Much-anticipated figures are now in from GIC, the state backed insurance plan the town uses to purchase employees’ health insurance. Marblehead’s increase for fiscal year 2027 will be 11%, down from the 15% feared earlier but not as low as recently hoped. According to Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin.
“Pretty much the same,” Benjamin wrote in an email to
the Current Saturday night about the final increase.
“Pretty much the same,”
Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin wrote in an email to the Current Saturday night about the final increase.
“No real change.”
That means the town’s
projected $7.7 million deficit will likely not decrease significantly.
Next Wednesday, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer will reveal several override proposals to help bridge the shortfall.
On March 4, Kezer presented two stark budget scenarios that would either dramatically shrink town government or introduce new fees and additional cuts to maintain some services.
“This is not a surprise, but it is shocking what we’re facing right now,” said Town Moderator Jack Attridge at the March 4 presentation.
The deficit, Kezer said, is due
to those rising health insurance and trash costs, inflation and limited revenue growth under the state’s property tax limits.
Scenario A: Major service reductions
Under Scenario A, the town would balance the budget mainly through cuts.
“In order to balance our budget on the town side, we had to prioritize functions that protect life and property,” Kezer said. “And the end result is we had to defund six departments.”
Those departments are: Community Development & Planning, the Cemetery
BY LEIGH BLANDER
For Ryan Horrigan and Grace Rigby, the thrill of racing down a mountain is only part of what makes the Special Olympics meaningful.
The two North Shore athletes — both with roots in Marblehead — competed in a Special Olympics alpine ski competition Feb. 27 at Berkshire East Mountain. They skied in downhill and slalom races and both won medals.
But when asked what stands out most about competing, both athletes quickly pointed to something beyond the podium.
“The energy,” Horrigan said, smiling. “And being with friends.”
“Meeting new people,” added Rigby.
Racing on separate teams
The two compete on different ski teams. Horrigan skis with the Nashoba Shooting Stars, while Rigby competes with the Haverhill Stars.
They’ve both been part of the
Department, the Health Department (except for the required health agent), the Council on Aging, the Abbot Public Library and Recreation and Parks.
Those cuts would eliminate 56 positions out of the town’s roughly 185 to 190 municipal jobs, according to Kezer.
Scenario B: Fees and shared cuts
Given the severity of those reductions, Kezer also presented Scenario B, which seeks to maintain most municipal services
Analysis: town’s tax burden ranks low among peers
BY AKANKSHA GOYAL
Marblehead is often described as one of the North Shore’s wealthier communities. But a closer look at the town’s finances, demographics and housing data suggests the story behind ongoing debates over a general override may be more complicated than that perception alone.
State data shows Marblehead ranks among the most property-wealthy communities in a group of comparable Massachusetts towns, based on the total value of local real estate.
Yet the town sits closer to the middle when measured by residents’ income per capita and collects relatively less in property taxes compared with many similar communities.
Like all municipalities in the state, Marblehead’s ability to raise property tax revenue is constrained by Proposition 2 1/2, which limits annual property tax increases to 2.5% unless voters approve an override.
Property wealth vs. income
A quantitative analysis of state financial data conducted by Marblehead resident Matt Hooks, who previously worked in private equity and corporate real estate, found the town ranks near the top of comparable Massachusetts communities in terms of property wealth.
Using Department of Revenue data, Hooks compared Marblehead with 16 other communities of similar size, selecting eight with higher per capita incomes and eight with lower per capita incomes. He then analyzed differences in equalized property valuation — the state’s standardized measure of total property value that adjusts for differences in local property assessments — along with income levels and property tax burdens.
Friends Ryan Horrigan and Grace Rigby
BY LEIGH BLANDER
A total of three people attended a public forum on the town’s new MBTA Communities Law zoning plan in person, with another 30 or so online. A few people asked questions about details of the plan. No one criticized it. At the Marblehead High School Library March3, Brendan Callhan, director of Community Development and Planning, walked through the proposal, which includes two multifamily districts: Broughton Road and the Tedesco Country Club site.
The plan increases density in both areas. The total number of potential units is 90—120 at Broughton Road and 780 at the Tedesco site. Select Board Chair
Dan Fox and Planning Board member Marc Liebman, also at the meeting, emphasized that 3A only zones for multifamily housing, it does not require anything be built.
The previous, rejected plan included sites along Pleasant
LEIGH BLANDER
Former Marblehead Municipal Light Department general manager Joseph T. Kowalik Jr. has filed a lawsuit in Essex Superior Court alleging that the utility’s board unlawfully terminated him, violated his employment contract and discriminated against him because of his age.
The complaint, filed Feb. 25, names four members of the Marblehead Municipal Light Department’s Board of Commissioners — Jean-Jacques Yarmoff, Simon David Frechette, Matthew Harrington and Adam Smith — as defendants in their official capacity. According to the lawsuit, Kowalik, who was 72 years old as of last September, had an
employment agreement that was scheduled to run through April 7, 2026. The complaint alleges the agreement did not allow the department to terminate him without cause before that date.
Kowalik claims the board
Street and Tioga Way.
Marblehead is currently out of compliance with 3A requirements, making the town ineligible for millions of dollars in state grants. Fox and Liebman spent months meeting with 3A critics to find a compromise.
Next steps At the public forum, over Zoom, Resident Eileen Mathieu asked if Callahan, Fox and Liebman were confident that this version of 3A would pass at Town Meeting in May.
“There are a few people who are still going to be vocally opposed to this,” Liebman said. “Some of the primary leaders of ‘No on 3,’ although they don’t agree with 3A in general, recognize the work that went into the plan.”
John DiPiano, who led anti-3A referendum efforts, has told the Current that if it passes at Town Meeting this May, he will not seek to overturn it again.
The Planning Board was expected to hold a public meeting on the new proposal March 10.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Todd Bloodgood, the facilities director for Marblehead Public Schools, died suddenly March 1. He was 58 years old.
At a March 5 School Committee meeting, Superintendent John Robidoux spoke about Bloodgood, who was heavily involved in several capital projects for the district.
“This past Sunday night, our school community was devastated by the sudden loss of Todd Bloodgood, our facilities director,” Robidoux said. “Todd was a kind and gentle man who dedicated himself to our district since 2018, and he will be sorely missed.”
Robidoux added, “We are
violated the terms of that agreement when it ended his employment before the contract expired.
The suit states that Kowalik was entitled to several forms of compensation under an amended employment agreement, including a $150,000 retention bonus if he remained in the position through April 2026 and up to $50,000 in performance bonuses tied to specified objectives.
According to the complaint, the department’s actions prevented him from receiving those payments. The lawsuit also claims Kowalik is owed approximately $85,000 in unused sick leave and about $35,000 in reduced lifetime pension payments, along with attorneys’ fees and damages.
In addition, Kowalik claims he
was replaced by a substantially younger and less qualified individual, Jon Blair, and that age played a role in the decision to terminate him. Blair was 40 years old in October 2025.
The lawsuit alleges Kowalik had performed his job competently and was not terminated for just cause.
Kowalik is seeking damages for lost wages, emotional distress and the unpaid compensation outlined in the agreement. He has also requested a jury trial.
The case was filed in Essex Superior Court. Kowalik is being represented by attorneys from RS Law LLP of Wakefield.
Contacted by the Current Tuesday evening, Yarmoff declined to comment. The Current also reached out to Kowalik.
proud of how he oversaw our school facilities, supervised our maintenance and custodial staff in a way that ensured our students, staff and community partners were safe. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
The School Committee then had a moment of silence for Bloodgood.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead’s struggling Jewish day school Epstein Hillel announced March 2 that it will remain open and “is charting a strong path ahead,” according to an email sent to parents.
“Over the past three months, our community has stepped forward in ways that reflect a deep commitment to Jewish day school education and to the unique meaning that EHS holds for so many of us,” the statement continued.
Twelve-hundred donors contributed approximately $2.6 million toward the school’s $3 million fundraising push.
“Most notably, we received an extraordinary leadership pledge of $500,000 from EHS alumnus Evan Paul (Class of 2003), who hopes his gift will inspire others to help the school reach its full campaign goal and beyond,” the statement read.
Starting next school year, EHS will change to a pre-kindergarten-through-sixth-grade model. It currently runs through eighth grade and serves 84 students.
“We will continue to focus on providing the best academic experience for our students while increasing recruitment and enrollment of new students,” the statement added. “Additionally, parent engagement, volunteerism and continued financial support by the community are vital components of our plan toward sustainability.”
EHS parent Coree Dovev is relieved that the
school will not be closing.
“This decision is incredibly important for the North Shore Jewish community, ensuring that Jewish education will continue to be an option,” Dovev told the Current. “On a personal level, we are overjoyed that our two children will be able to continue their education in the community we love so much. We are not surprised that the EHS community came together to keep its doors open. It’s clear how deeply this school — and having a Jewish day school north of Boston — matters to so many families.”
EHS opened as Cohen Hillel Academy in 1955 in Lynn. It launched an emergency fundraising campaign in December.
“We want to especially thank Combined Jewish Philanthropies for their support and guidance, and our neighbors on the Hill (JCCNS and Temple Sinai) for their partnership. We are so happy to have reached this moment, and we look forward to continuing our work together,” the EHS statement concluded.
The town’s new 3A multifamily zoning plan includes the Tedesco Country Club.
COURTESY PHOTO
Former MMLD general manager Joe Kowalik is suing the light board.
COURTESY PHOTO Marblehead Public Schools facilities director Todd Bloodgood died March 1.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Epstein Hillel School will stay open amid financial struggles.
MHS junior wins New York Times contest with short film on AI, creativity
BY LEIGH BLANDER
For Max Kayne, a junior at Marblehead High School, a weekend spent hanging out with friends around Boston turned into something much bigger: a prize-winning short film for The New York Times.
Kayne recently won the Times’ student contest “Growing Up With AI,” a national challenge that invited teenagers to reflect on what it means to come of age in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
His entry — a roughly twominute film shot on his iPhone — combines scenes of friends spending time together with narration about creativity, technology and what makes human expression unique.
“I think the best way to speak to people is through film,” Kayne said. “It’s engaging visually, with audio and a narrative. My main goal for anything I create is to make people feel something.”
Class assignment becomes national winner
Kayne first encountered the Times’ student competitions as a freshman in a class taught by Marblehead teacher Jenn Billings, who encourages students to participate each year.
The contest theme changes annually. In previous years, prompts asked students to reflect on experiences such as the COVID-19 pandemic or the political climate. This year’s challenge focused on artificial intelligence and its impact on young people.
Students could respond using any medium — including art, music, writing or video — and submitting an entry was optional, though it counted for extra credit.
Kayne decided to create a
Special Olympics for years. Horrigan also competes in track and field and basketball. Throughout the year, he trains with Achilles International Boston, a running group that supports athletes with disabilities. Along with running outdoors, Horrigan, 31, works out at gyms in Salem to stay in shape.
He also works at the Salem after-school program Camp Fire North Shore and at the occupational therapy practice Project Childhood in Peabody. Rigby, 23, competes in skiing and gymnastics. She balances athletics with college life at Salem State University, where she takes classes and lives in a dorm. She plays bass and hopes
through a combination of new revenue and additional cuts.
The plan includes: A new curbside trash fee, expected to generate about $2 million annually » An additional $1.5 million reduction in the school budget
» Additional municipal spending cuts
The trash proposal would shift the cost of curbside trash, recycling and disposal to residents through a fee of about $254.64 per household per year, or roughly $21 per month, based on an estimated 8,000 households. Residents who qualify for tax exemptions would receive discounts, and households could opt out by using the Transfer Station
short film.
“I liked the message, and I was proud of it,” he said. “I thought there was a chance, but I definitely wasn’t expecting to win.”
A film made on a phone
Much of the footage came from a single weekend in Boston last fall when Kayne and friends were exploring the city.
“I figured I’d film it,” he said. “Some of it I was directing — like, ‘Do this, do that’ — but most of it was just us hanging out.”
Kayne shot the video on his phone and later edited it on his computer using CapCut, a free editing program popular with young creators. He learned many of his skills through classes with Marblehead teacher Henry
to teach music to children someday.
Advocacy and community
Both athletes remain deeply involved in community organizations that support people with disabilities, including Best Buddies, Northeast Arc and Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.
Diagnosed with autism in seventh grade, Horrigan also speaks publicly about disability awareness and advocacy.
Through programs such as Operation House Call, he has addressed medical students and spoken at the State House about the importance of respect and inclusion.
“I advocate with people who have autism,” he said. “I speak up for myself.”
instead. (Residents would still need to purchase Transfer Station stickers.)
“What this would do is make available just over $2 million in the general fund to allow us to use those funds to go back and fund those departments that are defunded in Scenario A,” Kezer said.
Read more about the proposed trash fees on page 7.
The additional school reduction would bring the district’s total proposed cuts to about $3.4 million, after the district already reduced its fiscal 2027 request by $1.9 million.
Read more about the schools’ budget on page 7.
Library closure with both scenarios
Even with Scenario B, the town would still lose at least one major service.
Despite the rapid rise of AI tools, Kayne said he isn’t worried about technology replacing human artists or filmmakers.
“I have faith that people want to see things that come from a person rather than a computer,” he said.
A teacher’s encouragement
Christensen as well as through YouTube tutorials and personal experimentation.
Creativity in the age of AI
In the film, Kayne reflects on the rise of artificial intelligence and argues that human creativity remains irreplaceable.
“The main problem with AI is that it’s unoriginal — it’s an algorithm,” he said. “Every piece of art made by a person comes from what they’ve experienced and what they believe.”
For Kayne, the imperfections in human-made work are part of what makes it meaningful.
“I wanted people to watch the video and recognize that creativity in themselves,” he said. “Using AI for the creative process isn’t truly creative. The imperfections are what make projects special.”
Billings has been encouraging students to submit entries to the New York Times student contests since 2019 and has had students place (as a winner, runner up or honorable mention) every year except 2023.
“What I loved about Max’s film is that he didn’t use AI, and his voiceover explains why,” Billings said. “He’s pushing against it. I loved how I could feel his sense of loss and his insistence on holding tight to all that he can. What I treasured was that, at 17, Max is an old soul, and he knows that AI is bittersweet. That’s exceptional in my mind.”
A growing interest in filmmaking
Kayne has developed an interest in filmmaking through classes at Marblehead High and through his own projects.
His message is simple.
“Treat people with respect and dignity,” he said.
A
place to shine
For both athletes and their families, the Special Olympics experience has been
Abbott Library Trustee Gary Amberik said the library would likely close in December under both scenarios, unless voters approve a tax override.
Even with the less draconian Scenario B, Marblehead’s director of community development and planning, grant coordinator and sustainability coordinator would all be cut.
Financial pressures
Kezer said the town’s budget challenges are not caused by an expanding workforce.
From 2018 to 2026, the town’s employee count has remained relatively stable, declining from 199 positions to about 190.
“Our budget challenges are not a result of huge increases in the number of employees,” Kezer said. “It is driven by health costs, inflationary costs, trying to keep employee salaries at the market
transformative.
“Grace was always watching her brother and sister play soccer,” said her mother, Kelly Rigby. “She wanted something where they would watch her and where she could win medals because they got medals
rate.” Health insurance remains a major uncertainty. The town is awaiting final rates from the state’s Group Insurance Commission, currently projecting an 11% increase, down from an earlier 15% estimate.
“If they vote less than the 11 [percent] we’re carrying … [that] would decrease that gap,” Kezer said.
‘Perfect storm situation’
Several Select Board members signaled early support for Scenario B as the less disruptive option.
“My vote would be for us to proceed with Option B, minimizing the drastic change and disruption of service levels that Option A would dictate,” said member Erin Noonan.
Select Board member Moses Grader wasn’t sure that voters
He’s also involved in school theater and recently participated in DramaFest, an experience he described as “awesome,” crediting a collaborative creative process with fellow students. Looking ahead, Kayne hopes to continue exploring video storytelling. He’s currently working on a film script that he’ll shoot with students this summer. He did the same last summer for a movie called “Gilded Lily.”
His recent win has already reinforced something he believes strongly: Even in the age of artificial intelligence, creativity remains deeply human.
“Everything we create comes from who we are,” Kayne said. “That’s something an algorithm can’t replace.”
Other wins
Three other MHS students placed in the Times contest. They are:
You can watch all four films at MarbleheadCurrent.org.
and their soccer competitions when they won. The Special Olympics allowed for both of those but more importantly, they allowed her to shine and be recognized for her skill and talent.”
Horrigan’s mother, Nancy Norman, added, “As a family, we have benefited from the relationships and the skills that Ryan has built in a safe, nurturing environment. Ryan has established real friendships, which carries over into more social connections and activities in the community.”
That sense of belonging is something Horrigan and Rigby say they hope other athletes will discover as well.
“I totally recommend it,” Horrigan said. “You feel like you’re part of a team.”
would agree to paying $250 a year for trash pickup, in addition to an override.
“We’re in a perfect storm situation,” Grader said. “Dramatic increases in health care costs, big reduction in free cash.”
But some residents raised concerns about shifting costs to residents through trash fees.
“All I can think of is, now we have a system in place that’s just going to get hiked,” said Jonathan Klopman. “We’ve opened the door to another massive program that is going to affect people.”
Resident Al Jordan also criticized the approach, saying it could hurt working residents and seniors.
“Real Marbleheaders don’t like spending money… unless it’s spent wisely,” Jordan said. “This isn’t a wise plan.”
MHS junior Max Kayne was named a winner in the New York Times student contest about AI. He wrote and filmed a two-minute film on the subject.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Max Kayne on the set of the student movie “Gilded Lily” last summer.
COURTESY PHOTO
Ryan Horrigan, center, receives his medals at a Special Olympics ski competition.
Opinion
EDITORIAL
Oh, what a night
There was laughter and there were tears as family and friends of Ed Bell came together at the Boston Yacht Club last week to celebrate Ed’s legacy. Longtime colleague and friend Susan Wornick and Ed’s daughter, Andrea Bell Bergeron, co-hosted the first of what we anticipate will be an annual event. Love was in the air as Wornick and Bergeron regaled the crowd with stories about Ed’s past accomplishments and fun-filled anecdotes.
The crowd sat in rapt silence (for the most part) as they viewed a video masterpiece created by MHTV’s own James Maroney. Photographs of Bell, commentary by friends and excerpts from episodes of “Up for Discussion,” all set to music, provided further testament to the man called “Eddie” by Susan.
To further celebrate Bell’s lifetime body of work, there was the presentation of “Ed Bell Community Recognition Awards” by our editor, Leigh Blander, to Grey Collins for Outstanding Student Journalism, to Teri McDonough for Community Service and to the Marblehead Masonic Lodge for Philanthropic Community Leadership. Their friends and family members joined with all other attendees to celebrate the recipients’ achievements.
And there were silent and live auctions. Our dear friend and Board member Gene Arnould, with a little help from Wornick, served as auctioneer, encouraging the willing attendees to open their pocketbooks to bid on fun items, engendering much good will along the way.
All of this was made possible by a wide range of community sponsors, whom we want to take this opportunity to thank. First, we must thank the Boston Yacht Club for the generous donation of their facility, which enabled us to welcome such a large crowd. Our other community sponsors were Shubies, The Landing, Marblehead Bank, National Grand Bank, Beauport Ambulance Service, The Mariner, MHTV, Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor and Johnny Ray (on behalf of both Warwick Theater and The Music Emporium).
And then there were our personal sponsors, all of whom share long-standing and deep commitment to Bell and to the Current: Doug Hill, Ginny Buckingham, Jessica and Andy Barnett, Francie King and Bob Peck and Brenda Beaton.
For those of our readers who did not know Bell, he was a co-founder of the Current, bringing to the table his life-long career as a local and national journalist. In addition to Bell’s involvement with the Current, he devoted countless hours to numerous Marblehead groups, including MHTV, where he served as treasurer and board member for well over a decade, co-producing and hosting 100 episodes of “Up for Discussion,” a roundtable forum addressing local news and events. Bell was also active with the Council on Aging, the Boston Yacht Club, Rotary Club of Marblehead Harbor, the Masons and St. Andrews Church, to name but a few.
Bell was a special person. Notwithstanding his many accomplishments, he was as down to earth as ever a man could be, always anxious to learn more about the person with whom he was speaking than to speak of himself.
Bell was tireless in his commitment to community, with a willingness to lend a hand whenever there was a need to be fulfilled. Most of all, Ed was devoted to his family. All of these attributes came through loud and clear last week. We miss you, Ed. You were one of a kind, and we at the Current will carry on your wish that we continue to report on and distribute the news of Marblehead in print and online.
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY
Idles of March
BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM
We’re almost there. We just have to get to the end of March and we’ll have made it through the worst of it — this icy, snowy, freezing winter, the likes of which we haven’t experienced in 10 years. I broke out puzzles, both of the jigsaw and crossword variety, to get through the days when the snowbanks seemed to make venturing out a foolish notion. I cooked my way through seasonal New York Times-suggested recipes and over-made some old Ina Garten favorites. Weeknight bolognese anyone? No? How about winter minestrone?
Dear readers, I even attempted homemade hamantaschen, the buttery cookie treat to mark the holiday Purim, folding the circles of dough into triangle hats that came close enough to satisfy that bad guy Haman, if not a geometry teacher.
And I read. Oh how I read. That’s my ongoing diversion plan to idle the rest of this month away. I know it undermines my broader point that I’ll do some of this page-turning in a warmer clime, but it’s what I’d do at home, too. It’s funny how entering an author’s created world can make time move fast or slow depending on your desire.
First, please (please!): If you were ever once 14-yearsold, idling away endless summer days with your very best friends in the world, pick up Fredrick Backman’s “My Friends.” It will transport you to whatever street light you lingered under to shoot one more hoop or share one more secret or sneak one more kiss. It will also reach over and pinch your heart where it is softest with a rendering of individual and familial pain you’ll carry as if it’s your own.
Want something a little lighter? I zipped through Laura Dave’s thriller sequel to “The Last Thing He Told Me” (“The First Time I Saw Him”) almost as fast as I watched the dramatized streaming versions. And I was pleasantly surprised by Rebecca Armitage’s “Heir Apparent.” How many iterations of the royals’ sagas can one ingest? One more it seems, as this fresh take on the British crown is as strangely
GUEST COLUMN
Entering an author’s created world can make time move fast or slow depending on your desire.
relatable as it is entertaining.
I haven’t taken, as a friend has, to penning letters in the wake of reading “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans. But I long to hone my craft with the self-belief and patience Evans showed after writing this moving bestseller as a self-described “palate-cleanser” that she didn’t even want to share with her agent after her previous novels’ rejections by a publisher.
Another avid reading friend texted me, “Have you read ‘How to read a book?’” When I replied “I haven’t, should I?” she immediately answered “Oh, yes.” Upon finishing, I wanted to become later-mid-life friends with the character Bookie in Monica Wood’s story as much as I once did Jo March when I was a young girl.
The characters in “Heart the Lover” by Lily King engaged me so much that I’ve picked up her previous “Writers and Lovers” to meet them again before I met them the first time.
Finally, I’m not much of an audiobook listener, but I tuned in to “Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old” read by the author who is both funny and a sharp observer of human nature. Her meditation on aging hits home for women of a certain vintage, even if you never were a super model nor woke up in an ambulance looking into Bradley Cooper’s eyes and thinking you went to heaven as Shields did.
As our firewood piles dwindle along with our good humor, I hope some of these reads carry you through the ides of March with nothing to beware and, soon, spring to behold.
Virginia Buckingham is a former president of the Marblehead Current board of directors, a frequent commentator on WCVB’s “On the Record” and author of “On My Watch A Memoir.” She is working on a second memoir, “As This Mountain,” and writes a biweekly column for the Current.
Boys and ‘bigorexia’
BY GREGG MULFORD, LMHC CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
Many of us would probably characterize a person with an eating disorder as being a oncehealthy looking person who has subsequently starved themselves to a near-skeletal weight. Particularly with adolescent girls or young females, eating disorders often play out this way in the form of an eventual diagnosis of anorexia or bulimia.
However, body dysmorphic disorder differs from this traditional idea of an eating disorder in that a person sees their body, or a feature of their body, differently than it really is. People suffering from BDD tend to intensely focus on appearance or body image to the point of obsessing about a perceived flaw in their appearance, such as a fixation on your nose, complexion, skin appearance, hair or muscle size. Though BDD may seem like a form of intense vanity, it is actually a mental health disorder. Likewise, we are also seeing an increasing trend in boys and young men who are also struggling with BDD, particularly those with a specific condition known as bigorexia.
Bigorexia is not an eating disorder, but a form of muscle dysmorphia, nicknamed ‘reverse anorexia’ because those who have it want their bodies, or parts of their bodies, to be larger and more muscular. Bigorexia is the belief that one’s body or muscles are underdeveloped or too small. Boys
and young men with bigorexia may go to extreme lengths to bulk up, often engaging in dangerous behaviors such as steroid use, drastic dietary measures, and working out obsessively in order to get ‘ripped.’
According to Boston Children’s Hospital findings, about 60% of young boys in the United States say they’ve changed their diet to become more muscular. Though this isn’t necessarily an indication of muscle dysmorphia, it is something we need to understand better. We have long identified the pressure for physical perfection as a factor in anorexia and bulimia in women and girls. Boys are also receiving social messages about the ‘perfect’ male body. Just consider the rippling muscles on Marvel action heroes, anime and video game characters — even Halloween costumes for boys include padded and painted-on muscles. A growing number of young people coming in to Marblehead Counseling Center are struggling with the anxiety and depression that develops from the constant comparison to others on social media.
Muscle dysmorphia can affect people of any age or sex, but
is especially prevalent in teen and young adult males ages 15-32. One issue for parents and health care professionals is that unlike anorexia, bigorexia comes in all shapes and sizes, which subsequently can make it hard to recognize in others. The 2024 Study of Boys and Men, which analyzed data from 1500 participants in the United States and Canada, suggests that muscle dysmorphia may be more prevalent than previously thought — affecting approximately 3% of respondents, spread consistently across sociodemographic, age and gender lines. The authors of this study suggest that parents and health-care providers need to do a better job looking for signs that our boys are struggling with body image.
Key signs
The common assumption for many has been that BDD is a ‘girl’s issue,’ which means we often miss the clues that our sons are in distress. A perfectly healthy looking teenage boy might seem like he is working out more than usual, when in fact, he is under extreme stress about his appearance. One of the most important signs to watch for is the level of intensity with which boys approach working out and dieting. Most people have been on a diet at some point in their lives.
COURTESY PHOTO / LAURIE SWOPE
TV journalist Susan Wornick, far left, joined the Current to honor her friend (and Current co-founder) Ed Bell, who died last year. Also shown, left to right, winner of the Current’s Outstanding Student Journalist Award Grey Collins, Current Editor Leigh Blander, winner of the Community Service Award Teri McDonough and Tom Doane with the Masons. The Masons won the Philanthropic Community Leadership Award.
Why your Wi-Fi struggles in
older
homes (and what you can actually do about it)
BY STEPHEN BACH
If you live in Marblehead or another similar “old home” community, there’s a good chance your home has character.
Thick plaster walls. Solid beams.
Maybe wiring that’s been updated a few times over the decades. It’s part of the charm. Unfortunately, it’s not part of a strong Wi-Fi plan.
One of the most common calls I get at The Digital Docs goes something like this: “Stephen, the internet works fine in the kitchen, but upstairs it’s terrible.” Or, “It drops every time I go into the back bedroom.” Here’s what most people don’t realize: Wi-Fi is basically a radio signal. And older homes were never
designed with invisible radio waves in mind.
Plaster walls are one of the biggest culprits. If you haven’t remodeled, many older houses have plaster with wire mesh behind it. That mesh can weaken or block wireless signals. Add in brick chimneys, stone foundations, and tile bathrooms, and your Wi-Fi signal is fighting through materials that were built to last a century, not let a signal pass through.
Router placement is another major factor. If your router is in the basement, tucked inside a cabinet or hidden behind the television, you’re already at a disadvantage. Routers work best out in the open, in a central location and slightly elevated. Think bookshelf height near the middle of the home. Hiding it may look cleaner, but it weakens performance.
Then there’s the issue of modern demand. When many
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A message from the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce
To the editor: For more than five decades, the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce has proudly served the town of Marblehead and its vibrant business community. Since the 1960s, the Chamber has worked to promote local commerce, strengthen community ties and celebrate the unique character that makes Marblehead so special.
Over the years, the business landscape has evolved dramatically. The rise of the internet, the growth of online retail and national “category busters,” the shift to social media marketing, economic downturns and most recently the challenges of COVID-19 have reshaped how businesses operate and connect. Through it all, the Chamber has adapted and persevered.
With the support of its members and dedicated volunteers, the Chamber has operated the Information Booth, published the Visitor’s Guide, organized educational programs and networking events, and proudly hosted beloved traditions such as Christmas Walk, downtown holiday decorations, Santa’s Landing, the tree lighting and parade, and Halloween trick-ortreat night. These efforts have been funded entirely through member dues and extensive fundraising initiatives. Except for its executive director, all of this work has been carried out by committed volunteer officers and directors who generously gave their time and energy to the community.
In recent years, as the number of local businesses has declined, so too has Chamber membership. To sustain operations, the organization increasingly relied on fundraising events such as calendar raffles, a golf tournament, health and spring-themed fairs, and Taste of the Town. While successful in many ways, these efforts required significant volunteer commitment and shifted focus away from the Chamber’s core mission of promoting and supporting local businesses. Attendance at networking events, seminars and ribbon cuttings also declined, making it increasingly difficult to justify the time and expense involved. After seven months of thoughtful discussion and
of these homes were built, the “network” was one rotary phone in the kitchen. Today we have smart TVs, laptops, tablets, security cameras, thermostats, streaming devices and gaming systems. The house hasn’t changed much. The number of connected devices certainly has.
In most older, multi-level homes, one router simply isn’t enough. (And that’s true even in new multi-level homes!)
That’s where a “mesh system” makes a big difference. A mesh network uses multiple small
careful consideration, the current board of directors has determined that a meaningful restructuring is necessary to best serve the town moving forward.
The Chamber will continue to organize and preserve several cherished community traditions that have become part of Marblehead’s identity, including Santa’s Landing, the Tree Lighting and parade during Christmas Walk, and Halloween trick-or-treat night.
However, the Chamber will seek partners within the community to assume responsibility for other activities, including portions of Christmas Walk such as entertainment, trolley services, and decorations, as well as the Information Booth, the Visitor’s Guide and tourism promotion. It is hoped that other interested groups may wish to carry these initiatives forward.
Retail-focused events, including Sidewalk Sales and seasonal decorations, may be best organized directly by the participating businesses, fostering even stronger collaboration among merchants.
As part of this restructuring, the Chamber will no longer employ a paid executive director or maintain office space. Instead, it will operate entirely through volunteers in order to mini`mize expenses and focus resources on key community events.
Membership will continue to be open to all who wish to support the Chamber’s efforts, with nominal dues or donations helping to fund community traditions such as Christmas Walk.
Even in this new chapter, volunteer support remains essential. Community members who are interested in helping sustain these important events are warmly encouraged to reach out to chamberboard@ marbleheadchamber.org. A board member will follow up to share more about opportunities to get involved.
To the businesses and members who have supported the Chamber so generously over the years — through sponsorships, donations, participation and countless volunteer hours — we extend our heartfelt gratitude. Your dedication has helped shape the
units placed around the house to spread coverage evenly. Instead of one signal trying to reach everywhere, several work together to eliminate dead zones. For many homes in town, this is the single biggest improvement you can make. The Docs have installed at least a hundred of these mesh systems in the last 5 years. It’s also worth checking how old your equipment is. Routers don’t last forever. If yours is five or more years old, it probably won’t handle modern speeds efficiently. Even if you’re paying for faster internet, outdated hardware can limit what you actually experience.
spirit and vitality of Marblehead, and we are deeply thankful for your continued commitment to our town.
President Patrick Paquette and Secretary Brian Leclair for the Chamber Board of Directors
Residents don’t pay enough in taxes to sustain services
To the editor:
A recent letter to the editor rightfully highlighted the poor condition of Marblehead’s roads and asked an important question: Why are other Massachusetts communities able to maintain high-quality infrastructure while Marblehead suffers through potholes and patchwork repairs?
While there are many factors at play, one basic reality is hard to avoid. Marblehead simply does not have the financial resources to consistently meet these expectations. As the reader notes, we have “pride in our community,” but we simply don’t pay enough in taxes to support the infrastructure and services the town deserves.
When Marblehead is benchmarked against comparable Massachusetts towns, the results are striking. Measured as a share of either residents’ collective income or total property value, Marblehead ranks near the bottom in how much it raises through property taxes. In other words, relative to our peers, we contribute less toward funding our local government. Out of 17 comparable communities, Marblehead ranks 16th by taxes as a share of income and 17th –dead last – by taxes as a share of property value (see charts on Page 6).
This matters because those figures reflect our long-term investment in the town. Communities that consistently maintain good roads, schools and public services pay for them. Marblehead, by contrast, has benefited for years from comparatively low property taxes — but that underinvestment is now catching up with us.
The numbers make this clear.
If Marblehead simply collected
Before upgrading your internet plan, start with the basics. Move your router to a better location. Reboot it once a month. Check how old it is. If you have consistent dead spots, consider a mesh system rather than random plug-in extenders. (An extender, by default, will cut the signal by as much as 50%!) And remember this: buying more speed does not fix poor coverage. Faster service won’t magically push a signal through plaster and brick. Placement and proper setup matter more than raw speed. Older homes are beautiful. They just weren’t built for three simultaneous streaming shows, a Zoom meeting and online gaming upstairs.
the average percentage of residential income paid by peer communities — 3.7% instead of 3.3% — the town would generate approximately $10 million in additional annual residential property tax revenue. At the same time, Marblehead’s forecasted budget deficit is expected to grow from roughly $7 million to $15 million over the next three years. The gap between what we pay and what our peers pay is strikingly similar to the shortfall we now face. Perhaps that’s a coincidence, but probably not.
I understand that no one enjoys paying higher taxes. But the data shows that Marblehead residents contribute less than residents of similar towns. Living in Marblehead has been a very good deal for a long time, but now we face a financial reckoning. The challenge before us is deciding whether we want to continue underfunding the services and infrastructure the town depends on or step up and provide the financial resources necessary to deliver a Marblehead we can all be proud of.
I urge the Select Board to place a general override on the ballot that meaningfully addresses Marblehead’s structural revenue gap and allows the town to restore, sustain and improve core services. And when that vote comes, I encourage residents to ask a simple question: What kind of community do we want Marblehead to be — and are we willing to invest accordingly?
I hope we are.
Matthew Hooks Nanepashemet Street
An ‘urgent call’ to Generations X,Y and Z
To the editor:
The war in Iran is an urgent call to members of Generation X, Y and Z that we must rise to our destiny, or risk disappearing, as previous generations have, into the mythology of American exceptionalism.
Members of Generation X lost brothers, cousins and friends in a useless war in the Iraq desert, like our parents did in the jungles of Indochina. Yet, around 1980 or so, our parents got on board the gravy train of individualism, high technology and financial engineering, and it’s been a roller coaster ride in the pitch dark ever since. The financial crisis of 2008 should have been a warning that we are overleveraged as a society, but alas, it was only a
The good news? Most Wi-Fi problems in older homes are fixable. It just takes the right approach instead of guesswork. If your internet only works when you stand in the hallway and hold your phone at a certain angle, it might be time for a tune-up. Until next time, stay safe out there. And remember: life’s too short for bad (or spotty) wireless!
Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs.
worn-down speed bump to the next overvalued frontier of AI — which no one really understands or can control but is somehow pitched as the miracle that is going to save us. Unlike our grandparents and parents — who lived under Jim Crow and the bomb — we were taught and tested in school about the hypocrisies and unfulfilled ideals of America.
Capital and technology have no agency outside the social relations that produce and command them. It is past time that our generations take action to correct the deficiencies that define the American character, or risk becoming yet another caricature of privilege.
Christopher Hardy Washington Street
A call for cheap, clean energy
To the editor:
Massachusetts pays the third highest electricity prices in the country according to the EIA (the U.S. Energy Information Administration). And voters have noticed: the cost of living is the most important issue facing the state in the University of New Hampshire’s most recent Bay State poll.
The basic problem facing Massachusetts is that we do not have significant domestic energy resources. Our solar and wind potential is paltry compared to plains states like South Dakota and Kansas. That is why despite the state’s high conviction in addressing climate change, we still rely on fossil fuels for about 80% of our energy consumption, supplied principally through natural gas pipelines connecting to the Gulf of Mexico.
As the climate becomes more extreme, peak demand events become more frequent, sending prices skyrocketing because there’s only so much gas that can fit down the pipe. This hits working families hardest: energy consumes a far larger share of their household budget than it does for the wealthy.
Massachusetts has dirty, expensive energy when what we need is cheap, clean energy. We have the worst of all possible worlds.
Sen. Ed Markey has consistently blocked the most viable paths out of this trap. The obvious path forward is high-voltage transmission lines connecting Massachusetts to abundant renewables in the Great Plains, or expanding natural gas pipelines for
Budget crisis could force library to close on eve of 150th anniversary DOLLARS & SENSE
In fiscal 2026, Marblehead’s equalized valuation per capita was about $468,251, indicating a large amount of property wealth relative to the town’s population.
But when measured by income, the town falls closer to the middle of the group. Marblehead’s income per capita was roughly $119,589, ranking ninth among the same 17 communities.
The contrast suggests the town’s wealth is concentrated more heavily in real estate than in residents’ earnings.
Lower tax burden relative to peers
When property taxes are measured relative to property values and residents’ income, the data shows Marblehead collects less than many of its peers.
To examine the town’s tax burden, Hooks said he looked at it in two ways: the share of total town income paid toward residential property taxes and the share of overall property value collected in taxes. In both cases, Marblehead ranked low relative to similar communities.
When measured as a share of property value, Marblehead’s tax burden ranks last out of the 17 comparable towns examined in the analysis.
When measured as a share of residents’ income, the town ranks 16th.
“We are at the bottom of those comparison sets in both cases,” Hooks said. “It just sort of says that we’re living with diminished services and infrastructure and schools because we’re not as willing to pay for them in the same way that other towns are.” He said the analysis was motivated by a broader concern about the town’s finances and the long-term impact of repeated budget constraints.
“I’ve been generally frustrated by the degradation of town services and infrastructure that we’ve been dealing with as a result of multiple years of budget challenges,” he said.
Hooks said his goal was not simply to analyze numbers but to provide context for residents as the town considers whether an override may be necessary to maintain services.
“Other towns are able to have nice things because they’re willing to pay for them,” he said. “I’ve been trying to think: How can we communicate to other Marbleheaders that this is a worthwhile investment?
We’re not in a situation where we’re wildly overtaxed already [compared] to our peers.” Marblehead has not passed a general Proposition 2 1/2 override in more than two decades, a point Hooks said helps explain the current fiscal pressures.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Abbot Public Library — newly renovated and seeing a surge in use — could close its doors in December if deep budget cuts tied to the town’s projected $7.7 million fiscal 2027 deficit move forward.
On March 4, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer laid out two scenarios to address the budget gap. One would close the library all together. The second scenario would cut the
library’s salary budget by about 50% and eliminate its materials budget.
Gary Amberik is chair of Abbot Library’s board of trustees. He says even under the second scenario, the library could continue operating only until Dec. 1 — just months before its planned 150th anniversary in 2027.
Amberik told the Current that the cuts would make it impossible to meet the minimum staffing and service
requirements required for certification by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. Losing that certification would have cascading effects for the town and its residents.
“Drastic salary reductions create a direct line to decertification of the municipality and the library, triggering a catastrophic loss of access to the North of Boston Library Exchange (NOBLE),” Amberik wrote in an email.
NOBLE is the regional network that allows residents to borrow books and other materials from libraries across the North Shore. Without certification, Marblehead residents would lose those privileges.
“Residents would find their library cards blocked at neighboring municipalities, losing the ability to check out materials across the region,”
and other cost-of-living increases has become increasingly difficult on a fixed income.
“I feel Marblehead has very little vision for their older residents’ housing needs and is unintentionally pushing us out the door,” Tournas wrote.
She said that while she and her husband supported the town’s spending measures earlier in life, her perspective has since shifted.
“In the past, when we were younger and renting, we always supported funding things like a new school or fire truck,” Tournas wrote. “But now I see how those decisions affect older people on a fixed income.”
She said selling her home would likely mean leaving the community where she has lived for more than five decades, as rental prices in town are often out of reach.
“If my real estate taxes go up again, I don’t know what I will do,” she wrote. “I wonder how much longer I will be able to stay, and where I’ll go.”
Balancing competing priorities
“I commend the town for managing the budget within the constraints they’ve had for this amount of time,” he said. “But I think we’re now at a point where we’re beyond our ability to do that.”
Hooks grew up in Marblehead and returned to the town with his wife and two young children in 2022. He said he hopes the analysis will help residents better understand how local taxation compares regionally.
“I loved growing up here,” he said. “I believe in the town of Marblehead, and I just want it to be its best version of itself.”
Taxes rising, but property values rising faster
For many homeowners, the most visible measure of the local tax system is the amount printed on their quarterly property tax bills. Those bills have increased over time.
State data shows that average single-family property tax bills in Marblehead rose from about $7,974 in FY 2016 to roughly $11,055 in FY 2026 — an increase of about 38.6%, or an average annual increase of about 3.3%.
But during that same period, home values increased much more rapidly.
The total value of single-family homes in Marblehead rose from about $4.4 billion in fiscal 2016 to more than $8 billion in fiscal 2026 — an increase of roughly 81.8%.
Under the state’s Proposition 2 1/2 law, municipalities generally cannot increase the total property tax levy by more
than 2.5% annually without voter approval through an override.
Because property assessments and values change over time, individual tax bills can increase by more than 2.5%, even in years when overall revenue growth for the town remains limited by state law.
Phineas Baxandall, director of research and policy analysis at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, said property taxes tend to generate strong reactions from residents because they are among the most visible forms of taxation.
“The more visible and deliberate a payment is, the more people react to them,” he said. “It really matters that property taxes are something that people are actually writing a check for, and that structures in a kind of skepticism around those payments.”
He compared the dynamic to the way people reacted to highway tolls before electronic payment systems made the charges less noticeable.
“When people pay tolls for roads, it became politically a lot easier for that to happen once they had the automatic transponders,” he said. “People didn’t have to stop every time and dig in and take out the quarters.”
Seniors worry about affordability
For some residents, however, the possibility of higher taxes raises immediate concerns about affordability.
Marblehead has one of the oldest populations among
comparable Massachusetts towns.
About 30.6% of the town’s residents are aged 60 or older, according to Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative — the third-highest share among the communities included in the comparison group. The average among those communities is about 24%.
It further shows that many older residents in Marblehead already face significant housing cost burdens.
About 27.4% of homeowners aged 65 and older in Marblehead spend more than 35% of their income on housing costs. Among renters in that age group, the figure rises to about 44.8%.
Households with a person aged 65 or older in Marblehead have a median income of about $98,875. By comparison, the town’s overall median household income is $182,132, based on 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates.
Those financial pressures can be especially challenging for longtime residents who have lived in the town for decades but now rely on fixed retirement income.
Susan Tournas, a Marblehead resident in her 70s, wrote to the Current describing the financial pressures she has faced since her husband died two years ago. Tournas said she and her husband spent decades working and volunteering in town and were finally able to buy their Marblehead home in their 50s.
Since his death two years ago, she said, keeping up with taxes
On one hand, town leaders have repeatedly warned that maintaining current services will require additional revenue. On the other hand, residents are already concerned about the rising cost of living in a community where property values have surged in recent years.
Municipal finance experts say the pressures Marblehead faces are not unique.
John Ouellette, senior executive and director of communications at the Massachusetts Municipal Association, said many communities across the state are confronting rising costs that outpace the revenue growth allowed under Proposition 2 1/2. Municipal budgets must absorb increasing expenses in areas such as employee health insurance, pensions and infrastructure maintenance. While property tax revenue can grow slightly each year, those costs often rise faster.
As a result, he said, towns frequently face difficult decisions about whether to reduce services, defer maintenance or ask voters to approve overrides to generate additional revenue.
For Hooks, the conversation ultimately comes down to what residents want Marblehead to look like in the future.
“I wish we could fund the town at a level so that we could be investing in our infrastructure, enhancing services, talking about ‘how do we add programs at the school?’ and not ‘how much do we have to cut?’” he said. “My hope is that the choices that we make are to tax ourselves more, like comparable communities, and fund the town, and not continue into an even darker world of greater financial
School Committee weighs next steps for FY27 budget amid uncertainty from town
BY AKANKSHA GOYAL
The Marblehead School Committee spent much of its Thursday meeting discussing how to move forward with the district’s fiscal year 2027 budget after town officials proposed a scenario Wednesday night that could require the schools to absorb roughly $1.5 million in additional cuts.
Members said they were reluctant to consider further reductions to the district’s proposed level- funded budget without clearer data from town officials about the financial assumptions driving a request for additional cuts.
“I think we need to more deeply understand the numbers that underpinned the presentation that was made,” Kate Schmeckpeper said. “I think that there is a lot of work to do to understand the basis for the number that is being requested of us.” Member Melissa Clucas echoed that concern, saying the data presented by the town raised questions.
“I can’t sit here with a high degree of confidence and say I understand where the 1.5 million comes from,” she said. “I do not have a high degree of confidence in numbers that were presented last night.” Concerns about student impact and timelines Several committee members emphasized that further reductions would have direct consequences for students and staff.
“I think it is important to focus on what that means for our
students and not separate that from the budget,” Henry Gwazda said. “Sometimes we’re talking about numbers, but we really are talking about students and kids and the future of Marblehead.”
Schmeckpeper said the committee must carefully consider what deeper cuts would mean for the district.
“I think we all recognize we’re in a place where further reductions will directly impact students and fundamentally alter the experience of a Marblehead education,” she said.
The committee also discussed the limited time remaining before key budget deadlines.
Jenn Schaeffner noted that returning the issue to a smaller budget subcommittee could create logistical challenges.
“Because we’re eight weeks from town meeting… I’m not convinced that we’re going to have the time,” she said. “We are going to have to move pretty quickly.”
Superintendent questions assumptions behind cuts
Superintendent John Robidoux said the administration had already spent months building the district’s proposed levelfunded budget while the target coming from town officials has shifted in recent weeks.
“We started working on developing a level-funded budget back in early November and we’re ready to go,” Robidoux said. “The number from the town side has vacillated hugely
over the last six weeks. I’m not convinced that 1.5 (million) is actually the number.” He said that proposal already required significant reductions.
“Level-funded budget, it’s not an easy task to begin with. We’re 14.75 FTEs cut already,” Robidoux said, referring to the number of full-time positions cut.
He added that the requested $1.5 million reduction could dramatically increase the scale of those cuts.
Robidoux also questioned the financial assumptions behind the town’s request, particularly projections tied to employee health insurance.
“I believe that 1.5 was predicated on a 15% insurance increase and it’s sounding like it’ss going to be more in a 7 to 8% range,” he said.
Collaboration with town officials
Committee members repeatedly stressed the need to work closely with town leaders
before deciding how to proceed.
“I think it is imperative that we collaborate with the town side as we move forward,” Schmeckpeper said. “Challenges of the magnitude that were discussed last night cannot be effectively addressed if we stay in a siloed approach.” Members also discussed the possibility of forming a joint working group with town officials to review the numbers and explore options, including a potential override.
Next steps
Robidoux said the committee would need to decide whether to move forward with the current budget proposal or direct the administration to revise it.
“We have a level-funded budget on the table for the consideration of the committee,” he said. “I think the committee needs to either decide tonight whether you’re going to vote that budget or not.” The committee ultimately did not vote on the proposed level-funded FY27
budget, opting instead to seek additional information from town officials before making a decision.
Committee members said their immediate priority is working with the town to reach a balanced budget ahead of town meeting.
“We have to come forward with a balanced budget,” Schaeffner said. “That’s the first thing we need to do in conjunction with the town.” Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Mike Pfifferling is collecting questions from members to send to town officials along with a request for the data used in the town’s financial projections.
The committee plans to meet again next Thursday to review the information, ahead of its previously scheduled Mar. 19 meeting, and is working to arrange for representatives from the Select Board and Finance Committee to attend and address questions about the town’s calculations.
How other communities handle trash fees
Town
BY LEIGH BLANDER
In an effort to avoid the most draconian budget cuts, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer has proposed new curbside trash and recycling pickup fees for residents.
The fees, which would raise about $2 million a year, would cost each household $254.65 annually, based on an estimated 8,000 households. Residents who qualify for tax exemptions would receive discounts, and households could opt out by using the Transfer Station instead.
The Finance Committee researched the use of trash fees in other communities throughout the state.
trash contract
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Board of Health unanimously approved sticking with Republic Services for a new, five-year contract that will begin July 1. Republic will provide curbside collection of trash and recycling, disposal of MSW (municipal solid waste) and processing of recycling. This as the town is considering imposing a $250 annual fee for curbside pickup.
The final cost of the contract is still being negotiated, according to BoH Chair Dr. Tom Massaro. After a search and interview process that included a 70-page request for proposals, Health Director Andrew Petty recommended staying with Republic, which has served Marblehead for at least the last decade.
“We want to provide the best service, the best price … and obviously, I think we’ve done
that,” Petty said at a March 5 Board of Health meeting.
Petty acknowledged that some residents may have lingering frustrations with Republic after last summer’s 11-week trash strike.
“I do understand we did go through a strike with them,” Petty said. “I know it was hard for a lot of people. We did have trash trucks in town every day, compared to other communities. We do work with these really
Towns like Swampscott and Lynnfield — which do not have transfer stations — offer curbside pickup services and fund them through property taxes alone, according to Finance Committee member Molly Teets, who gathered the data.
Beverly and Hopkinton are similar in that they only offer curbside pickup, but Beverly funds it with a $100 annual fee, and Hopkinton charges residents $696 per year.
Hingham and Weston are examples of towns that have transfer stations and do not offer municipal curbside pickup services at all. Residents in those towns can drop off their trash and recycling at their transfer station or pay for a private curbside service.
Danvers is a close comparison to Marblehead because the town has a transfer station and offers both curbside and drop-off services. Officials implemented a $200 annual fee that took effect in July 2024 to help cover rising budget costs.
Asked about the possible trash feeds, Board of Health member Tom McMahon told the Current, “I think trash collection is a basic service that should be included with other services paid for through property tax collection. Until forced to consider alternatives, which isn’t until the Select Board makes their budget official, I’m not considering a fee or whether I would vote for it.”
The Board of Health has voted to stick with Republic Services for a new five-year trash contract.
There will be some changes under the new contract. The town will shift to automated trash and recycling pickup, meaning trucks will use a mechanical arm to lift barrels and empty them into the truck. Trash and recycling will still be collected manually in the Old & Historic District, where streets are often too narrow to
accommodate automated trucks.
The town will distribute 65-gallon trash bins and 95-gallon recycling bins to all residents.
“All items have to be placed in the barrels,” Petty emphasized. “You can’t put your cardboard boxes out next to the barrels.” The town will also offer businesses trash and recycling pickup for $100 per month, Petty said.
CURRENT SCREEN SHOT / AKANKSHA GOYAL
At a March 5 meeting, Superintendent John Robidoux and the School Committee discuss the town’s budget scenario that would have the schools cut another $1.5 million from the fiscal 2027 budget.
Amberik explained. “By losing certification, the town sacrifices the shared technological and delivery framework that makes modern library service possible.”
Under state rules, libraries must meet several requirements to remain certified and receive state aid, including maintaining a municipal appropriation requirement and meeting minimum standards for hours of operation. For a town the size of Marblehead, that means offering roughly 45–50 hours of service each week.
The library currently relies on the town budget to pay the salaries of a 24-person staff, which includes two administrators, 12 full-time employees and 10 part-time workers. Officials say the proposed budget cuts would make meeting those standards impossible.
The town would also need to rely on private funding to maintain the minimum materials spending required by the state.
$10 million renovation
The potential closure comes just a few years after voters approved a $10 million renovation of the library building.
“Think of it this way:
Marblehead has built a worldclass engine, but without an adequate operating budget for staff and materials, we have no fuel to run it,” Amberik said.
“To protect the taxpayers’ $10M investment, we must ensure the library has the operational support to stay open and functional.”
Calling for an override
The only way to avoid closure under the current projections would be a voter-approved tax override, according to Amberik.
“We are hopeful that town leadership will put forth an override article that is fair and balanced, and maintains all of the services and amenities the town of Marblehead deserves, including access to a first-class library and all it has to offer,” he said.
Usage statistics suggest strong demand for the facility. Library officials said 2025 circulation
near- term price relief, ideally both. In 2022, Congressional Democrats negotiated a permitting reform package that would have enabled exactly this dual approach. Markey instead joined with Senate Republicans to vote against the package and it collapsed.
Given our lack of domestic resources and Markey’s opposition to importing energy from elsewhere, the only realistic alternative is nuclear — zerocarbon, small footprint,
increased 47% to 210,626 items.
The Killam Children’s Room recorded 19,303 visits, and the library logged about 2,800 meeting-room reservations.
“But these aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet,” Amberik said “The 19,303 visits to the Killam Children’s Room and the 2,800 meeting room reservations represent the heartbeat of Marblehead. If the library closes on December 1, 2026, those interactions don’t just move elsewhere, they disappear. We aren’t just facing a budget cut; we are facing the dismantling of a system that provides valuable resources to our neighbors.”
Amberik said the proposal also came as a surprise to the library.
“Yes we prepared a levelfunded budget back in November, and we were told on 2/20/26 that the library would be funded,” Amberik wrote. “On Sunday 2/22 we were told that our library materials budget was going to be cut by $100,000.
Then on Tuesday 3/3, the day before the Select Board meeting, we were informed that our staff budget was going to be cut by 50%.”
buildable right here in Massachusetts. But Markey opposes nuclear power, too. In 2024 he was one of just two Senate votes against the ADVANCE Act, a bipartisan bill supporting next-generation nuclear. Even Elizabeth Warren voted yes.
This reflects Markey’s consistent approach across fifty years: raise the price of fossil fuels to discourage their use, prevent significant
What will it take to keep the library open?
“To restore our levelfunded budget, we would need $700,000, which represents only around 0.65% of the town budget,” Amberik said. “The sad fact is that we save Marblehead residents thousands of dollars a year through books, movies, programs, meeting space and museum passes, totaling over $5 million in FY25.”
Library leaders said the loss would extend far beyond books.
“The library is Marblehead’s great equalizer,” Amberik said.
“It is the only space in town where a student can study for hours, a senior can read the daily papers in a heated room, and a remote worker can access highspeed internet, all without the ‘entry fee’ of a coffee shop or a private club.”
They also warned that losing state certification would affect residents across the region.
“It is also vital for residents to understand that if we lose state certification, not only does the library close, but your Marblehead library card will effectively expire everywhere,” Amberik said. “You won’t just
renewable infrastructure, and block nuclear. If you obstruct every source of energy, the only possible outcome is less energy. It is a strategy of managed degrowth: saving the environment at the expense of living standards. The problem is voters have never agreed to this bargain. The backlash against this approach is part of what gave us an administration now reviving coal and rolling back mercury
emissions standards.
lose access to this building; you will be blocked from borrowing books in Swampscott, Salem, Lynn, Peabody or Danvers. We would become an ‘information island,’ cut off from the regional resources our taxpayers have helped build for decades.”
As the town approaches the library’s milestone anniversary, Amberik said the stakes are historic.
“We are standing on the threshold of our 150th anniversary in 2027,” Amberik said. “For a century and a half, through world wars and economic shifts, Marblehead has prioritized the shared knowledge of its citizens. To shutter these doors now, just months before such a historic milestone, would be a profound break in the continuity of our town’s identity.”
Amberik added, “To everyone who considers Abbot Public Library their second home: We hear you, and we share your deep concern. The idea of Marblehead without its library isn’t just a budget line item; it’s a loss of our town’s ‘living room’ and a vital resource for every generation.”
Markey’s convictions should not be immune from results. Fifty years on, renewables provide a fraction of New England’s power, electricity prices continue climbing, and Massachusetts families are hurting. At some point, conviction that ignores outcomes isn’t leadership. It’s dogma.
The September primary gives independents and Democrats the chance to choose differently.
Moulton supports permitting reform and nuclear energy. He can see that clean energy only helps Massachusetts if we actually build and deliver it, rather than just talking about it. On Sept. 1, vote for a candidate who will fight for lower energy costs instead of blocking every realistic way to achieve them.
Seth
Nick Ward Rolleston Road
Sports
Swampscott player lends helping hand to Magician in rivalry basketball game
BY LUCA TEDESCO
While the MarbleheadSwampscott rivalry is one of the most heated in the state, a girls junior varsity basketball game between the schools on Feb. 18 showed that there is a place for sportsmanship and friendship between even the most bitter competitors.
Throughout the season, Makayla Ekechukwu has been on the Marblehead girls JV basketball team. As a part of the Best Buddies program, each game has been preceded by Makayla receiving a pass from her sister and scoring a basket before the game begins.
However, late in the last game of the season against archrivals Swampscott, Coach Marisa Fields called on Makayla to enter the game.
“I told my players that this was going to happen,” said Jamie Torelli, Swampscott’s head coach. “We only had nine players and Marblehead had just six or seven. [Fields] wanted to get
her in the game to give the other players a breather.”
However, what Torelli did not know was that one of her players
would make the play of the game by committing a turnover.
After grabbing a defensive rebound, Swampscott sophomore Amayah Scott chose to hand the ball to Makayla, giving her the chance to score her first career points.
The Magician did not let the opportunity go to waste, scoring a basket to help put the game away for Marblehead.
“It was one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever seen,” said Marblehead girls’ varsity coach, Paul Moran. “We all knew that [Amayah] did a pretty incredible thing.”
“She’s a great kid,” Torelli said of Scott. “She gives 100%. Yes it was out of the ordinary, but it’s not out of the ordinary that she would do something nice for someone else.”
While the final score read 38-30 in favor of Marblehead, the result mattered far less than the display of sportsmanship between the rival schools.
Another season of awards for swimmers
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High swim and dive team once again dominated the Northeastern Conference, sweeping both the regular season and the NEC Meet, and the awards season was no different. The conference coaches selected the All-Conference and All-Star teams, and the Magicians All-Conference selections are: Hazell Wright, Grace Ladouceur, Macy Ladouceur and Winnie Waddington in the 200-yard medley relay; Hazell Wright in the 200-yard freestyle; Grace Ladouceur in the 200-yard individual medley; Winnie Waddington in the 100-yard butterfly; Abigail Moore, Monica Pechhold, Lorelai Mosher and Shaelyn Callahan in the 200-yard freestyle relay; Shaelyn Callahan in the 100-yard breaststroke; Ian Chemel, Cale Nelson, Brady Leveroni and Orion
out for their achievements.
Sue Guertin, the architect of this dynasty, was honored by her peers with the NEC Coach of the Year award.
Guertin appreciates the recognition, but unsurprisingly deflects the praise. “My winning Coach of the Year is humbling, and I do not take it lightly. I know it’s hard for the other conference coaches to award this honor to the winning team, because they too really worked very hard with the swimmers in their schools,” she said. “But nonetheless, I hope my legacy is that of teaching children at a young age to be safe in the water, while also loving it. Growing up in Marblehead, you have to learn to swim, and for many this skill lasts a lifetime. Early on, I can see children whose technique and skill surpass others, along with their desire to be fast. Competitive swimming is hard, and it requires tremendous discipline and commitment, which also leads to the highest achieving students and adults.”
Lewis in the 200-yard medley relay; Brady Leveroni in the 200yard freestyle; Orion Lewis in
the 50-yard freestyle; Omar Elnabarawy in the 100-yard butterfly; Ian Chemel, Henry Reid, Lucas Rosen and Omar Elnabarawy in the 200-yard freestyle relay; Ian Chemel in
the 100-yard backstroke; and Cale Nelson in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Paxton Swanson (100-yard freestyle relay) made the allstar team. All three consistently scored points for the team throughout the season, which warranted them to be singled
COURTESY PHOTO
Amayah Scott (left) of Swampscott passed up a chance to score to help Makayla Ekechukwu (center) score her first career basket during a JV game at Swampscott High School on Feb. 18.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Marblehead High boys 400-yard freestyle relay team of Omar Elnabarawy, Ian Chemel, Cale Nelson and Brady Leveroni, from left, lines up for a photo at the All-State Meet last month.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Marblehead High girls 200-yard freestyle relay team of Monica Pechhold, Winnie Waddington, Shaelyn Callahan and Macy Ladouceur, from left, poses for a photo after competing in the North sectionals last month.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Marblehead High boys medley relay team of Lucas Rosen, Cale Nelson, Brady Leveroni and Ian Chemel, from left, are together for a photo after competing in the All-State Meet last month.
MHS Magicians weekly sports notebook
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Basketball Magicians fall in the Round of 32
The Marblehead High boys basketball team, the 20th seed in Division 2 after finishing up the regular season with a 13-7 record, took on Worcester’s Doherty Memorial (14-6), the 13th seed, in the Round of 32. They ended up losing the high scoring, competitive road game, 83-70.
“We focused on keeping them out of the paint in the first half, while making them settle for the three,” said coach Mike Giardi. “We had the lead at the break, because of that strategy, but in the second half Doherty got us
Saturday, March 21
10 a.m., boys lacrosse vs. Winchester at Winchester-Knowlton Turf
Tuesday, March 24
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. North Andover at North Andover High
Thursday, March 26
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Burlington at MHS Piper Field
Saturday, March 28
10 a.m., boys lacrosse vs. Essex Tech at Essex Tech Stadium, Danvers
Monday, March 30
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Andover at Marblehead High
Tuesday, March 31
4 p.m., girls softball vs. Lynnfield at Lynnfield High
7 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Swampscott at MHS Piper Field
Wednesday, April 1
4 p.m., girls softball vs. Masconomet at Masconomet, Boxford
4:15 p.m., boys baseball vs. Masconomet at Seaside Park
4:30 p.m., boys and girls outdoor track vs. Peabody at Peabody High stadium
Thursday, April 2
3:30 p.m., boys tennis vs. Lynnfield at Lynnfield High
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Bishop Fenwick at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Manchester-Essex at Seaside Park
4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Bishop Fenwick at Veterans Middle School
Monday, April 6
4 p.m., girls softball vs. Bishop Fenwick at Bishop Fenwick, Peabody
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Masconomet at Masconomet, Boxford
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Masconomet at Marblehead
Counseling
From P. 4
People with bigorexia are obsessed with what they eat for a persistently long period of time — sometimes weeks and months of severe restrictions on food intake and adherence to rigid eating schedules. Some boys try extreme dieting such as the ‘bulk and cut’ regimen of rapid weight gain followed by severe caloric restriction. ‘Hitting the gym’ may become an obsession, where hours that used to be devoted to other activities are now spent on multiple hours of weight lifting and working out.
Boys with BDD might start adding protein powders and supplements to their regular diet — often unregulated — hoping to bulk up. These may include stimulants or steroids to add muscles. Surveys have shown up to seven percent of high school students in the United States have used steroids, but experts believe the true number may be even higher. These additives along with
off our game, and as a result we began to chase a little.”
Giardi has no complaints with the effort. “We played great, but just ran out of gas physically and mentally down the stretch,” he said.
The veteran coach went on to say that “while the seniors were naturally disappointed that their season ended so early in the tournament, the underclassmen should to take this loss as a motivational tool to get better for next year.”
Wrestlers complete season at All-State Meet
After a three-month plus grind of league meets, independent tournaments and daily practices,
High
Tuesday, April 7
4 p.m., boys and girls track vs. Danvers and Swampscott, Village School
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Beverly at Beverly High
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Beverly at MHS Piper Field
Wednesday, April 8
TBA, boys tennis vs. Bishop Fenwick, Marblehead High
4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Swampscott, DeFelice Diamond, Swampscott Middle
4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Swampscott, Marblehead Veterans School
Thursday, April 9
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Newburyport, MHS Piper Field
Friday, April 10
3:30 p.m., boys tennis vs. Hamilton-Wenham at Hamilton-Wenham High
4 p.m., girls softball vs. Peabody at Kiley School, Peabody
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. HamiltonWenham at Marblehead High
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Swampscott at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Swampscott at Blocksidge Field, Swampscott
4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Peabody at Seaside Park
Monday, April 13
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Swampscott at Swampscott Middle
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Swampscott at Marblehead High
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Danvers at MHS Piper Field
Tuesday, April 14
4 p.m., boys and girls track vs. Beverly at Beverly High
Wednesday, April 15
4 p.m., boys baseball vs. Beverly at Beverly High
extreme dieting put users at risk of possible stroke, high blood pressure, liver and/or kidney disease and even sterility.
Boys who begin using anabolic steroids as teens show increased impulsivity and decreased attention spans as compared to men who began using steroids in their adult years.
Changes in behavior and mood can also be unusually intense. Malnourishment alone can lead to depression and suicidal ideation. Being unable to meet such unrealistic body ideals may also cause a sense of failure and unworthiness. The concern that they are already not measuring up is exacerbated by the body’s discomfort and an inability to achieve impossible goals. Moreover, steroid use in young people can cause a host of health problems, including cognitive issues that occur in school and at home.
Root causes
It cannot be overemphasized that body dysmorphia is not about vanity. It is a mental health disorder where many
the Marblehead Black & Blue co-op wrestling team’s season is over. It all came to an end at Springfield’s Mass Mutual Center with two of its wrestlers qualifying for the All-State Meet.
First-year sophomore grappler Anna Cruikshank made program history, when she became the Black & Blue’s first girl to qualify for the statewide event.
“We are very excited that she will be back next season, hopefully with some of her friends,” said coach Mike Stamison. “It takes a pretty special person to wrestle, but being the only girl on the team, while also being brand new to the sport takes a bravery that’s difficult to put into words.”
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Peabody at Peabody High
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Peabody at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Beverly at Marblehead Veterans School
Thursday, April 16
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Peabody at Peabody High
Friday, April 17
4 p.m., boys baseball vs. Saugus at Belmonte School World Series Park, Saugus
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Beverly at Beverly High
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Beverly at Marblehead High
4:15 p.m., girls softball vs. Medford at Columbus Park, Medford
Monday, April 20
10 a.m., girls softball vs. Saugus at Belmonte School softball field, Saugus
11 a.m., boys lacrosse vs. Central Catholic at MHS Piper Field
2:30 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Saugus at MHS Piper Field
Wednesday, April 22
TBA, boys lacrosse vs. Masconomet at Masconomet turf, Boxford
10 a.m., boys and girls track vs. Saugus at NEC Dual Meets Spring Challenge, Gloucester High
10 a.m., boys baseball vs. Danvers at Twi Field Baseball Diamond, Danvers
10 a.m., girls lacrosse vs. Masconomet at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Danvers at Marblehead Veterans School
Friday, April 24
4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Masconomet at Marblehead Veterans School
Monday, April 27
4:30 p.m., girls tennis vs. Saugus at Marblehead High
factors may contribute to its onset. In one study, 94% of youth with BDD described experiencing social difficulties resulting from embarrassment and shame related to their appearance. Our society’s underlying messages about power and worth prompt many boys to worry about how to measure up.
According to the National Alliance for Eating Disorders, other risk factors include being in the 15-32 age range, having a family member with BDD, experiencing childhood trauma, being bullied as a child, encountering frequent exposure to social media that features messaging about ‘ideal’ body shapes/sizes and engaging in bodybuilding, weightlifting and other types of athletic activities. Boys and young men who might be susceptible to BDD often have another mental health condition, such as obsessive compulsive disorder, another eating disorder, depression and/or low self-esteem. A preoccupation with perceived flaws and the subsequent shame and anxiety
Senior captain Liam O’Brien (138-pounds) went 1-2 in his final high school matches, losing in the quarterfinals to Andover’s Ballou after beating Gloucester’s DeCoste in the Round of 16.
O’Brien has been a captain of the team the last three years, coinciding with placing in the states each time. He was also a New England qualifier, only one of two to go that far in program history, while completing his scholastic career with 188 wins, another all-time best for the program.
Among his numerous credits include two Cape Ann League / Northeastern Conference championships, and two Division 2 North and three Dan Gionet
Tuesday, April 28
4 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Salem at Bertram Field, Salem
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Salem at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Salem at Seaside Park
Wednesday, April 29
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Danvers at Danvers High
4:30 p.m., boys and girls track vs. Masconomet at Bertram Field, Salem
4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Salem at Marblehead Veterans School
Thursday, April 30
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Beverly at MHS Piper Field
6 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Beverly at Beverly High
Friday, May 1
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Masconomet at Masconomet, Boxford
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Masconomet at Marblehead High
4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Malden Catholic at Marblehead Veterans School
Saturday, May 2
11 a.m., girls lacrosse vs. Manchester-Essex at Manchester-Essex High
1 p.m., boys baseball vs. Bishop Fenwick at Seaside Park
Monday, May 4
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Salem at Salem High
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Salem at Marblehead High
4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Gloucester at Nate Ross Baseball Field, Gloucester
Tuesday, May 5
4 p.m., boys and girls track vs. Winthrop and Salem at Marblehead Village School
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Malden Catholic at Marblehead High
related to these ‘flaws’ are also cause for concern.
Healthy steps
Not all boys or young men working out or paying better attention to their diets are at risk of having BDD. Teens often go through phases, and as they begin to define themselves in the world, they can be extremely self obsessed. Parents can be proactive with their boys around body image in a number of important ways. Keep an eye on the persistence, rigidity and intensity of workouts and dieting. Does it feel like an obsession over a long period of time?
Try and set up a space where healthy eating and exercise habits are part of your family routine. Have dinner together, take a walk or hit the gym as a family. Pay attention to how you speak about your own perceived imperfections. If you’re obsessing over your own flaws and speaking negatively about yourself, your child will likewise pick up on these attitudes.
Memorial titles. All of this adds up to being selected once again to the CAL / NEC all-star team.
“Liam is the kind of kid, who is better than his accolades,” said Stamison. “He is very wellliked throughout the region, and is a great leader, especially this season, when he had to lead a very young squad. I will sorely miss him, along with his parents, Jim and Julie, and his brothers, Connor and Ben. This feels like losing a friend. But I also want to thank all my seniors for what they did for this team.”
Coach Stamison will get together with the entire team one more time at the annual team awards banquet on March 25.
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Danvers at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Danvers at Danvers High
Wednesday, May 6
4 p.m., boys baseball vs. Peabody at Peabody High
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Swampscott at Swampscott Middle
5 p.m., girls softball vs. Peabody at Marblehead Veterans School
Thursday, May 7
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Gloucester at Gloucester High
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Gloucester at MHS Piper Field
Friday, May 8
4 p.m., girls softball vs. Gloucester at Gloucester High
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Peabody at Marblehead High
4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Gloucester at Seaside Park
Saturday, May 9
9:30 a.m., boys and girls track at NEC Freshman/Sophomore Championship Meet at Gloucester High
11 a.m., boys lacrosse vs. Lexington at MHS Piper Field
11 a.m., girls lacrosse vs. Bishop Fenwick at Bishop Fenwick, Peabody
Monday, May 11
4 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Peabody at Peabody High
4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Gloucester at Gloucester High
4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Gloucester at Marblehead High
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Peabody at MHS Piper Field
4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Swampscott at Seaside Park
5 p.m., girls softball vs. Ipswich at Marblehead Veterans School
Wednesday, May 13
4 p.m., girls softball vs. Beverly at Beverly High
Don’t allow kids to take supplements or steroids without a medical professional’s guidance and direction. Listen to his concerns — it’s tough to feel you don’t measure up. Your patience, willingness to hear him out and loving concern are all key components for your child’s healthy emotional development, trust and longterm well-being.
Bigorexia and other types of body dysmorphia disorders are serious mental health issues. Because the physical signs are not as obvious with bigorexia as they are with other eating disorders, you might be unsure whether your child is at risk. A mental health counselor can help answer some of your concerns. Gregg Mulford has been a social worker for 35 years, the last three of which have been counseling individuals, families and couples at Marblehead Counseling Center. He is a generalist who works with all populations, on a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, substance use, OCD, agoraphobia and bipolar disorder.
Get to know Nurture
Massage & Wellness
BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Becky Brandt LMT, owner of Nurture Massage & Wellness LLC, conducted by Discover Marblehead. Dedicated to supporting relaxation, healing and overall well-being, Nurture Massage & Wellness offers a range of personalized services including therapeutic massage, prenatal massage, Reiki and holistic treatment. With a focus on creating a calm and welcoming environment, their experienced team helps clients slow down, recharge and feel their best. They are located on South Street in Marblehead, and serve all of the North Shore area. To learn more about their services, go to nurturemassageandwellness.com.
Tell us about your Nurture Massage &Wellness, why you
NEWS IN BRIEF
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Current welcomes 150–200-word submissions to News in Brief. Send yours to lblander@ marbleheadnews.org.
Second community meeting set for Coffin School reuse
The town will hold its second community forum to hear feedback from residents about possible re-uses for the old Coffin School on Turner Road.
The meeting will happen Wednesday, March 18, 6 p.m. at Abbot Hall on the second floor. It will also be available on Zoom at marbleheadma.gov/event/ coffin-school-communitymeeting-2/ Joining the town will be representatives from the University of Connecticut, who are assisting with gathering community input.
Learn more about the Coffin reuse project at marbleheadma.gov/coffinschool-adaptive-reuse/.
Select Board approves Energy Reduction Plan
At its March 4 meeting, the Select Board unanimously approved a Municipal Energy Reduction Plan, a required step for Marblehead to qualify as a Green Community and become eligible for associated grant funding opportunities.
The plan establishes a goal of reducing municipal energy use by 20% over a five-year period, using fiscal 2024 as the baseline year. The plan includes: A comprehensive energy baseline covering 25 municipal buildings, 28 water-and-sewer facilities
started it and how you help your clients. Nurture Massage & Wellness is a company focused on delivering evidencebased, quality bodywork through listening, focus and empathy. It started back in 2014, originally with a focus on expecting and new moms, and families. We prioritize accessibility, achieved through flexibility such as allowing babies to accompany mom to receive her selfcare. We want to utilize every moment our
client has with us, from using quality products to continuing education, so we want to maximize the therapeutic value of our sessions. As the years go on, people seek us out for pain relief, sports maintenance as well as relaxation. Our newest and exciting modality is lymphatic drainage.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? The best piece of business advice I have ever received would be to “keep plugging away” and to remember that things take time to happen, so be patient. And pivot when necessary.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why? There’s so many incredible spots in Marblehead to visit. Being on South Street, I am close to so
many shops and restaurants. It’s fantastic. I like to be healthy, so my new go-to spot is Hooked Nutrition. They have amazing, protein-packed smoothies — I recommend the strawberrybanana flavor.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? People see me as an easy-going, laid-back type, but
and 175 municipal vehicles. Building specific energy reduction strategies and pathways. A mix of near-term (oneto-three years) and longterm (five-to-10 years) actions.
Projects are expected to reduce municipal energy use by up to 45%.
Festival scholarships
Applications are now being accepted for the Marblehead Festival of Arts student scholarships. The Festival is offering three, $3,000 scholarships to deserving high school seniors who live or attend school in Marblehead. These scholarships are presented to students pursuing higher education in visual or performing
arts, crafts, music or film production. For more information, visit marbleheadfestival.org.
‘Let’s eat!’
Marblehead Dollars for Scholars announces its sixth annual gift card fundraiser, “Let’s Eat!” Established in 1987, this local nonprofit that provides financial, needbased scholarships to college students will partner with a variety of Marblehead eateries to raise scholarship funds. Throughout the month of March, four businesses will donate 10% of all online or in-person gift card purchases to the organization. The vendors include: Shubie’s, The Landing, Sea Salt and Maria’s Gourmet. Food Pantry needs gluten-free items The
Marblehead Food Pantry is in need of gluten-free food items. “For people living with conditions such as celiac disease, a gluten intolerance or a gluten allergy, access to safe gluten free food is not a preference; it is a necessity,” according to St. John’s Prep student and Marblehead resident Thomas Cedrone, who is calling on residents to help. “Because gluten-free foods are often more expensive and harder to access, many in our community need extra support,” Cedrone said. “Our goal is to collect gluten-free, non-perishable items to support members of our community who depend on them.” Cedrone says the Pantry needs glutenfree-flour snacks, pasta, soups, rice, quinoa and
I’m actually quite tenacious. The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is dedicated to the promotion of Marblehead. Our mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach. To learn more, visit discoverMHD.com.
cookies. “We kindly ask that all items donated be clearly labeled glutenfree and unopened to ensure safety for the recipients,” Cedrone said. Donations can be dropped at the Masonic Lodge, 62 Pleasant St. Drop-off hours are every Tuesday, 9-11 a.m. If this time is not convenient for you, email info@ marbleheadfoodpantry. org to make other arrangements. The drop-off location is on the right side of the building down the driveway. “Together, we can help members of our community get safe, nourishing food,” Cedrone said.
Marblehead Dems pick delegates
Marblehead Democrats gathered for their caucus March 7, electing 14 delegates to the state’s nominating convention in Worcester May 28-29. They include: Judith Black, Molly Blander, Diann Slavit Baylis, Kate Borten, Grey Collins, John Flynn, Renee Keany, Bill Keaney, Owen Mathieu, Angus McQuilken, Susan Ogan, Christian Stumpf, Terri Tauro and Nick Ward.
MHS Junior Class Auction
More than 100 items are up for bid in the Marblehead High junior class auction, which is online and open to the full community. Auction items include: five days at a ski house, Patriots tickets, car and boat detailing, weekend mooring in Marblehead Harbor, college application consulting and tutoring. Check out the auction at mhsjuniorclass. schoolauction.net/ classof2027/signup. U.S. Coast Guard boating class Starting April 1, anyone wishing to operate a motorized vessel (including power boats, sailboats or personal watercraft) in Massachusetts will be required to complete an approved boating safety education course. The Boston Yacht Club is offering an education program March 21, 8:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m., which will cover navigation rules and emergency procedures. The class is $80 for non-BYC members and includes food. For more info and to sign up, visit https://loom.ly/-u6QUGc.
COURTESY PHOTO
Becky Brandt runs Nurture Massage & Wellness on South Street
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
The town will hold its second community forum to hear feedback from residents about possible re-uses for
Marblehead’s best bets
Current Events spotlights notable happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please
Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.
Spirit Night Bourbon Tasting
Friday, March 13, 6 p.m.
Join Marblehead Museum in the Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen for the third annual Spirit Night Bourbon Tasting. Professional sommelier Kate Mizzota will guide the tasting. Bourbons will be paired with heavy appetizers.
Tickets are $85 for museum members and $95 for the public. All proceeds help to fund the museum’s programs and operations. Guests must be 21 years or older. marbleheadmuseum.org.
Baroque string recital
Sunday, March 15, 4:30 p.m.
St. Michael’s church will offer a Baroque string recital followed by a choral Evensong. This recital of Renaissance-era music will be performed on period instruments. The ensemble will then join with St. Michael’s Choir for an Evensong Service at 5 p.m. A free-will offering will be taken at the door. All are welcome to a reception following, in the Parish Hall. 26 Pleasant St.
Current Trivia Night
Wednesday, March 25, 6 p.m.
After the blizzard postponed its February event, the Current will host its annual Trivia Night at The Landing Restaurant. Come test your knowledge with Trivia Master (and Current consulting editor Kris Olson). Tickets are $35. Go to MarbleheadCurrent.org.
St. Patrick’s Day celebration
Sunday, March 15, 1-6 p.m.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Marblehead VFW. Enjoy an afternoon of live Irish music (with Brendan Ahern & Friends), Irish step dancers, bagpipers, kids crafts, corned beef and cabbage dinners, and a cash bar. The whole family is welcome. 321 West Shore Drive.
Jazz at the Arts: Eden Rewa with Joey Barbato
Thursday, March 19, 7 p.m.
The Marblehead Arts Association and Gene Arnould present Eden Rewa with Joey Barbato as a part of their Jazz at the Arts concert series. Doors at 8 Hooper St.open at 6:30 p.m. Cash bar. Tickets: $35. For more information and tickets, go to marbleheadarts.org or stop by the Arnould Gallery at 111 Washington St.
The Tannahill Weavers
Friday, March 20, 8 p.m.
Direct from Scotland, the Me&Thee presents the only Boston-area appearance of legendary Celtic band
The Tannahill Weavers, who are widely known for their powerful Celtic music with traditional melodies and fire-driven instrumentals. 28 Mugford St. Tickets are $28, $10 for students. For more information, visit meandthee.org.
BY JORDAN HOROWITZ
When a couple celebrates their 50th anniversary, they inevitably get asked that allimportant question: “What’s your secret? How have you two managed to stay together after all these years?” And while the couple’s answer might involve a whole host of things—finding compromise when disagreements arise, always maintaining a sense of humor, etc.—Guy Van Duser and Billy Novick, a guitar-andclarinet duo celebrating their own golden anniversary this year, have a simpler solution. “We just don’t see each other,” Van Duser explains. “And that’s why we haven’t had a single fight in 50 years!” According to Van Duser, the two Massachusetts-based musicians pretty much only hang out on the day of a gig. While you might think a band who rarely meets in person would get
rusty, the time they spend apart gives the duo an opportunity to come to each performance with a fresh perspective and renewed sense of vitality.
That vitality was on full display last Friday, when Van Duser and Novick played a more-thantwo-hour set of their signature old-timey jazz at the Me&Thee Coffeehouse on Friday. It’s the kind of music you’d normally hear accompanied by the scratches and pops of old recordings, so hearing it live at a venue like the Me&Thee is like stepping into a time machine: you can hear the full, rich sound of early jazz as it was heard by audiences at the time — as a new and exciting form of music, not a historic time capsule.
Winding their way through originals as well as standards like “Caravan” by Duke Ellington and “Stardust” by Hoagy Carmichael, Novick’s playful clarinet dovetailed perfectly
with Van Duser’s guitar, which kept a steady rhythm as he took inventive leaps up and down the fretboard.
“Caravan” was a particular highlight of the evening, with its sinewy, Middle Eastern scales on clarinet and its driving guitar rhythm meant to evoke the march of camels across the Arabian Desert. Van Duser explained that he first heard the song on a Chet Atkins record when he was a teenager. To learn how to play it himself, he would methodically listen to a few notes of the record, lift the needle, figure out those notes on his guitar, then bring the needle down again and repeat the process until he had memorized the entire song. What he didn’t realize was that Atkins used an echo effect on his guitar that doubled each note he played, so Van Duser was actually playing twice the amount of notes that guitar virtuoso Chet Atkins was
— quite an accomplishment for a teen! He still plays the doublenote version today, and at their concert on Friday, the effect was mesmerizing. The show received a Marblehead touch when Van Duser and Novick invited their long-time friend Jeanie Stahl onto the stage, a local legend who once scored a regional hit with “Marblehead Morning” alongside her musical partner Mason Daring. Van Duser, Novick and Stahl have known
each other and played together since the days of the 1970s Cambridge folk scene, and the chemistry they’ve forged over the years was evident on Friday when they performed tender, evocative versions of the jazz standards “Am I Blue?” and “Cheek to Cheek.” Bringing the jazz of the 1920s from the 1970s folk scene up to the present day, Guy Van Duser and Billy Novick prove that great music is something that truly transcends time.
Breed: Domestic shorthair
Size: Medium
Age: Young
Sex: Male McClane is a beautiful and sweet cat who was rescued right around Christmas time, according to volunteers at the Marblehead.
When he first came to the shelter he was shy and scared, but as he has settled in his personality is truly starting to shine, they say. One of the
shelter’s volunteers figured out that McClane loves to be sung.
“You can see how it relaxes him,” volunteers say. Shelter volunteers believe McClane would do best in a quieter home, one that is not full of activity
and chaotic. They believe he would do well with another well-socialized cat, especially if being left alone for a number of hours.
To make his transition into a home, shelter volunteers would want him to start off in a single room where he can decompress and get used to his new surroundings on his time schedule.
“We like to say he is a
gem that is just starting to dazzle you with his personality,” they said. McClane is up to date with routine shots, house trained and neutered. If you are interested in meeting any of the animals at the shelter, you must fill out an adoption application online at marblehead-animalshelter.org. The shelter does not respond to inquiries.
CURRENT PHOTO / JORDAN HOROWITZ
Guy Van Duser and Billy Novick, a guitar-and-clarinet duo, celebrated their golden anniversary at Me&Thee.
‘A Few Good Men’ underscores that the law applies to everyone
BY LISA FAMA, MLT board member and co-producer of “A Few Good Men”
Directed by Billy Lewand, “A Few Good Men” opens Friday, March 6, 7:30 p.m. at Marblehead Little Theatre. Aaron Sorkin’s groundbreaking debut tells the story of a group of military lawyers assigned to defend two Marines in Guantanamo Bay. During the course of the trial, they uncover a high-level conspiracy designed to eliminate weaker soldiers in the name of patriotism. Many know this story by way of the 1992 Rob Reiner film but are unaware that it was a play first. MLT’s black box theatre (which seats fewer than 100 people) is the perfect setting for an intimate retelling of the timeless classic. There are 17 cast members and a set reminiscent of Guantanamo Bay, where some of the action takes place, as well as a courtroom that determines the future of the Marines accused of murder. We asked our cast members to share some insights with us on their experience interpreting their characters’ motivations and what they learned from the production. Cast member Jamil Johnson, who plays Private
William T. Santiago, states “[w] hat I hope audiences take away from this production is that cases like this happen almost every day. That this story is still
more relevant today and that we as humans should really have compassion for one another. I also hope that what they take away from this is to always stand
up for what is right, don’t always take the easy way out because it sounds better, fight with all you got for justice.”
Alessandro J. Odoguardi, who
portrays Harold Dawson, says “[t]his play means reconnecting with my roots in theatre and why I began acting in the first place. I want the audience to understand the complications of a system run by imperfect men that requires no questioning to function. Hopefully, people take away that characters such as mine struggle to discern between right and wrong when under this system.” And finally, Ted Merritt (Commander Walter Stone) shares that “[A Few Good Men] is a timely reminder that all citizens, including members of our military, have a duty to refuse to follow illegal orders. Dr. Stone exemplifies the individual failure of character to push back against corrupt authority when necessary. Coincidentally, the last character I portrayed in an MLT play, Dr. Dussel in ‘Diary of Anne Frank’, shows what can happen if the citizenry doesn’t.”
MLT is excited to share this always relevant story with our community. Please get your tickets now as they are going fast: go to mltlive. com to purchase, and for more information on this and upcoming shows. Performances of “A Few Good Men” run March 6 through March 16.
Saturday, Feb. 14
» Alarms: 1
» Building/ property checks: 9
» Abandoned 911 calls: 2
» Vehicle stops, citations: 1
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1
2:07 a.m. An officer issued a citation to a driver who, according to the officer’s cruiser-mounted radar, had been driving 60 mph on Tedesco Street, more than twice the posted speed limit of 25 mph. The officer asked the driver why she was driving so fast, and she said she did not have a reason and profusely apologized. The officer noted in his report that there is a permanent pole-mounted radar speed feedback sign in front of the Tedesco Country Club, which flashes red and blue strobe lights when drivers exceed the speed limit. The officer also noted in his report that roads at the time were narrowed significantly due to plowed accumulated snow from two recent significant snowstorms, which had created large berms of snow along the entirety of the road, especially around each corner. The snow berms had made what were already challenging
sight lines even tougher for drivers trying to merge onto Tedesco Street, making the speeding even more problematic, the officer added.
12:47 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Lincoln Avenue.
2 p.m. An officer went to Mohawk Road to speak with a woman who had been the victim of a scam in which the scammer had texted her from an unfamiliar number, claiming to be her son texting from a friend’s phone because his was broken. After some small talk, the scammer eventually asked the woman to send him $1,421 to pay a bill because his bank had allegedly blocked his account. After an unsuccessful attempt to have her send him the money by PayPal, the scammer convinced her to buy three $500 Apple gift cards, scratch off their codes and send them to him. The request did not initially set off alarm bells because her son is a college-aged student who had previous cellphone issues, the woman explained. But she got wise to the scam when her “son” came back looking for more money.
5:15 p.m. An officer investigated the report of a violation of a harassment prevention order on Commercial Street.
6:08 p.m. General information was provided on Lafayette Street and Carna Road.
6:29 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Pleasant Street.
Sunday, Feb. 15
» Alarms: 0 » Building/ property checks: 3
» Abandoned 911 calls: 2
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2 8:49 a.m. A caller
reported having lost his or her car on Front Street.
11:12 a.m. Assistance with parking was rendered on Humphrey Street.
2:39 p.m. An issue related to trash was reported on Pond Street.
5:45 p.m. Assistance was rendered to a citizen on Ralph Road.
Monday, Feb. 16
» Alarms: 1
» Building/ property checks: 4
» Abandoned 911 calls: 1
» Vehicle stops, citations: 3
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 7
10:17 a.m. An officer investigated a disturbance on Washington Street.
11:45 a.m. Assistance was
rendered to a citizen on Front Street.
12:56 p.m. Officers assisted a citizen on Jersey Street and filed a report.
3:50 p.m. An officer investigated a report of suspicious activity on West Shore Drive and Green Street but was unable to locate it.
Tuesday, Feb. 17
» Alarms: 0
» Building/ property checks: 7
» Abandoned 911 calls: 0
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1
8:13 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on West Shore Drive and Lafayette Street.
Wednesday, Feb. 18
» Alarms: 0
» Building/ property checks: 8
» Abandoned 911 calls: 0
» Vehicle stops, citations: 1
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1
7 a.m. A vehicle was towed and a citation issued after a traffic stop on West Shore Drive and Lafayette Street. According to the officer’s report, the vehicle
in question ran a red light traveling outbound on West Shore Drive as the signal turned green on Village Street, where the officer’s cruiser had been stopped.
7:11 a.m. An officer investigated a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Pond Street and filed a report.
4:24 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Creesy Street.
5:35 p.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew responded to a vehicle crash reported on Elm Street that proved to be unfounded.
9:23 p.m. Officers investigated a disturbance reported on Washington and State streets.
9:47 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Farrell Court and filed a report.
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 3 11:54 a.m. An officer
Paul Misoda
Paul Misoda was born in 1937 in Nesquahoning, Pennsylvania, to Mary and John Misoda. After high school, he left home to join the US Air Force. He was proud of his time in the Air Force which was the catalyst for his interest in engineering and afforded him the ability to pursue his dream of going to college at Penn State; and then eventually earning a master’s in aerospace engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic. In his early years he worked at Pratt & Whitney aircraft in Hartford, Connecticut. It was in Hartford where he met
Lance M. Belostock, 63
Lance M. Belostock, 63, of Marblehead, passed away peacefully on March 3 after a courageous seven-month battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Lynn on July 21, he was the son of the late Sidney and Natalie Belostock. Lance was the devoted husband of Kathleen (Walker) Belostock
Thomas Sheridan, 89
Thomas Joseph Sheridan, 89, of Marblehead, passed away peacefully on March 2, just six days shy of his 90th birthday.
Born on March 8, 1936, in Providence, Rhode Island, Tom was the eldest of three children born to proud Irish immigrants, Thomas and Rose Sheridan. He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, in a home grounded in deep faith and a strong work ethic that shaped the course of his life.
Tom was married for 64 years to his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane Traficante Sheridan, who predeceased him in 2022. Together, they built a life centered on their love for one another and their deep commitment to family.
Tom was a devoted family man. He and Mary Jane raised
their five children in Touisset Point in Warren, Rhode Island, where they lived for 35 years in a beautiful home on the water. There he enjoyed boating, tennis, tending his gardens, and maintaining a perfectly mowed lawn.
Tom was a loving father to sons Michael Sheridan and his wife Maureen of San Francisco, California, and John Sheridan and his wife Michelle Richards of Warren, Rhode Island; and daughters Karen Sheridan and
beautiful Ann, and where he made the smartest decision of his life to marry her. They were wed in 1966. They then moved to Seattle, Washington, where he worked for Boeing Aviation. From there, Paul and Ann moved to Massachusetts where he worked for the GE Aviation division. They settled down in the town of Marblehead, a seaside town that he had fallen in love with. It was there where he and Ann raised their two children Mark and Marin, their pride and joy.
While at GE, working on many global aeronautical projects, he was afforded the opportunity to travel huge swaths of the earth
and the loving father of Jamie Holt and her husband Zachary of Salem, and Sydney Belostock of Marblehead.
He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Mackenzie Belle Holt of Salem.
Lance is also survived by his sister Cindy Lefavor and her husband Philip of Rochester, and his brother Gary Belostock and his wife Marla of Swampscott. He was predeceased by his brother, Mark Belostock.
He also leaves behind several beloved nieces and nephews,
her husband Chris Clark of St. Augustine, Florida, Mary Sheridan Clough of Marblehead and Martha Potvin and her husband Brian of Marblehead. He adored his nine grandchildren, who will deeply miss him: Kaitlyn, Brian, and Ian Sheridan; Emma and Kathryn Sheridan; Alex and Megan Clough, and Maggie and Elizabeth Potvin. He is also survived by two greatgrandchildren, Matteo Caputi and Thomas Sheridan, and two on the way. He also leaves behind his sister, Rosemary Riley, and his brother, Edward Sheridan of Stonington, Connecticut.
Tom dedicated his entire career to the New England Telephone Company, rising through the ranks to become a division manager. After graduating from La Salle Academy, he worked full-time while studying business at
and experience many countries. It was one of the great joys of his life to be able to fully immerse himself in the cultures of all his travel adventures; especially the local food and people.
Upon retirement, he and Ann were happy snowbirds in Naples, Florida, where he was an avid golfer and fisherman. But most of all, he enjoyed spending sunny days with close friends and family, including his beloved grandson Evan.
A man of diverse knowledge and talent he was a skilled woodworker, gardener, painterartist, boater and tinkerer. He was deeply loved, and will be greatly missed.
including William Lefavor and his wife Michelle of Mansfield and their children Rosalie and Austin; Samuel Lefavor and his fiancé Kimberly Gregory of Odenton, Maryland; Shad and Amy McNair of Derry, New Hampshire, and their children Jack and Riley; and Jeremy McNair of Lowell and his daughter Triana.
Lance was a self-employed contractor and worked for many years as a bartender in Boston and Marblehead. He loved traveling, especially to Aruba,
Bryant University. He also served in the U.S. Navy Seabees Reserves from 1957 to 1960.
Following his retirement from the New England Telephone Company, Tom joined Mary Jane at her real estate company, Harper, Ramos and Sheridan in Bristol, Rhode Island, where they enjoyed working together for several years.
In 2001, Tom and Mary Jane retired to Fort Myers, Florida, where they enjoyed an active life at Kelly Greens Golf & Country Club, spending their days golfing, playing tennis, enjoying the beaches on Sanibel Island, and singing in the choir at St. Columbkille Church. They cherished their Florida winters while returning north each summer to visit family in Touisset and Marblehead.
In 2022, Tom lost his beloved wife, Mary Jane, and soon after, his home to Hurricane Ian.
This prompted him to spend
He is survived by his wife Ann; his son Mark and his wife Cheryl; his daughter Marin and her partner Matt; his grandson Evan, his brother Michael and his wife Linda; and his sister Mary Ann and her husband Jerry. And many loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother John and his wife Elaine.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 1, 11 a.m., at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Ave. Interment will be private. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Paul’s family.
and had a gift for making friends with everyone he met along the way. Lance will be remembered for his warm personality, his hardworking spirit and the many friendships he built throughout his life. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
A service for Lance will be held on Monday, March 9, 11 a.m. at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel,10 Vinnin St., Salem. Burial will follow at Waterside Cemetery, 294 West Shore Drive, Marblehead.
time in St. Augustine with his daughter Karen before settling in Marblehead in 2023 to be near his daughters Mary and Martha. He spent his final years there, forming close friendships while living at Glover Landing and The Mariner. Tom often referred to himself as “Lucky Tom,” a reflection of his deep gratitude for a life well lived. Ever the social spirit, he greeted everyone he encountered with a joke and a smile and had a genuine interest in getting to know people. His positive attitude, kind spirit and unwavering resilience will remain an inspiration to all who knew him.
A funeral Mass will be held later this spring at his childhood parish, St. Luke’s Church in Barrington, Rhode Island. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Tom’s family.
The Marblehead Current publishes obituaries online for free and in its print edition for a flat fee of $300.
Submissions or inquiries should be sent to notices@marbleheadnews.org.
the funeral home serving the deceased’s family, along with a daytime phone number for a person to contact, in case we have any questions about the obituary.
are welcome. Photos should be of high enough quality to reproduce well in print. Generally, an image file created by a digital camera or smartphone will be fine; images copied from websites will not. OBITUARY SUBMISSION POLICY
Photos, preferably in JPEG format,
Police
From P. 13
spoke with a woman outside by the turnaround on Front Street near Fort Sewall, who reported that, while walking her dog, she had found what she believed to be a fuel can that had been stolen out of her whaler in the summer on Pond Street. The fuel can was sitting in the snow next to the trash can on the turnaround. She believed it was hers because of a yellow marking on the back that she said they had placed there. She then put the officer on the phone with the boat’s owner, who confirmed the information. They did not want the can back, but she thought it was strange and wished to report it. The officer documented what she had told him and took some photos. 12:15 p.m. An officer investigated a report of an “attorney general scam” on Hammond Place and filed a report. 1:42 p.m. An officer spoke with a woman over the telephone regarding fraudulent activity. The woman explained that she had received a phone call at around 10:30 a.m. from an unknown woman who spoke
Submissions should include the name of
broken English, confirming an Amazon purchase the woman had allegedly made in the amount of $1,000. The woman stated she had put a hold on the purchase in order to verify the woman had indeed made such a person. Confused, the woman told the caller that she had not made any $1,000 Amazon purchases. The caller then transferred the phone call to her “higher up,” a man who identified himself as the assistant attorney general. He explained to the woman that he had already looked into her for fraudulent activity and needed personal information from her to prevent her from losing everything. This alarmed the woman, as she believed she had never done anything wrong. Somehow, the man already had her Social Security number, credit card accounts and information pertaining to her Wells Fargo account. The man then requested a copy of her Massachusetts driver’s license, which the woman provided. He continued to hound her relentlessly for more information. He asked about how much money she had in her Salem Five account, which she did not know. He also told her
she owns a home in Ohio, which was not true. The woman was concerned about the phone call and the information the man had been able to obtain. The officer advised her to contact her bank and any accounts she may have and put a freeze on them. In addition, he provided her with the website identitytheft.gov to report the incident.
1:43 p.m. Officers investigated a 911 hang-up call from Blueberry Road and filed a report.
Friday, Feb. 20
» Alarms: 1
» Building/property checks: 6
» Abandoned 911 calls: 1
» Vehicle stops, citations: 1
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1
6:15 a.m. A crane lifting HVAC equipment was reported on Pleasant Street. No police response was required.
6:42 a.m. A dead skunk was reported on Pleasant Street.
7:06 a.m. Suspicious activity was reported on West Shore Drive.
8:26 a.m. An officer spoke with a woman regarding a wallet she believed she had lost or stolen during a trip to the Marblehead
Post Office the day before. She had realized she was missing her wallet hours later and returned to the post office, but it had not been turned in. The officer went to the post office to see if it had any cameras, but it did not. The officer advised her to cancel any debit or credit cards that may have been in the wallet and to contact her insurance company to report the lost or stolen card.
8:55 a.m. Officers assisted a citizen on Washington Street and filed a report.
11:11 a.m. An officer assisted with boat tows on Ocean Avenue.
12:02 a.m. An officer investigated a report of annoying phone calls on Marion Road Extension.
3:29 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Bayview Road and filed a report.
4:34 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Lafayette Street and filed a report.
Saturday, Feb. 21
» Alarms: 0
» Building/property checks: 9
» Abandoned 911 calls: 0
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops,
verbal warnings: 0
5:19 p.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Green Street.
7:02 p.m. General information was provided on Bessom Street. 9:46 p.m. An officer spoke with a man who was looking for advice on a neighbor issue. The man stated that, a few weeks back, he received a text message from his neighbor about noise coming from his home gym. The man said the text asked that they be more quiet when working out. The man went on to say that his son works out in the gym but does not cause excessive noise, in his opinion. The man said he received another text message from the same neighbor stating that the noise from the gym is disruptive and a quality-of-life issue. The neighbor ended the text with, “This will be the last request for this.” The man was not sure what the neighbor meant by this. He explained that just wanted it on record that he and his family are not disrespectful or trying to cause problems with their neighbors.
10:15 p.m. Officers investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Atlantic and Ocean avenues.
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community
"After the Rain"
Anna Baughman, Social Media Manager, Junior
JUNIOR CLASS AUCTION
Bid on the Junior Class Auction Today!
Dear Class of 2027 Families and Marblehead Community, The Junior Class Auction will run through Friday, March 13th, at 8 PM. The Auction is open to the entire community. We have over 100 incredible items up for bid. From gift certificates to local shops and restaurants to Patriots tickets and ski house rentals, there is something for everyone.
The Junior Class Auction and Sponsorships of the Junior Class are the two most important ways you can support the fundraising needs of the Class of 2027.
The funds raised through Class Sponsorship and through the auction directly defray the cost of Junior and Senior proms, Senior Week, yearbooks, the class gift, graduation, and all graduation-related activities, just to name a few. We all benefit from these fundraisers.
On February 28th, the cast and crew of The Mender, Marblehead High School's original theater production, gathered at Norwood High School to compete in DramaFest of 2026. As Anna Baughman wrote in our early February edition, the annual competition is facilitated by the Massachusetts Educational High School Theater Guild. Schools from across the state put on forty minute productions of student-directed (and often originally written) plays to compete and showcase their theatrical talents. To call this year’s production memorable would be an understatement, and it’s safe to say that all who participated agree.
While the original plan for the show changed, it couldn’t have come together more beautifully. After rights for the pre-planned show were revoked, Drama Club’s director and English teacher at MHS Ashley Skeffington scrambled to expand an original script from years ago, and produced The Mender. For those who didn’t get to experience it, it was a powerful exploration of one family’s experience during and after the Vietnam War, told through generations. Niko King-Mahan, a junior at MHS, played the lead, Holly Hansen. She shares, “I adored being in The Mender. It was my first time having a lead in a school production and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Due to the semi-devised nature of the show, I had a lot of say in Holly throughout her development.” Her powerful performance in the show earned her an Acting Award at Fest.
The sentiment that The Mender was a somewhat collaborative effort is shared by other members of the cast and crew, including Max Kane, a junior who played Teddy Hansen, Holly’s uncle. “While the show was a wild ride, the one thing that kept it all together was everyone’s cooperation and will to keep moving.” He continues, “Coming into such a hardworking and collaborative environment made showtime possible despite all the challenges, and it made me want to see and spread that attitude to all aspects of my life.” Members of the production certainly showed perseverance in the face of unexpected snow days, a shortened tech week, an extended trip leaving Max stranded in France, and a number of other obstacles. The results of their hard work are a testament to the power of grit and dedication.
Coming out of this year’s DramaFest, four awards were garnered. Along with Niko’s award, Matias Watts Cruz won recognition for his excellence playing Niel Hansen. Sadie Newburg and Nassa Warab won technical awards for their excellence in leading the crew. While the show didn’t advance into Semi-finals, its wonderful execution was a victory in itself. The Mender was born out of hard work, shaped by collaboration, and carried to the stage through resilience. The awards are tangible proof of its impact, but the true victory lies in what the cast and crew built together. In the end, The Mender reminds us that some of the most meaningful work comes from unexpected beginnings.
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, London Perlow, Mary Prindiville
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: Anna Baughman
FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins
Director Ashley Skeffington receiving a gift of flowers from the cast of The Mender
Quilt guild showcases handmade creations
BY LEIGH BLANDER
A colorful collection of handmade quilts and textile art is now on display at the Abbot Public Library, offering residents a chance to see the creativity of local quilters up close.
The exhibit, organized by Marblehead’s Seacoast Quilt Guild, is running through April 10 in the library’s Carten Gallery.
Founded in 2010, the guild is a member of the Marblehead Council on Aging and meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Jacobi Community Center.
Though relatively small — with about 20 to 25 members — the group includes quilters of all skill levels, from beginners to longtime quilters whose work has won awards.
“We’re a small but jolly and welcoming group,” said Carol Kusinitz of the guild.
The show features 28 quilts and quilted or appliquéd pieces created by 14 guild members. While the exhibition does not follow a single theme, it highlights a wide range of quilting styles and personal artistic visions.
One section of the display features quilts made for the guild’s
annual challenge project, in which participants reach into a bag, pull out a crayon and create a small wall hanging inspired by that color.
The rest of the quilts showcase the diversity of techniques and ideas within the group, from traditional patterns to more contemporary designs.
The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Some of the 28 artworks displayed by at Abbot Library.
