04.29.2026 - Volume 4, Issue 23

IN THIS ISSUE

CURRENT EVENTS

ON THE HARBOR

NIGHT SKY

Devereux Beach Carnival is coming to town

Boston Yacht Club hosts season’s first regatta

’Headers come out to stargaze at Preston Beach

Page 9

Page 14

Page 12

NONPROFIT ORG PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25

NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

TM

APRIL 29, 2026

|

VOLUME 4, ISSUE NO. 23

FIRST WAVE 1

Just a few days before Town Meeting, here’s what you need to know. Page 1.

2

|

MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG

Flip through this 135-year-old report for a glimpse into the town’s past. Page 11.

|

ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT

MHS senior is Read what & sequels: 3 Aheading 5 Prequels 4 LETTERS: to the Naval your neighbors have Check out what’s

Academy. Page 2.

to say about proposed overrides. Page 4.

new at this year’s Literary Festival. Page 11.

Five facts from this week’s Marblehead Current.

TOWN MEETING 2026

Legislature approves senior tax relief measure ahead of override vote

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Just days before Town Meeting considers two Proposition 2 1⁄2 override questions, the state Legislature approved a new means-tested senior property tax exemption aimed at helping older residents remain in their homes as local taxes rise.

The exemption, waiting on Gov. Maura Healey’s desk for her signature, is designed to provide targeted relief for

seniors on fixed incomes whose property taxes make up a disproportionate share of their annual income.

The measure was first brought to Town Meeting last year in anticipation of a future override request, with the goal of ensuring protections were in place before tax increases affected the town’s most vulnerable residents.

“I’m pleased the MeansTested Senior Property Tax

Check out the Current’s Town Meeting Guide, featuring a tax impact calculator and a print-out version you can bring to the event. MarbleheadCurrent.org.

Exemption passed exactly as proposed — a testament to our team’s work in crafting one of the most comprehensive senior exemptions in Massachusetts,” said Select Board Chair Dan Fox. “Designed to support seniors

on fixed incomes, it helps them remain in their homes even as taxes rise.”

Under the program, eligible seniors would receive a property tax exemption that works in conjunction with existing state relief programs, including the senior circuit breaker income tax credit.

The goal is to reduce the combined burden of property taxes and 50% of annual water and sewer bills so that those

GIVING TREES

costs do not exceed 10% of a senior household’s total income, after accounting for other available tax relief.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 65 years old, or if the home is jointly owned, one co-owner must be at least 60.

They must have owned and lived in their Marblehead home as their primary residence for at least 10 years.

TOWN, P. 7

DECISION 2026

Arbor Day tree planting brings Three to families to Village School fields vie for two seats on School Committee

BY LEIGH BLANDER

For Charlie Maynard, 3, the best part of the morning was the worm.

He and his brother, Maxwell, and their dad, Jake, were among about 50 people who came out Saturday morning to plant trees along the sports fields at the Village School on Arbor Day. Sustainable Marblehead sponsored the sixth annual event, and town Tree Warden Jon Fobert provided more than 20 shade trees.

The brothers, while digging a hole for a new tree, found a worm and named him William — after their newborn brother.

“We’ve been coming for a few years now,” Jake Maynard said about the planting. “And it was time to bring the boys. It’s important to plant more trees.”

Sustainable Marblehead’s Elaine Leahy said the trees offer many benefits.

“They will help sequester carbon, give off oxygen and provide shade.

They also beautify this space,” she said.

Rossana Ferrante and Karin Ernst of the Recreation and Parks Commission were also there planting.

“We love doing this. We think John is an awesome tree warden, and we love to support the efforts here,” said Ferrante.

Three-year-old Nora Frank was digging and watering with her dad, Matt.

“We need as many trees as possible,” Matt said.

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

BY LEIGH BLANDER

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Nora Frank, 3, helps dig a hole for a new tree along the Village School fields.

This article is part of the Current’s ongoing coverage of Marblehead’s upcoming June 9 election.

With two seats open on the School Committee this June, voters will have two familiar faces and one newcomer to consider as they head to the polls.

Incumbent Melissa Clucas is seeking to retain the seat she was appointed to in September 2025. Former committee member Sarah Fox and newcomer Ann-Marie Jordan are also in the race.

Melissa Clucas

Charlie Maynard, 3, shows off the worm he discovered while planting trees Saturday morning.

Clucas, a chief financial officer and mother of three, was appointed to the School Committee last fall. She has served on the budget and communications subcommittees.

Clucas said she is “wired for fiscal responsibility.”

“I wanted to deeply understand every cost driver behind our schools, not at a surface level, but well enough to ask the right questions and hold the right conversations,” she said. “Taxpayers deserve that rigor from the people making these decisions.”

She said her three biggest accomplishments since being appointed include working collaboratively to rebuild trust with the community, town leadership and educators; bringing a “data-driven lens” ELECTION, P. 2

marbleheadcurrent.org

2 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

SERVICE

Steady and driven: MHS two-sport captain earns coveted Naval Academy appointment

CHAIR AND PRESIDENT

BY LEIGH BLANDER John Schieffer had to read it twice.

When the U.S. Naval Academy acceptance letter appeared online April 16, the Marblehead High School senior said he was stunned.

“I was shocked at first,” Schieffer told the Current. “I had to lean in and read it twice. It was a great relief. I was pretty fired up.”

The Naval Academy is selective, with a lower than 10% acceptance rate. Applicants must have a recommendation from a member of Congress.

For those who have coached and taught Shieffer, his acceptance came as no surprise.

“I think John will have great success at Annapolis for several reasons,” MHS football coach Jim Rudloff said. “The obvious — good grades, good student and a great kid. More than that, though, they will be getting someone who is incredibly steady — never too high, never too low — and a person who listens before he speaks. We wish him all the best.”

Lacrosse coach John Wilkens echoed that sentiment.

“John will do well there because of his work ethic,” Wilkens said.

“He is not afraid to try something new and always stays positive.”

MHS English teacher Jenn Billings said Schieffer stands out even among strong students.

“Truly, I’m not sure I’ve ever taught a student who seems so supremely fit for the United States Navy,” she said. “From the day I met him, he was set apart.

There’s a steadiness to him … kind, compassionate, competent — I’ll add curious to that. Just rock solid. When you’re around John, you feel like this is a young man who is going to get things done and do it well. He’s just a superior human being.”

Schieffer, a lifelong Marbleheader and captain of both the MHS football and lacrosse

Bob Peck NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

CONTRIBUTORS

John Schieffer, shown here with his mother, Cindy, and dad, Ross.

teams, will report for Induction Day — known as “I Day” — on June 25 in Annapolis, where he will begin the transition from civilian to soldier.

The path to the academy began long before the acceptance letter arrived.

“It was a super intricate process that started about two years ago,” he said. “I needed a congressional recommendation, so I’ve been working with Seth Moulton, getting to know him.”

Schieffer graduates from Marblehead High School in June.

Growing up on the water The appointment marks the next step in a journey shaped by both his hometown and his experiences on the water.

Schieffer has spent summers working aboard the Hannah Glover, transporting children to Children’s Island, and as a dockhand at the Dolphin Yacht Club. He also holds a limited master’s license, allowing him to operate commercial vessels within the harbor.

Those experiences, combined with a visit to the Army-Navy Game in 2023 and a campus tour in Annapolis, solidified his decision.

“I was impressed by so much,

and when I visited I fell in love even more,” he said.

At the academy, Schieffer will join a corps of midshipmen balancing academics, military training and athletics.

Midshipmen choose their service assignments during their senior year, with options influenced by class rank and available positions. Schieffer already has a goal in mind.

“I want to be a surface warfare officer on an aircraft carrier or battleship,” he said. “It’s a pathway to becoming captain of the vessel.”

Marblehead memories

Schieffer said he’ll always remember his time on the football and lacrosse fields in Marblehead — especially one moment.

“This past Thanksgiving Day. It was an incredible day that I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” he said. “It was high stakes; it was really close. You could feel that it meant a lot to a lot of people.”

Marblehead staged a fourthquarter comeback and survived a Hail Mary attempt to win the annual clash against archrival Swampscott, 29-22.

Full scholarship

Admission to the academy

Election From P. 1

to decision-making and helping residents understand what the numbers mean; and improving communication through regular newsletters and a budget roadmap.

One of her main goals if elected in June is ensuring town leaders follow through on commitments tied to the proposed override… “to be the person who sees through our commitment on the memorandum of understanding that will be signed by the School Committee, Select Board and Finance Committee if the override passes,” she said.

“We actually had a 2019 agreement that laid out exactly this kind of coordination framework — joint planning, monthly financial meetings, shared assumptions. It was never implemented consistently,” she said. “I want to make sure this time it is. I’ve spent my time on the committee building these relationships. I want to shape what real accountability looks like and make sure we follow through on every commitment we make to this community.”

Sarah Fox

Fox is no stranger to School Committee elections. She previously served two, three-year terms on the committee, where she worked on the budget and the Glover and Brown school building subcommittees.

She outlined her goals for another term. “To re-establish transparency and student-focused fiscal responsibility. I worked very hard in previous terms to develop

NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

Melissa Clucas

Sarah Fox

financial practices and reporting that was easily accessible to the public. I understood the weight of using taxpayer money to educate the youth of Marblehead and look forward to having open public deliberations that are studentfocused and fiscally responsible.”

Fox was at the center of several School Committee controversies during her time in office, including the removal of a superintendent, a contentious teachers strike and an unpopular flag policy.

She lost her most recent bid for reelection last June, finishing last in the race with less than 10% of the vote. She was also passed over last fall when the Select Board and School Committee selected Clucas to fill an open seat.

Asked what prompted her to run again, Fox pointed to her experience with school finances.

“With six years experience with the Marblehead school budget, I bring a depth of budgeting knowledge that no one else on the board or candidate pool has,” she said.

Fox added, “I also have experience working with school administrators working towards a zero-based budget, another void that will be created with the term ending this year. With the current financial reality of Marblehead, it is imperative that the school department create a zero-based budget and be able to clearly

Ann-Marie Jordan

articulate where every dollar is going and how spending affects students.”

Ann-Marie Jordan

Calling herself a “newbie politician,” Jordan said her decision to run comes after decades spent working in education, both in Marblehead and across the North Shore.

Jordan, whose two children graduated from Marblehead High School in 2017 and 2019, recently retired after a long career as a school administrator and educator.

She worked extensively in Gloucester Public Schools from 1999 to 2022, spending her final 12 years there as director of the integrated preschool program.

She has also worked in Marblehead schools, filling long-term and substitute roles, including covering a special education team chair position during a maternity leave. Earlier in her career, she served as an inclusion teacher for students with individualized education plans at the Brown School.

Jordan said her decision to run was rooted in her lifelong commitment to public education.

“It may sound a little bit trite.

I’ve always loved working in education — as a classroom teacher, with teachers, with administrators, with school committees in Gloucester,”

COURTESY PHOTOS

includes a full scholarship, something Schieffer said his family appreciates.

“My parents are pretty pumped,” he said with a laugh.

Midshipmen incur a service commitment after their second year when they sign a five-year contract. Schieffer is already looking ahead.

“I’ve never been to the Pacific Ocean before — I hear there’s pretty nice weather,” he said.

“There are so many interesting places to see.”

His decision is also rooted in family history.

“My grandfather, whom I’m named after, served in Vietnam in the Air Force. That kind of inspired me,” he said.

As he prepares to leave Marblehead, Schieffer reflected on the broader meaning of his appointment.

“I’m extremely grateful to have grown up in Marblehead and America in general and for the opportunities this country has given me,” he said. “I want to be of service to my country.”

He added, “We all have it way better than we think we do. As critical as we are of this country, we have a lot of freedoms that people would kill to have.”

she said. “I had wonderful experiences working with the Gloucester School Committee on budget and policy development.”

She said she has been encouraged by what she has seen from Marblehead’s current School Committee.

“In Marblehead this past year, I’ve seen some real growth in how the School Committee has really steadied the ship and gone back to the basics of meeting and beefing up their subcommittee work, and I’ve appreciated that,” she said.

Jordan said looming financial challenges make experienced oversight especially important.

“I know that there are tough times potentially coming, even if the override passes whatever tier it’s at,” she said.

She said her professional background gives her the ability to help both fellow committee members and residents better understand complicated school finances and governance.

“As an education nerd, I can go through budgets and minutes … and distill all the information into cogent arguments,” she said.

Jordan, who many people may know through her family’s business, Jordan’s Launch, said she is deeply connected to the town.

“The one thing I want people to know [is that] I love this community, and I have an appreciation in the long term for how MPS effectively educates students, including those students who struggle,” she said. “That is what I can bring to the table… that love for the community, the love for education to help the schools progress.”

Lizzie Assa Stephen Bach Linda Bassett Virginia Buckingham Cheryl Byrne Julie Flynn Laurie Fullerton James (Seamus) Hourihan Dr. Tom Massaro Maggie Mulvihill Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Emily Promise Chris Stevens FREELANCE REPORTERS

Grey Collins Aleka Kroitzsh Luca Tedesco Akanksha Goyal

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gene Arnould Brian Birke Bob Peck Donna Rice Mark Schwartz Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD

Peter Fallon Joseph P. Kahn Kris Olson Bob Peck Mark Schwartz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Kathryn Whorf FOUNDERS

Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Leigh Blander Will Dowd David Moran Kris Olson DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

North of Boston Media Group Marblehead Current P.O. Box 102 Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945 617-545-5445 info@marbleheadnews.org www.marbleheadCurrent.org Marblehead Current is published every Wednesday by Marblehead News Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is mailed to all homes and businesses in Marblehead, MA 01945.

DONATE

Help us deliver sustainable local journalism. Please consider supporting the Marblehead Current by making a tax-deductible donation at marbleheadcurrent.org/donate.

For stock transfer donations, please contact: Kathryn Whorf at kwhorf@ marbleheadnews.org.

Marblehead News Group, Inc., the organization that publishes the Current, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. EIN: 88-2367192

ADVERTISE

Advertising is available on our website and in our weekly printed newspaper. To learn more, visit www.marbleheadCurrent.org/ads.

VOLUNTEER

Join us. We invite you to help support our effort to establish and maintain a free press for a strong community.

To get involved, visit www. marbleheadCurrent.org/volunteer.

REACT

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

IN MEMORIAM

Ed Bell, co-founder, co-chair (2022-2025)

Help keep the Current coming by scanning this QR code.

Thank you!

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 29, 2026 3

COMMUNITY STEPS

Community plans Walk for Peace on Mother’s Day

BY JULIE FLYNN On Mother’s Day afternoon, residents are welcome to walk together in silence through town, sharing a simple intention: peace.

The Walk for Peace is planned for Sunday, May 10, beginning at 1 p.m. at Stramski Park. The free, community-led event will follow a 3.2-mile route to Abbot Hall and back, with participants walking in silence, single file, with a shared focus.

The idea, organizers say, is simple. But the inspiration behind it is anything but.

The idea came from the journey of Buddhist monks who traveled more than 2,300 miles from Ft. Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. this past winter drawing national attention and, in many cases, deeply emotional responses from the communities they passed through.

“People were brought to tears,” said Marblehead resident James Ashton, recalling the coverage of the monks’ journey.

“Just the simple act. As they walked, more and

more people came out to meet them. It became this huge national story.” The monks’ message was not political, Ashton noted, but personal.

“They said, ‘We walk not in protest but to remind Americans that peace is not a protest — it’s a practice. Peace resides within each of us.’” That idea struck a chord locally.

COA golfers, welcome back

Starting Monday, May 4, the Council on Aging hosts golf at two venues. » Wenham Country Club on Mondays, 9 a.m. tee time. The fee to play nine holes is $32, the cart fee is $13. Seven tee times are offered.

“A small group of us said, ‘Let’s try it here,’” Ashton said. “We have a wonderful community, and we thought this is something we can do together.” From that conversation, the Marblehead walk took shape.

Unlike many public gatherings, the Walk for Peace is intentionally quiet. Participants are

asked to refrain from carrying signs or making political statements and to instead walk in silence, focusing inward.

“This is a different type of gathering. This is about being together in peaceful silence.” That distinction, organizers say, is central to the experience.

Ellen Peterson, one of the event’s organizers, described the walk as a “simple way to embody peace” rather than advocate for it outward.

“As the monks reminded us throughout their journey, peace is not something we wait for or find ‘out there,’” she said. “It begins as a quiet ember within each of us, tended through attention and intention, and then ripples outward to our families, our community, and beyond.” Organizers have worked to make the event accessible, both in distance and structure.

The route is expected to take about an hour to walk. The group will pause at Abbot Hall for reflection, including readings and a short ceremony. There will also be a closing reception when the walk ends at

Stramski Park.

Participants are welcome to join for any portion of the route and walk at their own pace.

Those unable to complete the full walk are welcome to join for part of it or attend the gathering at the park afterward.

“We wanted to make it something people could do,” Ashton said, “You can walk the whole thing, or just come for part of it. People can even join us around noon if they just want to be there for the gathering.” Beyond the logistics, organizers hope the walk resonates as a shared community moment, especially on a day typically centered around family.

“Families are together on Mother’s Day,” Ashton said.

“We thought it could be a nice family activity. Just a simple hour to be together in a different way.” There are hopes that the walk could grow over time.

“This is the first year we’re doing it,” Ashton said. “But maybe it becomes annual.

Maybe we expand it — walk to Salem, involve more people, get youth involved.” “We’re just calling ourselves ‘Community Volunteers for Peace,’” Ashton said. “There’s no formal organization, It’s just people coming together.”

That spirit, he added, is part of what makes Marblehead special.

Anyone interested in joining is asked to RSVP at walkforpeace.eventbrite. com.

Crazy Shorts Semiquincentennial Edition!

2026 Edition designed by Peter Schalck, Flat Rock Creative

26 Hawkes St. Marblehead MA • 781-639-7778

» Olde Salem Greens Municipal Golf Course Thursdays, 7:56 a.m. tee time. Fee to play is $24, cart fee is $12. Five tee times are offered.

Cash, check or credit cards are accepted at both locations. Contact Marie Doughman at Reredoughman@ gmail.com or 513-253-2371.

Town Meeting.

Democracy.

Be a part of it.

Tues-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-2 • shop.marbleheadsportshop.com/

Want to know more about Marblehead Rotary?

Original artworks with a Arnould North Shore Flair by local & regional artists since 1978 Gallery paintings | prints | fine crafts

& Framery Custom framing and more

111 Washington St. Marblehead MA | 781-631-6366 genearnould@verizon.net | Gift Certificate Available

Family Owned 30+ Years, North Shore

Your Neighbors.

Your Customers.

Deliver your message to every home and business in town.

Interior & Exterior Painting Power Washing - Roofing General Carpentry Window Replacement

John Sutherland 781-589-2665

To advertise your business call or email Donna at 781-775-8333 mhdcurrentads@ @gmail.com

COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN & FULL-SERVICE REMODELING

Whole-home transformations • Thoughtfully integrated additions

781-631-2218 Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Accepting New Clients Free In Person Estimate Weekly • Bi Weekly • Monthly • Seasonal Cleaning Add-On Options • Customizable

Contact us today to learn more and to schedule your FREE ESTIMATE Taylor Mihelis - 978-766-2934 tdanielle2004@gmail.com

Salem • Marblehead

218 Beacon Street Marblehead, MA 01945

Same great family, new family member ownership

wolfedesignbuildllc.com • 781.910.1463

Come See Our New SPRING Merchandise

85 Washington St. Marblehead 781-639-0637 busstopclothing.com

Mon-Sat 10-5 • Sun 12-5

marbleheadcurrent.org

4 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

Let the voters decide On Monday, Marblehead’s annual Town Meeting will convene, and it is anticipated that a large number of residents will attend to listen, question, debate, learn more about and then vote on the articles in this year’s warrant. To ensure adequate seating, it will again take place in the field house at the high school.

Article 23, Expenses of Several Departments, and Article 29, Supplemental Appropriation and Expenses of Several Departments, are sure to command much of the attention on Monday (or Tuesday). Town leaders have been alerting us in recent years that current levels of government and school services will at some point no longer be sustainable without the passage of a general override to Proposition 2 1/2, and that time has arrived.

In recent weeks, the Current has been writing in detail about the various factors that are now negatively impacting the ability of the town to offer a balanced budget without reducing the services upon which we have all come to rely. Attendees at public meetings and followers on multiple Facebook platforms have been discussing and questioning, oftentimes vigorously, whether we should have an override this year.

Article 23 provides for a balanced budget, a legal requirement each year, and town leaders, department heads and members of the Finance Committee have worked long and hard to arrive at the figures that meet this mandate, albeit with significant reductions of services that we have all come to expect, including but not limited to reductions in public safety staff, school staff and a drastic reduction in hours — from 52 to 24 per week — of our library and the loss of 20% of the staff of our Council on Aging, which would lead to the end of Tuesday and cafe lunch programs.

To address these reductions, Article 29 provides for a three-tiered proposal for voters in June to reflect and vote upon.

Town Meeting will be asked to vote in favor of sending on to the ballot the largest possible amount that could be approved in the June vote, but voters would still make the ultimate decision. At the ballot box in June, should the highest tier fail but a lower tier be approved, only the funds relative to the approved tier would be authorized to be raised and spent pursuant to the override.

Article 29 does NOT result in implementation of tax increases unless and until voters approve an override level of spending at the ballot box in June. Nor does it call for separate votes at Town Meeting on the various tiers. It is merely the requisite vehicle to allow for voters at the ballot box in June to approve some, all or none of the proposed increases as set forth in the various tiers.

Included in Article 29 and separate from the three tiers for voters’ consideration will be a request for an additional override to cover the cost to continue curb-side pickup of trash, paid as part of the overall town budget. If that fails, there will be a new fee, separate from property taxes, for those who choose to have curbside pickup of trash.

Last year, for the first time in decades, we had a turnout so large that the first night of Town Meeting had to be suspended so that it could be moved from the Veterans Middle School Performing Arts Center to the high school field house. While the 1,800 attendees — more than double the usual number — was an impressive number, it represented only slightly more than 10% of the registered voters in Marblehead.

Given the impact on everyone’s property taxes and the determination of future levels of town services, we strongly believe the override issue is of such town-wide importance that it is imperative to let voters make the decisions at the ballot box on June 8.

We urge Town Meeting to approve Article 29.

COLUMN

Likes don’t shape a town, votes do

BY MARGARET BACON In a world where it is easy to give a quick thumbs-up or thumbs-down online, Town Meeting asks something more of us.

A click registers a reaction. A vote helps shape the schools, streets, services and taxes that affect daily life.

Democracy is not something that happens only in Washington. Here in Marblehead, it happens in our high school field house, where neighbors gather to decide what kind of town they want to live in.

That is no small thing.

Marblehead has more than 16,500 registered voters, yet only 300 are needed for a quorum. Every additional voice helps ensure that the decisions reflect the town as fully and fairly as possible.

This is one of the oldest forms of direct democracy still in regular use in America, tracing its origins to the earliest days of Massachusetts.

In fact, Town Meeting is woven into Marblehead’s beginnings.

Long before residents gathered to debate school budgets, stormwater projects and zoning articles, the people of this peninsula were already defining their civic identity. By the late 1640s, Marblehead had developed a civic character distinct from Salem’s, shaped by a hard-working fishing community whose rhythms, priorities and temperament differed from the more rigid Puritan center across the harbor.

It was that growing sense of a separate identity, and the desire to govern local affairs according to the realities of their own community, that led residents to seek independence.

In December 1648, Salem Town Meeting approved the separation, and by 1649 Marblehead had become its own town, a community quite literally born from civic action and a public vote.

Four centuries later, residents are still doing essentially the same thing: deciding together what kind of town they want to be.

History offers other reminders that local choices matter. In 1715, Marblehead

residents voted at Town Meeting to invite the Rev. John Barnard to become minister, a decision that would shape not only the town’s spiritual life but, indirectly, its economic future as well.

Barnard encouraged local merchants to sell Marblehead’s salted cod directly to Caribbean markets rather than through middlemen, helping the fishing trade flourish and contributing to the town’s prosperity.

Later generations made similarly lasting choices. The decision to build Abbot Hall created the civic center that still anchors town government today, a physical reminder that Town Meeting decisions do not disappear when the vote is over. They become part of the town itself.

The same is true now.

This spring, residents are being asked to weigh questions that touch nearly every part of our daily life: school funding, roads and infrastructure, trash collection, reserves, zoning, taxes and town services.

But beneath every article lies a larger question: What kind of Marblehead do we want to be?

Do we want stronger school services?

More infrastructure investment?

Lower taxes and fewer services? More housing flexibility? Larger reserves for emergencies?

These are not abstract questions.

They show up in our life every day.

They affect the streets people drive on, the schools children attend, the storm drains that keep basements dry and the property tax bills that arrive in the mail.

That is what makes local democracy so immediate.

One of the best ways to show why Town Meeting matters is to make it part of the conversation at home.

A parent might ask a young child who loves trucks whether the town should buy a new dump truck.

A middle school student might be asked what they think about the proposed trash fee. Is it fair for an elderly neighbor living alone, who may put out one small bag a week, to pay the same amount as a large family that fills several barrels?

A high school student might be

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A message from Town Meeting Moderator Jack Attridge To the editor: Marblehead’s annual Town Meeting will be called to order promptly at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Marblehead High School Field House, 2 Humphrey St. Please be prepared for lines at check-in. The meeting will assemble the 377th annual Legislative session of our town since our incorporation in 1649. Our collaborative form of governance provided the spark for the Revolution 250 years ago.

Town Meeting has many moving parts both in preparation and practice.

My goal is to guide the citizens of our town through a deliberative and orderly process while taking into consideration the balance of shared information and the reality of time needed to process and complete the town’s business. I will strive to give appropriate time for each article to be heard and, in some circumstances, will follow the guidance of years past and limit speaker time, following an initial presentation, to two minutes. If you know that you will be speaking on an issue, I recommend that you prepare in advance as a considerable amount of information can be covered within that time. Initial

presentations for each article will be allotted 10 minutes, unless otherwise requested and approved in advance.

Any printed materials intended for distribution inside of the meeting room must be approved prior to the meeting.

Please contact me directly at the number on the bottom of this column if you would like to share any printed materials.

The process of town meeting begins in earnest with the posting of the annual Town Meeting warrant. The warrant acts as a notice to the meeting and the articles in the warrant become the agenda items for the meeting. Prior to presentation at the meeting, articles are converted into main motions which must be in scope of the article.

Main motions can be superseded by subsidiary motions which, when moved, are required to be voted upon before a main motion. In the instance of multiple subsidiary motions, each motion carries a rank of order in which they will be presented to the meeting. If you are planning to present a subsidiary motion, often referred to as an amendment, I encourage you to reach out to me so that I have time to review prior to the meeting. Although this submission can happen right up to a vote on a main motion, prior notice allows more time for review. I wanted to share how delicate the process of motions can be and residents should be prepared.

invited into a conversation about school funding, not only for classrooms and teachers, but also for sports teams, music and arts programs, clubs and the activities that shape daily student life.

These kinds of questions help children begin to understand the difference between what is equal and what is fair, and how a community decides what it values and who helps pay for it.

These are the real questions behind many of the articles before Town Meeting.

It is not only about what something costs, but how a community chooses to share that cost.

That may be one of the most important civic lessons young people can learn: services and taxes are connected.

The town we enjoy is built through shared decisions and shared costs.

Centuries ago, Marblehead residents gathered to vote on matters just as immediate to their lives: roads, wharves, schools, harbor access and the practical needs of a working fishing town.

The questions have changed over time. The principle has not.

There is something quietly remarkable about still having that choice.

At a time when so many people feel decisions are made far from their daily lives, it is worth pausing to appreciate that Marblehead residents still have the opportunity to shape their town directly.

This spring, once again, the town’s future will be shaped not by how many likes something receives online, but by who shows up, asks questions and votes.

The field house is where that choice becomes real.

And in a town like Marblehead, residents still have the privilege, and the responsibility, of answering those questions together.

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

By design, town meeting is a process for deliberation and decision making through the broadest level of participation in a community. It is a commitment and sometimes a sacrifice to participate. Good order is expected and is for the benefit of all in attendance and for the proceedings.

I encourage the citizenry to join on May 4th as we gather as individuals to collectively decide the business of the town. Should you have any questions, I can be reached at 781-883-3200.

Town Moderator Jack Attridge

Let’s vote on the budget, override early To the editor: At Town Meeting (which begins this coming Monday night, May 4, at 7 p.m. in the Marblehead High School field house), voters will decide whether to send a general override question to a town-wide ballot in June. Given the severe cuts our schools, town services and infrastructure are facing, this is one of the most consequential decisions Marblehead has faced in many years.

The budget and override articles fall later on in the warrant (Articles 23 & 29) and likely won’t come up on their own until well into the evening. Two things concern us about that: First, decisions this consequential LETTERS, P. 5

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 29, 2026 5

EDUCATION

A message from the School Committee regarding budget cuts, overrides

BY MELISSA CLUCAS AND HENRY GWAZDA

This is an excerpt from the School Committee’s latest newsletter to the community.

This section relates to the upcoming budget and override votes.

On April 9, the School Committee voted unanimously to approve a $47.6 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027. This is the budget we will bring to annual Town Meeting on May 4 for final approval by residents. Reaching that number required $3.1 million in total reductions from the cost of maintaining current services. » $47.6M: FY27 approved budget » $3.1M: Total reductions from level-services cost » 18.25: FTE positions eliminated districtwide For the last two decades, the schools have endured silent cuts, where the dollar amount increased by a small percentage, but didn’t keep up with the 5-6% increase in fixed costs. This marks the first time in recent memory that the total dollar amount for the school budget has been reduced.

How the budget developed The district’s level-services cost was approximately $50.7 million. Level-services is what it would take to maintain current programs and keep staff unchanged.

Round 1 (January through March): To reach level-funding (where the district receives the same funds as last year), the district identified ~$1.7 million in reductions, eliminating 14.75 FTE (full-time equivalent) positions including five teachers and one maintenance worker.

Round 2 (March through April): The town asked schools to absorb an additional $1.5 million, bringing total position eliminations to 18.25 FTEs,

Letters From P. 4

deserve full and open discussion with as many residents in the room as possible. And of particular note, the childcare offered by Recreation and Parks closes at 10 p.m.

Second, there’s a practical deadline. Ballot questions need to be finalized 35 days before the election, which means the override must be decided by midnight on Monday, May 4, according to the Select Board.

For both reasons, at the start of Town Meeting we will make a subsidiary motion to Article 1 to bring Articles 23 & 29 forward and address them at the beginning of the meeting. We will work with Town Meeting leadership and the Select Board to ensure our motion includes all articles that must properly precede the budget and override, so the process is handled correctly and respectfully.

If you support putting the override question in front of all Marblehead voters: » Come to Town Meeting on Monday night. » Get there early — the line to check in may be long. » Vote YES on the Article 1 motion to take Articles 23 & 29 out of order. » Vote YES on Articles 23 & 29. » Stay as long as you can, and plan to return Tuesday night if needed — every article on the warrant is important and your voice matters

representing 22 positions. A last-minute collaborative tuition increase, averaging 9.4%, with the highest-tier programs rising 12%, required deeper cuts than initially planned.

Key Cost Drivers: FY27 Growth Rates Annual cost growth vs. revenue cap

Why the approved budget is more fragile than it looks Right-sizing savings: Some reductions reflect genuine efficiencies and demographic adjustments. The consolidation of Bell, Coffin and Gerry into Brown Elementary is the clearest example. Enrollment has declined 24% since 2016, and the district has reduced staffing by 14.7% over the same period.

These are real, lasting savings.

Structural fund shifts: A number of positions have been moved out of the general fund and onto grant or revolving accounts. This makes the operating budget appear smaller, but those costs remain in the district. Some will need to be moved back in future years as grant funding changes.

A one-time financial maneuver that cannot be repeated: To close the final gap, the district will prepay $1.5 million in special education out-of-district tuition using years of accumulated surplus funds. This reduces the tuition line from $5.3 million to $3.8 million for FY27 only.

Assistant Superintendent Mike Pfifferling was direct about what this means: this eliminates one of the district’s three financial safety nets. There are no more reserves of this type available.

This approach is not an option in FY28.

What FY28 looks like from here The removal of these safety nets, combined with two cost obligations already locked in, means the path to a balanced FY28 budget is significantly

More information is available at formarblehead.org/ townmeeting.

Matt Hooks, Nanapashmet Road Kate Thomson, Bubier Road Co-Chairs, For Marblehead

The override, our neighbors and the relief they may not know exists To the editor: People, schools, safety, services, amenities, people.

These are the ingredients of a thriving town, and it starts and ends with people. I would like to vote for the highest tier of tax increase to get our town back on track financially, for the reasons carefully explained in recent months in these pages. However, I would also like to know that we have a full understanding of the impact these taxes will have on our fixed income neighbors and other vulnerable residents of Marblehead. Marblehead has approximately 4,600 residents over 65 — roughly 22% of our population — and nearly half of senior households live below the Massachusetts median income. Many are asset-rich but cash-poor: long-time residents sitting on homes worth over a million dollars while living on fixed Social Security and pension income that has not kept pace with rising values.

The numbers are real. Spread across Marblehead’s $9.89

Source: Finance Committee analysis, April 2026. Health insurance: Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission FY27 rates. harder than what the district just navigated.

Special education outof-district tuition: The $1.5 million prepaid from surplus will need to appear again in the FY28 budget as a real line item. Out-of-district tuition grew 12.64% for FY27. The district cannot reduce these costs without affecting students who have legally protected IEP (Individualized Education Program) rights.

Contractual salary obligations: The district’s collective bargaining agreement with teachers, ratified last year, includes contractual salary increases taking effect in FY28 and FY29.

These are legal obligations.

The Finance Committee’s analysis projects that school department spending, excluding shared benefits, will increase roughly 9% in FY28, with the largest driver being the combination of restored special education tuition and contract implementation.

THE BOTTOM LINE ON FY28: Without additional revenue through a Prop. 2 1⁄2 override, the district will face a structural gap in FY28 that is larger than

what it just closed in FY27, and it will have no remaining onetime reserves to draw on. The cuts required to balance FY28 without new revenue would need to come directly from programs and staff.

billion tax base, the proposed override translates to these annual increases for a home at the median assessed value of $1,195,000: $9M override: +$1,087 per year — roughly $91 per month $12M override: +$1,446 per year — roughly $121 per month $15M override: +$1,816 per year — roughly $151 per month For a retired couple on $65,000 a year, an extra $91 to $151 per month is not an abstraction. Our roughly 1,200 renter households face an additional risk — these increases will eventually pass through as higher rents for residents already spending over a third of their income on housing.

What many residents do not know is that meaningful relief already exists — and is dramatically underutilized.

I would ask the Select Board to actively publicize these programs alongside any override vote: The Massachusetts Circuit Breaker Tax Credit provides up to $2,590 annually for seniors 65+ whose property taxes exceed 10% of income. Extraordinarily underutilized.

The Clause 41A Tax Deferral Program allows qualifying seniors to defer property taxes entirely until the home is sold — paying nothing out of pocket while living there. Almost entirely unknown.

The Senior Property Tax Exemption reduces assessed value for qualifying seniors.

Must be applied for annually at the Assessors Office. The

Senior Work-Off Program allows seniors to earn up to $1,500 in property tax credits through volunteer town service. Worth expanding if not already at full capacity.

I would ask three things of our town leadership alongside this vote: actively publicize these programs so every eligible resident knows they exist; consider a locally administered hardship exemption for the lowest-income residents, funded by a modest set-aside from override revenue; and publish a clear analysis of the override’s impact by income tier, not just the average. A town that thrives is one where people of all incomes and circumstances can afford to stay. The override may be necessary. Let us make sure it is also humane.

Michael Golden Birch Street

District success in the face of challenges It’s worth stepping back for a moment. These reductions are real and they are significant.

But, they do not reflect a district that has been poorly managed. They reflect a district that has been well-run under structural pressure that no amount of careful budgeting can permanently absorb.

Superintendent Robidoux and Assistant Superintendent Pfifferling review expenditures monthly with the full School Committee in open public meetings, and the financial discipline they have brought to this process has been exceptional. Meanwhile, the academic outcomes speak for themselves: Marblehead students outperform the state average on MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) by 15 percentage points, Marblehead

‘Let’s do our town proud’ To the editor: Let’s support our services and quality of life.

Let’s get to town meeting May 4 at the high school at 7p.m.

Let’s vote for Article 29 to give ourselves choices. If we don’t vote “yes” on 29 we have no choice but to accept a very restrictive budget with cuts in services and staff and with no vote on how we pay for our trash services. The vote at town meeting on Article 29 will get these options on to the June ballot.

The three of us signing

High School ranks in the top 20% of Massachusetts public high schools with a 99% graduation rate, and our AP course participation rate of 67% is nearly double the national average. All while spending at or below the state per-pupil average. This is a highperforming district that has done more with less for years.

The decisions ahead are about what comes next.

Learn more

Our full district budget is available at https://loom.ly/ kmsW5Vc. This includes the specific changes we’ve made to meet our $3.1M reduction, which can be found at the bottom of each school’s section under additions/reductions.

You can also review recordings of our School Committee meetings, including Budget Subcommittee meetings and our regular budget expenditure reviews, on our YouTube page at https://loom.ly/nqMkqaw.

Melissa Clucas and Henry Gwazda are on the School Committee’s communication subcommittee.

this letter are seniors on fixed incomes who want the Marblehead of tomorrow to be as good as the Marblehead we have known.

Betsy Morris, Union Street Phyllis Smith, Hillside Avenue Jeanie Stahl, Jersey Street

Let’s affirm our support for the Constitution To the editor: Fellow Marbleheaders, I would like to call your attention to Article 40 on the warrant. It is a clear and straightforward resolution affirming citizens’ support for the Constitution.

This resolution draws inspiration from the mid-18th century, when leaders from towns across Essex County united to resist British rule by adopting “resolves” condemning the actions of Parliament and the king. These efforts led to the formation of Committees of Correspondence, helping pave the way for the Declaration of Independence and, ultimately, the Constitution.

What began as nonviolent protest and principled resistance eventually culminated in the confrontation at Lexington. By voting “yes” at Town Meeting, you affirm your commitment to the principles that have guided our nation for nearly 250 years. I hope to see you on May 4.

Lynn Nadeau, co-sponsor of Article 40 Surf Street LETTERS, P. 13

marbleheadcurrent.org

6 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

LYNNWAY

HELP WANTED Advertising Sales Executive

Multimodal Corridor Project

The Marblehead Current is seeking a motivated sales professional to drive print and digital ad sales.

Work directly with local businesses to create effective campaigns that reach every home and business in Marblehead.

 15% Commission  Flexible Schedule Strong communication skills and a proactive mindset required.

Interested? Tell us a bit about yourself.

Email: mhdcurrentads@gmail.com

Help sustain independent local journalism in Marblehead.

May 2 10 - 2pm

Join us in Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant, Marblehead, or virtually this May to learn about the draft design for the Lynnway and provide your feedback.

Event

Location

Lynn Community Open House (in person)

Lynn Public Schools May 7, 2026 Welcome Center from 5:30 – 7:30 PM 195 Market St, Lynn, MA 01901

Swampscott Community Open House (in person)

Swampscott Senior Center 200R Essex Street, Rear Swampscott, MA 01907

May 13, 2026 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Virtual Public Meeting

Virtual Zoom Meeting Register here:

May 14, 2026 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Nahant Community Open House (in person)

Nahant Town Hall 334 Nahant Road Nahant, MA 01908

May 19, 2026 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Marblehead Community Open House (in person)

Marblehead Senior Center 10 Humphrey Street Marblehead, MA 01945

May 20, 2026 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM

Visit 9 local homes to learn about their solar, heat pumps, insulation, induction stoves, EVs & more!

Date/Time

More Information

Real world stories, costs, and results.

Learn more at MBTA.com/Lynnway Send questions or comments to BetterBusProject@MBTA.com

Ask our Energy Coaches your questions.

Tickets are $10. Purchase yours today!

SustainableMarblehead.org

Run out of benefits for food and fuel?

We're here to help p.

781-631-4000 21 Essex St Marblehead www.neighborgoodcare.org

NeighborGood Care Compassionate personal care and peace of mind.

If you’re struggling to pay your biills or arre experiencing a sudden and unexpectted finan ncial hardship, we’re here to help p.

Individual requests for financial assisttance m must be referred through a third party for co onsidera ation.

We urge you to contact our partners listed be elow, or speak to your local clergy to requesst assisttance from Marblehead Female Humane e Society y:

Marblehead Counseling Cen nter 781-631-8273 Marblehead Housing Autho ority 781-631-2580 Marblehead Council on Agiing 781-631-6225 Marblehead Food Pantry y

For over 200 years, Marblehead Female Hu umane So ociety has remained faithful to its original mission of quietlyy and respectfully helping Marblehead reside nts in ne eed.

www.marbleheadfemalehumanesociety..com scan to dona ate

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Home Care

End-of-Life Care

Private Care in Assisted Living

marbleheadcurrent.org

Town From P. 1

Eligibility is also limited to homeowners whose assessed property value is at or below Marblehead’s average assessed home value, which the Massachusetts Department of Revenue set at $1,291,507 for fiscal year 2026.

Applicants must also meet annual income limits to be set by the Select Board, must not hold significant outside assets such as a second property or trust fund, and must apply for the state’s senior circuit breaker tax credit if eligible.

An application will be available through the Assessor’s Office, with approvals made by the Board of Assessors.

Each year, the Select Board will determine both the maximum exemption per participant and the total annual cap for the program.

For the first year, expected in fiscal 2027, town officials anticipate setting the maximum exemption at $2,000 per participant, with a total program cap of $200,000.

The exemptions will be funded through the town’s tax overlay (a reserve fund) and have already been included in the proposed fiscal 2027 balanced budget that Town Meeting members will vote on next week.

Officials said the program is intended to be a cost-effective

Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 29, 2026 7

use of municipal funds because it supplements — rather than replaces — existing state benefits.

Based on research of 20 comparable Massachusetts communities with similar programs, Finance Committee member Molly Teets estimated that about 100 Marblehead senior homeowners could qualify.

However, they cautioned that participation may initially be lower, based on the experience of other communities.

“It will be important to get the word out to our senior community that this new tax benefit is available to them,” Teets said.

The announcement comes as Town Meeting prepares to debate the town’s first-ever tiered override proposal — $9, $12 or $15 million — which officials say is needed to close budget gaps and maintain municipal and school services.

Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer and Moderator Jack Attridge were scheduled to discuss the Town Meeting warrant (agenda) Monday evening at the Jacobi Community Center, followed by two question-and-answer sessions later in the week with Select Board and School Committee members at Dunkin’ in Village Plaza. Those sessions are set for Wednesday, April 29, 3-4 p.m. and Thursday, April 30, 9-11 a.m.

How it started, how it’s going Earlier in the year, Kezer announced a $7.7 million deficit for fiscal 2027, driven largely by rising employee health care and pension costs, along with a new, more expensive trash contract.

To get to a balanced FY27 budget would require deep program and staff cuts.

In response, the Select Board proposed two overrides.

The first is the tiered override spread over three years.

Voters also face a second override totaling about $2.3 million to cover increased trash collection costs.

What Town Meeting will decide At Town Meeting, voters will decide whether to place the two override questions on the June 9 town election ballot. During the June election, residents would decide which tier, if any, they support in the first override question.

What each tier includes

The base level, known as “partial restore,” would restore a range of cuts made to balance the current budget, including: » Restoring a total of 15 positions cut in the fiscal 2027 balanced budget, including the police school resource officer » Allowing the library to apply for an accreditation waiver by restoring at least

four full-time positions Restoring positions in the Public Works, Recreation and Parks, the Council on Aging, Public Buildings and Finance departments » Restoring part of the Community Development Department and a laborer in the Cemetery Department » Restoring contributions to the town’s long-term financial health, including stabilization funding Tier two, at $12 million, would add staffing and operational investments, including seven positions: two firefighters, a police officer, an IT director, a budget analyst, a part-time social worker and a GIS specialist.

It also includes $450,000 for building and infrastructure maintenance.

Tier three, the $15 million option, includes additional staffing and long-term investments, including more public safety personnel, a stormwater foreman, a grant writer, $60,000 annually for mental health services and $1 million in recurring capital funding. »

Cost to taxpayers

For the median home valued at $998,600, the estimated tax impact would be: » Tier one ($9 million): $130 in year one, about $919 total over three years » Tier two ($12 million): $180 in year one, about $1,230 total

over three years » Tier three ($15 million):

$430 in year one, about $1,530 total over three years Officials said the lower first-year impact reflects the fact that schools are not requesting additional funding in that first year.

‘A public promise’

The override plan is paired with a three-year memorandum of understanding stating that if any tier passes, the town will not ask voters for another permanent tax increase until 2030.

The MOU also formalizes a 62-38 split for new revenue based on current cost structures, with 62% allocated to schools.

The agreement includes quarterly financial reviews and a commitment to rebuild stabilization funds, though officials emphasized it is not legally binding and will be revisited after three years.

Select Board member Erin Noonan called it “a public promise.”

Other hot-button issues

Also at Town Meeting, voters will decide whether to approve a new proposal to bring Marblehead into compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. The plan includes two multifamily zones at Broughton Road and the Tedesco Country Club.

There are also small changes to the town’s accessory dwelling unit rules, to bring them in compliance with the state.

CHANCE TO LEARN

Local effort helps Afghan girls secure university offers, but funding stands in the way

BY AKANKSHA GOYAL For a group of Afghan girls studying in secret under Taliban rule, acceptance letters from top universities abroad marked a rare moment of possibility.

Now, that opportunity is at risk of slipping away.

Four seniors at Pax Populi Academy — an underground online school for girls founded by a Marblehead resident — have been admitted to Canadian institutions, including the University of British Columbia.

But without roughly $164,000 in additional funding, they may not be able to attend.

“I just can’t bear the idea that these kids could get such an opportunity, and then I say to them, ‘Sorry, you have to stay in Afghanistan,’” said founder Robert McNulty.

McNulty created the academy through his nonprofit, Applied Ethics, Inc., after the Taliban barred girls from education beyond sixth grade, offering a full academic curriculum to students who would otherwise have no access to formal schooling.

Forced out of the classroom McNulty said the four students, all high achievers, were forced to stop their formal education after completing their sophomore year of high school following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

“In every case, these girls were in the top ranks of their school,” he said. “And so their sense of identity as being a kind of outstanding student was just shattered, because they were told they could no longer be a student.”

What followed, he said, was what they described to him as “an immense period of depression,” compounded by the collapse of Afghanistan’s economy.

Still, they found ways to persist. One started a small online handicrafts business to support her family, while others continued learning independently.

“They just didn’t know what

the opportunity to enter the workforce and support herself within two years.

Deadlines approaching

COURTESY PHOTO

Marblehead’s Robert McNulty gives a talk to the female students at a school in Kandahar, Afghanistan in November 2015.

to do with themselves and the future looked so bleak,” McNulty said.

“They’re really quite extraordinary, because they, each in their own ways, decided they’re gonna kind of not be defeated by this.”

applications for about 50 seats last year, with applicants screened through essays and interviews, including conversations with parents to ensure family support.

An underground classroom

Despite the organization’s popularity among young women, gaining recognition from universities posed a challenge.

McNulty said he had to personally intervene after discovering that at least one university policy restricted admissions to students from accredited schools — a standard Pax Populi cannot meet.

“I got both on the phone and I wrote emails,” he said, describing his efforts to appeal directly to admissions offices. “I said… ‘This policy … is effectively barring any girl, no matter how talented and brilliant she might be, from getting into your university.’” He urged officials to evaluate the students based on their work rather than institutional credentials.

“I said to them, ‘Please, just look at the quality of the academic abilities of these students … you don’t need to take my word for it … just examine what they can do,’” McNulty said.

Months later, all three applicants to UBC were accepted.

“I was astonished,” he said.

A fourth student was admitted to a two-year college program in Vancouver that offers both a transfer pathway to UBC and

Eventually, they joined Pax Populi Academy.

“When they were with us, all of them were just mind bogglingly accomplished students,” McNulty said.

He said among them, many have pursued science-focused paths and taken on informal teaching roles, with the goal of eventually teaching others.

The academy operates entirely online with strict security protocols. Students use pseudonyms, keep cameras off and avoid sharing identifying details — precautions designed to protect them if their devices are searched.

It evolved from a long-running English-language program and now offers coursework modeled on advanced curricula, including calculus, physics and philosophy.

Today, it serves more than 100 students across grades seven through 12, with volunteer teachers around the world.

“These are kids that are studying things that you won’t see in all American high schools,” McNulty said.

The demand for the program also far exceeds its capacity.

McNulty said the academy received roughly 1,500

Hurdles in the application process

Acceptance, however, was only the first hurdle. One key enrollment deadline is May 1, and McNulty said he has asked universities for extensions while fundraising continues.

He said the nonprofit has secured about $36,000 in pledges but needs roughly $200,000 total to support the four students through their first year.

Public universities in Canada, like many in the United States, typically offer limited financial aid to international students, leaving most costs uncovered.

McNulty said the expenses begin with both visas and transportation out of Afghanistan.

Students must travel to Pakistan accompanied by a male guardian, as required under current restrictions, before flying to Canada. From there, funds cover housing, food, books, tuition and basic living costs.

“We consider $5,000 a good year,” McNulty said of the nonprofit’s typical fundraising.

“This is just outside of our means.” He said the organization is also exploring backup options, including universities with rolling admissions, in case deadlines pass.

“We’re gonna keep trying until we’ve outrun every option available to us, but we’re not gonna stop yet,” he said.

McNulty also said he has been cautious about how widely to publicize the effort, balancing the need to raise funds with concerns about student safety.

What comes next

Even if the current fundraising effort succeeds, long-term challenges remain. Supporting students through multiple years of study will require continued funding, though McNulty said work opportunities and reduced tuition rates in later years could help.

“I’m not gonna say it’s gonna be easy, but if we can get the

first year going, then we’ll make sure we get the rest of the years covered while they’re there,” he said.

At the same time, Pax Populi is exploring additional programs for students who may not be able to leave Afghanistan.

“It’s just not that possible, at least at this point, for all of our students to attend university,” he said.

One area of focus is business education, aimed at helping students participate in Afghanistan’s informal economy, where women often operate small ventures with the support of male relatives.

McNulty said the academy is considering ways to support those efforts, including a model similar to a “Shark Tank”-style competition that could provide small amounts of seed funding to student-led business ideas.

The final hurdle

But for now, the focus remains on the immediate goal: getting this group of students to campus.

For the students, the acceptances represent more than academic achievement.

“A couple years ago … the only option being offered to them is getting married early and being mothers,” he said. “Getting [offers] was … a confirmation that their talents are recognized and appreciated.” For the academy, he said, the outcome is a measure of its effectiveness despite operating without accreditation and relying almost entirely on volunteers, with one paid administrator coordinating operations on the ground.

“We’re being taken seriously,” he said. “Even without [accreditation]… our students are showing that they can succeed on a world-class stage.”

Still, he emphasized that the outcome remains uncertain.

“We will not have succeeded if we can’t find the funding to get these kids over,” he said. “It’d be nice to say, ‘OK, wow, they got accepted,’ but that’s not nearly as nice as, ‘Hey, they’re actually enrolled.’”

Learn more at paxpopuli.org.

marbleheadcurrent.org

8 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

Driftwood Garden Club

Plant Sale

NO PLANS? NO PROBLEM.

Saaturdaay, May 9

Mother’s Day Weekend!

8:30 AM to 111:330 A AM M

M a s o ni i c H a l l 62 Pleasant Street, Marblehead

Beautifull peren nnials, na atives, an nd grou und dcov vers from loca al gardens.

Re eassonab bly-prriced d herbs and ann nuals.

A cura ated selecttion off house e plants and d other o owering pllan nts,, the pe erfect giift for Mother’s Da ay!

Personal Shopping Assistants and Carry-out service available.

K I T C H E N S | B AT H S | A D D I T I O N S | A D U S PORCHE | GARAGES | BASEMENTS | + MORE

978-867-0400 | BEVERLY, MA

HOME • AUTO • YACHT • BUSINESS

Nicholas A. Burke Nick@burkeins.com

18 Brown Street Salem, MA 01970-3830 T: 978-741-7800 F: 978-741-7805

THE WHOLE TOWN SHOULD GET A SAY. Marblehead is at a crossroads.

Costs have outpaced revenue for years.

Without a general tax override, severe cuts will impact our schools, the library, public safety, the Council on Aging, and much more.

At Town Meeting on May 4, voters will decide: Whether the whole town will go to the polls to vote on a general override in June.

“Yes” puts the override on the ballot in a June town-wide election. “No” takes it off the table, guaranteeing devastating budget cuts.

If you can attend Town Meeting, please do.

Vote YES on Article 29, sending the override to a town-wide vote.

For Marblehead is a community coalition focused on strengthening our town’s municipal services, schools, and infrastructure through sustainable funding, responsible policies, and good governance.

Join our email list! Visit ForMarblehead.org/email or scan this code with your phone camera:

Attend Town Meeting: Mon, May 4 - 7pm - MHS field house Vote YES on Article 29 Learn more: ForMarblehead.org

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Paid For By The Committee For Marblehead.

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 29, 2026 9

Sports ON THE HARBOR

Record-setting performance at BYC’s Jackson Regatta kicks off season

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The Boston Yacht Club hosted its 27th annual Jackson Cup last weekend — the first big sailing event of the season.

The Larchmont Yacht Club of Larchmont, New York, wowed with a record-setting, undefeated score of 17 wins and 0 losses.

Marblehead’s Eastern Yacht Club came in second, followed by The Royal Thames Yacht Club from the United Kingdom and the Ida Lewis Yacht Club from Newport, Rhode Island.

“Team racing takes strategy, determination and excellent seamanship” said BYC Rear Commodore Robert Bova, who presented the awards, “and our thanks go out to all the competitors for coming here and fostering the spirit of camaraderie, competition and tradition that makes the Jackson Cup so special.”

The BYC’s 27th annual Regatta Cup kicked off Marblehead’s sailing season last weekend.

COURTESY PHOTOS / BRUCE DURKEE

ROUNDUP

MHS sports weekly notebook on baseball, softball, girls tennis and girls lacrosse

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Baseball Magicians record two wins to get over .500 There was no time off for the Marblehead High baseball team (5-4 overall, 4-2 in the Northeastern Conference) during spring school vacation week, and it paid off for them quite nicely. They ended up winning a couple of high scoring games against Danvers (10-9, April 22) and Masco (11-9, April 24) to go over the .500 mark as the halfway point of the season approaches for the Seaside Park crew.

The game against the Chieftains opened up the annual Spartan Tournament at Lynn’s Fraser Field, and as a result of the close win the Magicians were in the championship game last Saturday (April 25) against St. Mary’s of Lynn, who defeated its opening day opponent Pope Francis.

In that first game against Masco, the Magicians jumped out early and often, scoring three in the first, four in the second and three more in the third. They scored the muchneeded insurance run in the seventh after Masco, the home team, battled back from an 11-2 deficit.

Junior Will Macrina (4 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts), making his varsity debut, went the first four innings on the mound, giving up just two runs in the first inning, both of them were

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

COURTESY PHOTO / LUANN GABEL

Marblehead High girls tennis senior captain Joy Meschulam waits for the return serve, while playing first doubles in a recent match.

earned. Junior Cam Carneval (2.2 innings, 5 hits, 7 runs, 5 earned, two walks), also playing

in his first varsity game, pitched two solid innings, before tiring in the seventh. Sophomore

southpaw Yanzel Fuentes recorded the final out to earn the all-important save.

The Marblehead boys sprayed 11 hits around the field, with Leventhal getting four of them to pace the attack. He collected three singles and a double that resulted in three RBI and two runs scored. Owen Coyne was credited with two singles and one RBI, while scoring twice.

The Marblehead boys were now in the championship game against aforementioned St. Mary’s of Lynn, but by game’s end the host Spartans took home the title in a hard-fought game, 11-7.

The Magicians actually enjoyed a 6-1 lead at one point, and were still ahead by one in the sixth inning, 7-6. Tim Wales helped power the attack with a two-run homer. Unfortunately, errors that have plagued them throughout April continued to haunt them in this game.

Officially, they had seven errors, but, according to Coach Mike Giardi, there were several other misplays that cost them the lead.

For the record, St. Mary’s scored eight unearned runs, including the last five that gave them the win.

Madden Lyons (2 innings, five hits, five runs, three earned, three walks, 2 strikeouts) started the game on the mound, while Fuentes (3.1-innings, 3 hits, 6 runs, none earned, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts) and Sawyer Adams (0.2-inning, 1 hit) finished up.

The offense was credited with nine hits. Coyne paced the NOTEBOOK, P. 10

marbleheadcurrent.org

10 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

STICKING TO IT

MHS laxmen extend winning streak to five after triumphs over Central Catholic, Masco

BY JOE MCCONNELL

FILE PHOTO / CHARLOTTE MOORE

Marblehead High boys lacrosse senior captain Owen Dulac, who is moving past a Melrose defender during a game last year, has since helped lead the team this spring to a 6-2 record to date that includes winning five in a row.

Notebook From P. 9

attack with three singles, while Wales’ homerun was the lone extra base hit in this game.

The game against the Falcons took 12 innings to decide a winner, and the visiting Magicians were able to come out on top.

“It was a crazy, long (game) that went back and forth,” said Giardi. “Every time we took the lead, Danvers managed to tie it up. Both teams threw runners out at the plate, including the final out of the game in the home half of the 12th inning.”

It was the appropriate way to end it, considering the nature of the entire game. But through it all, the baseball Magicians still struggled in the field, committing seven errors, once again.

Lyons (2 innings, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 earned, 2 walks) recorded the win in relief, but Collin Allen (8 hits, 5 runs, 1 earned, 3 walks, 6 strikeouts) actually carried the Magicians for six innings

to help keep them close on the scoreboard. Coyne started the game on the hill, going one inning, before Adams tossed the next three.

The Marblehead offense banged out 17 hits. Wales led the way with three singles and two walks, knocking in one run, while scoring once.

James Machado also had three singles, and scored a run. Ethan Harwood collected a single and a double with two RBI. Greyson Leventhal had two singles and one walk, and scored one run.

Coyne chipped in with a single and a double that produced one RBI. E.J. Wyman reached base three times with two singles and a walk. He also scored a run.

Softball team looks to get back on track after three close losses The MHS softball team still has a winning record at 6-4, but after beating Saugus on April 20, 11-2, they dropped three close games in a row to Danvers (1-0, April 22), Masco (2-0, April 24) and Bishop Fenwick (11-7, April 25).

Pitcher Tessa Francis gave up three hits, while striking out 12 against the Sachems. She also factored into the offense with two singles and a triple and two RBI. Her batterymate Isabel Mortensen also had three hits and two RBI. Third baseman Tessa Andriano was credited with two hits and two RBI. Rightfielder Lucy Rogers chipped in with two hits. Grace Dow, Delia Heit – her first varsity hit – Hailey Schmitt and Ashley Mortensen accounted for one single apiece.

Girls tennis wins two in a row The girls tennis team (2-3) won its second straight match after dominating Peabody, 4-1 on April 22.

Samara Dosch defeated Alexandra Kourtelidh in first singles, 6-3, 6-1, but Sophie Li lost to Tiffany Bettencourt in a very competitive second singles match, 6-3, 5-7 (7-10). Lilly O’Keefe got the point right back with a 6-1, 6-0 third singles win over Yasmelly Fernandez.

The first doubles team of Joy Meshulam and Emily Levine took

Don’t look now, but the Marblehead High boys lacrosse team (6-2) has won five in a row, including two last week against non-league Central Catholic (12-5, April 20) and Masco (11-8, April 22), while their peers were on spring vacation.

Coach John Wilkens likes what he sees lately from his team that has a nice blend of youth and veteran talent. “We played very well throughout all four quarters against a good Central Catholic team, while we turned in a really good first half against Masco,” said Wilkens. “We have had a good mix of youth and (experience players) coming through with solid efforts for us so far this year.”

Against Central Catholic, Tyler Forbes led the way with four goals and two assists. Will Kinahan collected two goals and one assist. Captain Owen Dulac accounted for two scores.

care of Anna Mariel and Artemis Greko, 6-3, 6-0. Harper Mooney and Annie Tucker teamed up in second doubles to beat Shivann Galvin and Lilly Hunt, 6-0.6-2.

“This was a solid win for us,” said Coach Tracy Ackerman.

“Peabody is well-coached, and is a much-improved team. But Lilly O’Keefe at third singles was super consistent, and played her best match yet, so I was really proud of her. Emily Levine made her varsity debut, and was able to pull off a nice win in first doubles, which was anchored by (captain) Joy Meshulam.”

Girls lacrosse splits last two games The girls lacrosse team (3-5, 2-4 in the Northeastern Conference) split their two most recent games, defeating Saugus, 14-3 on April 20, before losing to Masco the next day, 13-10.

Addie Co-Peeps (3 goals, 1 assist), Emma Ryan (2 goals, 1 assist, 1 draw control), Ella McConnell (1 goal, 1 groundball), Zoe Dwyer (3 goals, 1 assist, 2 draw controls, 1 groundball, 1 caused turnover), Maggie Svencer

VARSITY SCHEDULE Wednesday, April 29 4 p.m., boys baseball vs. Salem at Gallows Hill Park, Salem 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Danvers at Marblehead High 4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Danvers at Danvers High 4:30 p.m., boys and girls track, double dual meet vs.

Masconomet at Newell Stadium, Gloucester 4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Salem at Marblehead Veterans School Thursday, April 30 4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Beverly at MHS Piper Field 6 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Beverly at Beverly High Friday, May 1 4 p.m., boys tennis vs.

Masconomet at Masconomet, Boxford 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Masconomet at Marblehead High 4:30 p.m., girls softball vs. Malden Catholic at Marblehead Veterans School Saturday, May 2 11 a.m., girls lacrosse vs. Manchester-Essex at Manchester-Essex High 1 p.m., boys baseball vs. Bishop Fenwick at Seaside Park Sunday, May 3 9:30 a.m., boys and girls track at MSTCA D4 State Relays,

Pembroke High Monday, May 4 4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs.

Gloucester at Nate Ross Baseball Field, Gloucester Tuesday, May 5 4 p.m., boys and girls track vs. Winthrop and Salem at Marblehead Village School 4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Malden Catholic at Marblehead High 4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs.

Danvers at MHS Piper Field 4:30 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Danvers at Danvers High Wednesday, May 6 4 p.m., boys baseball vs. Peabody at Peabody High 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Swampscott at Swampscott Middle 5 p.m., girls softball vs. Peabody at Marblehead Veterans School Thursday, May 7 4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Gloucester at Gloucester High 4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Salem at Salem High 4:30 p.m., boys lacrosse vs.

Gloucester at MHS Piper Field Friday, May 8 4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Malden Catholic at Malden Catholic 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Peabody at Marblehead High 4:30 p.m., girls softball vs.

Gloucester at Gloucester High

4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs.

Gloucester at Seaside Park Saturday, May 9 9:30 a.m., boys and girls track at NEC Freshman/Sophomore Championship Meet at Gloucester High 10:30 a.m., girls tennis vs.

Newburyport at Nock Middle School, Newburyport 11 a.m., boys lacrosse vs. Lexington at MHS Piper Field 11 a.m., girls lacrosse vs. Bishop Fenwick at Bishop Fenwick, Peabody Monday, May 11 4 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Peabody at Peabody High 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Gloucester at Gloucester High 4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Gloucester at Marblehead High 4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs. Peabody at MHS Piper Field 4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs.

Swampscott at Seaside Park 5 p.m., girls softball vs. Ipswich at Marblehead Veterans School Tuesday, May 12 4:30 p.m., boys track at NEC Duals Rainout Makeup Meet (if necessary) Wednesday, May 13 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Beverly at Beverly High 4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Beverly at Marblehead High

4 p.m., girls lacrosse vs.

Masconomet at Masconomet, Boxford 4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs. Beverly at Seaside Park 5 p.m., girls softball vs. Beverly at Beverly High 7 p.m., boys lacrosse vs.

Masconomet at MHS Piper Field Thursday, May 14 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Danvers at Danvers High 4 p.m., boys tennis vs. Danvers at Marblehead High 4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs.

Danvers at Seaside Park 5 p.m., girls softball vs. Danvers at Tiggle Field, Danvers Saturday, May 16 9:30 a.m., boys and girls track at MSTCA Metro Coaches Invitational, Lexington High 11 a.m., girls lacrosse vs. Tewksbury at John F. Ryan Gym, Tewksbury Monday, May 18 4 p.m., girls tennis vs. Winthrop at Marblehead High 4:15 p.m., boys lacrosse vs. Melrose at Melrose High Green Stadium 4:30 p.m., boys tennis vs.

Winthrop at Winthrop High 4:30 p.m., boys baseball vs.

Winthrop at Winthrop High 4:30 p.m., girls softball vs.

Winthrop at Marblehead Veterans Middle School

Landon Dosch, Kyle Thibodeau, Reid Weysor and Bailey Finkle each netted one goal. Finkle also had an assist, along with captain Grady Becker. Goalie Colin Maniaci, also a senior captain, did his part to secure the win with 17 saves.

“This was definitely one of his best games,” said Wilkens of Maniaci afterwards.

Against Masco, these Magicians led from beginning to end. They were in front at halftime, 6-2.

Weysor paced the team’s attack with three goals and one assist.

Becker was also a major factor on offense with two goals and two assists. Forbes accounted for two scores, along with Thibodeau.

Kinahan and Finkle each had a goal and an assist. Dulac was the assist leader with three. Dosch setup one tally.

Maniaci once again made sure that his teammates stayed ahead on the scoreboard by coming up with 14 saves.

(2 goals), Sammy Walker (6 draw controls), Avery Wysor (1 goal, 1 draw control), Laurel Kearney (1 goal) and June Crawford (1 goal) were the offensive leaders against Saugus. Goalie Molly Bullard made six saves.

“We continue to build and adjust with each game,” said coach Annie Madden. “It was a solid win, but it’s time to get back to practice to keep on improving.”

Against Masco, Co-Peeps (2 goals, 1 assist), Ryan (2 goals), McConnell (2 assists), Dwyer (3 goals, 3 assists), Svencer (7 draw controls), Walker (2 goals, 6 draw controls) and Wysor (1 goal) were the team’s statistical leaders. Bullard came up with 14 saves to keep things close on the scoreboard.

“This was a tough loss, but we are still holding strong,” said Madden. “We played well across the board, and I’m proud of how much we have grown (since the beginning of the season). But unfortunately, we came up short.

I’m now looking forward to regrouping and getting ready for Salem on (April 28).”

VARSITY SCOREBOARD Monday, April 20 Girls softball: Marblehead 11, Saugus 2 Boys lacrosse: Marblehead 12, Central Catholic 5 Girls lacrosse: Marblehead 14, Saugus 3 Wednesday, April 22 Boys baseball: Marblehead 10, Danvers 9 (12 inn.)

Girls lacrosse: Masconomet 13, Marblehead 10 Girls tennis: Marblehead 4, Peabody 1 Boys lacrosse: Marblehead 11, Masconomet 8 Girls softball: Danvers 1, Marblehead 0 Friday, April 24 Boys baseball: Marblehead 11, Masconomet 9 Girls softball: Masconomet 2, Marblehead 0 Saturday, April 25 Boys baseball: St. Mary’s (Lynn) 11, Marblehead 7 Girls softball: Bishop Fenwick 11, Marblehead 7 TEAM RECORDS (THROUGH APRIL 26) Boys baseball, 5-4 Boys lacrosse, 6-2 Girls lacrosse, 3-4 Boys tennis, 5-1 Girls tennis, 2-3 Girls softball, 8-5

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 29, 2026 11

MONEY MATTERS

From tax rates to poor house, 135-year-old report offers window into town life

BY LEIGH BLANDER Jerry Wishnow was combing through bins at a flea market on the Lynnway years ago when something caught his eye: a 72-page paperback titled “Town of Marblehead Auditors’ Report, 1890-91.”

As Marbleheaders closely follow today’s budget and override debate, Wishnow said the old report offers a fascinating look at how little — and how much — has changed.

Wishnow, a retired awardwinning media producer who lives in town, recently revisited the book and shared some of its highlights with the Marblehead Current.

In 1891, Marblehead’s total valuation of taxable real estate was $4.7 million. Compare that to $9.8 billion today, according to Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer.

The town’s population was about 8,200 in 1890. There were 1,677 taxable property holders, broken down as 1,336 resident individuals, 58 resident firms and corporations, 268 nonresident individuals and 15 nonresident firms.

Marblehead’s tax rate at the time was considered high compared with neighboring communities.

The 1891 rates were: » Marblehead: $16.80 per $1,000 » Salem: $17.60 per $1,000 » Swampscott: $10 per $1,000 » Nahant: $6.50 per $1,000 » Boston: $10.50 per $1,000 The report also detailed

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Jerry Wishnow stands on his back porch holding the copy of the “Town of Marblehead Auditors’ Report 1890-91.”

The first page of the Marblehead Auditors’ Report of 1890-91.

annual appropriations for town departments, including $21,959.74 for schools, with

The Marblehead Auditors’ Report of 1890-91 includes the appropriation for the schools, including teacher salaries.

$15,297.40 allocated to salaries; $3,767.90 for police; and $14,850 for fire services.

One section that particularly caught Wishnow’s attention focused on Marblehead’s

almshouse, listed under the town’s “poor department,” which received a $7,000 appropriation.

At the end of the report, town auditors wrote a striking appeal to residents: “The best we can do here is beg the citizens to go and look the premises over and ask themselves if the comforts and conveniences are such as would be satisfactory to them were they to be thrown upon the charity of the town… Whether a more liberal policy is desirable for the future, we will not venture to suggest.”

Wishnow said the language stood out.

“It was like they were telling residents, ‘Have a heart,’” he said.

The report also includes 23 town meeting warrant articles that reflected the issues of the day.

Among them were proposals to petition the Legislature for permission to establish an electrical plant to provide light and power for the town and its residents, appropriate $1,000 for soldiers’ relief, and create a bylaw related to truancy.

Residents were also asked to appoint all town officers and School Committee members.

Wishnow says many names in the book sound familiar today, including Goodwin, Cloutman, Graves and Doliber.

“There’s also Litchman and Roads, Warren,” he said. “Oh my gosh, they’re all here. They haven’t gone anywhere.”

‘READING IS FUNDAMENTAL’

See what’s new at Marblehead’s Literary Festival

BY MARIELLE SABBAG The Marblehead Literary Festival returns for another year to celebrate reading, writing and creating new connections.

“The Literary Festival has been going on since the inception of the Marblehead Arts Festival,” said Margo Steiner, chair of the Literary Festival. “It draws enormous crowds, and I hope this year draws an even bigger crowd.”

Held over Independence Day weekend, the festival gathers authors, poets and readers for a series of events and workshops.

This year, Steiner said she has expanded programming beyond the July festival with a series of spring “prequel” events and fall “sequel” offerings.

“Because we had so many interesting ideas, I suggested prequels in spring and sequels in the fall,” Steiner said. “It keeps the Literary Festival in people’s minds.” A Literary Speed Dating event kicked off the prequel season on April 17 at the Marblehead Arts Association tavern. Steiner called it a wild success.

Fourteen participants attended, including one woman who drove from Worcester to be there.

Participants brought books and had a variety of

discussions around a table.

“It was such an open discussion about books,” Steiner said. “People walked away very happy and wanted to keep getting together to talk about books.” The spring lineup continues in May with a discussion with bestselling author Jenna Blum on Wednesday, May 13 at 7 p.m., also in the MAA tavern.

“We’ll have a roundtable format, similar to Speed Dating, where people can ask her anything,” said Steiner.

Copies of ‘Murder Your Darlings’ and Jenna Blum’s other books will be on sale.

Later that month, longtime Marblehead resident and avid walker, Susan Butterworth will lead “All Paths Lead to the Harbor,” a literary walking tour that blends coastal scenery and readings of classic works.

Butterworth is taking participants on a new adventure this year.

“Expect to see places that you didn’t know existed and enjoy readings about Marblehead while walking through the sights where readings take place,” she said.

Along the route, Butterworth said she will read aloud passages from John Greenleaf Whittier’s poetry to modern fiction

inspired by the town. The walk begins at the State Street Landing.

‘Movement, mindfulness and writing’ In June, another literary event takes place outdoors. “The Walking Creative” will be led by Zoe Culbertson and Katie Naoum Rogers along the Marblehead Rail Trail on Sunday, June 7, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Culbertson said the workshop combines movement, mindfulness and writing.

“I’m fascinated by how walking and time in nature spark creativity,” Culbertson said. “Creative writing is a powerful way to connect with what’s going on within each individual.” The event is designed to be accessible to all levels. Culbertson

People came from as far as Worcester for a Literary Speed Dating event.

said no prior writing experience is required.

Participants will meet at the Tower School parking lot on the day of the event.

July 4 holiday

As the prequel events wind down, the main festival activities start on July 1-4, as part of the Marblehead Festival of Arts, with events held outdoors at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion on Washington Street.

Steiner said the festival will feature a wide range of talks and workshops — from Elizabeth de

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD PLANNING BOARD The Marblehead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday May 12, 2026 at 7:00 PM on the application of Page and Patrick Harrington, requesting the review of a previously denied Zoning Board of Appeals application to determine that the new proposal is specifically and materially different from the previous application under MGL c.40A §16. The project calls for one and two-story additions on an existing single-family residential dwelling at 29 WEST STREET in a SINGLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The public hearing will be held under Section 200-38 of the Marblehead Zoning Bylaw. This meeting will be held in hybrid format with remote participation available and in person at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington Street Marblehead, MA 01945.

Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by email: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov Project materials are available at the Town of Marblehead’s Community Development and Planning Office located at 7 Widger Road Marblehead, MA 01945. Details on how to access the meeting remotely will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The agenda and zoom link can be found on the Town’s home page at www.marbleheadma.gov Robert Schaeffner Chairman

Veer’s reimagining of “Cinderella” to a panel on military language and combat poetry led

by Brandeis University anthropologist and Brookline resident Janet McIntosh.

McIntosh said this is her first time participating in the Marblehead’s Literary Festival.

“I hope our presentation can help audiences to understand the cost of war,” McIntosh said.

Other festival highlights include youth writing labs, storytelling events and the popular writing contest.

COURTESY PHOTO

Falling forward

For the sequel events, Steiner said there’s more to look forward to with plans for a literary Jeopardy!, speed puzzling and giant crossword puzzling contest.

Steiner says one of the most meaningful aspects of the festival are the new connections people make.

“Literature is so important to the human experience,” Steiner said.

Registration is required for most events and workshops. Visit marbleheadfestival.org.

LEGAL NOTICE SEWER USER FEE QUESTIONS TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD, MA BOARD OF WATER AND SEWER COMMISSIONERS TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS The Marblehead Water and Sewer Commission hereby notifies all owners of property who are currently paying sewer user fees that, if there is any question as to whether the property being charged sewer user fees is connected to the Town sewer system, a written notice must be filed with the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners.

Failure to provide written notification to the Commission will limit any future request for sewer system abatements to current charges only.

Thomas Murray, Chair Water and Sewer Commission

marbleheadcurrent.org

12 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

CURRENT EVENTS

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

—By Julia Rockler

‘Mamma Mia!’ at MHS

Chess Club for Kids Thursday, April 30, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Your child may be the world’s next chess master! Bring them to

Friday, May 1Sunday, May 3

Abbot Library’s Chess Club where they’ll improve their skills and play against other kids. Ages 7-11 years.

The spots are limited and a registration is required at abbotlibrary.org.

Marblehead High presents the hit musical “Mamma Mia!” The show, featuring hits by ABBAm tells the story of a young woman’s search for her father. The sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. All shows performed at the Marblehead High School auditorium. Shows run through the weekend. More info and tickets at https:// loom.ly/Py7aFXQ.

Green Homes Tour With Sustainable Marblehead Five new homes this year

Spring Sound Bath

Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m. -2 p.m.

Thursday, April 30, 7-8 p.m.

End your day with a restorative spring sound bath. Come relax to the sounds of singing bowls, gongs, chimes and the ocean. $35 at The Yoga Loft. Register at info@ theyogaloftmarblehead.com.

Devereux Beach Carnival Thursday, May 7-Sunday, `May 10

The annual Devereux Beach Carnival is coming, sponsored by the Marblehead High junior class. Admission is $2 (kids under 36” are free).

Hours are: » Thursday: 6-10 p.m.

» Friday: 6-10 p.m. » Saturday, 1-10 p.m.` » Sunday, 1-6 p.m.

To buy tickets online visit cushingamusements.com/events.

Have you ever wondered how to make your home more energy efficient? Join Sustainable Marblehead’s Green Homes Tour and visit nine different homes to learn simple solutions that save money and energy. During the tour you will have the chance to talk to homeowners and get inspiration for your own home. Tickets are $10 and registration is required by signing up at https://loom.ly/ak2lnUM. If you have any questions, send an email to info@ sustainablemarblehead.org.

Plant Sale Saturday, May 9, 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Community Champions Rising Tides Celebration Thursday, May 7, 6:30-11:30 p.m.

Marblehead Counseling Center invites you to a festive night to celebrate heroes in the community.

You can expect live music and great food sponsored by the Beacon restaurant. Come celebrate coaches, volunteers, business leaders, friends and neighbors.

Toast the MCC’s Community Champion Award winner, too. Tickets are $81.88 each and the money goes towards quality mental health care and social services in Marblehead and surrounding towns. More info and tickets at marbleheadcounselingcenter.org.

Get a floral Mother’s Day present by attending the Driftwood’s Garden Club’s plant sale at Masonic Hall.

The sale features everything from perennials, ground covers and annuals from local gardens, with a new addition this year: a curated selection of houseplants.

All proceeds support the gardens and grounds at Old Farrell Court and Abbot Public Library. You will be greeted by personal shopping assistants and there are carry-out services available. Questions? Send an email to driftwoodgarden50@gmail.com.

The Smack Dabs Friday, May 1, 8 p.m.

Kick off your weekend by listening to swing blues band The Smack Dabs at Me & Thee Music. Tickets are $30, $10 for students. Learn more and save your seat at meandthee.org.

ARTS

Local woman to leave Peabody Essex for top role at Smithsonian

BY LEIGH BLANDER Lynda Hartigan of Marblehead has helped shape the Peabody Essex Museum as one of the region’s leading cultural institutions. This summer, she’s stepping down to take on a national leadership position in Washington, D.C. Hartigan, executive director and CEO of the PEM in Salem, will leave her post effective June 30 to become executive director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum — “the country’s museum dedicated to American art, craft and visual culture,” she said.

Her new role officially begins Sept. 8.

Hartigan’s connection to Marblehead spans more than two decades. She lived in town from 2003 to 2020, first serving as PEM’s chief curator from 2003 to 2016 and then as deputy director from 2016 to 2020. After a stint in Toronto, she returned in 2021 as PEM’s director.

“I’ve really enjoyed living in this seaside community,” she said of Marblehead. “And it’s clear the town really supports the arts and history. I’ve also appreciated how the town takes such pride in itself.”

In her new position, Hartigan will oversee a museum widely regarded as holding the nation’s first and foremost collection of American art.

“The collection covers three centuries of American art and culture, an incredible span in terms of time, and a whole range of media — paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, digital arts,” she said.

The museum’s holdings include about 46,000 works As director, Hartigan said her focus will include “advancing the museum’s core mission and sharing the stories of our nation through art.”

Hartigan said she isn’t too concerned about the Trump administration’s efforts to

influence exhibits at national museums and parks.

“I’ve dealt with challenging situations of different kinds and magnitudes,” she said.

“It’s always possible to create opportunities for progress, no matter the situation you’re in.”

During her tenure at PEM, she established a major exhibition program, led a transformation of the museum’s galleries and expanded its focus to include photography, contemporary and American art, and global fashion.

She also strengthened the museum’s philanthropic base, guided a five-year strategic plan and helped reshape the visitor experience, positioning PEM as both a global cultural leader and a community anchor.

Jennifer Borggaard, chair of PEM’s Board of Trustees, praised Hartigan’s impact and her appointment to the national role.

“Lynda has been an inspiring change agent whose

COURTESY PHOTO / PEM, ALEX PAUL

Lynda Hartigan is leaving Marblehead and the Peabody Essex Museum to run the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

ability to gather people around art, experiences, and multidisciplinary ideas has expanded PEM’s leadership in creativity, innovation and the visitor experience,” Borggaard

said. “We will miss her greatly, and are proud that she will now bring her visionary energy to SAAM and the Smithsonian, our country’s national cultural complex.”

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 29, 2026 13

POLICE LOG

Gatchell’s Park lights intrude on nearby home, benches go AWOL Saturday, April 4

» Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 4 » Abandoned 911 calls: 3 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 4:29 p.m. An officer investigated a report that the caller’s neighbor on Dunn’s Lane had blocked the road with flower pots. The officer confirmed the report and spoke with the resident who had placed the pots and learned that she had done so after seeing UPS and Amazon trucks get stuck on the hill. She was seeking to prevent a recurrence. The officer explained to the woman that, even though her intentions were good, she should not place objects in the road. The woman said she understood and moved the pots aside right away.

7:59 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Elm Street.

Sunday, April 5

» Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 8 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 2:25 p.m. Suspicious activity

Letters From P. 5

Grassroots democracy To the editor: I encourage everyone to participate in grassroots democracy right here at our upcoming Town Meeting on May 4 at 7 p.m. at the high school.

Democracy works from the ground up, that is, from each one of us engaging in the decisions that form the structure of our communities and our country.

And I ask Town Meeting attendees to vote “yes” on town warrant Article 40, an affirmation of the town’s commitment to this country’s founding principles and documents such as the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, and the rule of law.

This is a non-partisan article.

It’s not about Democrat vs. Republican or any other political party. It’s a reminder of this country’s beginnings and the Patriots’ — including Marbleheaders’ — aspirations for a more perfect country and government. That is what we still strive for today. Please join us on May 4 and vote for democracy.

Kate Borten, co-sponsor of Article 40 Martin Terrace

‘Einstein insists on’ the library To the editor: I write today in earnest in support of our town’s library. I realize we are currently facing budget struggles, but that is often the case as any parent or “head of household” will tell you. However, we have a responsibility to keep our library (fully) open to offer the materials needed for early and lifelong learning. In the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Free libraries are the cradle of democracy.” Honestly, there is no doubt in my mind as to the truth in that ideal. Also, consider Albert Einstein’s words when he declared, “The only thing that you absolutely need to know is the location of the library.”

Everyone has a hill that they

was reported on Community Road.

Monday, April 6

» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 8 » Abandoned 911 calls: 2 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 10:05 a.m. An officer was dispatched to the area of Lincoln Avenue to speak with a 19-yearold man about an incident.

The officer met the man in front of the Ryan Marine boat yard, where the man explained that someone had snapped the shovels he uses in the woods between Hoods Lane and Lincoln Avenue, and he suspected one of the neighbors.

The man said the neighbors had come out several times and asked him not to leave trash in the area. The officer explained to him that leaving stuff on public property is not a good idea and recommended that he stop going into that patch of woods. The man said he understood, adding that he planned to hang out in the Salem woods for now on.

10:39 a.m. Assistance was provided to a citizen on Evans Road.

11:03 a.m. A lost iPhone was

would die on; that hill for me is access. The access to decent housing, education equality and clean water are things we often think of when questions of access arise. Here, access refers to books, periodicals, computer usage, tax help, community events just to name a few. These services and the assistance of knowledgeable librarians is critical. Libraries hold not only the books with language and stories that “map” our young brains and feed developed ones but also offer a quiet haven to those young and old.

We need only to think back to our favorite stories to remember how fundamental libraries are to culture. I can immediately recall “Nancy Drew” mysteries or later “The Bluest Eye.” These stories informed my sensibilities and imagination in countless ways.

For my sons, I think of how they devoured each “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book. We see ourselves in stories and gather the words to tell our own.

Our library has been modernized to offer workspaces for those who work remotely, students, teachers, writers, as well as access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, videos, movies and courses through its digital catalogues. A teen room welcomes teens into a generous study space. The Carten Gallery is an enhanced art space, offering patrons to view local artists’ work whenever they like.

In case you have not visited our gem of a library lately, the Children’s Room calendar is filled with story time and music programming, crafts and STEM challenges, all free, all cherished.

The adult calendar features lectures, book club, tax help, writers’ group, access to one of a kind historical Marblehead documents, photographs and maps.

The library now offers an extraordinary delivery program designed to make library materials accessible to Marblehead patrons who are unable to get to the library. This ensures the sick and homebound an invaluable connection.

In my own experience, I have found the library to be a budget help. I cannot count the savings I have realized, not only in borrowing instead of buying books for myself and

reported on Pleasant Street.

11:49 a.m. A lost black iPhone was reported on Farrell Court.

12:28 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Bassett Street.

2:56 p.m. An officer assisted at the scene of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street.

4:47 p.m. An officer was dispatched to the area of the Three Cod Tavern, where a caller had reported that a young man with a larger build and wearing a maroon jersey was throwing things and walking inbound on Pleasant Street. The officer located the young man further down Pleasant Street near Starbucks, accompanied by another young man. When the officer approached, one of the young men threw his hand up in the air. The young men admitted to buying two Arizona Iced Teas at the Village Market and later throwing the empty

my children, but also savings in museum admissions, foregoing pricey digital subscriptions and more.

Over and above all that, library staff are willing to assist with research and finding resources.

This help is priceless when one needs answers be it for a school paper, job search or legal question.

So, with all that said, friends and neighbors, remember access.

Our community should stand in unison to keep our library thriving. Einstein insists on it.

Yours in lifelong learning, Erin Coleman Curtis Street

First literary speed dating event generated ‘magic’ To the editor: On behalf of the 2026 Marblehead Festival of Arts’ Literary Festival, I would like to offer several thanks: First, to Xhazzie Kindle and the Marblehead Arts Association for making the organization’s tavern available for the first of our prequel events, Literary Speed Dating, on April 17. The venue was perfect, and we are grateful for the opportunity to use it.

Secondly, we wish to express our thanks to all the “guinea pigs” who attended this brand new event, and provided us feedback.

There was a magic in the tavern that night as attendees spoke eloquently and passionately about the book each brought to share with others. Most interesting, perhaps, were the rare disagreements. “I absolutely loved ‘Theo of Golden’,” raved one. “It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time, and I know I’ll read it again and again.” And then from across the table, “I hated it. I could not get into it, but my sister says I have to try again. I’m still struggling.”

Such was our evening, which was a refreshing mix of men and women passionate about reading. One attendee even drove in from Worcester for the evening event. Rest assured we will be repeating this event on occasion, although likely under a name that describes it better.

Already we’re looking forward to our May 13 event, also in the

cans up in the air, landing in the street. They were confident that they did not strike a vehicle with either can. The officer confirmed with dispatch that the caller did not have any damage to their vehicle before escorting both young men back up Pleasant Street so they could retrieve their cans from the road for proper disposal.

5:49 p.m. Officers assisted a citizen on Pleasant Street.

9:40 p.m. Police were notified that a disabled vehicle would be in a lot overnight on Ocean Avenue.

Tuesday, April 7

» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 9 » Abandoned 911 calls: 3 » Vehicle stops, citations: 3 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2 10:38 a.m. Larceny, forgery or fraud was reported on Carna Road.

1:23 p.m. A lost earring was reported on Prospect Street.

2:32 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Highland Terrace.

3:34 p.m. A general complaint was made on Green Street and West Shore Drive.

5:30 p.m. A woman came to

MAA tavern, which will feature popular international bestselling author, Jenna Blum. Do check out all our literary events, as well as Festival events, at marbleheadfestival.org.

Margo W. R. Steiner Washington Street

Newly found perk at Abbot Library To the editor: Just another way the Abbott Library serves the community.

We just discovered Kanopy, an app that streams movies and TV shows and the only requirement for access being an Abbot library card! Better still, unlike, say Netflix, that sometimes seems as bottomless and barren as the Mariana trench, all the content there is curated by librarians.

Less is always more. We just watched two award-winning shorts, “The Phone Call” and “Chuchotage” that were moving and funny in equal measure. In the normal course of things, we would never have found them.

Thank you, Abbot. We love you!

John Bonner Jersey Street

COA fundraiser is sold out To the editor: I want to take this opportunity to thank the town for all of your support over this past year of the Friends of the Marblehead Council on Aging. As a member of the fundraising committee, we are having the annual fundraiser on April 30 and we are now SOLD OUT. We will not be selling tickets at the door.

We thank you again for all your support!!

Sincerely, Jack Marotta Chairman of the Fundraising Committee and Vice President of the Friends of the Marblehead COA Prospect Street

What does MMLD have against electric vehicles?

To the editor: I own a plug-in hybrid electric car. I love it. This type of car is especially appropriate for a place like our town with many short trips. Thankfully, I can charge

the police station to file a report about the fact that she believed that her and her mother’s nowformer apartment on Elm Street had been equipped with cameras.

The woman explained that there were two Nest thermostats in the apartment, one in the bedroom and one in the living room. The officer asked her if she had seen any cameras or anything that could record audio. The woman said she did not, but she said she had read up on the Nest thermostat and believed they have recording capabilities. The officer asked the woman if she had ever questioned the landlord about it. The woman said the landlord had told her to stop contacting her now that they had moved out. The woman said that she and her mother had friends over one day, and somehow the landlord knew those friends’ names, which she believed the landlord could have only learned from a recording. The woman also explained that she had given their next-door neighbor a key so she could bring in any packages, and the landlord out of the blue asked her why she had given a key to the neighbor.

POLICE, P. 15

the car at home. Last month, I bought 1.6 gallons of gas for it.

Until recently, the Marblehead Municipal Light Department’s public use charging stations simply charged what the power would cost from an outlet in your house. The charging stations down the street from where I live seemed to be fairly consistently used. I would occasionally chat with owners while out on walks. That recently changed. They have been deserted. I have discovered why.

MMLD has implemented a new rate plan that doubles the cost from 5-9 p.m. on weekdays.

Their reasoning is that usage during this time increases their peak usage and drives up the cost of their wholesale power purchases. (We buy all of our electricity, generating none of our own.) They also have a “parking” fee of $5 per hour after charging stops.

There seem to be several things wrong with this: First of all, the 50-cent “on peak” rate is exorbitant. You can get more car miles per dollar from gasoline.

No one in their right mind will buy electricity for their car for 50 cents/kwh.

The average working person gets home about 5 or 6 p.m. and can conveniently set the car to charge during the evening, retrieving it before bedtime.

With the new arrangement they could have to attend to the car in the middle of the night or risk the “parking” fee of $5 per hour.

Also – the peak hours. During the summer we would get telephone pleas from MMLD’s former manager to curtail usage during mid to late afternoon.

The peak 2024 summer usage occurred in July between 2 and 3 p.m. In the winter, it was in December between 5 and 6 p.m. Isn’t it strange they have shifted the new “peak” period almost entirely out of the hour of historical maximum use and into the hours of maximum inconvenience?

To top all this off, they are dealing with a minuscule part of their electric demand. Last year they sold $21 million worth of electricity. They expect to “save” $10,000 with this new plan.

Laurence Proulx Commercial Street

marbleheadcurrent.org

14 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

AD ASTRA

Locals peer into cosmos at Preston Beach star party

BY LUCA TEDESCO Dozens of stargazers were greeted by a row of telescopes set up at Beach Bluff Park on Tuesday night for the Stargazing Over Preston Beach event, hosted by the Clifton Improvement Association and the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club.

“We’re always trying to find programs that interest people and relate to the environment,” said CIA Vice President Sharyl Levenson. “Alexa [Carr] joined us, and she has been extraordinary in thinking of different programs to offer to our members.”

After Carr contacted the NSAAC, the two groups decided to hold a star party at the Preston Beach parking lot on the eve of Earth Day. “Astronomy is just one of many ways to get people to appreciate nature,” said NSAAC star party coordinator and amateur astronomer Brewster LaMacchia of Andover. “I think understanding the scale of the universe — starting with our own planet, then our solar system, and going through the Milky Way galaxy to other galaxies — is a bit humbling.”

Members of the NSAAC were on hand to guide attendees

CURRENT PHOTOS / LUCA TEDESCO

Telescopes large and small were set up for public use by the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club during a star party benefiting the club and the Clifton Improvement Association in Marblehead on Tuesday, April 21.

as they aimed telescopes at different celestial objects.

A highlight of the night was Jupiter’s swirling cloud bands alongside the four Galilean moons — Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto — which orbit the solar system’s largest planet.

“I’ve always been interested in space,” said Julian Troake of Boxford. “We come out to these star parties and show people some really interesting stuff. It’s a great way for us to learn as well as for members of the public to learn.”

Stargazers young and old took turns peering through the eyepieces, observing the planets and stars that surround Earth.

Charlotte Gray of Marblehead observes Jupiter through a telescope during the Stargazing Over Preston Beach star party

“This is my first time at an event like this,” said Charlotte Gray, a junior at Marblehead High School. “I love astronomy.

I’m taking an astronomy class.

I think it’s so fascinating, and I really wanted to learn more and see some of it with my own eyes.

Just the vastness of everything — it’s incredible how huge the universe is.”

In the weeks following the launch and safe return of the Artemis II mission around the moon, there was a palpable sense of wonder among the crowd, especially among younger attendees.

“I’m excited to see a lot of planets and stars because I’m coming to look through a big telescope,” said Gemma, 7. “My favorite planet is Saturn because of its rings, like hula hoops.”

Another highlight of the night was the Orion Nebula, a “stellar nursery” more than 1,200 lightyears away that contains more than 700 stars in various stages of formation. Nebulae like Orion allow astronomers to glimpse the processes that led to the formation of the solar system more than 4 billion years ago.

“We were born from stars,” said LaMacchia. “When the universe formed, it was all hydrogen and helium. There was no carbon, no oxygen, no phosphorus, no nitrogen — all the things that make us possible.

Where did all that come from?

The stars. I think understanding that process of how we got here — the physical us — everybody should know where we came from.”

SUSTAINABLE MARBLEHEAD

Energy questions? We’ve got answers

BY LOUISE BULLIS YARMOFF As we face more and more geopolitical uncertainties leading to rising energy costs, most of us have seen our utility bills increase. In addition to being anxious about affordability, many of us are worried about climate change and how that could impact us and future generations in our coastal community. It might be time to make some strategic changes in our home equipment and appliances to stabilize our monthly utility bills, while also helping mitigate the potential effects of rising global temperatures.

To help Marbleheaders learn about home energy efficiency, Sustainable Marblehead is organizing a Green Homes Tour on Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring nine homes around town. If you have wondered how to begin your journey to make your home more affordable and less polluting and what it actually looks like to make your home more energy efficient, our tour will offer potential solutions for you to consider.

Marblehead residents will be able to visit with other homeowners who have installed heat pumps, solar

panels, insulation and other energy-efficiency technologies, such as induction stoves and tankless hot water heaters. Each home tells a slightly different story, and these homes show that there is no single path but a range of options that homeowners can explore over time. Visitors can see upgrades in action, ask homeowners questions and come away with a clearer sense of what might work in their own space. It is a great way to learn how some of these retrofits have saved the homeowners on their utility bills. For more information and to register, go to sustainablemarblehead.org.

Did you know that homes and buildings contribute more than 40% of Marblehead’s carbon output? Fortunately, there are programs, financial incentives, and improving technologies that will help us slash our emissions and potentially our energy bills. This year, the tour will be introducing a new team of volunteers: trained energy coaches. They will be available to answer questions and set up meetings to work with attendees one-on-one to address their specific home situations.

The best way to start is by getting an energy audit through our utility. All Marblehead

NEWS IN BRIEF

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

Pulitzer Prize winner to speak on tolerance Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Shribman will speak at Marblehead High School on Wednesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. about tolerance. Rabbi David Meyer will join Shribman for conversation as the journalist draws on his decades of reporting, analysis and first-hand experience covering national and global events.

The program is free and open to all. It is sponsored by the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination, Marblehead

Ministerial Association and Marblehead Police Department.

Town to receive more opioid settlement money At the April 22 Select Board meeting, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer announced that Marblehead will receive part of a new $94 million opioid settlement that will be split among communities across the country. Kezer said it’s not clear yet how much money Marblehead will receive. The money will go into the town’s opioid settlement fund, which is used for mental health, addiction and education services.

Spring rummage sale

St. Andrew’s Episocopal Church, 135 Lafayette St., is back with its annual rummage sale on

residents, including renters, can schedule an energy audit through Marblehead Light’s partner at NextZero. Their audit will show residents how they can reduce their energy consumption and save money on their energy bills. Natural gas customers of National Grid are eligible for a similar service from the Mass Save program. MMLD also has a partnership with the Center for EcoTechnology to run a heat pump assessment in your home, in order to help you evaluate and consider how effective switching from your current HVAC systems to heat pumps would be.

A NextZero energy audit will start by assessing your home’s insulation capabilities. Areas that are insufficiently insulated will be noted along with possible solutions that will result in a more comfortable house that consumes less energy. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to make sure

Saturday, May 9, 8-11:45 a.m. The popular stuff-a-bag event follows from noon-1 p.m. “Attendees find hidden gems, refresh their home on a budget and do their part for the planet,” according to St. Andrew’s.

Veterans Breakfast at the COA All Marblehead veterans are invited to the semi-annual Veterans Breakfast hosted by the Council on Aging at the Masons on Friday, May 22, 9 a.m. at the COA. RSVP by Friday, May 15, at 781-631-6225.

New General Edwards Bridge virtual meeting The state Department of Transportation is hosting a virtual public Information meeting on Wednesday, April

insulation and air sealing is addressed before other changes are made regarding heating and cooling equipment.

Even if you are still researching how you would like to modify your systems in the near future, adding insulation will immediately improve the efficiency of your current systems and therefore reduce energy use, which will in turn save money. Both the NextZero and Mass Save programs provide rebates that will reduce the cost of insulation.

Homes that are being heated by burning oil, propane, or natural gas are candidates for upgrades to heat pumps. Heat pumps are highly efficient, because they do not create heat; they simply extract it from the atmosphere.

Note that for our region and climate, modern “cold climate” heat pump systems can be purchased to create strong heat in temperatures as low as - 15 degrees F. When a home is properly insulated, homeowners who convert from oil to heat pumps typically save 30% to 40% or more on their energy bills. In addition, heat pumps can provide efficient and quiet air conditioning in the summer months.

Once you have established your new HVAC equipment and

more efficient appliances, you might consider adding rooftop solar to power your electrified home system in order to further reduce your electric bill, avoid future price spikes, and, of course, lower your carbon output. New technologies are increasing the electrical output of solar panels. Many of the folks in town who have solar PV systems actually have negative electricity bills for six to eight months of the year, and then lower bills than before during the winter months. If you are concerned about the aesthetics of current solar panels on your roof, there is even the option to install panels that look like regular roofing tiles. Here too, incentives are available to reduce the cost. There are options from our State as well as low interest loans to help with the initial outlay. Then, you have the ability to sell the excess capacity that is generated during the day, resulting in a payback period that is now potentially eight-to-twelve years for a new high performance solar system.

Please join us for the Green Homes Tour on May 2 from 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. to see these technologies in action.

Louise Bullis Yarmoff is a Sustainable Marblehead board member.

29 at 7 p.m. about the project to replace the General Edwards Bridge from Lynn into Revere.

After the presentation, attendees will have the chance to ask questions. MassDOT is planning the replacement for this 87-yearold drawbridge with a new, fixed bridge that will be constructed just downstream and adjacent to the existing drawbridge.

For more information and to attend, visit mass.gov/orgs/ highway-division/events.

by Seaglass Village. To reserve your spot, call Theresa at 978866-8491. The event is at the Masonic Lodge, 62 Pleasant St.

Lunch & learn: Senior living options On May 6, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., come to a free talk about senior living options including: aging in place, upsizing, downsizing, adding an ADU or transitioning to assisted living. Presented by senior real estate specialist Emily Gaffney and co-sponsored

Lynnway redesign — have your say Marblehead residents are invited to attend a community open house to learn more about the Lynnway redesign project and provide feedback.

Representatives from the state will explain how the project will make the road safer, improve transit service and modernize traffic signals. The meeting is at the Marblehead Community Center, 10 Humphrey St., Wednesday, May 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. There is also a virtual meeting on May 14. Register for the virtual meeting at https:// loom.ly/wAHB0EY.

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, April 29, 2026 15

OBITUARIES

commission as an ensign in 1955. He served as C.I.C. and then communications officer on the 327-ft. U.S.C.G. Cutter Duane on ocean station and search and rescue duty in the North Atlantic, and later as operations officer at the captain of the Port of Boston. In 1958, he resigned from active duty and

matriculated at Harvard Law School, graduating in 1961.

Nick then joined the Boston law firm Nutter, McClennen & Fish, where he practiced tax and corporate law and served in several senior management positions. In 1988, he joined the firm Hale and Dorr, where he continued to expand his corporate practice. In 2002, approaching the firm’s retirement age, he accepted a position as general counsel and vice-chairman of the board of one of his clients.

Throughout his career, Nick was active in many pro bono activities, including serving as a member and chair of the Marblehead Planning Board and, later, of the Marblehead School Committee. He was instrumental in organizing Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc., in Lynn, which was one of the first such organizations in the country providing free

legal services to the poor. He also served as a member of the board of overseers and executive committee of the New England Aquarium, a member of the Corporate Advisory Committee of the Museum of Fine Arts, a director and treasurer of the Lincoln and Therese Foundation, a director of the Essex County Community Foundation and a member of the vestry of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Salem. Nick also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead.

From his earliest summers on MacMahan Island, Nick developed a love of the sea and of boats, and he sailed extensively. He also contributed his legal and business experience to the MacMahan community, serving on its board of directors, various committees and as president. He also served on the board of directors of the

Georgetown, Maine, Historical Society.

Following his retirement in 2005, Nick took up the writing of poetry, which came to occupy a large part of his life. His book of poetry “Fragments” was published in 2017, “Seaward” in 2022, “A Distant Shore” in 2023 and “Another Shore” in 2025.

Nick is survived by his wife Erin and his brother Jim, his children John K. P. Stone, IV (“Kip”), Elizabeth G. Stone and Nathaniel W. Stone, his grandchildren Skyler, Jessica and Celeste Merrill and Theo and Thierry Oliver Stone, his stepchildren Kasey, Marsey and Zeke Pendexter, and his stepgrandchildren Kai and Finley Pendexter and Theo Powell.

Nick’s youngest brother, David, died in 2013 and his sister, Dorothy (“Decie”), died in 2024.

A memorial service will be held on MacMahan at a time to be determined.

and the USS Woodrow Wilson.

His connection to the submarine community never faded. For many years following his service, he ran a dedicated subvet website, and he served as the graphic designer and compositor for the early issues of American Submariner magazine. He was also a former member of the

Marblehead chapter of the subvets organization.

After leaving the Navy, Don entered the graphics arts and printing industries. He worked as a composition and printing estimator for a number of companies in the greater Boston area and also was an owner of the Impressions One printing company in Marblehead for a time.

A member of Marblehead’s Old North Church, Don served as the church’s historian for several years. He was especially interested in learning about the church’s past, as studying history was one of his passions. He was an avid reader, particularly of historical accounts, biographies and anything about the Civil War. Outside of work and service, Don was a man who knew how to live well and enjoy life! He loved to travel with family and

friends, and especially enjoyed his trips to Greece, Hawaii, Ireland and Italy. He found joy in music (especially Willie Nelson), in a well-cooked meal, in a good round of golf and in the companionship of his beloved dogs. His “Old Girls” cookouts and New Year’s Eve feasts were legendary!

Don was the beloved and devoted husband of Carol (Estes) Merrigan, his partner and companion through it all.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Marie Katherine Davis and Marvin Wilford Davis; his paternal grandparents, Ruby Mary McMillen and Thomas Joseph Merrigan; his father, Donald Earnest Merrigan; his mother, Haroldean Virginia Harris; his sister, Caroldean Gordon; and his son, Donald.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Carol; his children,

Tara Doyle (Terry Chunn), Shanna Plourd, Dave Merrigan (Tiffany) and Caitlin Harrison (Brian); his grandchildren, Dallas Doyle (Katrina Dixon), Elizabeth Merrigan (Connor Holland), Samantha Plourd, Tiffany Plourd, Finley Merrigan, Sloane Merrigan; his great-granddaughter, Delilah; and his cousin, Jack Jermyn, whom Don considered to be like a brother.

A private burial service will be held for the family, with a celebration of Don’s life to follow this summer.

If desired, donations in memory of Don can be made to The Marblehead Animal Shelter, 44 Village St.or to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For more information or online guestbook, please visit murphyfuneralhome.com or call 978-744-0497.

by the Visitation Parish, Sacred Heart Church, Manchester-bythe-Sea and Saint John the Baptist in Essex.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard and a member of the Augustus P. Gardner American Legion Post 227, Middleton.

Visitation will be held Saturday, May 16, (his birthday) at 11 a.m. followed by Mass at noon in the Sacred Heart Church, 62 School St., Manchester-by-the-Sea. Reception to follow in the church

hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Marblehead Animal Shelter, 44 Village St., Marblehead 01945 or the American Legion Post 227, 69 River St., Middleton 01949.

Arrangements by the Murphy Funeral Home, Salem. A more complete obituary will be available on the Murphy Funeral Home website.

Burial will be private at a later date at Waterside Cemetery in Marblehead.

John K.P. Stone, III John K.P. Stone, III, known as “Nick,” of MacMahan Island, Georgetown, Maine, died on April, 17, while enjoying his daily walk. He was born on December 12, 1932, in Summit, New Jersey, as the first child of Dorothy W. Stone and John K. P. Stone, Jr. He grew up in neighboring Short Hills, where he attended local elementary and intermediate schools. In 1950, he graduated from The Pingry School in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He then matriculated at Princeton University where he graduated cum laude in English, rowed on the varsity heavyweight crew and graduated in 1954.

He then enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Officer Candidate School at New London, Connecticut, and received his

Donald Marvin Merrigan, 83 Donald Marvin Merrigan — “Don” to everyone who knew and loved him — passed away at home on April 15, 2026, at the age of 83 after a brave battle with cancer, leaving behind his family and many dear friends whose lives were made richer, warmer and more colorful by his presence.

Born on March 19, 1943, in Los Angeles, California, Don lived in numerous places across the U.S. before settling down in his wife’s hometown of Marblehead, a place he loved deeply. He served his country in the Navy for 12 years aboard submarines during the Vietnam War on the USS Pomfret, USS Sea Leopard

Scott Alan LaVoie Scott Alan LaVoie of Peabody, formerly of Marblehead, died on April 21, 2026, at the Kaplan House in Danvers. He is survived by Linda Belanger, his wife of 25 years; parents, Robert and Barbara Lavoie of Marblehead; his siblings Bryan (Amy) of Stoneham, David (Audra) of Surf City,

Police From P. 13

Again, the woman suspected the landlord had learned this through recording the activities in their apartment.

7:59 p.m. An officer went to Robert Road to investigate a resident’s complaint about the brightness of the new lights at Gatchell’s Park. According to the officer’s report, the home was completely lit up inside and out by the new onfield lights, “so much so that the interior of her home looked as if it was almost daylight inside. The officer advised her to contact the Parks and Rec Department about the issue, and she stated that she has been in contact with them but wished to have someone from the town come see the levels of brightness in her home.

The woman further stated that, under state law, the lights could not exceed 3,000 lumens, but the officer was unable to find either a state law or town bylaw on point. The officer again referred her to the Park and Rec Department and advised her that if there was an environmental law covering light pollution, she should contact the Department of Environmental Protection.

North Carolina, and Nicole Anderson (Eric) of Marblehead.

He also leaves nephews and niece Keira Anderson, Owen LaVoie, Peter Anderson, Ethan LaVoie, Noah LaVoie; dear friend Kristen Moss and his brother-inlaw John Belanger of Kentucky. He will be greatly missed by his dog “Killah.”

Scott was employed by the Marblehead School Department for almost 30 years, presently as head custodian at the Veterans Middle School. Also was employed

The officer took photos to document the conditions.

9:27 p.m. A general complaint was made on Dartmouth Road and Lafayette Street.

Wednesday, April 8

» Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 9 » Abandoned 911 calls: 4 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 3 9:28 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue and Hawkes Street.

9:46 a.m. An officer assisted another agency on Green Street.

11:56 a.m. A complaint was made about a moving vehicle on Atlantic Avenue and Smith Street.

12:48 p.m. A Bowden Street resident reported receiving about 10 packages from Amazon and Walmart since January, all addressed to a man she did not know. She had already reported the deliveries to the customer service departments of both companies but just wanted to create a record of the activity, in case it turned out to be fraudulent in some way.

1:13 p.m. An officer assisted a Heritage Way resident with confirming her identity for

work purposes. The woman had a valid temporary New Hampshire driver’s license but was in the process of getting a Massachusetts one. She provided the officer with a mortgage statement with her current address.

5:38 p.m. An officer investigated a report of an ongoing neighbor dispute on Broughton Road. A woman explained that, earlier in the day, she had pulled her car into the street and put it in park before running back inside to check on one of her children. When she came back outside, her neighbor was taking pictures of her vehicle. She added that a couple of days earlier she believed she had seen the same neighbor taking pictures of one of her daughters while she was walking their dog. She just wanted the incidents documented.

7:18 p.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew were dispatched to the scene of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street, and driver was issued a citation.

8:38 p.m. A general complaint was made on Franklin Street.

10:11 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Roydon Road and Naugus Avenue.

Thursday, April 9

» Alarms: 2 » Building/property checks: 8 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2 1:24 a.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Brown Street.

3:47 a.m. Officers assisted another agency on Pond Street.

10:14 a.m. The school resource officer assisted a citizen on West Street.

12:23 p.m. An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle on Washington Street.

Friday, April 10

» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 4 » Abandoned 911 calls: 0 » Vehicle stops, citations: 5 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 5 8:23 a.m. An officer investigated a report that a vandal had shattered the front glass door of Coastal Hair Care on School Street. Another officer, who was on detail in the area, told the arriving officer that the door was broken and a rock was left nearby. The officer confirmed the same with the owner of the business. The owner explained that the last person had left

the business around 9:15 p.m. the night before. The officer grabbed the rock and placed it in his cruiser and then looked for nearby cameras, finding one at 5 Corners Kitchen, which was closed at the time. Once back at the station, the officer left a message for the restaurant’s owner, explaining the police’s interest in reviewing the camera footage.

12:18 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash reported on Atlantic Avenue.

4:13 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Pleasant Street. It proved to be unfounded.

8:49 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Atlantic and Ocean avenues but could not locate the vehicle.

9 p.m. An officer investigated a report of suspicious activity on Commercial and Prospect streets but could not locate the activity.

9:22 p.m. Officers investigated the report of a disturbance on Hawkes Street but could not locate the source of the disturbance.

10:56 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Elm Street, which proved to be unfounded.

marbleheadcurrent.org

16 Wednesday, April 29, 2026 Marblehead Current

Support for the Life you Love Quality care, engaging programs, and a welcoming community at The Mariner Marblehead.

At The Mariner residents enjoy fresh and local dining, regular exercise classes, engaging programs and quality care - all while keeping the traditions and independence you love.

Discover life at The Mariner, call: 781.731.1583 or scan the QR code >> Discover Marblehead’s first and only Senior Living Community!

Independent Living, Assisted Living & Avita Memory Care 265 Pleasant Street, Marblehead, MA

MarinerMarblehead.com

UNLOCKING THE DOOR TO YOUR FUTURE G IN M ON O C SO

NE

Rockport

$948,800

Fintan Madden - (508) 878-1659

WE NE IC R P

Gloucester

T AC

IV

$499,800

E

Newbury

$1,790,000

$959,000

Gary Blattberg Team - (978) 882-4469

I CT

VE

Marblehead

$2,650,000

W

Rockport

W

Gloucester

$1,545,000

$650,000

Beverly

$655,000

RENTALS • $1,900/Mo | 1BD 1BA 1 Harbor St, U:1, Salem Levana Group - (978) 500-9751

• $2,700/Mo | 2BD 1BA 358 Eastern Ave, U:2, Lynn Maggie Slavet- (413) 222-0362

• $2,900/Mo | 2BD 1BA 1 Mugford St, U:3, Marblhead Brian Skidmore (617) 834-3227

• $3,500/Mo | 2BD 2BA 1006 Paradise Rd, U: PH Q, Swampscott Mitch Levine - (781) 883-6460

• $3,500/Mo | 3BD 2BA 74 Thurlow Ave, Revere Levana Group - (978) 500-9751

• $1,900/Mo | 1BD 1BA 260 Washington St, U:36, Salem Levana Group - (978) 500-9751

• $1,850/Mo | 1BD 1BA 838 Western Ave, U:2R, Lynn Maggie Slavet - (413) 222-0362

• $3,650 /Mo | 2BD 2BA 100 Lincoln St, U:307 Brighton Maggie Slavet - (413) 222-0362

• $1,800/Mo | 1BD 1BA 1 Harbor St, U:3, Salem Levana Group - (978) 500-9751

• $2,500/Mo | 2BD 1BA 484 Western Ave, U: B4, Lynn Maggie Slavet - (413) 222-0362

Marblehead: (781) 631-2330 • Salem: (978) 219-0011 Gloucester: (978) 281-8005 • Beverly: (978) 927-9100 www.remaxbeaconma.com

$898,000

G

Brighton

$530,000

Lizete Alcalai-Nichols - (781) 710-9986

A

• $5,200/Mo | 1BD 1BA 9 Gingerbread Hill, U:1, Marblehead Lisa Gallagher - (781) 631-3746

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

Ruth Pino - (978) 64-6710

CT

$729,000

G

Gloucester

G

Heather Dagle- (508) 982-3124

$325,000

Ron Goulart & Jennifer Anderson - (508) 662-7890

CT

The Sullivan Team - (781) 771-9949

Gloucester

W

Gloucester

G

CT

Ron Goulart & Jennifer Anderson - (508) 662-7890

NE

The Murray Brown Group - (508) 284-5098

CT

Brian Skidmore - (617) 834-3227

NE

Gary Blattberg Team - (978) 882-4469

NE

Danvers

A

Fintan Madden - (508) 878-1659

W

I CT

VE

Gloucester

Kaicia Pratt (978) 290-8178

$329,999