Local attorney John DiPiano on Monday morning submitted 1,204 signatures to the Select Board office, surpassing the 300-signature threshold required to call a special election on Article 23, the MBTA Communities Act zoning article approved by Town Meeting on May 6.
The signature drive, launched just minutes after the Town Meeting vote, unfolded over a single weekend.
“We probably put in 20 hours total,” DiPiano said.
Yael Magen, a resident running
for Select Board, and DiPiano, a Marblehead resident and Salembased family law attorney, are invoking Chapter 405 of the Acts of 1954, a Marblehead-specific law that permits binding citizen referendums on certain Town Meeting votes. The campaign follows two years of heated local debate over the town’s compliance with the state’s MBTA Communities Act, which culminated with a 951-759 vote in favor of Article 23 May 6.
“A significant number of people pre-Town Meeting vote and post-Town Meeting vote indicated that, for a variety of reasons, they couldn’t get to
Town Meeting,” DiPiano told the Marblehead Current on May 7. “There were some people who were elderly who can’t get to Town Meeting because they can’t sit for that long, and so this is a response to that.”
Under the special act, residents need to file a petition with at least 300 signatures within five business days of Town Meeting’s dissolution to call for reconsideration of a vote.
If the signatures are validated, the Select Board must schedule a special town-wide election, according to the town’s bylaws and adopted statues.
In 1954, the state Legislature
passed a special act that permitted towns to adopt a legal path to challenge certain Town Meeting votes by referendum. Marblehead voters adopted the measure by a wide margin on the March 1955 ballot. The law applies to decisions involving appropriations over $50,000, bylaw changes (which zoning falls under) or alterations to town boards and offices.
“All I want to do is engage in a full democratic process, and after that I am willing to accept the will of the majority, but I’m not sure that we had that full majority last night,” DiPiano said May 7.
After rainy start, Devereux Beach Carnival a
Our goal at the Current is to keep you informed
Dear fellow members of this beautiful community, We, the board of directors of the Marblehead Current, first and foremost want to thank you for your generous past support. As we complete coverage of Town Meeting and then look toward town elections next month, we are so proud of what our small, professional, nonprofit newsroom has accomplished. Our mission is straightforward: to keep you informed about what is happening in town — from government to schools, sports, the arts and special events. We founded the Current in June, 2022, on the cusp of that year’s town election, when information was sparse, the beloved Reporter had been gutted and local news here and
DiPiano said he believes the referendum process directly engages more voters than Town Meeting alone.
The petition targets Article 23, which designates three areas — Pleasant Street, Tioga Way and Broughton Road — as multifamily overlay zones, allowing up to 897 units. During Town Meeting, DiPiano had moved to indefinitely postpone the article, questioning the scope of grant risks cited by supporters and criticizing the lack of guaranteed affordability in the zoning plan.
2025 TOWN
MEETING
Tax hikes for MHS roof, Mary Alley repairs head to ballot
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Voters will decide two debt exclusion overrides in the town’s June 10 election that together would add $117 a year, for 20 years, to the tax bill for the median-priced home in Marblehead.
High School roof project
On May 6, Town Meeting voters approved, 804-282, an $8.6 million debt exclusion override for a roof project at Marblehead High School.
In 2022, Town Meeting approved $5.6 million to repair the leaky roof, but the project was never started. Since then, the scope of the project has expanded to include HVAC units that are at or near the end of their useful life, according to the project manager. The School Committee’s facilities subcommittee is still deciding the best approach to fixing the roof, either repairing, recovering or replacing it.
If approved at the ballot box in June, the roof project is expected to begin in the summer of 2026. It would add $68 a year for the next 20 years to the tax bill for the median-priced home.
At Town Meeting, several MHS students spoke passionately about the need to fix the roof.
Senior Dante Genovesi agreed, “We’re past the point of needing a new roof. I’ve had water drip on me. I’m a drama kid, and there’s been water dripping right past super expensive lighting equipment” in the auditorium. No
around the country was withering. Ever since, we’ve brought you 24-hour professional coverage, online and in print, of town matters. We’ve published three comprehensive town meeting guides and three election guides, with the fourth upcoming. This year, we introduced a live blog to bring you minuteby-minute updates from a historic town meeting.
When elected and appointed boards are gathered to discuss town business, our reporters and editors are there. When your child competes on the field, we are there. When critical issues are debated about our schools, we are there. When you disagree with our coverage, or simply want to weigh in
with your point of view, we welcome your comments and letters to the editor.
We publish pieces on town history, the arts, cooking, technology, business, opinion. Why?
Because we believe a vibrant professional news source is the heart of a healthy, thriving community. And we want to continue providing this service to you.
But this is what it takes:
We have to raise $36,000 a month from donors and advertisers, every single month, to remain viable. Let us repeat that
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That’s why we are asking again for your help. Today we are kicking off our 2025 spring fundraising campaign. You’ll see our appeals on social media, in your inbox, in the paper. Please be generous. We want to keep bringing you the news. We think an informed community is a stronger community. We hope you agree.
With deep gratitude, MARBLEHEAD CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Gene Arnould Virginia Buckingham, President Brian Birke, Secretary Cheryl Byrne Robert Peck, Chairman Donna Rice David Vigneron Rick Weed, Treasurer
“If you’re voting against the new roof, you’re voting against the health and safety of Marblehead High School students,” said senior Clive Connolly. “We need a new roof. It’s not OK that there is damp and wetness in these rooms. That mold is terrible for you. It’s one of the worst things you can be exposed to.”
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead High School senior Clive Connolly speaks passionately about the need for a new roof at MHS.
Molly Haggard rides the train at the Devereux Beach Carnival.
Shanilee Pena and Kana Carpenter enjoy the Cliffhanger ride at the carnival on Saturday.
Families enjoy the Devereux Beach Carnival in the sun on Saturday afternoon.
CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS
Alexander Fu has a blast riding the mechanical bull at the Devereux Beach Carnival.
School Committee’s review of hot-topic policies yields no changes so far
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Interim Superintendent John Robidoux said he will announce his plan to “operationalize” the School Committee’s new flag policy before the end of the school year. The new protocols will take effect in the fall.
After 18 months of contentious discussions and student and public protests, the School Committee approved a flag policy May 1. It allows the U.S., Massachusetts and POW/MIA flags to be affixed to school property by right, along with flags celebrating six national heritage months. The School Committee gave the superintendent the ability to make recommendations for additional flags and banners, after hearing requests from students and staff. The School Committee retains veto power.
Committee Chair Jenn Schaeffner said Robidoux will also determine whether the policy applies to teachers’ classrooms.
More recess?
Committee member Alison Taylor is pushing for a district policy mandating two recesses for students in grades K-6. The problem, Robidoux explained, is that the state requires schools to have 900 hours of “time on
BY WILL DOWD
learning” each year, and that makes scheduling a second recess challenging.
Marblehead Education Association reps and administrators will meet soon to discuss a contract item that would have students arrive at school five minutes earlier, which may give Robidoux the flexibility he needs to create a second recess.
The recess policy will be discussed at the School Committee’s next meeting May 15.
Policy updates
Marblehead’s school district has nearly 300 policies (you can read them all at marbleheadschools. org/Page/353). Schaeffner and Taylor are reviewing many of them, comparing them to updates from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
Schaeffner has identified
The Current welcomes submissions (150–200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org.
Candidates’ Night
The League of Women Voters of Marblehead will hold its annual Candidates’ Night Tuesday, May 20, 7 p.m. at the Marblehead High School library.
Attendees are welcome to come at 6:30 p.m. meet candidates who are there.
This year there are six contested races: Select Board, Cemetery Commission, Board of Health, Town Clerk, Planning Board and School Committee.
LWV Marblehead has an “empty chair” bylaw that applies to local elections. If one candidate in a two-person race isn’t present at the event, the candidate who is present has the same opportunity to speak as if both were there.
Those who attend may submit written questions for candidates to answer. We cannot guarantee that all audience questions will be answered, but they will be given priority.
If you have any questions for the candidates in advance of May 20, submit them to shari. pressman@gmail.com. Make sure you note to which board/committee your question is directed.
The League of Women Voters of the United States is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public.
If you’re unable to join us in person, Candidates’ Night will be televised live by MHTV.
Hazardous waste collection day set for Marblehead, Swampscott
A household hazardous waste collection day for Marblehead and Swampscott residents will be held Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Marblehead Transfer Station, 5 Woodfin Terrace.
Accepted items include oil-based paints, solvents, automotive fluids, pool chemicals, pesticides, cleaning products and fluorescent bulbs. Costs range from $30 for up to three gallons or pounds to $60 for 10 to 25 gallons, with additional amounts priced accordingly. Proof of residency is required. Materials should remain in original containers with tightened caps and must be transported directly to the site in sturdy boxes. For more information, contact the Board of Health at 781-631-0212. The collection is operated by Trident Environmental Group.
Colonial craft fair returns May 24
several Marblehead policies that MASC has updated, including “Reconsideration of Instructional Resources.”
Schaeffner and Taylor agreed that Marblehead’s existing policy is more thorough and thoughtful, and they will recommend to the School Committee not to change it. The School Committee approved its “Reconsideration of Instructional Resources” in 2018. The three-page policy outlines the steps to request books or other educational material be removed from schools.
A parent or guardian may fill out a “request for review” form and present it to their student’s principal. The principal or a designee will review the request. If it is determined that the request has validity, the principal will form a Library Materials Reconsideration Committee consisting of the following: the principal, the library media specialist from the school, a teacher, a PCO member, one School Committee member and two students in grades 7-12.
The LMRC will read the complaint and the material and then discuss. It will make a decision within 10 days. In the meantime, the material will
Marblehead Museum will host its second annual Colonial Craft Fair in the Jeremiah Lee Mansion gardens Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Skilled artisans and historical reenactors from across New England will demonstrate crafts practiced 300 years ago. Guests can learn how shoes were made by a master shoemaker, try copperplate printing, watch a cooper build a barrel start to finish, see a cook prepare colonial dishes and purchase the finished wares.
Admission at the door is $10 a person or $25 a family for museum members and
remain available. If the petitioner is not satisfied with the committee’s decision, they may appeal to the School Committee.
‘Teaching About Controversial Issues’
The School Committee also approved its “Teaching About Controversial Issues/ Controversial Speakers” policy in 2018.
It reads, in part, “Controversial issues selected by teachers for classroom discussion must relate directly to the objectives and content of courses approved by the School Committee for inclusion in the curriculum.
The teachers’ right to introduce controversial issues in classroom presentations does not include the right of advocacy. Teachers must ensure that the reasoned arguments of all sides of an issue are given equal presentation and emphasis in classroom discussions.”
MASC’s newest version of this policy reads almost exactly the same, but includes a new cross reference at the bottom.
Schaeffner and Taylor will make recommendations about these and other policies at the May 15 School Committee meeting.
$15 a person or $40 a family for the public.
Children ages 3 and under are free. Artisans and reenactors will be on site throughout the day to answer questions. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the fair. Contact Jarrett Zeman, associate director, at 781-631-1768 or info@marbleheadmuseum.org for details.
Water department schedules overnight hydrant flushing
The Marblehead Water Department will conduct its annual water main flushing program,May 11-16. Flushing started May 11 and will run from noon-7 a.m. each day. Work will begin at the Swampscott and Salem borders and travel to the downtown area.
On May 15, flow testing will be completed in various areas of town. Residents may notice water flowing from some hydrants during the day; this is part of normal procedures. Some properties may experience discolored water early in the morning. If this occurs, run cold water only in the kitchen sink until it runs clear, approximately 20 minutes and refrain from using hot water or doing laundry until the discoloration is gone. Contact the Marblehead Water Department at 781-6310102 if the problem persists.
Y honors Paul Gorman with Sherman award
Marblehead’s Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA has presented the David Sherman Community Strengthening Award to Paul Gorman, president and CEO of the South Shore Y and former executive director of the local branch. The April 30 ceremony at the Leggs Hill Road campus marked Gorman as the eighth recipient of the honor, which salutes outstanding civic leadership.
Presenter Chris Lovasco, president and CEO of the YMCA of the North Shore, praised Gorman, saying, “From helping bring the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA to life, to leading countless projects in his hometown of Swampscott, Paul has demonstrated a passionate commitment to strengthening community.” Gorman spent nine years guiding the Marblehead/Swampscott Y, steering the land search, fundraising drive and community outreach that built the 90,000-square-foot facility that now serves more than 15,000 members. His career also includes directing the Reading-based Burbank YMCA and founding the U.S. Sports & Fitness Center for the Disabled.
Pride flag raising planned for June 21
The Select Board approved the Marblehead Pride Flag Raising Committee’s request to hold its annual event June 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. on the Abbot Hall lawn. The ceremony has become a yearly tradition highlighting LGBTQ+ visibility and inclusion in town. Leigh Blander contributed to this article.
COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM
Kathleen Pondelli makes candles at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion’s Colonial Craft Fair in 2024.
COURTESY PHOTO / NORTH SHORE YMCA
Paul Gorman, left, and Marblehead Y Executive Director Brian Flynn.
TikTok challenge leads to MHS evacuation
Preschoolers celebrate publishing their first book
BY LEIGH BLANDER
It wasn’t your traditional publishing party, but the new authors were very excited just the same.
Students in the transitional kindergarten class at the Ocean Breeze School at St. Stephen’s Church celebrated their first book, “Seagull
Adventures,” with a readaloud, themed snacks and crafts.
“There was a bear at the beach, and the seagulls landed on the bear,” read Owen, as his friends gathered around in a circle.
“The seagulls flew too fast, and an octopus helped them,” added Siphie when it was her
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead High School Principal
Michele Carlson is encouraging parents to talk to their teens about a TikTok trend that led to the evacuation of the high school Wednesday.
The Chromebook Paperclip Challenge on Tik Tok encourages people to shove a paperclip, tack or aluminum foil into the USB port of a Chromebook.
“This action can cause the device’s lithium battery to short-circuit, leading to overheating, smoke or even fire,” Carlson said.
She added, “Unfortunately, today we experienced an incident at MHS
linked to this trend, which led to the evacuation of the school due to smoke.”
The evacuation happened during an Advanced Placement exam at MHS. No one was injured, and there was no serious damage except to the Chromebook.
“We are asking for your help in speaking with your student about the dangers of participating in social media challenges and the serious risks associated with tampering with electronic devices,” Carlson wrote to families Wednesday night.
It’s not known if the student responsible for Wednesday’s incident has been identified.
turn to read. “Then there was a shark.”
Teacher Bopha Rivera started the book project earlier this year after seeing the idea on social media. Since her class is known as The Seagulls, she offered her students this prompt: “This is a book about seagulls nearby. What happens next.”
Each student in the class illustrated their own page and then wrote about it.
“I like to write,” said Sophie. “I wrote about a shark and a jellyfish.”
Liam described his page, “You turn into a shark, see monsters and say ‘Aaaaa!’”
After the read-aloud, students decorated
paper headbands that read, “Published author” and enjoyed treats from platters labeled, “Berry Good Writers,” “Popping With Talent” and “O-fish-al Authors.” Rivera was impressed
by how excited her young students were to write a book, since many of them are just starting to learn their letters.
“It was fun seeing how well they did writing,” she said.
Students create paper headbands that read “Published Author.”
CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER
Themed snacks were a big hit at the publishing party for preschoolers at Ocean Breeze School.
Members of the Seagull class at Ocean Breeze School proudly show off their newly published book.
COURTESY PHOTOS
These cell phone video screenshots show the smokey scene after a TikTok challenge at MHS.
Opinion
A memorable marathon meeting
Marblehead Town Meeting 2025 proved to be one for the ages — and not for the faint of heart.
First of all, the town’s voters deserve a standing ovation for turning out in such unprecedented numbers that the scheduled Monday, May 5 opening night of the meeting had to be postponed and the venue moved to the Marblehead High School field house. In an era in which many decry a decline in civic participation, Marbleheaders happily bucked that trend — at least long enough to debate a pair of Proposition 2 1/2 overrides and the town’s MBTA Communities Act compliance plan. More on that in a second.
In addition to the voters who turned out — and if you made it to all four nights, give yourself a gold star — we tip our cap, too, to the “unsung heroes” highlighted in the letter from Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer and Superintendent John Robidoux who sprung into action to prepare the field house.
We also give a nod of appreciation to Moderator Jack Attridge, the ringmaster of what could have become a circus. Instead, even the hottest issues were debated passionately but civilly, generally speaking.
Sure, the delay of the “main event” on Tuesday night was a bit annoying, as Attridge and his team worked through the unsurprising technological issues created by more than 1,700 people trying to use clickers at once. But as maddening as that might have
been, it was worth the wait, as a manual count of raised hands might have planted seeds of doubt about the reliability of the results.
As Attridge went line by line through the budget on Wednesday night, someone jokingly yelled “hold” when he came to the moderator’s stipend, the princely sum of $100 — what this year worked out to $25 per day. Jack, you deserve a raise.
Though well-intentioned, we’re not sure we’d like to see a repeat of Seamus Hourihan’s motion to take the articles on the warrant out of order to frontload the hot topics. The result was that a far smaller number of voters decided less “sexy” but still vitally important town issues, including the $119.5 million budget. Going forward, the town might be better served by reverting to its typical practice of spreading out the issues voters care about so that all matters receive the attention they deserve.
What those who checked out after the first night missed were some impressive, illuminating presentations, like from Town Planner Alex Eitler on the updates to the town’s accessory dwelling unit and floodplain bylaws, or Kezer on the reorganization of town departments. There are few better crash courses in how the town is run than experiencing Town Meeting from start to finish. It can go a long way to demystifying how certain decisions are made and foster more faith in — and less suspicion of — town
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Regarding 3A debate, ‘Enough’
To the editor:
It is very troubling to me to read that after an historic Town Meeting and a vote for 3A with a margin of 200 people in favor, that now Mr. John DiPiano is trying to repeal that vote with a ballot referendum. From the very beginning I feel that this has been more about circumventing the law than concern of a zoning change. The initial petition to get the article before Town Meeting in 2024 questioned if some signatures were non-town residents. At that Town Meeting, Mr DiPiano said that if 3A passed, a group of citizens could sue the town (for complying with state law?). Then the argument was to wait until the Superior Court decision on Milton, as he asserted that the law was unconstitutional (it’s not), the town did not have to comply (it does) and the attorney general did not have the authority to enforce the law (she does). After that, the argument was that since the state auditor determined 3A was an “unfunded mandate,” that the town should seek a compliance exemption and delay the vote at Town Meeting. Even though the state auditor said, and the unfunded mandate law states, that the only costs would be actual (plan development) costs (which Marblehead received through grants), Mr, DiPiano outlined possible fire, police, school and infrastructure costs if future
building did occur that the state auditor said are not covered in this law.
Now Mr. DiPiano says that there is a need for a ballot referendum as many people could not attend Town Meeting (yet he stated that the 2024 “no” vote, with a margin of 33 votes out of only 800 votes, was a majority and should be honored). Both sides of this issue have had a year to educate voters and get them to attend Town Meeting. It has been a very divisive time for the Town. As the “no” signs said, “ENOUGH”!
Pat Fried Hillside Drive
Accept 3A zoning vote; move forward
To the editor:
Last year, Town Meeting voted to not approve the (3A) zoning provision, allowing for some affordable housing in compliance with a state law. Following the vote, many of the no voters vigorously asserted that the Town Meeting had spoken and it therefore was improper to revisit the issue. However, there then was a major change in circumstances in that the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the state law was not just an advisory edict if the town wanted certain state grants, but rather is a mandatory state law that can be enforced by the state attorney general. It then became clear that leaving the no vote in place would amount to
government.
Given that, we should figure out how we might make it easier for people to enjoy the full Town Meeting experience. Due to the high interest in Town Meeting, the pleas seemed louder than ever this year to reimagine how the meeting is conducted — by moving it to Saturday or allowing a remote attendance option, if that is deemed technologically feasible. An impromptu plan to provide childcare was set into motion for the first night of Town Meeting. We’d love to see that become a permanent part of the Town Meeting landscape. Beyond that, we may not know all the right answers, but we are here for the discussion.
But wait, there’s more
Finally, a few words about the effort, led by attorney John DiPiano, to use a Marbleheadspecific law that provides for binding citizen referendums on certain Town Meeting decisions, including votes “adopting a new By-Law, or amending an existing By-Law,” which we presume includes the amendment to the town’s zoning bylaw represented by Article 23 on this year’s warrant.
The town’s lawyers may tell us differently, but from all appearances, this law — little known and unused as it might be — is valid. Thus, it is fair game for a group of residents to band together — 300 registered voters’ signatures are required on the petition — and put it to use.
But as the saying goes, “Just
law breaking and would likely lead to court intervention and sanctions. Thus, this year’s Town Meeting was appropriately asked to revisit the issue.
This year’s Town Meeting just voted to approve the 3A zoning provision, by a clear margin. This occurred at a Town Meeting attended by an unprecedented number of voters, after all town voters on both sides of the issue had been given every opportunity to attend. Yet, some of the same no voters who previously said that Town Meeting votes should be respected now are petitioning town officials to schedule a ballot vote to overturn this Meeting’s democratic decision. They are using an obscure law that has never been used before, and violating the tradition of our Town being governed by Town Meeting which has come down to us since colonial times.
The obscure law being used by the petitioners nowhere says that it can be applied to zoning provisions — only to other things such as changes to town bylaws. Also, the petitioners seem to be seeking a re-vote this spring although the ballots for our spring election have already been printed and they have missed the deadline. Thus, I hope that town officials will deny the petition on legal grounds.
In any event, by dragging out this issue, the petitioners are doing a clear disservice to this town. The zoning change at issue is a minor one, designed by the town Planning Board to do the minimum necessary to comply with the state law. There has
because you can doesn’t mean you should.” DiPiano has characterized the forthcoming referendum as bringing more “democracy” to the process.
But as outlined above, we saw a pretty stunning display of democracy last week, and there is a strong case that the town’s voters have already made their will known.
Last year, when the town’s MBTA compliance plan was narrowly defeated, 787 registered voters participated in the Town Meeting vote, and what may have helped the “no” vote carry the day was the murkiness surrounding the town of Milton’s legal challenge to the MBTA Communities Act’s constitutionality, which has since been resolved.
This year, 1,710 voters helped decide the compliance plan’s fate — a 117% increase over last year — and the verdict was more decisive, a 56-44% margin.
If we have to validate that result at a special election that the town clerk estimates will cost $12,000 — and the law seems to say we do — fine. But no one should be surprised if the result does not change.
That may be all the more true because, before we vote, additional game-changing information could become available. A handful of towns, including Hanson, Middleton, Marshfield and Wrentham, have sued the state over the finding of the office of State Auditor Diana DiZoglio that the MBTA Communities Act is an “unfunded mandate.” Their cases have consolidated in
been an undue level of resulting hysteria, and the issue has brought out the worst in some who have engaged in heated rhetoric and intimidation, rather than the usual respectful dialog which I had been proud to see on many other controversial decisions addressed by our town. The Town Meeting has spoken. It is time to move on.
Jeffry Fowley Cherry Street
Former teacher supports Schmeckpeper for School Committee
To the editor: As a former MPS teacher, I enthusiastically support Kate Schmeckpeper’s candidacy for School Committee. Her unwavering dedication to our students, demonstrated through her years of active involvement as a parent, is truly commendable. I’ve been particularly impressed by her clear priorities: refocusing on student achievement, ensuring responsible fiscal management, and improving the School Committee’s engagement with the public. These are critical areas that demand attention, and I’m confident that Kate Schmeckpeper’s experience and commitment will bring a fresh and valuable perspective to the committee. She understands the importance of both academic excellence and community collaboration, making her an
Norfolk Superior Court.
Back on April 2, Judge Mark Gildea heard oral arguments on the towns’ motion for a preliminary injunction that would block the state from enforcing the MBTA Communities Act against them and the state’s motion to dismiss the towns’ complaints. His decision could come any day.
The state’s primary argument is that the towns have failed to plead that the MBTA Communities Act imposes any “direct service or cost obligation.” Instead, they focus on “infrastructure impacts” to things like water systems, roads, schools and public safety. Such costs are “at most, an indirect consequence of §3A, which by its terms mandates only zoning — not construction,” the state argues in its brief, adding that such costs are also “inherently speculative.” That argument comports with what DiZoglio herself told two members of our Select Board back in March.
If Judge Gildea agrees with the state’s argument and dismisses the towns’ cases, it would alter any cost-benefit analysis of undoing Town Meeting’s decision to adopt an MBTA Communities Act compliance plan. It would essentially render the state auditor’s “unfunded mandate” opinions dead letters, drying up any fruit that could be harvested by joining the other towns’ unfunded mandate litigation.
We will, of course, keep you posted.
ideal advocate for our children and our schools.
Lisa Quillen Cedar Street
‘Let it go’
To the editor:
A few years back, I was aggravated over an issue which turned out to be not quite so monumental, after all.
My little five-year-old (at the time) granddaughter, Caroline, sensing I was distressed, became concerned. Papa was unhappy. So, one evening, there I was, sitting in my Lazy-Boy recliner, appearing discombobulated and upset. Along comes Caroline, she hops up into my lap, gives me a hug and utters “Papa, let it go.” I did, it went.
Town Meeting voted to adopt compliance with 3A. Of course, some are not happy with the vote, that’s understandable. However, Town Meeting 2025 is behind, and that was the vote. In the words of a tiny, sage, five-year-old moppet; “LET IT GO.”
Jay Michaud Ocean Avenue
Flanagan brings organization, community focus to town clerk race
To the editor:
I’m writing today to recommend my neighbor, Melissa Flanagan, for
Marblehead town clerk. A relative newcomer to Marblehead, I’ve been fortunate to have Melissa and her family as my closest neighbors for some time, thus I’m certain this engaged, community-oriented town would benefit from her long love of Marblehead, her thoughtful work ethic and her calm, down-to-earth smile, whether it’s the first hour of the morning or the end of the day. I have constantly admired her capacity for both organization and multitasking: a 43-plate juggler suddenly finding herself in charge of the entire circus would have nothing on Melissa. Having excelled at that singular challenge of early parenthood, the double birthday party — one for the children, simultaneous one for parents — she is more than suited to handling the many coordinated tasks, projects, surprises and timelines required by the Town Clerk Office. Her management of large efforts such as elections will be as capable as her dayto-day endeavors. With the questions large and small facing Marblehead and Massachusetts as well as the United States, the town will be well served by an effective, diplomatic communicator who will address the concerns and requirements of current residents while also keeping future voters and their future town in mind. In conclusion, I urge everyone to vote for Melissa Flanagan for town clerk and enjoy the warm welcome I have as her neighbor.
Lisa Ruffino Devereux Street Terri Tauro for town clerk
To the editor:
I have been doing business with Terri for many years in the Harbormaster’s Office and supported her during her run for state representative in 2022. What impressed me the most about that election is how she conducted herself and actually became friends with her two Marblehead opponents, Jenny Armini and Diann Slavic Baylis. That tells me that she can work with anyone and get things done. In a time when people seem so divided, my experience with Terri and other people I know is that she will really listen and come up with great solutions to the problems. She is organized, efficient, knowledgeable about the inner workings of the town and her office has evolved with the times never forgetting the folks that want to walk in. She is the perfect choice for town clerk and the town is lucky to have her step up.
Patricia Boyd Fort Sewall Terrace
Schmeckpeper
is solution to School Committee challenges
To the editor:
As a new school-aged mom, I’ve started paying much closer attention to what’s happening in our schools, and like many in the community, I understand the frustration and hesitation around increasing school funding. When there’s a sense of mismanagement, lack of transparency, and poor communication, it’s hard to feel confident that resources are being used wisely. But instead of giving up, now is the time to lean in and support the kind of leadership that can rebuild that trust.
That’s why I’m supporting Kate Schmeckpeper for School Committee.
Kate represents the kind of thoughtful, balanced, and forward-looking leadership we
need. Her commitment to good governance—something that’s been lacking under the current committee - is critical. As Kate has laid out, good governance means staying focused on what the School Committee is actually responsible for: setting policy, managing the budget, and hiring and overseeing the superintendent. When those responsibilities are handled with discipline and integrity, everything else works betterfrom classroom instruction and teacher retention to facilities upkeep and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
It’s clear that we need a change from the current incumbents. We can’t keep doing things the same way and expect different results. Kate brings a fresh perspective, a collaborative approach, and a focus on students, not politics. She understands that rebuilding trust starts with transparency, accountability, and listening. She’s not afraid to ask tough questions, but she also knows how to work toward solutions grounded in facts and input from educators and experts.
After the damage done by the recent strike and ongoing dysfunction, Kate is the breath of fresh air we need. She’s exactly the kind of leader who can help repair the relationship between the schools and the community and start building a stronger foundation for the future.
Melissa Clucas Puritan Road
Schmeckpeper is smart, thoughtful School Committee candidate
To the editor:
My name is Bit Coppola and I am writing a letter in support of Kate Schmeckpeper for School Committee.
I first met Kate in a mommy and me class at Marblehead Parenting about eight years ago. We have children about the same ages (I have three and she has four!) and I was always impressed with her demeanor: calm, sweet, friendly and personable. But mostly — just from talking with her - I noticed how smart and articulate she is.
As our kids grew older and started to attend school together (at the former Bell School) we continued the parenting groups for our younger kids and it was Kate who explained to me, a newbie parent to public school, the politics of the superintendent and the School Committee; I had no idea. It was also this year that the new Brown School was on the docket and I leaned into her vast knowledge and understanding of the process; Kate has an amazing way to explain complexities in a very digestible manner, especially for someone whoat the time - had no idea what was at stake. She told me about the Vote Yes for MHD Kids campaign and I jumped on board to help immediately.
Since then, I have sat with her or debriefed with her in several
School Committee meetings and she always comes out with a clear head and reasonable ideas on how to improve issues with policy, governance or communication. Basically, if I have a question, I ask Kate. And one of the things that impresses me the most, she is able to answer questions or approach an issue based on reason, logic and law and not emotion alone. After chatting with her, you can see she is passionate about our schools but also rational in her thinking. I’ve said it before, she’s just really smart and incredibly thoughtful with her answers and points of view.
For years, I have been volunteering on the Brown School PTO with Kate, but now it’s time for her to step out of that circle and bring her platform and ideas of good governance to the whole school system. I’ve bugged her for years to run for a spot and she would never say no but instead would flash me a little smile and say “maybe”. I couldn’t have messaged her fast enough when I saw her name in the running for School Committee. We’ve had too many tumultuous years and it’s time we deserve some steady calm — Kate is the perfect candidate to help our schools flourish.
Bit Coppola Beverly Avenue
Town, school leaders thank teams for Town Meeting success
To the editor:
On behalf of our administrative teams, we extend our deepest appreciation to the unsung heroes who made this year’s Town Meeting a success.
We thank Mr. Todd Bloodgood, his outstanding team of school custodians and the dedicated staff of the town’s Department of Public Works for their extraordinary efforts in preparing Marblehead High School field house on short notice. From the meticulous setup of the facility to the unloading of materials and on-site assistance with documentation, tireless work, attention to detail and unwavering commitment created a smooth and welcoming environment for all attendees. Their professionalism, positive attitude and dedication were instrumental to the meeting’s success.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to the School Information Technology team. Despite the challenges of redeploying the remote voting system from the Veterans School auditorium to the high school field house and managing a record-breaking turnout, the team ensured that all technical systems remained fully functional throughout the evening. Their ability to maintain reliable operations under pressure, despite the demanding conditions of the new location and the extraordinary level of resident participation, was critical to the success of the electronic
voting process and contributed significantly to the effectiveness of the meeting.
Special thanks are also due to the Town Clerk’s staff and volunteers, who skillfully managed long lines, an overflowing crowd and the issuance and replacement of voting clickers under pressure. Their efficiency, patience and positive engagement kept the process moving smoothly and were deeply appreciated by all in attendance.
We are profoundly grateful for the continued partnership and exemplary service of these teams. Their collective efforts reflect the very best of public service and highlight the strength of collaboration between our municipal and school departments.
Thatcher Kezer, town administrator
John Robidoux, interim superintendent of schools
Heat pump system urged for high school project
To the editor:
At last week’s annual Town Meeting, voters approved spending up to $8.6 million for a new HVAC system for the High School. I urge the School Committee to spend this money on an energy efficient heat pump system rather than a natural gas heating system.
Marblehead has set a goal of reaching net zero in our carbon outputs by 2040. We have a Green Marblehead Implementation Committee in place that is working hard to help us meet this goal. Installing a natural gas system with a 25- to 30-year life expectancy in one of the town’s largest buildings would create a gaping hole in our net zero plan. The alternative would be the premature replacement of the HVAC system prior to 2040 at the cost of millions of dollars to the taxpayers and another override.
Heat pump systems run on electricity from Marblehead Light which is already 65% carbon-free and on track to reach 100% carbon-free before 2040. They are ultra efficient and will result in lower utility bills. Geothermal heat pump systems, like the one installed in Abbot Hall, are even more efficient.
Grants and incentives are available to offset the upfront cost of heat pump installations but not for gas systems. Marblehead’s Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey has worked with contractors to develop the plan to install a new heat pump system in the Mary A. Alley building. The School Committee should consult with him and utilize his expertise. They should also consult with other school districts that have done conversion projects from natural gas heating systems to heat pumps. The School Committee should respect the values of our town in their choice for a new HVAC system for the High School.
Mark Adams Briar Lane
If the Left wants unity, first apologize
To the editor:
Fitness guru and health coach
Massy Arias defines maturity as “apologizing when you’re at fault. Admitting your mistakes and learning how to not make them again.”
Apologizing can be hard. I’d like to think that most rational people can look in the mirror and admit to themselves when they’ve made a mistake and then actually address the mistake by saying “I’m sorry” to the party you’ve transgressed upon. Mistakes can be little like giving a friend the wrong website address, or they can be bigger like causing a car accident. Regardless of the genesis of the mistake, they can be embarrassing to the person who committed it.
The silver lining in a mistake is that most are forgivable if the transgressor has the fortitude to admit to them. However, when a person must look inside themselves and apologize for their own belief system and their actions that stem from that belief system, that’s just about an impossibility. And yet, this is exactly what I’m asking the liberals to do.
In the following comments I’m going to be using the words “you” and “they” quite a bit.
Please note that I’m using this term in the collective, referring to the Left/ Woke/ Democrat/”Progressive” side of our country and not pointing the finger at any one individual. I’m confident “you” know who “they” are!
As a moronic young man, I displayed the telltale signs of having Oppositional Defiant Disorder. For some reason, I always felt compelled to do the exact opposite of what any person in “authority” told me to do. It was immature and stupid. Thankfully, I grew out of it.
Liberals have not. Their ODD is called TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). It’s an immediate and inane response to any policy, action or comment made by President Trump. The comedic example of this that has been circulating for a while is that if Trump discovered the cure for cancer, the Left would hold a protest and file a lawsuit to save cancer.
My hunch is the Left is so panicked that President Trump is becoming the most successful, productive and popular president in American history that they feel they will never hold power again. They desperately want Trump to fail, even if it means the ruination of America. They double and triple down on their phony narratives, even when presented with absolute proof of their misinformation. This is the choice the Left has made.
In my heart of hearts, I believe that everyone on the Left cannot subscribe to the daily lunacy that is the Democrat Party. You are on the losing side of every major issue facing America today. How
CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS
The check-in line snakes through the high school lobby May 6 night as nearly 1,800 residents pack the field house for the second night of debate on Marblehead’s 52-article warrant.
Voters approve $120M budget and ADU changes; reject recall effort
Capacity issues first night lead to new location, four-night meeting
BY WILL DOWD
Marblehead’s annual Town Meeting stretched across four nights, with voters wading through a 52-article warrant while navigating venue changes and dwindling attendance that threatened quorum requirements.
While zoning compliance with the MBTA Communities Act and debt exclusion overrides for the high school roof dominated headlines, voters debated several measures.
Town Moderator Jack Attridge set the tone early, urging patience from the crowd of nearly 1,800 voters who gathered at Marblehead High School’s field house May 6, after the original Monday meeting at Veterans School had been postponed due to capacity issues. By the second and third nights of the Town Meeting, attendance had dwindled significantly.
Separate
ballot overrides pass, recall petition fails
Residents approved Article 50, which will change how Proposition 2½ overrides are handled at town elections. The article, which passed 335-102, will allow voters to consider override requests as separate items at the ballot box rather than as a bundled package.
Resident John Prindiville, who sponsored the petition, argued the change would give voters more direct control over specific spending decisions, allowing them to support some overrides while rejecting others.
Meanwhile, Article 52, which would have instituted a recall provision bylaw for elected officials, was defeated after significant debate. The proposal, sponsored by Luisa Boverini, sought to create a mechanism
“Another reason why I’m seeking a referendum [is] I think the Select Board, as a collective body, has really become more of lobbyists for 3A,” DiPiano said.
According to Select Board Chair Erin Noonan, to overturn the zoning article:
» A majority of those voting in the referendum must vote “no”on approving Town Meeting’s vote on Article 23.
The number of “no” votes must equal or exceed 20% of Marblehead registered voters. Given 16,576 registered voters, that 20% threshold is approximately 3,315 votes. Town Clerk Robin Michaud said “a rough cost estimate of running an election is $12,000.”
Could the referendum land on the June 10 municipal election ballot? Michaud says “no,” as she sent the ballot to the printer on May 9 under a state-mandated
for voters to remove officials for misconduct or breach of duties.
“It is intended only for situations of misconduct or breach of duties,” Boverini said, noting that 150 communities in Massachusetts already have recall provisions.
Resident Ginny O’Brien supported the recall provision, citing the long delay in repairing the leaky high school roof as an example of why the town needs such a mechanism.
School Committee member
Sarah Fox spoke against the measure, suggesting it “wasn’t fully baked” and recommending the Town Charter Committee study the issue and report back next year.
ADU changes pass after heated debate
Article 24, updating the town’s accessory dwelling unit bylaw to comply with 2024 state regulations, passed by a substantial 31346 margin Wednesday night after considerable debate and the defeat of two proposed amendments.
Town Planner Alex Eitler explained the ADU changes were necessary to align Marblehead’s bylaws with new state mandates while “maintaining control of the existing character of Marblehead.”
Key modifications included reducing the maximum ADU size from 1,000 to 900 square feet and decreasing parking requirements from two spaces to one per dwelling.
Town approves $120 million budget
Voters easily approved Article 22, the $120 million fiscal year 2026 town operating budget, after a brief discussion that included questions about the sustainability coordinator
timeline. It’s not clear, however, when the special election will be scheduled.
The town must submit its final compliance package under the MBTA Communities Act by July 14, according to emergency regulations issued earlier this year by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
“In 24 years that I’ve been in the clerk’s office, it hasn’t come up,” she said of the referendum statue. “When the Select Board calls a special election, it has to be done no less than 35 days prior to the election.”
Consulting legal counsel
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer responded Thursday to questions about a potential referendum, saying town officials would be consulting with legal counsel.
“We will work with [Town Counsel] Lisa Mead to get clarity and guidance on this matter,” Kezer wrote in an email.
We need to get this done.”
Property tax relief for seniors, disabled veterans
Articles 28 and 29, which expanded tax exemptions for disabled veterans, passed overwhelmingly. Article 28 implemented a means-tested property tax exemption for residents 65 and older whose property taxes consume a disproportionate share of their income. The home rule petition passed 297-23.
He added, “It smells like sewage in there.”
MHS science teacher Joe King described his working conditions.
“Two weeks ago, I was teaching around a barrel in my room as water was falling down,” King said. “Two months ago, water destroyed a $5,000 smart board in another science room.
Several adults criticized the handling of the project and rejected the idea that the HVAC units need to be replaced while addressing the roof.
“We’re all agreed that the roof needs to be fixed,” said Seamus Hourihan. “There are two issues here: fixing the roof and replacing the HVAC units. The money exists to do the roof, since May of 2022. It should’ve been done 18 months ago, except for the negligence of the School
position and one resident’s eightyear quest to have stop lines repainted outside his house.
Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin fielded questions about new hires and funding allocations, while a line-by-line review process allowed voters to discuss specific budget items.
Stormwater fund established amid governance changes
Town Meeting approved a new Stormwater Enterprise Fund effective July 1, 2025. The measure, Article 36, will create a dedicated funding mechanism for stormwater infrastructure maintenance and improvements.
The town also approved Articles 38 and 39, giving the Select Board responsibility for setting building and electrical permit fees after a public hearing, a move Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer described as a way to streamline operations.
Police hiring age restriction removed
Police Chief Dennis King successfully advocated for Article 37, which eliminated the requirement that new officer hires be 32 years old or younger.
“Currently, she and the rest of us are focused on wrapping up Town Meeting. As soon as we have the opportunity for her to review the information and for us to have a conversation, I will be happy to share whatever information we have as to what options there are to move forward.”
Meanwhile, as for now, passage on May 6 will return Marblehead to good standing with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, restoring eligibility for competitive grants and forestalling potential enforcement.
Michaud said, “as required by law,” she will be submitting the amended bylaw and revised zoning map to the Office of the Attorney General for review, a process that can take up to 90 days. Once certified, the town will file its final compliance package with the state and publish procedural guidelines for applicants.
Noonan expressed confidence
Committee.”
Sam Altruder, who manages properties, said, “This proposed $8 million expenditure for HVAC equipment runs counter to my experience. We never, ever accelerated the replacement of HVAC equipment because of roof replacement… The underlying arguments for HVAC replacement just don’t hold water.”
Mary Alley renovations Next, Town Meeting approved,
“The last two hiring cycles, I had excellent candidates who were just over the age limit,” King said, highlighting the department’s challenges in recruiting qualified officers. The article to eliminate the age restriction passed overwhelmingly, 375-14.
Trust fund changes expand investment options
Article 26, adopting the prudent investor rule for town trust funds, passed 281-42.
Finance Director Alicia Benjamin explained the change would provide “additional flexibility to invest town trust funds in a broader range of investments” beyond the limited options currently allowed on the Massachusetts legal list.
“We can’t invest in Apple. We can’t invest in any of the things – Amazon, Netflix, Google,” Benjamin said, describing the current limitations.
Snow emergency fines increase
Town Meeting approved Article 44 to increase fees for parking tickets during snow emergencies to $100. The vote was 383-47.
in the Town Meeting vote despite the referendum effort.
“As shown by our recordbreaking Town Meeting attendance, last night was a referendum on 3A, where the town voted three times to support the zoning plan,” Noonan said. “I’m confident the town would again support the common sense plan developed by our town Planning Board.”
Following Milton’s footsteps?
Milton’s referendum experience with the MBTA zoning offers a parallel path that Marblehead may soon follow. In February 2024, Milton residents overturned their Town Meeting’s previously approved multifamily zoning plan at the ballot box, voting 54% to 46% against the measure in a special election that drew nearly 9,500 voters. Like the effort underway in Marblehead, Milton’s petition drive successfully moved the decision from Town Meeting to a
671-103, a $5.75 million renovation for Mary Alley.
The project includes “windows, Americans with Disabilities Act bathrooms and railings, elevator and HVAC systems and acquiring and installing a new roof,” according to the town’s presentation.
“A lot of people, including myself, use space heaters because the HVAC heat does not work,” said Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin. “We also, I just found out, don’t have a
Selectman Dan Fox explained the exemption would be limited to longtime residents whose assessed home value is at or below the town average, with income limits to be set annually by the Select Board.
“This is a highly targeted tax relief for our seniors,” Fox said, adding that the first year’s implementation would likely cost about $200,000, with individual exemptions capped at $2,000.
Article 31, transferring the Coffin School from the School Committee to the Select Board, passed 229-86. Officials emphasized that a reuse committee would engage in a “highly publicized” process similar to what was done with the Gerry School in 2019. Article 32, transferring the Gerry Playground to the Recreation and Parks Commission, passed 299-9. The meeting concluded having addressed all warrant articles, with several citizen petitions indefinitely postponed, including proposals to require town employees to live in Marblehead, hire a parliamentarian and ax an existing sustainability coordinator position.
Leigh Blander contributed reporting to this story.
town-wide vote.
And the consequences were swift: Milton immediately fell out of compliance with state law, losing eligibility for multiple grant programs. Within weeks, Attorney General Andrea Campbell filed a lawsuit against the town, a case that ultimately reached the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in October 2024.
Meanwhile, the Marblehead Housing Coalition, which supported the zoning overlay, also expressed optimism about the outcome despite the referendum effort.
“The MHC supports democracy, so we were thrilled with and grateful for the record turnout at Town Meeting,” said Angus McQuilken, founding member of the coalition. “We were also very pleased that common sense prevailed to support 3A zoning.”
He added, “We will continue to follow the democratic process wherever it leads.”
sprinkler system, which is even more frightening in our building. I know from working there, there are many, many updates that need to be done.”
The Mary Alley project, which would add $49 a year to the tax bill for the median-priced home, for the next 20 years.
Benjamin emphasized that the debt for the MHS construction project 20 years ago is finally paid off, so even with these two new projects, tax bills for the median-priced home should
CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS
A sea of seated voters fills the Marblehead High School field house May 6 as Town Meeting reaches quorum and launches three nights of deliberations on budgets, zoning and citizen petitions.
Tennis teams are in winning frame of mind
BY JOE MCCONNELL
It’s eight straight for boys tennis
Since losing to Manchester Essex by the closest of margins, 3-2 on April 11, the Marblehead High boys tennis team (9-0 in the Northeastern Conference, 10-1 overall) has rattled off eight straight wins, including their latest two triumphs last week against Beverly (5-0, May 7) and Hamilton-Wenham (4-1, May 8).
As of May 9, these Magicians are seeded eighth in the Division 2 power rankings. There are 52 teams in Division 2.
It was the first dry day of the week, and the Marblehead boys couldn’t wait to board the bus for Beverly to take on the Panthers last Wednesday. Their enthusiasm to play propelled them to dominate the home team.
Senior tri-captain Etan Farfel took down Logan Hall in first singles, 6-0, 6-0. Senior tricaptain Jayden Janock pretty much did the same to Thomas Menke in second singles, 6-0, 6-1. Junior T.J. Kelly completed the singles sweep by beating Nate Fien in third singles, 6-0, 6-2.
The first doubles team of sophomores Ty Cooper and Alex Boehning maintained the lopsided trend over Harrison Finamore and Alexander Alexeyev, 6-0, 6-1. Seniors Austin Bacon and Quinn Fletcher took care of Jackson Maker and Shane Griffin in second doubles, 6-1, 6-1.
In sub-varsity play, seniors Nico Altonian and Graydon Waller shutout Diego Pickler and Ben Walsh, 6-0, 6-0.
The Magicians came right back home after the win over Beverly
to get ready for the Generals on another great weather day last Thursday.
The match of the day was Farfel’s win in first singles over Rory Taylor. The Marblehead captain was trailing, 5-4 in the first set. He then went on to pull out a 7-5 victory after winning three straight games. Farfel cruised through the second set, 6-3 to beat his worthy opponent in straight sets. “Etan displayed excellent strategy to secure the comeback win,” said coach Elisabeth Foukal afterwards.
Senior tri-captain Matthew Sherf lost a hard-fought second singles match to Alex Boardman, 6-3, 6-1. Bacon got the point right back to beat Patrick Driscoll in third singles, 6-0, 6-1. Janock and Cooper teamed up to beat Grayson Minich and Will Gregory in first doubles, 6-1, 6-0. Kelly and Boehning came out on top against Kevin Spoon and Liam Maquire in second doubles, 6-1, 6-1.
In sub-varsity play, Adam Loughlin and Leo Winocour won, 6-2. Quinn Sullivan and
39th, personal best), Goodwin (15.87, 43rd, personal best) and Meredith Kreevoy (16.18, 49th, personal best).
gymnastics has helped propel her to be a successful hurdler right away,” said Raimo. Apostolopoulos (20.36, personal best) just missed scoring a point after coming in ninth.
Boys 100-meter hurdles
Jackson (16.48, personal best) overcame adversity to come out on top. “In a pre-race rep, Noah seriously collided with a coach from another team, while crossing the track, but he still ran away from the field to capture his second of three wins on the day,” said Raimo. “Noah was our leading scorer in this meet with two wins in individual events and one in the relays for a total of 22.5 points.”
Girls 100-meters
Lucy Flynn (12:59) made history in the 100 by breaking the school and meet records to secure the win. “Lucy is the fifth best sophomore in the state,” said Raimo.
Camryn O’Brien (14.72, season-best) finished 13th. Audrey Faverman (14.81) was close behind in 15th place. Emily Zisson (15.24, personal best) was 24th, followed by Phoebe Crawford (15.51, 28th, personal best), Shanilee Pena (15.77,
Wednesday, May 14
4 p.m., baseball, Beverly, Beverly High
4 p.m., girls lacrosse, Masconomet, MHS Piper Field
4 p.m., softball, Beverly, Beverly High
4 p.m., girls tennis, Beverly, Marblehead High
4 p.m., boys tennis, Salem, Seaside Park
Boys 100-meters
Selby (11.88, personal best) captured third place. Julien Poitevin (12.08, personal best) continued his success at this meet to end up among the point leaders in eighth place. Max Karlyn (12.77, personal best) was 13th. Voeuncenzo Vorn (12.83, personal best) finished 15th. Harrison Carpineto (13.27, season best,27th), Luis Alvarez (13.48, personal best,33rd), Charles Conlon (13.75, personal best, 37th), Morgan Hendy (13.94, personal best,38th), Patrick Horgan (14.47, personal best, 42nd), Nathaniel O’Keefe (14.94, personal best, 48th), Noonan (15.12, 49th), and ByronSmarra (16.04 personal best, 52nd) also competed in this event.
Girls 200 Flynn (25.90) set a new school record, and is also the secondbest sophomore in the state running this sprint. “Lucy broke the school record that was set 17 years ago in 2008,” said Raimo. Lidia Jasmine Tiedra (30.42, season-best, 14th), Audrey Faverman (30.82, personal best, 18th), Emily Zisson (31.07, personal best, 23rd), Shanilee Pena (34.00. 41stt) and Meredith Kreevoy (34.81, 47th) also
5 p.m., boys lacrosse, Masconomet, Masconomet Regional High Thursday, May 15
4 p.m., girls tennis, Danvers, Marblehead High
4 p.m., boys tennis, Malden Catholic, Malden Catholic
4:15 p.m., baseball, Masconomet, Masconomet Regional High
4:30 p.m., softball, Latin Academy,
Quinn Fletcher shutdown their Hamilton-Wenham counterparts, 6-0. Altonian and Waller won again, 6-2. Filip Wabno’s singles match was cut short abruptly, with Filip narrowly trailing his opponent, 6-5.
Girls tennis extends winning streak to five Don’t look now, but the Marblehead High girls tennis team (8-3) has won five in a row. Its latest two triumphs were against non-league opponents Pentucket (5-0, May 7) and Hamilton-Wenham (3-2, May 8) last week. As of May 9, these Magicians are seeded 16th in the Division 2 power rankings. There are 59 teams in Division 2. Against the visiting Pentucket Sachems, Samara Dosch started things off with a 6-2, 6-2 first singles victory. Second singles player Nina Johnson won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Abbie Goodwin shutout her third singles foe, 6-0, 6-0.
Marblehead’s first doubles dynamic duo team of Reese Friedman and Lani Gilmore
participated in the 200, with the latter two making their debuts.
Boys 200
Julien Poitevin (24.82, personal best) finished fifth overall, second among freshmen. “It was an impressive sub-25 for a freshman,” said Raimo. Noah Smerka (25.26, personal best) collected a medal with an eighth-place finish. Carpineto (26.35, personal best) was 18th, followed by Alvarez (27.31,30th) and Conlon (28.08, personal best, 32nd).
Girls 400
Phoebe Fontela-Tuttle (66.45, personal best) grabbed the bronze in her first open 400 this spring. Margaret Miller (68.83) returned from injury after being sidelined for a couple of months to finish sixth. Sophie Bacon (73.37, personal best) was eighth.
Boys 400
Eben Weed (54.48, personal best) breezed to victory. Jack Franklin (55.97, personal best) battled through illness to secure a fourth-place finish.
Girls 800
Sarah Munroe (2:28.50) and Norah Walsh (2:34.06, personal best) topped the ticket. Maria Grace Ladourceur (2:41.32, personal best) was fifth.
Boys 800
Felix Regnault (2:20, personal
Marblehead Veterans Middle
7 p.m., boys lacrosse, Melrose, MHS Piper Field
Monday, May 19
4 p.m., baseball, Winthrop, Seaside Park
4 p.m., softball, Winthrop, Winthrop High
4 p.m., girls tennis, Winthrop, Winthrop High
4 p.m., boys tennis, Gloucester,
just keeps on winning, 6-1, 6-0. Josie Reers and Callie Gilmore completed the shutout in second doubles, 6-0, 6-0.
The Magicians went back to work the very next day to beat the Generals on the road in a close match.
The Generals were able to come out on top in both first and second singles. Naomi Provost defeated Dosch in first singles, and Emily McIntosh took care of Johnson in second singles, 6-3, 6-1.
But Goodwin got her teammates untracked in third singles with a scrappy win over Charlene Ireland, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).
Gilmore and Friedman won again in first doubles after beating Olivia Romans and Evelyn Esiduiles, 6-2, 6-1.
Caroline Bruett and Reers decided the match in Marblehead’s favor by defeating Sofie Greene and Gabrielle Jewett in second doubles. The Marblehead tandem started slowly, trailing 5-2, but was able to make some adjustments to
best) took home the bronze with a third-place finish. Owen Harrison (2:50.36, personal best) built up a solid cardio base from training indoors and outdoors, and should continue to put up faster times, according to Raimo.
Girls mile
Ruby Assa (6:03.64) was credited with a second-place finish. Anna Cruikshank (7:06.09, personal best) came in eighth.
Boys mile
Filip Grubor (5:09.84, personal best) took home the seventhplace medal. Alex Murray (5:31.28, personal best) finished 12th in a competitive field.
Girls two-mile
Assa (13:21.42) broke the tape first, just ahead of Munroe (13:21.52), who was second. Evelina Beletsky (13:54.85) took home the fourth-place ribbon. Thea Shaw (15:50.33, season best) finished seventh.
Girls 4x100
O’Brien, Flynn, Faverman and Jasmine Tiedra (55.35) finished third. “It was a close race between the second through sixth place teams, with all four coming within .7 seconds of each other,” said Raimo. “There was a miscommunication, which caused all the handoffs to be adjusted on the fly, and so a third-place finish is a good result
Marblehead High Tuesday, May 20
4 p.m., girls lacrosse, Winthrop, Winthrop High
4 p.m., softball, Medford, Columbus Park Softball Field, Medford
4 p.m., boys tennis, Newburyport, Atkinson Common Tennis Courts, Newburyport
4 p.m., girls tennis, Salem, Salem High
come roaring back to win the set, 7-5.
The Generals, however, answered right back to win the second set, 6-3. Before darkness and rain hovered over the courts, this Marblehead doubles team was able to prevail in the third set, 6-2 to help secure the victory for their teammates.
“This was a great high school tennis match between two very good solid teams,” said coach Tracy Ackerman. “The Generals have dominated the Cape Ann League the past few years, so a victory was really meaningful for us.
“We are peaking at the exact right time,” added Ackerman. “This win, along with the 3-2 win over Masco the previous week, will give us huge momentum going into the postseason. We still have a few tough regular season matches left against Beverly (May 14), Danvers (May 15) and Lynnfield (May 21), but we are trending in the right direction. Abbie Goodwin, in particular, continues to impress me with the improvements she has made this season.”
considering the circumstances.”
Boys 4x100
Carpineto, Poitevin, Alvarez and Selby (48.08) ended up fourth. “The handoffs were executed very well, and everyone ran solid legs,” said Raimo. “I’m sure we will see this group run together in the future as a varsity relay team.”
Girls 4x800
Assa, Munroe, Ladoueceur and Walsh ran away from the field to take first place.
Boys 4x800
Murray, Karlyn, Noah Vanden Heuvel and Grubor (10:08.24) finished fourth.
Girls 4x400
Sophie Bacon, Sophia Patterson, Walsh and Apostolopoulos (4:56.43) ended up fourth. “This team of all freshmen competed well alongside a competitive field,” said Raimo.
Boys 4x400
Franklin, Regnault, Jackson and Weed (3:46.41) captured the freshman / sophomore title. “It was a two-team race early on between Masco and us,” said Raimo. “With tired legs from the 400 and 800 races, Jack, Felix, Noah and Eben scrapped together everything they had to come within four seconds off the meet record,” said Raimo.
7 p.m., boys lacrosse, Winthrop, MHS Piper Field Wednesday, May 21
Marblehead High girls tennis senior Lani Gilmore, above, is an integral member of a team that has been surging as of late, and their efforts have them among the Top 20 in the state. As of May 9, they are the 16th seed in the Division 2 power rankings. Gilmore plays first doubles this year with captain Reese Friedman, and together they have been perfect through last week.
COURTESY PHOTOS / LUANN GABEL
Marblehead High girls tennis senior captain Reese Friedman, above, has been teaming up this year with Lani Gilmore to form a winning first doubles combination.
Asparagus takes center stage in spring
BY LINDA BASSETT
Asparagus and tulips make their appearance simultaneously in New England. I buy both in lavish bunches. Cut the flower stems on a slant and put them into water immediately so they drink it all the way up the stem. Some folks arrange their tulips in large, lush bouquets that droop delicately over the rim of a bowl. Others like their tulips to stand up straight and tall. To keep them that way, add a penny to the vase. I understand that others add a shot of vodka to the water to keep flowers fresh longer. I can swear to the penny trick, but I’ve never tested the vodka. I save that for bloody Marys or dirty martinis.
Asparagus is ubiquitous right now. I love choosing bunches outdoors at a farmers’ market, even in nippy spring air. It’s also a good time to pick up fresh bunches of scallions or chives or tarragon. (Maybe pick up some daffodils to add to those tulip bouquets.)
Once upon a time, cooking asparagus meant boiling until gray, then dousing the mushy stalks in butter sauce. No more! Cooks know more appetizing ways. Steaming. Baking on a sheet pan. Sauteing in a skillet. Charring under a broiler. Keep it crunchy and green. And don’t forget a peerless, spear-less light soup for starters. First, choose the asparagus. Thick or pencil-thin. Both varieties are good; each takes better to different cooking methods. See the recipes. Next comes cleaning and
trimming. A swirl through a sink of cold water is enough. To trim, bend the asparagus and it will break naturally where the tough part meets the tender. Then, so they look nicer, trim the ragged ends, diagonally, with a paring knife.
The fatter stalks take well to baking. Some cooks like to peel the lowest parts. The thinner stalks like to be sauteed or broiled. No peeling needed. Using any method, I’ve actually seen asparagus disappear before it gets to the table.
The soup here is from chef James Haller, who back in the 80s owned a romantic restaurant called “The Blue Strawberry” in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He was a great teacher, but didn’t believe in recipes, just cooked as ingredients occurred to him. The man had a gift. The soup here is a riff on one from his cookbook. I’ve brought some of the equipment up to date, e.g. the hand-held electric stick blender for easier clean up.
CURRIED
ASPARAGUS-CREAM SOUP
MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS.
` 1-1/2 pounds asparagus (medium stalks)
` 2 to 3 leeks, white part only, chopped
` 1 cup potatoes, diced
` ½ stick unsalted butter
` ¼ cup flour
` 1 cup dry white wine
` 2 tablespoons curry powder
` 1½ cups all-purpose cream, as needed
` sea salt
Chop the tips from the asparagus; set aside.
Put the stalks into a soup pot with the leeks, potatoes, butter, flour, wine, and curry powder. Add enough water to barely
describes her experience so far as unexpected, however very fulfilling.
perfectly with senior project,” Amberik said. She
Finn Bergquist used this opportunity to pursue her new invention and secure
cover. Bring to a boil and cook until everything is very tender. When it starts to thicken, add the cream.
Blend until smooth with a stick blender. Stir in reserved asparagus tips. Simmer very gently until the tips are tender. Add more cream, if the soup is too thick. Season with salt, to taste.
OVEN-CHARRED ASPARAGUS MAKES 4 SERVINGS.
Use a rimmed baking sheet (as opposed to a cookie sheet) so the asparagus does not roll off the edges.
Buy a good, flavorful brand of peppercorns to grind over the asparagus.
` 1-1/2 pounds (medium-thick)
a patent. She describes her frustration with very-highfrequency radios.
“I’m always on my boat in the summer, and we’re always forgetting the radio, or it’s dead,” she said. “I’m like, ‘This seems so obsolete to carry around this big clunky thing.’”
Bergquist wants to create a solution that will revolutionize the boating scene. She imagines a portable VHF chip that is accessible through your phone, to eliminate the need for a clunky radio — not only to solve the issue, but also keep the boating standard use of VHF radio the same. The idea
asparagus
` 2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
` Sea salt, fresh ground black pepper
` Fresh squeezed juice from half a lemon (2 tablespoons) Heat oven to 475 degrees. Snap the tough ends from the asparagus; spread out on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Shower with salt and pepper to taste. Roll the spears to coat them with oil. Roast until tender-crisp and tips are tinged a dark brown color, 6 to 10 minutes, depending on size. Watch carefully after 6 minutes so they do not burn. Remove to a plate and squeeze the lemon juice over the
is easier said than done for Bergquist, and she finds the patent process difficult.
“Well, I need to figure out all the specifics of the design before you patent it,” she explained.
“And so really, right now I’m at the researching stage. Like do other people have similar ideas already? Even if it’s not a product yet.”
Despite the challenges, Bergquist finds fulfillment in the entrepreneurial process and hopes she can get the idea into people’s hands. The word Bergquist uses to describe her experience is “challenging.”
TOWN OF MARBLHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday May 27, 2025 at 8:15 PM on the request of Tyler Dittrich to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction of a new detached garage on a lot with less than the require Lot Area, Lot Width, Frontage, and Side Yard Setbacks located at 46 Harbor Avenue in the Expanded Single Residence District. The newly constructed garage will encroach into the Side Yard Setbacks. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker ’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the
Alan Lipkind Secretary
asparagus.
ASPARAGUS SALAD MAKES 4 SERVINGS.
` 2 large hard-cooked eggs, yolks separated (whites reserved for another use)
` 4 ounces block of Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, for shaving
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil a large baking sheet. Place the prosciutto on one end and the onion slices on the other end. Cook in the oven until prosciutto is crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove the baking sheet and take the prosciutto off the pan. Spread out the onion slices and return to the oven for 10 minutes longer. Remove from the oven. Set aside.
Slice the asparagus spears with a vegetable peeler. (Or slice thinly on the diagonal with a paring knife.)
Place the asparagus on a platter. Crumble the prosciutto and eggs over the top. Add onion. Shower with lemon juice and olive oil and toss gently. Scatter the parsley and/or tarragon and shave the cheese over the top.
Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-andcoming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.
A third senior wanted to get a headstart on his engineering skills before college. Ethan Horgan has been working alongside Tool Inc. engineers in order to design his own laptop stand.
“For the first few weeks, I’ve been learning the ropes, starting to do computer-aided design, getting all the measurements and using really unique tools. It’s been a lot of learning,” he said.
Horgan knew he wanted to do something engineering related and hands-on. While struggling at first with learning the ropes of CAD, Horgan
enjoys the freedom he’s been given while also appreciating the help of his supervisors.
“I want to get an advantage over other engineers [before school], that’s why I chose this project,” Horgan said. Many seniors, including Horgan, use senior project as an opportunity to explore their career choices. The on-site and work experience inspires Horgan even further to pursue engineering in his future.
John Bender is a Marblehead High School senior project intern with the Marblehead Current.
CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT
Asparagus stems and tulips appear simultaneously in New England, offering a perfect spring pairing for both the plate and vase.
Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Leigh Blander
Stetson Gallery at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford St. All are invited.
Organ concert
Sunday, May 18, 5 p.m.
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church will present its last of five concerts celebrating the 50th year of its Fisk organ.
James Bobb, professor of Organ at St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, will lead a hymn festival. He’ll also feature Marblehead’s official town anthem, “Marblehead Forever.”
A suggested donation of $20 per person is requested at the door. Following the concert, there will be a reception in the parish hall.
Anything Goes
Saturday, May 17, 6 p.m.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead will celebrate a joyfu community event called “Anything Goes: A Night to Remember,” featuring live performances by local musicians, moments of comedy, original skits, a silent auction of various fun events (trips, meals and original art) as well as a buffet dinner. Participants are encouraged to wear over-the-top clothing and hang loose! Everyone is welcome. There is a suggested donation of $10. 28 Mugford St.
Jeremiah Lee and Slavery in Marblehead
Wednesday, May 14, 7 p.m.
Marblehead
Museum Executive Director Lauren McCormack will discuss colonial Marblehead’s relationship with the trans-Atlantic economy. Using merchant Jeremiah Lee as a case study, McCormack will examine how participation in this tradebased economy, which relied upon slave labor and slave-produced goods, enriched not only Marblehead’s merchant class but the entire town as well. She will also
look at the ways enslaved people here contributed to Marblehead’s economic life. Registration is required and limited to 50 attendants. Location: Abbot Public Library. abbotlibrary.org
Me&Thee season finale with John Gorka
Friday, May 16, 8 p.m.
World-renowned singersongwriter John Gorka returns to the Me&Thee to wrap up the coffeehouse’s 55th season. Music starts at 8 p.m. 28 Mugford St. More info and tickets at meandthee.org.
Jazz at the Arts Thursday, May 15, 7 p.m.
The Marblehead Arts Association and Gene Arnould present a performance by the Greg Abate Quintet as a part of their Jazz at the Arts concert series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at 8 Hooper St. Tickets are $35.
MHS music tour of Ireland hits all the right notes
BY CHARLOTTE SELIGER
Three weeks ago, 34 representatives of Marblehead High School’s music department caught a flight from Logan to Dublin Airport. Though it felt like mere days since the trip had been announced last spring, there I was: corralled into a plane seat by 9:25 p.m., dutifully working a melatonin gummy through my teeth. I barely slept (shocker), and I certainly wasn’t alone in my fatigue upon arrival.
We were advised, however, not to nap during our panoramic bus tour of Dublin. I vowed to pinch the inside of my wrist if I started to doze. To my surprise, I didn’t need to; with Dublin before us, as well as the wit of Katie Vaughn, our soon to be beloved guide, it wasn’t hard to remain alert. After an interactive visit to EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum, we traveled to Kilkenny. At the Kilford Arms Hotel, the staff were bafflingly cheerful in the face of such a herd. We were even offered ice for our water bottles, which apparently is a distinctly American accommodation. The remainder of the evening included leisure time, a scavenger hunt, dinner at the hotel and either early bedtime or live music at the restaurant (most gratefully accepted the latter).
The next day brought our first performance, at St. Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny: a prime example of Gothic architecture and approximately 800 years old. The well-preserved stained glass windows glowed, however, as if they’d been
installed the other day. The auditory delight provided by its acoustics was nearly superior to its visual offerings. The increased amplification did provide a unique challenge for our ensembles, demanding adjustments in tone and blend. We had to listen hard, breathe purposefully and intensify dynamic contrast; it was an exercise in clarity and control. Thankfully, the opportunity to learn these skills arose twice more, as we also performed at St. Mary’s Church of the Sloes in Killarney and Redemptorist Church in Limerick, which provided similar acoustic spaces. The third performance was held in partnership with Laurel Hill Secondary School’s choir in an exchange between our programs. It was a highlight for many, as we enjoyed the opportunity to interact with people our age.
Conversation topics include lemonade across cultures (fizziness v. lack thereof) and “Hadestown.” Of course, much of our trip was quite touristy. We kissed the Blarney Stone, some with more trepidation than others (“Did anyone
else assume it was just on a pedestal or something?” —me, unfortunately). We saw the Cliffs of Moher (“Take a picture of me by the cliffs. Wait—that way—I want you to get the cave Regulus Black died in.” — Andrew Scoglio). We even
enjoyed a tour of Killarney National Park via horse-drawn jaunting cars. Among cathedrals, St. Patrick’s in Dublin was the undeniable star.
Our final hurrah, at Taylor’s Three Rock, was a night of Irish music and step dancing — a fitting send-off. For students considering future MHS music trips, I have three tips. First is to go all in, as you never know what wonderful experience you might stumble upon. On our final day in Dublin, I spent my time watching buskers (street performers). One of them ended up asking me to sing with her, and that’s what my friends found me doing upon emerging from a nearby shop (honestly, I was just as perplexed as they were). It was a delightful misadventure.
Second, I advise committing to a checked bag. I hadn’t, for fear of additional airport complications. It backfired spectacularly, as a bit of rain left me sans half my wardrobe. I had to borrow jeans from a friend of similar stature, rewear things and buy a dress from the Irish equivalent of Target. Ironically, I had to check my bag on the way home anyways, as the carry-on compartments were estimated to be at full capacity. Third and final is to seek out tour guide Katie Vaughn if you ever find yourself in Ireland. She provided us with historical anecdotes, insights on current political circumstances, shopping recommendations, and, as she claims, coordinated our presence at a rest stop with that of a local rugby team. In her immortal words, “I hope you all enjoyed the eye candy. Charlotte Seliger is a Marblehead High School junior.
COURTESY PHOTOS / ANDREW SCOGLIO
The MHS Music Department with the Laurel Hill Secondary School choice at the Redemptorist Church in Limerick after a concert.
The MHS performers outside Academy Plaza Hotel in Dublin.
Local photographer Larry Dunn is exhibiting his photographs, “The Color of Shapes and Playgrounds” at
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community
Reconfigurations of body horror in The Shrouds
Nathaniel Carper-Young, Junior
The term “body horror” is thrown around a good deal in contemporary film spaces. It generally refers to a subgenre of horror films that eschews the various nasties (supernatural or otherwise) typically prevalent in horror in favor of terror evoked directly from images of the human body, and whatever damages or biological transformations it’s undergone. Ergo, “body horror.” Esteemed veteran of the horror genre David Cronenberg pioneered the then-burgeoning body horror cinema in the 1980s with his films The Fly and Videodrome, both of which take special interest in certain transformations that the human bodies in them undergo. Neither film is for the faint of heart; the same might be said of the whole of the body horror cinema—even in its most inchoate forms, the images offered (e.g., those of a man gradually turning into a fly) are enough to make the stomach turn. In the forty-odd years that have elapsed since those initial echoings, the subgenre has grown much more disgusting and also much more popular; last year’s The Substance (likened frequently to the work of Cronenberg) garnered a great many walkouts and post-screening throw-ups from a number of audience members, as well as five Academy Award nominations and one win. Cronenberg, now 82, offers to the world a novel vision of the ever-evolving body horror cinema in his newest film, The Shrouds The Shrouds follows Karsh (Vincent Cassel), the CEO of rising tech company GraveTech, which offers to the bereaved a peculiar service: they may see the body of their dead at any time they’d like, decaying in real time. The manner in which this service is carried out is quite grotesque. A crude three-dimensional rendering of the body (permitted by the technologically advanced shrouds that the dead wear in their coffins), updating in perpetuity, is displayed on a screen installed
on the headstone of the dead, accessible only by those authorized. This product appears to be a pretty thoroughly niche one, though this does not matter a great deal, as for Karsh it is more a personal project than it is a commercial one — his wife, Becca, passed four years prior to the events of the film, and he’s found himself thoroughly unable to move on since. The grief Karsh feels for Becca does not appear to extend beyond her body, though. He speaks much more frequently of the specificities of its contours and different parts (often in an unceremoniously lewd fashion) than he does of his romantic relationship with Becca. In fact, he seems nothing short of possessive of her body, and conversely completely detached from her as a person. Given this, the capacities of GraveTech are perfect for Karsh — he does not ever have to move on, for he can always check in on Becca, and maintain an illusion of control over her body. That is, until nine of the GraveTech headstones (Becca’s included), in their problematically tenuous construction, get vandalized and knocked over. Karsh is no longer able to check in on and/or possess Becca’s body, and so he falls into a mania. He eventually strikes up a relationship with Becca’s twin sister, claiming in essence that she “has Becca’s body.”
I will admit that to call this film “body horror,” as I have done, is something of a misnomer. It does not engage in the same easy genre pleasures that The Fly or Videodrome or The Substance do, nor does it bear the same relationship to the human body as those films do. The Shrouds, rather, is interested in dissecting that particular relationship. It is a great film on the manners in which we fetishize other human bodies through images, whether they be those of our dearly departed or fictional ones on a film screen (as in so much of the body horror subgenre.) The real horrors of the body are not improbable growths or facial deformities, but those of a desperate obsession with the body, so Cronenberg suggests.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
REPORTERS: Nathaniel Carper-Young, Anna
Marblehead High School Greece trip
Georgia Marshall, Assistant Editor, Sophomore
There’s a reason Greek culture has endured for thousands of years—its tales of love, betrayal, heroism, and fate still grip modern audiences. The myths reflect both the wonder and the chaos of being human. Ancient Greek civilization, with its ruins, rituals, and legends, still forms the backbone of much of Western literature and thought. A few weeks ago, a group of students and teachers from the English, French, and Art departments embarked on a weeklong journey through Greece—one filled with stories, ruins, and laughter.
On April 18, over thirty students, consisting of sophomores, juniors, and seniors, as well as six teachers, gathered in Logan Airport toting suitcases and backpacks to begin our flight to Athens. The first night in the city, which happened to coincide with the traditional Greek Easter celebration, was surreal. After hours of traveling, all we could do was stare with wide eyes at the mysterious and beautiful candle-lit ceremony, letting the sounds of bells chiming and the priest’s sermon swirl around us. The following week, along with our tour guide, Costas, we explored the highlights of Greece, from the bustling city center of Athens to tiny mountain-side towns like Olympia.
Mrs. Billings, one of the leaders of the trip and an English teacher at MHS, describes the experience of the trip perfectly. “Having the chance to tour Greece with 35 curious kids from Marblehead was a gift and an inspiration. Again and again, students were
impressed by the majesty of the culture, the landscape, and the architecture. I think this is a trip we will all remember forever.”
The itinerary was jampacked with visits to historical sights and breathtaking ruins, including the ancient Olympic stadium, the Temple of Poseidon, Delphi, and the famed Parthenon. Experiencing the majesty of places we’d only ever read about in history books felt like stepping back in time. The trip also included an island cruise across shining Mediterranean waters, an olive oil tasting, a traditional pottery experience, and a Greek evening of dancing and food.
“Greece was so much fun!” says Teagan Freedman, a sophomore. “We got to walk around with our friends and try all kinds of food. We were able to meet different people and experience another culture.” The setting and experience of the trip provided a unique bonding experience that couldn’t be discovered in a traditional school setting. It was an excellent opportunity to form new friendships and connections, while also exploring one of the world’s most revered nations. Now that we are all back to the usual grind of schoolwork, sports, clubs, and the business of life, the excitement of the trip has faded to fleeting recollections. Though it is over, it’s safe to say that all the students and teachers who went on the trip will remember the unique experience of exploring and learning outside traditional texts, and immersing ourselves in a new culture and environment, forever. From bus ride singalongs to exploring the Acropolis to dancing on a Greek stage, there was fun to be had by all on the 2025 Greece trip.
How music can improve your mood
Kathleen Hanson, Assistant Editor, Junior
Have you ever put on your favorite song and instantly felt better? You’re not alone. Music has a powerful effect on our emotions and can be a quick, easy way to boost your mood with no prescription required. Listening to music triggers the brain to release dopamine, a chemical linked to feelings of pleasure and reward. That’s why upbeat songs can make you feel energized, while slow, calming tunes can help you relax after a stressful day. Some studies have even shown that music can reduce anxiety
and help fight symptoms of depression. The best part? Everyone’s playlist is different. Whether it’s pop, classical, lo-fi, or hip hop, the right music for you is whatever makes you feel good. So next time you’re feeling down, put on some headphones and hit play, you might be surprised at how much better you feel.
Even just humming a tune or singing in the shower can lift your spirits, proving you don’t need a fancy playlist to enjoy the mood-boosting power of music.
