Marblehead’s Election Day was Tuesday, June 10, with several contested races and $14.35 million in debt exclusion overrides on the ballot. Early voting last week was brisk. For the latest on election results, visit MarbleheadCurrrent.org.
BY WILL DOWD
Salutatorian Nicolas Regnault moved six or seven times before finding home in Marblehead during a global pandemic, but Friday evening he told his fellow 238 graduates that starting over again and again taught him the most valuable lesson of all: The courage to take that first step into the unknown.
Regnault’s message about embracing discomfort and new challenges resonated throughout Friday’s graduation ceremony, where speakers consistently urged the Class of 2025 to carry forward the courage and kindness that helped them navigate their four years of high school.
Local
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Eighteen-year-old Addy Mooney of Marblehead knew something wasn’t right with the older woman at Richdale on Smith Street. She was asking the cashier for help with the Bitcoin machine.
“She was in her 70s or 80s, and she was holding her phone like she was talking to someone while this interaction was happening,” Mooney said. “It seemed kind of scammy.” Mooney walked home, but,
“Every once in a while you’ll stumble onto something that sticks, something or someone that changes
she said, “I felt deep down there was something up. I felt like this woman was in trouble.”
So, she called Marblehead Police to report that an older woman at Richdale might be getting scammed. Mooney ran back to Richdale and found the woman sitting in her car.
She explained to the woman that she might be a victim of a Bitcoin scam and asked to look at her phone.
“I saw all these texts. ‘I love you; I’m going to take care of you,’” Mooney said. “It was very
your life,” Regnault told his classmates, sharing how joining sailing during the pandemic’s most isolating days sparked his passion for engineering and led him to Georgia Tech for aerospace studies.
“Life rarely follows a perfect path, but no matter where you go or how many times you start over, it’s how you choose to begin again that defines who you become.”
While Regnault emphasized courage to step into the unknown, the evening’s dominant theme became kindness, woven through every speech from
obviously a scam. The guy sent her this whole step-by-step on how to get Bitcoin.”
The woman admitted that the man, whom she had never met but had been texting with for five months, was asking for $19,000. Luckily, she couldn’t get the Bitcoin machine working.
The police arrived, spoke with the woman and then contacted her adult daughter.
“She was emotional,” Mooney said about the older woman. “I was giving her hugs and saying, ‘It’s going to be OK.’”
3A Judge rejects lawsuit over MBTA law as town braces for vote
BY WILL DOWD
A Massachusetts Superior Court judge on Friday rejected claims by nine towns that the state’s MBTA Communities Act constitutes an “unfunded mandate,” delivering a significant blow to municipalities seeking to avoid compliance with the controversial multifamily housing law.
The act requires 177 cities and towns served by or adjacent to MBTA transit to create zoning districts where multifamily housing can be built “as of right” without special permits, with requirements varying based on each community’s size and transit access.
The decision comes as Marblehead faces its own ongoing battle over MBTA zoning compliance.
Town Meeting approved Article 23 in May by a 951-759 vote, designating three areas for multifamily overlay zones. However, attorneys John DiPiano and Yael Magen successfully petitioned for a special election to potentially overturn that vote, gathering more than 1,200 signatures in a single weekend. That vote will take place on July 8. Marblehead Select Board Chair Erin Noonan said the ruling vindicates officials who warned against seeking exemptions from the law.
“This is the outcome we always expected and shows that calls to just ‘file a compliance exemption’ were never going to resolve this,” Noonan said. “I hope that voters will ratify the sensible plan adopted by Town Meeting so that we can turn the page, come together as a community and focus on the pressing issues facing our town.”
The 40-page ruling by Superior Court Justice Mark Gildea denied preliminary injunctions sought by the towns of Duxbury, Hamilton, Hanson, Holden, Marshfield, Middleton, Wenham, Weston and Wrentham, while also dismissing their complaints challenging the law on constitutional and financial grounds.
“This decision has confirmed once again that a law passed with bipartisan support, upheld as constitutional by the state Supreme Court and agreed upon at Town meeting by a wide margin does not need to be deliberated any further,” reads a statement from the Marblehead Housing Coalition. “This decision upholds the reality that voting yes on July 8 is the right path
The police were so impressed with Mooney they presented her with a junior officer police badge sticker, which she placed proudly on her journal.
“This can be my story,” she said.
How did Mooney know so much about scammers? She and her family listen to the “Endless Thread” podcast.
“They did a whole in-depth thing about scammers and scam busters,” she said.
COURTESY PHOTO
Addy Mooney shows off her junior officer badge sticker. CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS
Graduates toss their caps high into the air on Piper Field, marking the joyful conclusion of Marblehead High School’s Class of 2025 commencement ceremony.
Valedictorian Olivia Goldwater draws on Hermann Hesse’s novel “Siddhartha” to describe life as a spiral path and urges her fellow graduates to chase dreams with purpose.
MBTA, P. 7
BY LEIGH BLANDER AND WILL DOWD
In the June 10 municipal election, local candidates have collectively poured more than $20,000 into campaigns across five contested races, with newcomers outspending incumbents nearly 4-to-1.
Campaign finance reports filed with the Town Clerk’s Office reveal School Committee candidates led overall spending with $6,782.46, followed by town clerk hopefuls at $3,630.04 and Select Board candidates at $3,523.62. Nine of the 15 candidates have self-funded their campaigns entirely, receiving no outside donations.
School Committee contest
The candidates for School Committee raised and spent the most this election season, with newcomer Kate Schmeckpeper leading the pack. Most of the money was spent on campaign signs, mailers, websites and events.
According to campaign finance reports submitted May 23,
Schmeckpeper raised $2,979.91 in donations, in addition to another $956.56 in in-kind donations. She spent $2,653.46 on campaign expenses.
Another newcomer, Henry Gwazda, raised $2,055 in donations and spent $1,825.69. He also loaned himself $1,500 for his campaign. The remaining candidates did not raise any campaign donations. Challenger Emily DeJoy spent $1,906.55 in outof-pocket expenses for her campaign. Incumbent Sarah Fox spent $396.76 in out-of-pocket expenses. Incumbent Alison Taylor raised no money this cycle and had $45 left over from her last campaign. She reports spending no money this cycle.
Board of Health
Two candidates are vying for one open seat on the Board of Health. Dr. Amanda Ritvo raised $384.28 in donations, along with $60 in in-kind donations. She had not spent any of that money but did spend $1,594.44 of her own money on campaign expenses.
Kim Crowley raised no money in donations and spent $1,469.53
of her own money.
Select Board Select Board candidate Yael Magen raised $2,000 in donations and spent $1,516.81 of her own money on campaign expenses. Magen spent her money on shirts, campaign materials, signs, cards and an event. She has $1,516.81 in outstanding liabilities to cover campaign expenses.
Jim Zisson raised no money in donations and spent $2,006.81 of his own money on campaign expenses. He spent $764.15 on signs and $1,242.66 on mailers.
Town clerk
Town clerk candidate Theresa Tauro raised and spent the most among the three candidates in the race. Tauro raised $3,642.01 in donations and received $700 in in-kind donations. She spent $3,576.77 on campaign expenses, primarily on literature and lawn signs from Thriftco Printing. Tauro also loaned her campaign $617.01 to cover printing costs. Tauro works as office manager for the town of Marblehead.
Robin Michaud raised no money
in donations and spent $53.27 of her own money on campaign expenses, purchasing sign stakes from Amazon.
Melissa Flanagan’s campaign finance information was not available, according to Michaud, who said Flanagan filed initial paperwork indicating a campaign committee but never completed the process. Michaud said she reached out and sent Flanagan the necessary form to correct the filing, but Flanagan did not respond..
Planning Board
Two candidates are running for Planning Board. Timothy Swigor raised no money in donations and spent $3,408 of his own money on campaign expenses. His largest expenditures were $1,555 for postcard mailing and $630 for lawn signs. He also spent $775 on postcard printing and $330 for a meet-and-greet event at The Beacon.
Edward Nilsson raised $250 in donations. Nilsson spent $552.50 on campaign expenses, primarily for signs from Concept Signs. He also spent $302.50 of his own money.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The number of Marblehead High School students suffering from depression and anxiety dipped slightly from 2023 to 2024, according to results of a youth risk behavior study at MHS. However, the study also revealed that 6% of MHS students report using alcohol regularly, compared to 1.5% of high school students statewide. Forty-two percent of MHS students reported ever using alcohol, up from 40%.
“It’s clear that we’re higher than other towns,” said School Committee member Sarah Fox. “Let’s, as a town, be aware of it and do our part.”
The survey showed 7% of MHS students started drinking at age 12 or younger.
“We have to do better,” Fox added.
By age 14, that number jumped to 32%.
HS social worker Gina Hart presented the results of the fourth annual youth risk behavior survey at a June 5 School Committee meeting. More than 700 students at the high school (84%) took the survey last October.
Anxiety
and depression
Twenty-one percent of students reported experiencing anxiety, down from 24% the year before. Thirteen percent reported depression, compared to 16% in 2023. Eight percent of MHS students reported experiencing a psychotic experience, down from 11%.
Suicidal thoughts
Eleven percent of students reported having suicidal thoughts, down from 15.9%, while 8.7% had a plan to committ suicide and 1.2% attempted suicide.
Eating disorders
There was a slight improvement in eating and body disorder issues. There was a decrease from 45% to 37% of students who reported “struggling regularly with body images or a negative perception of how they look.”
Discrimination
The survey also asked students who identified as a race other than white about discrimination. Here are a few responses: Called racially insulting names: 37.5%
» You were threatened: 16.7%
» Others your age did not include you in activities: 12.5%
» Discouraged from joining an advanced level class: 4.2%
» Discouraged from joining a club: 4.2%
Impaired driving
Two percent of students reported driving under the influence, about the same number since 2022. Three to four percent have driven after using marijuana. More than half reported texting while driving.
What’s next
Hart and Assistant
Superintendent of Learning Julia Ferreira spoke about existing programs addressing mental health, including a peer mentor program, a Gender Sexuality Alliance and lunch groups.
The report also recommended next steps, including adding LGBTQIA and racial/social justice programming and educational programs on body image and eating disorders.
‘Let’s act now’
Earlier in the meeting, Village School teacher and Co-President of the Marblehead Education Association Jonathan Heller urged the School Committee to be more proactive to protect students from
bullying and support their mental health. He referenced the case of a Peabody 14-year-old boy who recently died by suicide. The boy’s family said bullying played a major role.
“I respectfully ask this committee to make a formal proclamation in support of the mental health and well being of our students,” Heller said.
“I urge you to make student mental health a top priority and to work collaboratively with administrators, educators, families and community members to build a strong, sustainable system of support. Let Marblehead Public Schools set the standard for what comprehensive mental health care in schools should look like. I also ask you to take the lead in reaching out to other school committees, both on the North Shore and across the Commonwealth, to build a unified voice and advocate together for the local and state-level resources our students urgently need and deserve.”
Heller asked the School Committee to consider adding more social workers in the schools.
“Let us not wait for another tragedy to remind us of what is at stake,” he said. “Let us act now.”
BY LEIGH BLANDER
On June 3, the Board of Health re-approved a $90,329 assistant director of waste position. The new hire will work with Public Health Director Andrew Petty and focus on the Transfer Station.
The BoH initially approved the position in April and then voted against it a few days later. Member Tom McMahon said he wanted to wait until the town’s municipal union contracts had been settled before approving a new hire. Those union contracts were approved in May.
“I think it’s appropriate to bring this back to the table,” McMahon said. “I’m in favor of it. It’s important to note that it’s coming from the waste revolving fund, so there are no tax dollars involved.”
The waste revolving fund is made up of money collected at the Transfer Station.
There are several challenges facing the Health Department.
The town’s 10-year waste management contract ends next year, and Petty will need to research and sign a new deal, which is likely to hike trash pick-up costs significantly. He
would also like to focus more on public health issues.
The assistant director will focus on the Transfer Station, which sees about 1,300 cars a day, according to Petty. The Transfer Station is about to launch a new license plate reader system.
The assistant director position was to be posted immediately with a July 1 start date.
Also at the meeting, the BoH approved $26,680 for Winter Street Architects to get the remaining Transfer Station construction projects put back
out to bid. The next two priorities include construction of the scale house and site work.
Finally, the BoH approved another $61,814 in additional costs to curbside trash and recycling company Republic, to cover prevailing wage increases for fiscal year 2025. This was the final meeting for member Helaine Hazlett, who announced that she would not run for another term after serving nearly 30 years on the BoH. Two candidates were vying to replace her: Kim Crowley and Dr. Amanda Ritvo.
Scenes from the Class of 2025’s red carpet prom walk
BY GREY COLLINS
On June 3, Marblehead High School’s senior class, dressed in flashy tuxedos and sparkling dresses, walked down the red carpet on their way to the senior prom. More than 200 seniors paired up and walked down the carpet to the sound of cheers from hundreds of spectators, and
Superintendent John Robidoux to Valedictorian Olivia Goldwater. Robidoux opened the ceremony with simple but powerful wisdom from his Irish grandmother.
“She said to me, ‘You will be kind,’” Robidoux told the graduates in the high school field house. “Whether you decide to become a doctor, a hockey player, an architect or whatever you decide, remember to be kind — and good things will happen.”
Goldwater drew inspiration from Hermann Hesse’s novel, “Siddhartha,” to describe life as a spiral staircase rather than a linear path, reinforcing Regnault’s message about embracing new beginnings.
“My piece of advice: accomplish something each day, something that the view of tomorrow will be proud of,” Goldwater said. “Class of 2025, never forget there is nothing more powerful or true than your ability to turn your dreams into a reality.”
Class President Jared Kaplowitch, who overcame learning disabilities and color blindness to lead his class, reinforced that message by making kindness one of his three core principles alongside leadership and perseverance.
“The world we’re walking into, it’s beautiful, it’s broken, it’s complicated, and it desperately needs people like us … people who know how to rise, people who lead with heart, people
the flashing of cameras. Then they loaded onto buses, and drove down to their prom at the Boston State Room. They spent the night eating and dancing with spectacular views of the Boston skyline.
“It was a great experience,” said senior class president Jared Kaplowitch. “Everyone seemed to be on the dance
floor and having fun the entire time.”
Kaplowitch, and the other senior class officers, spent the last year planning for the prom, so they were very glad to see it all come together.
“It just feels like a huge accomplishment to see everyone having fun and enjoying the night,” reflected Kaplowitch.
who don’t just survive challenges but transform them into purpose,” Kaplowitch said, adding “be kind, because kindness is never wasted.” “Choose kindness again and again and again.”
Principal Michele Carlson echoed the kindness theme
while highlighting the class’s defining qualities: resilience, academic and civic leadership — and an ability to “celebrate in style.”
“Always remember to be kind, support one another, offer grace when it’s needed most,”
Carlson said, noting how the class adapted through starting high school during COVID-19. The class also endured a rare teacher strike.
academic recognition above the standard diploma. More than half the 239-member graduating class — 131 students, or 54.8% — earned high honors, while another 49 students, or 20.5%, earned honors.
Perhaps more telling than test scores, though, was their embrace of service and scholarship beyond the classroom. Nearly half the class. 110 students, or
46%, joined the National Honor Society. The ceremony featured musical selections including “Time of Your Life” by Green Day and “You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahn, performed by the MHS Concert Choir. The traditional processional “Pomp and Circumstance” and recessional “Marblehead Forever” bookended the evening.
Opinion
EDITORIAL
The curiosity of Marblehead
For the journalists in our newsroom, covering Marblehead is an endless invitation to look twice.
The random road work delay, the cryptic complaint at a Select Board meeting, the caller who begins with “I’m not sure this is important, but …” — each day this quirky peninsula serves up fresh puzzles that refuse to fit in the news budget.
Follow one strange lead and suddenly they’re on their third callback, listening to someone’s great-uncle correct someone’s pronunciation of “gerrymandering” or squinting at a blurry PDF of meeting minutes from 1997. They survive on a good kind of initial bewilderment, coffee, deadline adrenaline and, most importantly, their insatiable curiosities — and they wouldn’t want it any other way.
Oftentimes, the town you thought you knew flips like a hidden panel in an old house, revealing an older layer we never knew was there — like the shift the season of summer offers to anyone willing to stop and wonder.
Ask the crews turning the former Gerry School blacktop into the Park on Elm Street. In May, their excavator struck granite and, after pumping out a greenish-blue water, revealed a round cistern, 24 feet across and 23 feet deep, laid by hand in the 19th century. On no modern map did that reservoir exist, yet there it sat, a firefighting safeguard for the families of Back Street — for nearly 130 years beneath our feet.
Across town another dig, albeit a purposeful one, is rewriting an earlier chapter. For a third summer archaeologists from UMass Boston’s Andrew Fiske Memorial Center are opening neat holes across the sprawling garden. Found relics include clay pipes, a bone knife handle and a mouth harp.
Discovery is not reserved for professionals. On his 64th birthday, Marbleheader Rich Coffman dipped his bike tire into the Atlantic at Fort Sewall and set off on a five-month ride to Santa Monica. This spirit — equal parts restlessness and reverence — mirrors the town itself: You think you know the road, and then it bends into something new.
Summer grants the rest of us gentler chances to roam. Wander the Historic District’s Alley Steps, the narrow granite flights once scaled by fishermen bound for drying racks on high ground. Descend to Fort Beach at low tide, where wet sand shines with sea glass the color of old Coke bottles and ship lanterns. Pause on the dozens and dozens of benches that frame the harbor’s skittering sails. Visit the J.O.J. Frost Gallery at Marblehead Museum for a local history lesson through primitive art. Frost’s history scenes prove that creativity ignores age and credentials. He began painting at 70 and used house paint on wallboards.
Tucked behind paneled doors on Abbot Hall’s first floor, the Select Board Room began its life as the town’s library and took on its civic role in 1954, when the new Abbot Public Library opened on Pleasant Street. Today it doubles as Marblehead’s formal meeting spot and proper shrine to town history: Archibald M. Willard’s original “Spirit of ‘76” dominates the north wall, flanked by the 1684 town deed, Samuel Road, Jr.’s personal copy of “The History and Traditions of Marblehead” under a glass enclosure and historic letters from President George Washington, Elbridge Gerry and Paul Revere hanging on wall space under a Frost painting.
When heat presses, take refuge on Marblehead Neck. The Audubon Sanctuary’s looping trails hum with more than birdsong. Chipmunks dart through underbrush, turtles bask on sunlit logs and red foxes leave prints near quiet trails. Bring binoculars or bring nothing; either way, the quiet will reorder your pulse.
Rise before dawn and begin the day at the Driftwood, the crown jewel among local dive diners, on Front Street. The restaurant opens at 6 a.m. Walk off that breakfast on public ways that lace the town together. Some are posted, others unsigned, many just old cow paths hugging stone walls. Follow one without checking your phone, and you may stumble onto a pocket beach, a Revolutionary-era foundation or an osprey platform.
This town rewards the walker who does not predetermine the destination, and the sole requirement is that you stay curious.
The members of the Current’s editorial board are Bob Peck, chairman of the Current; Virginia Buckingham, president of the Current’s Board of Directors; board member Brian Birke, Current editorial staff members Kris Olson and Will Dowd, and Joseph P. Kahn, a retired Boston Globe journalist.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thank you to Melissa Kaplowitch
To the editore:
We write to extend heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to Melissa Kaplowitch, who has served the Marblehead Public Schools community as PTO/PCO president, Central Council president and other MPS community positions for over 20 years.
Melissa has given countless hours of her time to strengthen and support our schools. In a role that is often behind the scenes but critical to the success of our schools, Melissa has been an unwavering advocate for students, teachers and families alike. Her leadership has supported countless initiatives — from teacher appreciation efforts and enrichment programs to fundraising events and communitybuilding activities — that have directly enhanced the educational experience for our children.
What stands out most is her unwavering commitment to collaboration and inclusivity. Melissa has brought people together and inspired others to step up and contribute. Her years of service reflect a remarkable dedication not only to her own children’s education but to the broader mission of supporting every child in our district. Melissa’s tireless work ethic and the tenacity she brings to advocating for MPS students are what truly set her apart. Yet she would never expect recognition for her significant contributions. She knows that leadership is not about titles or accolades but about service
On behalf of many grateful families, we thank Melissa for her years of generosity, vision, and hard work. Her legacy will continue to be felt for years to come in the Marblehead community.
Marblehead clergy condemn antisemitism, pledge solidarity with Jewish neighbors
To the editor:
The Marblehead Ministerial Association condemns antisemitism in all its forms. Amidst a rising tide of antisemitic attacks — most recently in Washington, D.C., and Boulder, Colo. — we stand together to affirm the dignity and worth of all persons. These attacks are heartbreaking, and have left many in our community feeling afraid and alone.
We grieve with those who grieve. We pray for, and continue to work towards, a world where all people can live full lives, free from fear. We stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors in Marblehead and we pledge to continue leading
our communities in such a way that all our members stand up against antisemitism and discrimination of all sorts. We invite our community members, and all people, to continue to build bonds of understanding and care between those who are different from us.
The MMA was founded in 1981 as Christian and Jewish congregations came together in response to antisemitism; today, our group is comprised of over a dozen faith communities in Marblehead. Our shared covenant affirms a central teaching of all our faiths: that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We reaffirm this covenant each year, and recommit ourselves to putting this belief into practice.
The Marblehead Ministerial Association
The Rev. Lindsay Popperson, Old North Church (MMA convener) Pastor James Bixby, Clifton Lutheran
The Rev. Robert Dibbs, retired, Grace Community Church
The Rev. Clyde Elledge, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Pastor Nick Gagnon, Grace Community Church The Rev. Mimi Hollister Gardner, retired United Church of Christ clergy The Rev. Christine Hribar, Old North Church
Pastor Sinu Je, St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church Deacon Kris J Larson, Our Lady Star of the Sea Rabbi Jenn Mangold, Temple Emanu-El Teri McDonough, Marblehead Counseling Center
Rabbi David J. Meyer, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanu-El Monsignor Timothy J. Moran, Our Lady Star of the Sea The Rev. Thomas Ortung, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
The Rev. Edmund Robinson, Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead
The Rev. Sally A. SchreiberCohn, Inayati Order Deacon Joe Whipple, Our Lady Star of the Sea
What are cookies on the internet, why should you care
BY STEPHEN BACH
You’ve seen the message a hundred times: “This website uses cookies. Click to accept.” Most people just click without thinking. But if you’ve ever wondered what those cookies really are (no, not the chocolate chip kind) you’re not alone.
Cookies are tiny files that websites save on your device when you visit. They’re like a name tag for your browser. When you go back to that same site later, the cookie lets it know, “Hey, it’s you again!” This makes your online experience faster and more personal.
For example, if you log into a site and it remembers you next time, that’s a cookie doing its job. If you’re shopping online and close the window, then come back and your cart is still full? Yep, cookie again. It also remembers your
choices — like if you prefer dark mode or want to browse in another language.
But cookies aren’t just there for convenience. Some are used to learn more about what you do online. They track what you click, how long you stay on a page and what you might be interested in. That’s how ads seem to magically follow you around from site to site. It’s not magic. It’s tracking. And that’s where people start to get uneasy. Now, not all cookies are created equal. The helpful ones stick to the website you’re on. The sneaky ones — called third-party cookies — can watch you across different sites.
That’s like someone following you through every store at the mall, taking notes. Not illegal, but a little creepy.
The good news? You can take control. Every browser lets you manage your cookies. You can delete them, block them or tell your browser not to accept third-party
cookies at all. If you poke around in your settings under privacy or security, you’ll find the options. So, are cookies dangerous? Not really. But they’re not invisible either. They shape a lot of what you see online, from ads to what websites remember about you. The key is knowing they exist and learning how to manage them. At The Digital Docs, we get these kinds of questions all the time. And we love it — because when you understand your tech, you feel more confident using it. When you want help sorting out your technology, support The Marblehead Current to keep getting these monthly tips, AND, if you want to get our weekly email tech tips, you can subscribe at thedigitaldocs.com. We’ll walk you through it, plain and simple. No geek speak. And maybe even with a real cookie in hand.
Until next time: stay safe out there. It can be a crazy digital world!
COURTESY PHOTO
Melissa Kaplowitch has served Marblehead schools as a parent volunteer for more than 20 years.
MHS GRADUATION
From Yale to Dublin, Class of 2025 heads to institutions across three countries
BY WILL DOWD
Marblehead High School’s Class of 2025 will attend over 95 different colleges and universities this fall, reaching from Massachusetts to California and extending internationally to Canada and Ireland, according to postsecondary plans released by the school’s principal Michele Carlson.
The breadth of enrollment destinations reflects both the academic strength and diverse interests of the graduating class, with students choosing institutions ranging from community colleges to Ivy League universities.
Three Ivy League institutions will welcome Marblehead seniors this fall: Yale University, Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania. Other highly selective schools chosen by graduates include Stanford University, Northwestern University, Vanderbilt University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Bowdoin College, Wesleyan University and William & Mary. Massachusetts institutions
remain popular choices, with 21 in-state colleges and universities enrolling Marblehead students. These range from large research universities like Northeastern University and Boston
University to smaller liberal arts colleges including Babson College, Bentley University and Gordon College. Regional options include North Shore Community College and Salem
State University. International destinations include three schools: McGill University and Dalhousie University in Canada, and University College Dublin in Ireland. These choices highlight the global perspective of Marblehead graduates and their willingness to pursue education abroad.
Specialized programs attracted students across multiple disciplines. Art and design schools chosen include Savannah College of Art and Design, Pratt Institute and Emerson College. Tech institutions such as Wentworth Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University will prepare students for careerfocused fields. Some graduates also chose career education, trade schools or immediate employment.
View the Current’s Google Map at bit.ly/43wLCpZ.
The following is the official roster of the Marblehead High School Class of 2025, as published in the commencement program.
James Achterhof
David Alexander Alpert
Nicolas Lucius Altonian
» Tatum Margaret Amberik
» Julia Rose Aneshansley
» Nathaniel Owen Assa
» Madeleine Jean Auerbach
Andreson Pereira Bacelar Jr.
Austin James Bacon
Bernardo Jr Bannis
» Margaret Allison Beauchesne
» John Anthony Bender
» Ella Lela Benedetto
» Finn Noel Bergquist
James Peter Bickell
John Lawrence Bickell
Lucas Parks Birke
» Brandt Harrison Bishop
» Avrey Sandra Black
» Lucy Jane Bland
Olivia Rose Bloodgood
Jacob Robert Bobowski
Marco Bonalume
» Maria Sergeevna Bondarenko
» Luka Bornhorst
» Laura Botnaru
» Cody Emerson Bouchard
Benji Boyd
Isaac Howell Brenneman
Carson Thomas Brooks
» Brooke Royce Brown
» Carley Jane Brown
» Joey Aaron Brown
» Jeremy Matthew Bunnell
Elise Charlotte Burchfield
Juliet Grace Burchfield
Leo Nathan Burdge
» Brinleigh Sondra Callahan
» Thomas Paul Carlson
» Evan Michael Carroll
Savannah Dory Caruso
William Patrick Cerrutti
Abigail Lynn Childs
» Lorenzo Chizzotti Freire
Gaudioso
» Ella Patricia Commoss
» Chloe Eve Conley-Kennedy
Clive Dowling Connolly
Thomas Patrick Conway II
Samantha Rose Cooper
» Campbell Meredith Crane
» Tucker William Crane
» Caroline Rioux Crosby
» Seamus Braeden Crowley
Adelyn May Cruickshank
Tristan Xavi De La Rocha
Rachel Ellen Delisle
» Sean William Dolan
» Logan Jay Doody
» Ireland Belle Doran
Gavin Wilson Drake
Annabelle Plauche Drayer
» Max Victor Dressel
» Nicholas Alexander Dube
» Courtney Ryan Duffy
» Connor Adrian Dunleavy
Charlotte Amalie Dye
Connor Charles Dyer
Sophie Penelope Emmanuel
» Piyanuth Eung
» Etan Ori Farfel
» Gunther Albert Fehrenbach
» Gavin Michael Ferretti
Madeline Mae Ferris
Paige Sydney Fletcher
Quentin Mercer Fletcher
» Madison Carney Forbes
» Reese Mizner Friedman
» Julius James Galante
Yandel Garcia
Dante John Genovesi
Ramona May Gillett
» Dylan James Gilmore
» Lani Rose Gilmore
» Ari Tyler Gold
» Drew Samuel Goldman
Olivia Winter Goldwater
Justin Emmanuel Gonzalez
Abagail Rose Goodwin
» Cole Westcott Goodwin
» Sarah Grace Gorham
» Marc Joseph Grazado
» Brayden Ryan Greenway
Claudio Eduardo Gusmao Gonzalez
Zoi Angeliki Guzzini
» Jamie Stella Haliotis
» Maxine Wyman Hall
» Alexis Ingalls Hallisey
Raine Jean Hamilton
Kyle Brooks Hart
» Maxwell Emerson Hart
» Camden Warner Harvey
» Andualem Eric Hawley
» Henry Rene Hays
Sean Hunter Heenan
Gabrielle Marjorie Hendy
Jacob Joseph Hershfield
» Olivia Grace Hodgkinson
» Courtney Anne Hoguet
» Olivia Grace Homan
» Aria Hoover
Ethan Michael Horgan
Nathan Russell Jaffe
Jayden Elijah Janock
» Samuel Blue Jendrysik
» Miles Violet Jenkins
» Sophia Frances Johns
Nina Elise Johnson
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ILLUSTRATION VIA GOOGLE
A map pinpointing the diverse destinations for Marblehead High School’s Class of 2025, shows a wide geographical spread with a notable concentration in the northeastern United States.
CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS
Marblehead High School seniors in red caps and gowns cheer and applaud during the 2025 commencement ceremony inside the field house on the evening of Friday, June 6. Speakers throughout the evening urged graduates to lead with heart, courage and kindness.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Massachusetts School Building Authority is reimbursing Marblehead taxpayers a whopping $641,031 for the Brown School construction after the project came in under-budget.
READING THE DIRT
The reimbursement is part of the total MSBA grant of $13,866,171 awarded for the Brown School project.
“As a direct result of this reimbursement, the Brown School construction debt service payments will be reduced annually by $42,735.40,
providing taxpayers with a modest reduction in their tax bill,” Marblehead Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin told the Current. “Specifically, the median residential tax bill will see a decrease of approximately $4.59 annually, while the average single-family tax bill will
experience savings of $5.84 per year.
Benjamin added: “In a further demonstration of fiscal prudence and forward-thinking collaboration, the town and the school department will be rescinding $1,619,627 in previously authorized but unissued debt at the 2026 annual Town Meeting. This highlights both the town and schools’ shared dedication to sound financial stewardship and ensuring that taxpayer dollars are managed effectively for the long-term benefit of Marblehead.”
At Lee Mansion, budding scholars dig through time
Third summer of excavations peels back layers of forgotten history, exposing the complexity of life in an 18th-century Marblehead
BY WILL DOWD
On the sweeping lawn of the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, archaeologists and students from the Andrew Fiske Memorial Center for Archaeological Research are meticulously excavating a former colonial-era work yard, unearthing artifacts that shed light on life in Marblehead and marking the third consecutive summer of digs at the historic site.
Lee, one of the wealthiest merchants in colonial New England, built the mansion in 1768 as a statement of his social and economic power. The Georgian-style estate, now operated by the Marblehead Museum, reflects Lee’s prominence in transatlantic trade and his deep entanglement with both commerce and the Revolution. The mansion once served as the epicenter of Lee’s shipping operations and was home not only to his family but also to several enslaved individuals whose labor supported the household and business.
Reading the remains
“It’s incredibly well archaeologically preserved,” said Christa Beranek, a University of Massachusetts Boston research scientist and lead archaeologist on the local dig site. “The fact that the museum has owned the property for over 100 years means that the 18th and 19th centuries are really, really well preserved here — all the way back to probably the late 1600s even.”
The excavation, which
began May 28 and continues until June 27, focuses on understanding how the mansion’s lawn area was used during the Lee family’s occupation of the property in the 1760s and 1770s, as well as earlier periods when the land was owned by the Jackson family.
“The overall goal is to understand how this yard space was used … because there was a barn back there. And instead of being this beautiful formal garden, this was the barnyard, the work yard,” Beranek said. “So a very different looking space than it is today.”
The team has uncovered evidence that challenges modern perceptions of the manicured grounds. In a test pit near the stairs, they found a bone knife handle from the mid-1700s.
“You know, I thought, ‘That’s crazy cool,’” said Adrian Cerqueira, an undergraduate student participating in the dig, upon reflecting on the historic find. For Cerqueira, the field experience is valuable training for his future in archaeology.
“What I always explain to people is that through field school, it allows me to get this sort of certification for future projects that kind of show that I have now put my, I guess, scholastic dedication to the field and get trusted to do honest work,” Cerqueira said.
Cerqueira describes “field school” as essentially “archeology school,” a practical application of classroom learning.
“The theoretical concepts learned in archeology classes are applied quite literally in the field,” Cerqueira stated. “Being immersed in it makes the learning come naturally.”
The team has uncovered multiple features on the property including cobbled surfaces, evidence of food preparation and hints at the daily lives of those who lived and worked there, including enslaved individuals owned by the Lee family.
“We found a mouth harp. So like, there are people having recreational, you know, breaks from work. There are people doing sewing. There are maybe people doing laundry. There’s butchered animal bone,” Beranek said.
The graduate students bring diverse experiences to the Lee Mansion project. Ella Virkler has engaged with archaeological collections from Virginia to Maine and conducted site work at an indigenous site in North Carolina, a Roman site in Portugal, and Mount Vernon. Her thesis research focuses on Sylvester Manor on Long Island, New York.
Her working partner on Tuesday was Maggie Partiff, a graduate student whose background includes work in the federal sector, such as at Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky and experience at the Genesee Country Village and Museum near Rochester, New York.
Handling the analysis of the site’s extensive bone collection is Virkler, who specializes in zooarchaeology — the intricate study of animal remains.
Cerqueira marveled over her ability to identify bones with ease, and her approach to the bones is shaped by a deeply personal connection to the animal world.
“I grew up on a beef cattle farm in North Carolina,” Virkler explained, “and so I grew up obviously knowing very much how animals can impact human day-today life.” This firsthand understanding of animal husbandry and its daily realities now informs her scholarly work, offering a practical lens through which to interpret the faunal evidence emerging from the Lee Mansion’s
Fragments of a former world
The excavation has also revealed connections to global trade networks.
“Some of the things that came out of these layers here include, like, red clay tobacco pipes, which might have been made in Virginia. And so those might be things that people actually picked up when they traveled to Virginia as part of Lee’s shipping, merchant vessels and brought back so real, like tangible connections that the people are carrying,” Beranek said.
Partiff values the connection to the local community.
“It’s very nice to feel like what you’re doing is important to the people around you, and they support the work that you’re doing,” Partiff said.
She added the support from Lauren McCormack, executive director of the Marblehead Museum, has been especially welcomed.
“Lauren has expressed nothing but excitement and interest in what we’re doing, and she has been very helpful in guiding
Police Chief Dennis King did not want to comment on the case because it remains under investigation. He did have this to say about Mooney: “Her stepping in and helping someone that may be a victim of a scam is appropriate and good civic looking out for another. Helping to interrupt an online scam where the
research questions too,” Partiff added.
The archaeological project, which was originally supported by federal funding through the Essex National Heritage Area, faced uncertainty when the Trump administration rescinded the federal grant of over $2,000.
“The museum is dedicated to telling this history. It’s essential to understanding our present to understand all of our history as a community, and that’s not going to change,” McCormack said in March when discussing the funding challenges.
Despite the funding setback, local donors stepped in to ensure the archaeological work could continue.
“It was wonderful that the people in Marblehead were able to step up and do that, but we don’t want to have to rely just on local communities,” Beranek said. “Local communities are always the strongest advocates for their own story. But ideally we’d like state level support, federal level support for these really important local stories.”
The Marblehead Museum plans to incorporate findings into exhibits about the property and the people who lived and worked there, including both the Lee family and those they enslaved.
“This isn’t just a local story. This is a story about urban 8th century ports,” Beranek noted. “Marblehead was one of the biggest cities in the English speaking colony in 1760.”
The group will work on the site from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. during the weekdays until June 27. The public is invited to visit the site and ask questions.
suspect poses no threat to the bystander is the right thing to do. At the very least, telling the person they may be a victim of a scam may interrupt the process to confirm it’s in fact a scam.”
Mooney graduated from Marblehead High on Friday and is heading to Colgate University this fall, “where I’ll keep preaching about internet safety,” she said with a laugh.
CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD
Lead archaeologist Christa Beranek of UMass Boston and her team review the day’s findings beside one of the excavation units. The project is a collaboration between the university and the Marblehead Museum.
Local police implement Blue Envelope Program for autistic drivers
BY WILL DOWD
The Marblehead Police Department has joined a statewide initiative designed to improve interactions between law enforcement and individuals on the autism spectrum during traffic stops.
Chief Dennis King announced the department’s participation in the Massachusetts Blue Envelope Program, which provides specially designed envelopes to help drivers with autism spectrum disorder communicate more effectively with police officers. The program aims to enhance understanding among police officers, reduce anxiety for drivers on the autism spectrum, streamline communications and encourage preparedness.
The blue envelope serves as both a storage solution and communication tool. Drivers can store their vehicle registration, driver’s license and a contact card inside the envelope, which features instructions on its exterior to guide officers during traffic encounters.
Instructions printed on the envelope inform officers that the driver has autism spectrum disorder and may display repetitive body movements, fidgeting, unusual eye contact or high anxiety from lights and noises. The envelope advises officers to allow extra time for responses and to use simplistic explanations when communicating with the driver.
forward for Marblehead.”
Unfunded mandate claims rejected
Central to the court’s ruling was the determination that Section 3A of the state’s zoning law does not impose direct costs on municipalities that would require state funding under Massachusetts’ Local Mandate Law.
“The anticipated possible costs alleged by the Municipalities … are indirect and, therefore, Section 3A does not constitute an unfunded mandate,” Gildea wrote in his decision.
The towns had argued they would face substantial infrastructure costs to accommodate new housing development, including expenses for water systems, public safety services, schools and roads. However, the court found these projected costs too speculative to warrant state appropriations.
“The Municipalities have neither pled specific costs for anticipated infrastructure costs, nor provided any specific timeline for anticipated
“We recognize that being stopped by the police can be an awkward experience for anybody,” King said. “This program benefits those on the autism spectrum and their families, as well as officers, ultimately making somewhat uncomfortable encounters a little less stressful. And, while this program enhances communications between the officer and the person involved, it is voluntary and confidential to those who participate.”
Jessica Brown, a speech therapist and owner of The Power of Speech in Marblehead which provides therapy to autistic children, praised the department’s implementation of the program.
“I was really encouraged to see the Marblehead Police Department implement the Blue Envelope Project,” Brown said.
“In 2024 I worked with Chief King to update their badges for autism acceptance month, changing the design from the puzzle piece to the updated and more inclusive infinity symbol. It was clear in our conversations that Chief King’s goal for their department is to foster a sense of belonging and safety for autistic members of our community.”
Brown emphasized how the program addresses specific communication challenges.
“Autistic individuals often have a different communication style, which can sometimes lead to
construction projects,” the ruling stated.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell issued a statement after the judge granted her requested motions to dismiss nine lawsuits filed by the towns.
“Today’s decision is a win for Massachusetts and so many of us affected by the statewide housing crisis,” said Campbell. “We thank the overwhelming majority of communities that have already come into compliance with the law, and we look forward to working with the remaining communities to bring them into compliance.”
DLM determination overruled
Meanwhile, the court’s decision explicitly rejected a February determination by State Auditor Diane DiZoglio at the state’s Division of Local Mandates that Section 3A constituted an unfunded mandate.
The DLM had concluded the law “imposes direct service or cost obligations on municipalities by the commonwealth that amount to more than incidental local administrative expenses.”
However, Gildea ruled
misunderstandings with people who are more accustomed to neurotypical interactions,” she said. “For example, an autistic adult might be very direct and literal, which a police officer could misinterpret as rude, disrespectful or even aggressive. The Blue Envelope Project is a symbol to expect different.”
Brown noted that simple adjustments can significantly improve these interactions.
“Something as simple as turning off their sirens, flashing lights or using a non-threatening tone can help keep the situation calm instead of unintentionally leading to more escalation,” she said. “For autistic individuals with communication and sensory differences, programs like this will also provide them with step by step suggestions for navigating the interaction.”
The program represents a collaborative effort between the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, Massachusetts State Police, Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts and The Arc of Massachusetts, along with input from individuals with autism and their families.
The initiative addresses a significant population need. Massachusetts has one of the highest autism prevalence rates in the United States. According to the National Library of Medicine, an estimated 2.42 percent of adults in the state are on the autism spectrum. With a state adult population of
the court was not bound by DLM’s determination, citing precedent from a 1994 Supreme Judicial Court case that similarly overturned a DLM finding.
“The DLM’s determination was flawed as a matter of law, because Section 3A is not an unfunded mandate,” the ruling stated.
A key element of the court’s reasoning centered on the distinction between requiring zoning changes versus mandating actual construction. The judge noted that Section 3A requires municipalities to create zoning that allows multifamily housing “as of right,” but does not compel construction of any specific number of units.
approximately 5.5 million, this translates to roughly 133,000 adults. Among children, around one in 44, or 2.27 percent, are diagnosed with autism. With about 1.4 million children ages three to 17 in the state, this equals approximately 31,800 children living with autism in Massachusetts.
King clarified the department’s timeline for adopting the initiative. “We didn’t adopt it just now,” King stated. “When the MSP announced it last year, I put out a statement in support of it and that it was a great idea.”
This year, however, King took more direct action by ordering envelopes for distribution and involving the School Resource Officer to help raise awareness among students and staff at the high school.
Marblehead police officers already receive specialized training through ALEC (Autism & Law Enforcement Education Coalition) and the department has participated in the Flutie Foundation Police Patch program for several years.
Brown highlighted how the program represents a shift toward mutual accommodation.
“An aspect of this program that feels especially impactful for Marblehead is that it asks for support and understanding from both the police officer and the autistic individual,” she said. “Whereas in the past the full expectation would be for the autistic person to change and
adapt to neurotypical/societal expectations, this program acknowledges that there are also small steps and accommodations police officers can take to create a community that acknowledges and welcomes differences as a normal part of our town.”
The Blue Envelope Program extends beyond traffic stops to all police encounters where communication plays a critical role. Since the program is sponsored and standardized by Massachusetts State Police, Marblehead residents who participate can expect continuity in future traffic stops, whether conducted by local or state police.
King emphasized the program’s accessibility and potential impact. “I would encourage anybody that thinks the blue envelope program may be helpful to stop by the station and pick up a packet,” King said. “The information that is shared during an encounter can make all the difference in the world.”
The blue envelopes are available free of charge at the Marblehead Police Station at 11 Gerry St. and at any Massachusetts State Police barracks. Residents can also request envelopes through an online form on the state’s website.
For more information about the Blue Envelope Program, residents can visit bit. ly/4mPOzcG or contact the Marblehead Police Department at 11 Gerry St., or call (781) 631-1212.
The court also noted that grant funding programs specifically designed to help municipalities with infrastructure improvements are available through the MassWorks Infrastructure Program and HousingWorks Infrastructure Program.
Implications for Marblehead
Despite Town Meeting’s approval of Article 23, the special election petition process launched by DiPiano and Select Board
“Section 3A and the related regulations do not compel construction. They merely encourage it,” Gildea wrote, citing state regulations that explicitly state the law should not be interpreted as “a mandate to construct a specified number of housing units.”
candidate Magen could still overturn the zoning changes. The referendum sponsors acknowledged the Current’s request for comment but were unable to comment on the court ruling before press time.
For a referendum to succeed in overturning the zoning, two conditions must be met: a majority of voters must support repeal, and the number of “no” votes must equal or exceed 20% of Marblehead’s registered voters — approximately 3,315 votes based on current registration.
Moreover, the town must submit its final compliance package under the MBTA Communities Act by July 14, according to emergency regulations issued earlier this year. Failure to comply could
result in loss of eligibility for various state grant programs. Friday’s decision comes months after the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Attorney General v. Milton that the MBTA Communities Act itself is constitutional and enforceable, though that case invalidated earlier state guidelines for procedural reasons.
“The powers of a town and of its town meeting, and the very existence of the town, are subject to the will of the Legislature,” Gildea wrote, citing established precedent about municipal authority.
Leigh Blander contributed reporting to this article.
Sports
Running sensation Nate Assa blazes to another state title
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The summer heat and humidity came roaring in last Thursday (June 5), still roughly two weeks away from the official start of the season. Air conditioners were cranking, and those who didn’t have to go outside didn’t. But for many, they had no choice. They had to brave the elements, and that included those participating in the first day of the All-State Meet of Champions at Fitchburg State University, where high school track athletes throughout the state convened to test their abilities against their peers regardless of division.
Marblehead High School distance running star Nate Assa was among them, and being on that big stage was nothing new to him. The enormity of the moment doesn’t faze him that much anymore. It’s the ‘been there,’ done that mentality.
Assa, a senior captain on the Magicians, in back-to-back weeks in late February captured the indoor track state championship (9:05.3) and New England title (9:04.60) in the two-mile. A couple of weeks later, he became an All-American after finishing sixth running a 5K (3.1-miles) in 14:32 during the annual New Balance Indoor Track National High School Meet in Allston.
Even after those accomplishments, track fans knew Assa wasn’t done making history. He had the entire spring track season ahead of him to make more memories.
If one state title wasn’t enough, the Purdue University-bound studentathlete got another one at the aforementioned All-State Meet of Champions in Fitchburg, where he soared to the top in a blistering fast two-mile time of 9:14.52. Considering the conditions, Nate proved he’s the best among distance runners under any circumstances. This recent achievement came after a surprising second place finish during the State Division 3 Meet the previous week.
“Nate battled it out with the best in the state at Fitchburg State on Thursday (June 5),” said coach Nolan Raimo. “The temperature was near 90 degrees, which is a nightmare for any type of distance race. They even set up a water table for the two-mile, which I hadn’t seen at a high school track meet before.”
Raimo acknowledged that Assa had plenty of motivation to do well in Fitchburg after he unexpectedly finished second at the previously mentioned state divisional meet, where an Oliver Ames runner came out of nowhere to run a 12-second
SPORTS MHS celebrates collegebound athletes on Signing Day
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Marblehead High School athletic director Kent Wheeler and assistant athletic director Mark Tarmey honored 25 of their student-athletes, who will be continuing their athletic careers in college, on the school’s Signing Day at the end of May. Those being singled out for their continued athletic pursue on the next level were as follows: Nate Assa (crosscountry/track & field at Purdue University); Madeleine Auerbach (swimming & diving at Clarkson University; Ella Benedetto (sailing at Yale University); Finn Bergquist (swimming at Babson College); Jacob Bobowski (track & field at Springfield College); Luka Bornhorst (softball at Stonehill College); Brinleigh Callahan (swimming at Bentley University); Will Cerrutti (cross-country/track & field at the University of Tampa); Seamus Crowley (track & field at Rome City Institute); Logan Doody (swimming at St. Lawrence University); Madison Forbes (lacrosse at Skidmore College); Drew Goldman (football at Wesleyan University); Justin Gonzalez (football at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy); Abbie Goodwin (cross-country at Union College); Jayden Janock (sprint football at the University of Pennsylvania); Ava Machado (track & field at St. Lawrence
After winning the indoor state and New England championships in the two mile and earning All-American status at the New Balance National High School Meet with a sixth-place finish in the 5K, MHS senior running whiz Nate Assa, above front and center, secured another state championship last week in the two-mile at Fitchburg State University. Assa now hopes to make it two regional titles in a row, when he heads to New Britian, Connecticut. on Saturday (June 14) to take part in the All-New England Spring meet. He will then travel to Philadelphia the following week to participate in the New Balance National Spring High School meet, before getting ready to embark on his college track career at Purdue University.
personal best to beat him, which included a 4:22 mile to close out the race, despite running
another great time of 9:16.33.
“Nate was planning and aiming for the All-State and New
England Championship Meets, and so he paced himself in the state divisional meet,” said Raimo. “He was still focused on winning, but unfortunately the Oliver Ames runner closed out the final lap in just 57-seconds.”
Despite that upset loss, coupled with the high temperatures and stacked field last Thursday, Assa remained the favorite to win the state title, but there were still too many variables to be confident.
“Not taking any chances, assistant coach Will Herlihy was positioned on the back turn shouting splits to Nate throughout the whole race,” said Raimo. “The race opened up incredibly slow with a 75-second first lap, which was on pace for a five-minute mile. Nate eventually took the lead after the first 600, and never looked back.”
Raimo explained that Assa is an elite long-distance runner, and the longer the race is, the better his odds are to come out on top. He learned from his mistakes at the state divisional meet, and rather than stepping on the gas in the last 400, he stepped it up in the last 800, finishing up with an impressive time of 2:04 to close it out,
MHS track teams enjoy top 20 finishes in State Division 3 meet
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The high school spring track season is winding down. The state divisional meets were on tap first, and the Marblehead High boys and girls squads were ready to compete against their Division 3 peers on May 30 and June 1 at Westfield State University.
The Marblehead girls ended up finishing in the top 10 in 10th place with 28 points. Walpole (75), Longmeadow (69), Billerica (52), Milton (47) and Reading (45) were the top five finishers.
The Marblehead boys (21 points) came in 16th after Billerica (92), Westborough (44), Reading (42), Westwood (42), Plymouth South (41) and Sharon (41) set the pace as the division’s top clubs.
Girls high jump
Paige Tredwell (5-1) won the state divisional high jump championship.
“Paige was tied at the end of the competition, which led to a jumpoff between her and her divisional counterpart,” coach Nolan Raimo said.
“They attempted to leap 5-2 for a fourth time, but both missed. Paige, however, cleared 5-1 again to secure the title, while her competition missed the mark. Paige ended up completing her twoyear track career with seven conference titles and now one state championship.”
Boys high jump
Seamus Crowley and Clark Roszell (5-8) tied for 13th place. Crowley also equaled his personal best leap. They competed against 29 other jumpers, including five from their own team, with each of them leaping an impressive 5-6.
Girls long jump
Elise Burchfield (16-7.5) finished 12th. “Elise battled injuries this spring, which prevented her from training midway through the season. But she still continued to work hard in order to contribute to the team wherever possible,” said Raimo.
Girls discus
Hannah O’Brien (86-8) finished 14th and Lillian Reddy (80-7) 21st among the state’s divisional throwers.
Boys discus
Graham Firestone (111-0) came in
23rd and Logan McRae-Hughes (99-6) followed close behind in 28th place.
“Graham has battled an arm injury following the Division 3 State Relay Championships, which limited his postseason potential,” said Raimo, “while Logan was one of only a few sophomores to compete in this state divisional meet.”
Boys javelin Firestone (137-3) led the way for Marblehead with a 13th place finish. Phineas
Jakious (123-4) was 25th. Alex
COURTESY PHOTO / KATE WALSH
Marblehead High School boys and girls spring track athletes pose for a photo during the State Division 3 Meet at Westfield State University on June 1. They are, from left, back row, junior Colin Hart, and senior captains Jacob Szalewicz and Nate Assa. Middle row, head coach Nolan Raimo, sophomore Noah Jackson and junior captain Henrik Adams. Front row, sophomore Maggie Miller, freshman Norah Walsh, and sophomores Lucy Flynn and Sarah Munroe.
COURTESY PHOTO / LIZZIE ASSA
MHS girls lacrosse returns to postseason
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High girls lacrosse team (12-7, 23rd seed) was back in the Division 2 state tournament after sitting it out last year. They went up against Grafton (12-9), the 10th seed, in the Round of 32 on June 2, and lost, 14-6. But Grafton then lost its Sweet 16 game two days later to East Longmeadow, 13-12. Kathryn Commoss (2 goals), Zoe Dwyer (2 goals), Maddie Forbes (1 goal, 1 assist) and Ramona Gillett (1 goal) accounted for the offense against Grafton. Goalie Molly Bullard came up with five saves.
“It was a hard-fought game that concluded our season in which we were as a program incredibly proud of,” said coach Annie Madden. “Our seniors
COURT NEWS
were leaders from the first day of the season to the last day. The legacy that they have left behind is more important than any win.”
Madden went on to say, “this season was a powerful step forward in rebuilding our program grounded in resiliency, growth and unity. Through a strong partnership with the community, we were able to provide meaningful opportunities for our athletes both on and off the field. We focused on fostering a team culture centered on acceptance, where every player felt valued, supported and empowered to contribute (to what turned out to be a winning season). The bonds built this season set the foundation for lasting success and a positive team identity moving forward.”
Madden on the seniors
Captain Maddie Forbes: “Maddie was the heart of our team this season, a true leader who led by example every time she stepped on the field. Her relentless work ethic, calm under pressure and ability to deliver in crucial moments made her our go-to player. She embraced the captain’s role with maturity and confidence, and we’re so proud to see her continue her lacrosse journey at Skidmore next year.”
Captain Ramona Gillett: “Ramona was a positive presence all season long, always putting the team first, while leading with quiet strength. She listened, encouraged and modeled the kind of dedication and attitude we want every player to have. As a captain, she embraced her role fully to help guide our team back
to a place of pride and success.”
Captain Courtney Hoguet: “Courtney was our defensive anchor and a true leader in every sense of the word. She consistently brought the team together in tough moments, offering calm guidance and support when it mattered most. By leading through her actions and always putting the team first, Courtney embodied everything a captain should be.”
Gretchen Smith: “Gretchen truly stepped into her potential this season, becoming the dynamic attacker that we always believed she could be. She put in the work every single day, constantly pushing herself to improve and grow. Her confidence and willingness to take risks paid off, and her offensive skills were a key part of
our team’s success.”
Caitlyn Ryan: “Caitlyn had a breakout season, stepping into her role as a confident and skilled offensive player. She took risks, challenged herself and gave 100% effort every day. Her growth and determination added depth to our attack that made a major impact in our success this year.”
Olivia Goldwater: “Even while sidelined with an injury, Liv remained a dedicated and inspiring member of our team. Her positive attitude never wavered. Liv’s grit, resilience and heart reflect the strength of a young woman who is destined to make a lasting impact far beyond the field.”
Forbes and Gillett made the NEC All-Conference team, while Commoss and Hoguet were chosen Dunn Division all-stars.
MHS tennis teams eliminated in the Sweet 16
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Girls get taken down by Wayland
As the 18th seed in Division 2, the Marblehead High girls tennis team (14-5) made it to the Sweet 16, before being eliminated by host Wayland (125, second seed), 4-1 on June 2. The Magicians edged conference rival Masco, 3-2 in the Round of 32. The Warriors, who play their regular season matches in the Dual County League, have since gone up against Duxbury (16-4, 10th seed) in the Elite 8 on June 8 after press deadline. There are 57 teams in Division 2, and 41 of them made the playoffs this year.
Wayland’s Elena Ton defeated Samara Dosch in first singles, 6-0, 6-2. Olivia Todd took care of
SPORTS SPOTLIGHT
Nina Johnson in second singles, 6-1, 6-0. Yumi Nimi completed the singles sweep after beating Abbie Goodwin in third singles, 6-2, 6-1.
The first doubles team of Reese Friedman and Lani Gilmore secured Marblehead’s lone win of the match, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), (12-10). Emi Niimi and Rhea Sethi topped Josie Reers and Caroline Bruett in second doubles, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0.
“Wayland has a powerhouse of a tennis team. All of their players hit tough deep balls with tons of variety in their games. It was easy to see why they are the No. 2 seed,” said coach Tracy Ackerman. “I was proud of our girls for never giving up, and fighting to the end. Reese and Lani ended their uber successful doubles tennis (scholastic) careers in stellar fashion. After
SCHOOL YEAR: Senior SPORTS YOU PLAY: Tennis, soccer
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY?: My favorite sport is tennis, which I began playing in my freshman year. Since then, it has quickly become a passion of mine. I’m drawn to the sport, not only because you can play it forever, but also because of its individual nature. Tennis demands personal accountability, selfmotivation and effort that influences the results you achieve. Through tennis, I’ve also developed a strong appreciation for other racquet sports like pickleball and squash. Beyond playing, I also love watching professional tennis. I greatly admire players like Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff, not only for their athleticism and skill, but for their mental toughness and presence on the court. Watching them compete at the highest level continues to inspire me, while deepening my appreciation for the sport.
MOST MEMORABLE MATCH
FOR YOU, AND WHY?: One of my most memorable matches so far was against Masco this year. It was the team’s first victory over them in a very long time, which made the win especially meaningful. After the match, we celebrated by singing our heads off on a long bus ride back home. It was a moment of pure joy and team spirit that I’ll never forget. WHAT COLLEGE WILL YOU BE ATTENDING? Cornell University
MAJOR: Hospitality DO YOU WANT TO PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE?: I definitely want to join the club tennis and pickleball teams. WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AFTER COLLEGE?: I’m not totally sure yet. I’m still figuring that one out. I’m open to exploring different paths and seeing where life takes me. One thing I do know is that I really want to travel the world, so I hope to find a career that lets me experience new places and cultures along the way.
The Current athlete profile is brought to you by National Grand
losing the first set, they battled from behind to win the second set in a tiebreaker. They pulled from all of their experiences as a tandem the last two years, and were able to win an absolute battle of a tiebreaker, 12-10. As a coach, that’s all I could ask for. Lani and Reese have displayed tremendous leadership and sportsmanship throughout the season, and for them to finish with this win means the world (to them).”
Duxbury Dragons prevent the boys from moving on The Marblehead High boys tennis team (16-3, 13th seed) secured a win in the Division 2 state tournament, beating Algonquin Regional (9-8, 20th seed), 3-2 in the Round of 32. But then, host Duxbury (18-3,
Assa
From P. 9
all in the scorching heat. He broke down the competition by establishing the tempo throughout the entire race.
“There were state champion 800-meter runners in this field, who surely had a better kick than Nate, but Nate didn’t give them the light of day as he went full-throttle on the gas pedal to lock up the state championship, once again,” said Raimo. “Everyone executed their race plan, but Nate’s plan was the best.”
Raimo says Assa is now hunting for that sub nineminute two-mile, which would be unbelievable.
“I believe that
fourth seed) knocked them out of the playoffs in the Sweet 16, 5-0. The Dragons, who play their regular season matches in the Patriot League, went on to beat Wayland (10-6, fifth seed) in the Elite 8, 4-1. They were scheduled to play Hopkinton (21-0), the top seed, in the state semifinals on June 9 after press deadline. There are 51 teams in Division 2, and 36 of them qualified for the postseason this spring.
“Duxbury is a seriously good team, but the (Marblehead) boys still left everything on the court. They made the town proud,” said coach Elisabeth Foukal. “They competed like true gentlemen, while playing at their very best.”
Senior tri-captain Etan Farfel lost to individual state finalist senior Tim Vargas in first singles, 6-0, 6-0. Senior tri-captain Matthew Sherf lost
the Division 5 state indoor mile champion won it in 4:30, and now Nate is attempting to run two miles at that same pace,” the veteran Marblehead coach said. “Unfortunately for Nate, championship distance running is often a tactile race, but I still have full faith in him to come out on top. But at the same time, these races are an ever-long struggle. Nate wants to run his absolute fastest, best race against everyone else’s fastest, but it’s rare, because there is an inherent advantage to drafting and pacing off someone, while it’s a disadvantage to lead the race. But he is hoping to run a strong race on Saturday, June 14 at the All-New England Meet. It will be held this year at New
to Duxbury senior Bennett Stout in second singles, 6-1, 6-1. “Matthew did well to get two games off this excellent player,” said Foukal.
Junior T.J. Kelly was blanked by senior Taylor Bettencourt in third singles, 6-0, 6-0.
Senior tri-captain Jayden Janock and sophomore Ty Cooper lost to Willie Pierce and Peter Burnham in first doubles, 6-3, 6-3.
Senior Austin Bacon and sophomore Alex Boehning fell to Lucas Pratt and Nick Gallagher in second doubles, 6-4, 6-1. “Kudos to Alex for stepping up to the challenge and playing solid tennis with Austin,” said Foukal.
In sub-varsity play, senior Quinn Sullivan and junior Alex Loughlin lost a doubles match, 6-2.
Britain, Connecticut’s Veterans Stadium in Willowbrook Park, where he hopes to break the nine-minute barrier, before heading off to the New Balance Nationals at Franklin Field in Philadelphia the weekend of June 21.”
Raimo went on to say, “we are witnessing an all-time great track year by Nate. He has dominated the conference, state and region. He claimed an All-American title running against the best of the best, and I think he’s going to get faster throughout the rest of this season and also throughout his college career at Purdue. He is making distance running cool.” And after last Thursday’s heat, that’s not a bad idea.
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Bank.
University); Reece Moore (lacrosse at Roger Williams University); Jonah Potach (cross-country at Endicott
College); Nathaniel Rosen (swimming at Wesleyan University); Charlie Roszell (track & field at the University of Vermont); Bodie Smith (football at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy); Jacob
Szalewicz (track & field at UMass Lowell); Sam Thompson (football at Union College); Rory Zampese (soccer at Skidmore College); and Colt Wales (football at Union College).
COURTESY PHOTO
The Marblehead High School athletic department held its Signing Day late last month for 25 of its studentathletes who will be continuing their athletic careers in college. Nineteen of them were on hand for the ceremony, and they were, from left, Charlie Roszell, Abbie Goodwin, Logan Doody, Nate Rosen, Jake Bobowski, Rory Zampese, Justin Gonzales, Reece Moore, Jayden Janock, Drew Goldman, Seamus Crowley, Jacob Szalewicz, Nate Assa, Maddie Forbes, Ella Benedetto, Sam Thompson, Ava Machado, Colt Wales and Bodie Smith.
Corinthian Yacht Club wins Team Racing World Championships
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Corinthian Yacht Club won the final stretch of the 2025 Team Racing World Championships in Newport, Rhode Island recently.
After four exhausting days of intense combat May 28-June 1, CYC finished with 20 points. The team led the charge from day one, only losing five races of the 25 races they sailed during the competition.
Brown School students raise $27K in Fun Run
Students at the Brown School laced up their sneakers on May 29 for the annual Fun Run, raising $27,000 for the school’s PTO.
Dressed in bright class colors, students sprinted across the campus to upbeat music and cheers from parents and staff. Volunteers handed out cups of water — and plenty of high fives — as the runners made their way around the course. The Fun Run has become a beloved tradition at Brown, not only as a major fundraising event but also as a celebration of school spirit and community. According to PTO organizers, the money raised will go directly toward supporting teachers, enriching student programs and cultivating a sense of connection throughout the school community.
“It’s wonderful to see the school community come together like this — all for a great cause,” said PTO co-president Mary Kennedy. “The energy was incredible.”
Members of the Corinthian Yacht Club sailing team after winning the 2025 Team Racing World Championships. COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO / ABBY BRACK LEWIS
COURTESY PHOTO / ABBY BRACK LEWIS
BY WILL DOWD
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to wdowd@marbleheadnews.org
Juneteen th celebration
On Friday, June 13, at 5 p.m., join a Juneteenth flag raising ceremony on the Abbot Hall lawn. The event is sponsored by the Marblehead Task Force Against Discrimination and Marblehead Museum, in conjunction with the North Shore Juneteenth Association.
Water and sewer rate-setting hearing scheduled for June 24
The Board of Water and Sewer Commission will hold its annual rate-setting hearing on Monday, June 24, at the commission’s offices at 100 Tower Way, Building 11.
The evening will begin with the board’s regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m., followed immediately by the public hearing. The annual rate-setting hearing determines the town’s water and sewer utility rates for the coming fiscal year.
Marblehead Little Theatre announces auditions for fall production
Marblehead Little Theatre will hold auditions for “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller on Sunday, Aug. 3, 3-5 p.m. and Monday, Aug. 4, 7-9 p.m. Callbacks are scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 6, 7-9 p.m.
The play centers on the Salem witch trials of 1692 and serves as an allegory for “witch hunts” occurring at any time or place. Auditioners should prepare a two- to three-minute monologue from an American play. Performances run three weekends from Oct. 3-19. To register for an audition slot, visit the theatre’s website.
Marblehead Little Theatre is located at 12 School St., Marblehead, Massachusetts. For more information, contact info@ mltlive.org.
Marblehead Rotary Club announces 2025 scholarship recipients
The Marblehead Rotary Club announced its five scholarship recipients for 2025. These students were selected for their academic excellence, leadership, community involvement and strong character. Each year, the club awards several one-time scholarships and one four-year scholarship to outstanding local students. This year’s awardees are Sean Dolan, Brady Selvais, Maren Potter, Arielle Khan and Will Finnegan.
Sean Dolan received the Donald Humphreys Veterans Memorial Rotary Scholarship, which honors the legacy of a respected community leader and veteran. He will attend Boston College pursuing science and aviation this fall.
Brady Selvais was awarded the Randolph E. and Barbara K. Goodwin Memorial Scholarship, a four-year scholarship given in honor of two longtime Marblehead community advocates. He will study engineering at the University of Miami.
Other recipients include Maren Potter, heading to Northeastern University to pursue marine biology; Arielle Khan, who will study economics and psychology at the University of Michigan; and Will Finnegan, continuing his studies in engineering at the University of New Hampshire.
Current awards scholarship to MHS senior/intern
Marblehead High School senior Benji Boyd received the Frances “Fraffie” Welch and
Edward “Ed” Bell Scholarship from the Marblehead Current on Wednesday night. Editor Leigh Blander presented the scholarship to Boyd at the high school.
Boyd, who worked as an intern at the Current for more than two years, will attend Vassar College in the fall. The Current described Boyd as a talented reporter and writer during his internship.
The scholarship honors two significant figures in journalism who contributed to the Marblehead community.
Welch, a graduate of Marblehead High School, spent more than 30 years as a journalist and was committed to community service. Bell had a distinguished 50-year career in newspapers, broadcasting and wire service, retiring as chief of bureau for the Associated Press in Boston. Bell was a co-founder of the Marblehead Current.
The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in journalism and writing, continuing the legacy of both Welch and Bell’s commitment to quality journalism and community engagement.
Water main improvements continue on multiple streets
Marblehead’s Water and Sewer Commission provided updates on water main improvements
affecting Curtis Street, Roosevelt Avenue, Rowland Street, Pleasant Street and Bubier Road through June 13. Work on Roosevelt Avenue is complete, with the new water main installed and service reconnections finished. Final trench paving has been completed and temporary bypass piping removed.
Curtis Street’s new water main installation is complete and has passed water quality testing. Service reconnections are estimated to be completed the week of June 9, after which temporary bypass piping will be removed.
Rowland Street’s water main cleaning and lining is complete with temporary bypass removed and final paving finished. The water main connection to Cross Street and Washington Street has not yet been scheduled.
Pleasant Street work continues with temporary bypass installation complete and individual service connections finished. Water main cleaning and lining is in progress. A 24-hour, seven-day parking ban remains in effect from Watson Street to Washington Street. Vehicles parked in this zone will be towed.
Bubier Road’s temporary bypass installation is complete from Pleasant Street to Atlantic Avenue. Bypass connections from Atlantic Avenue to the
harbor will continue the week of June 9. For questions, contact the Water Department at 781-631-2694.
Archbishop of Boston Diocese to visit Marblehead
Archbishop Richard Henning will conduct an eucharistic procession by sea on Corpus Christi weekend, June 21-22, visiting 11 coastal communities from Gloucester to South Boston by boat.
The procession will stop at Hammond Park in Marblehead on Saturday, June 21, at 2:50 p.m. for a time of prayer and blessing as part of the archbishop’s journey along the coast.
Henning was installed as Archbishop of Boston on Oct. 31, 2024, succeeding Cardinal Seán O’Malley, who resigned in August 2024 after more than two decades leading the archdiocese.
The two-day event begins Saturday with 8:30 a.m. Mass at Our Lady of Good Voyage in Gloucester and concludes Sunday with noon Mass at Gate of Heaven Parish in South Boston. Other Saturday
stops include Reed Park in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Beverly Town Pier, Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Fisherman’s Beach in Swampscott and St. Michael the Archangel in Winthrop.
Current editor participates in Boston media panel
Current Editor Leigh Blander was featured on a Meet the Media panel in Boston June 5, hosted by the State House News Service. She joined journalists from the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Axios Boston, WGBH, El Mundo and Northeastern University. Blander spoke about the independent, nonprofit news model and its incredible impact on local news.
Gas leaf blowers banned until Labor Day With summer in full swing, Marblehead police and health officials are reminding landscapers and homeowners that gasoline-powered leaf blowers are prohibited townwide until Labor Day. The seasonal bylaw aims to cut noise and emissions during the months when windows are open and outdoor dining is popular. Electric or battery-powered blowers remain legal. Violators can face escalating fines and equipment confiscation, though police say the first step will be education and a written warning. Reports can be made to the department’s non-emergency line, 781-631-1212.
Street sweeping The Department of Public Works will deploy its sweepers town-wide Monday through Thursday, June 9-12, clearing winter sand and spring debris from narrow gutters ahead of summer traffic. A temporary parking ban runs each night from 12:01-7 a.m. on posted streets in the downtown and the shipyard district. “No Parking” signs will go up 24 hours in advance, and CodeRED calls, flyers and social-media posts will remind residents. Cars left curbside
expense.
operation
can be ticketed or towed at the owner’s
The
is weatherdependent but will move forward in light rain.
COURTESY PHOTO
Current Editor Leigh Blander participates in the Meet the Media panel Thursday in Boston, alongside journalists from the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Axios Boston, WGBH, Telemundo and Northeastern University.
COURTESY PHOTO
The recipients of the Marblehead Booster Club Scholarships include Jaden Janock, Luke Miller, Cam Quigley, Tommy Carlson, Jonah Potach, Colin White, Callie Prince, Ethan Horgan, Caitlyn Ryan, Sean Heenan, Ava Machado, Abbie Goodwin, Maxine Hall, Courtney Hoguet, Drew Goldman, Justin Gonzalez, Charlotte Dye, Matthew Sherf, Dylan Gilmore, Julius Galante, Aeva Salem, Gunther Fehrenbach, Gabby Hendy, Quentin Fletcher, Sam Thompson, Thomas Tedesse, Savannah Caruso, Paige Fletcher, Brady Selvais, Bodie Smith, Finn Bergquist, Jamie Haliotis, Logan Doody, Crew Monaco, Owen Newburg, Maddie Forbes, Carley Brown, Leo Burdge, Sophie Robinson, Julia Aneshansley, Olivia Goldwater, and Brinleigh Callahan.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead High School senior Benji Boyd holds the 2025 Frances “Fraffie” Welch and Edward “Ed” Bell Scholarship, awarded by the Marblehead Current on June 4. Boyd, a longtime intern at the Current, will attend Vassar College this fall.
COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD ROTARY CLUB
Back row from left: Rotary president John Buckey and scholarship recipients Will Finnegan, Sean Dolan and Brady Selvais. Seated from left: Rotarian scholarship committee members Ellen Winkler, Nancy Gwin, chair, and Brian Snell.
Archbishop Richard Henning
Marblehead’s best bets
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
Full Moon Yoga
Wednesday, June 11, 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Experience the magic of Full Moon Yoga outdoors in the gardens of the historic Jeremiah
Patriot Houses Tour
Saturday, June 14, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Marblehead Museum will host its second Patriot Houses Tour. The selfguided tour will feature five privately owned Marblehead homes once occupied by Revolutionary heroes and their families who risked their lives for independence. Homes will include the Robert Hooper House, Devereux House, Martin-Huler-Lemaster House, Jeremiah Lee Mansion and a special fifth house whose identity will be revealed on the day of the tour. Visitors can tour the homes self-guided with the aid of an interpretive booklet, which will be available at the Marblehead Museum, 170 Washington St. $40 members, $45 public. More info at marbleheadmuseum.org.
Marblehead Farmers Market
Saturday, June 14, 9 a.m.-noon
Lee Mansion, 161 Washington St. The class is held directly under the light of the full moon, with the start time planned to align with sunset. $25 drop-in cost; register at theyogaloftmarblehead. com/sign-up.
Pop-up art show
Friday-Sunday, June 13-15
Check out “Wrapped In Art,” an exhibit by repurposed mixed-media artist Donna Mahan. The show is at the Stetson Gallery at the UU Church of Marblehead, 28 Mugford St. Opening reception is Friday, 6-8 p.m. Artist talk is Saturday at 3 p.m.
Check out the fresh fruits, veggies, prepared foods and crafts at the Marblehead Farmers Market, behind the Veterans School.
To Norm Fest 2025
Saturday, June 14, 1-5 p.m.
Come celebrate the legacy of beloved softball coach Todd Norman, who passed away last year. The event, at the VFW, 321 West Shore Drive, is a fundraiser for the Todd Norman Memorial Fund scholarship.
Pride Party at The Landing
Tuesday, June 17, 6 p.m.
Come together with friends, family and allies to celebrate Pride Month in a joyful, inclusive atmosphere at The Landing, 81 Front St. Enjoy food, music and a warm, welcoming community.
David J. Fleming, 85
David John Fleming, 85, passed away on Saturday, May 31, in the comfort of his home in Bethel, Maine, surrounded by the people and the pets he loved.
David grew up in Marblehead with his three younger siblings, James, Paul (deceased) and Judy. He attended college at Tufts University and transferred to the University of South Carolina, where he met his first wife, Ann. After graduation, they returned to his hometown, where he started his career as a history teacher at Marblehead High, and welcomed his first two
children, Melissa and Michael, into the world. He was not just popular in the classroom; he also led an elective “outdoors mini course,” which students loved, especially the week-long camping and hiking adventure in New Hampshire’s White
Cellar Dwellers to reunite after more than 50 years
LEIGH BLANDER
There’s a special reunion planned for Saturday, June 14 for the Marblehead Cellar Dwellers, a group of friends who grew up in Marblehead in the 1960s, playing street hockey, softball and basketball. The name Cellar Dwellers comes from their time in the basement at 45 Prospect St., where the crew hung out.
“As we started to splinter off and go separate ways (to college, jobs and the military), most of us just moved to the Gerry by joining the social club,” said
Track
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Humphreys (121-7) came in 27th.
Boys 400-meter hurdles
Colin Hart (1:02.68, personal best) finished 23rd and Noah Jackson (1:03.16) was close behind coming in 25th.
Girls 100-meter hurdles
Tredwell advanced to the finals after timing out at 16.16 in the preliminaries. She ended up seventh in the finals (15.86). Elise Burchfield (17.32) was 14th. “The dynamic duo of Paige and Elise were forces in the NEC (Northeastern Conference),” said Raimo. “In most meets this year, Elise and Paige gave us a lead in the hurdles, high jump and long jump that was pretty much responsible for our regular season NEC championship.”
Boys 100-meter hurdles
Jackson (17.02) finished his sophomore campaign in 27th place at the state divisional meet.
Girls 100
Lucy Flynn (12.54, personal best) continues to break records in both the prelims (seventh) and finals (seventh), while also improving on her previous school record time of 12.59. “Lucy had a great indoor season, but her outdoor season has been nothing short of phenomenal after etching herself in the history books as the fastest sprinter in Marblehead history,” said Raimo.
Boys 100
Jacob Bobowski (11.50) ended his high school track career in 21st place among state divisional peers. Ryan Corrigan (11.62) was close behind, 29th overall.
Girls 200
Flynn (25.86, personal best) again breaks her own school record to finish fifth in the finals,
Mountains.
He also had a creative side, dabbling in photography and pottery. In his downtime, he consumed literature and history books. He also loved classical music — a highlight was getting tickets for the iconic Vienna State Opera House. As a recreational fisherman, he would often leave home at the crack of dawn to catch bluefish or stripers when he saw a school of pogies jumping in Salem Harbor.
He returned one school morning holding a giant fish, excitedly exclaiming, “It’s a 30-pounder!”
He served his community, too, cooking for the homeless, taking in a METCO student
and teaching an adult education course on the Holocaust. He met his second wife, Dr. Brenda Minor, while working as the summer manager of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Cardigan Lodge in New Hampshire. There, he led hikes and found his passion for cooking. He and Brenda had two sons, Andy and Sam. At one point, they were even students in his AP European history class. Later in his career, he also led multiple school trips to Europe during spring break.
After retiring from over four decades of teaching, he delighted in a new way to educate — as a driver and history guide on the Old Town Trolley Tours in Boston.
He and Brenda lived in Marblehead until her retirement five years ago, when they settled in their country home in Bethel, Maine. There, he enjoyed kayaking, hiking and cooking elaborate meals for visiting friends and family.
A celebration of life will be held in his memory on Aug. 2 at 11 a.m. in the Old North Church in Marblehead. Family, friends and anyone who was touched by him are welcome to attend. Instead of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Andwell Health Hospice, which provided exemplary care to David in his final weeks. Go to andwell. org/giving/ donate then select ‘Hospice’ in the final step of the dropdown menu.
Ned Brady, who is organizing the group’s reunion. “The one thread that is common through all the years is that we remained and still are friends to the very day.”
Brady added, “We have seen the town change in many ways, from Anny May’s ice cream, which is now House of Pizza, to the soda fountain at Eaton’s Drug Store with Mary Love, to having five or six gas stations in town.”
Registration is not required for the event. There’s a $10 donation.
a .04 improvement on her own school record and personal best time.
Girls 800
For the third year in a row, the MIAA made the decision to split the full field of 32 runners in the 800 into only two heats. Predictably, according to assistant coach Will Herlihy, this leads to very physical and congested races that are not favorable for running fast times.
Despite that, Sarah Munroe (2:25.26, 10th) and Norah Walsh (2:34.14, 28th) both ran quality races, and can also learn from this experience.
Boys 800
Senior captain Jacob Szalewicz (1:55.99) broke the tape first.
Senior captain Will Cerrutti (2:00.37, one-second personal best) came in 15th. Junior captain Henrik Adams (2:02.51) was 18th.
Girls mile Munroe (5:18.94, 15-second personal best) came in seventh, and junior captain Marri O’Connell (5:38.54) was 27th.
“Sarah ran most of this race solo, breaking away from her heat after the first lap, and then
pushed herself to run a huge 15-second personal best to earn a seventh-place medal,” said Herlihy.
“Marri grinded her way through her final open event of the season,” added Herlihy. “Despite her injury struggles this year, she was a consummate leader and teammate, rising above her own results to throw support behind teammates.”
Boys mile
Cerrutti (4:18.28, 1.5-second personal best) defended his state championship successfully. Adams (4:43.04) accounted for a 27th place finish.
Girls two-mile
O’Connell (11:58.89) enjoyed a Top 10 finish, coming in 10th overall.
Boys two-mile
Senior captain Nate Assa (9:16.33) finished second in an upset. “In what was perhaps the biggest upset of the meet, Nate came in second to Landon Sarney of Oliver Ames,” said Herlihy. “You have to give Sarney all the credit in the world. After a fairly pedestrian opening mile, he refused to quit and stayed
right on Nate’s shoulder, as Nate pushed the pace. On the final lap, Sarney had everything in the world to run for, and that was the difference. Nate was incredibly gracious in defeat, a model every athlete should follow.”
Girls 4x100
Elise Burchfield, Flynn, Roszell and Tredwell banded together to finish ninth. “Elise and Paige both abandoned individual events to join the team in an effort to score points,” said Raimo.
Boys 4x800
Unfortunately, the boys remained snakebitten once again in this event. This time, they were disqualified for a lane violation, according to Herlihy.
“Will Cerrutti was knocked down hard at the start, and even though the race was recalled, it’s really hard to recover from something like that,” Herlihy added.
”Will still had a strong opening leg before handing off to Henrik, who was unfortunately outside of the handoff zone. Nate ran the third leg after he was scratched from the mile to stay fresh for this event. He was able to put
down a fast split, a blistering 1:57, before handing off to Jacob Szalewicz, who was also outside of the handoff zone. But Jacob ran admirably, doing everything he could to reel some other teams in, before running into a proverbial wall in the second half of his lap. He still split under two minutes, but it went all for naught. Despite a protest by Raimo, the disqualification stood and the boys lost a chance at a medal.”
Girls 4x800
The Marblehead quartet of Munroe, Maggie Miller, Walsh and O’Connell (10:17.94) finished seventh out of 21 teams.
Girls 4x400
Liv Carlson, Lidia Jasmine Tiedra, Gabby Hendy and Juliet Burchfield (4:34.90) finished 21st.
“It was a long day for this foursome. The Magicians as a team departed Marblehead at 10:30 a.m., but the 4x400 didn’t start until 7:20 p.m. They ran well considering the circumstances,” said Raimo.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Cellar Dwellers played softball, street hockey and hoops back in the 1960s. Back row, from left, Tom Diamond, Howie Doliber and Roy Hammond; front row, Ned Brady, left, and Art Dodge.
COURTESY PHOTO / KATE WALSH
Marblehead High School girls spring track freshman Norah Walsh crosses the finish line in the 800 during the State Division 3 Meet at Westfield State University on June 1.
