02.25.2026 - Volume 4, Issue 14

1

Budget pressure builds: Town leaders weigh cuts versus a possible override in a pivotal week. Page 2.

2 Curiosity into commerce: Meet Margaret Bacon, the Marbleheader turning her lifelong love of “why” into a new business. Page 1.

3 Running for his own: Firefighter John Lequin takes on the Boston Marathon in support of the colleagues who stand beside him. Page 1.

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Guest column: As enrollment declines, why haven’t school staffing levels and costs followed suit? Page 4.

5

Wellness and more: Marblehead Wellness Day returns with expert advice, community resources and fun giveaways. Page 11.

Lequin runs for firefighter cancer awareness

BY LEIGH BLANDER

For nearly two decades, John Lequin Jr. has run toward danger as a firefighter in Marblehead. This spring, he will run 26.2 miles for a different reason.

Lequin, 46, a longtime member of the Marblehead Fire Department, will compete in the 2026 Boston Marathon to raise money and awareness for occupational cancer among firefighters — a cause that

became deeply personal last year.

“No one ever expects to hear the words, ‘You have cancer,’” Lequin said.

A diagnosis no one expects

In November 2024, around Thanksgiving, Lequin noticed a small lump in his neck. He felt healthy and had no symptoms. While he can’t pinpoint a certain fire or event that may have

triggered the cancer, he is sure it’s related to the many fires he’s battled.

Doctors determined the lump — about the size of a golf ball — was nodular melanoma that had spread to a lymph node. The primary source was never found.

Lequin underwent several months of treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Danvers campus, including immunotherapy, which stimulates the body’s immune

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The Blizzard of ’26 slammed Marblehead late Sunday into Monday, burying the town under heavy, wet snow and lashing it with high winds that caused scattered power outages.

Most of the outages were reported in the Clifton and Peach Highland neighborhoods as crews worked to clear roads and restore service.

“Every resource available in town is straight out,” Police Chief Dennis King told the Current Sunday morning.

The blizzard marked the latest in a punishing stretch of winter weather. In January, Marblehead was hit with 21 inches of snow, with another 11.5 dropping during a Feb. 7 storm, according to the National Weather Service.

Several smaller snowfalls have added to the seasonal total.

system to recognize and attack cancer cells.

“Each cell has a stamp on it,” he said. “Immunotherapy tells your body that the stamp on the cells is bad. The immune system kills it.”

The treatment worked. The tumor shrank by more than half before it was surgically removed. There was no metastasis, and all cancer cells were dead.

FOCUSING ON THE ‘WHY’ Resident’s website

feeds her lifelong curiosity

BY LEIGH BLANDER

As a child, Margaret Bacon did not just want to memorize the date of the Battle of Hastings. She wanted to know why it was fought.

“It was always the date and the event, William the Conqueror, 1066, the Battle of Hastings,” she said. “But why? That’s what always interested me.”

That lifelong curiosity shapes Very Cool Facts, a website she launched two years ago. The site is designed to explain ideas clearly and calmly, offering readers context, meaning and the quiet satisfaction of understanding something they may not have noticed before.

For 30 years, Bacon worked in the investment business. Her job was not to pick stocks, but to make sense of them for others.

“I was responsible for describing why the market was up or down, why we bought a stock, why we sold a stock, to investors and internal teams,” she explained.”

The role combined analysis with clear communication and included writing published pieces on global markets and economic themes. “Good explanations make complex ideas feel approachable,” she said.

Now retired from finance, Bacon shifted

BY LEIGH BLANDER

A projected $8.6 million budget gap is forcing Marblehead leaders into a defining week of decisions on layoffs, service cuts and a possible tax override.

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer is scheduled to present a balanced town budget and possible override requests to the Select Board at a public meeting. One night later, Superintendent John Robidoux and the School Committee will host a community forum, Thursday, Feb. 26, to answer questions about the district’s level-funded spending plan — a plan that includes program reductions and staff cuts.

Together, the meetings mark an important milestone in closing a projected $8.6 million budget gap.

A widening gap

In his January State of the Town address, Kezer warned that rising employee health insurance and pension costs are driving much of the shortfall. Without a voterapproved override, he said, the town could face significant service reductions and 50 or more layoffs.

Kezer is expected to outline override scenarios for the Select Board, at the request of member Erin Noonan.

“What would it look like to preserve our status quo for the next three years?” Noonan asked at a recent meeting. “Also, investing in areas that have been depleted and that are smart decisions for the town.”

Noonan asked her colleagues to clarify where they stand on a potential override — and whether it should be structured as a singleyear or multiyear increase.

“Personally, I’m looking for a

multiyear plan,” she said.

Select Board Chair Dan Fox agreed, suggesting that a threeyear override should include “a commitment that we won’t come back” seeking additional increases.

But Select Board member Moses Grader expressed doubt that voters would embrace such an approach.

“I don’t think Marbleheaders are going to vote on a multiyear override,” he said. “I think that’s a heavy ask.”

Schools brace for cuts

Meanwhile, the School Committee’s Thursday forum will focus on the district’s levelfunded budget proposal, which keeps spending flat but requires reductions in staffing (nearly 15 full-time positions) and programming to balance costs.

School leaders have said the plan reflects the financial

constraints facing the town as a whole. The Feb. 26 meeting is intended to give residents an opportunity to ask questions and better understand how the proposed cuts could affect students and families.

What comes next

After Kezer’s Feb. 25 presentation, the town’s Finance Committee will meet with department heads throughout March to review spending plans in detail. In April, the committee will hold public hearings on warrant articles with financial impacts ahead of Town Meeting. With override discussions intensifying and department budgets under scrutiny, the coming weeks are likely to shape not only next year’s spending plan, but the trajectory of Marblehead’s services and staffing for years to come.

Immigration experts:

‘Without due process, there is no democracy’

BY ALEKA KROITZSH

About 100 people gathered Feb. 17 at Old North Church to learn about new changes to immigration rules and how to help protect neighbors who may be targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

At the forum, Marblehead immigration attorneys Diann Slavit Baylis and Nancy Norman, along with Brandeis University professor and Massachusetts ACLU board member Alexandra Piñero-Shields, outlined recent changes to immigration proceedings, the law and community activism.

People who have ‘done everything right’

Prior to the Trump administration, there were injustices within the immigration system, Norman said, but Trump’s “unilateralism” and the “anti-immigrant climate” have contributed to what she described as an immigration crisis. It has become increasingly difficult for lawyers to practice immigration law, Norman said, as clients are detained and transferred to different parts of the country. As a result, attorneys must coordinate with professionals in other states to advocate for their clients.

“People who have done everything right are now hunted down like criminals with no chance of bail or bond,” said Baylis, who represents asylumseekers, families and work permit applicants.

Baylis said the Trump administration is sending

letters to unaccompanied immigrant children offering them $2,500 to self-deport. Typically, unaccompanied children are sponsored by family members already living in the United States, but she said the federal government is imposing restrictive sponsor requirements, making it more difficult for children to be claimed. Sponsors, especially those who are undocumented, are afraid to come forward, she said.

In the absence of a sponsor, ICE determines placement in the child’s best interest. Baylis said children fear being placed in adult detention centers — which has happened in the past — where obtaining bail or bond is difficult.

How to respond to an ICE incident

ICE and FBI agents took three Marblehead landscapers into custody on Beach Street last September. At least two were deported to Guatemala.

At the forum, one community member asked whether police have an obligation to stop “obvious assault and battery” by ICE. Piñero-Shields encouraged residents to meet with Marblehead police to ask that question and to explore ways to draw clear lines between local law enforcement and ICE.

Police are not required to enforce federal immigration law, she said, and can instead choose to protect community members from violent altercations with ICE.

She also urged residents to examine which companies the local Police Department partners with. She noted that Salem

recently joined Somerville, Cambridge, Newton, Chelsea and Lynn in ending its contract with Flock, a license plate-reading service that shares information with ICE.

Neighborhood watch, accompaniment system

In the past, the immigration system operated under a norm that allowed many undocumented workers to remain in the United States provided they checked in annually with ICE. Many of those individuals have lived in the country for years, Piñero-Shields said, but are now being pursued.

The current immigration system is based on the logic of expulsion, she said, and can only be answered with the logic of belonging. She suggested Marblehead could create systems of solidarity, such as a neighborhood watch for ICE activity.

ICE has also been targeting courthouses, Piñero-Shields said, detaining clients before they can appear before a judge. Local organizations such as LUCE and ECHO provide court accompaniment to help protect individuals from ICE detention.

“We want people who commit crimes to serve time. But people are not getting due process … Without due process, there is no democracy,” Norman said. She is one of Massachusetts’ most seasoned removal defense attorneys, with nearly 40 years of experience in immigration law.

Community members expressed concern that immigrant neighbors are afraid to buy groceries or vote in upcoming elections for

fear of detention. Piñero-Shields suggested creating a community accompaniment system, drawing nods and murmurs of agreement from the audience.

“That’s a good idea,” someone in the audience said.

“It is a really hard time, but I do believe people are banding together… At the end of the day, we’re trying to protect our clients,” Norman said.

‘They weren’t on my radar’

Marblehead resident Barbara Roy, who volunteers with the LUCE Foundation, said she recently used her LUCE training to help an immigrant neighbor and emergency medical services worker whose temporary protected status was revoked by the government.

“I ask you all to learn more and be ready to help people… I was so busy in my own lane with my little white privilege thing, and I wasn’t caring about them. They weren’t on my radar, but they are now. They are our neighbors,” Roy said.

Refugee changes

The Trump administration has also overhauled the refugee process, Baylis said, reducing the number of refugees admitted from 125,000 under the Biden administration to 7,500, with priority given to English-speaking South Africans. In addition, refugees — particularly Afghan nationals — admitted during the Biden administration are being re-vetted, she said.

The meeting ended with a minute of silence, during which attendees were asked to consider one way they could help their immigrant neighbors.

Marblehead immigration attorneys Diane Slavit Baylis and Nancy Norman speak at an immigration forum Feb. 17, along with Brandeis University professor Alexandra Piñero-Shields.

New group aims to reimagine town’s parks with beauty, biodiversity in mind

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Recreation and Parks

Commissioner Larry Simpson is spearheading an effort to bring new life — and new vision — to Marblehead’s public parks.

Working alongside local landscape architect Kathy Bradford, Simpson is forming a nonprofit, Friends of Marblehead Parks, with a mission to enhance the town’s green spaces through thoughtful design, native plantings and long-term sustainability.

“We’re concerned about the aesthetics of the parks as you drive by and walk by,” Simpson said. “There’s no design intent. There’s nothing. And there’s just one layer for most of the parks, which is trees.”

The proposed nonprofit is in the early stages of applying for 501(c)(3) status. An ad hoc committee of eight volunteers — including master gardeners, garden club members and landscape professionals — has begun meeting in recent months to lay the groundwork.

Their goal is twofold: improve the beauty and integrity of parks under the Recreation and Parks Commission’s purview while also increasing biodiversity and reducing long-term maintenance.

“No one goes in and says, ‘What birds are nesting here, or what invertebrates are living here?’” Simpson said. “I think we’re remiss in not being more proactive that way.”

Learning from other communities

The group points to successful models elsewhere, including the Friends of the Public Garden in Boston and community-driven efforts in Gloucester.

In Boston, spaces like the Public Garden and the Rose Kennedy Greenway demonstrate what’s possible

when professional design and sustained fundraising support public landscapes.

“Boston has some really beautiful parks,” Simpson said. “They’re designed; they’re thought out. There are people with master’s degrees, Ph.Ds, who have worked on landscapes for 40 years saying, ‘What do we do with this quarter-acre, halfacre?’ We, on the other hand, just stumble through things.”

Bradford said Marblehead has many private gardens but few public spaces designed primarily for beauty and reflection.

“Marblehead has a lot of inward gardens,” she said. “But there are no gardens — like the Public Garden in Boston or the Rose Kennedy garden — places to go and enjoy beauty as well as being outdoors. They’re all recreational. So, what we’re trying to do is add another layer to the parks, another reason to come to them.”

From grass to gardens

The group hopes to begin

with an audit of existing parks, assessing conditions, plant life and opportunities for improvement. Parks under the commission’s jurisdiction include Crocker Park, Fort Sewall, Chandler Hovey Park, Castle Rock, Fountain Park, Hammond Park, Seaside Park and the Bike Park at Green Street.

Rather than eliminating recreational uses, organizers say they want to enhance the perimeters and underused areas.

“At Glabicky Field (at the intersection of Lafayette and Maple streets), there’s a big central space, and we’re just talking about the edges — the perimeter,” Simpson said.

“We’re not stripping away anything. We’re adding.”

Plans include planting beds along park edges to reduce lawn areas and mowing needs while introducing native species that support pollinators and birds. Ideas under discussion include rain gardens, butterfly gardens

and even sensory plantings designed for touch and scent.

The long-term vision, organizers say, is expansive — potentially spanning decades.

“It’s the rest of our life, for sure,” Simpson said with a smile.

Fundraising and volunteers

To support the effort, the Friends group is planning a fundraising garden tour and a native plant sale on the third weekend in June, the weekend of Father’s Day and two weeks before the Fourth of July.

Organizers hope the timing will attract residents sprucing up their gardens for summer gatherings. The plant sale will focus exclusively on native species.

“We don’t want to step on anybody’s toes,” Simpson said, noting other local plant sales. “We decided to do it after everybody else, and we’re going to just focus exclusively on native plants.”

Potential private donors have

already expressed interest in contributing significant sums, though organizers emphasize the initiative will rely primarily on private fundraising and volunteer labor.

The group also hopes to partner with local organizations such as the Marblehead Conservancy and area garden clubs, both for expertise and potential cost-sharing on plant purchases.

In addition to raising money, organizers say they need volunteers.

“We’re only eight members now,” Simpson said. “In order to accomplish everything that we are setting our sights on, we’re going to need more members, more volunteers. We need bodies.”

Organizers envision seasonal volunteer days, similar to Earth Day cleanups, where residents can help plant, weed and maintain new garden areas.

A new chapter for public spaces

The group’s broader aim is to rethink how Marblehead’s parks function — not just as athletic fields or scenic overlooks, but as ecologically rich, intentionally designed public gardens.

“Our parks are not gorgeous, and they’re not really giving much ecological service,” Simpson said. “They’re not providing habitat. They’re not providing pollination.”

For Bradford, the vision is simple: create public spaces that invite people to stop, sit and engage.

“It’s a different type of garden park than anything you’ve seen before in the town,” she said.

Residents interested in learning more or volunteering can contact the organizers at lasimp33@gmail.com or bradford_design@comcast.net.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Rec & Parks Commissioner Larry SImpson shared this image of a playground surrounded by wild grasses, trees and shrubs. “What is important is the background is low maintenance/ sustainable and provides habitat for pollinators. Our parks do not do any of that,”Larry Simpson says.

Parks like this offer “a layered look providing wonderful pollen and habitat for insects, butterflies, pollinators and birds,” Simpson says.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Rec & Parks Commissioner Larry Simpson stands with landscape architect Kathy Bradford at Crocker Park.

Opinion

EDITORIAL

State of the Town: Where we go from here

Less than 10 weeks from now, Town Moderator Jack Attridge will gavel Town Meeting to order, and this year it is anticipated that funding for fiscal year 2027 will be hotly debated.

On Jan. 28, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer presented his annual State of the Town report to the Select Board in which he detailed anticipated revenues and expenses for the coming year. Town leaders have been predicting for the past few years that a general override of Proposition 2 1/2 would someday be required in order to maintain the current level of services we have come to expect, and it appears that we have now reached that point.

Kezer highlighted anticipated sources and amounts of revenue along with the costs to maintain a levelfunded budget for next year. Level-funded is not equally funded; rather, it calls for staffing and services to remain the same as the previous year, adjusted for personnel-related contractual obligations and costs over which the town has no control.

Kezer, the Finance Committee and the town’s finance director have worked for many months with our elected officials and department heads to arrive at their collective determination of revenues and expenses needed to maintain existing services, and the numbers are stark. Anticipated revenues for FY27 are expected to decline by over $2 million while expenses are expected to increase by over $6 million, leaving a shortfall of just under $8.5 million.

On the revenue side, major factors for the decline are the reduction of funds for new growth, less free cash, lack of stabilization funds and lower local receipts, including interest income, motor vehicle excise taxes and permit fees.

As for expenses, other than contractual obligations for our town employees, the major increases relate to skyrocketing health insurance premium costs (estimated to increase by 15% or just under $2 million), a new waste contract (estimated to be just under $855,000) and pension costs of just over $462,000.

In order to maintain the existing level of services, Kezer reports that a general override of Proposition 2 1/2 will be required. While the Finance Committee will present a proposed balanced budget at town meeting, it is anticipated that a second, level-services budget will also be presented in a supplemental budget article, which if passed will then require a town-wide override vote in June, failing which there would need to be substantial cuts to existing budgets for FY27. We anticipate that town leaders will explain in detail the consequences of not passing a general override not only at town meeting but in the weeks leading up to it.

This challenge is not unique to Marblehead. The Massachusetts Municipal Association has recently published two reports that interested citizens might want to read, “A Perfect Storm: Cities and Towns Face Historic Fiscal Pressures,” prepared in partnership with the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University and released in October, and “Navigating the Storm: Charting a Course Toward Fiscal Stability,” released two months later. The upshot of those reports is that reductions in state revenues, coupled with inflation and rising costs of uncontrolled expenses have been impacting communities throughout Massachusetts, not just Marblehead.

In recent years, surrounding communities — including Stoneham, Georgetown, Lynnfield, Melrose and Milton — have passed general overrides to maintain levels of service, and there is every reason to believe this trend will continue. Some of these recent overrides have provided menus of choices such as schools, public safety and general government, enabling voters to vote increases for all or some such categories as opposed to having a single up-or-down vote on one number. We encourage our town leaders to discuss and determine what approach to recommend to town voters.

To inform our readers of different aspects of the town’s finances, we will be publishing in coming weeks a series of articles under the heading “Overriding Considerations,” the first of which ran in last week’s edition. And as we approach Town Meeting, it is likely we will opine further on the State of the Town. Stay tuned. In the end, it will be up to the town’s voters to decide what comes next.

EDUCATION

Trends in our schools: Where

we’ve

come from and the choices ahead

BY MELISSA CLUCAS, MARBLEHEAD SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Many Marblehead residents care deeply about our public schools — whether they have children currently in the system, grown children who once attended or simply value the strength of our town. We are living through a period of significant financial pressure across the town, and those pressures are real for families and taxpayers alike. School budgets are complicated, and they affect everyone. It is reasonable — and healthy — for residents to ask hard questions. One of the most pressing questions of late has been: enrollment is down, why haven’t staffing and costs fallen in the same proportion?

As a member of the School Committee, I believe our community deserves a clear understanding of where we have come from — and what is shaping the decisions in front of us. The analysis below is based on data Marblehead Public Schools reports annually to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. That information is publicly available through the DESE District Profile for Marblehead.

The demographic reality: Since the 2016–2017 school year, enrollment in the Marblehead Public Schools has declined from 3,144 students to a projected 2,389 students this year — a 24% decrease. This shift reflects long-term demographic changes in our town and is not indicative of a decline in school quality. Communities across Massachusetts and the nation are experiencing similar enrollment declines, driven by lower birth rates and aging populations.

Public school participation in Marblehead has remained steady at 76–79% of school-aged residents for nearly a decade; the reality is simply that many households whose children once filled our classrooms have aged out. Since 2016, the share of residents age 65 and older has risen from 17.9% to 22.6% — meaning roughly 1,100 more Marblehead residents are now over age 65 than in 2016. 1

Proactive rightsizing: The district has not been idle in the face of these shifts. The consolidation of Bell, Coffin and Gerry into the Brown School was a significant, multi-year structural change driven by projected declines in enrollment. By reducing our building footprint, we eliminated the overhead of maintaining aging facilities and redundant programs. This was a proactive rightsizing of our infrastructure designed specifically to address the demographic shifts we are seeing today.

The staffing delta: While enrollment has declined 24% since 2016, staffing has declined 14.7%. That 9% gap understandably raises questions. Two factors explain most of it:

Enrollment has declined gradually across 13 grades and five schools. Because the district cannot eliminate a fraction of a teacher, staffing reductions occur only when enrollment drops enough to consolidate an entire classroom. As a result, staffing adjustments naturally lag enrollment declines.

While we have fewer general education classrooms today, overall staffing has not declined at the same rate as enrollment because the needs of our students have changed. We have seen a fundamental shift in the complexity of student needs. Since 2016 — and especially since the pandemic — the percentage of students identified as “High Needs”

has increased from 27% to 32%. Students identified with autism have increased approximately 34%, and those with neurological or health-related disabilities approximately 48%. These students often require specialized, federally mandated support ratios that do not fluctuate with general enrollment. As a result, much of the 9% staffing “delta” reflects the personnel required to serve our highest-need students.

Benchmarking the Marblehead standard: Despite significant demographic shifts, Marblehead continues to operate as a lean and efficient district. Our studentteacher ratio of 11.4 to 1 matches the statewide average, and our per-pupil expenditure of $21,972 is approximately 4% below the state average.

Importantly, this efficiency has not come at the expense of academic outcomes. Marblehead High School ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts public high schools, according to U.S. News & World Report, and boasts a 99% graduation rate. In spring 2025, 58% of Marblehead students met or exceeded expectations on the MCAS in both English Language Arts and Math — 15 percentage points above the state average of 43%. The district also offers more than 20 Advanced Placement courses with strong student participation, reflecting a broad and rigorous academic program.

Marblehead is delivering a high-performing school system at a below-average cost — and strong public schools contribute meaningfully to the long-term stability and property values of our community.

The choices ahead: A 24% enrollment decline does not translate into a 24% reduction in costs because the system, while smaller, is more complex and more regulated. We have reached an “operational floor” where every building requires baseline services — nurses, custodians and principals, among others — regardless of whether a class has 18 students or 27.

At this point, further reductions would require changes that directly affect programming and students. Any additional cuts would move beyond efficiency adjustments and into structural decisions that shape the classroom experience. In practical terms, that could mean larger class sizes, reductions in elective offerings at the middle and high school level, fewer intervention or support staff for students who are struggling, or the elimination of certain extracurricular or enrichment programs. These are not abstract tradeoffs; they directly shape students’ daily experience and the quality of a Marblehead education.

The path forward is not simple. It requires balancing fiscal responsibility with preserving the strength of a school system that anchors our town and contributes to the long-term stability and property values of our community.

My commitment is to transparency, fiscal discipline and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I believe the School Committee and district leadership are approaching this work thoughtfully and with clear eyes about the tradeoffs involved. Marblehead is at a consequential financial moment — shaped by demographic realities, structural cost pressures and years of deferred financial strain. The decisions we make now will influence not only next year’s budget, but the long-term strength of our schools. We may not all agree on the solution, but we owe one another an honest, fact-based conversation as we determine what kind of school system — and community — we want to sustain.

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Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. Letters over the word limit may be returned to the writer for editing.

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published in the Current.

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Letters must include:

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Why we do the things we do

BY MARGARET BACON

It has occurred to me that most of us are still guided by instincts built for a much rougher coastline.

We wake up in old houses that have seen a few Nor’easters. We glance toward the harbor, check our phones before coffee and worry about parking near Abbot Hall. Yet we carry habits shaped by cold Atlantic nights, uncertain catches and boats that did not always return when expected. The puzzle is not that we behave strangely. The puzzle is that we behave as if the margin for error is still razor thin. Take criticism. A single sharp remark can lodge in memory like a pebble in a shoe, while a dozen compliments are politely deflected and quietly forgotten. This is not insecurity. It is

training. For most of human history, missing danger was fatal. Or consider snowstorms. The forecast mentions six inches and Crosby’s looks like final preparations for a long voyage. Milk disappears. Bread vanishes. Eggs are treated as negotiable currency. By morning the plows have passed, the lights are on and the espresso machine is humming. Yet something ancient in us insists: Store it now. Winter may have ambitions.

We still scan for threats, only now they arrive in zoning proposals and email threads rather than on the horizon. The brain that once watched for privateers now monitors the Old & Historic Districts Committee agenda with similar vigilance.

Our instinct to belong remains strong. In a town where family names echo and history is layered like old paint, standing apart can feel riskier than it is. Once, isolation along this coast

Even our leisure reveals us. We binge shows and scroll feeds while living in a town that once required navigation, patience and nerve.

could mean real trouble. Today it usually means a cool reception at the post office. The nervous system does not revise its estimates.

We also love patterns. One development proposal becomes the end of Marblehead as we know it. One slow drive through town and we are suddenly certain traffic has permanently doubled. Our brains are wired to treat what just happened as what will keep happening. Once, that instinct kept us alive. If the wind shifted once, it might shift again. We still carry that reflex. Even our leisure reveals us. We binge shows and scroll feeds while living in a town that once required navigation, patience and nerve. We prefer the tidy victories of cleared inboxes

and watching a progress bar fill to 100% than the deeper satisfaction of mastering a skill that cannot be rushed. None of this makes us foolish. It makes us descendants.

We hoard because scarcity once stalked this place. We replay mistakes because errors once carried consequences measured in lives, not comment sections. We react quickly because delay once meant a lost opportunity.

The difficulty is that Marblehead is no longer a windswept outpost waiting on the next catch. Yet our nervous systems continue to behave as though every alert deserves urgency and every snowfall demands provisioning.

Last century’s chicken, revived

BY LINDA BASSETT

On winter weekends, I like to thumb through old cookbooks searching for old treasures. I might want to revive one of grandma’s recipes, renew it or tweak it for the present day. I just struck gold: Chicken Marbella.

In the last two decades of the past century, home cooks made this a dinner party go-to. Kind of show-off-y, chicken is surprisingly combined with pitted prunes, green olives and capers in a roasting pan.

Originally created at Manhattan’s Silver Palate food shop back in the 1970s and 1980s, it was that carryout venue’s “gold standard.” The Silver Palate itself was a blockbuster business in its day. Customers would stop in on the way home from work to choose dinner from a display of main courses, maybe a side dish or dessert. The chicken became a standard at the large casual dinner party. Young couples celebrated it on candlelit tables.

The shop’s popular owners, Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins, partnered with food writer Michael McLaughlin, for a cookbook filled with their food and joyous entertaining philosophy, decorated with hand drawings. Cooks far from Manhattan, enthusiastically embraced Chicken Marbella, easily whipped up in huge

batches. Some people bought the book for the lifestyle; others just for that recipe – and maybe the one for chocolate cake. (More successful cookbooks followed.) To bring it into the current century. I reduced what seemed like an overwhelming amount of olive oil and sugar. I switched the dried oregano for fresh leaves. (Do a taste test to see the amazing difference.) I substituted chicken thighs for the assorted chicken pieces. Use boneless or bone-in but keep the skin on as that’s where the sugar works its subtle magic.

REVIVED, RENEWED, REINVENTED CHICKEN MARBELLA

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS. Lukins and Rosso suggested room temperature with a baguette and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I like it served at the table hot from the baking dish with the juices spooned over it.

Definitely a chocolate dessert.

` ½ cup olive oil

` 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

` 1cup pitted prunes

` ½ cup pitted plain green olives

`

½ cup capers, plus brine from the jar

` 2 bay leaves

` 4 cloves garlic, peeled and puréed

` 2 teaspoons dried oregano

` salt, fresh ground black pepper

` 6 pounds chicken thighs

` 1 cup dry white wine

` ¼ cup brown sugar

` ¼ cup finely chopped flat parsley

In a large, leak-proof plastic bag, combine olive oil, vinegar,

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Resident asks MPD to stand with town when ICE comes to town

To the editor: During my 60 years here in Marblehead, I have come to know of the dedication of our Police Department in comforting lost children, managing traffic situations and responding when our neighbors face emergencies.

That lifelong sense of safety and reassurance was painfully absent on Sept. 12, 2025, when the Department of Homeland Security came to town and took three men into custody without any visible local police presence. The silence and absence of our familiar protectors left many of us shaken and unsettled.

After that event, I met with Police Chief Dennis King. I shared my deep disappointment that our police force was not present during this operation. Our community deserves the

When you find yourself stewing over one criticism, defending a minor position as if it were a constitutional amendment, or buying more milk than six inches could reasonably justify, it may help to remember that you are not malfunctioning.

You are simply carrying very old instructions into a place that no longer requires quite so much vigilance.

And on a good day, you may notice, and decide that one loaf will do.

Margaret Bacon is the founder and senior editor of VeryCoolFacts. com and Safe Harbor Media Group, a scalable educational media platform built around verified, insight-driven storytelling. Her work explores history, science, culture and the enduring patterns of human behavior that shape how we think and act today. She is based in Marblehead.

prunes, olives, capers and a teaspoon or two of brine from the jar, bay leaves, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.

Add the chicken pieces turning to mix the ingredients, coating the chicken. Transfer to the refrigerator for at least four hours to overnight. (Place the bag in a bowl in case of leakage.) If you think of it, turn the bag from time to time. Preheat the oven to 350F. Place

comfort and reassurance of seeing our local officers standing nearby, ready to safeguard people and help prevent any harmful or dangerous escalation.

I believe local police have the authority, the responsibility and the obligation to observe the actions of any forces operating in our community. Across the country, we have seen troubling reports and photographs of detainees being mistreated whether left exposed to extreme cold, threatened with assault weapons or ignored when

chicken thighs in a single layer in a shallow roasting pan; spoon the marinade over them. Pour in the wine into the baking pan and sprinkle the brown sugar over the top.

Bake until juices run clear when pierced with a sharp knife, 50 to 60 minutes. Baste every 15 minutes with pan juices. If chicken pieces start to brown too soon, cover the pan loosely with foil.

medical care was urgently needed. There have been documented cases of people being arrested without judicial warrants, and of the wrong individuals being detained, injured or even murdered. These deeply troubling realities raise serious concerns about due process and humane treatment for both bystanders and those targeted.

Sen. Brendan Crighton and Rep. Jennifer Armini have taken a strong stand for protecting access to justice

With tongs, transfer chicken to a serving platter. With a slotted spoon, take the prunes, olives and capers from the pan and add to the platter. Sprinkle with chopped parsley.

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.

in our courts and affirming due process protections for everyone by supporting the Safe Communities Act.

Within our borders, we want to feel confident that our police force truly has our protection at heart and will stand visibly beside us to ensure accountability if outside agencies come to our town again.

Sincerely,

Lynn Nadeau Surf Street

CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT

Current columnist Linda Bassett shares her secrets to Chicken Marbella.

gears after losing a friend to ovarian cancer. She spent two years writing grants for the World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, work that required careful explanation around the importance of early detection. The experience also shaped a broader decision to direct a portion of the project’s revenue toward charitable causes.

A different kind of search experience

That impulse led to Very Cool Facts and its related platforms, which she describes as an alternative to the modern search experience.

“What frustrated me was trying to look something up and being bombarded by pop-up ads,” Bacon said. “It’s exhausting. You almost don’t want the answer anymore.”

So, she built something different: a site designed to be calm and intentional, with quiet, mostly fact-related ads placed unobtrusively along the side. No pop-ups. No autoplay videos. No tracking that follows readers around the internet.

Research and rigor

Asked what sets the site apart from trivia outlets, Bacon draws a clear distinction.

“It’s not about random facts,” she said. “It’s about context. A fact without meaning is forgettable. When you understand why something happened or how it shaped us, it stays with you. I focus on stories that are accurate, grounded and quietly surprising.”

Each fact begins with something that catches her attention, often from academic or science publications. From there, she digs deeper.

She regularly scans a wide range of sources, including

Lequin

Lequin was out of work for six months while undergoing treatment but has since returned to the fire station. Other than trying to eat healthier and being more mindful — including diligent use of sunscreen — he said he feels fortunate.

“I’ve been to too many funerals for guys long into retirement — men and women — from occupational cancer,” Lequin said. “The mentality used to be that we were the smoke eaters, and our bodies would take a beating.”

The hidden risks of the job

Firefighting has changed dramatically in recent decades, he said. Modern homes contain plastics, chemicals and synthetic materials that release toxic substances when they burn. In recent years, new research has also focused on chemicals embedded in turnout gear itself.

“We’re still learning,” Lequin said. “There’s new legislation to get the chemicals they use to treat our gear out of our gear because they’ve found out in the last five years that the gear itself is making us sick.”

Through the firefighters’ union, members are encouraged to undergo specialized cancer screenings, including a comprehensive blood test that checks for multiple types of cancer. Access to the test is limited and distributed by lottery at union meetings.

That reality — that early detection can mean the difference between life and death — is what motivated Lequin to turn his recovery into action.

He is running the marathon on behalf of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts

National Geographic, Britannica, The Financial Times, The Atlantic, the BBC, and JSTOR (a digital archive), following threads across science, history, economics, culture and human behavior. The site includes a dedicated page listing its source material.

She sees Very Cool Facts as a human counterweight to an AI-driven information landscape, where information is faster to retrieve than ever, but editorial judgment still matters.

Human behavior

She is particularly drawn to the patterns that shape how people think and act.

“I’m fascinated by the instincts we still carry,” she said. “Modern life can feel complicated, but when you look at it through the lens of human nature, patterns begin to emerge. I’m interested in why we respond the way we do.”

Beyond the website, she publishes a free weekly newsletter and continues to build a presence across social platforms including TikTok,

Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.

“It’s interesting how the same fact can draw tens of thousands of reactions in one place and far less attention in another,” she said.

Beyond the website

The project is also moving into public spaces through interpretive displays — single, carefully chosen facts distilled into one sentence and paired with a complementary image. Already in production, the

Foundation, a charitable organization that supports firefighters and their families and helps fund those cancer screening and early detection programs.

“My main focus is raising money so more guys can get this test and catch something early,” he said.

Lequin is the first firefighter to represent the foundation in the Boston Marathon. In just one week, he raised $6,500 toward an initial goal of $10,000. Encouraged by support from friends, family and the Marblehead community, he has since increased his goal to between $20,000 and $25,000.

‘A firefighter’s firefighter’ Marblehead Fire Chief Jason Gilliland isn’t surprised that Lequin is running the marathon to give back.

“He’s what we call a firefighter’s firefighter,” Gilliland said. “He’s good at what he does, and he goes above and beyond a lot. He’s always been that way. He’s well respected. He does student fire awareness teaching. He’s a good guy.” Gilliland pointed out that Lequin used to participate in the American Lung Association stair climb in Boston.

“We would do it in full gear with tanks around 70 pounds,” Lequin said. “It was around 90

displays are designed for libraries, museums, historic sites and hotels, places where a brief pause can turn into a moment of curiosity or recognition of something easily overlooked.

The concept is intentionally simple and visual, the kind of clarity Bacon values, designed to make learning feel approachable rather than demanding.

A regional library, for example, might share the little-known history of “Goodnight Moon” being excluded from the New York Public Library’s collection

for more than two decades, largely due to the judgment of a single influential librarian.

To support that work, she formed Safe Harbor Media Group, the publishing and licensing arm behind Very Cool Facts.

The site itself is designed to remain free to readers.

Long-term growth, she said, depends on building traffic and sustainable revenue, with the aim of directing more funds toward charitable causes.

A Marblehead base

Originally from just outside New York, Bacon moved to Marblehead about 40 years ago, where she raised her three children. Two daughters live nearby, and her son lives just north of San Francisco.

“I have six grandchildren,” she said. “I’m lucky to spend time with them whenever I can.”

At heart, her mission has not changed since childhood. She still wants to know why, and she hopes others do, too.

For more information, visit verycoolfacts.com.

to 95 stories.” He added, “The marathon will be the hardest thing physically I will ever challenge myself with, but the stair climb is a close second.”

Family, fitness and finding control

Lequin and his wife, Keri, have two children — a 20-yearold son who is a sophomore at Purdue University and a 16-year-old daughter, a junior at Marblehead High School who plays soccer and basketball and is beginning her college search.

Running has long been his outlet. He ran through college and competed in 10Ks but never attempted a marathon. After his diagnosis, running became therapy.

“When life felt overwhelming, I did what I’ve always done to cope with stress, anger and fear — I ran,” Lequin said. “It was the one thing I could control.” Now, he logs 40 to 50 miles a week, often running laps around the Neck in Marblehead or using the treadmill at the station. He listens to music and audiobooks — he’s gone through nine in the past two months — as he trains.

He admits to some nerves about the famed Heartbreak Hill in Newton.

“You hear about it,” he said. “But I’ve always been a runner. I know how to handle that stuff.”

His goal is to finish in about 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Turning gratitude into purpose

Once he crosses the starting line in Hopkinton, the race will mean more than a time on a clock.

“When you donate, you’re not just supporting one runner or one race,” Lequin said. “You’re standing behind firefighters across Massachusetts who risk their health every time they answer a call. You’re helping ensure early detection, access to care and support when it is needed most.”

For Lequin, the marathon is about turning gratitude into purpose — and making sure that when another firefighter hears the words “you have cancer,” they also hear something just as powerful: “You are not alone.”

Learn more about Lequin’s fundraising efforts at classy.org/ fundraiser/6902794.

COURTESY PHOTO

Margaret Bacon has always been fascinated with the “why.” She launched the website, Very Cool Facts.

The homepage for Very Cool Facts, a website built by Margaret Bacon of Marblehead.

Firefighter John Lequin with his old dog, Rondo, at the Franklin Street firehouse.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Firefighter John Lequin has always loved running. In this photo, his daughter cheers him on in a race several years ago.

John Lequin spent several months in immunotherapy cancer treatment at Mass General Hospital in Danvers.

From P. 1

Marblehead immigration attorney running for Governor’s Council

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead immigration attorney Diann Slavit Baylis is running for Governor’s Council in Massachusetts’ 6th District. Slavit Baylis took out nomination papers this week from the Secretary of State’s Office and plans to collect nomination signatures throughout the district.

The Governor’s Council is an elected body in Massachusetts that provides advice and consent on the Governor’s judicial appointments, pardons and commutations, and warrants for the state treasury. The Council also plays a role in the certification of statewide election results.

“We need judges with knowledge, integrity and

compassion at every level of our judiciary, and I will be a voice for that on the Governor’s Council” said Slavit Baylis. “What many people don’t know is that critical decisions impacting the lives of children who enter the country unaccompanied, like the clients that I have represented as immigration counsel, are being made in our state probate courts. This is a dangerous time for immigrant families. We must ensure that people appointed to judgeships understand immigration law, and that they will stand up for the constitutional rights, safety and best interests of immigrants and immigrant children.”

While most immigration proceedings take place in federal immigration courts, Special Immigrant Juvenile

Status, a path to citizenship for unaccompanied minors, is determined at the state level through the probate courts.

The District 6 Governor’s Council seat is currently held by Terrence W. “Terry” Kennedy, a Lynnfield resident and lawyer with an office in Everett. Kennedy first won election to the Governor’s Council in 2010. In addition to Marblehead, the district includes Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Medford, Melrose, Nahant, Reading, Revere, Saugus, Somerville, Stoneham, Swampscott, Wakefield, Winchester and Winthrop. It also includes some neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge.

Slavit-Baylis is a graduate of Merrimack College and

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

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Moulton files legislature to protect elections

On Feb. 20, Massachusetts 6th District Congressman Seth Moulton introduced the Defend Elections From Trump Act, which would prohibit the use of federal funds to deploy federal law enforcement, intelligence personnel or the military to polling locations without explicit authorization from Congress.

The introduction of this bill comes in response to President Trump’s recent calls for the federalization of elections.

“Election security is vitally important,” said Moulton. “But Donald Trump wants to undermine democracy itself. Voters must be able to cast their ballots without intimidation, without threats and without armed federal personnel standing over their shoulders. That’s not how democracy should work.”

In a press release, Moulton’s office wrote, “The Defend Elections from Trump Act would preserve Congress’s constitutional authority by requiring specific statutory authorization for any such federal presence at domestic election locations. In doing so, the bill would protect voters’ right to cast a ballot free from intimidation or coercion.”

New parks director

Longtime Recreation and Parks employee Brad Delisle has

Suffolk Law School. She has a long history of public service, including volunteering for the Lawyer of the Day program at Essex Probate Court. Earlier in her career she served as deputy campaign coordinator for the Massachusetts Democratic Party, and she is currently an active member of the Marblehead Democratic Town Committee. Slavit Baylis has also supported the work of the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, having testified at legislative hearings and spoken at State House rallies to urge action on muchneeded gun violence prevention legislation.

“I come from a tradition of public service,” said Slavit Baylis, the youngest daughter of former Haverhill Harbormaster

William “Red”

is important work to be done on the Governor’s Council, and I look forward to engaging voters in a conversation about their priorities, and what I can offer them as their Councilor from the 6th District.”

The primary is set for Sept. 1 and the general election is Nov. 3.

been named the town’s parks director. Delisle has worked for the department for 20 years, including the past nine as foreman.

Delisle “brings a strong knowledge of our parks, facilities and operations,” Recreation Director Jaime Bloch told the Current. “We’re really excited to have him in this new role.”

The position was created as part of a departmental reorganization, Bloch said. The parks director oversees park and facility operations, maintenance, safety, capital projects and permitting coordination, and works with other town departments and community groups.

Property valuations

The Board of Assessors is reviewing 82 property value abatement requests for 2025 — a significant drop from 293 requests filed last year and 344 the year before.

Property owners file abatement requests when they believe their property has been overvalued by the town.

Assistant Assessor Todd Laramie said he hopes to issue decisions in all 82 cases by April 15.

Asked whether he has noticed any trends in this year’s applications, Laramie said, “There were several waterfront neighborhoods that had one or two residents file, questioning the increase in their land value from last year.”

The unusually high number of abatement requests in 2024 prompted an investigation that determined many properties had been “critically overvalued.”

The assistant assessor at the time was fired. The town rebated residents more than $540,000 in abatements for overvalued properties.

Laramie outlined steps taken to correct the issue.

“The Board of Assessors contracted with Patriot Properties for a revaluation of the entire town back in 2024,” he explained. “That helped to clean up the adjustments that were improperly made for the FY24 actual tax bills.”

He added, “Last year, before actual tax bills were sent out,

because of what happened in FY24, the Board of Assessors thought it would be a good idea to make the FY25 proposed values available to the public as a courtesy to give them an opportunity to discuss their new FY25 value with me. I did receive quite a few calls as well as walk-in taxpayers coming to our window to discuss. I found that once I have these conversations with residents, go over the details of their property and explain the process of how we arrive at our values, they have a much better understanding of the process and perhaps a little more trust and confidence in their assessment.”

Beyond the badge

Marblehead Police and community partners are launching a new session of Citizens Police Academy 1.0 after 20 residents recently graduated from Police Academy 2.0. Some graduates have expressed interest in continuing with a potential Academy 3.0.

The Marblehead Police Department, along with the Council on Aging and TRIAD, launched the nine-week Citizens Police Academy in 2018. The program offers a “nine-week look behind the badge of a Marblehead Police officer,” according to the department.

In Police Academy 1.0, participants hear presentations from officers and law enforcement experts, visit courthouses and take part in a simulated critical incident.

In 2.0, participants learn about police training goals, crime scene investigation techniques, elder

abuse and how the department facilitates First Amendment expression. Students also tour the Essex County Correctional Facility in Middleton.

“We are really proud that we have worked with the Marblehead Council on Aging and the Police Department to provide a really innovative and great program to the residents of Marblehead,” said Police Chief Dennis King. “We say all the time, we get equal back from our participants as we give, but the hope is that we provide an understanding of what we do and why we do it.”

Participants must complete Police Academy 1.0 before enrolling in advanced sessions. The next session runs April 23-June 11 on Thursdays from 6-9 p.m.

Applications are not yet open. Residents can visit marbleheadma.gov/police for updates. The department will announce when applications become available.

Town employees and facility stickers

The Board of Health voted to allow town employees who live outside Marblehead to purchase facility stickers granting access to the transfer station and Devereux Beach parking lot. Employees may purchase one sticker each at full price.

“We’re going through tough economic times in town, and hopefully this will provide a little incentive to work for our town,” Board of Health member Tom McMahon wrote on Facebook.

“Every little bit helps, and it won’t cost the taxpayers.”

Slavit. “There

Marblehead immigration attorney Diann Slavit Baylis is running for Governor’s Council

COURTESY PHOTO / MPD

The graduating class of Marblehead Police Department’s inaugural Citizens Police Academy 2.0

ABOVE: The high winds knocked down branches around town, including here on West Shore Drive.

LEFT: Light crews responded to several outages around town on Monday.

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Snow blanketed Front Street while high winds battered the shore. There was minimal flooding Monday around 3:30 a.m., according to DPW Director Amy McHugh.

781-631-6225 Marblehead

Sports

ON THE COURT

Magicians boys head into state tournament this Friday

BY LUCA TEDESCRO

The Marblehead Magicians boys’ basketball team finished the regular season with a 59-55 loss to the Swampscott Big Blue at Marblehead High on Feb. 18.

MHS ends the regular season with a 13-7 record and enters the MIAA Division II state tournament as the 20th seed. They will play #13 Doherty Memorial High School in Worcester on Friday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m.

“Our guys played hard,” said Michael Giardi, Marblehead’s head coach, about the Feb. 18 game. “It was kind of an uphill battle the whole way, but credit our guys the whole way. They did a great job. They really worked hard, but there’s a couple little things that have to be done better.”

Swampscott’s offense exploded to life off of the opening tip, posting 13 unanswered points to start the game before Marblehead grabbed their first bucket with 3:35 to play in the quarter.

Down 20-7 at the first quarter horn, coach Giardi’s message to his team was simple: “We’ve got to stay positive.”

The words of encouragement had an immediate effect as Blake Golden and Blake Hammond knocked down 3-pointers early in the second period to kick off a 15-4 run that brought the Magicians within four points

with just over a minute to play before halftime.

The Big Blue would claw back the momentum, however, sinking four consecutive baskets as the clock wound down to push the halftime lead to 32-22.

Marblehead took advantage of Swampscott’s physicality in the third quarter, drawing eight fouls and knocking down seven free

MHS GIRLS BASKETBALL

throws. The Magician frontcourt was bolstered by a 10-point third quarter performance by Cam Weaver.

However, the slow accumulation of points for the Magicians would be outshined by a rapid sequence highlighted by a corner 3 by Swampscott’s top scorer, Connor Chiarello as time expired to extend their lead to 13

with eight minutes remaining.

Down, but not out, Marblehead took advantage of a series of errors by Swampscott, breaking serve and storming their way to an 11-4 run capped by a huge Hammond 3-ball to bring the Magicians within two with 32 seconds to play.

Swampscott found their way back to the free throw line again

and again throughout the dying seconds of the game, finally breaking the one possession barrier with three seconds left in the game.

Marblehead’s hail mary baseball pass from the baseline was intercepted at the top of the far 3-point arc, sealing a 59-55 win for Swampscott to complete their season sweep.

Magicians begin Division 2 state tourney tonight against Notre Dame Academy

BY JOE MCCONNELL

The Marblehead High girls basketball team completed the regular season with a 13-8 record, and despite double digit wins, they are the 38th seed in the Division 2 state tournament. The Magicians will now take on host Notre Dame Academy of Hingham (13-7, 27th seed), a familiar foe, on Wednesday night (Feb. 25) in a preliminary round game, starting at 6:30 p.m. A total of 42 teams has qualified for the postseason in this division.

Back on Jan. 12, the

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Hockey Headers wrap up season with close losses

Marblehead girls lost a close battle to the Cougars at home, 43-39.

“They know us, and we know them,” said coach Paul Moran after the tournament pairings were announced last Saturday.

“We lost two competitive games to them, once last year and another one last month at our place. They were both good games.”

Moran says that Notre Dame plays in a small gym, similar to the Bishop Fenwick venue, and is looking forward to another meeting with them.

The veteran Marblehead coach

In many respects, a couple of more close losses was unfortunately the appropriate way to end a frustrating season on the ice for the Hockey Headers.

First-year Marblehead High boys hockey coach Brendan Locke’s team was first shutout by non-league Algonquin, 1-0 in an opening round game of the annual Newburyport Bank Classic at Newburyport’s Graf Rink on Feb. 16.

has few complaints this season, but still wishes they could have won a couple of more games.

“We definitely have had a solid year, but I’d love to have a couple of those (close) losses back,” said Moran.

Moran mentioned that the five senior players on the roster have averaged 12 wins the last four years, and he’s referring to Tessa Andriano, Greta Sachs, Hailey Schmitt, Nora Mahan and Samara Dosch, who has been on the sidelines this year after injuring her knee.

“They have been a really good

They then lost to North Andover in the consolation game two days later, 2-1 to finish up the year with a 5-14-1 record.

Goalie Bowden Laramie once again stood out to keep his teammates in a game, this time it was against aforementioned Algonquin. He came up with 26 saves to maintain hope throughout, only to come up just short in the end.

Against North Andover, the Headers lost another bitter battle. Teddy Dulac accounted for the lone Marblehead goal assisted by Holden Ferreira and Hayden

group to coach over the years,” said Moran.

Their classmate Quinn Harris has also contributed to the program the last four years as the team manager.

The Magicians enter Wednesday’s tournament game in Hingham on a roll after winning their last two regular season games against visiting North Andover (44-31, Feb. 16) and host Swampscott (40-33, Feb. 18).

Marblehead led at halftime against the Scarlet Knights, 17-11. Andriano was the leading scorer in this game for the

while Laramie delivered another solid performance in net after turning aside 24 Scarlet Knight shots. Hart secures second straight North wrestling title

After a grueling three months of practices, dual meets and invitational tournaments, this time of the year is probably the cruelest for those seniors, who don’t advance to the next round of the state wrestling tournament, or are injured prior to the postseason. Three seniors on the Marblehead / Swampscott Black & Blue

home team with 13 points. Sachs was next in line with 11. Mahan chipped in with 10 that included three threes. Ainsley McDonald buried four free throws. Lucy McDonald, Carys Moran and Schmitt scored two apiece. Against rival Swampscott, the Marblehead girls were trailing by one at halftime, 17-16. Andriano was once again the top gun with 20 points. Lucy McDonald accounted for 10 second half points. Ainsley McDonald had five. Sachs netted four points. Mahan sank one free throw.

squad suffered that fate, either heading into or at the Division 2 sectional tournament at Woburn High School on Feb. 14.

“We brought a very young team to Woburn, with only two seniors wrestling for us,” said coach Mike Stamison. “The (underclassmen nonetheless) still gained eye-opening experience. As a team, we tied for 11th place out of 13 (schools that were participating in the postseason opener).”

The Black & Blue had nine first-year

CURRENT PHOTO / LUCA TEDESCO

Blake Golden (14) of Marblehead throws a pass to the baseline during a game against Swampscott High School at Marblehead on Feb. 18.

Gallo,

State e-bike safety recommendations could bring new rules to Marblehead streets

BY AKANKSHA GOYAL

A new state report recommending helmet requirements, speed-based classifications, equipment standards and a statewide identification system for e-bikes and similar devices could reshape how micromobility is regulated in Marblehead and across Massachusetts.

The recommendations, released by a special state commission tasked with studying micromobility, aim to address longstanding gaps in state law as e-bikes, electric scooters and other motorized devices have proliferated in recent years.

In Marblehead, where residents and officials have raised concerns about high speeds, young riders and powerful electric bikes operating on narrow streets and sidewalks, the proposed changes could provide a clearer legal framework for enforcement while allowing municipalities to adopt stricter local controls.

State Sen. Brendan Crighton, who represents Marblehead and helped establish the commission, said lawmakers recognized that existing laws had not kept pace with evolving technology.

“[These devices are] becoming more and more popular across the Commonwealth, but when we took a look at it, the state laws really did not cover many of these devices,” Crighton told the Current. “They are largely right now operating without regulations, without guidelines.” The commission, created in April 2025 through an amendment to an economic development bill, spent the past year reviewing data, consulting with law enforcement, transportation officials, industry representatives and safety advocates, and examining regulatory approaches in other states. Its final report lays out 16 recommendations aimed at improving safety while preserving micromobility as an accessible transportation option.

Speed classifications, helmet rules and age limits proposed

A central component of the report is a new classification system grouping devices by maximum speed. Lower-speed devices — generally those limited to about 20 miles per hour — would face fewer regulatory requirements, while faster devices could be subject to stricter safety standards, helmet requirements and age

restrictions.

Crighton said the speed-based framework allows regulations to adapt as technology evolves.

“The technology is only getting better and better and more affordable so we’re just going to continue to see more of these devices appear. The framework we created allows for that flexibility,” Crighton said. “We didn’t specify any specific model or make … but rather focusing on that speed metric, so that when a new device comes on the market, it would still fall into these categories based on speed.” The report also recommends setting a default speed limit of 20 miles per hour on shared-use paths statewide, though municipalities would retain authority to impose stricter limits.

Dan Shuman, owner of Marblehead Cycle, said the classification system could help address local safety concerns.

“I do think it makes sense to classify by speed,” Shuman said. “That alone should help to slow down some of the people riding bikes and hopefully help to get the kids off the super-fast bikes.” The commission also proposes expanding helmet requirements — currently required only for riders under 17 — and establishing minimum age limits, potentially restricting higher-speed devices to riders 16 and older.

Equipment standards and battery safety

The commission also recommends establishing new equipment requirements such as functional brakes, front and rear lights, reflectors and audible warning devices designed to

wrestlers in Woburn, three of which were seventh graders to go along with five freshmen and one sophomore. “(As the evidence shows), we are wildly young,” said Stamison, “but this group, with diligent work in the offseason on the mat and in the weightroom, has the makings of a very good squad for years to come.”

Senior Phineas Jakious was one of two seniors, who was

unavailable to wrestle on this day. “He was a great teammate throughout his four seasons here, and as a three-year starter he won 40 matches for us, with his best season coming this year, when he went 19-12, and placed in several tournaments,” said Stamison.

“His final match of the season was a win that sealed our victory over the Essex Tech / Masco co-op on Senior Night (Feb. 11).”

Captain Colin Hart was the other senior, who did not suit up for the sectionals after suffering a season-ending injury

improve rider visibility and vehicle safety.

Faster devices could face additional requirements such as turn signals and brake lights. It also recommends requiring certified lithium-ion battery systems to reduce fire risk.

Shuman said most e-bikes he sells already meet many of those standards, particularly lighting requirements. He noted that while some bikes include turn signals, their placement makes them difficult for drivers to distinguish, limiting their usefulness.

“As a driver, you can’t really tell that it’s a directional, because they’re just so close together, so I don’t know if that’s going to make a big difference,” he said. “But lights [make] a huge difference and everything I sell has either a headlight and a tail light on it.”

Statewide identification system proposed to aid enforcement

One of the report’s most significant proposals is the creation of a statewide identification system, referred to as “Micro ID,” that would assign devices a visible or scannable identifier allowing law enforcement to determine their classification.

The report also recommends extending Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles registration requirements to certain electric motorcycles.

Shuman said a manufacturerinstalled identification system could help enforcement, but requiring riders to register through the RMV could discourage broader adoption.

“If ... it’s something the

at the CAL / NEC Meet, but he continues to still be around his teammates every day, which is a great example of his leadership skills, according to Stamison.

“Over his three years here as a varsity starter, (Hart) amassed 75 wins, all while being a steady and calming influence around his teammates,” the coach added.

“He is a two-year captain and a NEC All-Star this season, not to mention being just a good guy like his teammates Phin and X.”

Speaking of Xavier Tejeda, the X-Man, he did wrestle in

manufacturer puts into the bike in the beginning … that makes sense,” he said. “If they have to go through the Registry of Motor Vehicles, then that’s going to push away a lot of people we want to see on e-bikes.”

He said regulations affecting manufacturing or equipment should allow time for businesses to adjust.

“If shops have already ordered product and then all of a sudden they’re told they can’t sell a certain product, it doesn’t meet the regulations, then they’re stuck with that,” he said.

Crighton said lawmakers are seeking to improve safety without making micromobility inaccessible.

“We weren’t overly punitive or didn’t make requirements too hard to reach,” he said. “There may be some additional burdens that aren’t in place right now, but these are recommendations for us to consider. We want to have a public hearing to get feedback from e-bike users, residents and the industry and certainly as wide a range of stakeholders as possible.”

Local control, education and enforcement

At the Feb. 9 Traffic Safety Advisory Committee meeting, Police Chief Dennis King said the department is reviewing the report and would continue working within state guidance while making local decisions.

“We’ll continue to work with the guidance, and when it comes to specific things as it relates to Marblehead … specific decisions to make, we make it,” King said. “I think it’s moving in the right direction.” The report

the sectionals, and once again was a solid competitor. His first match was against the No. 1 seed from Melrose. He then took on a Billerica opponent, who pinned him during a home quad meet in January, and this time his Billerica foe still had the upper hand to record a 6-1 win, thus ending Tejeda’s high school wrestling career.

“Over his two years here as a starter, (Tejeda) won 22 matches, while also being a good practice partner the last three years,” said Stamison.

emphasizes that municipalities will retain authority to adopt additional restrictions tailored to local conditions.

Beyond equipment and operational rules, the commission recommends expanding public education efforts to improve awareness of micromobility safety requirements and best practices. Crighton emphasized that regulation alone cannot eliminate risks.

“It is difficult to enforce any of these regulations — law enforcement can’t be everywhere at all times,” Crighton said. “By raising awareness and actually having laws in place, we could help change behavior on these and make it safer.” The report also calls for additional training for law enforcement officers and improved data collection on micromobility crashes and injuries.

Legislation expected as next step

The commission’s recommendations are not law, but they are expected to guide future legislation.

Crighton said bills implementing some or all of the recommendations are likely to be filed during the current legislative session, with public hearings allowing residents, riders and industry stakeholders to weigh in.

“I just want folks to just stay in touch on this issue and hopefully we’ll have law in place that makes our roads and sidewalks safer, but also accessible for those that use these devices by the end of our legislative session,” Crighton said.

But there was some good news emanating from the sectionals, when senior captain Liam O’Brien advanced to the state divisional round at Whitman-Hanson Regional, where he and Anna Cruikshank are scheduled to represent the Black & Blue there. After his sectional victory, where he went a perfect 4-0 with an overwhelming point differential of 30-1, O’Brien is now a two-time Division 2 North champion, as well as a threetime finalist and a three-time state qualifier.

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

MAA new exhibits

Feb. 28-April 11

The Marblehead Arts Association will debut several new exhibits featuring photography, painting, student work and more. An opening reception is scheduled for Sunday, March 1, from 2-4 p.m. 8 Hooper St. Visit marbleheadarts.org for details.

‘A Few Good Men’

March 6-15

“It’s a classic line — ‘You can’t handle the truth!’”

See “A Few Good Men” live at Marblehead Little Theatre. Aaron Sorkin’s courtroom drama about military justice and high-level conspiracy became a cultural touchstone on screen and now takes the stage locally. Tickets range from $25-$32. Visit mltlive.com.

Fish Tales

Saturday, March 28, 7 p.m.

Tickets are now available for this evening of local storytelling and live music, hosted by news anchor Kim Carrigan and featuring the band Boston’s Fran Sheehan.

Centered on the theme “A Fish Out of Water,” the event highlights personal stories of transformation and resilience from members of the Swampscott community. The fundraiser supports Swampscott’s nonprofit newspaper, The Swampscott Tides, and will be held at Swampscott High School. For tickets and more information, visit SwampscottTides.org.

Marblehead Wellness Day

Saturday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Marblehead’s annual Wellness Day returns to the Marblehead Community Center, bringing together dozens of local health, fitness and community organizations under one roof.

Organized by Tom McMahon and the Marblehead Board of Health, the free event is designed to connect residents with wellness resources already available in town. Several local businesses will raffle memberships, classes, sporting event tickets and more.

Stitching at the Movies

Sunday, March 1, 10 a.m.

New England Needlepoint hosts a morning of crafting on the big screen. Bring needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, embroidery or any portable craft project to work on during the movie. The lights will remain on, though attendees may bring a portable light for added comfort.

Tickets are $25 and include admission, popcorn and bottled water. The featured film is “The Devil Wears Prada” at Warwick Cinema, 123 Pleasant St. Tickets are available at newenglandneedlepoint.com/products/stitching-at-the-movies.

Guy Van Duser & Billy Novick

Friday, March 6, 8 p.m.

Don’t miss this concert with swing-jazz duo Guy Van Duser and Billy Novick celebrating the 50th anniversary of their unique finger-style guitar-clarinet combination. Guy and Billy have been frequently featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and “Prairie Home Companion” as well as numerous film and television soundtracks. Their huge repertoire runs from obscure Ellington tunes to Gershwin classics and complex Jelly Roll Morton arrangements. More info and tickets at meandthee.org. 28 Mugford St.

It’s National Eating Disorder week

BY PAMELA WHEATON SHORR

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week — a nationwide campaign to raise awareness, provide hope and support to those who struggle with eating disorders and to challenge the stigma that often goes with them — runs this year from Feb. 23-March 1. The 2026 theme is Every BODY Belongs.

Eating disorders are serious mental health disorders marked by severe disturbances in one’s eating behaviors, and affect 30 million Americans. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, too often, people with these disorders go unseen or unsupported due to “stigma, misinformation, and barriers to care.” “Eating disorders can affect people of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, body weights and sexes,” according to Gregg Mulford, LMHC, clinical supervisor at Marblehead Counseling Center.

“Eating disorders are serious mental health illnesses that may seem like a matter of choice,” Mulford says. “They are not. They are severe disturbances to one’s eating behaviors that

can be life-threatening, and can adversely affect a person’s physical and mental health and well-being.” In fact, he notes, suicide is a leading cause of death for people diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.

According to NEDA, the exact cause of eating disorders is not fully understood. Research suggests a combination of genetic,

biological, behavioral, psychological and social factors can raise a person’s risk. Even people who appear perfectly healthy can have eating disorders and be extremely ill.

The image that all people with an eating disorder are severely underweight is also not true — people with eating disorders can be underweight, average weight or overweight.

There are also many types of eating disorders. These range from the better-known anorexia nervosa and bingeeating disorder to avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and even less wellknown conditions such as Pica, in which people eat paint, dirt or other non-edible items, and orthorexia, which is an obsession with proper

or “healthful” eating that can lead to intense fixation and compulsive behaviors.

Regardless of whether an individual is formally diagnosed with an eating disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or is simply struggling with eating behaviors, Mulford says that reaching out for help, support and treatment is important.

“Whether there is a clinical name or recognized label for an eating issue or not, if you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, talk to your health care provider or seek help with a mental health care provider.” If you are interested in learning more about eating disorders, NEDA is holding a series of events throughout the week of Feb. 23, including Zoominars on eating and athletics, emotional eating, eating disorders and PTSD, and eating disorders and trauma. Information about the events can be found online at nationaleatingdisorders.org.

Pamela Wheaton Shorr is a member of the Marblehead Counseling Center Board of Directors and a former journalist.

Celebrating the legacy of Ed Bell, and honoring his beloved Masons

COURTESY PHOTO

Ed Bell had a distinguished 50-year career in journalism, including co-founding the Marblehead Current

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

From the Vault:

The Art of Escape

BY JARRETT ZEMAN

On March 23, 1849, Henry Brown attempted one of the most daring escapes on the Underground Railroad. Brown paid a white shoemaker in Manchester, Virginia, to drill him inside a crate measuring threefeet long, two-feet wide and two-feet deep. Brown crouched uncomfortably inside the crate and breathed through three air holes, beginning a harrowing 27-hour journey to freedom. Brown traveled by train, steamboat, ferry and wagon, remaining still and quiet to avoid detection. The sailors and train conductors failed to handle his package with care. They turned

the crate upside down and forced Brown to endure hours of silent agony with his face pressed against the lid. Brown’s box arrived safely at the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society. The men rapped on the box and asked Brown if he was still alive. As Brown described it, “When they heard I was alive they managed to break open the box, and then came my resurrection from the grave of slavery. I rose a free man.” Brown went on the lecture circuit as Henry “Box” Brown, regaling audiences with the tale of his escape. He moved to England in 1850 to evade slave

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The community will gather March 5 to celebrate Ed Bell, the renowned journalist and dedicated Marblehead volunteer. Bell died last year, but his legacy lives on through the Marblehead Current, which he co-founded.

An award-winning newsman and devoted civic leader, Bell built a distinguished 50-year career in newspapers, broadcasting and wire services, covering some of the most significant stories of the late 20th century. His reporting took him around the world and earned him widespread respect in the profession.

A tribute event in Bell’s honor will be held Thursday, March 5, at the Boston Yacht Club. It will be co-hosted by Bell’s longtime colleague and friend, TV anchor Susan Wornick, and Bell’s daughter, Andrea. Tickets are available at MarbleheadCurrent.org.

Marblehead’s chapter began in 1760, and Gen. John Glover and Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story were early members.

“We have an incredible history,” said Don Doliber, a fellow Marblehead Mason.

Doliber added, “Ed was always able to help. He really enjoyed it.”

Mason Tim Doane said Bell led an incredible life and always gave back.

“Ed saw and did so much in his life,” he said. “He was truly a great man.”

Community recognition awards reflecting Bell’s values will be presented during the program: Outstanding Student Journalist: Grey Collins Community Service: Teri McDonough Philanthropic Community Leadership: The Marblehead Philanthropic Lodge (Masons) Bell was a member of the Masons for 60 years. The international philanthropic group focuses on personal character development, morality, charity and fellowship. The group meets over supper 10 times a year and donates — without publicity — to local and national charities.

Local dog paddles

BY LUCA TEDESCO

When she’s not riding her paddleboard with her mom, local dog Lolo, has been making her way into the hearts of pet lovers across the nation as a contestant in the 2026 America’s Favorite Pet competition.

“I saw this competition and kind of made it my whole personality,” said Lolo’s owner, Leah Goodman. “Not only is this a fun project, but it also gives back to a good cause.”

America’s Favorite Pet is a competition organized by Jenny McCarthy and Donnie Wahlberg as a fundraiser for PAWS, an organization that rehabilitates orphaned and injured wildlife and shelters homeless cats and dogs.

The winner of the competition receives $10,000 and a feature in Modern Dog magazine.

Lolo, a lab mix, was born in Georgia before arriving at the

Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem. Goodman adopted Lolo when she was just eight weeks old and got her on a paddleboard just two weeks later.

Goodman, the owner of SUP East Coast Style, a paddleboarding and e-foiling company, has seen her dog develop into something of a local celebrity, both in Marblehead and in the Florida Keys where they spend the winter.

“Lolo has a big life,” she said.

“She’s making lots of friends working and living in Florida.

She knows how to navigate dolphins and manatees. I swear she’s developed a dolphin call.”

Why should Lolo win the competition: “She just gives so much love,” says Goodman.

Quarterfinal voting will remain open until midnight eastern on Feb. 27. Those interested can cast their votes here: americasfavpet.com/2026/ lolo-dcf5

hunters, but he returned to tour America as a magician.

He performed at the Marblehead Lyceum on Washington Street Oct. 30, 1875, with his white wife and daughter.

The biracial family openly flouted social convention as it toured the country. By the 1870s, 35 states had passed laws banning interracial marriage, and Massachusetts had its own ban until 1843.

At the Lyceum, Brown performed a magic trick with the famous box he had escaped in.

Volunteers from the audience tied his daughter up in a bag and checked that the knots were tight.

Brown placed his daughter inside the box and closed the lid. Within minutes, she opened the lid, holding the bag triumphantly in her right hand. Twenty-six years after her father’s escape from slavery, Annie Brown symbolically escaped from the same box.

Brown finished the show by hypnotizing white audience members. Brown ordered them to perform silly tricks, like hopping on one foot and barking. After years of submitting to a slave master, Brown took control

Guinea pig Size: Medium

Age: Adult

Sex: Female

Piggy is approximately 1 1/2 years old and in good health. She came to the Marblehead Animal Shelter when the family brought home a cat that kept going after her and the other smaller animals in the house. Rather than giving up the cat, they gave up Piggy.

Piggy is “sooo cute,” according to volunteers at the Marblehead Animal Shelter. They say her fur looks like she is having a bad hair day with all her cowlicks or that a friend has just given her an amateur haircut. “Nevertheless, she is adorable with her bright, shiny eyes,” they say.

Piggy is happy and loves eating, according to shelter volunteers. They believe she would thrive in a home where she would get constant attention by someone who is familiar with guinea pigs. Volunteers note that she does get nervous, so an experienced owner would be best suited for her.

“She is lovely and would love a home where she can flourish and get fresh produce and hay,” volunteers say.

Piggy is up to date with routine shots and house trained.

If you are interested in Piggy, fill out an adoption application at marblehead-animal-shelter.org, and you will be contacted. Shelter volunteers do not respond to inquiries.

of his white audiences across America.

Jarrett Zeman is the assistant director of the Marblehead Museum. “From the Vault” is a partnership between the Marblehead Museum and the Current.

COURTESY PHOTO / LEAH GOODMAN

Local dog, Lolo, has made her way to the quarterfinal round of the America’s Favorite Pet contest. The

voted on by the public with proceeds benefiting the humane organization PAWS.

after her.

COURTESY IMAGES / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM

ABOVE: Henry Brown’s escape was immortalized in a lithograph titled “The Resurrection of Henry Brown.”

Suzanne Healey, 87

Suzanne Healey, 87, of Marblehead passed away peacefully on Feb. 12. She was the daughter of Charles and Alice Peale of North Reading. Suzanne was predeceased by her parents, her sister, Patience Althoff; and her husband of 52 years, William J. Healey. Suzanne is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Breier, and her husband, Peter, and her granddaughter, Emma Breier of Alexandria, Virginia; and her

Marilyn “Lynne” (Fishman)

Zolot, 93

Marilyn “Lynne” (Fishman) Zolot, of Marblehead, entered into rest on Saturday evening, Feb. 14, at the age of 93. Beloved wife of the late Arthur Zolot. Devoted mother of Susan Zolot Silverman, Neil Zolot and Jill Zolot and her husband Brian Ashe. Cherished grandmother of Hannah Ashe and Samantha

Kenneth Wilson Ross, 100

Kenneth Wilson Ross passed away at Salem Hospital on Jan. 27, at the age of 100. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, on Sept. 4, 1925,to John and Bessie Ross. He was the youngest of five siblings: Letitia, Mabel, Betsy and Robert.

Kenneth served as a corporal in the U.S. Air Force 1944-1946, flying missions in Italy and Germany. Post WWII, Kenneth worked for Amtrak until 2008. His career included being the New

nieces, Rebecca Althoff Crites and Sarah Althoff Horne, both of

New Hampshire. Suzanne was born in North Reading but spent most of her life in Marblehead, where she met and married William Healey in 1971. As a young woman, she worked as a buyer in the housewares department of Jordan Marsh and traveled extensively in Europe and Mexico.

After marrying, she switched careers and worked for Jack Barry Real Estate in Marblehead and subsequently returned to her roots working in a product showroom in Burlington and representing housewares companies.

late Judith Matloff and Samuel Fishman. Dear daughter of the late Jake and Etta (Cover) Fishman and adored aunt and great aunt of many.

Lynne was born and raised in Dorchester, where she attended Jeremiah E. Burke High School and was a member of the Young Judea organization. She continued her education at Fisher Junior College, earning a degree in secretarial studies. After graduation, she worked as a bookkeeper in Boston’s garment district.

In 1952, she married Arthur, the love of her life, enjoying 62 years of marriage, settling first

She was an accomplished creator of homemade things, including knitting beautiful Icelandic sweaters, making clothing for her daughter and granddaughter, as well as sewing everything from quilts to teddy bears to Christmas decorations, the latter often sold at church holiday markets. She also refinished furniture and had an eye for antiques.

Suzanne was an avid gardener and spent many hours growing both flowers and produce on Prospect Street. She also enjoyed cooking, and her signature was her very tart rhubarb pie, made with rhubarb grown in the garden. Among her fondest memories were the years with “The Vultures,” a dinner group of friends, who dined out regularly and shared a love of food. She and William also enjoyed boating in Marblehead, boat trips in the Caribbean and an annual winter trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, which they looked forward to all year.

in Salem before moving to their beloved Marblehead in 1964, where they became lifelong residents and raised their family. They were world travelers, often journeying to Israel and Europe and sailing charter boats in the Caribbean. In addition, they started and ran an avionics and electronics firm at Beverly Airport, where Lynne was responsible for the office-side of the operation.

Lynne was an active member of Temple Sinai in Marblehead serving on many boards and chairing the committee to renovate the main sanctuary. She also was an avid sailor, belonging

York City crew base manager and supervisor. He was elected to the national office of the supervisory union and served as recording and corresponding secretary for over 30 years. He was a respected officer of the organization throughout the country.

Kenneth was involved in Amtrak’s Operation Red Block, a peer-to-peer drug and alcohol support program helping employees overcome addiction issues.

He was well known to his friends and colleagues as a kind and caring person who worked tirelessly to help others.

Since 2011, Kenneth has been a resident of Marblehead, living first with his sister, Betsy Taylor,

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Healey family may be shared at www. eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.

to the Dolphin Yacht Club and later the Marblehead Yacht Club. In addition, she was a member of Temple Sinai Sisterhood and Hadassah. She was formerly a member of Temple Shalom in Salem.

In later years, she was thrilled to welcome her two beloved granddaughters, Hannah and Samantha, and loved being an integral part of their lives. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Lynne’s memory to Temple Sinai. For more information or to register in the online guestbook, please visit stanetskyhymansonsalem.com.

until her passing, and since 2019 independently. Kenneth celebrated his 100th birthday in September with a party at the Marblehead Senior Center, and later with three generations of his family and local friends.

Kenneth was generous in his enthusiasm and will be remembered for the twinkle in his eye and the kindness in his heart. He leaves behind nieces and nephews — regular, grand and great-grand—from Los Angeles to Maine, as well as a century of extended family, friends, neighbors and colleagues across the country. Kenneth will be buried in Brooklyn, alongside much of his family.

Cruiser, truck slap mirrors; woman falls prey to apartment scam

Monday, Feb. 2

» Alarms: 1

» Building/property checks: 6

» Abandoned 911 calls: 3

» Vehicle stops, citations: 1

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1

7:47 a.m. A utilities issue was reported on Smith and Pleasant streets.

8:20 a.m. An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle on Pleasant Street.

11:15 a.m. An officer documented an incident in which his cruiser and Ford pickup truck had slapped mirrors as the officer was pulling into the Crosby’s Market parking lot via State Street, where the entrance was very narrow due to snowbanks. The officer exited his cruiser and inspected the mirror for damage, not finding any. He then spoke with the driver of the truck, whom he recognized as someone known to him. Both the officer and the driver of the truck agreed that there was no damage to the truck’s mirror, either.

1:27 p.m. Officers investigated a report of shoplifting on Washington Street and filed a report.

3:12 p.m. Meta glasses were found on West Shore Drive.

Tuesday, Feb. 3

» Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 8

» Abandoned 911 calls: 2

» Vehicle stops, citations: 1

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0

5:14 a.m. Officers assisted with a disabled vehicle on Market Square.

Noon An officer was dispatched to Humphrey Street to investigate the report of a past hit-and-run of a person.

The owner of a vehicle parked in the inbound lane on Humphrey Street in front of her condo building explained that she had been attempting to enter the vehicle when a passing vehicle struck her right foot and then kept driving without stopping.

All the woman had managed to see was that the striking vehicle was either a black or blue sedan, which had turned down Brookhouse Drive after hitting her. The woman said she had not fallen to the ground after being struck. The officer searched the area for cameras that might have captured the incident on video but did not find any.

The information was shared with detectives for further investigation.

12:47 p.m. An officer

investigated a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Atlantic Avenue.

2:40 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Lafayette Street and filed a report.

3:06 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Elm and Mugford streets.

3:14 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Lindsey Street but could not locate it.

5:38 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

» Alarms: 1

» Building/property checks: 9

» Abandoned 911 calls: 0

» Vehicle stops, citations: 0

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0

10:14 a.m. A low wire was reported on Orne Street.

3:10 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Bradford Court and Pond Street.

3:45 p.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a resident of Hudson, Massachusetts, who had come to Marblehead to look at an apartment she had seen on Craigslist and Zillow. The woman explained that she had been in contact with “Hillary Weiss,” who was allegedly the “listing agent” in charge of the property. The woman had sent a wire transfer in the amount of $3,800 to “Hillary,” but Hillary then fell off the face of the earth once the wire transfer went through. The woman was eventually able to track down the real owner of the property and confirmed that the listing was not real and that she had been scammed.

Thursday, Feb. 5

» Alarms: 0

» Building/property checks: 8

» Abandoned 911 calls: 2

» Vehicle stops, citations: 2

» Vehicle stops,

verbal warnings:1

10:53 a.m. An officer

investigated a vehicle crash reported on Bessom Street.

2:58 p.m. Officers responded to the scene of a two-vehicle crash on West Shore Drive and took a report.

4:31 p.m. An officer assisted with a utilities issue on Churchill Road.

Friday, Feb. 6

» Alarms: 3

» Building/property checks: 12

» Abandoned 911 calls: 2

» Vehicle stops, citations: 4 » Vehicle stops,

verbal warnings: 1

4:18 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Atlantic Avenue.

7:08 a.m. Officers assisted with a utilities issue on School and Essex streets.

8:01 a.m. Assistance was provided to a citizen on Essex Street.

12:25 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Community Road.

1:24 p.m. A general complaint was made on Harbor Avenue. 9:46 p.m. An officer rendered assistance to a citizen on Ocean Avenue.

Silverman. Loving sister of the

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Headlight

Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community

A song for every season

Talia Tanger, Special to the Headlight 2026 - 2027 Issue www.mhsheadlight.com

Music is very powerful. A single song can capture a variety of emotions and be interpreted in so many different ways by others. Songs can also be associated with memories or times of the year. Songs are even able to bring back the nostalgic feeling you get when the weather starts to change and another season is returning. Below, I have listed a song representing the emotions and memories I connect to each season.

Spring. For me, spring means finally coming out of hibernation. The sun starts to shine again and flowers begin to bloom. It means we've made it through the winter. The school year is coming to an end and everyone is excited for summer. That is why I chose the song “Banana Pancakes” by Jack Johnson. The playfulness of the song reminds me of how students get by the end of the school year. And the song's upbeat and joyful rhythm reflects the same happiness that the spring weather brings to us.

Summer. Summer is a warm day at the beach, throwing your flip-flops off the minute your feet hit the sand. Summer feels free and relaxing. Enjoying a cold slice of watermelon during the day, or sitting by a warm campfire at night. That is why I chose the song “More Than My Hometown” by Morgan Wallen. This is a country song. Country music is a staple for me in the summer. This song feels like driving with the windows down, hair blowing in your face, and the sun beaming down on you. This song feels freeing. A lot of country music is patriotic and it feels very free, like how summer feels when I can be out all day with little responsibility.

Autumn. Autumn is when the weather starts to cool off and the trees turn vibrant red. You get to put your favorite sweater back on and drink warm cider. Autumn means pumpkin carving, apple picking, and baking pies. That is why I chose the song “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer. When I hear this song, I am immediately brought back to autumn. The soft melody and acoustic guitar create a cozy atmosphere, similar to how the autumn weather feels. The song reminds me of wearing chunky sweaters and watching the colorful leaves slowly fall.

Winter. Winter is harsh, cold, and dark. The sun keeps setting earlier and the weather keeps getting colder. Winter means getting sick multiple times throughout the season. It means slipping on ice or trudging through slush. Winter feels long and exhausting. That is why I chose the song “Anyway” by Noah Kahan. The song’s slow and sad tone captures the emotional effect of winter. Kahan’s lyrics can relate to how people feel during the winter. He sings, “It’s like when you’re tired you’re someone else.” The darkness and coldness of the winter can make us feel tired, leading us to act in ways unlike ourselves.

Each song I chose perfectly captures the emotions I experience throughout the seasons. Whether it's the excitement of summer or the tiredness of winter, music has the ability to reflect those feelings. The songs I selected are not only able to portray the atmosphere of each season but also the personal connections tied to them.

Upcoming MHS Events/Updates!

- Registration for Spring Athletics is now open! Please register today! The Spring season starts on Monday, March 16th.

- The MHS Winter Athletics Assembly will be held on Wednesday, March 11th, at 6:00 pm in the MHS Auditorium. This is an MIAA requirement for all student-athletes and a parent or guardian in Spring Athletics.

- Donate to the class of 2027's Junior Class Auction! March 1-17th! [juniorclassauction@gmail.com]

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grey Collins

February 25, 2026

America at 250 and the prospects of AI in the next 250

By Evan Eisen, Assistant Editor, Senior

Artificial intelligence is currently evolving at a rate that no one could have expected. What originally began as chat programs that were used to answer simple questions has changed into very intelligent software where people can have full on conversations with AI. It can generate lifelike images and take over jobs that were once thought to be only reserved for human judgement. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it also integrates more into our daily lives, especially in areas like customer service, education, journalism, science, and art. With AI’s rapid transformation, we as a society should ask ourselves how we should use it and to what extent we are willing to let it take over our future.

These questions are especially important as America heads to a reflection point with its 250th birthday. During the last two and a half centuries, America has been the driving force behind many of the world’s advancements, particularly in technology with the Industrial Age to creating computers and the internet. To reflect on this milestone, the Boston Global Forum is hosting an “America at 250” conference at Harvard University. This conference will bring leaders, scholars, and policymakers together to celebrate America’s accomplishments and look at the challenges ahead.

The conference will have important figures attending like former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis and Taiwan’s digital ambassador Audrey Tang, who have both been vocal about the need for human centered technology. This conference will make more people aware of the fact that the growing use of AI isn’t just a technological issue, but also a societal one. Decisions about how AI is created and utilized will impact many aspects of our lives like national security and personal privacy to future work. These conversations are most important to us high school students, as most of us will be heading to a college or workforce that will be completely transformed by AI. Some jobs will remain unchanged, some will disappear altogether, and entirely new fields will be created. It’s important to understand how AI works, but it’s even more important to know how to keep it in check. The debate about AI has moved from if it will affect our lives to who will shape these effects and what values will we use to guide them.

As America looks back at its first 250 years, the creation of AI should serve as a reminder that technological advancements are never neutral and often reflect the beliefs and values of the people who create it. Our generation has an important job ahead, which is to have AI strengthen our society and not divide or worsen it. The Boston Global Conference at Harvard is an important stepping stone to answering the question we should all be asking: How do we make a future where humans and AI can succeed together?

Best on best hockey in Milano Cortina

By Will Pelliciotti, Senior

On February 6th, 2026, the Opening Ceremony for the 25th Winter Olympic Games concluded, opening the tournament with a grand display at the Stadio San Siro in Milan, Italy. This Olympic Games is the first held in Europe since the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi (Russia), and it will be the first since the Canadian victory in Russia to feature NHL players competing for gold in Ice Hockey.

Twelve years ago, the Gold Medal in hockey was taken by Canada, led by Sidney Crosby, with Sweden and Finland taking Silver and Bronze medals. The US, led by TJ Oshie, mustered a 4th place finish and a loss to Finland in the bronze medal game. Due to issues between the NHL and the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) both the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Winter Games didn’t feature the NHL, with many youth players filling their spots on top countries. Neither tournament boded well for the US and Canada, as both failed to secure any medals in both renditions, with Russia taking Gold in 2018 and Finland in 2022.

It has been roughly 16 long years since the United States men's team won a medal in the Olympics. In 2010, when the games were hosted in Vancouver, the United States made it to the Gold Medal game but ultimately lost to Canada, on a Sidney Crosby golden goal in overtime. Now, for the first time in a dozen years, those two nations are projected to be the finalists within the competition once again.

Across the twelve teams taking part in the men's tournament, all but Italy feature at least some NHL players. Of the teams taking part, only the countries of Canada, Sweden, and the United States have rosters that consist entirely of NHL players, with some of the biggest stars in the league taking part, such as Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and William Nylander. Due to the absence of Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine, the three favorites of the 2026 Winter Games are clearly the US, Canada, and Sweden, with Canada favored for Gold, the US favored for Silver, and Sweden for Bronze. However, several other countries have built strong rosters, such as defending gold medalists, the upcoming Czechs, and Germany, who claimed silver in 2018. Overall, while the favorites are set, the US is shooting for their first gold medal since the 1980 ‘Miracle on Ice’ Olympics at Lake Placid, and team leaders Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Connor McAvoy will lead the charge for the Stars and Stripes.

Headlight Staff 2025 - 2026

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Evan Eisen, Anna Cruikshank, Georgia Marshall

REPORTERS: Piper Browning, Jack Buckley, Nathaniel Carper-Young, Madeline Duffy, Teagan Freedman, Maximilian Kane, Sophie Li, Eve Magen, Will Pelliciotti, London Perlow, Mary Prindiville

SOCIAL MEDIA: Anna Baughman

FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins

BY RICK CUZNER