The Marblehead Municipal Light Commission voted 3-1 on April 15 to offer a retention bonus to General Manager Joseph Kowalik after deciding not to renew his contract when it expires on April 7, 2026. The board approved, with Commissioner Mike Hull in the dissent, a compensation package that includes a $150,000 retention bonus and potential performance bonuses totaling an additional $50,000, according to
documents signed April 15.
Commissioner Jean-Jacques
Yarmoff emphasized the decision was not related to Kowalik’s performance but rather part of a planned leadership transition.
“Joe came on board at a time when we were in a bad way,” Yarmoff said. “We were fighting with the town. We were fighting with the state. The Department of Public Utilities was on our case, and we were fighting with the feds. Joe righted the ship.”
The commission’s amendment #3 to Kowalik’s employment
agreement specifies the retention bonus is contingent upon him remaining with
the department through his contract’s conclusion. The document states the commission “discussed with Mr. Kowalik its desire to transition to a new general manager at the conclusion of Mr. Kowalik’s contract.”
Vice Chairman Simon Frechette explained the commission’s reasoning behind the retention incentive.
“When Joe asked late last year whether we would renew his contract, we were transparent in saying no,” Frechette said.
BY WILL DOWD
About 600 people gathered shoulder to shoulder in front of the Old Town House on Saturday afternoon, their handmade signs bobbing above a sea of faces as the “No More Kings” rally for democracy began under clear spring skies.
The crowd fanned out along Washington Street, filling Marblehead’s historic downtown. American flags fluttered in the gentle breeze as
attendees listened intently to a reading of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s
“Paul Revere’s Ride” by Marblehead resident Judith Black, who read from the Old Town House steps.
Organized by the League of Women Voters of Marblehead and the Marblehead Alliance for Democracy, the event was one of more than 800 similar gatherings held nationwide as part of a national day of action under the 50501 Movement, supporting constitutional preservation and
opposing executive overreach.
“We’ve got passion around democracy, around rule of law. And this is where it started,” said Marblehead resident Scott Solberg, a Boston University educator. “So now you’re seeing people standing up. This is who we are, and this is what it’s about.”
After the reading, the crowd began a peaceful procession uphill toward Abbot Hall, walking past historic
P. 8
Pope Francis remembered for compassion, humility
two minutes. I started crying,” said Marge Thibodeau of Marblehead, who attends Mass every day. “I saw him yesterday giving the blessing before I went to Easter dinner with my family. He was struggling with every word.”
at 7:35 a.m. Vatican time (1:35 a.m. Eastern) at age 88, just one day after making his final public appearance during Easter celebrations.
“I turned on my TV first thing, they announced it. I wasn’t on the TV for
For Monsignor Timothy J. Moran, pastor at Star of the Sea, the pope’s declining health had been evident in recent appearances. “I had tuned in to his Urbi et Orbi [traditional blessing given by the pope on solemn occasions] blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s yesterday, and I could see that it took every ounce of strength for him just to say just the one
sentence of blessing,” Moran said. “It was pretty clear that he was reaching the end of his physical strength.”
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, was elected in 2013 following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. He became the first Latin American pope, first Jesuit pope and first pope from outside Europe in more than 1,200 years.
Parishioner Charles Arrigo of Marblehead recalled one of Francis’ most famous statements that characterized his inclusive approach to
“To prevent the sudden vacancy that disclosure could trigger, we repurposed the year of salary we would owe him if a successor started early into a retention bonus that incentivizes him to stay on board through his contract term ending [April 7, 2026].”
Frechette added the payment is intended to “ensure operational continuity, orderly knowledge transfer and completion of critical
BY WILL DOWD
Nearly a year after a resident threw a microphone onto the stage during a contentious debate, Town Moderator Jack Attridge is implementing new voting verification procedures for Marblehead’s 376th Town Meeting scheduled for May 5.
The dramatic incident occurred last May when resident Tom Peach, apparently misinterpreting Attridge’s comments during a heated debate over zoning changes, approached the stage with a microphone and voting device. When Attridge resisted Peach’s apparent attempt to take over the meeting, Peach threw both items onto the stage before storming out.
Attridge reflected on the incident during a public primer April 16 at the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center, joined by Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer, who praised Attridge’s poise in the face of disorder.
“He talks about last year’s Town Meeting — I thought Jack did an outstanding job of handling an emotional meeting,” Kezer said. “He’s the right guy to be up there patrolling 900 cats in a room.”
“Last year, we crossed the line a little bit between order and disorder,” Attridge said. “That night reminded me how fragile the line can be.”
New rule to
verify motions
reconsideration
for
The reforms Attridge is introducing come as citizen petition sponsor John DiPiano — an outspoken opponent of proposed MBTA zoning changes on last year’s and this year’s warrant — is returning to Town Meeting with a proposal to limit the moderator’s discretion over motions for reconsideration.
COURTESY PHOTO
Joseph Kowalik
KOWALIK,
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The full School Committee could vote on a hotly debated flag policy as soon as its next meeting on May 1, after changing and adding language Thursday night.
At an April 17 meeting, committee members agreed to amend their proposal to allow “heritage month” flags to be displayed during appropriate months. For example: a Black History Month flag could fly in February and an LGBTQ+ flag in June. Marblehead High parent Cindy Schieffer shared the idea with the School Committee the morning of the meeting.
“While I wish the committee had chosen to adopt the thoughtful policy brought forward by students, I’m appreciative that they agreed to add the recognition of heritage months to their most recent draft,” Schieffer told the Current after the meeting.
School Committee member Alison Taylor also asked to include specific language allowing signage with “positive affirmations.”
Earlier versions of the flag proposal allowed only U.S., state and POW/MIA flags by right.
The current proposal also gives the superintendent the power to make recommendations to the School Committee for additional flags and banners. The School Committee would not be required to agree. Interim Superintendent
John Robidoux has said that he will listen to students, teachers and the community regarding flag requests.
Committee members emphasized that the policy does not cover student artwork on display, or personal items like T-shirts and bumper stickers.
‘Be brave leaders’
During public comment, Margaret Clark and her young son each explained why it’s important to leave symbols like the Black Lives Matter and Pride flags on display in schools.
Margaret encouraged the School Committee to send out a districtwide survey to gauge parents’ feelings on the matter, similar to the survey the committee sent on preferred vacation days.
“You are choosing to destroy all culture just because some culture doesn’t fit your doctrine,” she said. “Please center your policy around love and acceptance. Be the brave leaders you were elected to be.”
Resident Nyla Dubois encouraged the committee to include a “viewpoint neutrality clause” in the plan.
“While many students, families and educators see some or all of these symbols as inclusive and welcoming, many other students, families and educators see some or all of these symbols as exclusive and offensive,” she said. “What’s more, such points
of view are fluid and change over time based on current events such as the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, national elections and evidencebased medical reviews.”
Parent Angus McQuilken pointed to a situation in Idaho where a teacher has refused orders to remove a flag in her classroom that reads, “Everyone is welcome here.”
“What are you going to do when teachers in Marblehead refuse to remove symbols that your policy requires them to remove? Because that is exactly what is going to happen,” McQuilken asked. “Will you fire those teachers?”
On March 19, the teachers union sent a cease-and-desist letter to the School Committee, demanding that it stop pursuing any policies that infringe on teachers’ freedom of speech. At the April 17 meeting, teacher Diane Gora asked the committee, “What justification do you have for taking the enforcement of the flag policy out of the hands of the administration?”
Erin Opperman, who identified as a queer mother of a Marblehead student, said the flag controversy has been difficult for her family. She referred to comments by School Committee member Brian Ota that religious people may believe the Pride flag doesn’t represent traditional family values.
“I assure you, not only my family, but the other queer
families in town, have admirable family values,” Opperman said. “I invite any School Committee member to talk to me if you want to hear from me, and I’m also happy to connect you with other families who have been deeply hurt by some of the comments made by community members and committee members.”
The full School Committee is required to have at least three readings (discussions) before voting on any new policy. The third reading and vote could be scheduled for May 1.
Taylor pulls papers
School Committee member
Alison Taylor has pulled election papers to run for re-election this June. Sarah Fox is also running again for her seat. Three new candidates had pulled papers as of April 18: Kate Schmeckpeper, Henry Gwazda and Emily DeJoy. Taylor did not respond to questions about her candidacy and goals.
MHS senior gift
Also at the April 17 meeting, Marblehead High senior class president Jared Kaplowitch announced the graduating class’ gift to the school: three new water bubblers and bottle-filling stations as well as a new graduate stage banner designed for outside events. The senior class has raised $7,000 for the gifts.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Veterans School Principal Matt Fox announced that he is the sole finalist for a principal position at Andover’s West Middle School. His new position would begin in the fall.
“After 14 years within the Marblehead community, I wanted to make sure that you heard this news directly from me,” Fox wrote to parents Monday evening. Contacted by the Current, he declined to comment about why he sought out the new position. Andover schools will be
conducting two upcoming site visits during its search process — one in Andover and one at Vets.
“After 14 years of dedicated service as principal of the Marblehead Veterans Middle School, it is understandable that Mr. Fox would be ready for a new chapter,” School Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner said.
“Understanding he is the final candidate for principal of West Middle School in Andover, we extend our best wishes to him as he begins this next opportunity. We welcome the leadership team from Andover for their visit to
our middle school.”
Fox is the latest in a string of Marblehead district leaders to leave in the last couple of years. Former Village School Principal Mandy Murphy left last June for a position in Danvers. A new interim superintendent, assistant superintendent of student services and assistant superintendent of finance all started this year. Marblehead just announced that Frank Kowalski will become the permanent principal at the Glover School, after serving as an interim there.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The three-person Board of Health was expected to meet Tuesday to reconsider its waste budget, specifically related to a newly created position of assistant director of waste with a $92,000 salary. The board may revote the budget, according to member Tom McMahon.
“I can’t guarantee how the vote will go,” McMahon said. “But I requested the meeting to discuss the position and potentially vote.” Visit MarbleheadCurrent.org for the latest on the meeting.
On April 14, the town’s Compensation Committee approved a $92,000 salary for the new position managing Marblehead’s waste disposal, including the Transfer Station, curbside trash pick-up and recycling.
Public Health Director Andrew Petty, who has handled those responsibilities in the past, hopes to focus on public health issues. Although there appeared
to be early confusion among two members of the Board of Health Monday about the new position, the board did approve the position when it voted unanimously March 19 for its proposed fiscal 2026 budget. BoH member Tom Massaro told the Current on April 15 that he thought it was a “hypothetical future hire.”
On his public Facebook page, member Tom McMahon said he made a “stupid assumption” that
the new position would be tabled, given cuts being made elsewhere in the town budget.
“There was a line item in our proposed budget for this position. I saw it,” he wrote. “Now I know very well that in our town’s financial environment you can give your proposed budget to the Finance Committee, but that doesn’t mean you’ll get it.
This was a new line item. An ‘ask.’ If we had a budget surplus, I thought they’d discuss more
whether to add that position or not based on its value compared to other department ‘asks.’”
Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin said the Board of Health itself decided what to fund and what to cut in its budget.
“Once the town cut $182,500 from the waste budget, it was then in the hands of the Board of Health and the health director to determine what accounts
Marblehead mourns local fitness leader who inspired generations
BY LEIGH BLANDER
By
all accounts,
Dennis Goldsmith was a powerful and bright presence at the JCC of the North Shore for nearly 30 years. He taught Taekwondo, yoga and other fitness classes to generations. Goldsmith died April 14 after surgery for cancer. Goldsmith was especially beloved by his youngest students; preschoolers and elementary school kids taking Taekwondo. Some of his high school students will now lead those classes for the rest of the season. He also worked with senior citizens, offering personal training to keep them active and healthy. “He was charming, just an
all-around great guy,” said Wendy Webber, who took
Goldsmith’s classes for decades and is now a fitness instructor herself.
“There are so many people who have been in his classes and followed him for years. He was a remarkable teacher,” she added.
“He was approachable and friendly to everyone he crossed paths with at the JCCNS,” said PR and Marketing Director Karen Robinson. “He treated everyone with respect and kindness and inspired all of us to do the same.”
projects like Village 13, while showing we treat leaders fairly — trying to preserve morale and signaling to prospective hires that they can join an organization that manages transitions responsibly, not one where perceived mistreatment drives talent away.”
Kowalik has led the municipal utility since 2018 when he signed a five-year contract that was later renewed. According to his contract, Kowalik earns an annual base salary of $179,978.24 with eligibility for annual raises of up to 4% based on performance evaluations.
The Marblehead Municipal Light Department serves approximately 10,000
customers and operates with an annual budget of approximately $20 million, making it the secondlargest municipal budget in town after the general town budget.
“When you think of the town in very big strokes, Marblehead budget, $100 million Select Board, the next biggest budget that residents pay into is their light. That’s $20 million,” Yarmoff explained. “If you live in Marblehead, you pay a lower electrical rate than if you lived in Salem or Lynn.”
The amendment includes three specific performance objectives that could earn Kowalik additional bonuses totaling $50,000: defining a chain of command within the organization chart and creating a succession plan, developing a threeyear capital investment
plan for distribution and engineering system improvements, and completing the Village 13 Substation upgrade.
For each objective met with satisfactory or better evaluation, Kowalik will receive a $16,666.67 bonus, payable by April 30, 2026.
The utility has experienced staffing challenges, with Yarmoff noting there are currently six vacant positions. He expressed concern that uncertainty about leadership could exacerbate those difficulties.
According to Commissioner Adam Smith, the board intends to begin the formal search process within the next two months, with a job posting expected by summer. According to the timeline, the board aims
His obituary continues, “More than an instructor, Dennis was a mentor to many kids, youth and adults alike. He poured his heart into uplifting others and was a quiet yet powerful force in his community. His legacy lives on in the strength he nurtured, the minds he awakened and the love he gave so freely.”
The JCC will hold a memorial service for Goldsmith on Sunday, May 4, 1 p.m. at 4 Community Road. It is open to the community.
A 9th-degree black belt, Goldsmith held a degree in psychology, “which informed his lifelong dedication to the mental, emotional and physical well being of others,” according to his obituary. “He believed in the power of the human spirit to health, grow and rise — and he lived that belief through both action and presence.”
to identify top candidates by early 2026, allowing for overlap with Kowalik before his April 7, 2026 departure.
The commission appears to have candidates in mind already. Yarmoff indicated during the meeting that he hopes “to be able to introduce to the town, as soon as possible, a great candidate who will be able to lead the Light Commission in the future.”
That statement drew scrutiny from Hull, who questioned whether it might violate confidentiality of executive session discussions.
Yarmoff later clarified his role as leader of the Massachusetts Light Commissioners Association puts him in regular contact with commissioners and managers from the state’s
41 municipal light plants.
“Following Joe’s public mention of his contract not being renewed, we have been approached by potential candidates who are all experienced people, where their interest is clearly serious,” Yarmoff said. “We don’t know at this stage when they will be available.”
The commission cited the Village 13 Substation upgrade as a key project requiring continuity. The project, initially planned for completion in 2024, is currently scheduled for November.
Kowalik’s original
contract contained a provision allowing him to leave with 60 days’ notice. The retention bonus is designed partly to prevent a sudden departure that could leave the department without leadership.
“What guided us all along is doing right by Marblehead,” Yarmoff said. “That’s why we have been elected, and why the residents of Marblehead have put their confidence in the board for better or for worse.”
Kowalik did not immediately return a request for comment.
COURTESY PHOTO
Dennis Goldsmith inspired generations of people with his fitness classes and training.
Opinion
On land use, building repairs
This year, Town Meeting will be asked in Articles 31-35 to take action relative to certain town buildings and to transfer the control and maintenance of the Gerry School Playground, now known as Elm Street Park, from the Select Board to the Recreation and Park Commission.
Before addressing the articles, it is important to note that, should the town approve Articles 33 and 34 which pertain to roof and related repairs to certain town buildings, the cost to taxpayers associated with such repairs will not result in an increase in existing real estate taxes, according to Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin. That’s because the 25-year high school construction debt service is coming off the tax rolls in FY26, and the amount of annual tax payments associated with this earlier debt exclusion override is greater than will be the combined annual tax payments for these new projects.
Article 31
This article seeks to change the use of the Coffin School building and grounds from school purposes to general municipal purposes and to transfer the care, custody and control of the school to the Select Board, which will then decide whether to reuse or sell the property. When school property is no longer to be used for educational purposes, the Marblehead School Committee has historically transferred oversight and control of that property to the Select Board, including the Roads, Story and Gerry schools.
The Coffin School, built in 1948, was closed in 2021 after the completion and opening of the Brown Elementary School. Since that time, the vacant building has been deteriorating significantly, even as the town has paid to maintain it. Interim Superintendent John Robidoux has said, “For the schools to maintain the building doesn’t make any sense at all. It’s not costeffective. It makes fiscal sense for us to
get rid of it.” The Current has advocated for this result since the fall of 2023 and see no reason to change our position now. Vote yes on Article 31.
Article 32
This article seeks to transfer the care, custody and control of the former Gerry School Playground, now known as Elm Street Park, from the Select Board to the Recreation and Park Commission. Prior to the closing and subsequent sale of the Gerry School, this playground was part of the school. After its closure, the use and control of the property was transferred to the Select Board who then effectuated the sale of the property. The town has maintained control of the park area, however, and this article simply seeks to transfer the care and maintenance of the park to Rec and Park, which maintains most of our open spaces. The Select Board is sponsoring this article, and we support its adoption.
Articles 33, 34 and 35
Articles 33 and 34 call upon the town to authorize major infrastructure projects — at the Mary Alley Building and Marblehead High — subject to debt exclusion overrides. Meanwhile, Article 35 seeks authorization to use previously voted funds to supplement the total cost of such projects and to use some of such funds to perform needed work on the Franklin Street fire station.
Article 33 calls for the appropriation of sufficient funds to pay the costs of design, construction, repair, furnishing and equipping of the Mary Alley Building. According to Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin, this work will include repairs of its leaking roof, replacement of aging HVAC systems and repairs to two bathrooms and various railings to make the building ADA compliant.
While final figures are still being determined, Benjamin anticipates that between $5.5 and $5.575 million in new funds will be required, depending on
whether the town qualifies for an ADA grant to partially cover the bathroom and railing costs. These new funds will be supplemented by $480,000 that was approved by 2022 Town Meeting but not spent. Benjamin anticipates a 20-year debt service for this project with the cost to owners of median valued homes of $49 per year.
Town employees who work in this building need to rely on space heaters in the winter and window air conditioners in the summer to provide sufficient heat and air conditioning in their offices, according to Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer. Clearly, this project needs to go forward.
Article 34 calls for the appropriation of sufficient funds to pay additional costs of a new roof and for the installation of new rooftop HVAC units at MHS. While the total estimated cost for this project is just under $14 million, the town is seeking to apply $5.36 million from funds authorized by Town Meeting in 2022 toward this amount, leaving a balance of $8.61 million.
Benjamin said that she anticipates a 20-year debt service for this project and she estimates that the cost to owners of median valued homes to be $68 per year.
It has long been reported that our high school students have been dealing with leaks in the roof and the potential for mold in the building. This is unacceptable. Funds to repair the roof were approved in 2022, but the work was never performed.
In recent years, there has been much turmoil within the School Department and it appears that the MHS roof repairs never received priority status. Moreover, it was not known in 2022 that the rooftop HVAC system was in need of replacement because — incredibly — project manager Left Field (perhaps aptly named) had not gone on the roof before giving its estimate, according to School Committee member Sarah Fox.
We have consistently advocated for transparency within all of our town departments, boards and committees, and the problems associated with the original allocation of funds for the high school roof repairs and subsequent failures to follow through to complete the work illustrate too clearly how much more effort needs to be focused on keeping the public fully and timely informed about town affairs.
Still, this project, too, needs to get done.
Article 35 calls for the amendment to the vote taken on Article 11(c) at Town Meeting in 2022 to enable the unspent funds to supplement and offset the costs of the projects contemplated under Articles 33 and 34.
Article 35 would also allow approximately $130,598 of such 2022 funds to be used to make necessary repairs to the roof, gutters and windows at the Franklin Street fire station.
The Article 11 funds were borrowed in 2022. and the debt service associated with such funds is already part of our annual real estate tax bills.
If the Article 33 and 34 debt exclusion overrides are passed at Town Meeting and subsequently approved by voters in June, the combined increase in real estate taxes for owners of median valued homes will be $117 per year. However, owners of median valued homes have been paying $253 per year for the construction of Marblehead High School, a cost that is coming to an end. Timing new capital projects to begin when old projects end is good financial practice.
We need to take care of our infrastructure and passage of Articles 33, 34 and 35 address critical problems at three important structures in town. We urge you to vote yes on Articles 33, 34 and 35, and we urge our town leaders to adopt a more open and transparent capital planning process as they protect our vital infrastructure moving forward.
MBTA Communities Act — what it is, isn’t
BY ANGUS MCQUILKEN
Massachusetts is facing an acute housing shortage across the state, a shortage that is threatening our economy and leaving many individuals and families with no place to go. In response, the state Legislature passed (and Republican Gov. Charles Baker signed into law) bipartisan legislation that requires communities in the MBTA service region to do their part by making a modest change in local zoning. The law requires communities, including Marblehead as an MBTA-adjacent community, to allow multifamily housing by right in at least a portion of their zoning districts.
After the law’s passage, the Marblehead Planning Board created a proposal to comply with the law by allowing multifamily housing by right in three districts that already have multifamily housing. Within these districts, where there is not a single vacant buildable lot, any development will still be required to meet all other building and zoning requirements (no more than three stories, with required setbacks and open space
There is no mandate to build a single unit of housing under this law.
and at least two parking spaces per unit). To learn more about the Marblehead plan, visit the Marblehead Housing Coalition website at: marbleheadhousingcoalition.com.
What this law does not do is mandate construction of anything. There is no mandate to build a single unit of housing under this law. We at the Marblehead Housing Coalition do hope that this change in zoning will lead to some modest increase in multifamily units to alleviate the housing shortage in town, but given our existing density, and the cost of real estate in our community, large-scale development is simply not economically feasible.
Why is multifamily zoning good for Marblehead?
Multifamily housing is good for Marblehead because it would increase housing options for our residents, increase the customer base for our local businesses and build on our tax base. At present we are essentially a zero-growth community. While the costs of municipal government go up substantially every year, our tax
base is only growing modestly based on kitchen renovations and other property improvements. This means that the increased costs of running town government are being divided each year by the same number of taxpayers, meaning increased taxes for us all. Some modest growth in our tax base will help to alleviate this challenging fiscal situation.
What happens if we don’t comply?
Noncompliance with the law would cost the taxpayers of Marblehead millions of dollars, and lead to a loss of local control. Failure to pass a compliant plan would mean the loss of access to or competitiveness for millions of dollars in state grant funding (from transportation projects, to coastal resiliency funding, to school building assistance). Some grants that we have already been awarded would be forfeited. You would be paying state taxes and your community would be receiving no funding in return. In addition, since the last Town Meeting vote on this
issue, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has found the law to be constitutional and enforceable. Noncompliant communities will see court orders against them requiring compliance, including financial penalties, on top of the enormous cost of litigating against the state. You would be paying for that too. And in the end, the court would have the authority to appoint a special master to draw up a compliant plan and could impose it on our community. That would mean a loss of local control.
Lastly, this is not an unfunded mandate. Marblehead requested and received state grant funding to finance the entire cost of designing these new zoning districts. Litigating against the Commonwealth on that issue would be a very expensive wild goose chase. Article 23 has the unanimous support of the Marblehead Planning Board and is endorsed by the Finance Committee and the Marblehead League of Women Voters.
For all of these reasons and more, we urge you to attend Town Meeting on May 5 and to vote yes on Article 23. Angus McQuilken is a Marblehead homeowner and a founding member of the Marblehead Housing Coalition.
Parents navigate internet dangers to protect kids
BY STEPHEN BACH
The internet is an amazing tool for kids. It helps them learn, connect with friends and have fun. But it also has a darker side that parents need to know about. Many kids under 17 have unrestricted access to the internet, which means they can easily come across harmful content like pornography, hate speech and even instructions on how to get a gun or make a bomb. This article isn’t about judging these topics — it’s about giving parents the tools they need to protect their children and help them use the internet safely.
What are the risks?
One of the biggest concerns is pornography. It’s everywhere online, with millions of websites offering free access. Many kids see it by accident or out of curiosity, often as young as 12 years old. This early exposure
can confuse them about relationships and intimacy, giving them unrealistic ideas about what healthy connections look like.
Hate speech is another growing problem. Social media platforms often promote hateful or divisive messages because their algorithms prioritize content that gets attention — even if it’s harmful. Kids may see or hear hateful language targeting race, religion, gender or other identities, which can affect their mental health and even shape their beliefs in negative ways. Even more alarming is how easy it is to find dangerous instructions online. A quick search can lead kids to videos or guides on how to buy guns or make homemade explosives. These materials are often presented as “educational” but can lead to serious accidents or even intentional harm.
How can parents help?
Protecting kids from these risks takes a mix of technology, communication, and education. First, use parental controls and filters to block harmful
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Marblehead needs its sustainability coordinator
To the editor, If you follow local politics even a little bit; if you serve on any of the citizen committees; if you are a concerned citizen about what rising seas and changing weather patterns may do to our thus far charmed way of life in Marblehead, if you love this small town, then surely you will vote ‘no’ to getting rid of the sustainability coordinator on town staff. Logan Casey researches what grants are out there and how best to access them to help us make things safer and better. It’s expensive. We need outside help. That’s the focus of this job. Please vote ‘no’ on Article 47 at Town Meeting, May 5 and 6. And ‘yes’ on 3A, Article 23. Thank you.
Mimi Hollister Glover Square
Axing sustainability coordinator would be ‘self-destructive’
To the editor,
I was appalled to see that there is an article on the 2025 Town Meeting warrant that would eliminate the sustainability coordinator position. As someone who worked closely with Logan Casey, the current sustainability coordinator, on a recent project, this seems incredibly short-sighted and even self-destructive. Logan led a team that included both town employees and Disability Commission members that applied for a competitive ADA grant to improve the accessibility of crumbling (or non-existent!) infrastructure for Devereux Beach. With his focus and dedication, the town was able to secure an ADA Grant for $92,000, which will pay for improvements to the handicapped parking area at the beach, installation of new walkways for wheelchairs on the beach, improved disabled access to the restroom, an additional beach wheelchair as well as other improvements which would otherwise not have been possible without his persistence and
content. Tools like Net Nanny or Qustodio let you manage what your child can access on their devices. You can also set up SafeSearch on Google and YouTube to filter out inappropriate results. For extra protection, network-level filters like OpenDNS block harmful websites for every device in your home.
But technology alone isn’t enough. Talk openly with your kids about what they might see online. For younger children, explain why certain websites are blocked in simple terms they can understand. For teens, have honest conversations about how pornography misrepresents relationships or how hate speech hurts people and communities. Let them know they can come
to you if they see something upsetting without fear of punishment.
What about when they’re not at home?
Even if you’ve set up protections at home, kids often use devices at school, friends’ houses or public spaces where you have less control. That’s why it’s so important to teach them responsible habits early on. Help them understand that internet safety rules apply everywhere — not just at home — and encourage them to think before they click on anything suspicious. Work with schools to make sure they have strong internet safety policies in place and talk with other parents about setting similar boundaries when your child visits their home.
Helping kids gain independence
As kids grow older, they’ll need more freedom online — but that doesn’t mean letting go of all safeguards right away. For younger children (around ages 8-12), strict filters and
supervised use are key. As they become teens (13-17), focus on teaching critical thinking skills so they can make smart choices online while still keeping some level of monitoring in place. The goal isn’t total control but helping your child build the skills they need to navigate the internet safely and responsibly.
Final thoughts
Parenting in today’s digital world isn’t easy, but it is possible to protect your kids while preparing them for the challenges of being online. By using tools like parental controls, having open conversations and teaching critical thinking skills, you can create a safer environment for your child while helping them enjoy the benefits of technology. With a little effort and awareness, you can help your child use the internet safely without fear of its darker corners. Until next time: stay safe out there (for both you and your kids)!
Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs.
leadership. The same grant had been applied for the previous year, but without the assistance of a skilled coordinator, the town was not awarded the grant.
Logan made the difference.
Please vote “NO” on Article 47 to keep this very important position funded.
Amy Hirschkron Abbot Court
Turning Town Meeting inside out
To the editor, In Marblehead, one resident plans to propose an amendment to Article 1 “requiring articles in the Warrant to be taken up in their numerical order” at the upcoming Town Meeting.
The amendment would prioritize three high-interest articles before all other warrant items at the Monday, May 5 meeting starting at 7 p.m. The targeted articles are Article 23 (3A multifamily overlay district zoning), Article 34 (MHS roof and HVAC system project) and Article 33 (Mary A. Alley municipal building capital project).
“This amendment reflects one of my recommendations for increasing Town Meeting turnout in my February 5 column, ‘Town Meeting is broken,’” the resident explained. The proposal aims to boost participation above last year’s 5% turnout rate by allowing residents to weigh in on major
issues without sitting through routine business.
The amendment specifically targets parents, seniors and busy professionals who struggle to attend the entire meeting.
“If you are interested in weighing in on these very important topics and care little about approving payments for unpaid accounts, vehicle leases, pay scales for seasonal workers and other mundane details of the operating budget, you need to show up at 7 p.m. sharp,” the resident wrote.
The town moderator has been informed of the planned amendment proposal.
Seamus Hourihan
Fort Sewall Lane
MHS ‘Hadestown’ production impresses longtime musical fan
To the editor,
Although it’s been years since my kids were students at the high school, I was curious to see how the MHS version of one of my favorite musicals — “Hadestown” would turn out. I just returned from the Saturday afternoon performance absolutely blown away by the quality of the production — the staging, singing and acting were simply brilliant! As an early fan of Anais Mitchell I had seen “Hadestown” many times from its early days with singers
huddled around a microphone at the Me & Thee coffeehouse to its first New York City production.
I enjoyed the MHS Teen Edition just as much. The musical accompaniment was first rate and the students’ voices and confident performances were professional and as good as any I’ve seen elsewhere. This was no easy musical score! There are certainly some future Broadway stars among our talented students. Thank you so much to MHS teachers, cast and crew. This exceptional production was a tribute to your talents and dedication. I shall be eagerly awaiting future productions in this beautiful theater.
Angela Ellis Green Street
Writer questions country’s commitment to due process
To the editor, When did we become a country where anyone can be dragged off the street in broad daylight? Where anyone can be “disappeared” without a trial, without a hearing?
It didn’t start with Trump. It might’ve started 20-plus years ago, when we allowed secret black sites to imprison people without charges, without hearings, without trials, for decades in the name of protecting the “homeland.” That hideous word. That
Nazi-identified word that never was part of our common vocabulary until after 9/11, when we collectively allowed ourselves to be so terrified that we carried out atrocities. Remember Abu Ghraib? Remember waterboarding? Remember “enhanced interrogation techniques” — torture by any other name? Forgetting one of the oldest things our mothers taught us, that two wrongs don’t make a right.
Or maybe it was 40 years of movies that glorified vigilantism and police who broke the law, that portrayed the law as something that tied the hands of “the good guys.”
Or how many decades of “American exceptionalism” — the idea that we were so different and special that we could do no wrong.
It didn’t start with Trump, but we can make it end here and now. The right of habeas corpus, the right to confront our accuser and make our case, is enshrined in the Constitution, Article 1, section 9, clause 2. The purpose is to determine if the detention is lawful. Without that, my friends, you and I can get sent to a black hole, in El Salvador, or anywhere.
Right now, it’s the undocumented, the illegal, then the people who are legal, with green cards, but do you really think that’s where it ends?
Alexis Soule Front Street
COURTESY PHOTO
Town Meeting voters will decide next month whether to eliminate Marblehead’s sustainability coordinator position.
The May 2024 disruption came during debate over the MBTA zoning article. The article failed in a 377-410 vote. When resident Angus McQuilken later moved to reconsider the vote — after many opponents had left — audience members shouted “Sham!” as Attridge entertained the motion.
To prevent similar confusion, Attridge is introducing a verification system using electronic voting devices that will allow officials to confirm that those making a motion for reconsideration actually voted with the prevailing side, as required under town bylaws.
“For as long as the vote for reconsideration has been in our bylaws, there’s been blind faith from the moderator as to which way that person voted,” Attridge said. “The electronic voting
device will let us check.”
Under the new procedure, anyone making such a motion must surrender their randomly assigned voting device for verification. All other voting remains anonymous.
“If you make a motion for reconsideration, I would ask for your voting device,” Attridge said. “The administrator can look at the number on the back and find out if you voted for the prevailing side.”
The system seeks to close a loophole that has caused confusion at recent meetings. In 2023, a Select Board member had to be reminded of the prevailingside rule after attempting a motion to reconsider.
Stressing transparency, fiscal clarity
Despite the reforms, Attridge emphasized that Town Meeting should remain a space for open debate.
“Democracy isn’t a little bit
messy,” he said. “It’s as good as we’ve got.”
He added that the goal is not to eliminate dissent but to foster respectful and orderly deliberation.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean that everybody’s going to agree and that there aren’t going to be outbursts,” Attridge said. “But like I did last year, when the car started coming off the rails, I just stopped and slowed down.”
Attridge declined to remove Peach from the meeting, a decision he still supports.
“Nobody was removed from the room, and we move forward and we finish the business of the town,” he said.
In addition to procedural updates, both Attridge and Kezer used the forum to highlight improvements in financial transparency. Kezer emphasized that the town’s $120 million operation, which includes about 800 employees across the town and schools, demands strong
Please, serious enquiries only: Rick Haigis - Captain and Secretary rickhaigis@hotmail.com 617-438-1713 cell https://www.sailbeyondcancer.org/north-shore-chapter
fiscal management and clear communication with residents.
“Every position we’ve created — HR, sustainability — we’ve funded by reducing elsewhere,” Kezer said. “We don’t increase the bottom line. We make hard choices.”
Both officials praised the Finance Committee’s adoption of ClearGov, a digital platform that allows residents to view budget data online or download full financial reports stretching back to 2018.
“We understand our budget the best we have in my lifetime,” Attridge said. “It’s because of collaboration — the Finance Committee, the administration, the departments — all pulling together.”
This year’s Town Meeting will vote on a $119 million budget under Article 22. Articles 1–21 cover routine business, while Articles 23–43 include new proposals such as zoning changes to comply with updated floodplain regulations, allow accessory dwelling units, and establish multi-family overlay districts.
Articles 44–52 comprise citizen petitions, including DiPiano’s proposal on reconsideration rules. While some petitions may be indefinitely postponed, final decisions must be made at the meeting.
“The end of the night might go a little bit quicker than expected,” Attridge said.
Looking ahead to May 5, he struck a hopeful tone.
“Not everybody’s going to agree with everything,” he said, “but at the end of the day, if you show up to Town Meeting with the mindset of the collective good, we all do better.”
He acknowledged that majority decisions can be hard, but stressed their legitimacy.
“That’s what we need to live with as a town,” he said.
Town Meeting begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 5, at the Veterans Middle School Auditorium, One Duncan Sleigh Square.
u’re
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financial
Local doc, mom to run for Board of Health
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Dr. Amanda Ritvo is the latest candidate running for the one available seat on the Board of Health in the June election. She’s a family medicine practitioner at Mass General Primary Care in Swampscott, where her husband is also a physician. They’re raising two children, ages 2 and 4.
Ritvo tells the Current that she has always been interested in public health.
Board of Health
“My undergraduate major at George Washington University was public health, and I’ve used my public health medicine background to help care for the
NEWS IN BRIEF
BY WILL DOWD
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Town Meeting
voter registration deadline April 25
The last day to register to vote for Town Meeting is Friday, April 25. Registration can be completed in person, online or by mail. To apply online or check voter registration status, residents can visit the Secretary of State website at sec.state.ma.us/ divisions/elections/electionsand-voting.htm or call the Town Clerk at 781-631-0528.
Rail Trail closure
Beginning on Tuesday, April 22, the Rail Trail between Smith and Pleasant streets will be closed to all users until June for resurfacing and other improvements. All Rail Trail users will be detoured down Devereaux Street. Visit marbleheadma.gov for updates. This work is funded by
a DCR MassTrails grant and by the America Rescue Act Plan.
Housing Authority interested in Coffin School
At an April 15 meeting, the Marblehead Housing Authority agreed to contact the Select Board right after Town Meeting to express interest in the old Coffin School.
“Let’s make it clear that our interests are to build housing that is in need,” said MHA
Executive Director Cathy Hoog.
“I think we could get 60 units in there,” said MHA member Bill Kuker. “Forty would be elderly, 20 would be true handicapped units.”
MHA Chair Jenn Schaeffner
said, “There will be a prescriptive process and tremendous community input.”
The School Committee voted earlier this year to hand over the former school to the town.
Town new website still on hold
The town’s new website, which launched Feb. 20 but was pulled down in two days, is still
ministry.
“When they asked him about people who were gays, they were more inclusive. And I have a family member who is and he said, ‘Who am I to judge?’” Arrigo said.
Ann McGreevy, who recently began reading the pope’s memoir titled “Hope,” reflected on what made Francis’s papacy distinctive.
“He was such a human pope who encouraged everybody to enter the Catholic faith, or just the faith wherever you are,” she said. “He wrote different encyclicals [formal letters or teaching documents written by the pope] on nature, on human relationships, on the acceptance of people, no matter what. The acceptance of people, no matter who they were or what direction they took in life. And I admired him so much for that.”
Senior Deacon John E. “Joe” Whipple noted Francis clarified an essential aspect of Catholic teaching.
“He clarified the aspect of the faith that says we’re not in this just for ourselves alone, that we’re a church that is reaching out to the whole world, a church
would be reduced for that cut,” she said.
Terri Tauro, president of the Marblehead Municipal Employees Union, was at the Compensation Meeting.
“I am extremely disturbed that in the past week alone, two new six-figure jobs (assistant director of waste management
community at large,” she said.
She’s especially interested in children’s mental health.
“We should be having conversations about delaying smartphone use until high school,” Ritvo said. That’s going to require a major culture shift. I’d like to be a support for the School Board.”
Rivto continued, “I’d like to help create more community programs. When kids are off their cell phones, they’ll need more social interaction and reallife play.”
The New Jersey native said she
being worked on, according to Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin.
Benjamin said it’s not clear when it will be fixed and ready.
The $13,750 website overhaul, developed with vendor Revize LLC over a six-month period, reportedly suffered from broken links and incomplete information.
Pride flag raising set for June
The Select Board approved the Marblehead Pride Flag Raising Committee’s request to hold its 2025 ceremony on the lawn at Abbot Hall on Saturday, June 21, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Earth Day celebration planned at Ware Pond
Marblehead Conservancy’s Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration will be held Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to noon at Ware Pond.
Volunteers will plant native flowers and shrubs at Ware Pond to replace invasives.
Scout Troops will be among those helping, and organizers hope to see other residents,
that is not exclusive, a church that is inclusive of everybody who will be part of it,” Whipple said.
When occasionally asked
and town procurement officer) have been funded while the municipal unions will most likely be without contracts at Town Meeting,” Tauro said. “This will be two years without a COLA (cost of living adjustment) for police and MMEU, and the first year for the Fire Department.” Tauro added, “The two new salaries, plus benefits, alone could fund a 2% increase to all three unions. Creating new
was compelled to run the Board of Health partly in response to recent developments on the federal level.
“I want to be a trusted voice for the community,” she said.
“There’s a lot of misinformation online regarding public health. I want to share evidence-based data and knowledge.”
She’s especially concerned about the rise in vaccine hesitancy.
“You worry about the next big thing,” she said. We’re talking about the bird flu. We might need a vaccine to
particularly children, enjoying the experience.
Gloves will be provided, but participants should wear sturdy shoes. Parking on side streets is limited, so attendees are encouraged to use the rail trail to walk or bike to the event.
Free shredding event, food drive at Marblehead Bank
Protect your personal information at “MarbleShred,” a free community shredding event at Marblehead Bank, 21 Atlantic Avenue, on Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The company Shred-It Document Shredding will be on site to securely destroy old documents that could put identity at risk. Documents will be recycled afterward at their facility.
No cardboard, food waste, paper plates or paper towels will be accepted.
Additionally, the bank will hold a food drive to support the Marblehead Food Pantry during the event. Donations of nonperishable food, paper goods, toiletries, cash and checks will
at this time.”
Moran identified the early pandemic as producing one of the most powerful moments of Francis’s papacy.
“One of the most dramatic moments was in the middle of the pandemic,” Moran told the Current, seated in the parish rectory. “He stood in St. Peter’s Square, and just invoked that blessing of God. The square was completely empty. Just him and a cross behind him on the front stairs of St. Peter.”
Rabbi Jenn Mangold of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead offered an interfaith perspective on the pope’s legacy.
“Pope Francis brought tremendous light to this world through his compassion, kindness, humility and courage,”
Rabbi Mangold said. “His commitment to interfaith dialogue was truly impactful. May his memory inspire us to do our part in repairing the brokenness of the world today.”
Following Francis’s death, the Vatican will begin a nineday mourning period. His body is expected to lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica beginning Wednesday for public veneration.
prevent that at some point. And we’re still seeing significant hospitalizations from COVID and the flu.”
She added, “I know it can feel overwhelming to people. There are lots of new vaccines (for COVID, pneumonia, RSV). If we can have more of an open dialogue and conversations, we can help change people’s minds.” Board of Health Chair Helaine Hazlett announced last month that she will not be seeking another term. One other candidate, Kim Crowley, has also announced a run for the seat.
be collected.
The bi-annual event will be held rain or shine. For those unable to attend, Food Pantry donations are collected yearround at all bank branches.
The shots could have been fired in Marblehead At Old North Church in Marblehead, 35 Washington St., on Sunday, April 27 at 11:30 a.m., local historian Judy Anderson will talk about where the first shots of the American Revolution were almost fired — and it’s pretty close to home.
On a cold winter day in 1775, more than 240 British troops landed in Marblehead and marched through the town to Salem to search for cannons that had been stockpiled there. Attend the event to find out what happened.
Later on Sunday, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., a short walking tour will show the location where the British are said to have landed. Meet at the end of Front Street near Fort Sewall. For more information, contact Judy Anderson at781-631-1762, or visit marbleheadtours.com
expressed hope that Francis’s emphasis on inclusivity and outreach would continue under new leadership.
“Pope Francis appointed many of these cardinals,” McGreevy said. “I am hoping that they really carry on his legacy in many ways, especially when it comes to humanity.”
Arrigo shared similar sentiments about priorities for the next pope: “Peace in the world and total human rights, and the right of the church to accept because when I was a kid, a priest said to me, ‘God makes no bad people.’ And I always remember that.”
Moran hoped the next pontiff would “continue the emphasis on the witness to the gospel in the context of the whole world,” explaining this means that “the words of Jesus speak to the challenges of the world and open doors to move forward.”
For many Marblehead parishioners, McGreevy said the timing of Francis’s death following Easter holds spiritual significance, offering consolation amid their grief.
his opinion about Francis, particularly from those critical of the pope’s progressive stances, Whipple would respond simply: “He’s the pope we need
departments and positions is not the behavior of a town claiming to have a $9.6 million surplus one year and be at a $1.7 million dollar deficit the next.”’
BoH Chair Helaine Hazlett said she was aware of the new position in the budget and still supports it. She said the Transfer Station has grown dramatically over the last decade and needs its own manager.
Petty agreed.
“The waste department is
A conclave to elect a new pope will likely begin approximately 15 days after his death.
Parishioners at Star of the Sea
a very large responsibility,” he said. “We offer curbside collection for 8,000 homes weekly. We also have a very busy Transfer Station that is open six days a week.”
The Transfer Station serves about 1,300 vehicles a day, he added.
The town’s 10-year waste management contract ends next year, and the assistant director for waste will need to research and sign a new deal, which is
“His suffering is over,” McGreevy said. “When I woke up this morning and saw it, I thought, ‘His suffering is over.’”
Leigh Blander contributed reporting.
likely to hike trash pick-up costs significantly.
The proposed fiscal 2026 budget for waste management is about $3 million. The new position, which will be posted in July, will be funded from that budget. The public health budget is about $340,000. Petty said the public health budget is woefully underfunded by state standards and should be more like $700,000.
Marblehead’s Dr. Amanda Ritvo is running for the
CURRENT PHOTOS / WILL DOWD
A framed photograph of Pope Francis stands near the altar at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Marblehead on Monday, following news of his death hours earlier. The image was surrounded by Easter lilies and roses.
Parishioners attend morning Mass at Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Marblehead on Monday, hours after learning of Pope Francis’s death.
buildings that have stood since before the American Revolution. Many carried signs with messages defending democratic institutions and constitutional protections.
“Separation of powers is not being respected,” said Marblehead resident Kimberly Howard, who also works in education.
At Abbot Hall, participants gathered for a reading of the Declaration of Independence, first observing a moment of silence to honor those who have defended democracy from the American Revolution through today. The crowd stood in solemn reflection between
Marblehead’s most iconic buildings, near a Paul Revere bell in St. Michael’s belfry.
Judith Webb, who works in healthcare and teaching, expressed concerns about recent government actions.
“Healthcare, the dissolution of the CDC and the Department of Education are really bothering me,” Webb said.
“This is patriotic. This is our duty.”
League member and rally organizer Kathy Leonardson delivered the closing message, emphasizing the historical significance of the gathering on Patriots Day weekend.
“We are here today to honor the past and be inspired by it,”
Leonardson said in her remarks. “We affirm, as stated in this founding document, that all are
endowed with certain unalienable Rights … and we reject any move toward what our founders called, ‘an absolute Tyranny.’” She underscored
the active nature of democracy: “Democracy is not just what we have — it’s who we are. It’s the promise that we, the people, have the power to
shape our destiny.”
Many attendees voiced worries about democratic institutions, with one participant noting, “Congress isn’t really doing anything to put a check on our president right now.”
Mandy Pulliam emphasized fundamental rights: “Due process is critical for all of us, and it must apply to all of us or it doesn’t apply to anyone.”
As participants responded to readings with occasional applause and chants of “Hands off the courts” and “No more kings,” the historical symbolism of gathering in a town central to America’s founding was not lost on them.
Leonardson concluded by connecting Marblehead’s revolutionary heritage to the present moment: “After all, Marblehead is the home of ‘The Spirit of ‘76’ and holding tight to our values, we each embody that spirit right here, right now! We stand with each other. We stand for each other. We stand strong for democracy!”
The event, lasting about an hour, maintained a nonpartisan tone while emphasizing democratic principles and constitutional protections rather than partisan politics.
Howard emphasized the rally’s communitybuilding purpose: “What this does is that we come together and we’re stronger together. We resist the fear, but we also resist the feeling of being powerless.”
Sports
MHS girls track remains undefeated
Boys get untracked with win over rival Swampscott in tri-meet at Danvers
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High girls spring track team remained undefeated at 3-0 after sweeping both host Danvers (85-40) and Swampscott (70-51) during a Northeastern Conference trimeet on April 8. The boys, on the other hand, split the meet, losing to Danvers (72-64), while beating the Big Blue (89-38).
“It has actually been a good start to the season for both squads, especially considering we are running in horrible weather conditions,” said coach Nolan Raimo.
Girls high jump
Greta Sachs and Paige Tredwell (4-6) tied for first. “By the time this event started, it was freezing cold. It was just a matter of securing points for the team and staying healthy, not jumping their best,” said Raimo.
Boys high jump
Clark Roszell (5-8) led the jump squad with a solid third place finish. He was followed by teammates Seamus Crowley (5-6, fifth) and Colin Burke (5-2, sixth).
Girls long jump
Elise Burchfield soared to victory with a jump of 16-9.5. Tredwell (15-8) secured second place. Lilah Greten (13-3), making her long jump varsity
VARSITY SCHEDULE
Wednesday, April 23
4 p.m., baseball, Danvers, Seaside Park
4 p.m., boys lacrosse, Masconomet, MHS Piper Field
4 p.m., softball, Danvers, Great Oak School, Danvers
4:30 p.m., boys and girls outdoor track, Saugus, Gloucester High
Friday, April 25
3 p.m., girls tennis, Masconomet, Marblehead High
4 p.m., girls lacrosse, Masconomet, Masconomet Regional High
4 p.m., unified track, Swampscott, Marblehead Village School
4:30 p.m., softball, Latin Academy, Carter Playground, Boston
Tuesday, April 29
4 p.m., girls lacrosse, Salem, Bertram Field, Salem
4 p.m., boys tennis, Swampscott, Marblehead High
4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse, Salem, MHS Piper Field
Wednesday, April 30
4 p.m., baseball, Salem, Seaside Park
4 p.m., softball, Salem, Mack Park, Salem
4 p.m., girls tennis, Danvers, Danvers High
4:30 p.m., boys and girls outdoor track, Masconomet, Masconomet High
debut, finished sixth overall.
Boys long jump
Burke (17-9) led the way with a third-place finish, followed by Ryan Corrigan (17-4) and Nate Selby (17-2).
Girls triple jump Ava Machado (29-3.5) captured first place. Campbell Crane (280, fourth) followed close behind in terms of distance.
Boys triple jump Graham Firestone (35-8) led
ROUNDUP
the way for his teammates with a fifth-place finish. Claudio Gusmao Gonzalez (32-4.25) came in seventh.
Girls shot put Hailey Gilmore (21-8) accounted for a fifth-place finish, followed by Hannah O’Brien (216, sixth) and Loren Liu (21-1.5, seventh).
Boys shot put Phineas Jakious and Tucker Crane both threw 32-7 to tie for the sixth spot. Logan McRae
Hughes (30-3) came in ninth. Connor Noonan (23-5) rounded out the Marblehead group, placing 12th.
Girls discus O’Brien (79-2) won the event, with Lillian Reddy (78-2) coming in second. Liu (62-3) and Cora Gerson (41-11) also turned in solid performances.
Boys discus Firestone (98-6) came in first, followed by Crane (94-0, second) and McRae-Hughes
Marblehead Magicians weekly sports notebook
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Laxmen sweep the week
The Marblehead boys lacrosse team (3-2) were among the other spring teams that enjoyed success before spring vacation week. The Magicians easily defeated Danvers (17-3) and Peabody (12-3) during this stretch.
Reece Moore paced the attack against the Falcons with six goals and three assists. Sophomore Will Sullivan chipped in with two scores and four assists. Marc Grazado came through with two goals and two assists. Owen Dulac accounted for two scores. Tyler Forbes was the team’s assist leader with five.
Baseball Magicians take two before spring vacation
High school spring sports teams understand that they have to learn how to adapt to succeed this time of the year.
An example of that took place on April 14, when the Marblehead High baseball team (4-3) was playing a game at Seaside Park against Salem. It was originally scheduled for the Witch City, but because Mother Nature has been uncooperative in the early going, the game was moved to Marblehead. As a result, the Magicians were the visiting team, but that didn’t affect them that much. They still came away with a 4-1 win.
For a while, it was a pitchers’ duel between Salem’s Rocco Ryan and Marblehead’s Carter Sahagian.
“Both pitchers battled hard, but we took advantage of some free baserunners, and once on base we were very aggressive. As a result, we were able to manufacture three of our four runs,” said coach Mike Giardi. Leading 3-1 in the seventh, the bats went back to work. Captain Stef Shepard tripled home Grey Leventhal, who singled to start the inning, with the fourth run of the game.
(92-7, third).
Girls javelin Lillian Reddy (68-10) finished fourth, followed by teammates Mia Mabry (59-10), Julia Betz (51-11) and Addison Rotigliano (39-4).
Boys javelin Firestone (134-11) captured his second victory of the day. Jakious (132-0) secured second place.
As it turned out, it was a mighty important insurance run, because Salem got two on in the home half.
Sahagian (2 hits, 1 walk, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts) went only four innings in this early season game, before being relieved by J.J. Downey (1 inning, 1 hit, 1 walk, 1 strikeout). He did a great job, according to Giardi, but he needed to come out early on in the sixth. Sophomore Owen Coyne (2 innings, 2 hits, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts) then came in to record the six-out save.
The Magicians collected six hits. Senior captain Cam Quigley had two singles and a walk to lead the way. Rory Zampese doubled once to go along with Shepard’s triple to account for the only two extra base hits by the Magicians in this game. Ethan Harwood singled once.
The Magicians closed out the week against visiting Saugus. This time, Marblehead was back being the home team, and was able to hang on for the 2-1 victory.
“It was another great pitchers’ duel,” said Giardi. “After getting out of three bases loaded jams, we were able to score once in
the fifth on an infield hit by Aidan Downey.”
The Marblehead boys were up 1-0, when Saugus was able to take advantage of a leadoff walk in the seventh to tie up the game. But the home team returned the favor in the home half. Colt Wales led off with a walk, and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Coyne. He then scored the game-winner on a two-out, walk-off line drive single by Aidan Downey.
Sahagian pitched the final five innings to secure the win. He gave five hits, three walks and one earned run, while fanning six. The Magicians were credited with six hits. Aidan Downey (two RBI) and Leventhal each had two singles to pace the attack.
Six straight for undefeated softball team
Two more games before spring vacation translates into two more wins for the undefeated Marblehead High softball team (6-0). Coach Johnny Gold’s team first smoked non-league Malden Catholic, 8-2
COURTESY PHOTO / CHARLOTTE MOORE
Tyler Moore of the Marblehead High boys lacrosse team shoots one past the Peabody goalie during the April 16 game. The Magicians went on to defeat the Tanners, 12-3 to climb over the .500 mark at 3-2.
COURTESY PHOTO / COLIN HART
Marblehead senior captains Paige Tredwell, left, and Elise Burchfield, right, run away from the competition in the 100-meter hurdles.
TRACK, P. 16
Surviving the weather, Marblehead tennis teams enjoy winning records
BY JOE MCCONNELL
While the weather has certainly not been conducive to playing tennis, the Marblehead High boys and girls tennis teams are still winning matches. The boys are 4-1 (4-0 in the New England Conference) after beating host Beverly, 4-1 to end another week on April 18, while the girls have since battled back from their opening day loss to powerhouse Winchester to improve to 3-2 overall, 2-1 in the conference.
Boys sweep the week
Prior to that Beverly match, coach Elisabeth Foukal took 15 of her players to Winthrop on April 16, and proceeded to shut down the Vikings on a blustery day, 5-0.
Junior T.J. Kelly dominated Winthrop’s Jackson Faber in first singles, 6-0, 6-0. Senior Austin Bacon also took his Winthrop foe Joe Disney to school in second singles, 6-1, 6-0. Junior Adam Loughlin completed the singles sweep against Brazilian exchange student Jaquiam Pexeta, 6-1, 6-4.
The first doubles team of senior Quinn Sullivan and sophomore Alex Boehning maintained the dominating trend against their counterparts Jimmy Delaney and Junior Sarnaglia, 6-0, 6-0. Seniors Quinn Fletcher and Graydon Waller, teaming up in second doubles, blanked Owen Munson and Tate Montgomery, 6-0, 6-0. In sub-varsity action, Nico Altonian and Filip Wabno came out on top, 6-2.
The Magicians then came home to beat non-league Malden Catholic the next day, 4-1. “I’m really proud of how our boys competed throughout the lineup,” said Foukal after the MC match. “Three of our players played against their top seven players, and were able to come away with solid wins, which shows the depth in our lineup.”
Senior Anthony Vizy lost to Jack Burgess, who is a human backboard, according to Foukal, in first singles, 6-2, 6-4. “Anthony competed well, and was even trailing, 5-2 in the
second set, before winning backto-back games to tighten things up,” Foukal said.
Sophomore Ty Cooper turned in a solid win against junior Lucas Wang in second singles, 6-0, 6-0. “Ty was consistent from the baseline and aggressive on his approach shots by following them into the net,” said Foukal.
Boehning beat junior Drew Ryan in third singles, 6-1, 6-1 to continue the team’s comeback march. “This was the best tennis that I’ve seen from Alex,” said Foukal. “He was calm, cool and collected.”
Senior Leo Winocour, who has been sidelined with an injury, joined the lineup for the first time this year to team up with Loughlin to beat Mateo Peledge and Daniil Orbits in first doubles, 6-4, 6-1.
Altonian and Wabno, making their top seven debuts, beat brothers Harry and Hugo Brown in second doubles, 6-1, 6-0.
“Nico’s passing shots and Filip’s tricky lefty game won them many points,” Foukal said.
In sub-varsity play, seniors Quinn Fletcher and Graydon
FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY: Skiing is my favorite sport, because of the adrenaline and thrill of it, while speeding down the course, barely in control. You’re mostly never going to win a ski race if you hold back. If you’re not scared the whole time, then it wasn’t fast. Because the actual time spent skiing in a race is so short, it makes every turn and second matter. It brings a sense of technicality to the sport in the midst of chaos that’s definitely a part of it.
MOST MEMORABLE MEET
FOR YOU, AND WHY: My most memorable race was our first race this past season, when the whole team finished with
solid results, including the freshmen, who set the bar for the remainder of the season.
My other most memorable race was on Senior Night, when we celebrated our seniors and captains for their dedication to the program throughout the last four years.
PLANS FOR AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Maybe Massachusetts Maritime Academy or a traditional university.
MAJOR: Undecided DO YOU WANT TO PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE: I’m thinking about club ski racing.
DESIRED CAREER: Undecided
The Current athlete profile is brought to you by National Grand bank
to break the stalemate. They split the first two sets, followed by the decisive third set that lasted three hours. It went back and forth with even a tiebreaker thrown-in for good measure until Swampscott finally prevailed in the marathon encounter. For the record, Eccells beat Johnson, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
“That was a super competitive high school tennis match,” said Ackerman afterwards. “It really could have gone either way with a few points here and there. I was very proud of Nina. She did not give up, while playing hard throughout for every single point.
“Callie Gilmore had a close match in third singles,” added Ackerman. “It was her first varsity match, and she will continue to get better and better. As usual, I could count on my doubles teams to win their matches.”
Waller won in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2.
Girls complete another week of close encounters
The Marblehead girls began a brand-new week on April 14 with a heartbreaking loss to rival Swampscott, 3-2.
“The ancient rivalry could not have been any closer. There were some great individual matches all-around,” said coach Tracy Ackerman.
Swampscott got the first point, when Nikki Carr defeated Samara Dosch in first singles, 6-1, 6-1. But the Marblehead doubles teams won the next two points. Lani Gilmore and Reese Friedman won in first doubles, 6-1, 6-1, before Josie Reers and Caroline Bruett came out on top in second doubles, 6-0, 6-4.
Sophomore Callie Gilmore turned in a valiant effort, while making her varsity debut, before falling to Lily Carr in third singles, 6-4, 7-5.
After four individual matches, the score was tied at two, setting the stage for the second singles match between Marblehead’s Nina Johnson and Ana Eccells
to begin the week on April 14, before shutting down Beverly at home two days later, 1-0.
Against host Malden Catholic, senior catcher Luka Bornhorst belted a solo home run after her batterymate, junior pitcher Tessa Francis, launched a three-run shot in the first inning to begin the rout. Francis ended up being a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.
Shortstop Hailey Schmitt was credited with a couple of hits, and scored three times. Ashley Mortensen and Keliane Salem also contributed to the offense with one hit apiece.
Francis was also once again effective in the circle, scattering four hits sandwiched around 14 strikeouts.
After Tessa’s round tripper in the opening stanza, the offense tacked on two more in the second, which included Luka’s bomb. Tessa Andriano accounted for the other run in that frame with a sacrifice fly. The visitors completed their scoring with two in the fifth, and one in the sixth.
It was a much more competitive game at home against Beverly on a cold, blustery day. The gusty winds knocked down every flyball, and as a result the elements ended up limiting both offenses,
In the yet to be determined third singles match, Dowmellan took the first set, 6-4, but Goodwin battled back to win the second set, 6-3. Check back hopefully soon to find out the ultimate winner.
“Masco has won the state championship the last two years, so for us to be competitive with them is great for our program,” said Ackerman. “Abbie (Goodwin) really hung in there against a tough opponent to win the second set. It should be a close third set, but win or lose, our girls played a great match.”
The Marblehead girls then had a couple of days to prepare for host Beverly on April 18, and the extra time paid off with a 4-1 win.
Before the match, the traditional Peanut Butter Food Collaborative Drive to benefit Beverly Bootstraps got underway.
Commenting further on the Big Blue, Ackerman said, “Swampscott has strong singles players, which I’m sure will continue to make them competitive this season.”
The Magicians then faced Masco on Tax Day at home, but it turned out that both teams needed an extension thanks to Mother Nature, when the skies opened up with the score tied at two.
With one match still going on — third singles — rain delayed the outcome. Each player won one set. Both teams will now get together on a day yet to be determined to watch Marblehead’s Abbie Goodwin and Masco’s Sophia Dowmellan square off again in the decisive remaining set to see which team comes out on top.
The Chieftains powered through the first two singles matches, when Teagan Skullwy defeated Dosch in first singles, 6-1, 6-0, followed by Ria Kundsalina’s second singles victory over Johnson, 6-1, 6-0.
The Magicians then answered back with two wins in the doubles matches. The first doubles team of Gilmore and Friedman won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Reers and Bruett were victorious in second doubles, 6-4, 6-2.
which created a pitchers’ duel between Beverly’s Lidia Miedema and Francis. They each only allowed two hits in the game, while utilizing the strikeout effectively. Miedema was credited with seven whiffs, and Francis had nine.
Walk-off rally leads to sixth win
The game was scoreless until the home half of the seventh, when Francis started the winning rally off with a single to left. Salem, who was sent in to run for her, then literally stole the show. She immediately swiped second, before Kate Andriano was intentionally walked, which led to a double steal, putting both runners into scoring position. Salem, now on third, sped home a short time later on a passed ball to win the game for her teammates.
Forbes clinches win over Peabody
The Marblehead High girls lacrosse team (4-4 overall, 2-2 in the NEC) evened its record at four after two straight wins prior to spring school vacation week. They first defeated host Danvers on April 14, 17-5, before edging visiting Peabody two days later, 11-10.
Once the match began, it was another close encounter for the Magicians. “We had four of the five matches go three sets, which made this a great competitive contest,” said Ackerman.
“Beverly is always a solid team.”
Dosch had her best match of the year so far, beating Beverly’s Adeline Kontos, a formidable foe, in first singles, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Johnson then lost to Grace Adams in second singles, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6. “Both players showed tremendous sportsmanship throughout,” said Ackerman. But Marblehead was able to recover from that close loss, when Goodwin persevered in third singles over Sophie Litterer, 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1. Gilmore and Friedman arguably had their most competitive match to date, but were able to survive two tiebreakers against Sophia Gallo and Ella McLeer to remain undefeated on the season, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1, 7-6 (7-5). “They were trailing, 5-3 in the third set, but then had an incredible comeback to win it,” said Ackerman. Callie Gilmore and Reers easily came out on top in second doubles against Claire Fitzgerald and Caroline Kerney to help secure the overall victory, 6-0, 6-2.
4 assists), Kathryn Commoss (3 goals, 2 assists), Gretchen Smith (2 goals), Caitlyn Ryan (1 goal), Emma Ryan (2 goals) and Ella McConnell (1 goal) were the team’s leading offensive contributors against the Falcons. Goalie Molly Bullard came up with six saves to help secure the win.
“This was a good NEC (Northeastern Conference) win,” said coach Annie Madden. “We were strong in the attacking end, because of our speed in moving the ball around quite well.”
It was then time to come home to face formidable Peabody. It was close throughout, with the Magicians holding onto a slim 7-6 lead at halftime. They were able to maintain that one-goal advantage in the second half to win the game, 11-10.
Forbes (4 goals, 3 assists), Gillett (1 goal), Commoss (2 goals, 2 assists), Smith (1 goal, 2 assists) and Dwyer (3 goals, 1 assist) paced the winning attack, while Bullard did her part to record the win with 11 big stops.
This game came right down to the wire, when Forbes clinched the win with just three seconds left on the clock. “It was an incredible game,” said Madden, “and I’m so proud of their grit and resiliency from start to finish, which secured the win.”
COURTESY PHOTO / LU ANN GABEL
Marblehead High girls tennis senior captain Lani Gilmore, playing first doubles against Winchester on April 4, is back after making AllConference last year.
National ‘Variations’ exhibit opens at MAA
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Marblehead Arts Association has unveiled its third annual “Variations” exhibit, featuring artists from around the United States, including California, Texas, Florida, and right here in Marblehead.
“The pieces are some of the best we’ve ever had here and together the collection is wonderful,” said MAA Executive Director Xhazzie Kindle.
MAA Board President Jim Murphy agrees. “I’ve seen all the entries and think “Variations 2025” will showcase some of the best works we have ever exhibited.”
Nearly 400 artists submitted a total of 870 pieces. Onehundred-fifty-eight pieces were chosen in the categories of fine art, 3D and photography.
CURRENT EVENTS
Judges (from Cape Ann Museum, Salve Regina University and the Municipal Bonds Gallery in San Francisco) awarded cash prizes to the top three pieces in each category.
Marblehead High School junior (and Current intern)
Grey Collins is among 28 artists chosen for the Variations exhibit this year. Collins is a photographer. They include: Jason Balinbin, Laura Bryant Dingman, Paul Ciavarra, Eun Lee, Steven Mancini, James Murphy, Edward Nelson, Steven Ogan, Judy Schmid, Laurie Swope, Kiki Taron Kinney, Ulrike Welsch, Christine WhalenWaller, Jerrold Wishnow and Daniel Zampino
“Variations” will run through June 14 at 8 Hooper St. For more information, visit marbleheadarts.org.
Marblehead’s best bets
Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to
Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.
Marblehead Food Pantry Charity
Night Thursday, April 24, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Host, guest bartender and owner of All Chic at 152, Siobhan Phelan, will be behind the bar at The Landing Restaurant slinging drinks and helping raise money for The Marblehead Food Pantry. Tickets are $25 and include small bites. The band CODE 51 will play and there will be raffles and giveaways. 81 Front St.
Folk rock at Me & Thee
Friday, April 25, 8 p.m.
Jon Pousette-Dart, best known as an American classic and folk rock songwriter, musician and performing artist, returns to the Me & Thee, 28 Mugford St. Growing up in Suffern, New York, in a household of artists (including his father, grandfather, and sister), Pousette-Dart separated himself by picking up a guitar at the age of 10 and mapping out a life in music before he ever attended a little league game. Since then, it’s been a long and well-traveled road in the world of music. Tickets are $35 ($10 for students) and available at meandthee.org.
Town tree planting
Saturday, April 26, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Marblehead Tree Warden Jon fobert has ordered 22 shade trees and Sustainable Marblehead is excited to get them in the ground. The morning starts at Gatchell Green with a brief training session led by Fobert, who will guide volunteers on proper preparation and planting techniques. This is a great activity for families. For more info and to RSVP, visit sustainablemarblehead.org.
Celebrate Community Champions
Thursday, May 1, doors open at 6 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m.
Join the Marblehead Counseling Center at The Beacon Restaurant to celebrate community spirit, as the MCC recognizes the hard work and generous contributions of local business leaders, coaches, volunteers, friends and neighbors. The MCC will announce its first Amy Saltz Community Champion, Anne Tassel-Todisco of Marblehead. There will be gourmet snacks, live music and dancing, as well as raffle prizes. Tickets are $75 with proceeds supporting the MCC and its mission to provide affordable, quality mental health care and social services to Marblehead and surrounding towns. https:// loom.ly/ZpQd4rw
Meet the artists
Sunday, April 27, 2-4 p.m.
Come to the Willie Shaker Gallery, 70 Washington St., and meet the artists of the “Twisting Road Artists: Recent Works” exhibition. Twisting Road Artist is a group of four New England artists (Monica Rankin, Karin Stole, Jane Cohen, Betsy Kidder), diverse in style, but linked through their love of mixed media. The group’s current work will be on view at the Willie Shaker Gallery from April 17 – May 4.
“Opportunity” is painted by Ryan Gondarowski.
COURTESY PHOTOS
‘Proper Chopper Bobber’ is by Holly Layman.
MHS junior Grey Collins’ photo ‘Flower Buffet’ is on display at the ‘Variations’ exhibit.
They’re still here: Marblehead’s longest-running businesses
BY JEWEL FARRIN
This is the latest in a series of features on some of Marblehead’s longest-running businesses. This interview is with Gene Arnould, owner of the Arnould Gallery & Framery, 111 Washington St., which is celebrating its 47th year in 2025.
Please describe your businesses’ story from foundation to today.
Arnould: I had left Marblehead to do some graduate work and saw friends of mine who were getting their PhDs and going God knows where. I said no, I want to be in Marblehead. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do, but had always been interested in art and decided in 1978 to open the gallery.
I heard that a restaurant at 80 Washington St. was for sale. I talked to the owner renting and he said, ‘Yeah, but I told the family they could sell the restaurant as a restaurant.’ So I bought a restaurant, and then immediately liquidated the restaurant, sold off all the stools and sundae glasses, and started renovating. We were there for about 14 years. The art was a combination of nationally known artists, original prints were big at that time.
We moved here to this location in 1993 and we have the whole building — art and some of the framing down here, but upstairs we have a workspace; saws for cutting frames, joining the frames and cleaning glass. In the front upstairs we have a little gallery where we always have something showing.
So, our artists now really come mainly from New England. Most of the work we have in here is original work of one sort or another. And now we are selling art and framing for the grandchildren of people that we originally framed for back in 1978. So that’s kind of fun.
How has your work changed over the years?
Arnould: We’re still framing a lot of the same kind of things. We have documents that people have framed, college diplomas, high school diplomas in some cases. We’re still doing that. Wedding pictures, family
pictures, which they fill a wall with those kinds of things. People still, thank goodness, love Marblehead and I always say we’re pretty idiosyncratic. We want to look at it inside our homes as well as outside, so we sell a lot of paintings of Marblehead. That’s why the artists who come here to paint sell so much of their work, because people love it. And it’s not the tourists who are buying
them, it’s the people who love the town.
How is your business unique, what values and culture do you stand by?
Arnould: I always say that art’s a very important part of our lives, from ancient cave paintings to contemporary abstract art. People have always looked to art for a higher meaning and whether that’s a
beautiful view from the harbor or whatever it is. People look to those kinds of things for meaning and support.
There are pieces of art in your home or room that you look at every day and it influences maybe your mood or maybe the way you look at the world that particular day. So it’s important. I always say there’s a reason why they haven’t gone in and painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it has meaning. And it doesn’t need to be religious art, any art has meaning.
What’s your individual specialty/passion, favorite items or personal achievements?
Arnould: Art and jazz. If you step into the back room, there are a few CDs in there. I did a series of jazz concerts at the Unitarian Church for about 30 years. Every summer we brought about six different groups; internationally known groups, Clark Terry and Gary Burton, some of the major jazz players in the world. We continue to do that now with the Marblehead Art Association with concerts, a little smaller scale, but still some great people coming.
What are some of the most interesting things you’ve worked on?
I’ve framed a lot of interesting things over the years. One of the most interesting was when someone who lived here in Marblehead, and worked in public relations for Northeastern University, contacted me to frame something to be in their engineering library. The astronaut was in the space shuttle Columbia and a graduate of Northeastern, they were renaming the library in his honor. On the lower side of this plaque, was a photograph of him in his astronaut spacesuit, on the right side was a photo of the space shuttle,and above this, we were going to place a flag that had been on the space shuttle when it blew up. A lot of people don’t realize, I didn’t realize until then, there was a lot of stuff recovered from the explosion. Including this
flag that all folded up was like a piece of silk about the size of your fingernail. So we handled this piece of history. There have been others like autographed photographs of presidents and celebrities, a lot of interesting things from around the world. We framed for the Marblehead Museum a letter that was signed by George Washington. It was pretty cool, you’re touching this thing.
How have your family, friends and community played a part in your story?
Arnould: It’s a big part. You don’t get very far without being a part of the community and doing what you can to help the community. You don’t necessarily do it because it’s gonna make business better, it just happens that way. It’s a natural thing to do. I’ve served on my share of committees and boards and that sort of thing, but it’s all good. I love the history of the town. And I love these buildings have been here for, you know, decades, centuries in some cases. I live around the corner. The house was built in 1721.
What advice would you give aspiring business owners/ entrepreneurs?
Arnould: Show up every day. Be honest with yourself and with your customers. Don’t expect to become a millionaire. Marblehead is not on the way to anything, you have to want to come to Marblehead to end up here, you’re not driving through it.
How do you view success? What’s next?
Arnould: Coming in tomorrow. I have no immediate plans to retire. It’s out there somewhere, I suppose. But, as long as I still love what I’m doing, I’m going to keep doing it and hopefully people will continue loving what I’m doing. It’s been a good ride. And people come in to buy art and have their precious items framed.
Jewel Farrin is a student at Endicott College studying journalism.
Gene Arnould sits on the Current Board of Directors.
BY JARRETT ZEMAN
In 1929, Marblehead photographer Willard Jackson donated this wool blanket to the Marblehead Museum. His relative, Major Isaac Harris Hooper, used it while incarcerated in Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia. This simple blanket serves as a reminder of the resilience required to survive the Civil War.
Hooper served as a second lieutenant in the 15th Massachusetts Regiment, which fought in the battles of Gettysburg, Antietam and Fredericksburg. On July 26, 1863, Confederate soldiers captured Hooper and sent him to Richmond.
Prisoners crowded into sparsely furnished rooms inside a former tobacco factory. Their rations consisted of a small piece of cornbread, a piece of bacon and occasional stew, while the bed was simply a blanket and the floor.
On Feb. 9, 1864, Hooper joined 118 men in a mass escape. Prisoners had spent months
digging a tunnel in the bottom of a fireplace using only pocket knives. Shortly after midnight, the men crawled through the 50-foot-long tunnel, dragging their knapsacks behind them. The tunnel was in near darkness, as the crude candles refused to burn due to lack of oxygen, and a prisoner stood at the tunnel opening, fanning air inside
with his hat to ensure no man suffocated.
Once Hooper escaped, he swam across a canal running between the prison and the James River with three fellow soldiers. They seized an abandoned skiff lying on the beach and floated down the river to the Union Navy stationed at City Point, Virginia.
escape, and carried it with him for the rest of the war. After the escape, prison officials dug a trench, filled it with explosives and threatened to blow up the facility if any more prisoners tried to escape. After Richmond fell to the Union in 1865, the former Confederate officers became Libby Prison’s new inmates.
Hooper packed
Jarrett Zeman is the assistant director of the Marblehead Museum. From the Vault is a monthly segment highlighting an item from Marblehead Museum’s collection of over 60,000 artifacts. Learn more and explore at marbleheadmuseum. org.
the
this blanket into his knapsack before
CURRENT PHOTOS / JEWEL FARRIN
Gene Arnould opened his gallery and frame shop 47 years ago.
One of Arnould’s workstations behind the checkout desk.
Arnould’s extensive jazz CD collection in his gallery’s back room.
COURTESY PHOTOS
This wool blanket bearing the embroidered initials “I.H.H.” belonged to Major Isaac Harris Hooper and accompanied him during his daring escape from Libby Prison in 1864.
Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, was a converted tobacco warehouse where Union prisoners faced overcrowded conditions, meager rations and slept on the bare floor with only a blanket for comfort.
Second Lieutenant Isaac Harris Hooper of the 15th Massachusetts Regiment was captured by Confederate forces in July 1863 and later participated in one of the most successful prison breaks of the Civil War.
Exploring Abbot Hall’s attic for a new museum space
BY WILL DOWD
The Historical Commission’s Abbot Hall attic museum sub committee is moving forward with plans to transform the underutilized attic space of Abbot Hall into a museum chronicling the town’s history, with preliminary designs completed and fundraising strategies now the focus.
During a recent meeting, members explored the attic and discussed next steps for the estimated $6 million project that would convert the 8,000-squarefoot space with 22-foot-high ceilings into exhibition galleries spanning four centuries of local history.
“We want to make the history available to the public and also to visitors and to schools,” said Pam Peterson.
The project, which has been in development since 2001, would be divided into two phases: infrastructure work estimated at $3.6 million and exhibit installation costing about $2.3 million.
Historical Commission member Edward O. Nilsson, who chairs the attic museum subcommittee and has been involved in the planning, said the committee already completed some preliminary work including
a digitized scan of the entire attic.
“They actually [did a] digitized scan of the whole attic, and that was very helpful in getting a jump start on the building with its dimensions and drawings,” Nilsson said.
Committee members are now focusing on fundraising strategies, including creating
informational materials to present to potential donors.
“One of the next steps is a trifold or a brochure to actually make the case statement,” Nilsson said.
Peterson added that such materials would help explain the project to the public in an accessible way.
“The [preliminary designs]
booklet gives a lot of good, solid information, but the average person is really not going to read through all that. Whereas if we did a trifold thing that sort of explains the focus, and as you said, case statement, it would help explain,” Peterson said.
The subcommittee plans to approach large donors initially before launching a broader
fundraising campaign. Members noted that naming rights for galleries and exhibits could be a powerful incentive for major contributors.
The proposed museum would feature dedicated galleries organized around four historical periods, potentially offering up to naming opportunities for donors. The space would primarily house permanent exhibitions with rotating components and a children’s area.
Infrastructure improvements represent a significant portion of the project budget. The next phase would require approximately $200,000 to complete construction documents and specifications.
The committee hopes to complete the museum in time for significant historical commemorations — like the upcoming 250th Revolutionary War events.
“The idea originally was to have an opening for the anniversary,” Riegle said, with other members suggesting 2027 as a target date.
The committee expects to finalize its fundraising brochure soon, which could lead to a presentation before the Select Board to update officials on the project’s progress.
Gardeners restore gateway to Marblehead’s historic district
BY WILL DOWD
A historic gateway to Marblehead’s Old and Historic District was celebrated April 16 as local officials and members of The Cottage Gardeners of Marblehead and Swampscott marked the completion of a monthslong beautification effort at the Okos triangle. About 50 community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the triangular parcel surrounding the Okos building at 222 Washington St., home to the historic Okommakamesit handpumped fire engine dating back to the 1840s. The transformation of this prominent corner at Washington and Middle streets represents months of planning and volunteer effort to create an inviting public garden space at what serves as a key entry point to Marblehead’s Old and Historic District.
The Cottage Gardeners allocated $1,500 to fund the project, which features a patriotic red, white and blue plant palette, new pathway, irrigation system and solar lighting. The design emphasizes low-maintenance, ecofriendly landscaping while providing a fitting display area for the historic hand tub that gives the site its name. Rick Bartlett, an Okos member (someone who belongs to the organization associated with the historic Okommakamesit handpumped fire engine housed in the building), praised the group’s work during a tour of the site.
“They did a lot of work out front. It was a mess, and we got the word that they wanted to do it, and they’ve done an excellent job. And we got a place to put the tub (what they formerly called a fire truck),” said Bartlett. “When it’s on display, we bring it inside when it’s in storage, but when we can display it, it’s out on the brick.”
Meanwhile, a newly installed brick pathway allows the antique pumper to be wheeled out for public viewing during special events and celebrations throughout the year, particularly during Fourth of July
festivities and local muster competitions.
Inside the historic building, visitors can explore a second-floor museum featuring photographs, ribbons, trophies and memorabilia chronicling Marblehead’s fire muster history. The museum will also be open to the public during special events throughout the year.
“We’ve got trophies from past musters. This one’s from the Brockton fair,” Bartlett said, pointing to a display case. “We have a championship flag in the cabinet from 1903. The Okos have been here since 1894.”
The beautification project coincided with other restoration work on the Okos building itself and received support from town officials, including Building Inspector Ben Lebowitz, who attended Wednesday’s ceremony.
“I would say that it is important for people to acknowledge that there are many individuals in this town who live here and work here that appreciate the town and its heritage,” said Lebowitz. “And this project was a perfect example of what can be accomplished when like minds get together to volunteer their time
in effort to restore and accentuate Marblehead’s traditions.”
Landscape designer Holly Willsey-Walker, a Cottage Gardeners member, partnered with club member Karen McMahon to develop the garden design. Their plan incorporated azaleas and hydrangeas along with other plantings reflecting Marblehead’s historic character.
The project received significant community support, with Phil Somerby of Somerby Landscaping donating services, local real estate agent Lindsay Bartlett contributing funds for lighting, and Marblehead Garden Center providing discounted plants.
Beyond this visible downtown project, the Cottage Gardeners maintain several public spaces throughout Marblehead, including gardens at the Hooper Mansion and Seamen’s Memorial. The nonprofit, founded in 1940, includes about 65 members who meet monthly from September through June.
Colleen Connor, a
Cottage Gardeners member, emphasized that the group welcomes newcomers regardless of gardening experience.
“We have an open meeting once a year, and that’s coming up in May,” Connor said. “People don’t know this. You do not have to be like a master gardener. We have way more fun. And you come and you can learn. We have, like, mini TED talks on gardening.”
The club’s activities extend beyond beautification projects to include educational programs and community service.
“We learn about the environment, we learn about recycling, we learn about seeds and beads,” Connor said. “What’s really cool is that if you are downsizing and you don’t have a garden, you can still get your hands in the dirt.” The Cottage Gardeners will host their annual Mother’s Day Weekend Plant Sale — the club’s sole fundraiser — on Saturday, May 10, at St. Stephen’s Church, 67 Cornell Road. This year’s theme is “Rooted in Love.”
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Members of the Marblehead Historical Commission’s museum subcommittee tour the expansive attic space of Abbot Hall during their April 16 meeting. The currently underutilized space features exposed wooden trusses and a high-pitched roof that creates what committee members described as an “almost cathedrallike atmosphere.” The commission is developing plans to transform the
Maureen Farley, 68
Maureen Farley, 68, of Northport, Maine, passed away on Feb. 3 surrounded by friends and family after a brave battle with cancer. Maureen was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Marie Farley, and her brother, Richard Farley. She is survived by her sons, Aaron Rendo, Justin Rendo and Sean Farley, her brother Thomas Farley, her sister Jeanmarie Kaeselau, as well as her large extended family and cherished collection of friends.
Maureen was born in Winthrop in 1956 to Thomas and Marie Farley. She attended
Lawrence Markell, 87
Lawrence “Larry” Markell entered into rest peacefully on March 22 at the age of 87. Beloved husband of Mary Markell. Devoted father of Jodie Titus and husband Calvin Titus. Cherished grandfather of Rachel Conrad and Zachary Titus. Loving brother of Cheryl Schneider and partner David Engber. Caring nephew of the late Elmer and Ruth Bidder. Dear son of the late Murray and Leah Markell. Larry was born in Boston in
Andover High School before studying geology and then obtaining her master’s degree in education from Salem State College. She then became a science teacher at Triton Regional High School in Byfield. After being promoted to head of the science department at
1938 and was raised in Revere.
He graduated from Revere High School in 1955. Larry attended University of Vermont and graduated in 1959. He went on
IN MEMORIAM
Triton, she also started working as a part-time professor at North Shore Community college in Lynn and Danvers. As a result of her hard work, she got to retire early and move to midcoast Maine.
Maureen was the definition of a free spirit, a classic hippie. She skipped her high school graduation ceremony to go hitchhiking and live in the woods in New Hampshire with friends. She lived off the land and was very creative, going as far as making clothes for herself, her family and her friends. She carried these traits with her into retirement. Wasting no time starting a family, Maureen settled in Marblehead where she lived for 23 years. There she became a beloved and
to Boston College Law School and received his law degree in 1962. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1963 and then the Florida Bar in 1987. He was also a member of the Army Reserve 3rd JAG Detachment 1963-1969.
Larry loved the town of Marblehead, where he lived and practiced law from 19691989. He was the assistant town counsel from 1972-1977. He was a past president and member of the Rotary Club. He was also past secretary and member of the Boston Yacht Club. His sailboat Fat Albert was legendary and won many awards during race week and other sailing
contributing member of the community. A generous soul, whatever she had was yours and her door was always open. She worked many jobs (most famously the crossing guard at Tower school) and raised her three sons on her own, all while pursuing her education and advancing her career. From Marblehead, she later moved to Ipswich, bought her first home and fixed it up almost entirely on her own. She backed down from no challenge.
Maureen was an incredible mother to her three sons. Her love and devotion to them was endless and she took pride in everything she did for them. Maureen had passions for the arts, music, the natural world and life itself. She loved
events.
Larry relocated his law practice to Boca Raton, Florida, in 1989 but returned to his town of Marblehead in 2003 to continue practicing law and to spend time with his family.
Larry moved to Gulfport, Florida, in 2012 and retired from law in 2019. He spent his last years before retirement as a volunteer with a community law program in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was awarded The Florida Bar President Pro Bono Service Award for the Sixth Circuit.
Larry’s greatest joy came from his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather,
swimming, cooking, reading, walking her dogs, gardening, painting, sewing, hiking, kayaking, photography, traveling and more. She never ran out of things to do. Above all, she loved the ocean. She will be lovingly remembered by all who knew her for her strength, determination and the love that she gave. The service for Maureen will be held at The Elks Lodge in Winthrop on May 31 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the charity group “Doctors Without Borders” (doctorswithoutborders.org) in her name is appreciated. There will also be a remembrance in the Northport area sometime this summer. For more information contact mtfarley23@yahoo.com.
brother, uncle, nephew and cousin. He cherished the time spent with his loved ones.
Throughout his life, Larry built and maintained many lifelong friendships, and these relationships were a source of deep pride and happiness for him. His kindness, loyalty, humor and warmth left an indelible mark on everyone he met.
A memorial service will be held April 22 at 11:30 a.m. at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 10 Vinnin St., Salem. Shiva will be held at daughter Jodie’s home 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 23, 4-7 p.m.
Attorney, veteran Harry Christensen devoted decades to public service
BY WILL DOWD
Harry C. Christensen Jr., longtime Marblehead resident, decorated Vietnam War veteran, attorney and public servant, died on April 20, leaving behind a legacy of service to both his country and community. Born in 1946, Christensen graduated from Marblehead High School in 1965 before
joining the Marines during the Vietnam War. As a tank commander, he earned multiple military honors including the Silver Star and Purple Heart after being seriously wounded in combat when his tank was ambushed by North Vietnamese forces.
After returning home, Christensen earned degrees from Salem State University, Boston College and Suffolk
University Law School. He practiced law in Marblehead for over 40 years while simultaneously serving his community in numerous capacities, including multiple terms on the Board of Selectmen, with several as chairman.
Christensen was known for sharing his wartime experiences with local students, believing that personal
stories gave life to history in ways textbooks couldn’t. He collaborated with Richard Santeusanio on “A Murder in Marblehead,” investigating Beryl Atherton’s unsolved 1950 murder case.
He is survived by his wife Marsha, sons Andrew and Matthew and their families. To read a full obituary and tribute to Christensen, visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.
BY WILL DOWD
Construction began April 14 on a $207,300 project to build an enhanced bocce facility behind the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center, expanding recreational opportunities for the town’s senior community. The project, formally titled the “Marblehead COA/Recreation Bocce Facility Project,” will replace the existing single court with two artificial turf courts and add level access from the parking lot to the playing area. The courts will be built within the existing stone-structured area behind the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center at 10 Humphrey St.
“We here at the COA are very excited about this new project,” said Lisa Hooper, director of the
Marblehead Council on Aging.
The renovation reflects the growing popularity of bocce among Marblehead seniors. According to Hooper, approximately 70 to 80 people participate in the summer months, and the COA hosts tournaments with neighboring communities.
“We have a travel team,” Hooper said. “We have
Anchor to Win every Tuesday in the summer, and then we have a big tournament at the end of the year.”
Funding for the project comes from two sources: the Shattuck Fund, a trust fund for the town, contributed $150,000, with the Friends of the Council on Aging providing the remaining $57,300. The project was
designed by Jeff Chelgren of Chelgren & Associates, who previously served as town administrator in Marblehead. Construction is expected to take three to four weeks, with completion anticipated by mid-May.
The Select Board approved the contract earlier this year following a public bidding process that concluded in January.
Beyond providing recreational space, Hooper said the facility incorporates features like benches modeled after those at Old North Church. Two benches have already been dedicated, with space for five or six more as part of a sponsorship program.
“The courts will have artificial turf, so they’ll be
Harry Christensen, pictured in 2018, served Marblehead for decades as a decorated Vietnam veteran, longtime selectman, and attorney before his death on April 20.
Shining a light on the
you care about!
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community
Taking out the signs and bullhorns
Greyson Collins, Assistant Editor, Junior
“We’ve had students whose parents have been taken by ICE,” remarked one Salem teacher as he held up a sign at the packed anti-Trump “Hands Off” rally in Salem on Saturday, April 5. He was just one of hundreds of angry Marblehead and Salem residents who gathered in downtown Salem to share their opposition to the policies of the Trump administration. The crowd of roughly four hundred protesters filled Riley Plaza with speeches, chants, and songs.
Marblehead is a relatively insulated community, so most students haven’t felt the effects of the Trump administration’s policies yet. However, just a few miles away, students are already being impacted by the budget cuts, the deportations, and the attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. The protests kicked off at 12:00 pm on Saturday, and about four hundred people marched downtown and gathered at Riley Plaza. The crowd was filled with frustrated people from Salem, Marblehead, Beverly, and other surrounding communities. Most were arguing against the current funding cuts in the Federal Government, the administration’s immigration policies, and the tariffs that are affecting the world economy, but there were no shortage of grievances.
A sea of hand-painted signs filled the plaza, reading
“Hands off our national parks,” “Trans people exist," “Hands off our student loans,” “Resist Dictators,” “My Dog is Smarter Than Trump,” and “Eat the Rich” with illustrations of a molotov cocktail and a guillotine. The air was filled with the sound of speakers addressing the crowd through a bullhorn, and the singing of “We Shall Overcome.”
The protests in Salem were only a part of a nationwide protest movement against the Trump administration. On Saturday, the “Hands Off” protests occurred in almost every single major city in the US, and included well over three million people. In Boston, just twenty miles to the south, almost one hundred thousand people took part in protests against the Trump administration. Senator Ed Markey led marches and mayor Michelle Wu spoke to the crowds.
But the frustration isn’t contained to city streets and public squares anymore; it has made its way into suburbs, classrooms, and lecture halls. Marblehead High School students are becoming very concerned about how these policies are going to affect them and their future opportunities.
“As a student who is going to college soon, I'm scared that Trump’s budget cuts will harm my education,” said one MHS student who wished to remain anonymous. “As the youthful generation, we have to make our voices heard and fight for our future.”
MHS boys' lacrosse - 2025
This year's Marblehead lacrosse season is going to be interesting, of course, for with every new year, the team loses and gains a lot of players. Last year ended in a first round exit to Bridgewater-Raynham in an overtime thriller. This year the team hopes to make a deep run in the playoffs. Although they are losing some key players, there's going to be a focus on the team rather than the individual. Practices are going to be tough and the team will have to push itself every day as they cannot rely on the scoring from past superstars.
I think the team is going to see success this year. It's normal to have some struggles to begin the season, but once there’s a rhythm and a flow, this team will accomplish some big things. As last year proved, the next man up mentality is prevalent on this team; there is depth and experience to guide us through difficult, challenging situations. It's very common to have a few players who are irreplaceable, but this team knows nobody is bigger than the team. The upperclassmen will have to lead this team,
Vacation time!!! …Or is it?
Evan Eisen, Junior
School vacations are days that high school students look most forward to. They are a time when you can sit back and relax either at home or on a beach somewhere far away, but in Marblehead, the teachers' union and the school committee had other plans. Now students and staff are supposed to report to school on what would have been their vacation days with no other breaks to balance it out.
During February break, many students did not show up for classes, with around a less than 50% attendance rate. I was one of those students who wandered the empty hallways and sat in classrooms that had almost no one in them. The one positive thing to come from this was that there was hardly any school drop-off and pick-up traffic on Humphrey Street, so I didn’t have to worry about being late. My teachers had their hands tied as they couldn’t give out too much work since most of the class was absent, and theywere prohibited from giving assessments. Many students decided to not show up for that Thursday and Friday, leading to an even lower attendance rate. If there was hardly anyone who showed during February break, then April break is likely to be even worse.
Compared to February, more families tend to go away during April vacation, as it is spring and much warmer, and it's almost the end of the year. Many parents and other community members have expressed their
yet that isn't disregarding the talent of the younger teammates. A lot of players stepped up when the team needed them last year, and this season they will look to take bigger roles.
It's up to the players to buy into this team and show up everyday. There are a lot of distractions during the season, especially for the graduating seniors; however, this being the potentially last time they can play lacrosse raises the stakes. What will define this team is not the blow-out wins or losses, but the games determined by one or two goals. A team's ability to keep a winning mentality until the final horn is what will secure a successful season for this group of boys. Games against Swampscott and Newburyport are going to be competitive. Losing to both of these teams in upset losses last year, Marblehead is looking for some revenge against these towns. Led by Coach Wilkins and assistant coaches O’Neil
Headlight Staff 2024 - 2025
anger about the make-up days and how stupid and pointless they are. With even fewer students likely to show up, teachers will have even more reason to not give any work, making it a waste of everyone’s time.
Some other parents have shown support for the schools, claiming that the make-up days aren’t a waste of time and are doing what they're supposed to, which is educating the minds of the future. While this is a fair point, it is also important to see what is lost by not having some sort of school vacation during the year. Students lose the opportunity to explore new interests and hobbies, have fewer social opportunities, and could damage their mental health, as they will constantly worry about school.
Teachers have to work a whole subject into 180 days, and, in unique circumstances like the one we find ourselves in, they make the faculty and remaining students forfeit their only reprieve from school.
Learning is, of course, highly important, but what is more important is to live, especially not a life dedicated to sticking our heads in books or staring at a screen all day. Only so much can be learned from a book, which is why being around others and having new experiences shape us into our best possible selves.
It will be interesting to see how many people decide to show up during the make-up days and how April will compare to February. See you then! … or will we?
and Magg, the players trust their coaches and their experiences to guide their season. The energy around this team is different than years past. In the past few weeks, the winter league lacrosse games started. Marblehead has played teams like Amesbury, Beverly, Essex Tech, and Malden; all of which have resulted in victory. The main purpose of the league is to get the rust off in preparation for the spring season, and this team looks like they’re in full swing. The defense is creating opportunities for the offense and they are capitalizing on it. Consistency is one of the most important features of a successful lacrosse team, and this one possesses it. If the team can translate the chemistry and success they have built from the winter league, the spring season should show a lot of promise.
As the weather begins to warm up, keep an eye out for the Marblehead Lacrosse Team and expect to see great things on Piper.
REPORTERS: Nathaniel Carper-Young, Anna Baughman, Anna Cruikshank, Anya Kane, Evan Eisen, Niko King, William Pelliciotti, Nasira Warab, Madalyn Gelb, Teagan Freedman, Arabella Pelekoudas
Ben Zamansky, Senior, Special to Headlight
Felix Regnault (64-9), who joined the javelin squad the previous week, is picking it up fast, and he will continue to improve, according to Raimo.
Girls 400-meter
hurdles
Juliet Burchfield (79.5) finished second. Norah Walsh (81.1) took third.
Boys 400-meter
hurdles
Colin Hart (63.5) led the way for Marblehead with a second-place finish. Nate Jendrysik (67.5) was close behind in third.
Girls 100-meter
hurdles
Elise Burchfield (17-6) broke the tape first, just ahead of Tredwell (17.9),
who ended up second. Faith Apostolopoulos (21.3) was seventh.
Boys 100-meter
hurdles
Elian Colon (17.1) placed second, followed by Noah Jackson (20.1, third) and Brady Leveroni (20.7, sixth).
Girls 100
Machado (12.7) remains undefeated in the 100.
Lucy Flynn (13.5, fourth) and Charlie Roszell, (13.6, fifth) also competed well for the Magicians.
Boys 100
Corrigan (11.0) posted his best 100 this season to come in second overall.
Jacob Bobowski (11.5) was third. Nathan Selby (12.0) placed sixth.
Girls 200
Flynn (27.5) remains undefeated in the 200.
Roszell (29.1) followed in third, 29.1. Lilah Greten (30.6) was fifth.
Boys 200
Bobowski (23.3) captured first. Slater Johnson (24.7) finished fourth. Luis Alvarez (26.9) came in 10th.
Girls 400
Gabrielle Hendy (66 seconds) led the charge with a second-place finish.
Olivia Vanden Heuvel (70.1, sixth), Sophie Bacon (1:14.4, seventh) and Sophia Patterson (1:14.5, eighth) also enjoyed top finishes.
Boys 400
William Cerrutti (56.8) stepped way down from the mile to run an impressive time to finish
second overall. “If the race was another 20 meters, he would’ve won it,” said Raimo.
Eben Weed (58.4) followed in fourth, while Jack Franklin (59.1) placed seventh.
Girls 800
Norah Walsh (2:42.9) continued her stellar season with another first-place finish. Marion Grace Ladouceur (2:50.9) took fifth. Ivana Nguyen (3:06.6) was ninth.
Boys 800
Nate Assa doubled up in both the two-mile and 800 in this tri-meet, and won them both.
Girls mile
Sarah Munroe (5:45.4) edged out the competition to come in first. Emily Sullivan (6:15.2) placed fourth. Maren Potter 6:42.9) was sixth, Georgine Nohelty (6:48) seventh, Evelina Beletsky (7:02.5) eighth and Madalyn Gelb (8:25.1) ninth.
Boys mile
In an extraordinary showing of sportsmanship, Will Conklin, the top Danvers distance runner, ran stride for stride with Zach Pike (4:56) to help pace his Marblehead counterpart to a sub fiveminute mile. Pike finished second, but overall, it
was a huge personal accomplishment for him to just break that time barrier. “There’s a long running camaraderie between Marblehead and Danvers distance runners, and it was special for Conklin and Pike to work together to set a new personal best for him,” said Raimo.
Girls two-mile
Ruby Assa (12:56.5) ran a gutsy race to finish third. “The two mile is a tough race, but it gets even tougher when the field is only made up of three runners. But Ruby had a plan and stuck with it,” said Raimo.
Boys two-mile
The Marblehead pack of Nate Assa (10:22.1, first), Cerrutti (10:22.4, second) and Henrik Adams (10:22.8, third) swept the event. Jonah Potach also turned in a solid effort to take seventh in 10:44.4.
Girls 4x100
Lilah Greten, Ava Machado, Lidia Jasmine Tiedra and Liv Carlson (54.1) cruised to a firstplace finish.
Boys 4x100
This Marblehead quartet of Seamus Crowley, Luis Alvarez, Drew Goldman and Ethan Horgan (50 seconds) finished second. “They rallied together to topple Danvers, while narrowly losing to Swampscott in a photo finish,” said Raimo. “They have made tremendous progress since the start of the season.”
COURTESY PHOTO / COLIN HART
Marblehead High junior hurdler Brady Leveroni leads the way, while sophomore Jack Conley trails close behind in the 100-meter hurdles during the tri-meet against Danvers and Swampscott in Danvers earlier this month.
