (3), Fazio (1) and Dulac (1) were credited with the assists. Lee came up with 30 saves to help preserve the win.

Lara Dolan, Reno and Johnson stood out in this win, according to Strzempek.

Track From P. A9

rest of the season, according to coach Danny Plunkett.

Boys shotput

Masco has a strong throwing squad, with all four of their varsity throwers reaching between 36 and 38 feet, and at least one of their JV throwers also came within the same range in past meets. But the Marblehead boys have also shown that they could throw at that level. However, in this meet, their top two throwers were unable to compete, while others were not at 100%, and as a result the Magicians got swept.

But Dylan Gilmore (36-3, fourinch personal best) was a bright spot for the locals, according to Plunkett, who added that Gilmore has the potential to crack 40-feet this season.

JV girls long jump

Elise Burchfield (17-5.5) finished second, and Tredwell (17-4) third. Zoe Dwyer (16-8), making her debut in this event, came in fourth, and Machado (16-1) ended up fifth.

JV boys long jump

Ryan Corrigan (19-6.5) went to the head of the class, while Noah Jackson (18-5) came in third.

Ethan Harwood (18-4.5, personal best) ended up fourth. Alexander Humphreys (18-2.5) jumped a mile behind the board, but still landed in the Top 5 in fifth place.

Oscar Galante (17-9) was right behind him in sixth place. Owen Coyne (17-6) and Nate Jendrysik (17-5) accounted for seventh and eighth place finishes.

Girls 55-meter hurdles

Tredwell (9.01) and Elise Burchfield (9.40), in typical fashion, topped the ticket. Cate Cole (10.95, personal best) broke the 11-second barrier to complete the sweep.

Boys 55-meter hurdles Two of the top conference hurdlers – sophomore Noah

COURTESY PHOTO / ANNALISA RENO

Marblehead High girls co-op hockey junior captain Paige Waldman of Marblehead skates the puck out of her own end during a recent game.

The Gloucester game started out with the Fishermen on the attack, but Marblehead settled in after 10 minutes to even the tempo of the game. Each team had plenty of chances to score in the opening stanza.

The play remained evenly matched in the second, with lots of chances by both teams all over the ice. The puck finally found the back of the net for Marblehead on a rebound shot

by Waldman.

The Fishermen tied the game at one on the power play early on in the third. Waldman then scored the game-winner, her second of the game, before Reno added the necessary insurance tally.

Gloucester had a few more chances before the end of the game, but a mix of blocked shots and big saves by Lee sealed Marblehead’s second win of the season.

Reno (1), Johnson (2), Dulac

(1), Fazio (1) and Demady (1) accounted for the assists on the three scores. Lee was once again sharp in net, making 40 saves to secure the triumph. Lee, Johnson, Waldman and Reno were the Marblehead standouts against Gloucester, according to Strzempek.

The Magicians then lost to Masco, 3-1 on Jan. 15. The game started out in Marblehead’s defensive zone. After a couple of big saves, a loose puck bounced up and over Lee’s head, before trickling into the net.

Minutes later and a dump-in from just outside the Marblehead blue line caught the inside post to account for Masco’s second marker of the game. The Magicians got a spark before the end of the first period on a goal by Fazio to trim the deficit in half.

A high-energy second period, which featured several near misses by Marblehead,

ultimately ended up scoreless.

But Masco extended its lead in the third period to seal the deal.

Dolan setup Fazio’s lamplighter.

Lee came up with 39 saves to keep things close on the scoreboard. Vera Conley, Annie Wales, Baugh and Lee were the game’s standouts, according to Strzempek.

Summarizing his first couple of weeks behind the Marblehead bench, Jon Strzempek said, “Concord-Carlisle started out very well, but after taking our foot off the gas between periods, we found it hard to get moving in the right direction as a team to finish out that game. It was definitely a learning opportunity on knowing that the game is not won before it is over. I was happy to escape with a two-goal win, but would have liked to see the team play a complete three periods.

“The Gloucester game was our best performance of the year, with our goalie playing incredibly well, while the team rallied together to challenge a quality Gloucester opponent.

Our blocked shots were the story of this game with 14 across the board.

“The Masco game was a tough pill to swallow. A couple of early goals scored against us, in ways that we were not used to, really took the wind out of our sails. It seemed like we couldn’t buy a bounce, despite plenty of chances and near misses. But you have to credit the opposing goalie, and also no puck luck on our part.

“The goal for this season is to make the playoffs, while continuing to develop the exceptional young talent on this roster,” added Strzempek. “We continue to see improvement

Jackson (8.38, personal best) and Masco’s Colin Moran (8.37) – faced off against each other, with Jackson settling for a close second. Nate Jendrysik (9.17, personal best) came in third.

Elian Colon (9.60) was fifth.

Girls mile

Marri O’Connell (5:29.64) once again led the way for Marblehead with another win in the mile to stay undefeated.

Sarah Munroe’s (5:52.65, seven second personal best) excellent season continued with an awesome third place finish, said coach Will Herlihy. “Sarah shows

The 2024-25 Magicians girls co-op hockey roster includes sophomore Scarlet Lee (Gloucester), sophomore Julissa Telemaco (Salem), sophomore Emilia Russo (Marblehead), freshman Annie Wales (Marblehead), junior Reece Fabrizio (Hamilton-Wenham), eighth grader Madilyn Reno (Marblehead), junior Nola Conley (Swampscott), freshman Vera Conley (Swampscott), eighth grader Emma Johnson (Marblehead), senior Ava Laham (Marblehead), sophomore Ella Graham (HamiltonWenham), eighth grader Kiley Lewis (Marblehead), freshman Layla Dulac (Marblehead), junior Paige Waldman (Marblehead), eighth grader Shannon Hurley (Marblehead), seventh grader Jane Waldman (Marblehead), junior Lara Dolan (Marblehead), freshman Adeline Massey (Marblehead), freshman Viola Fazio (HamiltonWenham), senior Samantha Demady (Swampscott), freshman Grace Robinson (Swampscott), junior Ava Baughn (Hamilton-Wenham), interim head coach Jon Strzempek and assistant coach Megan Parthum.

from a team that’s hungry for more success. This team has a wonderful blend of strength and young talent that’s eager to learn, plus a veteran leadership group that’s eager to share what they know from past games over the years.”

Meet qualifying standard. Earlier this season, he also qualified for the state divisional meet in the 600,” said Raimo.

Felix Regnault (3:12.86) ended up scoring a point for his teammates to account for a third-place finish.

Girls 55-meter dash

Machado (7.47), who has trained like an elite sprinter this season both on the track and in the weight room, won rather impressively against the Chieftains, according to coach Nolan Raimo. “(Her training regimen) means her times are being slowed down by the work that she is putting in, but in spite of all that she’s on track to run very, very fast in her peak window from late January through February,” added the veteran head coach.

Zoe Dwyor (8.16) continues her impressive rookie campaign with a third-place finish. Lidia Jasmine Tiedra (8.20) stepped up to varsity at the last second due to an injury, and ran her best time of the season to take fourth place.

Audrey Faverman led Marblehead’s JV squad with an impressive 8.68 personal best time. Naomi Goodwin (8.77, personal best) and Camryn O’Brien (8.85) also ran good races, according to Raimo.

Boys 55-meter dash Senior captain Jacob Bobowski (6.72, personal best) and Corrigan (6.74, personal best), only a sophomore, ran stride for stride to capture the top two spots. Ethan Harwood (7.28) finished sixth.

Galante (7.38, personal best), Coyne (7.39, personal best), Ari Gold, returning from injury, (7.45) and Dylan Glass (7.51) all ran well in the JV heat.

TEAM ROSTER

Girls two mile

COURTESY PHOTO / CHARLIE ROSZELL

Marblehead High indoor track senior captain Ava Machado clears the high jump bar against Masco in Gloucester on Jan. 9.

tremendous grit in her races.

Despite minimal experience, she battles the opposition from start to finish, regardless of distance,” he added.

Ruby Assa (6:23.72) ended up fourth overall.

Boys mile

The Marblehead boys completed the sweep, with Henrik Adams (4:52.34) and Will Cruikshank (4:52.59, threesecond personal best) running together up front to top the ticket. Will Cerrutti (5:04.32) picked up a much needed third place finish. “The nine points scored by these three were huge in helping the team clinch the win before the relays,” said Herlihy.

Girls 300

Gabby Hendy (47.02) led the way for Marblehead with a third-place finish to secure an important point. Freshmen Phoebe Fontela-Tuttle (48.43) and Sophia Patterson (48.67) stepped up to the varsity, and proceeded to run personal bests to finish fourth and fifth.

Boys 300

Slater Johnson (40.20, fourth, personal best) narrowly lost to the Masco runners. Eben Weed (42.89) finished fifth. Jack Franklin (43.43) was sixth. Raimo also wants to give a shoutout to James Pulido (45.66) and Cole Barbeau (46.05) for their

personal best runs in this event.

Girls 600

This was an absolute battle from start to finish. All three Marblehead girls ran very well, and scored some big points for the team, said Herlihy. Juliet Birchfield (1:57.01) finished second after a strong final lap kick. Maggie Miller (1:57.63) was right on her heels to come in third. Norah Walsh (2:00.17) chipped in with a sixth-place finish.

Boys 600

Jesslyn Roemer (13:22.04) finished second. Evelina Beletsky (13:47.53) turned in an outstanding performance to go under 14 minutes in her first attempt to come in third.

“Evelina put in a ton of work during the cross-country season, and it’s great to see that work paying off on the track,” said Herlihy. Thea Shaw (15:21.10) rounded out the Marblehead runners with a sixth-place finish.

Boys two mile

Nate Assa (10:18.48) once again broke the tape first. Jonah Potach (10:48.76, personal best) stayed in stride with a Masco runner for the majority of the race, but came up short in the closing 400 to end up third.

Chris Shirtcliff (12:17.17) secured sixth place.

Girls 4x400

Marc Grazado (1:34.40), making his debut in this event, turned in an impressive second place finish. Nicolas Regnault (1:40.73, six second personal best) was credited with a third-place finish.

Veteran Sean Heenan (1:42.36, tying his personal best time) finished fourth.

Machado, Maggie Miller, Sarah Munroe and O’Connell (4:27.79) breezed to victory.

Juliet Burchfield, Norah Walsh, Liv Carlson and Gabby Hendy (4:50.88) were second. Both squads were voluntarily put together, and their efforts should produce dividends later on in the season, according to Raimo.

Girls 1,000

Boys 4x400

Evie Becker (3:31.36, personal best) collected a secondplace finish. Avery Wysor (3:53.37) and Ivana Nguyen (3:57.50) continued to show improvement, ending up fourth and fifth.

Boys 1,000

Jacob Szalewicz (2:47.47) once again picked up a win to stay undefeated. “Despite it being a very controlled effort, Jacob easily cruised under the Division 3 State Championship

Szalewicz, Johnson, Adams and Eben Weed (3:54.59) ran a quality race to finish second, but it didn’t matter, because they already had the meet won.

“Pulido, Cole Barbeau, Cruikshank and Regnault (4:13.52) championed the B-squad, and like the quartets on the girls team, Pulido and Barbeau assembled their foursome at the last second.

It was a combined squad of sprinters and distance runners working together,” said Raimo.

FINAL-17 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A12 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:13:16 PM

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A12 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Marblehead Current

OBITUARIES

and Jonathan William Weller and Jeannie Clark Weller, all of Amherst, New Hampshire.

Her nephews are Jonathan

William Weller Jr. and Jennifer Alexander Weller of Loveland, Colorado, and Allston Eugene Weller III and Kathleen Soller Weller of Acworth, Georgia. Her nieces are Kristin Lenore Weller of Gales Ferry, Connecticut, and Julie Weller Scott and her husband James Edward Scott of Amherst, New Hampshire.

Her great-nieces are Victoria Paradise, Jacqueline Weller, Katherine Weller and Madeline Weller, and her great-nephews are Forrest Paradise and Jason Scott.

Denis R. Prince, her partner of many years, passed away in October 2015.

Over the years, Irma lived in

Marblehead, Salem and Beverly, and Merrimack, Litchfield and Milford, New Hampshire.

She worked at several jobs, including the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead and Delta Education in Nashua, New Hampshire.

Irma and Denis had two wellloved bichon frisé dogs, Scruffy and Chopin. Irma and Denis loved to travel, and destinations included Florida, Colorado, Seattle, Montana, the Badlands and especially to the ocean. She also enjoyed going to craft fairs with her friend Terry, spending time with Terry and her husband Andrew, and visiting and doing crafts with her friend Sharon.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. in the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford, New Hampshire. Street parking is suggested in front of the funeral home; funeral home staff will assist.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Share of Milford, New Hampshire, or the National Wildlife Federation.

Arrangements are in the care of the Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford, NH 03055. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit smith-heald.com for more information.

than 80 years. In 1982, he was one of the early travelers to China joining Mayor Kevin White and a delegation of prominent Bostonians on a cultural exchange and sister cities mission. He also traveled to Japan.

He and his family enjoyed weekends at Bretton Woods where they had a second home for skiing in the winter and golf in the summer. They entertained family and friends there

extensively. He was extremely interested in his children’s education and served three terms on the Danvers School Committee. He was chairman during Andrea’s senior year and honored to sign and present her diploma along with those of her classmates.

Prior to becoming AP chief of bureau for Southern New England, he spent eight years at the AP in Washington, DC, where he was director of television membership.

Prior to his retirement, he moved to Marblehead and became active in local affairs.

He served as chairman of the Marblehead Council on Aging and treasurer of Marblehead Community Access and Media. He hosted a panel show on MHTV called “Up for Discussion.” He was a trustee of the Boston Yacht Club where he also served on the race committee. In 2019, he was named Marblehead’s Rey

Moulton Person of the Year.

During his career, Bell won several awards including The Edward R. Murrow National Award for broadcast reporting and The American Bar Association silver gavel certificate for reporting on the courts. He was a member of the Academy of New England Journalists where he won the prestigious Yankee Quill Award for his contributions to local journalism.

Bell began his career as a reporter for the Salem News. He was news director of WBZ-AM where he led coverage of the Boston school desegregation in 1974. He was news director of WHDH-AM and managing editor of WHDH-TV. He co-chaired the broadcast pool for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Boston. He was a 32nd degree Mason, and member of Philanthropic Lodge.

He was a Shriner and Rotarian.

He was a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest award a Rotary Club

can give. He was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church where he served as a Eucharistic visitor and delegate to the 2018 Diocesan Convention.

Born in Peabody, he was the son of the late Stuart and Helen (Spence) Bell. He was the brother of Marcia (Bell) Spinale and the late Nancy L. Bell. He is survived by his wife, Barbara. His daughter, Andrea and son-in-law, Michael Bergeron of Andover.

Their daughter, Jenniefer, was killed by a drunk driver in 1987.

There will be a wake on Sunday, Jan. 26, 1-5 p.m., at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody. The funeral will be Monday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m., at St. Andrew’s Church, 135 Lafayette St., Marblehead, with burial following at Walnut Grove Cemetery in Danvers.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marblehead Current and Friends of the Marblehead Council on Aging.

relationship building and forging connections between colleagues and community members that enriched both sides immensely.

In reflecting on why he helped launch the Current three years ago, Ed cited the “equal portions of hope, optimism and a deep and abiding love for the town” that drove him to fill a void in local news coverage.

“We adopted the nonprofit model because as hundreds of newspapers shut down across the country, it has become apparent that the for-profit model is not sustainable,” he noted. Then he went about recruiting others — staffers, business leaders, advertisers, donors — to the cause.

In doing so, he talked a lot.

But he listened a lot, too. With Ed, listening could be even more persuasive than talking.

“Ed had a way of making you feel heard. He didn’t just dispense advice,” wrote Current Community Editor Will Dowd last week. “When I found myself overthinking situations or struggling with the challenges that come with community journalism, Ed had an uncanny ability to help me find perspective.”

Ed, he added, “taught me that the best mentors don’t just shape your career; they help shape your character. He did both, and Marblehead — and all of us who knew him — are better for having had him in our lives.”

Consulting Editor Kris Olson put it succinctly. “There would

be no Current without Ed Bell.

His connections brought some immensely talented people into our orbit, and his credibility was essential in getting them to say ‘yes’ to contributing to our efforts in some way, shape or form.”

He continued, “It’s actually a little daunting thinking about moving forward in this effort without him, but I also know that we can’t let him down.”

Community access television was dear to Ed’s heart as well.

He was a founding MHTV board member, treasurer, and, from 2012-23, host of the current affairs show “Up for Discussion.” In December, Ed attended a ceremony naming the station’s main studio in his honor.

In a video tribute, former WCVB anchor Susan Wornick, whom Ed first hired at WBZ radio, called him “not only a remarkable journalist” but “an amazing man.”

Amazing, and amazingly humble for all he accomplished.

Ed delighted in pointing out how his career had come full circle: from delivering newspapers in his youth to delivering papers around town as a grizzled octogenarian. That was Ed in a nutshell: dedicated, industrious, visionary, deadpan funny. He will long be missed, and dearly so. And while Ed may not have personally delivered the paper you’re now holding, rest assured his fingerprints are all over it.

Irma C. Weller, 74 Irma Christine Weller passed away on Thursday, Jan. 9, in New Hampshire, her home for many years. She was the beloved daughter of the late Allston Eugene Weller and Irma Hawkins Weller of Marblehead.

Born in Salem, on Sept. 22, 1950, she attended Marblehead schools and graduated from Marblehead High School in 1964.

She is survived by her loving brothers and their wives, Allston Eugene Weller Jr. (Allie) and Mary Perotta Weller (Toni),

Ed Bell, 84 Ed Bell, an award-winning journalist, and community volunteer died this week of complications from heart disease and diabetes. He was 84. He was the husband of Barbara (Michaud) Bell and father of Andrea (Bell) Bergeron and the late Jennifer Ann Bell. He had a distinguished 50-year career in newspapers, broadcasting and wire service where he led coverage of some of the most memorable stories of the late 20th century. He co-founded and was co-chair of the Marblehead News Group, Inc. which publishes the weekly Marblehead Current. He was chairman of the editorial board.

He retired as chief of bureau for the Associated Press in Boston, responsible for coverage of the 2004 Democratic National Convention and the first Red Sox World Series win in more

Bell

From P. A1 Maddie’s Sail Loft, a favorite haunt of theirs — prompted an outpouring of tributes to a remarkable man. One whose journalism career and involvement in town affairs (see Obituaries, Page 12) was both impressive and impressively long, extending well beyond when he’d earned himself a more relaxed retirement.

In his heyday, Ed organized and ran major news organizations in Boston and Washington, D.C. He started out in print, then smoothly transitioned into radio and television, adapting to whatever the new medium required.

Along the way he mentored hundreds of young journalists.

Some became household-name famous. Virtually all credited Ed with teaching them the fundamentals. His tool kit came with a bonus feature, too: a moral compass incorporating the highest standards of rigor and fairness.

“Ed was my journalism professor at Boston University in the late ‘80s and I was lucky enough to continue learning from him as co-founders of the Current,” said Editor Leigh Blander. “His keen news sense and journalistic integrity will continue to influence this, and many other newsrooms.”

Ed once said his own career had been “marked by baptisms by fire,” and that accurately

COURTESY PHOTO

Ed Bell plays guitar for his young daughters, Jennifer and Andrea, in the 1970s.

described a slew of major stories for which he directed coverage, from Boston’s school busing crisis and the 9/11 terrorist attacks to a Red Sox championship that broke an 86-year “curse.”

When history was being made over the past half-century, Ed had a front-row seat — and a mandate to record it, swiftly and accurately.

He interviewed political

heavyweights like Ted Kennedy and Kevin White, traded jokes with Tip O’Neill, bent President George H.W. Bush’s ear and once sat beside another president, Ronald Reagan, at a White House luncheon, much to their mutual surprise. The Gipper meets The Quipper.

As a newsman Ed had a nose for great reporting and deft storytelling. As an engaged citizen he had a knack for

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FINAL-17 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A13 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:13:17 PM

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, January 22, 2025 A13

Headlight

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2024 - 2025 Issue

www.mhsheadlight.com

Senior Show Arabella Pelekoudas, Sophomore

Senior Show. The spirited event that the students of Marblehead High School enjoy as they watch the senior class dazzle the audience. All proceeds go to the senior class to assist in funding an assortment of projects such as the senior prom, class gifts, and other class expenses. This year, we had the hilarious hosts James Achterhof and Gavin Lepler, who led us through roughly ten acts filled with laughs and gasps. From the ever anticipated Ex’s Musical Chairs, to the lovely a cappella performances of Marblehead High School’s Luminescence and Jewel Tones, the audience was left starry-eyed. When this writer collected attendees’ thoughts on the show, it was dis-

January 22, 2025

Join the MHS Photography Club Grey Collins, Assistant Editor, Junior

covered that the consensus for the favorite act was Scarlett Kindle’s “Teachers as Cheese” presentation. During that time, everyone was in stitches as Mx. K was dubbed spray cheese, Mr. Scoglio as string cheese, and Mr. Wilkins as burrata. All in all, a fabulous show!

Finally, it was time for the ultimate event…the pie eating contest. The event was a first for the Senior Show, and it resulted in its nine contestants eating pie “the good ol’ pie-eating contest way.”

Within three minutes, we crowned our winner with Dante Genovesi taking home the pie hat crown.

When asked to comment on his victory he simply said, “Do I have regrets? Absolutely! But I 100% would do it all again.” So would we, Dante, so would we.

If you are interested in photography, want to share your photos with other students, take pictures around town, and compete in contests, the Marblehead High School Photography Club is the place for you.

The founders of the Photography Club, Colin Hart, Dylan Whitman, and I, have had a shared passion for photography for a while, and we have spent a lot of time practicing around town, in nature, and at sporting events over the last year. We each found that photography is a rewarding hobby, and we started Instagram accounts to share our photos with our peers. We wanted to share our passion and knowledge for the skill with other students at the high school.

Eventually, we had the idea of starting a club for MHS photographers to share their photos, compete in photography contests, take photos around town, and support photography in other communities. The photography courses at Marblehead High School are popular, so we were sure that lots of people would be interested in the club. Ms. Bordieri, who teaches photography, was happy to help us organize it

and set everything up. We filled out the club application and established the Google Classroom.

After school on Thursday, January 9th, about twenty juniors and sophomores packed into the photography room for the first ever meeting of the MHS Photography Club. We shared our photos with each other, discussed the purpose of the club, and made plans for the rest of the year. Throughout the rest of the year, we will organize school-wide photography contests, trips around town to take pictures, and fundraisers to support communities in need.

The first Photography Club contest will be held on Thursday, January 23rd. If you are interested in participating, join the Google Classroom and submit your photos. The Google Classroom code is erbpx46.

If you have taken a photography class at MHS and want to get more involved in photography, don’t hesitate to join the Google Classroom and show up to our meetings. Even if you haven’t taken a class and you want to learn more about photography, you should still stop by and join in on the fun.

No vacation in sight!

Evan Eisen, Junior, and William Pellicotti, Junior

After the teachers' strike left a bitter aftertaste to close out 2024, we can hopefully look forward to 2025 to bring us some much needed joy, right?

Well, it depends on who you ask, but many MHS students, staff, and parents have voiced frustrations at having February and April vacations being axed off the school calendar.

Due to missing 11 school days in November during the teachers' strike, the new district calendar will now only have President's Day in February and a four day weekend in April. Besides having a few other days off, students at Marblehead schools will not have any real extended breaks until June.

On top of all this, we will also have two days added onto the end of the year with the school year now ending on June 24. While we can all agree that education is very important to our success, however, the failure of the school district to reach a negotiated agreement with the teachers for over three weeks has left a huge mark within the community. Many families are having to cancel their already

planned trips for February and April breaks. Some students are already planning to miss some of the make-up days anyway. So, what's the point of having them if a large number of students will not be showing up anyway?

All of this could have been avoided if both the School Committee and the Teachers' Union had come to an agreement together before letting it get to the point of the strike. It should also be noted that it’s not as if the teachers' strike was a sudden occurrence; it was long in the making because of the stubbornness of both parties. The students now must be the ones to suffer the consequences.

School vacations aren’t just extended breaks where we get to kick back and relax. They are also a chance for us to spend time with our families. For many students, they are an important time to prepare for college applications and study for their SATs or ACTs. Over a long break, we can form new long-lasting memories and explore new places. It's unfortunate that we now are no longer afforded that opportunity just in order to meet a state guideline of having 180 school days.

Join Headlight!

Headlight Staff 2024 - 2025 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Benji Boyd

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Grey Collins, Kathleen Hanson, Georgia Marshall

FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins

REPORTERS: Nathaniel Carper-Young, Anna Baughman, Anya Kane, Evan Eisen, Niko King, William Pelliciotti, Peter Sullivan, Nasira Warab, Grace Wolverton, Madalyn Gelb, Teagan Freedman, Samuel Jendrysik, Nicholas Jones, Arabella Pelekoudas

FINAL-17 CP_MBHC_20250122_1_A14 Mon, Jan 20, 2025 3:13:18 PM

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A14 Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Marblehead Current

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781-956-2278 • DeonHomeImprovement@gmail.com

Now Open - Decorative Arts

Specializing in 20th Century Fine Art from Picasso to Pizarro Visit our new gallery located at 100 Pleasant Street, Marblehead (Door across from the Blue Canoe)

Open Tuesday through Sunday 11am to 8pm 857.292.1984 www.DecorativeartsofBoston.com

A snowy owl in flight during a North Shore snowfall at a local observation spot.

The owl’s broad wings and slow, deliberate flight make it well-suited for hunting in open areas.

COURTESY PHOTO / RICK CUZNER

6 Anderson Street Marblehead, MA 781-451-7787

Marblehead Food Pantry Needs Donations!

The Marblehead Food Pantry operates with donations of food and cash by the town's churches, synagogues, schools, clubs, organizations, businesses, and individuals. The pantry provides food on a weekly basis to any resident of Marblehead who needs its service To donate: Drop off at Masonic Lodge at 62 Pleasant St. Marblehead.

Every Tuesday from 9 -11 AM Or please call 781-631-5335 to make other arrangements.

We need donations of any non-perishable food items, paper goods, and toiletries. marbleheadfoodpantry.org info@marbleheadfoodpantry.org

& GI FT SHOP EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUE FUSION OF FINE ART, ENERGY, & WELLNESS.

VISIT THE WINTER STAINED GLASS SCULPTURE GARDEN AND RELAX IN THE INDOOR, ONE-OFA-KIND, DIVINELY DESIGNED ENERGY WELLNESS PYRAMIDS.

BOOK YOUR VISIT TODAY! WWW.MARBLEHEADSCULPTURES.COM

WINTER HOURS

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY BOOK ONLINE OR CALL

781-521-4870

122 B GREEN STREET, MARBLEHEAD WWW.MARBLEHEADSCULPTURES.COM E-MAIL: INFO@MARBLEHEADSCULPTURES.COM

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW