04.08.2026 - Volume 4, Issue 20

FIRST WAVE

BY LEIGH BLANDER

With Town Meeting less than a month away, the coming days are expected to be critical for Marblehead’s budget and tax override proposals.

On Monday evening, April 6, the Finance Committee was set to hold its warrant hearing, where it makes recommendations on all

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Town Meeting agenda items with financial impacts. (Visit MarbleheadCurrent.org for coverage.)

Select Board Chair Dan Fox told the Current on Monday that a special group of department heads has been meeting over the past week to develop a combined override figure. Fox said the intention was to present override numbers that include

all departments, including schools, at a Select Board meeting Wednesday night. Those numbers would then be subject to the School Committee’s approval at its meeting Thursday night.

Both the Select Board and the School Committee have approved a multi-year, tiered approach to an override, giving voters a choice about whether — and how much — they want to restore or invest in town services.

Marblehead is facing a $7.7 million deficit, driven in part by rising trash, health care, pension and contractual costs.

Last week, the Select Board and Finance Committee approved a balanced budget that includes at least 35 to 40 job cuts. That vote came before the school district cut an additional $1.5 million from its spending plan.

Under the balanced budget, Abbot Public Library would be open only three days a week and would likely lose its state certification. The Council on Aging and the Recreation and Parks Department would also lose staff and services.

Override tiers

The Select Board has approved a tiered proposal for a permanent Proposition 2 1/2 tax override.

The tiers include: Tier 1: Partial restore

spreads smiles with Good Mood Monster Cards

Second-grader’s handmade creations

BY LEIGH BLANDER

On April 3, a federal judge dismissed a sweeping civil rights lawsuit against Marblehead and several town officials filed by Egypt House, an Orthodox Christian religious organization based on Conant Street. Egypt House sued claiming that it should not have to pay property taxes because it is a religious institution. A judge in Boston’s U.S. District Court ruled Friday that the dispute must be resolved through the state tax appeal process, rather than federal court. Egypt House filed the lawsuit

in March 2025. As part of the tax appeal process, the state Appellate Tax Board ordered an inspection of the property, a step allowed under state law when determining eligibility for property tax abatements. According to the complaint, town officials and attorneys entered the property last July

Leaders at the Abbot Public Library announced April 1 that it will only be open three days a week under the town’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget. The spending plan — now approved by the Select Board and Finance Committee — cuts about $700,000

Many town leaders are proposing a Proposition 2 1/2 tax override to make up the library cuts, as well as reductions to other town and school departments.

“The library is facing the largest budget cut in its 150-year history, which will have a profound effect on our staff and operations,” wrote Gary Amberik, chair of the Library Board of Trustees. “Despite these challenges, we are fully committed to keeping the library open and providing as many of our services that our patrons rely on as possible.”

In March, Amberik and the library’s director, Kim Grad, warned that the town’s budget cuts would force the library to close. The new announcement was an

Without an override, staffing at the library would be slashed in half, with only 8.25 fulltime employees. Other changes include: Weekly service hours will be reduced from 52 to 24 (no evenings or Saturdays).

to conduct the inspection and photographed several rooms. Egypt House alleged the inspection violated its constitutional rights and constituted religious discrimination. The suit asserted 17 claims, including alleged violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth and 14th

amendments, conspiracy to violate civil rights and violations of Massachusetts state law. But the judge ruled that most of those claims fundamentally challenge the town’s tax assessment process — something federal courts are DOLLARS & SENSE

Who’s running, who’s not: The latest on the June 9 election

BY LEIGH BLANDER

With the deadline less than two weeks away, more residents have taken out nomination papers for Marblehead’s June 9 town elections.

More than 20 seats are up for grabs across town boards and commissions, including the Select Board, School Committee, Board of Health and Municipal Light Commission.

According to the Town Clerk’s Office, candidates must collect at least 50 signatures and return nomination papers by 5 p.m. April 21. Papers are available at the Town Clerk’s Office in Abbot Hall.

Here’s how races are shaping up as of Monday, April 6:

Select Board (two seats):

Incumbents Erin Noonan and Alexa Singer have not said whether they plan to seek reelection. Rosanna Ferrante, who currently serves on the Recreation and Parks Commission, is running for Select Board.

School Committee (two seats): Incumbent Melissa Clucas is running for her seat. Incumbent Jenn Schaeffner did not respond to questions about her plans. Ann Marie Jordan has taken out papers.

Board of Health (three seats): Incumbent Tom McMahon has pulled papers for reelection. Julie Selbst and Kristin Dubay Horton, who currently serves on the Marblehead Housing Authority, also took out papers.

Planning Board (two seats): Incumbents Robert Schaeffner and Marc Liebman are running again.

Town moderator (one seat): Incumbent Jack Attridge has pulled papers for reelection.

Board of Assessors (one seat): John Kelley will not seek reelection, ending a more than 40-year tenure on the board. Bryan G. Adams has pulled papers.

Water and Sewer Commission (two seats): Incumbents Barton Hyte and Gregory W. Burt have taken out papers for reelection.

Municipal Light Commission (one seat): Incumbent Matthew Harrington has pulled papers for reelection.

Library Trustees (two seats): Incumbents Gary Amberik and Katherine Barker have taken out papers for reelection.

Housing Authority (one seat): No candidates have taken out papers so far.

The Current welcomes 150–200word submissions to News in Brief. Send yours to info@ marbleheadnews.org.

Conversation with town leaders

On Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m. to noon at the Council on Aging, come for an informal community engagement meeting with town leaders and department heads. Ask questions, share ideas and learn more about services and programs that support the Marblehead community.

Representatives from the following departments and boards will be there: COA, Abbot Library, Finance Department, Police and Fire departments, Public Works, Harbormaster and more. RSVP at 781-631-6225.

DA Tucker to speak at Board of Health

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker will speak at the Board of Health meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 7 p.m. The title of the presentation is: “Public Safety, Public Education and Public Health Working Together to Improve the Mental Health of Young People in Marblehead.”

Police Chief Dennis King and Superintendent John Robidoux are expected to be there. There will be a question-and-answer period.

» Restores a significant portion of cuts

» Includes town and school services

» Could be structured as a oneor three-year solution

Tier 2: Stabilize and build

» Includes Tier 1 plus: Full restoration of cuts

» Building maintenance funding

» Public safety and Department of Public Works staffing

» Salary study adjustments

Tier 3: Invest and improve

Includes Tiers 1 and 2 plus:

» Small capital investments Equipment, infrastructure and buildings

A focus on long-term improvement

SEATS UP FOR ELECTION:

Select Board: Two three-year seats, currently held by Erin Noonan and Alexa Singer. No word if either will run for e

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 (three-year term)

Town Moderator: One-year term, currently held by Jack Attridge

Board of Assessors: One threeyear seat, currently held by John Kelley

Cemetery Commission: One three-year seat, currently held by Rabbi David Meyer

Housing Authority: One fiveyear 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 threeyear seat, currently held by Matthew Harrington

Recreation & Parks: Five oneyear 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 three-year 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.

» Rosanna Ferrante is running for Select Board.

» Kenny Klaiman is running for Rec & Parks

Incumbents Larry Simpson, Chris Kennedy, Karin Ernst and Shelly Curran Bedrossian will each seek another term on Recreation & Parks.

Robert Schaeffner and Marc Liebman will run again for the Planning Board. Incumbent Tom McMahon has pulled papers for a second term on the Board of Health.

» Julie Selbst and Kristen Dubay Hortan are also running for BoH.

Cemetery Commission: Incumbent Rabbi David Meyer has pulled papers for reelection. Sally Sands and Rose McCarthy have taken out papers for a twoyear unexpired term.

Green Homes Tour

Come to Sustainable Marblehead’s third Green Homes Tour, to take place on Saturday, May 2. Tour nine local homes and learn about air source heat pumps, solar panels, electric induction stoves and much more from people who are actually using the technology. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased in advance at sustainablemarblehead.org/ greenhomestour.

Koh first to secure ballot spot

Dan Koh officially became the first candidate to make the ballot in the 6th Congressional District primary on March 27. To qualify, a candidate must collect 2,000 certified signatures. Koh surpassed the goal, with all 39 cities and towns represented among his 2,000-plus signatures. Eight Democrats and one Republican are vying for the seat. They are: Koh, state Rep. Tram Nguyen, former state Rep. Jamie Belsito, Rick Jakious, Beth Andres-Beck, John Beccia, Mariah Lancaster, Rachel Creemers and Republican Micah Jones.

Women’s Business League

The Women’s Business League

is looking for new members.

The mission of WBL is to “encourage, empower and inspire women to achieve the highest and best version of themselves and their business through the power of connection.”

The group meets next Thursday, April 16, 8 a.m. at Sagan Real Estate in Swampscott.

Marblehead Police want you

Go behind the badge and learn about the Marblehead Police Department from the inside. MPD is offering its eight-week course on Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., starting April 23. Attendees will meet local officers, detectives and staff and learn how operations work. They will observe a real trial and tour the Middleton House of Corrections. The course is free. Learn more and register at marbleheadma.gov/ citizen-police-academy.

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

Trash override At Town Meeting, voters will face a second override request of about $2 million to fund curbside recycling and trash pickup. If that override fails, the Marblehead Board of Health would institute a fee for pickup. With a 3% opt-out rate, Health

Director Andrew Petty projected the curbside fee at about $281 per household.

Override impact Select Board member Moses Grader presented a budget analysis March 27 projecting that $4.6 million would be needed to

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. 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.

‘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. 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 non-members $125. MAA member couple tickets are $150 and nonmember couples $175. Tickets include a glass of champagne. Visit marbleheadarts.org.

restore the cuts on the town side of the budget alone. That figure includes the trash override. That would amount to about $608 in new taxes for the median household in the first year. According to Grader, restoring some of this year’s town-side cuts would cost:

» $857,633 for Abbot Public Library

» $307,975 for the Planning and Community Development Office

» $134,691 for Public Works

$126,648 for the Finance Department

$122,554 for Public Buildings

» $118,171 for the Cemetery Department

$76,201 for the Council on Aging

$65,482 for the Police Department

$64,261 for the Fire Department

our weekly printed newspaper. To learn more, visit www.marbleheadCurrent.org/ads.

VOLUNTEER Join us. We invite you to help support our effort to establish and maintain a free press for a strong community. To get involved, visit www. marbleheadCurrent.org/volunteer.

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

IN MEMORIAM Ed Bell, co-founder,

Each monster also carries a short message on the back tailored to its personality. One card reads: “Howdy partner. This cowboy monster’s got your back. I’ll keep things feeling calm on the wild days.”

Another favorite, the bright orange character “Orangey Glad,” reassures recipients: “I show up bold, but friendly and always on your side.”

From neighborly kindness to a small business

The project grew from a simple act of kindness.

Delaney first started drawing monsters after an art activity at school. Soon, the drawings began appearing all over the house.

“I was finding them everywhere,” Dana said.

When a neighbor was in hospice care, the family decided to share the drawings.

“We thought maybe we should bring her some of these little monsters,” Dana said. “Then Delaney just started making more and more.”

After Dana posted photos on social media, orders began pouring in.

“I woke up the next morning and about 30 people wanted to buy them,” she said.

What followed became an unexpected lesson in entrepreneurship. Delaney now sells the cards for $6 per pack.

Of that, $4 goes directly to DanaFarber, $1 covers supplies and shipping, and Delaney keeps $1.

“It’s been teaching her how to run a business,” Dana said. “We had to adjust pricing, figure out shipping and even laminate the cards so they’d last.”

A marathon connection

The fundraising effort supports Dana’s childhood friend, Gabriella Callagy, who owns the running clinic Run RX and is running the Boston Marathon to benefit Dana-Farber.

Some customers purchase cards, while others simply donate. The family is also planning to assemble more than 100 cards to send directly to the pediatric unit at Dana-Farber in May.

“That’s the part she’s really excited about,” Dana said. “Knowing they’ll go to kids in the hospital.”

Delaney works quickly — about three or four minutes per monster — often drawing after school or on weekends.

“I can do it all sorts of times,” she said.

A young artist’s dream At home, Delaney is the oldest of four siblings, with two younger brothers and a baby sister. Her earnings from the project — the $1 she keeps

from each pack — sometimes go toward toys at the local shop Mud Puddle Toys.

But even then, Delaney often spends her profits on her siblings.

“She bought the boys little cars,” Dana said.

Delaney already knows what she wants to be someday.

“When I’m a grownup, I want to be an artist,” she said.

For now, her colorful monsters are spreading good moods far beyond her kitchen table — one card at a time.

“I just think of them in my head,” Delaney said with a shrug. “And then I draw them.”

To learn more about Delaney’s monster cards and place an order, visit danabull.com/ monstercards.

» Because the cuts will lead to Abbot being de-certified by the state, Marbleheaders’ library cards will no longer work in town towns. (People can apply for a Boston Public Library card.)

» Programming will be “significantly” reduced.

» The budget for new books and materials is eliminated.

» Youth services will be limited.

There will be limited public access to meeting

largely barred from reviewing under the Tax Injunction Act of 1937.

“Adjudicating any one of these claims would require that this court weigh in on the scope and propriety of procedures used by municipal actors to evaluate eligibility for state tax exemptions,” the decision reads. “Were Plaintiff to prevail, this Court would necessarily be forced to ‘take actions that suspend or restrain the assessment and collection of state taxes,’ which runs squarely in the face of the TIA.”

rooms. “In 2026, 347 of the 350 municipalities in Massachusetts were certified to receive state aid by the Board of Library Commissioners,” the library’s press release states. “A balanced budget without an override would place Marblehead among the few noncertified towns in the Commonwealth. Despite these challenges, Abbot Public Library remains dedicated to its mission as a free, inclusive and safe

$10 million renovation, approved by Town Meeting.

News of its drastically reduced services prompted an outcry around town, with people offering to volunteer filling shifts and to start a GoFund Me campaign to fund the library.

“Abbot Public Library provides the town of Marblehead with essential resources for lifelong learning, digital literacy and community engagement,” the library’s press release concluded. “Even in times of fiscal constraint, the library strives to

The judge also noted that Massachusetts provides an established process for resolving such disputes through the tax appeal system. Decisions by the Appellate Tax Board can be appealed to the Massachusetts Appeals Court and ultimately to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the court noted.

Friday’s ruling does not determine whether Egypt House qualifies for a tax exemption. Instead, it leaves the question to the ongoing proceedings before the tax board. The Current has reached out to the leader of Egypt House, Fr. Andrew Bushell, and his attorney, Tracey Stockton, for comment and to ask if they plan to appeal.

Meanwhile, last month, Stockton also filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of the federal lawsuit filed last October, which had been brought on behalf of Bushell and other entities with which he is affiliated and alleged that Marblehead and the Department of Justice colluded to block Bushell from “engaging in

protected religious activity within Marblehead’s borders.”

The dismissals were made “without prejudice,” meaning the plaintiffs are reserving the right to refile the claims in the

The October 2025 suit was based in part on an FBI raid on Bushell’s residence on Conant Road on Oct. 13, 2022. Though he was arrested on charges of misusing federal COVID relief funds, the Department of Justice later dropped the charges “in the interests of justice,” according to a DOJ statement.

The October lawsuit tied the FBI raid to the alleged animus of Marblehead town officials towards Bushell and his organizations.

“Based on their animus for Plaintiffs’ religious operation, on information and belief, Marblehead officials made false reports to the Federal Bureau of Investigations that Father Andrew was not a real monk and none of the organizational

Defendants were legitimate religious organizations…. These insidious lies achieved their goals,” the complaint stated. Bushell has been trying to open a monastic shrine and brewery, called St. Nicholas, at 120 and 124 Pleasant St. The buildings are currently boarded up. The lawsuit suggested that the intransigence of town officials is to blame for the longlanguishing project.

“First, the Marblehead Building Commissioner embarked on a mission to solicit assistance from other agencies in denying a building permit to St. Nicholas,” the Oct. 10 complaint states. “Second, Marblehead arbitrarily and capriciously rejected St. Nicholas’ compliant electrical service designs for years, preventing St. Nicholas from opening to the public.

Third, the Marblehead Board of Assessors has created one hurdle after another to bar St. Nicholas from recognition of

tax exemption status.”

CURRENT PHOTO Father Andrew Bushell wanted to open a monastic shrine and brewery at 120 and 124 Pleasant St.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Under the town’s proposed FY27 budget, Abbot Library will only be

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Delaney Bull and her family all hold up Good Mood Monster Cards at their home.

Delaney Bull has created more than 20 different characters for her Good Mood Monsters Cards.

COURTESY PHOTO

EDITORIAL

It’s Local News Day, and you’re invited

On Thursday, April 9, newsrooms and communities across the country will mark Local News Day — a national day of action celebrating the trusted local news and information that helps communities stay informed and connected.

Local News Day is built around a simple idea: Start Local.

At a time when national headlines dominate our feeds, it’s easy to overlook the news taking place outside our doors. But the most important news is close to home: the decisions affecting local schools, the businesses opening downtown, the community events bringing neighbors together, and the policies shaping our towns.

That’s the work we have tried to cover every day since the Marblehead Current launched nearly four years ago.

Some recent examples:

As it became clear that Marblehead’s municipal budget was reaching a crossroads, the Current launched its “Overriding Considerations” series to help residents understand how the town got to this place where its library might be open less frequently and dozens of employees might lose their jobs. The series has illuminated the degree to which Marblehead is far from alone in confronting what the Massachusetts Municipal Association has dubbed a “perfect storm” of historic fiscal pressures.

We have and will continue to keep our ears open for the questions you want answered as the march to Town Meeting — and perhaps a June ballot question proposing a Proposition 2 1/2 override.

One example: We began to hear rumblings that some believed that town leaders were engaging in “scare tactics” and that cuts outlined would not really happen if an override failed. Current Editor Leigh Blander stood up at a Select Board meeting and asked the board to address that sentiment.

While this space may weigh in with a recommendation once the specifics of the override proposal are known, the goal of the Current’s news coverage is different. As ever, the point has been not to advocate but to inform, giving residents the tools they need to make the best possible decisions, even in challenging circumstances.

Local news also helps us stay connected and celebrate the stories that make our home unique. There is no better recent example than when the community came together the weekend before last to cheer on courageous JJ Weiss as he saved Marblehead from the nefarious villain “Triple Z” — a Make-A-Wish dream come true for the 4-yearold who has been battling medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.

It is said that local news outlets hold a mirror up to their communities, and on March 29, everyone who participated — from the members of the Marblehead Police Department who joined forces with JJ, to the local businesses who hosted his “missions,” to the 400 people who gathered at Seaside Park to celebrate the young crusader — revealed themselves to be the “fairest of them all.” It was a privilege to be able to document such a special day in Marblehead.

In the days ahead, we plan to continue to honor the spirit of Local News Day by giving readers opportunities to engage more directly with members of your local newsroom. Be on the lookout later this spring for a reader survey, along with a cafe-style event where we plan to do more listening than talking.

Local news works best when it’s part of the fabric of the community it serves. Every reader, tip, conversation and donation helps make that possible.

So today, we invite you to do one simple thing: Start Local.

Read a local story. Share it with a neighbor. Support the newsrooms working to keep your community informed.

Current Editorial Board members are: Peter Fallon, Joseph P. Kahn, Kris Olson, Bob Peck and Mark Schwartz.

MARBLEHEAD COUNSELING CENTER

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

BY GARRY LONG, LICSW

Here is a startling statistic for you: nearly 40% of all hospital beds in the United States are filled with individuals with health conditions stemming from alcohol consumption, not counting maternity and intensive care units. Alcoholism is currently the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the nation, with 88,000 deaths per year attributed to excessive alcohol use.

Yet, despite its widespread prevalence, alcohol addiction is often both misunderstood and underestimated in its severity. One common misconception, for instance, is that alcoholism is determined by the type or duration of alcohol consumption, when it’s actually characterized by an uncontrollable craving for alcohol and can sometimes manifest itself as ‘cycles of addiction’ that might seem under a person’s control.

The casual way we talk about and portray drinking in the U.S. can mask the fact that alcohol use has enormous consequences on users and their loved ones. And because we don’t always understand how to define alcoholism, we can also miss it when we’re confronted by it. The consequences can be deadly. Health risks associated with long-term alcohol use are extensive, and can run the gamut from neurological disorders like dementia, stroke and neuropathy to increased risk for various cancers, liver diseases and gastrointestinal problems. Other mental and physical health problems include heart attacks, hypertension, unemployment, motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic falls and psychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety and suicide. It’s no surprise that so many of those hospital beds have direct links back to alcohol consumption.

Thirty million people, or about one in every 10 adults, face challenges with substance use, according to the National Council of Alcohol and Drug Dependence. Understanding that people have always needed education about the use and abuse of alcohol, NCADD rolled out its first Alcohol Awareness Month back in April, 1987. For the past 39 years, April has been National Alcohol Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the dangers of alcohol, the mental and physical health risks, and the effects and causes of alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol and young people

Alcohol awareness programming often targets teenagers and college-aged youth, and for good reason. Research from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration suggests that adults who take their first drink of alcohol before the age of 15

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

More than a job

To the editor:

For the past 11 years I have been the caretaker of one of Marblehead’s treasures. I will never forget the first time I climbed the winding staircase to the clock tower and looked out over our beautiful town. I remember thinking that it looked like a fairy tale that I had read to my baby girl that morning. Little did I know that my new town job would end up being the honor of my life.

I am not simply a custodian. Yes, I do clean, but my job is so much more. I am a handyman, a painter and the contact for maintenance contractors. I open and close the building, watch over meetings, special events and our elections. I clear the snow before anyone arrives and replenish supplies before anyone knows they are gone. I am the protector of the Spirit of ‘76 painting and many other priceless relics of our town’s rich history. I am proud of what I do. My job is on the chopping block along with many co-workers who also do much more than meets the eye. Everyone needs to know what is at stake, not only for me and my family but for the town. There will be no one to care for our buildings and history.

10 TIPS FOR YOUTH FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON ALCOHOLISM

AND DRUG DEPENDENCE

1. Don’t be afraid to say “no”: Don’t let fear of judgment or peer pressure dictate your actions. Saying “no” is your right, regardless of others’ expectations.

2. Connect with positive influences: Surround yourself with friends who share your values and avoid negative peer pressure that may lead to substance use.

3. Build strong relationships: Cultivate open communication with trusted adults who can offer guidance and support as you navigate life’s challenges.

4. Embrace life without substances: Discover the joy of activities that don’t involve alcohol or drugs. Pursue your passions and interests to the fullest.

5. Respect family guidelines: Honor your family’s rules regarding alcohol and drugs to maintain their trust and respect.

6. Educate yourself: Seek reliable information about alcohol and drugs to make informed decisions and dispel common myths.

7. Lead by example: Your actions speak louder than words. Be a positive role model for your peers and younger generations.

8. Plan ahead: Take proactive steps to safeguard your well-being when attending social events. Have a reliable support system in place.

9. Speak up: Advocate for yourself and others by addressing the negative impact of alcohol and drugs on individuals and communities.

10. Seek help when needed: Don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol or drug-related issues.

are 6.5 times more likely to experience an alcohol use disorder than those who don’t drink until the age of

Outsourcing is not a viable or cost-effective option as I am a contractual employee. If the town could somehow get around my contract, who would do all the other things that I do? I am writing this as a taxpaying resident who also happens to work for the municipality. It is time we realize that after many years of inflation, a global pandemic and the limits of Proposition 2 1/2 we cannot keep up with the increases. This is not the fault of the schools, the unions or elected officials. Could things to mitigate the impact have been done sooner? Sure, but the bottom line is we are here. I will be voting “yes “on an override, although which tier I do not know. What I do know is that I am not willing to let the town I love go down on my watch.

Bruce Hamilton Shepherd Street

Working together makes the community thrive

To the editor:

We are writing to express gratitude to the Marblehead town leadership regarding the decision to work together on a coordinated and comprehensive override approach. This joint effort reflects the kind of shared problem-solving that residents have been asking for and we are grateful to the leaders who are working toward a common plan that will help all of Marblehead. We are optimistic that the current spirit of collaboration will continue in the days, weeks, and years ahead — not just in moments of urgency but as an ongoing approach to how we govern and how we support one another as a community. Since arriving in Marblehead over eight years ago, we have both witnessed the incredible strengths that define Marblehead while volunteering in our schools, coaching sports, and participating in community events. We have found that Marbleheaders deeply appreciate the people who make this community thrive: the educators, the municipal employees, the small business owners, the volunteers, the care givers and the engaged neighbors. Marbleheaders consistently go above and beyond for each other. Now, it is time for us to come together to support a comprehensive multi-year override for Marblehead. See you at Town Meeting. Reece and Christopher Dahlberg Fieldbrook Road

ALCOHOL, P.

Shakshuka: Poached eggs with global flair

BY LINDA BASSETT

Back in the day, college students cooked up ghastly dinners of fast-boiling rice, beans and canned mixed vegetables that I suspect were scraps from the assembly line. We dumped grated Parmesan cheese from a green cardboard jar over it. “Survival food,” we called it. Today, students are more intentional, globally sophisticated. Recently, a grad student introduced me to the meal that sustained her and classmates: North African shakshuka, a skillet of eggs poached in tomatoes with peppers and onions, warmly spiced with cumin, paprika and cayenne. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or a midnight snack when cramming for exams. One skillet. One knife. One cutting board. An advanced degree in good eating.

The basic dish is known internationally as a nutritious, meatless comfort food. Spices and additions vary by country. Technique and the central ingredients of eggs and tomatoes remain.

Garlic, basil and red pepper flakes season the tomatoes, used as a poaching medium, for this dish, “eggs in purgatorio” named for the heat. It is often referred to as “Italian shakshuka.” Huevos rancheros, the Mexican version, uses tomato salsa as the cooking medium, spiced with hot peppers, black beans and avocado chunks. The results are served over (or wrapped in) a warm soft tortilla. Onions, green peppers and espelette pepper (available online) give eggs and tomatoes a

21. Often, alcohol prevention efforts for kids focus on drinking and driving. On April 14. 7 p.m., Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker will speak at the Marblehead Board of Health about underage drinking and social hosting, and will outline the legal ramifications for families when kids get caught drinking.

But underage drinking has many serious long-term health and wellness consequences, as well.

At MCC, we focus our work

A town that ‘refuses to invest in itself’ may scare away new families

To the editor:

The cost of saying “no” in Marblehead Marblehead is confronting a budget deficit and debating a property tax override, and many residents (particularly seniors on fixed incomes) are understandably anxious about rising costs.

Those concerns are real. But they are not made better by pretending that recent voting choices and our long-standing resistance to change played no role in creating this situation. Last year, voters rejected compliance with the MBTA Communities (3A) zoning law. That decision did not “protect” Marblehead financially. It eliminated access to state housing and infrastructure grants, narrowed the town’s future tax base and reduced our ability to plan responsibly for change.

We turned away outside funding while insisting we cannot afford to invest locally. That contradiction deserves to be acknowledged. Now some

with teens and families on prevention, education and intervention. We know that alcohol and drug use are leading contributors to youth crime and suicide. Binge drinking, consuming four or more drinks at a time by females and five or more drinks by males, is a common consumption pattern among underage drinkers and can be a factor in everything from hospitalization for alcohol poisoning to sexual assault.

According to Suicide Behavior and Alcohol use, published in 2010, alcohol use may lead to suicide through disinhibition, impulsiveness and impaired

argue that a tax override cannot be justified because Marblehead lacks affordable housing for the same seniors who might be looking to downsize and stay local. But affordable housing does not appear by accident. It requires policy choices, zoning flexibility and a willingness to accept state support when it is offered.

Voting against housing capacity and then citing its absence to oppose funding is not fiscal prudence; it is avoidance. We cannot continue to vote “no” on every change, every investment and every long-term solution, while expecting schools, services, roads and community character to remain intact.

A town that refuses to invest in itself inevitably shifts costs onto a shrinking group of homeowners, many of whom are older and least able to absorb them. This pattern of decisions may discourage future generations of young families from putting down roots in this incredible town.

If Marblehead wants to remain a vibrant, intergenerational community that is built to last for centuries to come, we must reckon honestly with our choices. That reckoning should include a degree of responsibility about an inconsistent voting history that rejects both help and the consequences of refusing it.

cooking methods vary for the eggs. Instead of poaching the eggs, the Turkish version scrambles them into the sauce. Local pork products, chorizo sausage and serrano ham star in the classical Spanish version. A handful of peas joins the scramble of eggs and tomatoes.

Don’t like tomatoes? Instead, sauté up a base of leafy greens like kale, baby spinach or chard, singly or all together. Add a few whole fresh herb leaves, like basil, cilantro, mint or parsley. Scramble in the eggs. Maybe scatter cheese over the top? Indian food aficionados spice the greens with turmeric, cumin and chili powder.

NORTH AFRICAN SHAKSHUKA

MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS.

Hint: To keep yolks intact, crack the eggs on a flat surface (not against the edge of the counter) and drop the contents into a cup. Slide eggs individually from the cup into the skillet. (If a yolk breaks, no worries. Just continue.)

French accent in piperade. Add a small baguette on the side. Personalize it by swirling crumbled mild goat cheese or salty feta into the hot tomatoes just before adding eggs. It gives the whole thing a creamy finish. Bulk it up with protein — ground lamb, cooked chickpeas or white beans. In other parts of the world,

judgment. It may also be used as a means to ease the distress associated with committing an act of suicide. Study researchers noted that although they found no direct correlation between youth suicide and alcohol, in 26% of the pediatric cases they studied, alcohol or other drugs were detected post-mortem.

About 5,000,000 youth between the ages of 12 and 20 reported alcohol consumption in the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The good news is that the number of underage drinkers seems to be shrinking. There have been statistically significant decreases, year over year, in

Protecting Marblehead’s future will require more than saying “no.” It will require investment, accountability and a willingness to live with the outcomes of our decisions.

Noah Hendy Rowland Street

This letter is ‘100% humangenerated.’ But others?

To the editor: AI has come for the Current’s letters to the editor section! Over the past week or so, I have noticed an increase in letters that AI-detection services GPTZero (free), originality.ai (free) and CopyLeaks (free with signup) concur in finding to be entirely AI-generated. This is not to denigrate the use of AI per se. After all, who among us and so on and so forth. (Certainly, I am an enthusiastic user of AI as an editing, polishing and research tool.)

But it is important we think critically about whether the letters we read have sprung from a human mind or a machine one. Because for all the benefits AI will bring in terms of productivity, acceleration of research and development, and creative pursuits, AI is a tool. And tools are, by design, for manipulation.

` 1/2 teaspoon chili powder

` 28-ounce can whole, peeled or chopped tomatoes

` 4 to 6 large eggs

` Salt and pepper, to taste

` 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bell pepper and onion. Cook, stirring, three to five minutes, until veggies have softened. Add garlic and spices. Cook a minute or two until the garlic gives up its aroma and turns golden. (Do not brown.)

Add tomatoes and their juices to the pan. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring, five to seven minutes, breaking up large chunks of tomato with a spoon. The mixture will begin to thicken.

Using a large spoon, make four to six wells in the mixture. Drop an egg (yolk and white) into each one. Cook until whites are opaque and yolks just begin to firm up while still creamy inside.

I drizzle a tiny bit of good fruity olive oil over the top.

` 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil, to cover the bottom of a nonstick

skillet

` 1 medium onion, diced

` 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

` 1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped

` 2 teaspoons paprika

` 1 teaspoon cumin

reports by underage drinkers of their ‘past month consumption’, ‘binge drinking’ and ‘heavy alcohol consumption.’ Still, alcohol remains the number one substance used by people under age 21, and prom and graduation seasons bring added concerns about students making safe choices around alcohol.

April is the beginning of spring, ushering in nice weather, barbecues and trips to Devereux Beach. As we turn our attention to the beautiful weather, let’s also take a moment to educate ourselves about staying safe around alcohol, and helping those we love to do the same.

If you or someone you know is

If I ask an AI model for a plain English, one sentence argument in favor of clubbing baby seals that is rooted in liberal values, it will give me just that: “If you didn’t know whether you’d be born as an Inuit hunter or a comfortable Westerner, you’d protect the right to hunt seals because banning it hurts the people who need it most.”

Not bad! Claude’s Opus 4.6 please take a bow. But while this slop is well written, it is still just slop. (We don’t need to spell out why clubbing baby seals is obviously bad, do we…?)

The ramifications here are significant. When the marginal cost to dress up any idea, no matter how bad, falls to zero, expect to see a lot more welldressed but otherwise bad ideas.

This new reality raises a question for the Current and other media outlets that carry letters to the editor. Should submissions be checked for their degree of AI content and come with appropriate disclosures? What is the risk that the letters section descends into a back and forth of moderately well written AI slop? Substantial, I fear.

While the Current ponders this dilemma, let me close by assuring you, dear reader, that this letter is100% humangenerated. Promise. Nick Ward Rolleston Road

Take the pan off the heat. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and parsley. Spoon into shallow bowls. Serve with warm pita to sop up the juices.

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

struggling with alcohol, please contact a mental health care provider. If you are in crisis, contact SAMHSA National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential support and treatment referrals 24/7, or the Suicide Prevention Helpline at 988, 24/7, in English and Spanish.

Garry Long is a clinician at Marblehead Counseling Center, where he has been practicing for the past four years. He has extensive experience working with elders, adults, couples, teens and families. He was also adjunct faculty of human services at North Shore Community College for 30 years.

‘So much news…’

To the editor:

So much news, here in town and nationally, with lots to comment on but I’ll try to keep my comments brief. On a town level, my first thanks goes to Seamus Hourihan for hitting the nail on the head with his “DYT” comments. I hope Thatcher Kezer and the Select Board carefully read his March 25 column. Another big thanks to Margaret Bacon for such a cogent column in the April 1 issue that helps us to understand more clearly the confusing budget options being presented this year. On a national level, I’m addressing letters sent by Emily DeJoy and Mark Ferrante. I will just briefly and as respectfully as possible suggest that both writers read more history to understand more clearly how dictators and autocrats take over countries. I might also suggest that they learn more about emotional intelligence and how they might be able to improve theirs. Back to town issues, I’m retired and live on a tight budget, but we need to pass an override, so let’s stop futzing around and do what needs to be done. And, a final comment: lose a library and your town loses value. Respectfully, Ginny O’Brien Garden Road

CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT Fresh eggs make the best shakshuka.

MHS roof project ramps up, with major work set for summer break

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The $12 million roof replacement project at Marblehead High School will shift into a higher gear over April vacation, when crews begin early work on the building.

“Most of the work will be done over nine weeks of summer,” said Leena Long of design and architecture firm Left Field at an April 2 meeting of the MHS Roof Subcommittee. “As soon as the students are done, the contractor will mobilize at the site and start ceiling removal in classrooms.”

Long added, “It’s a summer

slammer, as some folks call it in the industry.”

The project received its building permit April 2. The town’s building department waived the $134,000 fee, according to Assistant

Superintendent Mike Pfifferling.

Officials outlined a calendar of upcoming milestone dates for the project:

April 3: Procurement of equipment needed to enable the project.

June 26: Renovations begin.

June 30: Marblehead Public Schools completes ceiling removal operations.

July 31: Roofing operations

are expected to be complete and crews demobilized.

Aug. 2: Completion of “aboveceiling” work.

Aug. 16: Completion of all airhandling equipment to facilitate the start of the school year.

Aug. 21: Completion of ceiling reinstallation.

Oct. 12: Completion of all hydronic systems and full facility testing and balancing. All contract work — including punch-list repairs, cleaning and project closeout — must be finished by that date. The subcommittee is scheduled to meet next on April 29.

During springtime, love is in the air

BY RICK CUZNER

Spring is here! Spring is a great time to explore local wildlife. Lots of exciting things are happening. The trees and flowers start to bloom, ospreys return, as do migrating birds like warblers and hummingbirds. Perhaps the most exciting from a photographer’s standpoint is the birth of new wildlife. Finding a den or nest usually yields some great photos. This is an older photo of a screech owl nesting cavity that has been the home of many sets of owlets over the years. Here, the two adults peer through the opening in the early morning hours. I am currently following several nests around town, we shall see what happens!

The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner, who has been photographing local wildlife for nearly 20 years.

Inspired by decades-long idea, local author publishes debut eco-thriller

BY LEIGH BLANDER

After more than four decades in Marblehead and a career in high tech, Joyce Bartlett has added a new title to her résumé: novelist.

Bartlett recently released her first book, “The Water Theory,” a 327-page eco-thriller that blends climate science, action and a touch of romance. The novel, which she self-published through Amazon, imagines a near future in which climate change has caused extreme global drought and a groundbreaking invention could determine the fate of the planet.

Though the book is newly published, the idea behind it has been developing for two decades.

About 20 years ago, Bartlett and a close friend each came up with an idea for a screenplay and enrolled in a UCLA screenwriting program together. They completed the first semester and signed up for the second.

Then tragedy struck.

“My friend died suddenly,” Barlett said. “I decided to keep going… but I ultimately realized screenwriting is not my thing.”

The project was set aside for about a decade.

“I put it away for 10 years or so, then [I thought], ‘You know what? I should turn it into a novel. The characters are still talking to me,’” she said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic

hit and daily life slowed down, Bartlett finally had the time to return to the story. Bartlett retired from the tech industry a few years ago, in which she had worked as a startup specialist focused on marketing. Writing fiction, however, had long been part of her creative identity.

“I’m a visual artist, a painter,” she said. “My high school English teacher voted me ‘most likely to be a writer,’” she said. Her lifelong environmental interests also shape the book’s

themes.

“I have always been an environmentalist,” she explained. “It’s been important to me since the 1970s. The first Earth Day, I was there.”

The novel centers on a weary scientist who invents technology that could help solve a catastrophic worldwide drought. When the ruthless CEO of his company tries to exploit the discovery for profit, the scientist teams up with a brilliant colleague to ensure the technology is used for the public

good.

The story features strong female characters, including a scientist who is also a spy and partners with the male protagonist. Bartlett describes the book as a fast-paced adventure with cinematic energy.

“It’s a story about an environmental disaster, but it moves in a fun, really fast-paced way. People tell me it reads like a movie,” said Bartlett.

Early feedback from readers has been positive, Bartlett

added.

“Friends say it got them thinking about climate change and droughts and climate disaster but without being preachy,” she said. “They had a good time reading the story, but it made them pause and think about something important.”

Much of the climate science mentioned in the novel is real. But there’s one futuristic piece that is, for now, fiction.

Ultimately, Bartlett hopes the story reminds readers of the stakes of the climate crisis.

“If we don’t have a planet, most other things are moot,” she said.

“The Water Theory” is available on Amazon, and Bartlett said copies will also be available through the library. The first printing run is now underway, and she is reaching out to additional bookstores.

Early work on the Marblehead High School roof will begin over April vacation.

“The Water Theory” is an ecothriller written by Marblehead resident Joyce Bartlett.

Joyce Bartlett, far left, is shown here donating books and art supplies to an elementary school in Peru about eight years ago. She is out with her first novel.

CUZNER IN NATURE

MHS student turns hospital memories into book drive for young patients

BY LEIGH BLANDER

When Tabitha Geary was growing up, hospital stays were a regular part of life. Now the Marblehead High School sophomore is working to make those difficult days a little brighter for children facing similar experiences.

Geary, 16, recently launched

“Story Snuggles,” a book collection effort that provides gently used children’s books for pediatric patients in local hospitals. Since starting the project last fall, she has already collected about 460 books.

“I definitely enjoyed having books read to me in the hospital,” Geary said.

Geary’s own health challenges began when she was just 6 weeks old, when she contracted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and later developed asthma.

Throughout her childhood, she was frequently hospitalized with pneumonia and other complications.

At one point, nerve damage in her legs required her to use a walker for three months.

Another mystery illness lingered for years before doctors determined the cause.

“I had chronic appendicitis,” Geary said. “It took almost two years for that process to happen. They couldn’t figure it out.”

After repeated hospital visits, she finally had her appendix removed in third grade at Massachusetts General Hospital, a turning point that led to a healthier stretch of childhood.

She has also broken her back twice doing gymnastics. (She has since retired from the sport.)

Books were often a source of comfort during long hospital stays.

One story in particular stands out.

“My favorite was ‘The Wizard of Oz,’” Geary said. “The book we had was very special — a very big book with gold in the pictures. My mom would read it to me, and I would look at the pictures.”

That memory helped inspire Story Snuggles. The program collects

children’s books ranging from picture books to young adult titles, generally aimed at readers up to about age 16. Geary asks that donated books be new or gently used and in good condition.

She has collection spots at National Grand Bank and Hip Baby Gear. Magic Hat Thrift Shop has been a big donor.

“I really like to lead,” said

Geary. “This felt like a way to do something meaningful.”

Geary began collecting books in September and hopes to turn Story Snuggles into a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization later this spring so the project can continue to grow.

While she has not yet delivered the books, she is currently reaching out to hospitals to coordinate regular donations.

Bugsy Malone, Thelma are gangsters of love

Age: Kittens

Sex: Male, Female

Thelma and Bugsy Malone are approximately 11 weeks old. They just had their veterinarian visit and are all set to find their new homes, according to volunteers at the Marblehead Animal Shelter.

Thelma, Bugsy and the rest of the kittens in their litter are in a foster home. Their foster mom says Thelma

is the smallest of the group and “a purr machine and so sweet.”

Bugsy is the largest but shyest of the group. “He loves to play with his humans and litter mates,” the foster mom said.

The Marblehead Animal Shelter only adopts young kittens in pairs or into homes that already have another young, playful cat.

Thelma and Bugsy Malone are in good health, up to date with routine shots and house trained.

Anyone interested in Thelma and Bugsy Malone must be registered with a veterinarian, as they will need additional vaccinations and to be altered.

If you are interested in meeting Thelma, Bugsy Malone or any of the animals at the shelter, you must fill out an adoption application at marblehead-animal-shelter.org. Shelter volunteers do not respond to inquiries.

Her first target is Salem Hospital, with plans to expand to hospitals in Boston as the program develops.

She hopes to distribute books once a month, helping young patients experience the same comfort she once felt.

Despite her challenges, Geary has focused her energy on helping others — something that also connects to her future ambitions.

“I’m definitely interested — as of right now I want to be a pediatric hospitalist,” she said.

For Geary, Story Snuggles is about giving hospitalized children a small escape during difficult moments — the same kind of escape books have always given her.

“Having someone read to you in the hospital,” she said, “really makes a difference.”

You can learn more about Story Snuggles at storysnuggles. org.

The Town of Marblehead invites bids for the 26-58 Mary A. Alley HVAC & Building Improvements Project in accordance with the Contract Documents prepared for this project.

The Work includes the furnishing of all labor, materials, and equipment necessary for the renovation of the Mary A. Alley Municipal Building (7 Widger Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945), including removal of existing HVAC systems; installation of a new VRF system with heat recovery and ventilation; electrical distribution upgrades; ceiling and lighting replacement; exterior and interior ADA and accessibility improvements; interior renovations; and hazardous materials abatement, along with all associated mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural work, to be performed in phases to maintain partial building occupancy

Bids will be received at https:// procurement.ope ngov .com/portal/ marblehead until April 29th, 2026 at 10:00am at which time they will be electronically opened.

Filed Sub-Bids will be received until April 22, 2026 at 10:00AM for the following category of work: Division 04 – Masonry

• Division 05 – Miscellaneous and Ornamental Iron

Division 09 – Acoustical Tiles

• Division 09 - Painting • Division 14 – Elevators

Division 21 – Fire Protection

Division 22 – Plumbing

• Division 23 - HVAC Division 26 - Electrical

Bid Documents will be available beginning Apil 8, 2026 at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/ marblehead

A non-mandatory pre-bid walkthrough will be held on April 14, 2026 at 10:30am at 7 Widger Rd, Marblehead, MA 01945. Attendance is strongly recommended Prevailing wages as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards apply to this project. General Bidders must be DCAMM-certified as Prime in General Building Construction and all bidders must include an updated DCAMM Prime/Filed Sub-Bid Certificate and Update Statement with the bid. A bid deposit equal to 5% of the total bid amount is required. The successful bidder will be required to furnish 100% Payment and Performance Bonds. The Town reserves the right to waive informalities in the bidding process, reject any or all bids, and award the contract deemed to be in the best interest of the Authority

Breed: Domestic shorthair

Size: Medium

PAWS & CLAWS

COURTESY PHOTO Tabitha Geary has always loved reading.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

MHS sophomore Tabitha Geary spent a lot of time during childhood in the hospital. Now, she is helping kids just like her.

Bugsy Malone Thelma

Rhythm and Clues

You can support the Marblehead Council on Aging at “Rhythm and Clues,” a fundraising event,

April 30, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Masonic Hall, 62 Pleasant St. Enjoy hosted trivia, appetizers, a cash bar, live music and a silent auction. Funds raised support the following: entertainment and special events, excursions and expanded nutrition programs. Advance tickets can be purchased for $25 at the COA April 7, 8, 14 and 15, 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.; or online at https://bit.ly/ fmcoa2026. Tickets will be $30 at the door. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Marblehead Council on Aging. Contact fmcoa536@ gmail.com with questions.

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Sports

Dozens of local hockey moms take to the ice

BY LEIGH BLANDER

At the end of Marblehead Youth Hockey’s season, nearly 40 moms decided it was their turn to take the ice. They laced up their skates at the Connery Rink in Lynn on March 29.

The result: a wobbly, surprisingly competitive and ultimately inspiring first-ever Marblehead Youth Hockey

“Moms vs. Moms” game — complete with referees, team names and a crowd of cheering kids.

“It was amazing,” said Tina Fox, whose 8-year-old daughter Emmy plays with MYH.

After spending countless hours watching from the stands, “it was so cool to feel what it’s like to be in the game,” Fox added.

“It was super fun to be in their shoes... I mean, skates.”

The game featured two teams of mothers, each skating three shifts of six players. Many had never played organized hockey before. Some hadn’t been on skates in decades.

And a few had only recently learned how to skate.

“A couple of the moms even joined the ‘Learn to Skate’ classes,” Fox said.

Emily Ries, who leads Marblehead Youth Hockey, organized the game and hopes to make it an annual event.

“There was so much excitement from all the moms,” she said. “I wish we did it

ROUNDUP

The teams embraced the fun of it all, leaning into the spirit of the event. Ries coached the Ice

MHS sports updates on baseball, girls’ lacrosse, wrestling team banquet

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Baseball Magicians dominate Masco to win home opener

Winning on Opening Day, even in the rain, establishes that positive feeling right away to give high school teams the necessary momentum for more success down the road. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but if they can pile up wins early on in a short season, it bodes well for a postseason berth.

The baseball Magicians secured that initial triumph on Wednesday afternoon, April 1, against visiting Masco at Seaside Park, and they did it in a big way to the tune of 12-2.

Coach Mike Giardi’s team was able to get some early runs on a single by sophomore James Machado to go up 2-0, and never looked back from there. They then tacked on more runs later on in the game with some help from the weather.

Sophomore Madden Lyons, Sawyer Adams and Collin Allen shared the pitching responsibilities against the Chieftains.

But as is the case in early season spring games, postponements are also common. The April 2 home game against Manchester Essex was rained out, giving these Magicians some extra time to get ready for rival Swampscott on April 8 in Big Blue country.

Girls lacrosse evens record

Ice Maybies. The other team was called Red Hot Mess Express. Despite the inexperience, the game was real hockey — with a

referee and everything — and ended with a 5-2 score with the Maybies winning. Along the boards and in the

stands were the players’ biggest fans: their kids.

“All the kids were there cheering,” Fox said. “I think they were thinking, ‘Whoa… this is weird.’”

For many of the moms, the game fulfilled a long-delayed dream.

“This was my hockey debut,” Fox said. “I wanted to play hockey as a child, but my older sister played, and my parents were done after that.”

Marblehead Youth Hockey introduces players to the sport as early as age 3 and offers programs through the U14 level. The organization also runs the “Holly Hocks,” a girls’ program that brings players from surrounding towns together for U8 and U10 teams, monthly all-girls skates and tournaments. At the high school level, girls from Marblehead often compete on a cooperative team with neighboring communities. Learn more at marbleheadyouthhockey.org.

“We’re together so much during the season — it really is a family,” Ries said. “I’d love to have more fundraisers and events outside the rink to bring people together.”

If the moms’ game proved anything, it’s that the hockey bug doesn’t only bite kids.

“It’s never too late,” Fox said. “If you’re an adult who always wanted to try a sport — just go for it.”

The Marblehead High girls lacrosse team evened its record at one apiece after beating Bishop Fenwick in the home opener at Piper Field, 14-8 on April 2. Coach Annie Madden’s club led throughout, including at halftime, 9-4. They previously lost a close, high scoring battle to non-league host Woburn, 12-11.

Addy Co Peeps (3 goals, 2 assists), Emma Ryan (2 goals, 1 assist), Zoe Dwyer (8 goals, 2 assists) and Maggie Svencer (1 goal) accounted for the offense against the Crusaders.

Svencer also led in draw controls with nine, while Sammy Walker chipped in with five. Goalie Molly Bullard also came up big with six saves.

“The game plan (against Bishop Fenwick) was to push the ball up field fast to capitalize on our midfield speed,” said Madden. “The offense came ready to play, moving the ball around quickly. We were excited to see how our team chemistry was continuing to build so early in the season.”

bunt from Nora Mahan moved her over to third and a groundout to second by Tessa Francis saw Mortensen make her way home for the first run of the game. The Pioneers responded with three runs in the home half of the first, but the Magicians would regain the lead with a two RBI single by Mahan in the second inning. Marblehead would continue to pile on the runs in the middle innings. Hailey Schmitt drove in two runs on a liner up the middle in the third, bringing home Tessa Andriano and Lucy Rogers, and Ashley Mortensen knocked in a run on a hard groundball past a diving shortstop to put the magicians up 6-3 at the halfway point of the ballgame.

After giving up three runs

consecutive batters, striking out seven, before giving up a pair of walks to start the fifth inning. Unphased by the traffic on the basepaths, she would fan the next two batters and force a lazy fly ball to right to strand the pair of Lynnfield baserunners.

A trio of Lynnfield errors in the sixth saw Marblehead run away with the lead as four runs came across the plate in the inning to make the score 11-3.

Francis dominated in her final two innings of work, giving up only one hit, a one out single before ending the game on a grounder to first. The senior picked up her first win of the new campaign, allowing three runs on as many hits while striking out 12.

The Magicians picked up where

afternoon in Boxford, scoring two runs in both the first and second innings.

Marblehead first baseman

Kate Andriano capitalized on a key Masconomet baserunning mistake in the third, catching a pop up and tagging first base to make an unassisted double play, the first of the season for the Magicians.

Hailey Schmitt singled in the top of the fourth before swiping two bags to move herself all the way to third. Isabel Mortensen drove in her shortstop on a two out RBI triple, her second extra base hit of the season, to make the score 5-0 Marblehead. Masco responded with their first, and

ON THE DIAMOND

MHS volleyball original steps down as its only head coach citing family reasons

BY JOE MCCONNELL

It’s always difficult to step away from something that you started, but that’s what Killeen Miller was facing when she made the difficult decision to leave the Marblehead High volleyball program back in January after a successful 12-year run, citing family reasons.

After conducting the usual interviews for two-plus months, athletic director Kent Wheeler announced in an email on March 18 that Shelley Burns was named as Killeen’s successor.

“It was a really hard decision to step down, because I truly love the program that we’ve built here in Marblehead, and the athletes I’ve had to work with over the years,” said Miller. “Being the head coach of this program has been such a meaningful part of my life. I have a deep passion for coaching, and strongly believe in the impact that this sport can have on lifelong success. What we’ve built together is something that I’m incredibly proud of, but at the end of the day family is everything, and I knew it was time to create more space to be with my 9-year-old daughter. I want to be (around) for her (more often).”

Notebook

From P. 9

New AD

Marblehead High School announced Christine Silva as the new assistant athletic director. Silva brings more than a decade of experience in collegiate athletics, coaching and student-athlete development. She most recently served as an assistant coach at Saint Anselm College, where she helped lead the program to a conference championship, top regional ranking and national recognition while mentoring multiple All-Conference and AllRegion student-athletes. Prior to Saint Anselm, Silva spent eight seasons at Endicott College, where she rose to associate head coach.

Black & Blue wrestlers wrap up season with awards

Killeen admits that she won’t be staying away from it all the time. “Shelley is an amazing coach, but I’ll definitely be staying on to help her with anything she needs,” Miller said. But it just won’t involve the grind of everyday practices that took her away from family responsibilities. By the same token, who’s better to help out the new coach with the program’s nuances than its founder, who had amassed a sensational 165–88 regular season record over the past 12 years.

Miller has seen the program evolve in so many ways. “Coming in, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was young, and had been coaching at the collegiate level for several years. But I did know that it would be a different experience,” she said. “I don’t think I fully understood how challenging it would be, but I still embraced it. Over the years, it pushed me to grow both as a coach and as a person, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.”

“We’ve built a program with high expectations, and it took a certain level of commitment and drive (by the athletes) to compete on the varsity level,” she said.

But the longtime Marblehead coach knew none of this would have been possible without her players. “A lot of what we’ve accomplished comes down to the athletes,” Killeen said.

Miller further explained that it was her “privilege to coach so many incredible young women over the years, who bought into the process, understood what it meant to be a part of a team and were willing to push themselves both mentally and physically (to achieve success).”

But she also didn’t want to forget her coaching staff that was primarily made up of women. “I strongly believe in the importance of female athletes being coached by women, and I’m proud to have worked alongside so many impactful coaches,” she said.

Miller’s favorite team ironically was her last one. Last fall’s edition of the Magicians ended up being the sixth seed in Division 2 after finishing with a 16-2 regular season record.

They won twice more in the postseason against Woburn and Burlington, before losing to Longmeadow, the third seed, in an Elite 8 matchup, 3-1.

“To see what that group of athletes accomplished (last fall) by being fully committed was incredible,” Miller said. “From our senior leadership to a driven and dedicated junior class, everything just came together. It was just one of those seasons, where showing up to the gym every day was genuinely exciting. They wanted to improve, and as a result were eager to learn. They pushed themselves and each other to a higher level. It made the entire experience incredibly rewarding.”

Miller’s all-time MHS volleyball team

Killeen had plenty to choose from, but here is her best of the best from the last 12 years position by position:

Liberos: Megan Parkman, Sydney Faris (currently a junior)

Outside Hitters: Lila Moniz (a junior) Keira Sweetnam

Setters: Eva Burke, Isabel Curtin

Middies: Greta Sachs, Lizzie Myers, Lila Thompson

Right side: Anna Arbo, Emma Bushman

off for having him around the last four years.”

Liam O’Brien was a three-year captain, six-year starter and six-year letterman that resulted in 188 career varsity wins, most ever in program history. He was also three-time Division 2 state finisher (third, fourth, fifth), three-time All-State qualifier, two-time Division 2 North sectional champion (three-time finalist), twotime CAL / NEC tournament champion, three-time Dan Gionet Memorial Tournament champion (four-time finalist), 2025 Anthony Lisitano Memorial Tournament champion, 2025 Sharon Lombardo Memorial Tournament champion, and 2026 Greater Lawrence Sarkis Cup Outstanding Wrestler.

Hosted by head coach Mike Stamison, the Marblehead Black & Blue wrestling team held its annual awards banquet at the Gerry 5 on March 25.

Those earning special awards for their fine seasons were:

Max Letwin (Rookie of the Year), Phil Duclos (Pat Cook Coach’s Award for Fire), Liam O’Brien (Outstanding Wrestler, Lower Weights), Colin Hart (Outstanding Wrestler, Upper Weights), Kenny Drolette (Jeff Greenberg Coach’s Award for Toughness), Nolan Glass (Most Improved Wrestler) and Andrew Delisle (Alex Carew Coach’s Award for Leadership). Delisle was also named next year’s captain on this night, while Glass and Drolette will serve as the team’s assistant captains.

Following the awards ceremony, Stamison, the program’s longtime coach, then gave his thoughts on the state of the sport on the local level:

“Given the youth (on) our team, and the need to fill the void left by the (graduating) seniors, we are instituting a new leadership system. At this time, Andrew is our outright captain. He will have (Glass and Drolette) as his assistants. Think of Andrew as (former Boston Bruins captain Patrice) Bergeron, Glass as (former Bruins captain Brad)

Marchand and Drolette as (current Bruins assistant captain Charlie) McAvoy. Now this does not mean that we will not have more captains next season, or that Nolan and Kenny are stuck as assistants, or that no one can rise up. This is (only) a carrot and a call to action. If you want to be a leader, get wrestling. If you want to be a captain, be a captain. You do not need a title to lead. Show me. Show us.”

Senior plaque recipients Xavier Tejeda – three-year letterman, two-year starter, 22 career varsity wins, fifth place finish in the 2025 Sharon Lombardo Memorial Tournament, and fourth place finish in the 2026 Dan Gionet Memorial Tournament – is a quiet contributor, who joined the program in his sophomore year, seeing spot duty. As a junior, he stepped in to start at 215-pounds. He wrestled 18 varsity matches, before getting injured at the CAL / NEC Tournament. Stepping up as a senior heavyweight, Tejeda easily had his best season, winning 18 more matches, all by pinfall. Huge wins occurred during the program’s first-ever triumphs over Bridgewater-Raynham and Southeastern Voke. He also shined at the Lombardo and Gionet Tournaments, getting onto the podium stand for the first time in his career after each one of those matches. His big win against Winchester on Senior Night this year was

special, as was his taking a seat for a teammate (Phineas Jakious), so he could also grab a win on Senior Night. “That sums up the X-Man,” said Stamison. “He was a great teammate, who now heads to trade school to join the Pipefitters Union, where we know he will thrive.”

Phineas Jakious — four-year letterman, three-year starter, 40 career varsity wins, third place finisher in the 2026 Dan Gionet Memorial Tournament, fourth place finisher in the CAL/NEC Meet — enjoyed a steady career for the Black & Blue, with about half of his 40 wins coming this year as a senior in the 215-pound weight class. He ended up with an impressive 19-12 record this year, and all of those wins were by pinfall. He also placed near the top in the CAL/NEC and Gionet Memorial Tournaments, and was a huge part of last year’s team win in Pelham.

“Phin was excellent in dual meets with wins over Bridgewater-Raynham, York, Maine; Pelham, New Hampshire; Lynn and Southeastern Voke. When we needed a pin in order to beat the Essex Tech/ Masco co-op, he bumped up to heavyweight to get the job done on Senior Night, (thus) ending his high school wrestling career in style. His effort helped produce a 41-40 team win. Overall, he’s just a great kid from a great family,” said Stamison.

Colin Hart — two-year captain, four-year letterman,

three-year starter with 75 career varsity wins, third place finisher in the 2025 Division 2 North Sectional, 2025 Sharon Lombardo Memorial Tournament champion, fourth place finisher in the 2025 Anthony Lisitano Memorial Tournament, fifth place finisher in the 2025 Pentucket Holiday Tournament, second place finisher in the 2026 Dan Gionet Memorial Tournament and sixth place finisher in the 2026 CAL/ NEC Tournament — was named captain by Stamison at the end of his sophomore season to lead the team as a junior. That promotion seemed to light his competitive fire from within.

“(Throughout) his junior and senior seasons, he won 60 matches, placing in nearly every tournament he entered, including coming in third during the sectionals as a junior in the 190-pound weight class,” said Stamison. “He won the Mt. Hope championship at 175-pounds as a senior, while also securing crucial wins throughout the dual meet season over BridgewaterRaynham, Danvers, Lynn, Pelham and York. He also tied Beverly.

“Colin wasn’t flashy. He had a few moves that he hit with deadly precision. He also constantly wrestled sick or injured. Despite being sidelined for the last few weeks this season, he was always around the club to be a good influence on his teammates. Hart had heart, and the program is better

“There is nothing that can be written to adequately put into words what Liam meant to the Black & Blue program,” said Stamison. “He was always there, always available, always helpful. On the mat, he was fearless, taking on the best in the region. In the practice room, he was another coach, guiding and helping his younger teammates. On the bus or in the locker room, he was funny and sincere.

“Joining us as a seventh grader in the spring of 2021, the Covid season, we knew that we had something special, but I didn’t know that we could have predicted what the ensuing six seasons would bring, which ended up being numerous tournament medals and making all-star teams. He owns the program’s all-time wins record that will likely never be bested. He also has the distinction of being the only Swampscott wrestler to compete in the New England Regional Meet, while also being a fan favorite among many opposing team’s fans and coaches.

“The dictionary defines superlative as: of the highest kind, quality, or order, surpassing all else, or others. But I define it as Liam O’Brien. As a wrestler, as a leader, as a man and as a friend, he is, for me, of the highest kind, quality and order. Whatever he does in life, he will be successful, and he will always have his

wrestling family in his corner.”

CURRENT PHOTO / LUCA TEDESCO

After the Division 2 Sweet 16 state tournament win over Burlington last November, Marblehead High volleyball coach Killeen Miller speaks with the media. A couple of months later, Miller, who started the program 12 years ago, stepped down as head coach, citing family reasons.

COURTESY PHOTO Marblehead Black & Blue wrestling head coach Mike Stamison, second row, second, right, poses with his seniors after receiving their plaques during the annual team awards banquet at the Gerry 5 on March 25. They are, from left, front row, Colin Hart, Xavier Tejeda, Liam O’Brien and Phineas Jakious. Second row, assistant coaches Rob Hopkins and Andrew Norton, Stamison and assistant coach Eli Smith.

EVENTS

Marblehead’s best bets

Current Events spotlights notable happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email info@ marbleheadnews.org.

By Julia Rockler

New improv classes at Creative Spirit

Wednesday, April 8 - May 13, 6:30-8 p.m.

Let your creativity shine by joining a new improvisational acting class on Wednesday evenings. No acting experience is needed, just come participate in lively theater games and creative exercises. Local artist Peyton Pugmire, who owns Creative Spirit, leads the classes at 40 South St, suite 102. For more information, visit creativespirit.com.

Milly Pre-School Parent & Child Workshop

Saturday, April 11, 11-12:00 p.m.

Inspired by “Not a Box,” written by Antoinette Portis, this playful Milly Kindergarten Readiness Workshop invites children and caregivers to turn recycled boxes into imaginative creations while building essential early learning skills. The workshop will be at Macraes Goods, 108 Washington St. Through hands-on exploration, children will practice scissor cutting, taping, problem-solving, identifying shapes and more, all in a fun, creative environment that supports both learning and connection. More info and registration at macraes-goods.com/pages/events.

Softball

From P. 9

only, run of the game in the bottom half of the fourth inning on a two out double.

Ashley Mortensen would again come up big offensively in the fifth. After reaching on a fielder’s choice, she stole second before coming around to score on a base knock from Lucy Rogers to bump the lead back to five runs.

Tessa Francis would fight her way out of a bases loaded jam in the sixth inning, freezing Masco’s center fielder on a full count pitch for her eighth strikeout of the day.

Francis would then work a walk in her next plate appearance in the seventh before being replaced by courtesy runner Lillian Reddy. Ashley Mortensen’s big day at the dish continued, driving in Reddy with a double to make the score 7-1 heading into the home half of the seventh.

Marblehead and the Revolution

Wednesday, April 8, 7-8:30 p.m.

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, learn more about Marblehead’s Michael Corbett and his shipmates who fought the British in the Pitt Packet Incident in 1769.

Town historian Don Doliber will lead the presentation at Abbot Library. Learn more at abbotlibrary.org.

Marblehead Half Marathon

Sunday, April 12, 9-12 a.m.

Runners ages 16-79 can lace up for the Marblehead Half Marathon, starting at the high school. This route features spectacular coastal views as you run on Marblehead Neck and Salem Willows. Learn more and register at https://loom.ly/ SZ9jYGI.

Knitting Nights

Wednesday, April 15, 7 p.m.

Enjoy a fun evening of knitting and chatting at the JCC the first and third Wednesday of each month. You don’t need to be a member to attend, all are welcome. You can be a beginner or a pro, it doesn’t matter. Attend the JCC Women’s Health Center and if you have any questions call 857-285 -7900. 4 Community Road.

Hangout Hub: Be Creative

Friday, April 10, 3-3:30 p.m.

Kids ages 9-13 are invited to the latest Hangout Hub at Abbot Library, which focuses on STEAM challenges.

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. Sign up at abbotlibrary.org

Through the Looking Glass

gala

Saturday, April 11, 7-10 p.m.

Step into a fantasy world at the Marblehead Art Association’s spring gala, which features a themed art show with rooms filled with original installations, as well as live music. Each ticket comes with a glass of champagne and access to a digital photo booth and tarot card readings. Tickets are $100 for members, $125 for the community. Learn more at marbleheadarts.org.

Francis would give up a leadoff walk, but put up a zero on the scoreboard to finish her week in the circle with a 2-0 record and a 1.50 ERA while striking out 21 batters in two games. The Mortensen sisters, Isabel and Ashley, were the joint

VARSITY SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 8

4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Bishop Fenwick, Marblehead High

4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Swampscott, DeFelice Diamond, Swampscott Middle

4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Swampscott, Marblehead Veterans School

Thursday, April 9

4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Newburyport, MHS Piper Field

Friday, April 10

3:30 p.m., boys tennis vs. Hamilton-Wenham at Hamilton-Wenham High

4 p.m., girls softball vs. Peabody at

Kiley School, Peabody

4 p.m., girls tennis vs. HamiltonWenham at Marblehead High

4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Swampscott at MHS Piper Field

4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Swampscott at Blocksidge Field, Swampscott

4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Peabody at Seaside Park

Monday, April 13

4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Swampscott at Swampscott Middle

4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Swampscott at Marblehead High 4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Danvers at MHS Piper Field

offensive players of the week, collectively going 6-for-13 at the plate with two doubles, a triple and four RBI.

4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Danvers at Danvers High

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

scheduled home opener against Bishop Fenwick on Thursday was postponed due to rain. The Magicians were

VARSITY SCOREBOARD

Monday, March 30

Boys tennis: Andover 3, Marblehead 2

Girls softball: Marblehead 11, Lynnfield 3

Boys lacrosse: Swampscott 10, Marblehead 9

Wednesday, April 1

Girls softball: Marblehead 7, Masconomet 1

Boys baseball: Marblehead 12, Masconomet 2

Thursday, April 2

Girls lacrosse: Marblehead 14, Bishop Fenwick 8

Boys tennis: Marblehead vs.

scheduled to play on Monday away against Bishop Fenwick and Wednesday at home against Swampscott.

Lynnfield (ppd, rain)

Boys baseball vs. ManchesterEssex (ppd, rain)

Girls softball: Marblehead vs. Bishop Fenwick (ppd, rain)

Saturday, April 4

Boys baseball: Manchester-Essex 1, Marblehead 0

TEAM RECORDS (THROUGH APRIL 5)

Boys baseball, 1-1

Girls softball, 2-0

Boys lacrosse, 0-1

Girls lacrosse, 1-1

Boys tennis, 0-1

Girls tennis, 0-1

Marblehead’s

CURRENT PHOTO / LUCA TEDESCO

Isabel Mortensen (12) of Marblehead hits an RBI single during a softball game against the Lynnfield Pioneers in Lynnfield on Tuesday March 31.

Local ballet students shine

at international competition

BY LEIGH BLANDER

A group of young dancers from Marblehead and nearby communities recently stepped onto an international stage for the first time, representing the Coastline Ballet Center at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix.

The Marblehead-based ballet school, now celebrating its fifth year, sent a team of nine dancers ages 10 to 17 to perform at the competition’s Boston-area semifinal at the end of March. The students — from Marblehead, Beverly and Lynn — spent the past six months preparing, adding extra training hours to their

already demanding class schedules.

Founded by former professional dancers and Marblehead residents Jessica Kreyer and Pavel Gurevich, Coastline Ballet Center offers dance training for students ages 3 and up and emphasizes a supportive, high-level educational environment.

Kreyer previously served as principal of the North Shore studio for Boston Ballet School, while Gurevich was a principal dancer with Boston Ballet and now teaches in its pre-professional programs at Walnut Hill School for the Arts.

The Youth America Grand

Prix, widely considered one of the world’s leading ballet competitions, connects young dancers with scholarships, training opportunities and exposure to professional companies. Each year, it hosts workshops, master classes and competitions across the United States and internationally.

For the Coastline dancers, the experience meant months of rigorous preparation. Students continued their regular training — about 11 hours of classes each week over four days — and added roughly three extra hours of focused rehearsal to refine their technique and artistry.

The effort paid off. Marblehead’s Maxim Gurevich,

a fifth grader at The Village School, earned a Top 24 placement in the event’s precompetitive division.

Other Coastline Ballet Center competitors included Eloise Baron of Tower School; Eloise Gummere of Veterans Middle School; Cornelia Sollins of Waring School; Lilya Gurevich, Darien Horvath and Arden Ward of Marblehead High School; Anna Dobkowski of Beverly High School; and Danielle Nalesnik of Bishop Fenwick High School. For Kreyer and Gurevich, competitions like the Youth America Grand Prix are familiar territory. During their professional careers, both

taught master classes and served as judges at international competitions. Kreyer won the Carey Rose Winski Scholarship competition, while Gurevich twice competed in the renowned USA International Ballet Competition — often described as the “Olympics of ballet” — advancing to the finals.

But this year marked a special milestone: seeing their own students take the stage together for the first time.

“It was an incredible experience for the dancers,” Kreyer said, noting that the competition offered the students valuable exposure and inspiration as they continue their training. Marblehead Public School orchestra musicians presented an impressive All Strings concert March 31, featuring students in grades four through 12. All the music performed had a space theme, to honor the Artemis 2 mission to the moon, including “A Million Miles Away” by Francis Caravella and “Stargazers” by Tanner Otto. Also during the hourlong concert, graduating musicians were honored, including Lucas Rosen, Katie Kee, Andrew Niu, Isabella Pricher and Jacob Soule.

Gurevich, Danielle Nalesnik, Darien Horvath, Eloise Gummere, Eloise Baron and Cornelia Sollins.

Mary Louise Schneider, 92

Mary Louise (Sabisch) Schneider, formerly of Marblehead, passed away peacefully on March 26, surrounded by family. She was 92 years old.

Born in Albany, New York to the late Alfred and Marjory Sabisch, Mary Lou graduated from the Albany Academy for Girls, Class of 1951. She attended Springfield College, her father’s alma mater, where she was proud to be a graduate in the school’s first women’s class in 1955. At Springfield, she met her husband of over 55 years, the late Richard L. Schneider. Two of her children also graduated from Springfield College.

William ‘Billy’ C. Bassett, 82

William “Billy” C. Bassett, 82, passed away peacefully on March 25. He was born in Marblehead, where he spent many years cooking for the Elks,

Heidelberg, Germany, from 1955 to 1957, while Richard served in the U.S. Army. This period sparked a lifelong love of travel, as they explored Europe together, building memories that Mary Lou would recount to family with fondness. After their time abroad,

the Riptide and the Three Cod Tavern, sharing his passion for food with the community he loved.

Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his daughter, Terry Camarda, and her husband, Paul, and his beloved grandchildren, Ryan and Nicole Camarda. He is also survived by his brother, James “Spike” Bassett, and his wife,

they lived in Syracuse, New York, while teaching physical education and coaching at various levels. They then moved to Salem, Massachusetts, before settling in Marblehead to raise their family. Marylou was a skilled seamstress; she worked at Stretch and Sew and The Fabric Place as a Bernina representative, selling their state-of-the-art sewing machines and teaching classes. She loved quilting with her friends at Crossroads Quilters and many other sewing groups.

Despite growing up in New York, she was an avid Red Sox fan. She loved summer camping trips with her family, days at the beach and practicing yoga. She was a longtime member of the St. Stephen’s United Methodist congregation in Marblehead.

Mary Lou’s happiest times

Cheryl, and their children, Michael and Suzanne Bassett. He was predeceased by his parents, Mae (Peach) and James H. “Spike” Bassett. Billy will be remembered for his loyalty to family and friends. He especially loved sitting on his bench at the Landing with great friends. You could always find him reading the sports page or watching the Red Sox. He spent

were spent in the company of those she loved — both human and canine. A passionate dog lover, she was rarely without a faithful companion by her side.

Mary Lou’s legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren and the friends she loved dearly. She leaves behind daughters, Sue Landry and her husband, Ed, of Woodstock, Georgia; and Linda Griffiths and her husband, Glenn, of Hopkinton; and her son, Bill Schneider and his wife, Eileen, of Georgetown. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren: Alex and Erica Landry, Caitlyn and Reece Griffiths, and Elle and Lyla Schneider.

Mary Lou was a decade-long resident of Brooksby Village in Peabody. She left a lasting impression on the staff, who

countless days at the beach, loved playing cribbage and was a true Marblehead townie, born and raised. He will be greatly missed. Private services will be held by the family.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.

frequently remarked on her liveliness and spunk. She was a fixture in the hallways, navigating the corridors to check in on friends and to stay at the center of the action. The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff at Brooksby for their compassionate care, which allowed her to maintain her independence. We are also grateful for the support and guidance provided by Care Dimensions Hospice, whose presence offered comfort to Mary Lou and the family. A private memorial service is planned. Gifts in her memory may be made to Springfield College, Gifts Records, 263 Alden St., Springfield, MA 01109. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.

Crosby’s thief strikes twice, stuffs pockets with

cheese; ‘Big Ruby’ woos local man

Thursday, March 12

» Alarms: 1

» Building/property checks: 10

» Abandoned 911 calls: 1

» Vehicle stops, citations: 1

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0

12:26 p.m. General information was provided on Ferry Lane.

3:32 p.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Lafayette Street and Everett Paine Boulevard.

Friday, March 13

» Alarms: 0

» Building/property checks: 15

» Abandoned 911 calls: 2

» Vehicle stops, citations: 1

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0

8:34 a.m. A dead goose was reported on Lime Street.

9 p.m. Officers investigated a report of someone yelling in the area of Anchorage Lane and Bradlee Road. Upon their arrival, the officers heard nothing. They then spoke with the person who had made the call to police who explained that they had heard someone yelling, “Get on your knees and put your hands up.”

The caller said the noise seemed to be coming from the area of Corn Point Road. The officers stayed in the area for another 10 to 15 minutes but could not hear any yelling. Approximately 30 minutes later, the resident called police again to say that, while they had not heard any further yelling, the caller had become concerned that what they may have heard was a domestic dispute. The officer explained that he and his fellow officer had remained in the area for another 10 to 15 minutes. The officer returned to the area but again did not hear any further yelling.

10:13 p.m. Officers restored the peace after a disturbance on Willow Road.

Saturday, March 14

» Alarms: 2

» Building/property checks: 10

» Abandoned 911 calls: 1

» Vehicle stops, citations: 1 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 4

2:25 a.m. A disabled vehicle was reported on Tedesco Street. 10:56 a.m. An officer went to Longview Drive to speak to a man who believed he had been the victim of a scam. The man explained that he had met a woman on the social media platform Instagram and had been chatting with her using the app’s messenger feature. After several interactions, the man exchanged phone numbers with the woman, as he felt their “relationship” was growing. But he then became suspicious when the woman began explaining how she had been scammed out of $4,000 and asked him if he could help her out by sending her some money. The man began investigating and found out that the number he had been texting came back as registered to a person named “Big Ruby” with a phone number from Nigeria. The man stated he never provided the person with any financial information nor did he provide them with any personal information outside of his name and that he lived outside of Boston. The man had sent “Big Ruby” a picture of himself and the outside of his home to “prove he was real.” But outside of that, he had provided no further information about himself. The officer suggested that the man block any numbers and or Instagram profiles associated with the person he had been texting with and advised him as a precaution to monitor his credit activity in case the person had found a way to gather more personal information about him.

4:23 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Crosby’s Market to investigate a report of shoplifting that had occurred three days earlier but had just been detected after the store manager took inventory and then reviewed security footage. The manager showed the officer the security footage, which showed a gray-haired gentleman with glasses and wearing dark

clothing who left a shopping cart full of food in one of the aisles. He then walked to the front of the store, looked around, grabbed a few brown paper bags and walked back to his shopping cart. The man then put the food into the bags to make it look like it was paid for, went to the front of the store by the exit doors, waited a minute for customers to leave and then walked out with the shopping cart full of food that he had not paid for.

The manager gave the officer an itemized list of the items that had been taken. The manager said that he would drop a copy of the security footage off at the police station on Monday. He was advised to call police if the suspect returned to the store. The manager had already circulated the man’s photo to the store’s employees.

10:36 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Atlantic Avenue.

11:02 p.m. Four officers investigated a general complaint on Pleasant Street.

Sunday, March 15

» Alarms: 0

» Building/property checks: 10

» Abandoned 911 calls: 1

» Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0

5:02 a.m. An officer, a fire engine company and an ambulance crew investigated a disturbance on Farrell Court.

8:20 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Atlantic Avenue.

10:23 a.m. An officer was dispatched to the Old North Church to investigate a report of a suspicious person. A church representative told the officer

that, about 35 minutes earlier, a man had come into the church and asked if he could leave his luggage, which was odd because the man did not have any luggage. The man proceeded to tell the church representative that the church should not have two female ministers, that it was against scripture and unholy. The church representative explained to him that it was perfectly consistent with how they practice Christianity. The man then announced that he had to get his luggage and left the church. The man appeared to be in his 20s with a mustache, dark hair, brown jacket and pants. The church representative was advised that if the man returned, he should not interact with him but instead call police. The officer canvassed the neighborhood and other churches but did not find anyone fitting the description.

12:49 p.m. An officer took a shoplifting report in the police station lobby from the grocery manager at Crosby’s Market. The manager said he had video footage from the previous night of a man stealing two blocks of Dubliner cheese valued around $18 and a bottle of Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon. The video showed the man placing the cheese into his pockets. He was then shown placing the bottle of wine at the bottom of his carriage in a way that prevented staff from seeing him leave with it. It was believed to have been the same man who had shoplifted a shopping cart full of food in an earlier incident.

The manager provided copies of the video footage on flash drives, which the officer placed in a detective’s mailbox. The manager was advised to call the police if the man returned to the store.

1:40 p.m. Annoying phone calls reported.

3:48 p.m. Officers investigated a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Washington Street.

5:43 p.m. An officer was dispatched to take a report about a “strange interaction” that a minor had while walking home

on Pearl Street about 20 minutes earlier. The minor reported that he had been approached by a young man in his middle teenage years wearing a gray flannel who claimed to have been robbed at knife point in Steer Swamp. The teen asked the minor if he had a phone, and when the minor responded “no,” the teen ran off towards Washington Street. A neighbor then approached the officer to report that his kids had been playing out in front of his house on Russell Street and had been approached by a young man who told them the same story about having been robbed at knifepoint in Steer Swamp. When the man asked if he could help, the teen took off running. He said the interaction was so quick, he could not give an accurate description of the teen. Other officers canvassed the neighborhoods but could not find the teen.

8:37 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Robert Road and Everett Paine Boulevard.

Monday, March 16

» Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 5 » Abandoned 911 calls: 3 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 5:23 a.m. Three officers were dispatched to the area of Countryside Lane to investigate a motor vehicle complaint. As they were responding to the area, a second call from Broughton Road reported a disturbance involving the honking of the horn of a red Toyota. As one officer was checking the area of Countryside Lane, another officer found a man sleeping in a red Toyota Camry parked on Broughton Road. Two officers approached the vehicle, and after a few knocks were able to awaken the man, who woke up in a confused state. There was a language barrier, but the officers were able to ascertain that he was trying to make

Harbor Light Inn marks 40th anniversary

BY JULIE FLYNN

Harbor Light Inn is celebrating its 40th anniversary on June 9, marking four decades as a family-run inn and a familiar fixture on Washington Street. Owned and operated by the Conway-Pyburn family, Harbor Light has become a regular stop for visitors and a gathering place for locals, from romantic weekend getaways to those stopping in for a drink in the tavern.

While much in the hospitality industry has changed, Harbor Light has remained a steady presence in downtown Marblehead. Peter and Suzanne Conway’s vision of opening a small, 10-room boutique inn began when he purchased 58 Washington St. in 1985. After renovations, Harbor Light opened its doors on June 9, 1986.

The colonial was constructed in 1728 as a private residence for Samuel Goodwin, the co-designer/builder of the Old Town House, and was enlarged in 1819 for town physician, Dr. Calvin Briggs. In 1991, when the adjacent building, 54 Washington St. became available, the Conways enlisted the help of builder David Clark who connected the two buildings.

The inn doubled in size from 10 rooms to 20.

The Conways’ daughter, Carolyn Pyburn, noted that there used to be a covered driveway between the two buildings. A painting in the dining room shows the two buildings when cars used to drive through a covered driveway. After 30 years running the inn, in 2015, the Conways were ready to step back. Taking over the family reins, Pyburn assumed the role of general

contact with his girlfriend, who lived nearby. The officers asked him to try to call his girlfriend. In the meantime, one officer noticed that the car’s passengerside tire was flat and had very little rubber left on the rim.

The man’s girlfriend eventually came out and brought the man inside with her. The officer then walked around the vehicle to look for any other indications of potential damage from an accident but found none. He also drove the length of Tedesco and Humphrey streets to look for evidence of an accident or a tire blowout but again found none.

9:35 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Longview Drive.

4:56 p.m. Officers investigated the report of an ongoing fight that “sounded physical” coming from an apartment on Market Square. Upon their arrival, the officers could hear loud noises and banging coming from inside the apartment. One of the officers knocked on the door and were greeted by the homeowner. Due to a language barrier, the officers used Google Translate to communicate with her. The officers requested to come inside the apartment and were invited in. They found the woman’s son and his friend playing with cardboard boxes. They were stacking the boxes on top of one another, which was causing loud banging noises when they fell. The officer then asked if anyone else was home, and the homeowner pointed to her friend, who was cooking dinner. The officers explained that they had been called to the apartment because someone feared there was an argument or fight going

manager. Pyburn grew up in the hospitality business — her father owned the Carlisle House Inn on Nantucket—and later built on that experience working at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui.

Pyburn is quick to note she is building on her parents’ 30-year, strong foundation, while adding her own touches.

“I have just slowly taken more and more off their plate. I still call my dad with maintenance questions. I’ll call him and he’ll have the answer just like that,” she said, snapping her fingers. “He knows every inch of these buildings.

Managing a staff of more than 18 year-round, Pyburn said flexibility is key to maintaining the inn’s personalized approach to guests.

“That hands-on approach extends to the continental breakfast, with staff preparing breakfast from scratch, including homemade granola. Any one of us can bartend and serve food at the bar. We also answer the phones, take reservations and act

on, but the woman explained that the noise had been caused by her son and his friend. One of the officers advised her to ask the children to try to keep down the noise because the building was old, and noise traveled through it easily.

4:59 p.m. Officers assisted another agency on Humphrey Street and Seaview Avenue.

10:25 p.m. Officers investigated a report of a tree that may have fallen on top of a parked vehicle tree on Village Street. Upon his arrival, the officer found that a tree branch had fallen in front of the vehicle, and the vehicle suffered no visible damage. He and another officer were able to move the tree branch onto the sidewalk. He then spoke with the couple who owned the vehicle and informed them of what appeared to be a near miss by the branch.

Tuesday, March 17

» Alarms: 3 » Building/property checks: 6

» Abandoned 911 calls: 0 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1

4:03 a.m. A powerline down over a tree was reported on Stonybrook Road.

4:47 a.m. A tree or branch down over a powerline was reported on Calthrope Road.

6:49 a.m. A large pothole was reported on Leggs Hill Road.

8:03 a.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a woman who had been the victim of a scam. She explained that she had recently begun talking with someone claiming to be from the Federal Trade Commission and Apple. The woman provided her personal information and banking information and had recently learned that $20,000 had been taken out of her

as concierge.”

Her brother, Tyler, also pitches in behind the bar one night per week, on Thursdays, part of the family-run approach that has defined the inn for decades.

The inn is made up of traditional rooms, each with its own character, with artwork throughout, including paintings by Pyburn’s grandmother, Marilyn Bodwell. The building’s history is visible in details like the third floor, added in the early 1800s, where original spikes connecting the beams can still be seen.

“Every room is unique. Guests who book directly can choose based on color scheme or bed size, and some include fireplaces — some still wood-burning, others converted to gas,” Pyburn said. “We are the only hotel north of Boston that offers a jetted tub in the bathroom.”

In addition to its guest rooms, the inn includes five furnished apartments at the Admiral’s House on Pearl Street, offering an option for longer-term stays.

Salem Five account and another $20,000 had been taken out of her Fidelity account. The woman was concerned that more money may have been taken from her crypto accounts. The officer advised the woman to speak with either a computer specialist or a banking specialist regarding how to handle what was going on with her crypto accounts. The woman then said that she had to go to the bank and left. Later, the woman’s husband came to the station to report that he, too, had given information to the “FTC,” including his Social Security number and the front of his driver’s license. The man wanted that information documented so that could go to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to obtain a new driver’s license.The man said that he and his wife were also working with Salem Five, Fidelity and the Geek Squad to address the scam.

11:04 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Commercial Street and Atlantic Avenue.

11:44 a.m. A wire was reported down on Front Street and Fort Beach Lane.

4:32 p.m. An officer investigated a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Intrepid Circle.

Wednesday, March 18

» Alarms: 0

» Building/property checks: 11

» Abandoned 911 calls: 2

» Vehicle stops, citations: 0

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2

3:31 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Broughton Road to investigate a report of a man sleeping in his car. Upon his arrival, the officer observed a man sleeping in a red Toyota. He knocked on the window,

While the inn welcomes guests year-round, its busiest season comes in the fall, when visitors from across the country travel to the area for Salem’s October festivities. “The majority of our travelers, during the month of October, are from outside of New England. They’re all flying in from Idaho, Kentucky, Texas and Alaska. Many add on a few nights to go leaf peeping. The rest of the year we get lots of New England guests. You’re steps away from shops and restaurants. I love showing off Marblehead to them,” said Pyburn. “A lot of our guests enjoy walking down to the State Street Landing to call for the Jordan’s Launch for a cruise around the harbor,” she added. When film productions come to Marblehead, the inn has often hosted film crews and a handful of well-known actors, such as Tory Spelling and Rupert Friend, as well as former CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, though Pyburn said most guests are

and the man woke up. The man did not speak English, so the officer used Google Translate to communicate with him. The man identified himself and explained that his friend was inside a Broughton Road residence talking to his girlfriend. The officer advised him that he could not sleep in his car and that he could either call his friend to let him inside or he would need to leave. The man called his friend who came out and let him inside.

10:05 a.m. An officer investigated a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Humphrey Street.

11:14 a.m. An officer spoke at the police station with a woman who had been notified by Chase Bank that someone had applied for a credit card using her personal information. The application was denied. The woman reported that she had also been receiving scam letters and text messages. She had checked with her bank and had not lost any money yet. The officer advised her about further precautions she could take.

1:57 p.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a woman and her daughter about a $1,044 check drawn on the daughter’s account being cashed by an unknown man at the Bank of America. The mother said that her practice is to mail her daughter’s checks by dropping them in one of the mailboxes on West Shore Drive or Stramski Way or having a mail carrier pick up the envelopes at their home. The information was shared with detectives.

2:22 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Arnold Terrace.

2:29 p.m. An officer investigated a vehicle crash on Sewall and Jersey streets.

2:50 p.m. Officers assisted

visitors discovering the area for the first time.

Disney filmed “Godmothered” at the inn a few years ago. From 2017 to 2020, Van Wormer International, a German television production company, filmed on the North Shore. The crew stayed at the inn while producing movies for German television.

In addition to overnight guests, Pyburn said she has begun hosting small events at the inn, part of an effort to create more opportunities for guests and locals to gather.

“On March 19 we held Mabel of Marblehead’s ‘Lucky Girl Dinner’ as well as a networking event for female creative entrepreneurs,” she said. “We’ve also hosted ‘Sip and Stitch’ nights throughout the winter drawing about 25 participants at a time.”

After 40 years, the Harbor Light Inn remains a steady presence in Marblehead, shaped as much by its guests as by the family who runs it.

another agency on Rowland Street.

4:12 p.m. An officer spoke to a girl and her mother at the police station about something the daughter had witnessed at the Starbucks that she thought was strange. The daughter saw a group of boys and a girl who all seemed to be together be approached by a boy on a skateboard, who then showed the group something on his phone and said something to them. The boys in the group then left with the new boy who had approached them, while the girl — whom the daughter said seemed frightened — did not. The officer suspected he might know who the boy was and pulled up a picture of him, and the daughter confirmed that it was the boy with the skateboard she had seen. The officer searched the area for the boy with the skateboard but was unable to find him.

6:20 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on West Shore Drive.

7:31 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Devereux and Pleasant streets.

Thursday, March 19

» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 12

» Abandoned 911 calls: 2 » Vehicle stops, citations: 1 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1

9:49 a.m. A brief power outage was reported on Ocean Avenue and Fuller Lane.

12:41 p.m. An officer investigated a report of annoying phone calls on South Street.

3:47 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on State Street.

Police

From P. 13

CURRENT PHOTOS / JULIE FLYNN

Carolyn Pyburn, whose family has managed the Harbor Light Inn for 40 years, stands in the tavern (left) and outside. The tavern serves visitors

Headlight

The Anti-social pandemic

Anna Baughman, Social Media Manager, Junior 2026 - 2027 Issue

There is an anti-social pandemic, not taking the world by storm through headlines and trending news, but slowly creeping into every life and home. People are spending increasing amounts of time inside and alone. Much of this solitude is self-imposed. But why? The advancement of technology has certainly played its part, allowing us to entertain ourselves, buy our groceries, and pay our bills all from home. But is technology the sole cause of this “pandemic”?

The “anti-social century,” a term coined by journalist Derek Thompson, suggests that we have entered an age of voluntary solitude, where statistics show that people are spending more time alone than ever before. This rise in solitude is also highly correlated with some troubling data. Despite a greater awareness and care for mental health, on average, it seems to be getting worse. Through technology, individuals are more connected to the rest of the world than ever before, yet reports of loneliness are exceedingly high. Many public health officials see loneliness as the next public health crisis.

While there seems to be greater unity around the world through media, there is also greater division and polarization. In the past few decades, the number of public spaces that communities would gather to spend meaningful time together has greatly shrunk. A contributing factor of this physical “emptiness” may be, in part, due to the drastic underfunding of public spaces like parks, gardens, and libraries. As for the cause of this loneliness, it is likely an effect of Covid - 19, advancing technology, and greater cultural focus on individualism and career advancement, etc.

Now, this is not to say that people no longer spend time together. Things have not changed so much that neighbors never speak or kids don’t play with one another. We still have farmers' markets and town dances, and life goes on as it has for many generations.

It cannot be denied, however, that things have changed. Society has changed, for better or worse, maybe for both. Either way, when this “pandemic” is acknowledged, we can more clearly see and help those who may be struggling. When we are aware of the hurt these anti-social norms are causing in our communities, we can take steps to challenge them, to change them, and to form new norms. Reinvesting in community spaces could provide more opportunities for organic interaction. Our schools, town, and local organizations can play a role in creating environments where people feel encouraged to gather. On an individual level, small decisions matter. Choosing to spend time with others, even when it feels less convenient, can gradually rebuild stronger social habits.

Ultimately, this “anti-social pandemic” is not defined by a lack of people, but by a lack of presence. The world has not become empty; it has become quieter in a different way. Reversing this shift will not happen overnight, but it begins with recognizing that connection, like any other part of life, requires effort.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grey Collins

The College Choice: What actually matters (and what really doesn’t)

Evan Eisen, Assistant Editor, Senior

If you’re currently a high school senior, chances are you’ve probably heard the question “Where are you going to college?” at least twenty times in the last month. The college decision process is able to make some of the calmest people into the most stressed. Deciding on a college shouldn’t feel like picking the “right” answer to a question that doesn’t have one. The process is less about going to the perfect school and really more about finding the best place where you can learn, grow, meet new people, and occasionally do your laundry.

The first and arguably the most important step in the college decision process is figuring what is most important to you. It shouldn’t be what is important to your family or friends, but you. The environment you choose to put yourself in is vital to success in college, whether it be in a big city like Boston where there is an endless amount of clubs and packed stadiums, or a smaller campus where you know a good amount of people. It’s important to ask yourself these questions as they matter much more than if a school has a high ranking or not.

What also needs to be considered is academics, but not in the “I have to know my major and career path by age 17” kind of way. Instead of thinking that way, you should ponder on which schools offer the most flexibility, as most students change their major at least once if not multiple times. You should find a college that will allow you to explore and figure out what interests you. Look to see which colleges have the best advising, interesting electives, and programs that will get you excited about potential areas for study. If a school wants you to take courses that you’ve never heard of before, then that is a good sign as you can expand your way of thinking.

There is also, of course, the financial aspect of making a college decision that many people don’t want to talk about. A college education is above all else an investment, which should reasonably make sense long term. It’s important to compare financial aid offers carefully. Receiving scholarships, grants, or offers to join honors programs can make a huge difference in your experience and investment. You may want to appeal your financial aid offer, as colleges expect, for in some cases it works in getting you more money.

Campus culture is one of the most important aspects of deciding on a college. You should definitely do a campus visit if you can, or at the very least do a virtual tour. It also would be good to talk to current and former students to hear about their experiences, particularly about if they felt welcomed, supported, and challenged. If there is one thing to remember when making your college decision it is that there is no “right” college. There are many places where you can succeed at. The college you choose will help shape you, but, hopefully, you will also shape it as well.

MHS Acappellooza 2026!

Marblehead High School's 20th annual Acappellooza is Friday, April 10th, at 7 PM, in the PAC, at the Veterans Middle School. The concert will feature MHS's acappella groups, the Grizzlies, Luminescence, and The Jewel Tones, as well as the professional group IRIS, traveling all the way from NYC to join us. This is a night you won't want to miss!

*Tickets will be sold at the door.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Evan Eisen, Anna Cruikshank, Georgia Marshall

REPORTERS: Piper Browning, Jack Buckley, Maximilian Kane, Sophie Li, Will Pelliciotti, London Perlow, Mary Prindiville

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: Anna Baughman

FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins

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