FIRST WAVE
BY LEIGH BLANDER
This week, the Select Board and School Committee are moving closer to finalizing potential property tax override requests for May’s Town Meeting. Marblehead hasn’t approved a general override — permanently raising the tax base — in more than 20 years.
On March 19 at 1 p.m., Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer is expected to update the Select Board after researching three potential override “tiers” to address a $7.7 million deficit for fiscal 2027. The board is also scheduled to vote on a budget that day.
The override tiers include:
A “restorative” override that would restore proposed cuts.
» An intermediate tier that would restore proposed cuts and augment services.
A top tier that would include additional funding to improve and modernize town services.
At a March 11 meeting, board members debated whether to present voters with a single override proposal or a menu of options.
“It’s a Town Meeting decision, and the more choices we can
give them, probably the better off we are,” said Select Board member Jim Zisson. “That’s going to be my overriding thought.”
Member Moses Grader supported the most conservative approach.
“I’m in favor of a restoration override only for this year, with multiple questions, allowing the town to select what they restore from the cuts that we’re facing,” Grader said.
Others cautioned against solving the problem for only a single year.
New children’s book puts town, arts festival in spotlight
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Anyone who knows Jodi-Tatiana Charles knows she is a force of nature. The international marketing strategist ran the Marblehead Festival of Arts in 2023 and 2024, bringing new events and fresh energy to the popular annual tradition. Now, she has written a children’s book that highlights how festivals build stronger, more connected communities. It’s called “Going to the Festival.”
The 58-page story “celebrates community, friendship and the discoveries that happen when children take part in the traditions around them,” according to the book’s back cover.
“When four friends stumble upon their town’s annual summer festival, they quickly learn it is more than colorful booths and busy streets,” the synopsis continues. “It becomes a week shaped by creativity, curiosity and the shared spirit of neighbors who make a place feel like home.”
The book is heavily based on Marblehead’s Art Festival and Charles’ experiences running it.
“Festivals are all about communities coming together,” Charles said. “They’re about economic
Tough choices prompting override requests
BY AKANKSHA GOYAL
Communities across Massachusetts are increasingly turning to property tax overrides as rising costs outpace limits on local revenue growth.
Data from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue shows a sharp increase in both the number of communities placing override questions on ballots and the total dollar amounts requested.
In fiscal year 2026 alone, 54 municipalities placed 74 override questions on local ballots, seeking more than $158 million in additional tax revenue — the second largest total since the early 1990s.
A decade ago, the numbers were far smaller.
In FY 2017, 21 communities placed 26 override questions on ballots statewide. Those requests sought about $19 million in additional revenue.
“We can tell this is going to be a big, big year for override deliberations,” said John Ouellette, senior executive and director of communications at the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Across the state, he said, communities are confronting similar choices.
“Communities are finding themselves in a position where it’s an override or layoffs and service cuts,” Ouellette said. “It’s not any more complicated than that. They just have nowhere to turn.”
Marblehead is set to add to that trend.
The Select Board last Wednesday tasked Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer with creating three potential Proposition 2 1/2 override options as officials attempt to close a projected $7.7 million shortfall in fiscal
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer has been researching three override tiers and is expected to update the Select Board on March 19.
COURTESY IMAGES
Jodi-Tatiana Charles has written a new children’s book that pulls heavily from the Marblehead Festival of Arts. She ran the festival in 2023 and 2024.
Want to run for town office?
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Nomination Papers Available for Marblehead’s June 9 Town
Election
Nomination papers for Marblehead’s June 9 town election will be available Monday, March 16. Several seats are up for grabs, including positions on the Select Board, School Committee, Board of Health, Light Commission, and more. The Town Clerk’s Office released a complete list of terms expiring this spring. Anyone interested in running can pick up nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office in Abbot Hall. Candidates must collect at least 50 signatures and return the papers by 5 p.m. April 21.
Seats up for election:
Select Board: Two three-year seats, currently held by Erin Noonan and Alexa Singer School Committee: Two three-year seats, currently held by Melissa Clucas and Jennifer
Schaeffner
Board of Health: Three seats — two new positions and one held by Tom McMahon (threeyear term)
Town Moderator: One-year term, currently held by Jack Attridge
Board of Assessors: One three-year seat, currently held by John Kelley
Cemetery Commission: One three-year seat, currently held by Rabbi David Meyer
Housing Authority: One
five-year seat, currently held by Jeanne Eldridge
Abbot Library Trustees: Two three-year seats, currently held by Gary Amberik Jr. and Katherine Barker
Light Commission: One three-year seat, currently held by Matthew Harrington
Recreation & Parks: Five
one-year seats, currently held by Shelly Curran Bedrossian, Chris Kennedy, Karin L. Ernst, Rossana Ferrante, and Larry Simpson
Water and Sewer: Two
three-year seats, currently held by Gregory W. Burt and Barton Hyte
Planning Board: Two threeyear seats, currently held by Robert Schaeffner and Marc Liebman
The Current reached out to incumbents about their re-election plans. Responses include:
» Jack Attridge will run again for Town Moderator.
Larry Simpson and Shelly Curran Bedrossian will seek another term on Recreation & Parks.
» Rossana Ferrante will not run for re-election to Recreation & Parks but may pursue a seat on the Select Board.
Tom McMahon is considering a second — and what he calls his final — term on the Board of Health. He plans to ask his followers on Facebook for their input.
Bob Schaeffner pulled his papers on Monday morning and will be pursuing reelection to the Planning Board.
Town’s first sustainability coordinator to leave post
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Logan Casey, the town’s first sustainability coordinator, is leaving Marblehead March 27, after two years in his job.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with dedicated colleagues, community members and partners to advance projects that strengthen Marblehead’s climate resilience and get closer to the Community’s Net Zero GHG emissions by 2040 goal,” Casey wrote on his LinkedIn page.
He continued, “I’m especially proud to have helped the town secure more than $745,000 in grant funding, supporting initiatives ranging from EV charging to coastal resilience projects. Among many projects, I feel particularly proud to have supported the development of Marblehead’s first town-wide bicycle facilities plan, as well as to position the town to apply for the Commonwealth’s Green Communities program through the development and adoption of a Municipal Energy Reduction Plan and Zero-Emissions Vehicle Procurement Policy.”
Casey is headed to the MBTA
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Planning Board approves new 3A plan
On March 10, the Planning Board unanimously approved the town’s new multifamily zoning plan to comply with the controversial MBTA Communities Act. After more than two years of controversy, not a single person spoke during a public hearing for the new plan. Voters will have their say at May’s Town Meeting.
The new proposal, which has been granted initial approval by the state, includes two multifamily districts: Broughton Road and the Tedesco Country Club site. The total number of potential units is 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
to work as project manager for its next Program for Mass Transportation, the T’s 25-year capital investment plan and vision.
Elaine Leahy, director of Sustainable Marblehead, is sad to see Casey go.
“Logan Casey’s departure is such a loss for the town,” she said. “In just two years, he made meaningful progress on projects
that benefit residents across the community, like the Shipyard Resiliency Improvements, the Village Street Bridge Replacement Project and improvements to the Rail Trail. Logan consistently went above and beyond, and his genuine care for this community was always front and center. I will miss his energy, intelligence and strong work ethic, and I wish him every success in his next role.”
The sustainability coordinator position has been controversial since its inception. An article to abolish it is on this May’s Town Meeting warrant (agenda) for the second year in a row. Proposed budget cuts for fiscal 2027 would also eliminate the position.
The Current asked Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer if he plans to look for Casey’s successor but did not hear back.
included sites along Pleasant 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.
Drought alert
Chief Jason Gilliland shared this drought alert from the state: “The Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs and the Drought Management Task Force declared critical drought conditions in central and northeastern Massachusetts, with significant drought conditions in most other areas of the state. As we all know, this increases the outdoor fire risk at the very time more people start to spend more time outdoors,” according to the message.
All this winter’s snow has not had a notable impact on drought status, according to the state.
COURTESY PHOTO / ELEMENT5 DIGITAL Are you thinking about running for election in Marblehead this spring?
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey, second from right, is resigning.
development, civic engagement and creativity.”
“Going to the Festival” is full of Easter eggs — images and clues for people familiar with the town.
A few examples: There is a fire chief who resembles Marblehead’s Chief Jason Gilliland; appearances of local businesses such as Mud Puddle Toys, Shubie’s and The Landing; and a musician who looks a lot like Brian Wheeler, who organizes Concerts at Crocker Park as part of the Festival every summer.
“It was so fun to weave in those little nods throughout the book,” said Julia Potvin, Charles’ former Festival intern who worked with her again to illustrate the book.
“I would say it is even more fun to see if readers can spot them all,” Potvin said. “The local businesses were especially enjoyable to illustrate, particularly
those that supported the historic 2023-2024 festival.
Two of my favorite pages feature imagery of Soall Viet Kitchen alongside Arnould Gallery and Framery.”
Potvin, who graduated from Marblehead High, is now studying at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.
“Going to the Festival” is her first book.
“I hope readers take away a sense of connection and a reminder to find joy in the small things,” Potvin said. “Maybe that looks like sitting down and reading with your kids, feeling inspired to participate in family or local traditions, or simply pausing to notice the little details around you. For me, this project was about including as many people as possible and pushing my artistic abilities.”
Ultimately, “Going to
“ Festivals help us remember who we are. ”
Jodi-Tatiana Charles
the Festival” is both a tribute to the energy of festivals and a reminder of their deeper purpose. By highlighting the connections forged in these lively spaces, Charles hopes readers will see festivals not just as entertainment but as essential threads in the fabric of community.
“Festivals help us remember who we are — and how much stronger we are when we celebrate together,” she said.
“Going to the Festival” will be available soon around town, including at Saltwater Books and Shubie’s. It can also be ordered online.
COURTESY PHOTO
MHS grad Julia Potvin illustrated “Going to the Festival.”
EDITORIAL
Send scammers’ ‘payment portals’ packing
Scammers don’t ask you to mail a check anymore. They direct you to a convenience store. There, beside the chips and sodas, sits a kiosk that looks like an ATM but exists, in practice, to separate vulnerable people from their money.
The targets are most often seniors — people the FTC says are more than three times as likely as younger adults to fall victim to these scams.
Last year in Waltham alone, more than 20 residents reported $75,000 in losses to cryptocurrency scams — and because victims often feel too ashamed to come forward, police say the real number is likely much higher.
When AARP Massachusetts first started tracking crypto ATMs in 2023, there were about 300 machines in the state. That number has more than doubled in roughly two years. Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker told the state legislature that Massachusetts has between 650 and 800 of these kiosks, most of them in gas stations and corner stores. He called them “a payment portal for scammers.” Nationally, the FBI received more than 12,000 complaints involving crypto ATM fraud in 2025, with losses topping 33 million.
This is not a distant problem. Marblehead Detective Theresa Gay told the Marblehead Current last October that the department receives five to 10 reports of crypto scam calls every single month — and the machines don’t even need to be in town to cause harm. Scammers simply direct victims to kiosks in neighboring communities.
In February, Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell filed suit against Bitcoin Depot, one of the largest crypto ATM operators in the country, alleging that over half the money flowing through their Massachusetts kiosks was connected to scams. These machines aren’t financial tools — they are weapons of scam artists.
The victims are not careless or naive. According to the Federal Trade Commission, people over 60 are more than three times as likely as younger adults to report losing money through these machines. Marblehead has a significant senior population. They deserve better than a piece of hardware sitting in a local store waiting to drain their savings in seconds.
Some argue we should regulate, not ban. Massachusetts already tried that. The state put protections in place — daily transaction limits, mandatory fraud warnings, a refund window for scam victims. Regulators concluded they weren’t enough. When the state’s attorney general is suing the industry for facilitating fraud, it’s hard to argue those protections haven’t already failed.
The proliferation problem is just as urgent. Before Waltham’s ban, the city had four crypto ATMs. Within months, that number had grown to 14. These machines spread quickly, and they spread into the places where vulnerable people already are.
Article 33 on the Town Meeting warrant gives Marblehead the chance to get ahead of that rather than scramble to catch up.
The second objection is about financial inclusion. Crypto ATMs serve the unbanked, giving people without traditional bank accounts access to digital finance, the theory goes. But that argument doesn’t hold up, either.
These machines charge fees of 10% to 20% per transaction. They require users to already have a digital cryptocurrency wallet and the technical knowledge to use it. Marc Grens co-founded one of the largest crypto ATM networks in the country and ran it for nearly a decade before shutting it down. His conclusion: “To do the right thing is not profitable in this industry.” More bluntly, he added, “Without these scam victims, these victimizations, these companies wouldn’t survive. These Bitcoin ATMs wouldn’t exist.”
Anyone who legitimately wants to purchase cryptocurrency can do so online at a fraction of the cost, with real consumer protections in place.
What crypto ATMs actually provide, in practice, is a fast, anonymous, irreversible cash-to-crypto pipeline — which is exactly why scammers love them. Unlike a wire transfer, which a bank may flag or delay, a crypto ATM transaction vanishes into the blockchain the moment it clears. Waltham Police Detective Michael Maher testified before the state legislature that out of roughly 60 crypto ATM fraud cases he has worked, he recovered funds in maybe four. Four. Gloucester, Waltham and Ipswich have already acted, and at least two other Massachusetts communities are considering similar measures. Marblehead should join them. We encourage all Town Meeting members to vote yes on Article 33.
If you think you or someone you know has been targeted by a crypto ATM scam: Marblehead Police Department — File a report with local police. Non-emergency line: 781-631-1212.
» Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office — File a consumer complaint at mass.gov/ago.
» FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center — Report online at ic3.gov.
AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline — Free support for victims and families: 877-908-3360, weekdays, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Remember: No government agency, bank, or legitimate business will ever ask you to send money through a cryptocurrency ATM.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Too often, U.S. wars end in “tragedy, cost and regret”
To the editor:
I have lived through a number of U.S. wars, beginning with Vietnam. Too often our involvement has ended in tragedy, cost and regret.
People forget that in recent wars the casualties were so high that photos of flag-draped coffins returning from overseas were banned.
The public was not meant to see the real cost of war.
With a few exceptions (Bosnia, for one), our involvement has been financially costly and unfortunate. And when we should have gone in immediately, and with immense humanitarian justification (Rwanda), Congress sat around and did nothing. Welcome to the moral mess that has become our nation.
Our involvement in the Middle East does not seem to have made the world safer, but more unstable.
The military choices this country has made in recent years make me uncomfortable waving our flag or speaking the Pledge of Allegiance. I am not going to wave a flag for any country that bombs civilian schools, and I am not going to pledge allegiance to any country that assists an ally in decimating a homeland and civilian population (Gaza).
Now Iran. A war directed by a despot who not only escaped military service with an absurd bone-spur affliction, but had the nerve to denigrate those who did serve honorably (John McCain, among others). The whole thing would be a joke if he wasn’t so narcissistically unhinged and dangerous.
I am sure Mr. Trump will do all he can to escalate or extend his Iran involvement as a distraction from the midterm elections. Taking a page from the playbook of all authoritarians, he knows to create chaos as a device to unsettle, destabilize and confuse. People rally behind wartime presidents. He’s counting on that.
I do not support this invasion of Iran. Iran, for better or worse, is a sovereign nation. While it is true the Ayatollah’s regime was a disaster, it is up to the people of Iran to decide their future. It is not the right of the U.S. to invade using the pretext of an imagined (or even real) nuclear capability.
This invasion has the credibility stink of “weapons
LETTERS
POLICY
of mass destruction,” and it should be way past time to stop reflexively supporting this latest country-of-the-month attack with more flag-waving and fist-pumping.
The list of moral wrongs this country has been involved in is extensive. We are not always right — why do people persist in believing this fiction?
I feel pretty confident warmongering was not among the ambitions our founding fathers (and mothers) envisioned for this nation.
And I sincerely hope we’re able to turn this ship around before we hit an iceberg of our own creation.
Alicia Hart Pond Street
Marblehead Museum an important resource during America’s 250th
To the editor: As our nation and our community commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, we would like to draw your attention to one of our town’s leading heritage institutions — the Marblehead Museum. We are a private organization dedicated to Marblehead’s rich history.
Since 1898, the Museum — formerly Marblehead Historical Society — has preserved, protected and promoted Marblehead’s storied history, sharing it with residents and students, as well as visitors from all over the world.
The Museum’s collection includes 67,500 historic objects, photographs and archival items — each with an important place in Marblehead’s story. Our collection is particularly abundant in 18th- and 19th-century artifacts, tracing the history of Marblehead’s heyday as a mercantile and fishing center, when local merchants deployed their ships around the world.
Our Revolutionary War collection is vital to understanding Marblehead’s role in the War and the experiences of her patriotic citizenry. We preserve Gen. John Glover’s desk, as well as a letter written to him by Gen. George Washington. Our Revolutionary War collection also includes Glover’s wartime records and letters; thousands of pages related to privateering; the muskets, powder horns and swords carried by our soldiers in battle; enlistment and payroll records; veteran’s pension
records; and more.
Many of these items will be on display in our upcoming exhibit, “Declarations of Independence: Marblehead and the Revolution,” opening this spring.
Our collection is always available to the public through our website (marbleheadmuseum.org) and can be visited and studied in person by researchers, genealogists and interested individuals throughout the year by appointment.
We have also maintained and shared the 1768 Jeremiah Lee Mansion and Gardens since 1909, when the museum saved the iconic landmark from demolition. Over 2,000 school children and visitors walk its halls annually, immersing themselves in the history of our beloved town.
The museum does all this and more, including maintaining three other historic sites and exhibits in town, without any local, state or federal funding, except through competitive grants. As a 501c3 non-profit, the museum relies on donations, memberships and program income for its survival. We receive zero allocated town funds. In other words, we rely on your support.
For 128 years, the museum has cared for and shared the town’s priceless treasures, and we will continue to do so for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Lauren McCormack Marblehead Museum Trebek 1, Burns 0
To the editor:
In response to your article about the connection of Marblehead and the TV show Jeopardy, I remember hearing Alex Trebek, a Canadian, pronounce Elbridge Gerry and “gerrymander” correctly, with a hard G, like “Gary.”
So I was disappointed that Ken Burns’ narrator pronounced Elbridge Gerry and “gerrymandering” with a soft G, like “Jerry,” in his film about the American Revolution. It was an opportunity to correct this once and for all when Gerry’s name was mentioned.
For many years, Marbleheaders have tried to correct this mistake, and it was a shame that Ken Burns’ film pronounced “Gerry” wrong again. An opportunity missed. A small point to be sure, but a disappointment.
Elise Brink Glover Square
We want to hear from you
The Current welcomes letters to the editor and strives to represent a range of viewpoints on our opinion pages.
Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. Letters over the word limit may be returned to the writer for editing.
Writers may be given more leeway to criticize national political candidates and other public figures. However, in all cases, letter writers should refrain from name calling and personal attacks and instead focus on the substance of matters of public concern.
Letter writers may be asked to
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Letters must include:
» The author’s name.
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Letters must be received by our newsroom directly from their writers (for special circumstances, contact the newsroom). Email submissions to info@marbleheadnews.org or use the submission form found at marbleheadcurrent.org/ letters.
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One Select Board member’s perspective on town budget
BY MOSES GRADER
The municipality has not pushed for an operating override since its last successful operating override in 2005.
Twenty years later, we are facing another consequential year. This year’s operating deficits are real because we have a perfect storm of revenue and cost shocks, coming after years of tightening.
A brief history
The last two unsuccessful operating overrides in FY23 for $3.0M and in FY24 for $2.5M were majority driven by the school district’s needs-based budgets from post-COVID staff increases. No overrides were sought for subsequent FY25 and FY26 budgets.
For the entire period of FY23 through FY26, the Municipal and School District operating budgets were balanced through efficiency savings and cost cuts despite the headwinds of declining revenue growth and general inflationary pressures.
The Municipality achieved savings by primarily: improving overtime management » re-organizing certain functions to improve centralized resource management realizing efficiencies from new technology in finance, audit, and procurement.
The District managed efficiencies by primarily: » reducing staff levels through organic retirements trimming balances in its revolver funds streamlining other costs across the district.
From 2023 to 2026, the Municipal government full-time employee headcount remained flat at 190; however, the Municipal FTE headcount has declined by nine people since 2018.
From 2023 to 2026, the District staffing FTE headcount from the DESE database shows a decrease of 15 (of which none were teacher FTEs) from 445 to 430; however, since 2018, FTE staffing headcount has decreased by 74 FTEs (of which 36 were teacher FTEs).
I think the FY26 Municipal budget of $48 M is a reasonable baseline where the Municipality’s operations are running lean from a historical perspective.
Similarly, the FY26 District budget of $49.1M is also defensible in terms of dollar spend per student and the number of FTEs per student. (Both metrics are almost exactly at the average across all the DESE reporting districts in the Commonwealth.)
Despite 10-year declining enrollments of about 25% across the Commonwealth, most districts have increased their budgets in about the same proportion as the Marblehead schools.
Fiscal Year 2026: A look at operational cost responsibility
To understand why we are suddenly in a big deficit situation this FY27, we can start by looking at the underlying numbers that made up the shared expenses of last year’s FY26 Municipal and District budget numbers.
Most people do not realize that our conventional town accounting presentation for the Municipal side of the budget includes ALL benefits (mainly health care, pensions and MEDEX) for ALL employees of the town — including those employed by the District. The FY26 breakout of these benefits
District benefits expenses by adding them under the District budget of $49.1M, a more realistic picture of the District’s operational scope of responsibility in FY26 was a full $61.3M in budget expenditures. Similarly, the scope of the Municipal FY26 operating budget was closer to $35.8M, a much smaller number over which the Municipality actually had discretionary operational control.
nnn TABLE 2 shows the reclassification of District costs to align with its operations
Understanding the real scope of operating control over the town’s total $97.1M FY26 operating budget — 37% of which was controlled by the Municipality and 63% controlled by the District — helps us to appreciate how the Municipality’s smaller effective operating budget severely limits its capacity to absorb big operating cost swings in volatile years.
So, after reclassifying the $20.8M of shared benefits, the high-level side-by-side breakout was as seen in TABLE 3 for FY26.
Fiscal Year 2027:
The perfect storm FY27 is a defining year largely due to the convergence of both revenue and cost shocks. As of this writing, the assumptions underlying the following analysis will likely change, but the framework should give clearer numeracy on the issues we are facing.
The first step is to identify how much new FY27 revenue is available to add to the FY26 budgets (see TABLE 4). The FY27 revenue share between the Municipality and the District is split on the basis of the “Aligned Operating Share” from the prior year FY26 budget.
This FY27 is unusual because, instead of having increasing revenues to share, we expect a revenue decrease of approximately $0.6M. TABLE 5 shows the sources of that revenue deficit.
In addition to about $1M in declining local receipts, there is $2M less free cash than FY26 to fund operations in FY27.
nnn TABLE 6 extends the FY27 analysis to show how the projected expenses for benefits are shared between the Municipality and the District and the extent to which their respective deficits need to be addressed by each to achieve a balanced overall budget in FY27.
In Table 6, the FY27 “Discretionary Baseline after the Benefits” shows how much real discretionary operating budget is available for the Municipality and District after subtracting the appropriately allocated cost of benefits is the biggest semidiscretionary cost driver at 20% of the overall operating budget.
If the “Discretionary Level Services Budget Requests” — which both Municipality and District develop early as part of their annual budgeting — exceed their respective “Discretionary Baseline After Benefits” then the deficits that arise can be tracked and shared appropriately between the Municipality and the District.
As of this writing, the Municipality and the District have assumed that they can trim approximately about $1.1M and $1.7M respectively, which may not need to be restored in an override.
However, even with these cost reductions, the Municipality will
Town ramping up pothole repairs after punishing winter
BY LEIGH BLANDER
After a winter marked by punishing storms, potholes are now popping up across Marblehead, and crews are working to catch up as snow operations wind down.
Department of Public Works Director Amy McHugh updated the Select Board March 11 about the pothole scourge, saying the winter pushed public works crews to their limits and left roads battered by repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
“The first pothole calls came in around Jan. 12,” McHugh said. By March 11, the DPW had been notified about more than 100. Town crews had been focused
primarily on snow operations through much of the winter, which temporarily slowed road repairs. Large storms required dozens of employees and vehicles working extended shifts to keep roads clear.
“We had one [shift] that was over 30 continuous hours long,” McHugh said about one storm response. “We had one that was over 40 continuous hours of plowing.”
During major storms, about 45 pieces of equipment and employees from multiple town departments are mobilized to clear roads. Employees from the DPW, Water and Sewer, Cemetery, Board of Health, and Recreation and Parks all assist in snow operations. In total, 40 to
50 employees may be involved, often working long shifts of up to 18-and-a-half-hour days, according to McHugh.
The town also relies on a piece of equipment known as a “hot box,” which keeps asphalt warm enough for repairs. Marblehead’s existing hot box, purchased in 2015, went out of service for maintenance in January — just as storms intensified.
To improve repairs, the town has purchased a new four-ton hot box using state Chapter 90 funds through the Fair Share program. McHugh said she hoped it would arrive last week.
The new unit includes a dual burner system that allows unused asphalt to be reheated, reducing waste and extending working time. Once the equipment arrives, crews will begin making daily trips to asphalt plants to fill potholes across town.
“The crew will be out,” McHugh said. “We will be going to pick up asphalt every day, and that’s what their focus will be.”
Many damaged areas will ultimately require full paving repairs later in the season.
“A lot of these need paving,” McHugh said. “So, you know they’re going to be just patched until that point.”
Residents can report potholes by calling the DPW at 781-6311750 or emailing highway@ marbleheadma.gov.
All hands on deck: The town christens its new harbor patrol boat
BY LEIGH BLANDER
State Rep. Jenny Armini christened Marblehead’s new harbor patrol boat on Friday as it was lowered into the water.
The 31-foot vessel has full
firefighting capabilities and a communications center, according to Harbormaster Mark Souza. The boat was funded by a grant. It’s named the Stacey H. Clark, in honor of its predecessor.
ABOVE: The 31-foot Stacey H. Clark has full firefighting capabilities and a communications center.
LEFT: State Rep. Jenny Armini had the honor of christening the new harbor patrol boat.
RIGHT: Harbor and Waters Board member Karen Finnocchio, left, celebrates Marblehead’s new patrol boat with state Rep. Jenny Armini and Harbormaster Mark Souza.
“I don’t want to be back here next year in the same spot,” said Chair Dan Fox. “I don’t want to solve this for one year.”
Scare tactics?
Select Board member Erin Noonan addressed concerns in the community that town leaders are using “scare tactics” to pressure voters into raising their tax rate.
“This is agonizing,” Noonan said about the budget process.
“And I think the idea that we are employing scare tactics or cherry picking a strategic thing because we have an agenda … it couldn’t be farther from the truth. These are not fabricated numbers. These are what they are. This deficit has been coming. We’ve been expecting this. There’s only so many buckets and levers we can pull to get $7 million.”
Scenario A vs. Scenario B Kezer has presented two potential scenarios to close the budget gap.
Under Scenario A, the town would cut 56 staff positions
and close several departments, including the Abbot Public Library, Council on Aging and Recreation and Parks Department.
Under Scenario B, the town would charge residents $254 per year for curbside trash and recycling collection and require the school district to cut an additional $1.5 million from its already level-funded budget.
Under Scenario B, most town departments would remain open, and there would be fewer layoffs.
More school cuts
Meanwhile, the School Committee is scheduled to meet March 19 at 6 p.m., with the override question again expected to take center stage.
As directed by the town, the district delivered a level-funded budget that includes more than a dozen staff layoffs. The town then requested an additional $1.5 million in cuts.
“I’m not interested in backing a Band-Aid situation,” School Committee member Melissa Clucas said about an override.
“I’m interested in backing something that structurally fixes the problem.” Committee members said any
Select Board Chair Dan Fox and
Committee’s March 12 meeting to
override request should account for teachers’ contractual raises, which are expected to reach their highest level next year.
“This year’s bad; next year’s going to be way worse,” said Superintendent John Robidoux. “We need to plan now for the future, too.”
As members debated how large an override request should be and how it should be structured, Robidoux added, “The simple answer to the question is: A level-services budget that we started this whole conversation
with back in October is what I would say we go for.”
According to Assistant Superintendent for Finance Mike Pfifferling, that amount would be about $1.7 million.
“We would still only maintain what we currently have without putting anything extra into programming,” Robidoux said. Clucas and other members said they would also like to include funding for full-day kindergarten. Currently, families pay about $4,000 a year for fullday kindergarten.
Several members of the Finance Committee — along with Select Board Chair Dan Fox — attended the meeting, explaining why the town is asking for an additional $1.5 million in cuts. The town is proposing a “reframing” of how school employees’ benefits are covered.
Pfifferling questioned the accuracy of the $1.5 million figure and was expected to meet with town Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin to review the number further.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER Residents have reported to the town for patching more than 100 potholes like this one.
COURTESY PHOTOS
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
members of the Finance Committee joined the Marblehead School
discuss an additional $1.5 million in cuts requested by the town.
year 2027.
Those options could range from an override that would reverse proposed cuts to a larger plan that would expand or modernize town services.
A statewide pattern
Experts say the fiscal pressures driving override debates are not limited to any one region or type of community.
“Our members are seriously concerned about the fiscal sustainability of these operations that deliver essential services,” Ouellette said.
Cities and towns across Massachusetts are facing rising costs for staffing, benefits, infrastructure and facilities while operating under strict limits on revenue growth.
“We do hear the term ‘fiscal crisis’ — it’s not hyperbole,” Ouellette said. “No one’s really immune.”
At the March 11 Select Board meeting, member Erin Noonan pushed back on claims that officials were exaggerating the town’s budget pressures to sway voters.
“I think the idea that we are employing scare tactics or cherry picking a strategic thing, because we have an agenda … it couldn’t be farther from the truth,” she said. “These are not fabricated numbers. This deficit has been coming.”
Phineas Baxandall, director of research and policy analysis at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, said many of the financial pressures facing towns come from forces largely outside local control, including rising health care costs, higher expectations for public services and education, challenges attracting and retaining a workforce and infrastructure requirements such as costs for recycling that didn’t exist decades ago.
Communities like Marblehead, he said, should expect that addressing long-term challenges will require continued public spending, even when the need is not immediately visible to residents.
“Marblehead, as it approaches the challenges of next decades, should expect that it’s going to require public expenditures to address these things, and it won’t always be immediately clear,” he said.
Baxandall pointed to everyday consequences, such as struggling to find a plumber, that can emerge when municipal capacity shrinks.
“These things have an impact, and they do matter,” he said. Override history among peer communities
Looking at the longer history of override votes among the same 17 Massachusetts communities
Override success rates
still need to cut an additional $3.3M in costs to meet its balanced budget responsibility, and the Schools will need to cut an additional $1.5M in costs to meet its balanced-budget responsibility for FY27 under this analysis.
Toward a FY27 restoration override request
With a total $4.8M deficit identified, the first-tier questions are:
» What cuts need to be made to balance the budget?
How are overrides or other funding mechanisms presented at Town Meeting to restore cuts or not?
So far, the Select Board has deliberated on two funding scenarios to present the override questions, and I would also suggest we consider a third scenario.
My current understanding is as follows:
analyzed earlier in this series helps explain why towns that appear similar on paper can end up in very different places on taxburden charts.
Records from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue show that most of those communities have periodically asked voters to approve general overrides since the early 1990s.
Several towns have done so repeatedly.
Voters in Sudbury, for example, have faced 11 general override attempts since 1990, approving five of them.
In Milton, residents have approved eight attempts, including two since 2010.
Similarly, voters in Medfield have approved seven overrides, while Lexington residents have approved six.
Each successful general override permanently increases a town’s property-tax levy limit under Proposition 2 1/2. Future annual tax increases — generally capped at 2.5% — are then calculated from that higher base.
Over time, that can significantly expand the amount of revenue a community is able to raise.
However, not every town in the comparison group has relied on overrides.
1. Deficit cuts of $4.8M restored with 100% override only
If the override does not pass, cuts would result in an initially estimated FTE reduction in the range 50-plus townwide. These are draconian cuts, which would likely have to be voted on at Town Meeting in a way that identifies each of the cuts, so that the town understands what services will disappear next year if cuts are not restored by a vote.
2. Deficit cuts of $4.8M restored with 60% override and 40% trash pickup fees
In this scenario, the Select Board — with the approval of the Board of Health — would seek to raise revenue with trash collection fees, which shifts about $2M off of the tax appropriation in FY27 onto fees appearing in resident utility bills. This would also be accompanied by override questions of about $2.8M to restore the remainder of the cuts to close the gap in the $4.8M total deficit.
In Bedford and Andover — both of which ranked near the top of the earlier tax-burden comparisons — there have been no general override attempts recorded since 1990, according to state data.
Among the 17 communities analyzed, Marblehead stands out not for how often overrides have been proposed, but for how rarely they have passed.
Department of Revenue records show nine general override attempts since 1990, including two that voters approved in the early 2000s, but none have been approved since then.
How other communities have approached overrides
The experiences of other Massachusetts towns offer a glimpse of how communities have navigated those decisions.
In Lynnfield, the override debate unfolded in a way similar to the current discussion in Marblehead, with officials warning that sweeping service cuts could follow if voters rejected new funding.
School leaders projected that 56 school employees could lose their jobs, while the town library would face major staffing reductions and reduced hours. Officials also warned that the cuts could jeopardize the town’s library
If the trash collection fees — not needing a town vote — were pushed through and the rest of the overrides did not pass, this would result in an initial estimated FTE reduction in the 30-plus range townwide. If the trash collection fees were not approved and the override failed, then cuts are back to the levels of the first scenario above.
3. Deficit cuts of $4.8M restored with 70% override and 30% from Stabilization Fund
In my opinion, as one member of the Select Board, this year may be a good year to deliberate on deploying the $1.5M available stabilization fund balance — which is subject to Town Meeting approval — to offset the free cash component of revenue declines.
This would also be accompanied by an additional override request of about $3.3M to restore the remainder of the cuts to close the gap in the $4.8M total deficit.
response times. A year later, the vote flipped on a $6 million override. It passed with a 55-45% margin, 1,659 yes to 1,348 no, and far more voters participated in the election.
And in Melrose, voters rejected a $7.7 million override in June 2024, forcing city leaders to cut $6.1 million in employees and services to pass a balanced FY26 budget. Officials warned that without additional revenue, further reductions would affect services ranging from elder programs to road maintenance. Officials later returned to voters with a tiered proposal offering several funding levels tied to different degrees of service restoration. When residents went back to the polls in November 2025, the outcome changed dramatically.
A $13.5 million general override — the largest option on the ballot, aimed at restoring city and school services and investing in infrastructure — passed, with support rising from roughly 4,300 votes in favor during the first attempt to nearly 6,000.
In Stoneham, however, voters also revisited an override after an earlier defeat but ultimately chose the smaller funding option in a tiered proposal during a special election last December.
Ouellette said such debates often evolve as residents begin to see the real-world impact of budget constraints.
certification and state funding, while the senior center also faced potential funding losses.
Framed largely as a schoolfocused measure, voters ultimately approved a $4.65 million override in June 2025.
Similarly, in Milton, a nearly $9 million general override proposal to fund both town and school operations passed on its first attempt last April. Many overrides pass on a second attempt
One of the clearest patterns in override politics is that voters often reject proposals the first time they appear on the ballot.
A review of state records show hundreds of Massachusetts communities have successfully passed overrides within a year after an initial defeat, suggesting that initial rejection does not necessarily end the debate.
In May 2024, Georgetown voters rejected by a 56-44% margin a $3 million override intended to stabilize the town’s budget.
The failure immediately triggered warnings of major cuts. School officials said up to 19 teachers and staff would face layoffs or non-renewal notices, while town leaders emphasized potential impacts on emergency
If the use of stabilization funds were approved but the override failed, this could result in an initial estimated FTE reduction in the 40 range townwide.
The above analysis and override scenarios are based on current assumptions of the currently available budget data and recent Select Board presentations. Another goal of this overall analysis is to explain what I hope can be considered a fair methodology for the future — based on the principle of cost-responsibility ownership — to share revenues between the Municipality and the District using a replicable and predictable annual calculation process.
Hard choices
This year is a critical year in which we have come in for a hard landing fiscally for the reasons enumerated here.
I am a firm believer that Marbleheaders are generally
“Sometimes, the first time that voters see an override question is kind of theoretical,” he said. “If that doesn’t pass, then it gets real. The equation is very simple — it’s either override or layoffs and service cuts. That causes people to think differently about how valuable those services are.” Implications for Marblehead
The experiences of other communities show that the debates and the difficult tradeoffs they involve are not unique.
For voters, Baxandall said, the choices can be difficult.
“It’s hard when none of the choices seem like good ones,” he said. “Higher tax bills seem like a bad choice, but not being able to sustain a school system because you’re losing families and not being able to make the investments … isn’t the kind of town people necessarily want to live in, either.”
As town officials prepare potential override options, the experiences of other Massachusetts communities suggest the debate may involve not just the size of the tax increase, but the broader question of what services residents want their town to provide.
“Override decisions are really difficult because people approach them as pocketbook decisions,” Baxandall said.
“But they’re also community decisions about what kind of town people want to live in.”
tough but generous when it comes to funding their beloved town. But they require that her leadership explains the situation frankly and clearly, and trusts in the democratic process by giving our legislative Town Meeting and voters a choice in the direction of the town.
Among comparable towns, we have earned our position for the lowest taxes as a share of both property value and residential income — a real achievement especially for our lower, middle and fixed-income residents — although high housing prices and assessments driven by market demand still weigh heavily on the tax checkbooks of many residents.
This year, Marbleheaders will make hard choices — and in so doing will also have the opportunity to better understand what goes into making our town extraordinary.
Moses Grader is a member of the Marblehead Select Board.
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.
MARBL EHE AD
RES IDEN TS
WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Please join fellow residents, and Dr Caitlin Coyle of UMass Boston, to discuss community needs, interests, and opportunities for Creating A Healthier Marblehead.
Please RSVP to csdra@umb.edu by 3/23
YOUNG ADULTS
MIDDLE AGE
AGE 50 - 70
OLDER ADULTS
assistance must be referredthrough athird party forconsideration
We urge you to contact our partners listed below, or speak to your local clergy to request assistance from Marblehead Female Humane Society:
Marblehead Counseling Center 781-631-8273
Marblehead Housing Authority 781-631-2580
Marblehead Council on Aging 781-631-6225
Marblehead Food Pantry
Are you a college student or young professional living in Marblehead? Join us: Wednesday. April 1st | 7:00 - 8:30 pm Location: Zoom
Are you currently raising a family, work ing and managing multiple roles here in Marblehead? Join us: Thursday, March 26th | 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm Abbot Public Librar y
Are you age 50 - 70 and living in Marblehead? Join us: Thursday, March 26th | 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Abbot Public Librar y
Are you age 70 or older living in Marblehead? Wed., March 25th | 1 pm - 2:30 pm Abbot Public Librar y
Marblehead Food Pantry
TheMarblehead Food Pantry,anon-profit organization, accepts donations of food &cash from localchurches, synagogues,schools,clubs, organizations,businesses,&individuals.The Pantry provides food ever yweek to anyresidentof Marblehead who needs its ser vice.
Marblehead,across the street from the Church andtothe leftofSeaside Park From the parking lot in frontofthe Center,the Pantry is the door at the far left.
Hours: Tuesdays from 9–11 AM &Thursdays from 5–7 PM
Residents of Marblehead mayuse the Pantry onceaweek .Please bring abill or other documentmailed to youwithin the last 3months
In addition to canned and pack aged food,fresh producefromlocal gardens is generally available.OnTuesdays,milk and eggs and gourmet treats (day- old) from alocal Marketplaceare also available.These areall donatedand quantities vary from week to week
Howtodonatefood and ot her products to theFood Pantr y
Thedonation location is at the Masonic Lodge at 62 PleasantSt. in Marblehead Turn into the driveway to the rightofthe building.Look forasignnear the entrancetothe walk wayintothe building
Donation Hours: Tuesdayfrom9–11 AM
If this time is not convenientfor you, please email info@marbleheadfoodpantr y.org to make other arrangements.Wewelcome donations of anynon-perishable food items,paper goods,and toiletries.Food items must not be expired,opened,or damaged in anyway,per the BoardofHealth.
The Food Pantr yprefers recentlypurchasedfood as opposedtoclosetclean- outs.
Howtomakea financial gif t
Sports
Girls basketball captains reflect on careers, plans for college and beyond
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High girls basketball season ended just about three weeks ago on Feb. 26 against host Notre Dame Academy of Hingham in a Division 2 preliminary round state tournament game. These Magicians turned in a competitive effort only to come up short, 50-44.
For the five senior players — Tessa Andriano, Greta Sachs, Samara Dosch, Hailey Schmitt and Nora Mahan — and their team manager, Quinn Harris, it was more than just a loss. It also represented a finality after four years of being teammates for one another on and off the court.
They went through the usual grind of daily practices together to get ready for the games, which taught them to balance the highs of winning with the lows of losing, experiences that they can take with them through life.
Captains Andriano, Sachs and Dosch recently reflected what it has been like to be a Marblehead athlete and share their plans for
the future.
Tessa Andriano
Andriano, also a softball all-star third baseman, is the daughter of Anthony and Lauren. She and her twin sister, Kate, have a 22-year-old brother, AJ, who was a captain of the 2021 Super Bowl-winning MHS football team, as well as a baseball player.
Twin sister Kate was a captain of the field hockey team last fall and is now getting ready for another winning season in softball with Tessa.
When did you start playing sports, and what did you play? Was there anybody responsible for your participation in sports?
I started playing sports when I was about 5. I started with T-ball and a bunch of basketball clinics. My parents really helped me get involved in sports. They put me in literally everything, but it was softball and basketball that ended up being the ones I love the most.
Before high school, what were some highlights that you will never forget?
When I was in seventh grade, I will never forget when me and my (Marblehead Little League) all-star softball team won the championship in District 16, followed by winning states that sent us to the regionals in Bristol, Connecticut, where we got to stay in dorms, and meet and play teams from other states.
Was there any coach who had an influence on you?
Softball coach Todd Norman definitely had an influence on me. Before he passed away, I had built up such a connection with him. I felt like I could say anything in front of him and not get judged. He also knew how to push us hard but also knew when enough was enough.
How many years have you played in the girls basketball program? What will you most remember as a Magician?
I have been on the MHS girls
basketball varsity team all four years. I will always remember our pregame talks, where we would go over personal and team goals. I also won’t forget going to the state’s Final Four in softball, when I was a sophomore.
What was coach Paul Moran like to play for, and what did you learn from him?
Coach Moran was good to play for, and he taught me how to always make that extra pass to become a better player.
What college are you planning to attend, and what would you like to major in?
Will you be playing sports in college?
I’m attending Elon University in North Carolina and am planning to major in exercise science. I also want to play on the school’s club basketball and softball teams.
Greta Sachs
Sachs played on the volleyball and basketball teams all four years, was in the softball
program for one year as a freshman, and participated in spring track during her sophomore and junior years. She comes from an athletic family. Her dad Keith played baseball growing up, while mom Eleanor was a field hockey and basketball player. Her older brother Charlie, 19, played baseball all four years with the Magicians.
When did you start playing sports, and what did you play? Was there anybody responsible for your participation in sports? I started playing basketball in preschool. I also played soccer early on. I then eventually played almost every sport under the sun. My mom was definitely the one to get me into all of it, and I’m so grateful that she did, because my life would be so different otherwise.
Before high school, what were some highlights that you will never forget?
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Another high school indoor track season is in the books. It was a season that the Marblehead High boys team won’t forget anytime soon after winning the Northeastern Conference (NEC) Dunn Division with a 3-0-1 record to go along with going 8-0-1 overall. They were also the overall conference champs, because Swampscott, the top team in the Lynch Division with a 3-1 record, ended up 6-3 after taking into account its meets against the Dunn clubs.
The Big Blue girls also finished first. They were 4-0 in the Lynch Division, but were only 5-4 in the overall conference standings.
Their Peabody counterparts won the Dunn, and kept on winning five more times against the Lynch teams.
The Marblehead and Masco girls tied for second behind the Tanners with identical 2-1-1 divisional records, and remained knotted up overall at 7-1-1.
The Marblehead boys also came out on top in the NEC Meet, with sophomore Clark Roszell (6-2) leading the way with a first-place finish in the high jump that earned him a spot on the All-Conference team.
Colin Burke, Owen Coyne and Zach Pike made the NEC boys all-star team, while Norah Walsh and Sarah Munroe are
Marblehead stars on
side.
the
the girls
PHOTOS Marblehead High girls indoor track running whiz Sarah Munroe hassecures a berth on the NEC all-star team this year, along with teammate Norah Walsh.
FILE PHOTOS
Marblehead High girls basketball senior captain Samara Dosch.
Marblehead High girls basketball senior captain Tessa Andriano.
Marblehead High girls basketball senior captain Greta Sachs
CAPTAINS, P. 10
Local doc to run marathon while expanding pediatric rehab programs
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Dr. Brian Wishart, a Marblehead father-of-three and chief of the Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine division at Spaulding Rehab, is running the Boston Marathon next month.
“We have a 12-bed inpatient pediatric rehab unit in Charlestown and serve children from all over New England, as well as a number of international patients,” Wishart told the Current. “We primarily care for children with disabilities whether that is from a birth injury, genetic disease or traumatic event and care for them from birth or injury through young adulthood. It’s a privilege to work there and an honor to raise money for this cause.”
He wrote on his fundraising page: “Running the Boston Marathon is another way to challenge myself and reflect the same dedication I bring to my patients,” Wishart says on his fundraising page. “Just as I encourage children to get back to doing the activities they love, running reminds me of the power of perseverance and
Captains
From P. 9
A highlight for me was definitely playing on my eighthgrade basketball team. I just remember having so much fun with such an awesome team, and we also won a lot.
Was there any coach who had an influence on you?
My volleyball coach, Killeen Miller, had an incredible impact on who I was as a player, and who I am as a person today. She taught me so many valuable lessons about confidence and the importance of not just going through the motions. Those lessons have helped me on and off the basketball court in so many ways.
How many years have you played in the girls basketball program? What will you most remember as a Magician on the court?
I played three years in the girls basketball program, all on the varsity. I will always remember the sense of community on all my teams with so much town involvement. Having a close bond with my teammates and feeling that supportive
Friday, March 20
4 p.m, girls lacrosse at Lincoln Park Fields, Lexington High
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
6 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. HamiltonWenham at Hamilton-Wenham High
Thursday, March 26
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Woburn at Woburn High
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
goal-setting.” Wishart emphasized the importance of teamwork in pediatric care.
atmosphere of the fans will be something that I will never forget.
What was coach Paul Moran like to play for, and what did you learn from him?
Coach Moran was awesome to play for. He is such a kindhearted, generous person, who taught me to always be kind and put others first.
What college are you planning to attend, and what would you like to major in?
Will you be playing sports in college?
I will be attending the University of South Carolina and plan on majoring in either marketing or criminology. I also hope to play intramural or club volleyball there.
Samara Dosch
Dosch, the daughter of Steve and Victoria, is a threesport MHS athlete in soccer, basketball and tennis. Samara has two younger brothers — sophomore Landon and eighthgrader Ryan — who are also active in sports. Landon plays football and lacrosse at the high school, while Ryan is a soccer
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.
“At Spaulding Rehabilitation, every staff member — from physicians, therapists and nurses to case managers, social workers and front-line care assistants — is incredible,” he says. “We work every day in inpatient care, clinics, therapy gyms
and basketball player.
The Dosch siblings took their parents’ lead in developing their love for athletics. Steve, the dad, grew up playing soccer and basketball, while mom Victoria was a volleyball player.
When did you start playing sports, and what did you play? Was there anybody responsible for your participation in sports?
I started playing soccer at the young age of 2. My parents and extended family have always been major sports fans, and even during family events and gatherings you could expect us to be playing some sort of sport.
Ever since I was little, I have had a love for sports. Growing up with two younger brothers, I was always super competitive with a constant opponent. I have always loved the strategy, grit and focus that comes with playing competitive sports.
Before high school, what were some highlights that you will never forget?
In the eighth grade, we had a really strong group of girls playing basketball. It was a lot of fun because it was a small
group, but we all worked really hard while playing in a really competitive league.
Was there any coach who had an influence on you?
My high school tennis coaches — Tracy and Bill Ackerman — have been some of the best coaches that I have ever had, and I feel so lucky to have played for them (going on) four years. They are always so invested in the girls tennis program, [not to mention] the individual players as well. They are the reasons why I have really enjoyed tennis so much over the last few seasons.
How many years have you played in the girls basketball program? What will you most remember as a Magician on the court, and in any other sports, as well?
I have played all four years on the varsity basketball team but started playing the sport in the Marblehead Youth Basketball program in the fourth grade. Something I will remember the most as a Magician is the amazing camaraderie that we have had throughout the team.
Marblehead has been such an amazing community to play in
Masconomet at Marblehead High
4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Beverly at Beverly High
Tuesday, April 7
4 p.m., boys and girls track vs. Danvers and Swampscott, Village School
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
and research to bring the best outcomes to our patients.”
Wishart moved to Marblehead in 2019 with his family, which will be cheering him on at the finish line.
“Spaulding puts on a party during and after the race at the Mandarin (hotel) which is right at the finish line. We attended a few years ago when my cousin’s wife ran the marathon and it was a wonderful way to watch the race,” he said. This will be Wishart’s first marathon and he’s been training with a team from Spaulding.
“I have been doing my best to follow the intermediate training plan though the snow, work, ski season and my kids have certainly made it a challenge. I run three-to-four times a week. The Spaulding team has team runs which I did my first long, 10-mile, run with.”
He hopes to finish in under four hours.
You can learn more about Wishart and his run at https:// loom.ly/7k9aqKc.
Last year, 22 Marblehead residents laced up for the Boston Marathon. If you’re running, let the Current know at info@ marbleheadnews.org.
because the teams always have had such tight-knit bonds that strive to succeed in so many ways.
What was coach Paul Moran like to play for, and what did you learn from him?
Playing for Coach Moran has been so much fun over the last four years. He has so much knowledge about the game and always has an in-depth scouting report and game plan for each opponent during the season. He’s one of the most generous and caring people that I know, and always did everything he could to make sure that we had the best experience. He taught me his many tips to being a good shooter and (also play) guard, which have helped me a lot over the years.
What college are you planning to attend, and what would you like to major in? Will you be playing sports in college?
I’m planning to attend Villanova University next year and major in political science. I hope to maybe play club tennis, or soccer and basketball on the intramural level.
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
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
COURTESY PHOTO
Marblehead resident Dr. Brian Wishart will run in the Boston Marathon to raise money for Spaulding Rehabilitation Center.
Marblehead’s best bets
Current Events spotlights notable happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email
Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.
Hangout Hub: Origami
Tuesday, March 24,
3:30-4 p.m.
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
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.
Guy Ford Band Dance Party
Join Kevin from The Power of Speech for an interestbased hangout and social group for kids ages 9-13, at Abbot Library’s Maker Space. The topic for this month will be “Origami.” Space is limited to 10 kids, ages 9-13, and registration is required at abbotlibrary.org/events. Caregivers are welcome to stay and support or observe, or drop off and browse the library during their child’s class. The monthly Hangout Hub is a chance to meet, play and hang out with others who share similar interests, developing friendship skills and giving kids opportunities to share something they love to do. Each class will offer accommodations that support all learning and interaction styles.
Suffrage on Stage: An evening with performer Ari Conte
Friday, March 27, 7 p.m.
Join the Marblehead Museum and Marblehead Little Theatre for a Women’s History Month program celebrating “Suffs,” the Tony-winning musical about the women’s suffrage movement. This program is free, with a $20 suggested donation is encouraged at the door.
Saturday, March 21, 8 p.m. Come out to hear The Guy Ford Band at The Beacon for some live music and a dance party. Reservations recommended.
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 LEIGH BLANDER
A cherished Marblehead tradition will take on added significance this year as St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church hosts a special Good Friday performance in memory of acclaimed folk singer and songwriter Bob Franke.
Franke died Oct. 16, 2025, after being struck by a motorcycle in Antigua, Guatemala, where he and his wife had retired just weeks earlier. He was 78.
On April 3 at 8 p.m., musicians who worked closely with Franke over the decades will reunite to perform “Meditations on the Passion,” a work that has resonated with audiences for more than 40 years. The gathering reflects both admiration for Franke’s artistry and the deep friendships he cultivated in the folk community.
“Bob had a rare gift for seeing the sacred in ordinary human experience,” said Rev. C. Clyde Elledge, rector of St. Andrew’s.
“His songs helped people wrestle with doubt, joy, grief and hope. Many of us are still feeling the loss of his voice and his presence among us, but this year we have the privilege of hearing that voice again through the musicians and friends who loved him.”
First performed in 1980, “Meditations on the Passion” goes beyond traditional religious themes. Franke described it as a work that explores the human experience in the presence of the divine.
“It’s not necessarily about being a Christian,” he once said. “It’s about being human in the presence of the divine, and about the possibility of redemption even in the most tragic dimensions of the human condition.”
Praised as a “songwriter’s songwriter,” Franke’s work has been admired by both audiences and fellow musicians. Folk legend Tom Paxton described his songwriting as a blend of “Emerson, Thoreau, Mark Twain and Buddy Holly.” His songs have been recorded by artists including Peter, Paul and Mary and June Tabor.
This year’s performance brings together an impressive roster of folk artists, including Howie Bursen, Sally Rogers, Reggie Harris, Fred Small and Kate Seeger. Musical direction will be provided by Buffie Groves. Additional musicians performing with the St. Andrew’s Choir include Paul Combs, Joshua Levin-Epstein and Douglas Standley, among others.
The performance will take place at St. Andrew’s Episcopal
COURTESY PHOTO
Acclaimed folk singer Bob Franke will be
The Tannahill Weavers
Get to know Glover Property Management, Inc.
BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Jennifer Tripp, commercial office leasing specialist with Glover Property Management, Inc. conducted by Discover Marblehead. Glover Property Management has long been part of Marblehead’s real estate and rental landscape, offering dedicated property management services for both residential and commercial spaces. As a family-owned company serving the area since 1983, their experienced team manages a diverse portfolio that includes everything from studio apartments and waterfront homes to office spaces and HOA properties. To learn more about their services and spaces for lease/rent, go to gloverproperty. com.
Tell us about Glover Property Management, Inc. and how you help your clients. Glover Property Management Inc. is a locally based (since 1983) commercial property management company focused on supporting small businesses and professionals in Marblehead. Over the past several years, we’ve seen a significant shift in the commercial market, how people work, what they need from a space and how flexible they need to be to succeed. We recognized early on that the traditional, rigid commercial model no longer served many local businesses. In response, we intentionally
In
Brief From P. 2
“Much of this precipitation is still ‘locked up’ in snow because February temperatures were so low, and the ground was also frozen,” according to the message. “Even when it melts, 3 feet of snow equals only about 2 1/2 inches of water, which will not be enough to fully recharge rivers, lakes and ponds after months of below-average rainfall. As a result, drafting from static water sources could be affected.”
Pop-up Shops
The Marblehead Moms’ Co-Op will host its annual Pop-up Shops on Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 10 at the Boston Yacht Club.
The event features more than 20 local artisans and small businesses, with ticket proceeds benefiting the Friends of the Marblehead Public Schools.
“This event is about more than just shopping — it’s about coming together as a community,” said Erin Spinucci of the Marblehead Moms’ Co-Op. “Enjoy local sips and bites while shopping and supporting your community.”
A complete list of vendors is available at mhdpopupshops.
adapted our approach. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all leases, we work closely with tenants to provide flexibility — whether that’s right-sizing a space, allowing thoughtful renovations or structuring lease terms that support growth and change. Many of the businesses we work with are service-, wellness- and communityoriented, and their spaces need to function in very specific ways to support their work. Our role goes beyond managing buildings. We aim to be a partner to our tenants, helping them shape spaces that truly fit their business model and allowing them to stay local as they grow. By staying responsive to market changes and prioritizing flexibility, we’re able to support both our tenants and the broader Marblehead business community in a meaningful, sustainable way.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? As a team, the best business advice we’ve embraced is to stay flexible and truly listen — to the market and to the people we work with.
Commercial real estate isn’t
com. Tickets are $30 when purchased in advance via www. mhdpopupshops.com, $35 at the door. The event is intended for adults only — no children, please.
Animal shelter charity dinner
The Friends of Marblehead’s Abandoned Animals is hosting its annual charity dinner fundraiser at The Landing Restaurant, Tuesday, March 24, 6-9 p.m.
The Landing, 81 Front St., has helped F.O.M.A.A. raise funds to assist homeless animals at the Marblehead Animal Shelter for two decades.
Attendees will be treated to music provided by a Marblehead favorite, The Melody Makers, while they dine and catch up with friends. As always,
static, and neither are the businesses that rely on it. What matters most is being willing to adapt as needs change. By paying close attention to our tenants and how they operate, we’ve learned that thoughtful flexibility, whether in lease structure, space design or timing — often makes the difference between a business simply occupying space and truly thriving in it.
What is your favorite spot in Marblehead, and why?
As a team, one of our favorite places in Marblehead is Old Town. It captures everything we love about the town — the walkability, the history, the small businesses and the sense of connection you feel just moving through it.
Old Town reflects the way Marblehead works at its best: people running into one another,
supporting local shops and doing business in a way that feels personal and rooted. It’s also where many of the professionals and small businesses we work with want to be — close to the community they serve and part of the town’s everyday rhythm. That sense of place is exactly what we try to preserve and support through our work.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? The company owner, Edward Moore, takes a very hands-on, long-term view when it comes to the businesses in our buildings. Rather than focusing only on real estate, he’s deeply interested in how local businesses grow, adapt and succeed over time. He is committed to supporting businesses that serve the Marblehead community in meaningful ways.
no tickets are required, but reservations are recommended to ensure proper staffing.
Silent auction items available that night include artwork, Red Sox tickets and an Air BnB stay in Old Town. The Marblehead Animal Shelter is located at 44 Village St.
‘Through the Looking Glass’ spring gala
Join Marblehead Arts Association for its “Through the Looking Glass” spring gala at the Hooper Mansion on Saturday, April 11, starting at 7 p.m. At “Through the Looking
Glass,” the galleries will be packed with creative and fanciful original art installations. Guests can also enjoy an augmented-reality room, Tarot card readings, a digital photo booth and live music and dancing upstairs in the ballroom. Elevated artisanal appetizers and desserts will be served, with a cash bar for beer and wine and signature cocktail/mocktail. MAA member individual tickets are $100 and nonmembers $125. MAA member couple tickets are $150 and nonmember couples $175. Tickets
That includes working with tenants like The Power of Speech, led by Jessica Brown, whose work supports children and families through speech, occupational and physical therapy — services that have a direct impact on early development and education. It also includes Disciplined Alpha, led by Kevin Shea at 50 Doaks Lane, where the space is structured to allow collaboration with other professionals and support responsible financial guidance within the community. 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.
include a glass of champagne. Visit marbleheadarts.org.
Longtime Light employee honored
The Light Department recently celebrated the retirement of one of its longtime employees, Diahanne “Didi” Rubano, after her 23 years of service. Rep. Jenny Armini was on hand for a small retirement ceremony March 12 and presented Rubano with certificates from the Massachusetts House and Senate.
The Light Board also gave Rubano a commendation, reading in part, “Didi began her career with MMLD in 2003 as a meter reader, performing the essential task of visiting homes and businesses throughout the community to manually record electric meter readings. In those early years, she walked countless miles across Marblehead with a meter book in hand, ensuring accurate readings and dependable billing for customers. Her work helped maintain the high level of reliability and service that the community expects from its municipal electric utility. Over the course of her tenure, Didi witnessed and contributed to significant technological advancement within the electric utility industry.”
John Brubaker, 85
John Brubaker of Park City, Utah, passed away peacefully at home on Feb. 19, 2026, at the age of 85, after a five-year journey with cancer. Born and raised in Waggoner, Illinois, John carried his Midwestern values and work ethic throughout his life. He studied finance at the University of Illinois before building a distinguished 38-year career in banking. He was vice president of Continental Illinois National Bank of Chicago, president and CEO of Firstbank of Illinois Co., and chairman of First National
Eleanor ‘Ellie’ Veale, 94
Eleanor “Ellie” Veale of Manchester, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 9, at the age of 94, surrounded by family and the loving staff at River Woods Manchester.
Ellie was born March 6, 1932, in Everett to Harry and Margaret (Gerrie) Beats. She grew up with her sister Margaret and brother Jim in Everett but spent summers in Marblehead on Naugus Head. This is where she formed her love for the ocean and swimming. She would regularly go fishing with her dad and then roll up her sleeves to clean their catch for that night’s dinner.
Ellie was very proud of her Scottish heritage and loved visiting her family in Scotland as often as she could.
She met her husband Russell in 1956 during an Old North Church ski trip to Cranmore
Bank of Springfield, Illinois. After moving to California, John was president and CEO of Central Bank Corporation and
Mountain in North Conway, New Hampshire. They formed a love for each other and the mountains taking regular trips on the ski train to North Conway where they skied with the famed Austrian instructors Hannes Schneider, Franz Koessler and Otto Tschol. They were married in 1959 and raised their family in Marblehead. Ellie was very active in the community as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout den mother, a member of the Boosters Club and host of multiple team dinners for her sons Jim, Rob and David’s sports teams.
Bay View Financial Corporation. During this time, he was honored to be appointed by the Federal Reserve Board to its Thrift Industry Advisory Council. John met the love of his life, Caryl, in Chicago. They married in 1968 and built a life centered around family, travel and service to their communities. Among the many nonprofit roles he held, John was especially proud of serving on the board of Springfield Memorial Hospital and launching LincolnFest, a free, two-day public festival in Springfield, as founding president of the board.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, John loyally followed the Bulls,
She always put family before anything else, and proudly shared that she never missed any of her sons’ games.
Ellie spent her summers with her three boys at the Pine Knoll Campground in Albany, New Hampshire. She would help them prepare for the many hikes they enjoyed with their dad in the White Mountains or join in on a float down the Saco River or a lazy day at the beach on Lake Iona.
She laughed easily, and loved to play dominoes and spend time with her grandchildren, always a staple at sporting events, dance recitals and graduations.
In retirement Ellie and Russ moved back to where they met in North Conway, New Hampshire, and became very active in the Mount Washington Valley community. Their home became the unofficial headquarters in the early years of Jen’s Friends Cancer Foundation, and they continued to volunteer for Jen’s Friends for years to come.
They also treasured their time working as chefs on the Polar Express spreading joy to all the families on board by
Bears, Blackhawks, Cardinals and the Fighting Illini — and later added the Warriors, 49ers and the Jazz after moving west. He loved the mountains and the outdoors, and after retirement settled with Caryl into a community of close friends in Park City, Utah, where he continued to golf, mountain bike and ski past the age of 80. Above all, John cherished his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Caryl; his son, Scott and his wife Ana Cristina, and their sons, Nico and Alex; and his daughter, Susan and her husband David, and their daughter, Brit. He is also survived by his sister, Jane Fairchild.
singing Christmas carols as loudly as they could. They took every opportunity to play golf with their dear friends at Eagle Mountain and also traveled to different courses in northern New England as part of Julie’s Golf League. Ellie was often called Tee-Ellie by her friends because of her practice of using a tee off the fairway.
She kept busy by volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce and eagerly looked forward to the trips where she and other volunteers would go to an attraction or restaurant to “test” it out so they could share with visitors that came into the Chamber.
Most of all, Ellie treasured the years up north where all of the family would congregate for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Every bedroom was full, all the coffee pots at capacity, leaf in the dining room table, using every chair and stool available, she was happiest watching us make sledding tracks in the back yard, playing board games and eating together. We used the good china and silver because it was a special
To his family and friends, John was honest, reliable and generous. He had a gift for making anyone he spoke with feel like the only person in the room. Curious and genuinely interested in others, he always sought ways to make people feel welcome and comfortable. He was a model for his children and for all who knew him. We will remember him most for his kindness.
A celebration of life will be held later this year. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the People’s Health Clinic, an organization that meant a great deal to John. Donations may be made at: peopleshealthclinic.org.
occasion to be under the same roof.
Ellie passed only 12 days after her husband Russell, a testament to their bond. She was also predeceased by sister Margaret Cross, brother Jim and her daughter-in- law Nancy.
She is survived by her sons Jim, Rob and David; daughtersin-law Lisa and Maria; grandchildren Keith, Nick, Matt, Micheal, Ben, Elizabeth and Annabel; great grandchildren Joseph, Zach, Miriam and Charlie; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held this summer, more details to follow.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Jens Friends Cancer Foundation in North Conway, New Hampshire, either at jensfriends.org or by check to Jen’s Friends, PO Box 1842, North Conway, NH 03860. The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry is assisting the family with arrangements. To send a condolence or for more information, please visit peabodyfuneralhome.com.
Wayward wiper whacks cruiser window; ‘cartel’ accuses man of ‘wasting escort’s time’
Sunday, Feb. 22
» Alarms: 0
» Building/property checks: 6
» Abandoned 911 calls: 0
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
12:27 a.m. Officers investigated a report of suspicious activity on Leicester Road.
12:31 a.m. Police received a general complaint from Leicester Road.
7:18 a.m. A utilities issue was reported on Leicester Road.
1:19 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Cloutmans Lane.
2:25 p.m. A complaint about a moving vehicle was reported on Doaks Lane.
3:53 p.m. A caller concerned about the incoming blizzard asked, “Can I park in a school lot?”
4:46 p.m. Another caller asked regarding the incoming blizzard, “Where can I park?”
6:25 p.m. Police received a general complaint from Washington Street.
6:33 p.m. Assistance was provided to a citizen on Beacon Street.
7:34 p.m. Assistance was provided to a citizen on Glendale Road.
Monday, Feb. 23
» Alarms: 1
» Building/property checks: 10
» Abandoned 911 calls: 1
» Vehicle stops, citations: 1
» Vehicle stops,
verbal warnings: 0 Throughout the day but mostly
in the morning, police were inundated with calls regarding downed trees or branches during the Blizzard of ’26. Calls came from Waterside Road at 6:59 a.m., Rockaway Avenue at 7:25 a.m., Green and Pond streets at 7:32 a.m., Blueberry Road at 7:37 a.m., Green Street at 7:40 a.m., Endicott Avenue at 8:22 a.m., Ocean Avenue and Brown Street at 8:41 a.m., Corn Point Road at 8:58 a.m., Flint Street at 9:11 a.m. (tree down on cars and wires), Sapphire Avenue at 1:39 p.m., and Cowell and Russell streets at 4:37 p.m.
7:24 a.m. An officer investigated the report of a disabled vehicle on Humphrey Street and Hereford Road, but it could not be located.
8:32 a.m. An ambulance reportedly got stuck on Harbor Avenue and Brown Street.
8:37 a.m. Police received a boat call about a water rescue on Marblehead Harbor.
9:19 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Crown Way and Atlantic Avenue.
11:04 a.m. A low wire across the road was reported on Fieldbrook and Yorkshire roads.
11:44 a.m. An officer investigated a boat complaint on Salem Harbor.
12:36 p.m. Police received a complaint about a moving vehicle on Brook Road and Clifton Avenue.
1:17 p.m. While attempting to clear ice from the windshield wiper of his cruiser during the height of the blizzard, an officer had the windshield wiper come off in his hand, which caused the
wiper arm to spring forward and strike the windshield, causing a spider crack measuring about 12 inches by 12 inches. He notified the captain and returned to the station so that the windshield could be repaired.
1:43 p.m. General information was provided on Pitman Road.
3:42 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Robert Road and Arthur Avenue.
3:52 p.m. Assistance was provided to a citizen on Sevinor Road.
4:24 p.m. A vehicle crash was reported on Gilbert Heights Road and Ocean Avenue.
4:55 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Evans Road.
5:20 p.m. Police received a complaint about a person plowing snow into the roadway on Rockaway Street.
7:37 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Elbridge Lane and filed a report.
9:24 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Russell and Pond streets.
11:03 p.m. An officer assisted at the scene of a vehicle crash on Smith Street and Atlantic Avenue.
11:26 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Hines Court.
Tuesday, Feb. 24
» Alarms: 0
» Building/property checks: 6
» Abandoned 911 calls: 2
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
6:36 a.m. Power lines were reported down on West Shore Drive.
6:50 a.m. A general complaint was made on Willow Road.
6:55 a.m. A general complaint was made on Peter Circle.
6:55 a.m. A general complaint was made on Gerry Street.
7:50 a.m. A general complaint was made on Rowland Street.
8:16 a.m. General information was provided on Devereux Street.
8:43 a.m. A citizen was assisted on Washington Street.
9:11 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Lafayette Street.
11:06 a.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a man who had placed his skis and ski poles in front of his house in a snowbank on Lee Street upon returning home from a ski trip. He said the skis and poles were out of his sight for approximately four minutes before he came back outside to find them missing. The man said a neighbor reported seeing someone come by in a white van and grab the skis. The man said that his home surveillance system had been unable to pick up the vehicle. He filled out a lost property report before leaving the station.
11:20 a.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Guernsey Street.
12:16 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Gerry Street.
12:18 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Pearl Street.
12:19 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Hines Court.
12:25 p.m. An officer spoke by phone with a woman who had fallen victim to a Medicare fraud phishing scam earlier in the morning. She had received a call from a person purporting to be from Medicare and that they were in the process of changing cards. The caller provided the woman with some of her account information and asked her to provide the rest. The woman provided the scammer with her Medicare account information and zip code, but not her Social Security number or any banking information. Once she realized it was a scam, she called Medicare and reported the fraudulent activity. The Medicare office told her that they would close her account and issue her a new card. The officer advised her to check her other bank and credit card accounts for fraudulent activity and document any fraud she found. The officer then explained to her how to place a freeze on her credit and provided information about reporting fraud to the FTC.
Nominations being accepted for Amy R. Saltz Award
SUBMITTED BY THE MARBLEHEAD COUNSELING CENTER
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” C.S. Lewis What does it take to live on for others after you are gone? It can be hard to hold on to the small, everyday acts of kindness that define a person, but Marblehead Counseling Center felt it was important to honor a woman whose entire adult life was dedicated to helping other people.
The Amy R. Saltz Community Champions Award, now in its second year, is meant to acknowledge the many unsung heroes in our North Shore community who give of their time, energy, money and mentorship to improve life for others.
“I can’t think of a better way to acknowledge all that Amy stood for than to honor community members who work tirelessly to make our world a better place,” says Ruth Ferguson, president of the MCC Board of Directors. “She would have been so proud of that.” Saltz, who died in 2023 at the age of 62, believed in ‘paying it forward,’ particularly to causes and organizations like MCC that were close to her heart. Saltz was the author of the book, “Finding the Song: Living after Attempting Suicide.” “Amy’s response to her own challenges in life,” says Rabbi David Meyer, rabbi emeritus at
1:45 p.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Tedesco and Tufts streets.
2 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a disabled vehicle on Ocean Avenue.
3:31 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue and Gerry Street.
3:48 p.m. A general complaint was made on Willow Road.
3:57 p.m. Officers assisted with a stuck truck on Gerry Street.
4:02 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Willow Road.
4:11 p.m. A caller reported that the road was icy on Nicholson Hill.
4:54 p.m. A general complaint was made on Atlantic and Ocean avenues.
4:54 p.m. An officer investigated a report of someone pushing snow into the road on Atlantic Avenue.
5:10 p.m. General information was provided on Commercial Street.
5:18 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a minor vehicle crash on Atlantic and Ocean avenues.
5:26 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a stuck vehicle on Leo Road and Humphrey Street.
Wednesday, Feb. 25
» Alarms: 2
» Building/property checks: 5
» Abandoned 911 calls: 1
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
7:41 a.m. A vehicle crash was reported on Ocean and Atlantic avenues.
8:18 a.m. An officer spoke with a man who had been involved in a vehicle crash earlier in the morning at the intersection of Pleasant Street and Baldwin Road, where the officer noted that the driving conditions were “very poor,” with the road covered and snow and slush. According to the man, he was
Temple Emanu-El and a friend of Saltz’s for 30 years, “was always to reach out and help other people and bring love. Much of what she did was under the radar.” That selfless spirit and willingness to give to others despite her own struggles is the inspiration behind Marblehead Counseling Center’s Amy R. Saltz Community Champions Award, inaugurated in May, 2025. Last year’s winner was Marblehead resident Anne Tassel-Todisco, and an associated $1,000 Community Service Scholarship was awarded to Camila Ferrer Gomez of Danvers.
Ferguson says the Center is currently looking for nominees from Marblehead and surrounding areas for the award and scholarship.
“We had so many great nominees last year, and we can’t wait to read this year’s applications. It is really eye opening to see just how many really wonderful people are out there working to make life better for others.” Dr. Harvey Zarren, a close friend to Saltz for 17 years, says her selflessness was Remarkable.
“Amy was an extremely bright woman, who could have been anything she wanted,” according to Zarren. “She was totally well rounded, and she was willing to share her life experiences to teach others.” He says that the two of them taught at Tufts Medical School and in area hospitals, helping medical
traveling inbound on Pleasant Street and, as he approached the intersection at Baldwin Road, another vehicle ran the red light and struck his vehicle as it was coming out of Baldwin Road, across Pleasant Street. The drivers had exchanged information, but the other driver did not provide a driver’s license and “was upset and appeared to be unstable,” according to the man. The officer told him he would try to locate the other driver. While he was making that attempt, the driver of the other vehicle came into the police station to file a report.
According to the second driver, he had a green light and had proceeded cautiously through the intersection. He added that there was heavy traffic, which required him to maneuver through the intersection because it was “chaotic with cars turning left and right.” The second driver said that the other vehicle had struck his, and that the driver of the other vehicle had become upset and started to yell at him. The officer noted that the damage to the first vehicle was to the front driver’s side of the vehicle, while the damage to the other vehicle was on the front passenger side.
9:01 a.m. A vehicle crash was reported on Community Road.
9:23 a.m. An officer investigated a complaint about snow blocking the exit to the back door of an apartment building on Washington Street. Upon his arrival, the officer observed a crew that was finishing up shoveling off the roof of the apartments. The officer went inside to speak to the reporting party, who was visibly upset that the men who were clearing off the roof pushed the snow off the back side, thus blocking the pathway and door to her back entrance. She was concerned that in case of an emergency, they would have no way of getting out. She then made a phone call to her property manager to whom the officer was able to speak to over speakerphone. The officer shared the tenant’s concerns regarding the snow blocking
professionals better understand patients struggling with mental health issues and advocating a program of compassionate care.
“Amy really had a way of alleviating suffering in others. She did incredible things in spite of her challenges,” he says.
Amy’s younger sister Judy Kowalczyk says that one of the things she most admired about her sister was her bravery, and her determination not to give up.
“Looking back, it is an amazing story of courage,” Kowalczyk believes, explaining that the physical effects of Amy’s teenage suicide attempt left her having to relearn some of the most basic skills, such as how to eat again.
“It was excruciatingly painful. But she didn’t give up. And the thing about my sister I really love is that she just wanted to help other people who may have had some of the same feelings and struggles that were similar to hers. She was a really good person in her heart.” In a speech she gave shortly before her death, Saltz herself
the back entrance. The property manager told the officer that he had hired a crew to shovel out the back for the apartments, and it would be a different crew than the ones who were clearing the roof. He said he last heard from the shoveling crew at 9:16 a.m. and was awaiting a follow-up message to get an ETA on when they would arrive. The tenant was able to hear the entire conversation and understood, but she was still frustrated and wanted the incident documented. She was advised to contact the property manager if she wanted an update on when the crew would be coming.
10:24 a.m. A caller inquired about whether there was a parking ban in effect.
11:04 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Darling Street.
12:27 p.m. A vehicle was towed after a complaint on Guernsey and Jersey streets.
1:23 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Central Street.
1:56 p.m. An officer spoke with a man regarding a suspicious text message and phone call he had received earlier in the day. The man said he had first received a text message from a phone number with a New Mexico area code, accusing him of “wasting their escort’s time.” The sender of the text message claimed to know who the man was, where he lived and who his family members were and threatened to come to his house and hurt whoever got in their way. The man then received a phone call from an unknown man from the same phone number, claiming to be from a Mexican cartel and demanding the man pay $3,000 in order
acknowledged the perseverance that her journey demanded. Kowalczyk says her sister’s determination was inspiring, but Zarren adds that in the 17 years he knew Saltz, she was not one to hang herself up on regrets. Instead, he says, Saltz took a joyous approach to life and amassed an impressive list of personal accomplishments: Saltz was an artist and calligrapher, a musician, Mah Jong teacher, a librarian and the award-winning author of four books.
Teri Allen McDonough, LSW, is the social service coordinator at Marblehead Counseling Center, and knew Amy for nearly a decade. The three words she uses to describe her friend are beautiful, soulful and compassionate.
“I have an email from Amy that states, ‘my entire being has been rejoicing since our meeting last week.’ That just captures Amy’s spirit.” McDonough recalls that throughout the pandemic, her friend would make her smile by yelling to her every morning from her window. “Unless she was out
for them to walk away from the matter. The man told the caller that he did not have $3,000. The caller then offered to take $500 instead. Realizing this was a scam, the man ended the phone call. The officer advised the man to ignore the phone calls and text messages, confirming that this had been a scam. The man said he understood and just wanted it on record with police.
3:06 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Manataug Trail.
3:18 p.m. A complaint was made about a moving vehicle on Pond and Green streets.
3:54 p.m. An officer investigated a report of stuck cars on Clifton Avenue and Rockcliff Road.
Thursday, Feb. 26
» Alarms: 2
» Building/property checks: 5
» Abandoned 911 calls: 2
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2
7:23 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Lafayette Street and Carna Road.
7:27 a.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Beach Street and Ocean Avenue.
9:35 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Pond Street.
10:01 a.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Sewall Street.
1:11 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Lafayette Street and filed a report.
1:14 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Lafayette Street and filed a report.
5:28 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a pothole on Atlantic Avenue and Gerry Street.
10:56 p.m. An officer assisted with snow removal on Atlantic Avenue and Washington Street.
Friday, Feb. 27
» Alarms: 1
» Building/property checks: 7
» Abandoned 911 calls: 1
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
12:43 a.m. An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle on
riding her bike in her fluorescent yellow vest,” she says. Beautiful, soulful, compassionate. Bright, wellrounded, accomplished. Determined, undaunted, courageous. rtistic, talented, fun-loving.
“I talked to her almost every day in her last months,” Zarren relates. “And I would say I consider Amy in many ways a mentor of how to be out in the world.” Kowalczyk says that her big sister would be so proud and honored to be noticed for the things she tried to bring to others, and the ways she had an impact on her community.
“Amy always looked at the world in a very deep way. She was very sensitive. This award would feel like such a great sense of accomplishment to her.” To nominate a community member for the 2026 Amy Saltz Community Champions Award, which recognizes an individual making significant contributions to the health and wellness of our residents, please go to the Marblehead Counseling Center website: marbleheadcounseling. org/awards/ community-champions-award/.
To apply for the $1,000 MCC Community Scholarship Award, developed to help young graduates who are interested in making significant contributions in the health and wellness field in the future, please go to marbleheadcounseling.org/awards/ mcc-scholarship-award/
Atlantic Avenue and Hawkes Street.
9:28 a.m. A vehicle crash was reported on Baldwin Road but did not require investigation.
11:29 a.m. A vehicle crash was reported on Merritt Street.
3:01 p.m. A complaint about a moving vehicle on Pond and Lime streets proved to be unfounded.
3:21 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Ocean Avenue.
9:31 p.m. Officers assisted with the investigation of a report of a stolen vehicle on Atlantic Avenue and Shepard Street in Swampscott.
10:58 p.m. An officer assisted with snow removal on Rockaway and Washington streets. 11:42 p.m. Suspicious activity was reported on Washington Street.
Saturday, Feb. 28
» Alarms: 3 » Building/property checks: 7 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
12:37 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Harbor Avenue and Foster Street.
11:04 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Broughton Road.
Sunday, March 1
» Alarms: 3 » Building/property checks: 7 » Abandoned 911 calls: 0 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 4:15 a.m. An officer investigated a disturbance on Powder House Court.
9:08 a.m. A caller reported an icy hill on Summer and Washington streets.
10:50 a.m. An officer investigated a disturbance on Pleasant Street.
1:14 p.m. An officer assisted another agency on Front Street.
5:43 p.m. An officer assisted with a utilities issue on Pleasant Street.
Shining a light on the news you care about!
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community
Get your arts and crafts on at Community Art Night!
Anna Baughman, Social Media Manager, Junior
On Friday, March 20th, the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) at MHS is hosting an Art Night for the community. Join us for crafts, pizza, a photo booth, and more! All ages are welcome.
Community Art Night has been a long-standing tradition for MHS, and despite cancellations during Covid, the event is now up and running again! For NAHS, this night is a major fundraising opportunity. The society will use all proceeds to pay for future projects and events as well as art supplies. Mr. Proulx, the advisor for the Marblehead chapter, shares that, “This event is an opportunity to exercise our mission, to bring art to the community.”
If you are unable to attend but would like to support us, the National Art Honor Society is always accepting donations of underutilized art supplies or fiscal donations. For anyone interested in funding scholarship opportunities for students, or getting involved in future collaborative work, please reach out to Mr. Proulx. Also, attending our other events and spreading the word about NAHS is always helpful!
Mr. Proulx conveys the sentiment we all share at Marblehead’s NAHS chapter, “We are grateful that our institution has allowed us to invite community members to create art with us, and to forget about the hardships that we experience on a day-to-day basis. We look forward to having our community see what we have in store.”
Suggestions for things to bring to Community Art Night:
CASH!
We will also have concessions and an art raffle, where again, all proceeds will go directly to the society. Not everything is a paid experience, either! There are a number of "freebies" that we are offering at this year's event.
A TOTE BAG!
There are a number of stations, new stations in fact, where there will be A LOT of items to take home.
ACCESSORIES!
This year we are introducing a new Bedazzle Station and a Tye Dye T-Shirt Station. So if you have a white T-shirt lying around, or you want your phone case to be encased in gems, then there is a perfect opportunity on March 20th! We will also be providing some materials like shirts and wallets as well, so you are not required to bring anything to our event.
EAGERNESS TO EXPLORE ART!
DETAILS: Community Art Night will be held on Friday, March 20th, in the cafeteria at Marblehead High School, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults, with free admission for children under 6.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grey Collins
Why girls should wrestle
Anna Cruikshank, Assistant Editor, Sophomore
The Marblehead/Swampscott Black and Blue wrestling team is a place where athletes challenge themselves and build confidence both on and off the mat. While wrestling has traditionally been seen as a boys’ sport, that perception is changing quickly as more girls join teams and compete across the country. Girls’ wrestling is now the fastest growing high school sport in the United States. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more than 74,000 girls competed in high school wrestling during the 2024–25 season. As the sport continues to grow, local teams like Black and Blue are looking for more athletes to add to the roster.
One thing many people do not know about wrestling is how matches are scored. Wrestlers earn points for specific moves during a match. A takedown is worth two points and happens when a wrestler brings their opponent to the mat and gains control. Wrestlers can also score points through escapes and reversals. Near-falls earn additional points when "an offensive wrestler holds their opponent’s shoulders at a 45 degree angle or less toward the mat for a specific count."
I started wrestling this year, and it quickly became one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in high school. Trying a new sport felt intimidating at first, but the team made the experience fun and welcoming from the
beginning. I felt included by my teammates during practices, matches, and tournaments; the supportive atmosphere helped me improve throughout the season. By the end of the year, I qualified for the MIAA Divisional Championship and competed at All States. Reaching those tournaments showed me how much growth can happen in a single season with good coaching and determination.
The environment created by our coaches plays a big role in that growth. Head coach Mike, along with the assistant coaches, creates practices that challenge everyone to improve while still supporting every athlete on the team. The practices consist of intense conditioning sets combined with live wrestling; it’s the hardest workouts I’ve ever done. The coaches expect effort and dedication, and encourage wrestlers to learn from each match and keep building their skills. The balance between exhausting practices and camaraderie makes athletes push themselves while still feeling supported by the people around them.
The Marblehead/Swampscott Black and Blue team offers a great opportunity for girls who want to try something new, challenge themselves, and become part of a close team community. As girls’ wrestling continues to grow, I want more athletes to discover the excitement of competition and the strong sense of belonging that comes with stepping onto the mat.
Senior Project: Step into the real world!
Evan Eisen, Assistant Editor, Senior
With the end of the school year rapidly approaching, now is the time for seniors to think about what they want to do in the future. If this is you, then consider participating in Senior Project.
Senior project gives MHS seniors the opportunity to learn more about a career path they're interested in. Whether it be business, health care, fitness, or another path, Senior Project prepares outgoing seniors for the real world.
Participating in an internship doesn't just give someone experience they can put on their resume, it also establishes relationships that can be very valuable in the future.
Headlight Staff 2025 - 2026
Having useful connections will help fasttrack your career and give you access to more important opportunities.
From April until the end of May, students aren't stuck in classes learning information that they may never use in the real world. Senior Project allows for students to leanr real world skills, like have responsibilities, such as helping to run a business. That is what college is like, where you spend a lot of time participating in different events and opportunities.
There is no reason why students shouldn't do Senior Project, as it sets seniors up to succeed in their future career paths.
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Evan Eisen, Anna Cruikshank, Georgia Marshall
REPORTERS: Jack Buckley, Nathaniel Carper-Young, Madeline Duffy, Teagan Freedman, Maximilian Kane, Sophie Li, Will Pelliciotti, London Perlow, Mary Prindiville
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: Anna Baughman
FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins
