02.11.2026 - Volume 4, Issue 12

IN THIS ISSUE

SWIMMING

SHIPWRECK

POLICE LOG

Magician girls take third in North sectional

Remembering mariners lost at sea 50 years ago

Toking teen menaces taco shop

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PAID

MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25

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NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

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FEBRUARY 11, 2026

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VOLUME 4, ISSUE NO. 12

FIRST WAVE 1

Another positive response from the state as the town seeks 3A zoning compliance. Page 1.

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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG

Honoring the legacy of awardwinning newsman and community volunteer Ed Bell. Page 3

to prepare 3 How the perfect bone

broth this winter. Food 101 is on page 5.

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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT

came down to 4 Ita battle of the

twins at the MCCPS spelling bee. Page 11.

your valentine 5 Treat to live music and dancing right here in town. Page 12.

Five facts from this week’s Marblehead Current.

HOUSING

State gives Marblehead another green light on road to 3A compliance

BY LEIGH BLANDER After reviewing Marblehead’s updated zoning plan to earn compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, the state has notified town leaders that it “did not identify any items that conflict with the requirements of the regulations.

“This is a very positive first step for the town of Marblehead to finally get 3A behind us,” said Dan Fox, chair of the Select Board. “I look forward to sharing

the compliance model with the town through information sessions over the coming month or so. I believe the work has been done to address the concerns with our previous plan, and I am hopeful we can pass this at town meeting in May.” The new plan re-zones the Tedesco Country Club for multifamily housing and also includes Broughton Road.

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities last month

identified six “technical” issues with Marblehead’s new plan.

Fox, Planning Board member Marc Lieberman and Brendan Callahan, director of community development and planning, worked on resolving those issues.

MBTA Communities Act multifamily zoning has been a hot-button issue in Marblehead for three years. A different compliance plan, which included rezoning on Pleasant Street and Tioga Way, was first rejected at

Town Meeting 2024, approved at Town Meeting last year and then overturned at a July referendum.

The Feb. 5 communication does not guarantee that the EOHLC will approve Marblehead’s plan.

“Please note that this preadoption review is limited to the specific issues identified at this stage of review and is based on materials provided by the town of Marblehead,” the letter from Caroline “Chris” Kluchman, undersecretary of EOHLC’s

OH SNOW

Winter wallop prompts second request to dump snow in harbor

Livable Communities Division, reads. “It does not constitute a representation that resolution of the identified issues would result in a compliant zoning district.

EOHLC encourages the town to review its existing zoning carefully to make sure there are no provisions that would affect the proposed overlay zoning district.”

The Planning Board was expected to discuss Marblehead’s 3A proposal at its meeting Feb. 10.

EDUCATION

School budget brings layoffs

Superintendent urges advocacy

BY LEIGH BLANDER

CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS

John, Stacey and Greg Barne dig their car out of a deep snowdrift on the side of Pond Street on Saturday.

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead residents have been digging out from the snowiest winter in a decade as town officials scramble to find places to put it all.

About a foot fell last weekend, on top of the more than 21 inches that dropped Jan. 24-25. Another few inches were expected Tuesday night, with the possibility of another storm next weekend.

Department of Public Works crews have been working to keep roads clear, with priority given to ensuring emergency vehicles can get through.

Many sidewalks remain piled high with snow, making walking around town difficult.

DPW Supervisor Amy McHugh told the Current on Monday that she expects to seek emergency permission to dump snow in the harbor for a second time.

“Snow removal will require another emergency vote,” McHugh said. “I will be working with the Conservation Commission and Select

Residents snowblow and shovel on High Street Saturday morning.

Board to schedule the removal.”

The Select Board approved an emergency declaration Jan. 26 allowing snow to be dumped in the harbor for three nights. The action also requires approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

State regulations allow communities to dump snow at designated land sites, but Marblehead’s potential locations are near freshwater wetlands and cannot be used, McHugh said.

Superintendent John Robidoux presented his level-funded fiscal 2027 budget to the School Committee Thursday night, proposing 14.75 full-time staff cuts. He had a dire warning if Marblehead doesn’t invest more in its schools.

“Continuing down the current financial path, our ability to enhance teaching and learning, increase academic rigor and provide appropriate support to students and staff will not be possible, and our educational environments will be decimated,” Robidoux said.

Asked whether the School Committee would request a property tax override to better fund the district, Chair Al Williams said, “That’s to be determined.”

The town’s Finance Committee instructed the district to level-fund its FY27 budget at $49,120,285, despite $2.5 million in rising costs and contractual increases.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling released an initial round of proposed cuts and later added more to close the gap.

Among the staff reductions are one elementary school teacher, one Veterans School teacher, three high school teachers, a special education teacher at Village School, one maintenance staff member and one human resources assistant position.

In addition to staff cuts, Pfifferling tapped revolving funds — including those for kindergarten and special education — and level-funded supplies, professional development and technology.

“This equates to significant staffing funds and operational efficiencies that place constraints on our ability to provide highquality, rigorous education to our students,” Robidoux said.

SNOW, P. 13 SCHOOLS, P. 7

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2 Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Marblehead Current

HEALTH

Underage drinking key concern in town’s wellness survey

NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

CONTRIBUTORS

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Board of Health members, left to right, Dr. Amanda Ritvo, Dr. Tom Massaro and Tom McMahon.

social media platforms.

Another member, Tom McMahon, proposed giving voice to people with personal experiences related to underage drinking. He said he had contacted individuals willing to share their stories, possibly in writing.

Next, Coyle will convene agebased focus groups to collect qualitative data on community priorities. The board will recommend participants, with Coyle making final selections.

Sessions will last 90 to 120 minutes. Information collected will be anonymous, and primary data will remain confidential.

Interested residents should contact the Board of Health.

A failure to communicate?

After viewing a video released nine months ago by District Attorney Paul F. Tucker addressing social hosting liability, Massaro questioned whether it had been shared with the community or shown in schools.

After contacting Superintendent John Robidoux and Marblehead High School Principal Michele L. Carlson, Massaro learned neither had been aware of the video.

In the video, Tucker states that “if someone, an adult or a

juvenile, provides, procures or serves alcohol or allows alcohol to be served on premises of their control, there is criminal and civil liability… We’ve seen too many cases where somebody uses alcohol in what they think is a controlled environment, and either have some type of injury, an accident, sometimes fatal, or they leave the party, and make a fateful and terrible decision to drive.”

Massaro said there has been a “failure to communicate” among officials who could help address social hosting and underage substance use.

To address the gap, Massaro said he spoke with Tucker and Police Chief Dennis King and remains optimistic they are “moving toward a better place” than where they began.

King agreed to invite board members to future meetings with Tucker.

McMahon said it is necessary to include King and Tucker in future discussions to “deal with the facts.” He also urged law enforcement to engage directly with parents whose homes are frequently used for social hosting.

“That would go a long way. I bet it would never happen again…I don’t know where the line is

where we take this seriously,” McMahon said.

Transfer Station news

The board approved McMahon’s proposal allowing Marblehead employees who live outside town to purchase a sticker at full price for beach access and use of the lower level of the Transfer Station.

McMahon said the program could serve as a “perk” for employees while generating revenue to help ease budget pressures.

With the town’s 10-year trash contract nearing its end, Director of Public Health Andrew Petty said automation and workforce reductions represent the “cheapest way to go” amid financial challenges.

Petty proposed replacing the second worker on garbage trucks with automated vehicles equipped with mechanical arms. The plan would also provide households with 65-gallon trash and recycling bins featuring personalized QR codes.

Petty is still deciding between three trash contractors moving forward. The new contract is expected to increase by about $1 million.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Koch named to USA 500 Clubs

Bruins PJ Drive Collection

Donate children’s pajamas to the 19th annual Boston Bruins PJ Drive at Abbot Public Library.

The library will be collecting pajamas in its front lobby through Saturday, March 14. Last year, people donated 55 pairs of PJs. The library’s goal this year is 100.

Save the Glover

Save the Glover announced that two recent fundraising events held in late IN BRIEF, P. 8

Lizzie Assa Stephen Bach Linda Bassett Virginia Buckingham Julie Flynn Laurie Fullerton James (Seamus) Hourihan Dr. Tom Massaro Christine McCarriston Maggie Mulvihill Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Emily Promise Chris Stevens FREELANCE REPORTERS

Grey Collins Luca Tedesco Akanksha Goyal Bella Travaglini

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gene Arnould Brian Birke Cheryl Byrne Bob Peck Donna Rice Mark Schwartz Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD

Brian Birke Peter Fallon Kris Olson Bob 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 Current P.O. Box 102 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.

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead resident Katherine Koch has been named the membership development director at USA 500 Clubs.

Joe Chatham, founder of USA 500 Clubs, said Koch’s experience and communityfirst mindset make her a natural fit for the COURTESY PHOTO organization.

Marblehead resident “Katherine Katherine Koch understands has been named the membership how development businesses director at USA 500 grow through Clubs. relationships,” Chatham said. “Her experience leading a Chamber of Commerce and her genuine passion for helping people connect make her a great addition to our team. We’re thrilled to welcome her.”

USA 500 Clubs connects business leaders through curated networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration, growth and lasting professional relationships.

CHAIR AND PRESIDENT

Bob Peck

BY ALEKA KROITZSH At its Feb. 5 meeting, Marblehead’s Board of Health focused on education and closer coordination with schools and local officials to address social hosting, after a new community survey found overwhelming concern about teen substance use.

Chair Dr. Thomas Massaro presented results from a recent survey completed by 15% of town residents. An average of 86% of participants across all age groups reported moderate or high concern about teen substance use.

In response to the findings — which were submitted before social hosting became a major public issue — Massaro said the board’s role will focus on prevention and education.

“It’s too important for us not to try every way we can to get the largest number of people committed to what we all agree on,” he said.

The board contracted a team from UMass Boston, led by Dr. Caitlin Coyle, to design and process the survey as part of its Create A Healthier Marblehead initiative.

The board plans to use the data to guide decisions about needed programs and to document and measure their effectiveness. In addition to teen substance use, respondents identified bullying in schools and loneliness among older residents as major concerns.

Given the town’s budget constraints, Massaro said CAHM will need to build solutions that are “least expensive.”

Members emphasized the importance of engaging young residents, noting that fewer than 2% of people ages 18 to 30 responded to the survey. Board member Dr. Amanda Ritvo suggested reaching them through

NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

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To get involved, visit www. marbleheadCurrent.org/volunteer.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Save the Glover raised more than $10,000 in January to help preserve Gen. John Glover’s farmhouse.

The Elderact Club provided more than 100 free hand-knit hats and scarves.

REACT

We’re standing by to listen to your ideas. Please drop us a line and let us know what you would like to see in your community newspaper. Send your thoughts to info@marbleheadnews.org.

IN MEMORIAM

Ed Bell, co-founder, co-chair (2022-2025)

Help keep the Current coming by scanning this QR code.

Thank you!

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 11, 2026 3

JOURNALISM

A legacy to celebrate: A night to remember Ed Bell Co-hosted by Susan Wornick, Andrea Bell Bergeron

BY LEIGH BLANDER Friends and colleagues of Ed Bell will gather from 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 5, at the Boston Yacht Club to honor his legacy.

Bell was an award-winning journalist and devoted community volunteer who built a distinguished 50-year career in newspapers, broadcasting and wire services, leading coverage of some of the most memorable stories of the late 20th century.

He co-founded and served as co-chair of Marblehead News Group Inc., which publishes the weekly Marblehead Current, and chaired its editorial board.

Co-hosted by award-winning journalist and television host Susan Wornick and Bell’s daughter, Andrea Bell Bergeron,

Ed Bell was an award-winning journalist and community volunteer.

Ed Bell mentored broadcast journalist and Boston favorite Susan Wornick. They remained friends for decades.

the evening will feature community recognition awards reflecting Bell’s values: Outstanding Student Journalist: Grey Collins

Community Service: Teri McDonough Philanthropic Community Leadership: The Marblehead Philanthropic Lodge (the

COURTESY PHOTOS

Masons) Bell retired as chief of bureau for The Associated Press in Boston, where he oversaw coverage of the 2004 Democratic National Convention and the Red Sox’s first World Series championship in 86 years.

In 1982, he joined thenBoston Mayor Kevin White and a delegation of prominent Bostonians on a cultural exchange and sister cities mission to China. He also traveled to Japan.

Bell often said the Current represented his legacy.

The celebration is a collaborative effort involving representatives from many organizations Bell supported, including: Meredith Reardon, Marblehead Council on Aging Jessica Barnett, Doug Hill,

Bob Peck and David Vigneron, Marblehead Current Francie King, Marblehead Harbor Rotary Tim Doane and Donald Doliber, Marblehead Philanthropic Lodge Chris Connelly, MHTV The evening will include a tribute video produced by James Maroney and live and silent auctions conducted by Gene Arnould.

Tickets are $50 and include light refreshments. A cash bar will be available. Proceeds will benefit the Marblehead Current’s newsroom.

Tickets are available at https:// bit.ly/4kr9bYk. Sponsorship opportunities are available at $250, $500, $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500.

For more information, email info@marbleheadnews.org.

Outstanding student journalist: Grey Collins Current reporter and photographer Grey Collins joined the newsroom in May 2024, when he was a Marblehead High School sophomore working on the student newspaper.

He initially volunteered as a photographer, a role that quickly expanded to include reporting.

To call Collins a talented photojournalist would be an understatement.

His photographs — many of which have appeared on the Current’s front page — are consistently compelling and thoughtfully composed.

He has earned numerous photography honors, including: » Winner of the 2024 Marblehead Festival of Arts Photography People’s Choice Award and an honorable mention » Best of Show in the youth category at the 2024 Essex Heritage Foundation Photography Show » Honorable mentions from the Griffin Museum Student Alliance » A Regional Gold Key Award from the

MHS senior Grey Collins will be honored as an outstanding student journalist.

National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards » Juried inclusion in the Marblehead Arts Association’s national “Variations” exhibition and the 2024 and 2025 Marblehead Festival of Arts photography exhibits » Artist member of the Marblehead Arts Association Grey exhibited 25 of his news and nature photographs in a month-long solo show at the Marblehead Arts

Family Owned 30+ Years, North Shore Same great family, new family member ownership

CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS

Grey Collins captured this moment when Marblehead’s contentious, 11-day teacher strike came to an end.

Association last August and September. He also served as a panelist at the Marblehead Current’s “Capturing the Moment: The Art of Photojournalism” discussion in October 2025.

The Current quickly discovered that Collins also has strong reporting

instincts. He has written numerous enterprise news articles and is always willing to chase down a story. He has become an integral part of the newsroom.

Outside of journalism, Collins is deeply involved in his school and community.

He is a co-founder and co-president of the

Want to know more about Marblehead Rotary?

Marblehead High School Photography Club, which he helped establish in January 2025 and grow to more than 100 members.

He teaches photography skills and leads photo walks around town.

He is also the co-founder and president of the Marblehead High School chapter of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society, where he helped establish the chapter, raise funds, and organize volunteer activities, food drives and guest speakers.

Collins created and

produced the “Marblehead Stories” biography series, interviewing residents about their lives, the town’s history and Marblehead’s impact on their journeys, including senior citizens, historians and public officials.

In 2025, Collins was selected to represent Marblehead High School at Massachusetts Student Government Day, where he researched legislation and participated in mock debate on the House floor.

He has since committed to attend Tufts University.

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4 Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

Ordinary days, extraordinary times This past weekend, as the Super Bowl kicked off, many of us were in our own huddles — in living rooms filled with wings, pizza, people shouting at the TV, and others shushing during commercials. But for many of us, it felt different this year.

Not because of what was happening on the field — but because of everything happening off it. Because when the world feels like it’s on fire, everything feels different.

We’ve all seen the videos: children used as bait, terrified and crying as cosplaying tough guys force them into black SUVs; American citizens gunned down by agents of their own government, violent clashes in our streets, and footage that feels like it’s from a dystopian movie, not the streets of Minneapolis or Portland, Maine. We watch the reels on our phones every night.

We can put our phones down, but we can’t escape the images seared in our brains.

One does not have to be a parent of a child to be heartbroken by what they see — anyone with empathy and compassion for fellow human beings has felt some measure of pain and sadness and sorrow and grief and rage.

The anxiety you feel while you’re making your kids’ lunches or taking out the trash or staring at your growing list of unanswered emails? We feel it, too. If you have found yourself crying while folding the laundry or waiting for your kids at pickup? We have, too.

Maybe you’re part of one of the communities feeling targeted right now — immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals — or anyone whose identity suddenly feels politicized or unsafe. Maybe you walk around in disbelief that the country and institutions you have long admired and trusted have become embarrassing and dishonest. Maybe you’ve had conversations with friends about what you’re going to do when you see injustice on your street (some here already have) or knocking on your front door.

We’re here to say you’re not alone. We see you.

Sometimes, the rage comes out of nowhere. And you force yourself back to your life — watching football, grocery shopping, driving. Sometimes you’re overwhelmed with heartache, but you smile through it so your 5-year-old doesn’t know how you’re feeling. It feels wrong, but at that moment you don’t have a choice.

You have to live your life. And we think that’s OK. It doesn’t mean you don’t care.

We care deeply about our families and friends, our neighbors, our co-workers and those we see in need of help. Of course, there will always be those who are hateful, indifferent or intolerant. Marblehead is not immune. But that is not how we see our town. The Marblehead we know is a place that welcomes strangers, celebrates diversity, protects the vulnerable and fights with passion for what is just.

Sometimes, the anxiety and trauma feel like too much.

Nevertheless, we persist in meeting our obligations, in fulfilling our roles and in showing up for the moments — and the people — that matter. We think that’s not only OK; it’s vital.

Give yourself permission to look away for a while, laugh at what’s funny, spend a night with the people you love and let the outside world grow a little quieter for a while. Author and educator Helen Keller reminds us, “Joy is the holy fire that keeps our purpose warm and our intelligence aglow.” In moments like this, that fire matters more than ever.

Moments like the Super Bowl, whether you care about football or not, create rare collective pauses. Our kids still need homework help and dinner, our friends need a laugh and our families need us to be present. That doesn’t mean we forget everything else — but it reminds us our greatest impact is closest to home.

We’ve seen this care expressed publicly, too. In recent weeks, Marbleheaders have shown up in force at gatherings like the No Kings and ICE Out rallies — standing in solidarity, lending their voices and making clear where they stand. The emotions driving those rallies are not confined to one generation. They ripple outward — from older residents to younger ones, from conversations at kitchen tables to questions from children who are paying closer attention than we might sometimes realize.

There are also other ways to respond. Supporting local organizations that serve vulnerable communities — here on the North Shore and beyond — offers a way to turn grief into care, and anger into something constructive.

In quiet conversations, in checking on each other, in the way we might speak a little more gently, we know we’re not alone in how we’re feeling and what we’re thinking. In Marblehead, that shared sense of caring has always meant something. At our best, we are a town that looks out for one another. That is the community the Current believes in, and the one we continue to build together.

Moments like this remind us of what matters most: being present in our daily lives. Hold those you love close to you. Remember that many of us are carrying this weight together. And when the moment calls for courage — show up.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

A valentine to a long marriage

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM All apologies to Hallmark but my husband David and I don’t exchange Valentine’s Day cards anymore. We didn’t make a conscious or even neglectful decision to stop doing so – no, “Sorry honey I forgot this year” or “these commercialized holidays are stupid” commentary underscored our reasoning. We had no reason at all, as far as I know. And if you wake up to pink paper hearts on February 14 th , I’m neither judging nor jealous.

It’s totally great to be wooed that way. I just thought I’d share what “woo” looks like after more than three decades of marriage. And it starts with an extremely romantic conversation about sleep measurement.

“How did you sleep last night honey?” I typically say, after shutting off the alarm, one eye barely open.

Followed by, “How many times were you up?” David inevitably inquires along the same lines, and we converse for several minutes about the scintillating topic. Lacking in devotion, you say? I disagree. Who else loves you so much that they want to know whether you reached “deep sleep” for the required amount of time “crucial for physical restoration, repairing tissues, boosting immunity, and consolidating memories,” as my AI health bot insists we must.

A longtime spouse, that’s who.

What else is Valentine worthy though not memorialized on a card? Forget about the heartache of lost love that a lengthy marriage avoids, guess what else will never be truly lost? Our eyeglasses and iPhones.

In the morning, the sleep conversation is followed by the covers being unceremoniously ripped off the bed and one or both of us on our hands and knees peering under the bedframe looking for David’s glasses. In the evening, the roles are reversed as he looks everywhere I tell him my glasses must be so I can take my contacts out. In each case, morning and evening, we hold each other’s eyewear triumphantly aloft, no less a conquering hero than some knight on a steed.

Similarly, our next loving ritual involves a deceptively simple question, “Will you call my phone?” Whether left under the newspaper on the bedside table or by the bathroom sink, we are not without access to apps so long as one of us can call the other and hunt like a truffle-sniffing boar for the muffled ring tone, or, by god, for the distant hint of vibration offered because someone HAS THEIR RINGER OFF. Speaking of newspapers — I wasn’t but it is

very common in a long marriage to say something completely out of context and expect the other person to know exactly what you are talking about - newspaper reading would be fraught if not for the loving lived experience of sharing sections. “Let me scan Metro for the headlines,” says he. “Don’t miss the obituary on that cool person” says she. “Did anyone die in Peabody?” asks he.

“What time is low tide?” asks she. “Where did the Sports section go?” demands he. “It’s right in front of you!” scoffs she. And in this manner, the day’s morning news is consumed. In the evening, when reunited for dinner, David often poses this question: “Any news since the Sunday morning papers?” Even if it’s not Sunday. Which I never point out. In our early pre-marriage and young marriage days, we both used to love watching “This Week with David Brinkley” on Sunday morning. Brinkley always opened the show with breaking news using almost that exact language.

Understanding and answering what is meant by an otherwise oddball question, without questioning it, is Valentine’s worthy for sure.

Let’s discuss that topical Valentine’s Day issue of forgiving cheating. “I didn’t mean to!” I protest to David’s sigh of disappointment. “Of course you did,” he laments. Discovering and sharing a streaming show we know we will both love is one of life’s great pleasures.

Two of our favorites were “The Diplomat” and “Madame Secretary.” And maybe, on one or two or ten occasions, when David was out at night teaching, I may have gone ahead one or two or (in the case of Tea Leoni and Tim Daly’s utterly addictive love story amidst geopolitical maneuvering) ten episodes. But I confessed! Right away! And pledged to never let it happen again. And when it does, I know David will forgive me because he lov…. Okay, actually because if he doesn’t he’ll never get to watch a streaming show again because he does not know how to use the new clicker. An edge on wielding technology is the new love language. Or something like that.

Could any of the above scenarios be adequately captured on a greeting card? No, but they are captured in a life by this couple who knows how lucky we are, on Valentine’s Day and every day.

Virginia Buckingham is a former president of the Marblehead Current board of directors, a frequent commentator on WCVB’s On the Record and author of “On My Watch A Memoir.” She is working on a second memoir, “As This Mountain” and writes a biweekly column for the Current.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Restoring order To the editor: Since June, after several turbulent years in Marblehead’s school governance, something remarkable has happened… quietly. Our current School Committee has been doing the steady, unglamorous work of restoring order. It’s not flashy, and it certainly won’t make headlines, but it matters.

Subcommittees are meeting regularly again, minutes are being produced, and recordings are being posted to the committee’s YouTube channel. New iterations of the SC newsletters are thorough and informative, and instead of being sent only to parents and staff, they now go to MHS students and the broader community is invited to subscribe: marbleheadschools.org/ school-committee/newsletters.

We’re seeing real progress on the critical high school roof project, which languished for far too long due to avoidable delays and unforced errors. An advisory group of local subject-matter experts is now in place to help steward the project responsibly.

As we head into budget season, the SC is allowing the professionals to do their job with a great team led by Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling, and ongoing collaboration with the finance committee.

Marbleheaders talk about the

need for town government to improve transparency and build public trust; the current School Committee is doing just that.

As a parent of three Marblehead graduates, I’m grateful to School Committee Chair Al Williams for leading the committee into a new era of accountability. It’s a breath of fresh air.

Respectfully, Christine Nuccio Damey’s Way

Tycho’s fatal mistake To the editor: Reading the latest missive from our frequent conservative letter writer caused me to think of the Dutch astronomer Tycho Brahe.

Tycho was the first European astronomer to correctly ascertain the orbits of the known planets.

But, famously he was so wedded to the view that the Earth was the center of the universe that he constructed a reality in which those planets and the sun somehow still orbited the Earth. The math never quite worked out, but he could never shake his view that the Earth was the center of the universe.

When Tycho died, his understudy Johanes Kepler, in reviewing Tycho’s data, quickly realized that the sun was the center of a solar system and all the planets including Earth revolve around the sun, a model we all accept today as true.

Which is to say that sometimes even incredibly intelligent people who are so sure they are right are blinded by their surety.

Now I am not saying that our frequent letter writing conservative neighbor is as intelligent as Tycho or Kepler, none of us are, they were both brilliant minds. But, he does correctly identify some of the more egregious problems in our society. Like Tycho constructing a fabricated world that defies the actual data though, his answer is always Trump. There is another theory called Dunning-Kreuger in which people overestimate their own knowledge on a subject.

It has been shown that less knowledgeable people are often more certain of their correctness than more knowledgeable people.

It is also entirely provable that liberal people are generally more educated than conservatives in the U.S. I am not saying this to demean him, rather to point out the folly of people who are so sure of themselves despite ample evidence to the contrary. But, if we were to take his advice, we should also ask him to take his own advice. For example, he suggests that if you do not like Trump you should consider moving to Canada. Perhaps if he so hates liberal policy he should consider a move to a deep red state, or even a deeply conservative country like Russia. Why remain LETTERS, P. 5

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 11, 2026 5

FOOD 101

Bone broth makes a cozy winter meal

BY LINDA BASSETT Deep in winter, we snuggle in to keep safe from storms and wind and flu symptoms.

Fireplace, candles, wool blankets, thick books, soft flannel pajamas. A pot of bone broth on the stove.

A recent phenomenon, bone broth is the next step in the evolution of stock: meaty bones simmered with fresh herbs and vegetables, bolstered with a shot of that “fifth flavor” element umami, to cheer it on.

Simmering time is key to extract collagen, vitamins, minerals and richness from those bones. A 3-to-4 hours simmer yields a good basic stock.

Bubble those same ingredients twice as long, say 8 hours and you get the “souped-up” version.

(Not overnight, but while snuggling with the earlier noted elements.)

The concept is old. During the Middle Ages, leftover meat, bones and vegetables were tossed into a common pot that stewed for days over the hearth. It kept a house warm and a family fed. Centuries later, thrifty grandmothers bubbled up “stovetop penicillin” for colds and flu. (Steam rising from the bowl cleared breathing passages.)

Each element in bone broth adds dimension, character. Start with bones. A lot. Three to five pounds, hoarded in the freezer.

Letters

is for good men to do nothing.”

Minneapolis, through its peaceful, non-violent protests, is doing something.

And so, from a resident of Marblehead to the people of Minneapolis, I quote immigrant, U.S. citizen, Boston icon, David Ortiz: “This is our f******g city.” And nobody is gonna dictate our freedom. Stay strong.

Cheryl Patten Lee Street

From P. 4

in Massachusetts, a state founded on the very principle of sharing the common good, a commonwealth? And today it is a state with “liberal” policies that produce outcomes ranking it among the highest in education, health and wealth among other things. I’m sure folks in the deep south would welcome a Yankee immigrant. After all, immigrants are the foundation of this country, no?

He also berates “lefties” for being brainwashed by the mainstream media, yet he forgot to mention Fox News. Indeed it takes quite a myopic worldview to not see the hypocrisy of those statements. Lest we forget the past, our Founding Fathers were radicals. There was no left or right at the time, but they surely were progressives. Yet they constructed a system whereby outcomes are produced by measured debate and sometimes fractious consensus building, not seeking to remove those we disagree with or silence their voices but embrace dissent and form a whole from the disparate.

Indeed most of his arguments contain a tiny grain of truth. But if the answer to every problem is liberal wrong, Trump right, one might be making Tycho’s fatal mistake. Let’s hope our conservative neighbor does not share Tycho’s self-penned epitaph, “He lived as a sage and died as a fool.”

Sean Sullivan Village Street

Minneapolis strong To the editor: Thank you, residents of Minneapolis. Day after day, regardless of the bitter cold and the very real threats to your lives, you have stood defiantly in the face of a despot’s armed militia intent on causing fear, chaos and the suppression of Americans’ constitutional rights.

Minneapolis, we are all in your debt.

Our Founding Fathers enumerated the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as fundamental tenants of our new country. We the people are charged with protecting these hard-fought freedoms. Minneapolis has embraced this responsibility.

There are numerous options for addressing our current immigration concerns, but the draconian, brutish procedures enacted on our streets daily are an outrage that violates the very foundation of our democracy. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil

FOOD, P. 7

ICE enforcement is un-American To the editor: I am writing to document and affirm that the extreme and injurious activities of the Department of Homeland Security and field agents (aka ICE) are both Un-American and Illegal and should be disturbing to all Americans, regardless of your views on immigration in the USA. Ask any school-aged child about what it means to be an American, and they will likely hit on the main themes of freedom and liberty, echoing the words of our nation-building forefathers, who proclaimed in their Declaration of Independence that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are “unalienable rights.”

However, we daily witness untrained and unchecked ICE agents who are “following orders” by arresting, injuring and abducting people under a vague “administrative warrant,” which undermines the rules of law designed to preserve our liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Sadly, although federal judges have stated that they may not achieve anonymity by covering their faces and lacking identification, they continue to do so, with no actions from their leaders in the capital, including the president, to whom they ultimately report. More alarming is their disregard for the general public, who dare to record their illegal and brutal interactions, and who are attacked, sprayed with strong irritants and even murdered. What I and so many Americans find disturbing is this departure from “normal” law enforcement, people with badges, name tags and a face legally enforcing the laws of the nation.

In fact, it is the cruelty of their actions that is most concerning to me and many others. In addition to the use of deadly force on two citizens, there are numerous examples of general disrespect, mishandling and purposeful injuring of both immigrants and US citizens.

These include ripping people from vehicles, slamming them to the ground and dragging

Bone broth is the new hot winter trend.

them across pavement to their vehicles. They do not allow for mistaken identification, using an “arrest now and ask questions later,” approach. U.S. citizens have been mistakenly arrested, sometimes dragged from their homes partially clothed, and then, if lucky, released to the sub-zero degree streets far from home without warm clothing.

These are but a few examples of the brutal behavior that is simply unnecessary. Although there are certainly exceptions, law enforcement agents are not supposed to inflict punishment on those they arrest; and there are well-known cases where those who do so are prosecuted.

Treating all people with decency and respect is a fundamental tenet of being American, we all want and deserve to be presumed innocent and treated fairly.

It is sad to me that some of my fellow Americans applaud this “the ends justify the means,” approach, especially since they would not expect to be treated this way under any circumstances. The fact that the sitting President won 49.8% of the votes in 2024 does not give him, or anyone, a “mandate” to brutalize citizens or immigrants.

To all those readers who still believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, I urge you to act by supporting candidates who espouse reform, joining in peaceful demonstrations, bearing witness to these actions, or contacting your legislators to make your opinion known.

Christian Stumpf Pitman Road

My family history has an important warning To the editor: I apologize for submitting a letter so soon. I now refer to the letter by Randy Sigler which refers to letters by Mark Ferrante. I rely on the accuracy of Mr. Sigler’s reporting and his analysis of Mr. Ferrante’s various letters. Mr. Sigler faulted Mr. Ferrante alleging that Mr. Ferrante belittled “the left” for not knowing what fascism really looks like. Apparently, Mr. Ferrante blames us leftists for the recent ongoing fascist actions by the Trump administration. How Mr. Ferrante comes to this conclusion befuddles me.

I am an unenrolled voter who tends to vote left. A party and its policies are my guidelines.

To address Mr. Ferrante’s assumptions/accusations, please allow me to divulge some personal family history.

My father immigrated to the USA from Germany many years before the second World War.

During the war, an aunt, uncle and cousins were alive and lived in a small town called Landau/ Isar in lower Bavaria. They owned a small “drogerie” (drug store of sorts). My uncle, Alois, was dying of cancer in 1936. He came to the attention of the gestapo for some reason and one day they came to the drogerie to arrest him. Per my aunt Dora, they wanted to drag him out of bed but she pleaded with them, convinced them he was dying, and they left.

A short time later, the burgermeister (mayor) of the town called my aunt into his office. It is a small town and the inhabitants knew one another quite well. The mayor had been a long time friend of my aunt.

He told her the gestapo had been inquiring about her. They noted she went to mass every early morning but did not attend the Nazi meetings in the evening.

She explained that as a widow managing the drogerie and caring for three small children, she was exhausted at the end of the day and was too tired to attend. For some reason, this explanation was accepted.

(It must have been horribly frightening).

One of the local priests spoke against the Nazis, was arrested and sent to a prison in the next city. She visited him once and during their conversation, he broke down and cried that he was going to be sent to a concentration camp for re-education. These were later called death camps by the Allies.

Another aunt, Maria, was gassed because she was mentally impaired and is buried in the local Landau cemetery.

Mr. Ferrante, I apologize for relating this history. But I personally know something about Nazi Germany and its fascist methods. I want to make sure you know we leftists are the victims, not the perpetrators of such gestapo tactics. Of course, in the present-day Trump administration, would I dare to use ICE in place of gestapo to define bullying, intimidation, fear, violence and murder? Is it possible I would be mistreated like Don Lemon?

I rest my case, Mr. Ferrante.

I guess I am guilty as accused.

What, no trial? And to think there are millions like you.

Very truly yours, Walter Haug Highland Terrace

What does fighting look like?

To the editor: I read with interest that during the recent candidates’ forum for Democratic challengers in Massachusetts’

CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT

6th Congressional District, Dan Koh stated that Democrats need to fight harder, otherwise they won’t make it to the midterms.

What does this mean?

Congressional Democrats don’t control the House or the Senate, so how should they fight?

Front line Democratic activists have just completely outmaneuvered ICE and the Border Patrol in Minneapolis leading to the ouster of Greg Bovino and sidelining of Kristi Noem. But at the cost of the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. How much more fight can they provide?

Fighting is all well and good, but it requires a plan and I hear a lot of Democrats call for more fighting but no plan.

Here is my plan: win more elections.

Instead of waving our hand at the feel-good notion of fighting harder, which raises unrealistic expectations among the base of what we can achieve without control of Congress, let’s win more elections.

Rick Jakious nodded at this during the same forum when he said winning the midterms is what the Democratic Party needs, and that we do that by creating a bigger tent party.

Precisely correct. This will be the worst year to run as a Republican since at least 2008. Stubbornly high prices.

Americans executed in the streets. The protection of a vast pedophile ring. Graft and corruption stretching into the billions of dollars. These are stains that don’t rub out.

I still believe we can save the republic, but it will take more than a blue wave. It will take a blue tsunami. We only get that through a plan to expand the tent and be competitive in more places.

We need leaders who can find the candidate in Wyoming who believes in individual liberties, including for trans people, but sincerely believes those liberties extend to the right to bear arms.

We need to find the evangelical in Ohio whose faith means they believe in healthcare for the poor, but also restricting access to abortion to promote a culture of life. And we need the climate activist in Florida who wants to build a zero-carbon grid, but thinks we need to slash government regulation to do it.

Winning is the first liberal value. Without the Congressional majorities of FDR, LBJ and Obama we do not get the New Deal, Civil Rights Act or the Affordable Care Act. True liberals want to win. In the Senate primary that is Seth Moulton. And in the House primary I think that is the man who worked for him, Rick Jakious.

Nick Ward Rolleston Road

marbleheadcurrent.org

6 Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Marblehead Current

SHIPWRECKS

Remembering Marblehead mariners lost 50 years ago

BY LUCA MICHELSON The recent fishing vessel tragedy in Gloucester comes as Marblehead remembers local fishermen lost at sea 50 years ago.

In the last days of January 1976, Marbleheaders Steven “Leroy” Haynes, 26, and Capt.

Steven “Stevie” Goodwin, 31, died alongside Stephen Kelly, 32, of Newport, Rhode Island, and Candice Stuart, 21, of Newport and Sarasota, Florida, aboard the steel-hulled lobstering vessel, Zubenelgenubi.

The 60-foot craft, named for a quadruple star system in the constellation Libra, left Newport on Jan. 18 on what Goodwin described to his wife, Jo Anne, as a 10-to-12 day trip to move lobster pots from a spot 60 to 70 miles west southwest of the Nantucket Lightship to a new location about 80 miles to the west on Georges Bank.

During their voyage, the North Atlantic was hit by a pair of strong winter storms, the first pushing through January 27-28 and the second, known as the “Groundhog Day gale,” pounding the shore of Cape Cod with 100 mile per hour gusts.

It was after the first storm that the boat and her crew was last heard from, with a Texaco oil tanker picking up a weak radio signal on Jan. 29. A short message, stating: “This is the Zubenelgenubi here,” was the last time the ship and her crew were heard from.

Searching over 66,000 square miles, the Coast Guard found no trace of the vessel after four days. “[Haynes] was a boy born and brought up in Marblehead,” said Peter Conway, former owner of the Harbor Light Inn and lifelong friend of Haynes. “He had become a fisherman. He worked for a couple of different boats until he finally was asked to sign on with Stevie Goodwin.”

COURTESY PHOTO

A memorial plaque for Steven “Leroy” Haynes was placed at Fort Sewell following the loss of the Zubenelgenubi in 1976.

COURTESY PHOTOS PETER CONWAY

The Zubenelgenubi, a 60-foot lobster boat owned by Capt. Steven Goodwin of Marblehead was lost with all hands in late January or early February, 1976.

Steven “Leroy” Haynes, aged 26, was lost at sea while fishing on Zubenelgenubi in 1976.

Goodwin was a larger-thanlife figure in Marblehead’s maritime community known for his willingness to go where, and when, others would not.

Goodwin’s “all-ahead full” attitude to fishing made him and his crew one of the most

profitable in the area.

Due to the skill of her captain and the 11 watertight compartments along her hull, the family and friends of the crew believed that there was a chance, if only a slim one, that Zubenelgenubi was still afloat.

“I think one of the most interesting stories about the loss of the Zubenelgenubi was, not just the storm and never seeing or hearing from them again, but the way the town of Marblehead came together,” said Conway.

After the initial closure

of the search by the Coast Guard, those close to the missing crewmembers went to then-Congressman Michael Harrington who got in contact with the office of Sen. Ted Kennedy.

“Kennedy’s office got in touch with Senator Tunney of California, Senator Stevenson from Illinois, and all these other politicians,” Conway recalled.

“He got them to pressure President Ford to send the Coast Guard back out.”

After some resistance from the Coast Guard, the president ordered search teams back out to search along the Gulf Stream, an area where Goodwin was known to attempt to reach in order to de-ice his vessels in the warmer waters.

After another two days of searching, the Coast Guard finally closed the search. While a petition organized by Lynn Botty, the sister of Haynes, garnered 3,000 signatures in just 24 hours, the search was never reopened.

“We were just hanging on to a prayer,” said Conway. “But we had to. They deserved every possible chance. Stevie Goodwin had a great reputation as a captain and he had a good crew.

But, unfortunately, you don’t beat nature.”

Haynes’ friends and family memorialized him with a plaque at Fort Sewell.

MARITIME

Marblehead author shares thoughts on Gloucester fishing tragedy

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead author and historian Jay Eric Dolin followed closely the news of a Gloucester fishing vessel that sank Jan. 30, killing seven people on board.

“It’s a horrific tragedy,” said Dolin, who has written several nonfiction books around shipwrecks. “It gives light to the dangers that fishermen face when they’re out getting the fish that we love.”

Fishing is the second deadliest profession in the country, after logging, according to the U.S. Board of Labor Statistics.

“In the end, Mother Nature holds the whip hand,” Dolin said.

“Even a modern vessel with a very good captain and crew can run into trouble. The ocean is unforgiving, especially when the weather is really poor.”

Conditions at the time of the sinking were brutal with 27 mph winds and temperatures around 12 degrees. Search crews found a debris field about 25 miles off shore.

“The intense cold and wind means that the option of saving anybody when an accident occurs is much more limited, even if they had time to put on their weather-protection suits,”

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

COURTESY PHOTO / CHRISTOPHER SEUFERT

Gloucester has been the home port for many lost fishing vessels.

Dolin said. “It was just bitter cold. And with no survivors, you’re never going to get the complete story.”

This is perhaps the most deadly fishing tragedy to hit Gloucester since the so-called Perfect Storm sank the fishing vessel Andrea Gail in 1991. Six

fishermen on board never came home.

Dolin said the effects of these tragedies ripple through a community and can be felt for generations.

“In the back of their mind, there’s always the possibility of a disaster happening,” Dolin

Marblehead author and historian Eric Jay Dolin has written several nonfiction books about shipwrecks, including his latest, “ The Wreck of the Mentor.”

said. “All their families worry for them.”

Still, Dolin added, “Fishermen love what they do. They

understand the risks. And they do their best to avoid dangerous situations.”

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 11, 2026 7

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Learn about Tranquil Transitions

BY MELISSA STACEY The following is an interview with Lindsey Rynk, veterinarian and Owner of Tranquil Transitions, conducted by Discover Marblehead. Tranquil Transitions offers compassionate in-home pet euthanasia services, allowing families to say goodbye to their beloved companions in the comfort and familiarity of home. Their approach is focused on reducing stress for both pets and their people during a deeply emotional time, providing care tailored to each family’s needs.

Learn more about their services and the meaningful support they provide at tranquil-transitions.net.

Tell us about Tranquil Transitions, why you started it and how you help your clients. Saying goodbye to our four-legged loved ones is truly the hardest part of sharing our lives with them. I founded Tranquil Transitions to offer in-home pet euthanasia, aiming to make this experience as comfortable as possible for pets and their owners. The creation of Tranquil Transitions came about after a very personal experience with our first dog, and the love of our life, Brickley. Over the years I have helped many pets pass both in the clinic setting and in their homes. While I have always known the profound importance of a calm transition, I didn’t realize the enormity of the experience until we were faced with the decision for Brickley.

By the time we had reached the end, Brickley was in pain, anxious and had mobility issues.

When we finally made the decision, we were fortunate that my colleague was able to come to our house. The process of getting him into the car and to a place that caused him stress

Schools From P. 1

Some of the identified savings will run out within one to three years, Pfifferling said.

Budget breakdown

Salaries account for the largest share of the FY27 school budget.

Here’s a look at the top costs: Salaries: $37,790539 Out-of-district tuitions: $3,219,275 Contracted services: $2,573,205 Transportation: $1,962,779 Utilities: $1,877,716 Supplies: $913,976

Enrollment questions

Robidoux also addressed concerns about declining enrollment in Marblehead schools over the past decade.

He presented data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that showed Marblehead’s enrollment has dropped 24% since the 2016-17 school year,

Food From P. 5

Add them to a pot of water.

Sweeten with hearty, woody, stalk-y vegetables — onions, carrots, celery, leeks, shallots.

Consider fennel, lemongrass, garlic, parsnips. (Never turnip.)

Choose each carefully keeping in mind that the combination determines the final essence.

Roast bones and aromatic vegetables first — optional, but always an improvement — to warm the flavor and color.

would have been an emotional and physical challenge. In addition, the sense of grief we felt following his passing was staggering, and being in our own environment, with our kids nearby, was a huge comfort. After this experience, a good friend called me asking for assistance with their dog, however, due to license restrictions, I wasn’t able to help. I realized that I wanted to be able to support my friends and our community through this difficult time. Months later, Tranquil Transitions was born.

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? Do what you love, do it passionately, and happiness and success will follow.

What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? It is tough to pick just one, but I think I would choose Crocker Park, as we spend so many hours there looking out over the harbor while our kids play behind us. It’s a place that reminds me how fortunate we are to live in a town that has such natural beauty, a love for the ocean and a sense of community and celebration.

What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? When I lived in California, I used to avoid the cold at all costs and complained about it endlessly. Now I’m obsessed with jumping into the ocean every week for a cold dip.

staffing levels have reduced by 15%.

And, Robidoux unscored that students have significantly higher needs than they did a decade ago, including special services for autism and other development challenges.

“When people say, ‘Are the schools doing their job? Are they looking at staffing and what we need?’ I contend that over 10 years we’ve reduced 37.9 FTE (full-time) teachers, and we’re proposing another 12.75 reductions on the teaching side. That’s a third of the total amount, and I think that’s important to understand.”

He spoke passionately about the need to fund the schools.

“We need folks to come bang the gong,” Robidoux said. “We can’t do same-old, same-old Marblehead. It’s not going to work. We have to advocate for schools.”

COURTESY PHOTO

Lyndsey Rynk with her children.

The colder the better.

The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead.

Discover Marblehead is dedicated to the promotion of Marblehead.

Our mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community

events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach. To learn more, visit discoverMHD.com.

These are the rounds of cuts shared by Assistant Superintendent Mike Pfiffering.

Superintendent John Robidoux presented data that shows while enrollment is down 24% over the last decade, staffing numbers have dropped, too.

Next steps

proposed budget Feb. 26, when they will be able to ask questions and discuss budget decisions.

The School Committee is expected to vote on the budget in March before sending it to

the Finance Committee and, ultimately, Town Meeting for approval.

Add favorite herbs. Always fresh flat-leaf parsley. Bay leaves, thyme, rosemary or sage. Fresh herbs are pricey in winter; dried are more powerful so use less.

In the end, 2-3 tablespoons of umami — citrus, cider vinegar, tomato paste, dried mushrooms, anchovies, fish or soy sauce — pick one — gives it the finish it deserves.

When cooled, fat rises to the top, begging to be scraped off to reveal the beautiful gel that testifies to its goodness.

Strain and cool. The rich broth is a perfect base for soups, sauces, and stews. Even lovelier

to sip from a mug, fireside.

CHICKEN OR BEEF BONE BROTH

Roast in a 400F oven for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring once or twice during the cooking, until browned, not charred.

Vegetables will brown before bones, so separate sheet pans might be a good idea.

Transfer roasted bones and vegetables to a 6-quart stock pot.

Add salt and peppercorns. Pour enough water to cover.

Bring the pot to a boil. Turn heat down to low. Cover the pot partially, and simmer gently — low, slow-breaking bubbles — for 8 to10 hours. Add more water as needed to keep ingredients

submerged. (Cooking can be stopped and the mixture cooled to room temperature before refrigerating overnight to continue cooking the following day.) Stir in citrus juice, cider vinegar, etc.

Strain broth through a finemesh colander to remove all particles. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 days; freeze up to 2 months.

Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-andcoming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking

Robidoux urged residents to attend the public hearing on the

MAKES ABOUT 2 QUARTS.

` 3-5 pounds bones, chicken or beef (with some meat) ` 2-3 bay leaves and/or other herbs ` Sea salt, whole black peppercorns ` 2 pounds carrots, celery, garlic and onion, etc. roughly chopped ` 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, lemon juice, etc.

Preheat oven to 400F degrees.

Put bones and aromatics — carrots, celery, onion — on sheet pans; drizzle with olive oil to prevent burning. Toss to coat.

marbleheadcurrent.org

8 Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Marblehead Current

CUZNER IN NATURE

A ‘snowy’ morning

RICK CUZNER PHOTOS

BY RICK CUZNER

Next Year Original artworks with a Arnould North Shore Flair by local & regional artists since 1978 Gallery paintings | prints | fine crafts

& Framery Custom framing and more

111 Washington St. Marblehead MA | 781-631-6366 genearnould@verizon.net | Gift Certificate Available

HOME • AUTO • YACHT • BUSINESS

Jessica Ronca

Jessica@burkeins.com 18 Brown Street Salem, MA 01970-3830

FLOWERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS 26 Hersey Street Salem, MA 01970

978.745.6967

Wedding and Event Specialists

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I ventured out in the pre-dawn hours of Jan. 24 to explore the coast for owls. When I arrived on the coast of New Hampshire, it was a balmy 2 degrees, negative 18 with the windchill. I walked the coast a bit and found this snowy owl tucked into the dunes.

I took a few photos as the sun came up, then left it to rest as I retreated to the warmth of my car.

“Snowies,’ as they’re affectionately called, typically arrive in Massachusetts around November and then head back north to their Arctic breeding ground in April.

In Brief From P. 2

January raised over $10,000 to support preservation of the historic Gen. John Glover farmhouse at 299 Salem St., Swampscott. To date, the group has raised close to $500,000 in donations and pledges toward their goal of $2 million by the end of 2026. For more information about the project, visit savetheglover.org.

MAA call for art

Marblehead Arts Association invites artists from across the country to participate in its annual national exhibit, “Variations 2026,” with the deadline for accepting applications on Feb. 22. The exhibit will run Saturday, April 18 through Saturday, June 13 at the Hooper Mansion, 8 Hooper St. More info at marbleheadarts.org/ variations-2026.

Chase the Chill a success

Your Neighbors.

Your Customers.

Deliver your message to every home and business in town.

To advertise your business call or email Donna at 781-775-8333 mhdcurrentads@gmail.com

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

The Elderact Club of Swampscott and Marblehead recently held a “Chase the Chill” event providing hand-knit scarves and hats for free to all. The items were hung along the fence in front of the National Grand Bank. More than 100 have been shared to local residents and several area food pantries, including LifeBridge and My Brother’s Table.

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 11, 2026 9

Sports

COURTESY PHOTO / NOAH LUCAS

The Marblehead High girls swimmers are among the top three teams in Division 1 North after finishing up the state sectionals last weekend, while the boys were 16th. Both teams will be back at it again this weekend to participate in the All-State Championship Meet at MIT.

IN THE POOL

MHS girls finish third in North swimming state sectionals; boys end up 16th

BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High girls swim team finished in a tie for third place with Wayland during the Division 1 North state sectionals at the Boston Sports Institute in Wellesley on Feb. 6.

Both teams each accumulated 216 points.

The Marblehead boys, two days later at Boston University, picked up 35 points that resulted in a tie for 16th place with the Wilmington/North Reading co-op. Highlights of that meet coming up after detailing the girls’ results.

The Concord-Carlisle girls won the North with 279 points,

followed by Weston (255), Marblehead (216), Wayland (216), Mystic Valley Charter (200), Westford Academy (150), Newton South (148), LincolnSudbury (131), Cambridge Rindge & Latin (116) and Triton Regional (108). A total of 23 teams competed in these sectionals.

Coach Sue Guertin had much to say about the solid finish by the girls. “The girls did amazingly well, considering the limited number of qualifiers we had going into the competition,” she said. “I was particularly thrilled for our seniors on both teams — Ian Chemel, Brady Leveroni, Cale Nelson, Lucas

Rosen and Monica Pechhold — who closed out their high school careers with solid performances.

Hazell Wright, Grace Ladouceur, Macy Ladouceur and Winnie Waddington (1:53.70) ended up third in the 200-yard medley relay. Wright (1:57.83, SWIMMING, P. 10

SENIOR NIGHT

Marblehead girls take home 46-23 senior night win against Salem

BY LUCA TEDESCO The Marblehead High School girls basketball team picked up a dominant 46-23 senior night win over the Salem Witches on Tuesday night at the Kulevich Athletics Complex.

“I thought we played a really great game,” said Marblehead co-captain, Greta Sachs. “It was pretty fun and light spirited.

Salem’s a great team so it was awesome.”

The all-senior starting lineup for the Magicians included co-captain Samara Dosch who has been sidelined this season with an injury. Dosch scored the game’s opening points, her first of the season.

“It was really fun to be back out here with my teammates,” said Dosch. “I’ve really missed them all season so it was fun to be back to normal for the last game.

Marblehead’s dominant first half performance was led by junior Sammy Walker and senior Tessa Andriano, each scoring five points in the first two periods.

The frontcourt pair was joined by eight other Magicians who contributed to a strong 33-7 first half lead.

The third quarter was a low scoring affair, with both sides adding just six points apiece to the tally. Hailey Schmitt and Teagen Shaw both hit 3’s to bring the score to 39-13 heading into the final quarter.

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

CURRENT PHOTOS / LUCA TEDESCO

Seniors Samara Dosch (left), Quinn Harris, Greta Sachs, Tessa Andriano, Hailey Schmidt and Nora Mahan celebrated senior night for the class of 2026 ahead of the basketball game between Marblehead and Salem on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

Salem refused to give up the fight as the clock wound down, but Marblehead refused to yield.

Sachs joined Walker and Anna Cannuscio in the fourth quarter scoring column, knocking down a 3-pointer for Marblehead’s final bucket of the night to put the finishing touches on a 46-23 senior night victory.

The Magicians’ run to the playoffs begins in earnest on Friday when they head to Peabody for the first of a threegame road trip. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Greta Sachs of Marblehead launches a halfcourt heave in the dying seconds of the basketball game against Salem on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

marbleheadcurrent.org

10 Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Marblehead Current

ROUNDUP

Basketball Magicians top this week’s MHS sports notebook

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Boys basketball gets closer to the postseason The Marblehead High boys basketball team (9-6) needs just one more win in its final five regular season games to clinch a state tournament berth after throttling visiting Peabody, 78-45 on Feb. 6.

The Magicians also led the Tanners at halftime, 33-24 after junior captain Finn Baron sank a three-point shot to extend the team’s lead to nine at the break.

In the third quarter, defensive adjustments and fast break points broke the game open for coach Mike Giardi’s team.

They outscored their Peabody counterparts in that period, 23-10.

Baron paced the offensive attack in the game with 26 points, 21 of which came after the break. Senior captain Finn Gallup was next in line with 17. His classmate Cam Weaver chipped in with 13.

Wrestlers begin postseason at Greater Lawrence The words that Marblehead Black & Blue co-op wrestling

Swimming From P. 9

personal best) was second in the 200-yard freestyle. Grace Ladouceur (2:17.66) did the same in the 200-yard IM. Waddington (24.79, personal best) maintained the trend in the 50-yard freestyle, and had another second-place finish after completing the 100-yard butterfly with a personal best time of 59.64. Macy Ladouceur (1:03.97) was 10th in that event.

Grace Ladouceur (56.47)

coach Mike Stamison uttered the day before the Super Bowl was quite appropriate. He told his team: “No days off for the Black & Blue,” prior to the start of the second annual Sarkis Cup at Greater Lawrence Tech on Feb. 7. Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick originated the phrase, and now his former team was back in the big game the next day after a six-year hiatus.

But Stamison’s team, now in the postseason, was participating in the Greater Lawrence tournament for the first time, and the coach remarked afterwards that it won’t be the last.

“We found a great event (to be involved in) for years to come,” said Stamison. “Thanks to Coach Juan and Coach Derek and their Greater Lawrence Tech staff for (hosting it). Most teams got three or four duals in, and we were still out of there by 3 p.m.”

The Black & Blue first went up against Reading. Down four starters, Stamison knew that it was going to be an uphill battle.

The Rockets proved to be too much to handle, beating the Marblehead co-op, 60-24. Senior captain Liam O’Brien, freshman

came in eighth in the 100-yard freestyle. Shaelyn Callahan (5:37.69) and Macy Ladouceur (5:40.66, personal best) secured 10th and 12th places in the 500yard freestyle, respectively.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Waddington, Pechhold, Macy Ladouceur and Callahan (1:45.61) accounted for a sixthplace finish. Wright (59.60. personal best) was second in the 100-yard backstroke, and Callahan (1:12.39, personal best) was credited with an eighthplace finish in the 100-yard breaststroke. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, the quartet of

Max Letwin, and seniors Phineas Jakious and Xavier Tejeda recorded wins for the Black & Blue.

The Southeastern Regional Voke Tech Hawks, out of Easton, were next up for the Marblehead co-op, and the Black & Blue ended up totally dominating them to the tune of 66-18.

Kenny Drolette, Dylan Soule, Platon Danshyn, O’Brien, Letwin – bumped up from 165 to 175-pounds – Jakious and Tejeda were credited with the wins.

It was also Soule’s first varsity triumph in the 126-pound weight class, and he did it in style with a pin.

Forfeit wins were picked up by Elliot Donato, Kristian Drolette, Nolan Glass and Trevor Wade.

Nolan Glass took home a win by pin in an exhibition matchup.

Abigail Moore, Wright, Callahan and Grace Ladouceur (3:49.49) took home third place.

Wrapping up the boys

Two days later at Boston University, St. John’s Prep (240) bested the boys field to secure the Division 1 North state title. The Marblehead boys were once again tied for 16th place with the Wilmington co-op. They both came home with 35 points. There were 30 teams participating in this meet, and after the Eagles first place finish, Wayland (212) was right behind them in

The Excel Academy Wolves, out of East Boston, provided the competition in Marblehead’s last match of the day. “There were a number of tight dual matches against an opponent that we haven’t seen in a long time,” said Stamison. “We ending up losing the close battle, 48-30. It would have been even tighter, if we had had our full complement of wrestlers.”

Kenny Drolette, despite being sick, tough it out to beat his opponent. Colin Homan, O’Brien and Tejeda also secured victories. “The X-man went 3-0 on the day, all by pins,” said Stamison. Donato got a win by forfeit. Ryker Genest grabbed a win with a pin in an exhibition encounter.

Stamison singled out Anna Cruikshank, who shot a ton of tape during the tournament, and senior captain Colin Hart, who had the thankless task of keeping the scorebook. Those two unheralded tasks are critical to any wrestling program.

After going 1-2 as a team at Greater Lawrence, O’Brien was awarded with the tournament’s outstanding wrestler trophy for the lower weight divisions, a first for him throughout his

distinguished scholastic career.

The leaderboard for wins on the season shows O’Brien in front with 36, followed by Hart (29), Jakious (18), Tejeda (18), Andrew Delisle (14), Jaymes Carey (14), Kenny Drolette (14) and Glass (9).

On Feb. 4, the Black & Blue hosted a match at Swampscott High against formidable Winchester, and lost, 66-12.

Freshman Kenny Drolette and Tejeda pinned their Red & Black counterparts on Senior Night.

“It was the appropriate way for the X-man to close out his high school career on this special night,” said Stamison.

The match of the night belonged of course to O’Brien, who wrestled top-ranked Eddie Donlon in the 138-pound weight class. “It lived up to its billing,” said Stamison. “Despite the 3-0 loss, it will serve Liam well in the postseason.”

In an exhibition competition, seventh grader Ollie Dion won his second match of the year, this time by technical fall, 15-0.

Kristian Drolette, another seventh grader, went to a second overtime period, before losing by a mere two points.

second. Mystic Valley Charter (209), Acton-Boxborough (182.5), Westford Academy (164), Lincoln-Sudbury (159.5), Concord-Carlisle (148.5), Lexington (143), Haverhill (114), Weston (109.5), Belmont (106), Chelmsford (84), Newton South (82), Andover (44), Bedford (42.5), Marblehead (35), Wilmington/North Reading (35) and Salem (34) rounded out the top half of the boys standings.

In the 200-yard medley relay, Chemel, Nelson, Leveroni and Orion Lewis (1:44.98, personal best) teamed up to come in 12th overall. Leveroni (1:50.93,

personal best) also finished 12th in the 200-yard freestyle, before turning in his best time ever (50.54) in the 100-yard freestyle.

Chemel (5:10.17, personal best) ended up 11th in the 500-yard freestyle. Leveroni, Nelson, Omar Elnabarawy and Lewis (3:29.25) were credited with a 13th place finish in the 400meter freestyle relay.

Next up for these Magicians is the All-State Championship Meet at MIT. The girls will compete on Saturday, Feb. 14, while the boys take center stage the very next day.

PREP STANDOUT

Faceoff specialist Crawford commits to Providence Lacrosse faceoff specialist Will Crawford of Marblehead was one of more than a dozen St. John’s Prep student-athletes who recently made commitments to compete at the college of their choice.

Crawford will attend Providence College.

“Will had an incredibly productive season last spring in the faceoff spot, earning USA Lacrosse All-American honors,” said Eagles coach John Pynchon.

“He is skilled and very athletic.

He joins a long line of decorated faceoff men at St. John’s.”

Not surprisingly, the Prep’s lacrosse program, the winner of five consecutive state championships, produced a signing-period high of five scholarship athletes, including Crawford.

The NCAA did away with national letters of intent in 2024 due to a loss of enforcement authority in anticipation of revenue sharing with athletes.

Student-athletes now sign a written offer of athletic aid with schools. Officially, this still has the force and effect of prohibiting other schools from sending any recruiting communications.

Under the terms of this new arrangement, schools are committed to a financial aid offer once the athlete signs, but the athlete may enter the transfer portal to change schools without penalty.

VARSITY SCOREBOARD Monday, Feb. 2 Girls basketball: Marblehead 47, Ipswich 21 Girls hockey: Marblehead 3, Concord-Carlisle 2 Tuesday, Feb. 3 Girls basketball: Marblehead 46, Salem 23 Boys basketball: Salem 69, Marblehead 54 Wednesday, Feb. 4 Boys wrestling: Winchester 66, Marblehead 12 Girls hockey: Gloucester 4, Marblehead 0 Friday, Feb. 6 Girls basketball: Peabody 46, Marblehead 41 Boys basketball: Marblehead 78, Peabody 45 Saturday, Feb. 7 Boys hockey: Marblehead vs.

COURTESY PHOTO

Will Crawford, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound faceoff specialist from Marblehead, will take his lacrosse skills to NCAA Division I Providence College this fall.

MHS VARSITY SCHEDULES Peabody (PPD, snow) Sunday, Feb. 8 Girls hockey: Winthrop 5, Marblehead 1 Girls gymnastics: Marblehead 126.55, Bishop Fenwick 125.2 TEAM RECORDS, MIAA POWER RATINGS (through Feb. 8) Girls gymnastics, 3-3 (No. 20 in North) Co-ed swimming, 6-0 Boys basketball, 9-6 (No. 25 in Div. 2) Girls basketball, 9-7 (No. 44 in Div. 2) Boys hockey, 3-10-1 (No. 34 in Div. 3) Girls hockey, 4-11-1 (No. 28 in Div. 2) Boys indoor track, 4-1-1 Girls indoor track, 4-1-1 Boys wrestling, 3-8-1 Top 32 power-rated teams qualify for the MIAA tournament, regardless of record. Teams 33 and below qualify for a play-in game with a .500 or better record.

Wednesday, Feb. 11 7 p.m.: boys wrestling vs. Essex North Shore Agricultural at MHS gym 7:30 p.m.: girls hockey vs. Masconomet at Salem State Rockett Arena Thursday, Feb. 12 4 p.m.: boys and girls indoor track, The Track at New Balance, Brighton 5:30 p.m.: co-ed ski at Blue Hill Ski Area Ski, Canton 6 p.m.: girls basketball vs. Gloucester at Gloucester High gym 7 p.m.: boys basketball vs.

Gloucester at MHS gym Saturday, Feb. 14 7 a.m.: co-ed swimming at MIT, Cambridge 7:30 a.m.: boys wrestling at Woburn High gym 7 p.m.: boys hockey vs. Shawsheen Valley Tech at Salem State University Rockett Arena Sunday, Feb. 15 2:30 p.m.: co-ed swimming at MIT, Cambridge

4:15 p.m.: girls basketball vs.

Peabody at MHS gym 6 p.m.: boys basketball vs. Bedford at MHS gym Monday, Feb. 16 4:15 p.m.: girls basketball vs. TBD at MHS gym 5 p.m.: boys hockey vs. Algonquin Regional High School at Graf Rink, Newburyport 6 p.m.: boys basketball vs. TBD at MHS gym Wednesday, Feb. 18 TBA: boys hockey vs. TBD at Graf Rink, Newburyport 1:30 p.m.: girls hockey vs. Leominster at Wallace Civic Center, Fitchburg 5 p.m.: boys basketball vs.

Swampscott at MHS gym 5 p.m.: girls basketball vs. Swampscott at Swampscott High gym Tuesday, Feb. 24 7:30 a.m.: co-ed ski at Berkshire East Ski Resort, Charlemont

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 11, 2026 11

COURTESY PHOTOS / MCCPS

Seventh-grader Noah Pelikhov won the MCCPS spelling bee Feb. 3.

A panel of judges at the MCCPS spelling bee.

TONTINE

‘Can you use it in a sentence?’

MCCPS students crush spelling bee

BY LEIGH BLANDER Nearly 20 students competed in the Marblehead Charter Community Public School spelling bee Jan. 3, as classmates cheered them on from the sidelines.

The contest is part of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The competition lasted about 70 minutes and stretched across 20 rounds, culminating in a dramatic final showdown between twins Noah and Ida Pelikhov. Noah ultimately claimed the title after correctly spelling “tontine.”

According to MerriamWebster, a tontine is “a joint financial arrangement whereby the participants usually contribute equally to a prize that is awarded entirely to the participant who survives all the

others.”

Some of the other tricky words included: » perinephric » companero » heptathalon » antebellum » equestrian Here’s a list of all MCCPS participants by grade: Fourth grade: Sophia Dobson, Luka Unal, Ria Kobayashi, Noah Sweet-Slepoy Fifth grade: Pender Smith, Neymar Cruz, Cora Amittay, Jack Pain Sixth grade: Athena Triscuit, Alessandra Sheraj, James Campbell, James Ridgely Seventh grade: Whitman Lento, Ida Pelikhov, Noah Pelikhov, Nae Suffriti Eighth grade: AJ Rodriguez, Stephen Mulamata, Kauan Duarte, Colin Paradise

MCCPS students cheer on the contestants in the spelling bee Feb. 3.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 7:45 PM on the request of Michael and Caroline O’Neil to vary the application of the present Zoning-By Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction to expand the existing non-conforming structure more than the 10% increase of the gross floor area allowed by right to a pre-existing non-conforming single-family residence on a lot with less than the required Lot Frontage and Side Yard Setback, located at 45 Humphrey Street in the Single Residence District. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call 617-693-1559. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. https://marbleheadma.gov/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM on the request of Chew and Spell Properties LLC to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for a change of use from a light manufacturing/factory use to a use as a Dog Obedience School and Dog Day Care Facility, on a dimensionally conforming Lot with a pre-existing non-conforming structure having less than required Rear Yard Set Back and less than required Parking, located at 35 Tioga Way in the Unrestricted District. There is no exterior construction proposed. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c.

30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call 617-693-1559. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda and Zoom link for the meeting can be found at: https://marbleheadma.gov/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM on the request of Marblehead Real Estate LLC to vary the application of the present Zoning-By Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction of additions to a pre-existing non-conforming two-family residence on a lot with less that the required Lot Area and Parking, located at 35 Harris Street in the Central Residence District.

The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call 617-6931559. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting.

The agenda and Zoom link for the meeting can be found at: https://marbleheadma.gov/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 7:45 PM on the request of Carrie Page and Christopher Furnari to vary the application of the present Zoning-By Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction for infilling an existing porch to a pre-existing non-conforming single-family residence on a lot with less than the required Lot Area, Lot Width, Lot Frontage, Front Yard Setback, and Side Yard Setback, located at 25 Bubier Road in the Single Residence District. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information

by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call 617-693-1559. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda and Zoom link for the meeting can be found at: https://marbleheadma.gov/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 24, 2025 at 8:15 PM on the request of Matthew and Amanda Velluto to vary the application of the present Zoning By Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction a new front covered porch on a pre-existing, non-conforming house on a pre-existing non-conforming lot with less than required Lot Area, Lot Width, Frontage, and Side Yard Setback, located at 23 Pickwick Road in the Single Residence District. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call 617-693-1559. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda and Zoom link for the meeting can be found at: https://marbleheadma.gov/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday February 24, 2026 at 7:30 PM on the request of Alexandra Moss to vary the application of the present Zoning-By Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction to remove and rebuild 1-story enclosed porch to a pre-existing non-conforming single-family residence on a lot with less that the required Lot Area, Frontage, Front Yard Setback, and Side Yard Setback, located at 14 Hereford Road in the Single Residence District. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitations on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call 617-693-1559. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda and Zoom link for the meeting can be found at: https://marbleheadma.gov/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

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12 Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Marblehead Current

CURRENT EVENTS

Marblehead’s best bets Current Events spotlights notable 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

Valentine’s Day Big Band Bash (and dance lesson) Saturday, Feb. 14, 7 p.m.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Abbot Hall with an evening of live music and dancing as Matthew Arnold and Holly Cameron present a Valentine’s Day Dance featuring their 19-piece big band, the New England Yankees. Special guest vocalists Johnny Ray and Marblehead High School senior Eldar Yahorau will join the band for a night of lush arrangements, irresistible rhythms and classic dance hall energy.

Professional dancers Charisse and Mark Nocera, a father-daughter duo, will offer an optional pre-show dance lesson at 6:30 p.m., welcoming guests of all experience levels.

“Whether you come dressed to the nines or just ready to have a great

Jazz at the Arts: Debby Larkin & the Jeff Stout Quintet Thursday, Feb. 19, 7 p.m.

The Marblehead Arts Association

and Gene Arnould present a special performance by Debby Larkin & the Jeff Stout Quintet as a part of their Jazz at the Arts concert series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Cash bar. Tickets: $35. Tickets at marbleheadarts.org.

Me&Thee Music Friday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m.

Acclaimed Americana blues raconteur Ray Bonneville and awardwinning singer songwriter Kevin Connolly will share the stage for a night of great music and compelling poetry reflecting hard living and deep feeling. Bonneville has received the International Folk Alliance Song of the Year Award, and Connolly has toured internationally while writing music for numerous major motion pictures and films. More info and tickets at meandtheemusic.org.

night out, this is the kind of Valentine’s celebration that feels like stepping into a golden-age ballroom,” Arnold said.

Tickets are available at newenglandyankees.ludus.com.

Paint for Peace Saturday, Feb. 21, 12-2:30 p.m.

In times of political division and injustice, artists have always responded in the best way they know how —through their art. Bold political art captures urgent issues on canvas and calls us to consider right versus wrong. It speaks the artist’s truth and invites the public to pause, reflect and take action.

Come express yourself at this Paint for Peace event run by Peyton Pugmore.

83 Evans Road. Cost $65 (includes light instruction, art supplies and tea and snacks.) creativespiritma.com/ event-details/paint-for-peace

MHS Valentine’s Cabaret Thursday, Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy the Marblehead High School Valentine Cabaret at MHS, hosted by the Tri-M Music Honor Society. There will be live student performances and sweet treats for sale. Tickets will be available at the door. Students are free, seniors are $5 and other guests are $10.

ARTS

Festival to auction decades of iconic logos

BY LEIGH BLANDER Do you have a favorite Marblehead Festival of Arts logo? With nearly 60 to choose from, residents will soon have the chance to bid on several at a special auction.

“The family of Dr. Edward Joseph Robinson has donated 34 framed logos from 1983 to 2010,” said MFoA President Cynda Rohmer. “Many are single logos, and a few are framed program book covers. In addition, they have donated seven sculptures

by Beverly Benson Seamans.”

Seamans, a longtime Marblehead resident, died in 2012. Her work has been displayed in galleries, parks and cathedrals around the world.

Five of her bronze statues are located in town, including the harbor seal at Crocker Park and the drummer boy at Marblehead High School.

Rohmer hopes to raise about $10,000 through the auction.

A first-look party is scheduled for Friday, March 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Abbot Hall. Admission is free.

RSVP to marbleheadfestival. org/event-details/robinsonauction-first-look/ form.

Online bidding will open following the event and continue through Sunday, April 5, at 7 p.m.

Proceeds will fund a Festival scholarship for a student pursuing a career in the medical field.

All of the logos were displayed in Robinson’s home. Robinson died in 2024, and his house was recently sold.

COURTESY PHOTO

Sculptures by Beverly Seamans like this one will be up for auction.

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Festival of Arts President Cynda Rohmer holds a framed logo from 1986. It’s available at auction.

This frame features Festival logos from the early 2000s.

This logo dates to 2001.

“Dr. Robinson was an avid fan of the Festival and collected all these logos,” Rohmer said.

“Every single one was framed by Arnould Gallery. We also have

some old Festival glasses that we’ll be doing a silent auction on at the event. It really was a treasure trove.”

Each year, the Festival invites artists from across the North Shore to create and submit a logo. A panel of judges narrows the field to three finalists, and community members then vote for the winner.

Rohmer, who has been involved with the Festival for a decade, said she could not choose a favorite from the collection.

She told the Current that viewing so many designs from different eras offered valuable perspective.

“It gives me context on what the images were like before things like AI,” she said. “I feel like a lot of these images were really creative, and I love the free-formness of them.”

To learn more about the Festival, which runs every year during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, visit marbleheadfestival.org.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 11, 2026 13

CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS

Fresh snowdrifts line Washington Street Saturday morning.

John, Stacey and Greg Barne dig their car out of a deep snowdrift on the side of Pond Street on Saturday, as snow falls all around them and plows drive past.

Carter Sahagian rides his four-wheeler through the snow on Pond Street Saturday afternoon.

Milley Daley, Kate Daley and Dave Chandler chat and shovel snow on High Street Saturday.

Snow From P. 1

Marblehead has not seen more than 2 feet of snow in a winter since 2014-15, when a series of storms dropped about 24.5 inches.

As the snow continues to fall, Police Chief Dennis King reminded residents to do their part.

“I would like to emphasize that putting the snow back into the street is prohibited and interferes with town cleanup,” King said.

“Residents or their contractors who do this, if identified, would be responsible for removing the snow from the street and putting it back on their property.”

He added, “Common sense says put your snow onto your own property where accessible — front or backyard.”

Benjamin Ross plays in the freshly fallen snow Saturday.

REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Buyer(s)

Seller(s)

Address

Date

Price

Woodfin Shepard Street NT and Martha B. Woodfin

10 Shepard St.

Jan. 20

$770,000

Lallys LLC

31 Lincoln Park

Jan. 21

$675,000

Christine S. Church RET and Christine S. Church

66 Jersey St.

Jan. 23

$820,000

Elizabeth and Lawrence Sorgi

299 W Shore Drive

Jan. 23

$650,000

Ruth B. Gilman

8 Ocean View Road

Jan. 20

$870,000

Marblehead Bridget L. and John H. Thebeau Catherine and John Golden Courtney M. and Patrick Dragoon Mariela Fuentes and Claudio P. Rodriguez Swampscott James McCluskey and Carla-Louisa Tamer

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14 Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Marblehead Current

OBITUARY

Lois Kimball Case, 84 Lois Kimball Case lived her 84 years by the words printed in her high school yearbook: “Manners are the best way of doing things.” She embodied that belief every day of her life.

Lois was born on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1941, in Great Barrington — a true holiday gift to her parents, Henry Arthur Kimball and Grace Anderson Kimball. She was the beloved sister of Dennis, Kenneth and Henry Kimball. A proud graduate of Searles High School, Lois went on to attend Brown University.

In 1964, she met the love of her life, Richard Loomis Case, at a party in Boston. She remarked to a friend that night, “That is the

man I am going to marry.” She was right. Lois and Dick shared nearly 60 years of marriage and a life full of love, laughter and community.

Together they made their home in Marblehead, moving (as many locals do) through a series of cherished neighborhoods — Mugford Street, High Street, Monroe Road, Shuman Road,

Foster Street and finally Doaks Lane. It was in these homes that they raised their three children, Betsy, Rick and Alex.

During these years, Lois cultivated friendships and passions that brought her great joy. She loved playing bridge with close friends, and enjoyed tennis, paddle and golf. She was a proud member of the Eastern Yacht Club and Tedesco Country Club, but she held a special place in her heart for her work at The Marblehead Reporter, where she rediscovered her love of writing and sharing the stories of the townspeople she grew to adore.

Our mother was intelligent and dignified, with the most beautiful blue eyes — and she loved nothing more than a good coupon. She was an accomplished singer, dancer and pianist; a voracious reader;

and a devoted fan of musicals and trivia. Some of her fondest memories were of her childhood at Briar Cliff Farm, Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park, where she developed a lifelong love of the racetrack — placing a modest wager and getting to know the colorful personalities who worked alongside her father in the thoroughbred racing business.

Lois and Dick felt deeply blessed by the loving spouses their children married — Billy, Daye and Holly — but the greatest loves of her life were her eight grandchildren: Grace, Will, Eliza, Tyler, Lauren, Trip, Mac and Raegan, as well as her great-grandson, Bowie. They, like many children in town, affectionately called her “Lolo,” a name she truly cherished.

Later in life, Lolo and Papa

joyfully split more than 25 years between Marblehead and Willoughby Golf Club in Stuart, Florida. Her final months were spent at Sandhill Cove, and the family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff, aides and nurses at Waters Edge in Palm City for their compassionate care.

A celebration of Lois’ life will be held on Monday, July 6, at 11 a.m. at the Eastern Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Marblehead Dollars for Scholars or the Abbott Public Library.

Finally, we hope you remember our mother and wife as an independent woman who was passionate about politics, good grammar and women’s rights.

Lolo — your two favorite horses would want you to know: This isn’t your “Last Dance”, “Lois Cheer”.

POLICE LOG

Toking teen menaces taco shop » Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 7 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 8:17 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Devereux Street and filed a report.

8:27 a.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Baldwin Road.

8:28 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Ames Road and filed a report.

8:35 a.m. An officer rendered assistance to a citizen on Ocean Avenue.

2:53 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Washington Street and filed a report.

5:05 p.m. A cellphone was found on Prospect Street.

6:15 p.m. A utilities issue was reported on Doaks Lane.

9:31 p.m. An officer assisted at the scene of a vehicle crash on School and Washington streets.

warnings: 0 9:25 a.m. A resident reported receiving annoying phone calls.

4:10 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Starbucks on Pleasant Street to investigate the report of a disturbance.

Upon his arrival, he spoke with a woman who said she is familiar with a 13- or 14-year-old boy who often causes a problem for Spitfire Tacos next door. She said that the boy often comes in and smokes inside, steals things and refuses to leave. Today, the woman saw the boy taking a puff of his e-cigarette inside the Starbucks. The boy had left a few minutes prior to the officer’s arrival. He advised the woman to call the police back when he was causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the store.

She was also advised about the no-trespass process, which the store could act on themselves.

6:57 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Leggs Hill and Londonderry roads.

7:30 p.m. A caller made a complaint about a moving vehicle on Washington Street.

Wednesday, Jan. 21

Thursday, Jan. 22

Tuesday, Jan. 20

» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 12 » Abandoned 911 calls: 0 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal

» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 4 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 1 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0

9:02 a.m. An officer spoke with a woman on Nanepashemet Street regarding a case of identity fraud. According to the woman, she had received a letter in the mail from Capital One last week containing a brand new credit card for which she had not applied. The credit card had her maiden name listed on the back as the card holder.

In addition, part of her email address was listed on the front.

The woman had contacted Capital One and reported the fraudulent activity, and Capital One had canceled the credit card and recommended that she file a police report. She had also received a suspicious letter back in November asking her to confirm her credit limit.

When she called the company — she was not entirely certain it was Capital One — she felt as though the person to whom she was speaking was not legit.

For example, they asked for her Social Security number, which

she did not feel comfortable providing. Instead, she ended the conversation. The officer provided her with the website Identitytheft.gov to report the incident. In addition, he advised her it might be a good idea to check her credit to make sure there was no other fraudulent activity. He also recommended that she consider placing a fraud alert or freeze on her credit.

4:31 p.m. A general complaint was made on Whittier Road.

7:19 p.m. A citizen was provided assistance on Mechanic Square.

7:24 p.m. A general complaint was made on Pierce Street.

Friday, Jan. 23

» Alarms: 4 » Building/property checks: 23 » Abandoned 911 calls: 0 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1 9:59 a.m. Services were rendered after a report of found or lost property on Ferry Lane.

11:07 a.m. Found or lost property was reported on Front Street and Fort Beach Way. 11:50 a.m. Suspicious activity was reported on Merritt Street.

2:32 p.m. A general complaint was investigated on Calthrope Road.

3:19 p.m. A citizen was

rendered assistance on Central Street.

4:19 p.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Front Street.

4:40 p.m. A purse was found on Ocean and Atlantic avenues.

Saturday, Jan. 24

» Alarms: 4 » Building/property checks: 15 » Abandoned 911 calls: 2 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2 8:47 a.m. Services were rendered after a utilities issue was reported on Vine Street.

9:45 a.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Atlantic Avenue and filed a report.

2:45 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Washington Street and filed a report.

3:44 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Village and Pleasant streets but could not locate its source.

4:23 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Front Street and filed a report.

5:07 p.m. A citizen was assisted on Washington Street and a report was filed.

10:43 p.m. Officers were provided general information on Gerry Street, and they filed a report.

BEACON HILL ROLL CALL

15 months after voters approve audit, state Legislature still pushing back

BY BOB KATZEN The heat was turned up last week on the more than yearlong debate on Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s right to audit the House of Representatives. In the November 2024 election, voters approved Ballot Question 1 asking them if they favor allowing the state auditor to audit the Legislature. The question passed overwhelmingly by 72% of the vote. In Marblehead, Question 1 passed 9,054 to 3,728.

It has now been 15 months since the voters approved the audit, but a current audit has yet to take place.

Last February, the House rejected an amendment that would allow DiZoglio to audit the House. Marblehead Rep. Jenny Armini voted with the majority.

Attorney General Andrea

Campbell and Auditor Diana DiZoglio have been at loggerheads about the issue, as DiZoglio has repeatedly requested that Campbell represent her in suing the House or allow DiZoglio to hire an outside lawyer to sue the House for not complying with her attempted audit.

Campbell contends that she needs more information from DiZoglio to move forward on either option — telling “Boston Public Radio” co-hosts Margery Eagan and Jim Braude, “I hope the auditor stops the standoff.”

Campbell maintains that she is still awaiting answers to questions about the major legal issues of the case, including what DiZoglio believes she can and cannot audit, who she would sue and what the legal claim would be.

DiZoglio responded, “She

cannot continue to claim that my office hasn’t given her what she needs yet refuse to sue me. She has the power to sue both me and the Legislature, right now, but refuses to do either. These are all stall tactics giving the Legislature more time to destroy documents and records.”

The auditor continued, “What we are all witnessing right before our eyes is nothing short of public corruption. Our attorney general has conspired with the speaker and Senate president to secure a very large budget increase for herself as a reward for this cover up. It’s beyond disgraceful.”

New England Newspaper and Press Association Hall of Famer Bob Katzen, who founded Beacon Hill Roll Call in 1975, welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall. com.

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, February 11, 2026 15

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Headlight

Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2025 - 2026 Issue

www.mhsheadlight.com

February 11, 2026

Interview with Mr. Helfrich

ICHSA 2026 Georgia Marshall, Assistant Editor, Junior

Anna Cruikshank, Assistant Editor, Sophomore

Imagine this: It’s 6:45 in the morning. Bleary eyed and fresh out of bed, you’ve arrived at school. Despite your tired body and early morning vocal chords, you enter the chorus room prepared to sing an a cappella set with choreography. You and your group of fifteen or so other singers tirelessly run and rerun each song; correcting notes, formations, choreo, and dynamics. That is the reality for members of Luminescence and Jewel Tones, our school’s competition a cappella groups, in the weeks leading up to the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA for short). And while morning rehearsals, combined with afternoon rehearsals, recording assignments, and practice at home, prompt exhaustion, they are one of the many things we love about a cappella.

Mr. Helfrich is an English teacher new to Marblehead High School this year, with lots of experience in other districts. His class quickly became something I look forward to everyday because of his innovative and relevant approach to literature. Because of this, I interviewed him to learn more about his teaching philosophy and personal life.

Every year, LumiTones competes in ICHSA, which is a March Madness-style tournament for high school a cappella groups all across the country in which they perform a set of three songs with choreography. This year, we made it into the quarterfinals for the Northeast Region, two of dozens of groups from across the country. Our competition took place on January 31 at Galvin Middle School in Wakefield. While neither group moved on, the experience of competing and performing after months of preparation was enough to constitute a victory. Lumi kicked off our set with “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, bringing spice and sass to the stage with senior soloist Alyssa VargasVista. Next was “Pretty Hurts,” a soulful reflection on the pressures of femininity by Beyoncé, with junior soloists Cassidy Klock and Jane Rickards. Finally, we shined brightly performing “Diamonds” by Rihanna, with senior soloist Sadie Newburg, who is also our music director.

Jewel Tones performed an equally thrilling set, starting with a jazzy and powerful rendition of “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna, soloed by freshman Lilya Gurevich. They then commanded the stage with “First Light” by Hozier, featuring senior and music director Charlie Seliger as soloist. Their set concluded with the explosive “Green Light” by Lorde, with junior soloist and choreographer Arianna

Leahy. Daphne Seliger, a sophomore in Jewel Tones, describes the experience; “ICHSA is super fun and inclusive to so many groups. We get so much time to rehearse our sets and visit other groups’ rooms, and the actual competition is so rewarding.”

This year, Mr. Helfrich is teaching a variety of classes, including 10th and 12th Grade Honors English, 10th Grade College Prep English, and a Creative Writing elective. His love for teaching English stems from his passion for what English meant to him as a student. He talks about English classes as “a sort of refuge, a place to question and analyze the human condition,” and that his love for teaching is based on his interest in human nature and how literature explores the human psyche.

When asked to describe his teaching style in three words, Mr. Helfrich stressed the value of student voice, his three words were “activating student agency.” This shows through what he values most about teaching high school students: watching them become confident enough to be themselves. He said, “When they feel safe in a classroom, they express their true self in a way that I cherish.”

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Helfrich also comes from a rather surprising background for many students. Before he became a teacher, he was a competitive wrestler on Team Georgia and was training in the national program to try out for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team. However, after suffering injuries such as a bruised spinal cord and multiple concussions, he ultimately became an educator.

Outside of the classroom, Mr. Helfrich is also an animal lover and takes care of animals. He fosters animals and currently has a dog, two cats, and two rabbits of his own. He also works at an animal rehabilitation center that helps injured wildlife rehabilitate back to their former state.

When it comes to giving advice to students about their future, Mr. Helfrich also believes that students should “stay alert to the messages you receive, on a daily basis…We are constantly being marketed to. It is important to keep in mind what ideas and products are worth accepting.” He thinks that one of the most valuable things that students can learn in today’s world is the skill of rhetorical analysis. In a world where STEM education is becoming more and more important, he thinks that the humanities are still a vital part of education, saying that they are “one of the few bastions to develop rhetorical analysis, and independent and creative thought.”

Ultimately, Mr. Helfrich wants his students to take more than just a greater appreciation of literature from his class. He wants them to understand that “their opinion on the world matters,” and that they can express it confidently. He also wants them to understand that sometimes there are multiple truths, and that they should all be given the same weight.

ICHSA isn’t merely a competition. It is a celebration of the uniting power of music and the bond that each group shares. In between every run, there was laughter, excitement, and joy. There were carpools to practice at the middle school, munchkins from Dunkin Donuts before singing in the morning, and last minute rehearsals at group members' houses. Both groups dedicated themselves to the craft of a cappella, working tirelessly to perfect dynamics, curate choreography, and make beautiful chords. No matter the outcome of the competition, every year we compete we are reminded of why we are in the groups; to sing, to dance, and to have fun.

Headlight Staff 2025 - 2026 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grey Collins

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Evan Eisen, Anna Cruikshank, Georgia Marshall

REPORTERS: Maya Berman, Piper Browning, Jack Buckley, Nathaniel Carper-Young, Madeline Duffy, Teagan Freedman, Maximilian Kane, Sophie Li, Eve Magen, London Perlow, Mary Prindiville SOCIAL MEDIA: Anna Baughman

FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins

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