FIRST WAVE
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Residents are voicing frustrations over Marblehead’s new automated trash and recycling program, with many arguing that the standard 65-gallon trash carts and 95-gallon recycling carts are too big for the town’s historic neighborhoods, elderly residents and homes with limited storage space.
A recent Board of Health meeting focused on the practical challenges residents say they face ahead of the July 1 launch of automated curbside collection.
Several residents from the Old & Historic District said the carts are difficult to store and detract from the appearance of the neighborhood.
“You drive around now, you drive through Old Town, you see these big honking bins in front
of everybody’s house, and it is so ugly,” one resident complained.
Another resident noted that three condo units near her home had received six carts that now fill a designated parking space.
Board member Tom McMahon acknowledged the concerns but emphasized that no system would satisfy every household.
“This is not ideal,” McMahon said. “This is not a perfect scenario. It’s not going to be,
no matter what we do. We have to figure out a way to make it work.”
Requesting smaller barrels
Health Director Andrew Petty said the town recognizes that some households cannot reasonably accommodate the standard carts.
“We do understand that there are properties that cannot place
CRIME
a 65-gallon and a 95-gallon,” Petty said. “We do have a 35 and a 65 for those households.” Petty clarified that residents in the Old & Historic District may request smaller carts. He said the Health Department will also prioritize elderly residents and those with mobility issues.
Residents can email the Board of Health at health2@
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Otto Wells knew this wasn’t just another breakfast run.
The 8-year-old and his father, Russ, rode their bikes to the Driftwood on June 20 for their usual order of fried dough, eggs and bacon, joining a packed crowd of regulars eager to savor one last meal before the beloved Marblehead institution changed hands.
“It’s a special day,” Otto said.
For much of the morning, customers streamed through the iconic diner at 63 Front St., swapping stories and reflecting on what the Driftwood has meant to generations of Marbleheaders.
After more than four decades in the
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Robert Goodwin of Marblehead, owner of the now defunct travel company Stone & Compass, pleaded guilty in a Florida courtroom to two counts of grand theft over $100,000 on June 18. He was sentenced to 25 years probation and ordered to pay $637,260 in restitution.
Last December, Goodwin was arrested in California after several
ARTS Festival warns: Cancellations loom without more volunteers
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Festival of Arts organizers are sounding the alarm: Without more volunteers, some signature festival events could be scaled back or even canceled. The festival, which showcases local artists, musicians and performers, is facing a significant volunteer shortage ahead of this summer’s celebration. “Far fewer of our great community has signed up to volunteer, which could have disastrous consequences,” said Joe Tavano, who sits on the festival’s board. The festival,
CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER
They call themselves the Drifty Girls. This group of women has been eating at the Driftwood every Wednesday for the last 25 years. They are, from left, Meredith Doherty, Pam Ronan, Patty Pederson, Joanne Norcross, Tricia Craig, Lissa Millett and Laura Tyrell.
Regulars packed the Driftwood Friday morning for owner Colleen Galvin’s last day.
COURTESY PHOTO Robert S. Goodwin’s mugshot
MHS survey shows declines in anxiety, depression, substance use
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The results of Marblehead High School’s latest Substance Use and Risk Factors, or SURF, survey show several encouraging trends, including declines in anxiety, depression and substance use among students. However, anxiety and depression levels remain “above the risk threshold,” according to MHS counselor Gina Hart.
“What’s good is we’re trending downward,” she added.
Asked what might be contributing to those trends, Hart answered, “It’s a generational response to substance use right now. Kids are not as interested in it. That has to do with the education and awareness of substance use as a public health issue.”
Hart presented data from the 2025-26 survey, which was administered to MHS students in the fall. This is the fourth year students have taken the anonymous survey.
Nineteen percent of students reported experiencing anxiety, down from 21% last year and 31%
in 2022. Ten percent reported depression, down from 13% last year and 19% in 2022.
Nearly 12% of students reported having suicidal thoughts, while 8.6% said they had made a plan to end their lives. One percent reported attempting suicide.
Body image and disordered eating
Thirty-two percent of students reported struggling with body image, down from 37.5% the previous year.
Vulnerable populations
Among students who identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, asexual or pansexual, 64% were above the risk threshold for anxiety and depression. Fortyfour percent of those students reported suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
The Current welcomes 150–200-word submissions to News in Brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Second car suspected in Piper Field vandalism recovered
Police Chief Dennis King told the Current that the second car believed to be involved in vandalism at the high school’s football field was recovered in Melrose.
Another car suspected of driving onto Piper Field was found submerged in the ocean off Grace Oliver’s Beach. That car was stolen from Raynham.
King says the incident is still under active investigation.
Lobster raffle
Marblehead Rotary Club’s lobster raffle is back this summer. Every dollar raised from this raffle goes directly toward funding camperships and scholarships in Marblehead.
“To make this feast happen, we are teaming
Losano-Galvin family and more than 60 years as a local landmark, owner Colleen Galvin retired and sold the Driftwood to Maria Torres, owner of Maria’s Gourmet in town.
The Driftwood is now closed for renovations before reopening under its new ownership.
Inside the diner on Friday, Sloan Casela, 1, waved to the crowd while her mother, Pamela, ate breakfast.
“We’re currently living in Miami, but Marblehead is home,” Pamela said. “We didn’t know today is the last day, but I said, ‘We gotta go to the Driftwood before we leave.’” Outside, a group of women waiting for a table shared their own Driftwood tradition.
“We’re the Drifty Girls,” one said. “We grew up in Marblehead, and we’ve been coming here every Wednesday morning for 25 years. This is our place because the Driftwood represents friendship, and we’ve been friends for so long.”
‘It’s Marblehead as it was, as we want it to be’ For generations, the Driftwood has been more than a place to
Hart noted that it is important to recognize when particular student populations are disproportionately affected and to respond with prevention and support efforts.
Experiences of discrimination
Thirty percent of students reported being called racially insulting names.
Four percent said they had experienced discrimination because of their sexual orientation, while 4.7% said their religion had made them targets for discrimination.
Substance use
Fewer students reported using alcohol, nicotine and cannabis than in previous years.
Thirty-two percent of students reported using alcohol, 28%
up once again with the incredible folks at Little Harbor Lobster Company. They’ve generously donated the ultimate prize: a 20-pound lobster fiesta for four lucky winners,” according to a Marblehead Rotary post on Facebook.
The post adds: “We will be out in full force over the Fourth of July weekend with our kiosks set up downtown. Come track down our fabulous Rotarian crew, buy a few tickets for a great cause, and let’s kick off the holiday weekend together.”
SPUR’s Success Drive in gear Summer vacation hasn’t started yet, but local nonprofit SPUR is already getting ready for next school year.
SPUR has launched its Student Success Drive and is looking for donations to provide local children with the supplies they need on the first day of school.
Working with school adjustment counselors, food pantry directors and other social service workers, SPUR provides all the tools necessary to learn for students who wouldn’t otherwise
grab eggs, pancakes and coffee. It has served as a gathering place where regulars know one another by name, tourists discover a local favorite, and traditions are passed from one family to the next.
“It is so special,” said regular Gene Arnould, owner of Arnould’s Gallery and Framery on Washington Street. “It’s real. It’s Marblehead as it was, as we want it to be, as we hope it always will be. Real. Honest. Nothing fancy. Special.”
Arnould didn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite order.
“The two-egg masterpiece with cheese is my favorite, followed closely by corned beef hash with a couple of eggs over easy on top,” he said. “And when decadence calls, there’s always fried dough.” Another regular, Charles Gessner, said the restaurant had become part of the rhythm of his life.
“The highlight of my Thursdays for the past 30-plus years has been Colleen’s infectious smile at the Driftwood — and a great breakfast that did not put any of us in the poor house,” he told the Current.
While the ownership has changed, Torres and her family say they understand what the Driftwood means to the community and intend to preserve its character.
reported using nicotine and 16% reported using cannabis.
More than 16% reported using alcohol for the first time at ages 12 or 13. That figure was 22% for nicotine and 9.4% for cannabis.
There was a slight uptick in the number of students who reported driving after drinking, rising to 2.4% from 2.1%.
Sixty percent of students reported texting while driving.
Social media impacts
The survey also asked students about their social media use with 50% reporting “negative effects,” including:
Cyberbullying, 13%
Negative mental health effects, 26.8%
» Peer pressure, 17.9%
» Phone addition, 64.6% » Misinformation, 56%.
Using the data
Hart said the survey results are shared directly with students and used to spark conversations about health and decision-making.
“When I go into health classes, I talk to them, and we have discussions,” she said.
Health classes focusing on alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention begin at Village School and continue through Marblehead High School.
The district also offers a socialemotional learning curriculum in grades K-12.
have them.
According to SPUR, the demand continues to grow, with over 650 students in Lynn, Marblehead, Salem and Swampscott depending on the Student Success Drive to be ready to learn in the coming school year.
“For these students, this is about more than just pencils and pens. It is about giving every student the dignity, confidence and sense of belonging that comes with being fully prepared,” according to a SPUR email.
To learn more and donate, visit spurnorthshore.org.
Summer reading party — with pups
Abbot Library’s Children’s Room will kick off its summer reading program with puppies, snacks and more on Thursday, June 25, 2-4 p.m.
Meet adorable, adoptable dogs from Cape Ann Animal Aid.
Purchase food from Shubie’s and Terry’s. Play interactive games with Sustainable Marblehead and the Council on Aging.
More info at abbotlibary.org/events.
“Don’t be scared. We want to make sure people know nothing is changing. We know the Driftwood is a staple in the community,” said Emily Figueroa, Torres’ daughter.
Figueroa said the menu will remain the same, with one exception.
“One thing that we have heard from Colleen and all the very loyal customers, they are shocked that the prices have stayed so low for so long, especially in these trying times,” she said. “That is, unfortunately, the one thing that will have to change. There will be a slight price increase, about 6%, but it will be the same Driftwood.”
The restaurant closed after its final day under Galvin’s ownership and is undergoing renovations before reopening. Figueroa said there is not yet a firm reopening date.
“There are a lot of things in the kitchen that are not up to code,” she said. “We need to take a little bit of time to make sure we get the oven in there and update the ventilation.”
She added that, unfortunately, it was too soon to set a date for reopening. The business’ insurer needs to sign off on the business, the town needs to approve permits for work to be done, and renovations need to be completed.
Back to the future
Figueroa said the new ownership may also bring back a nostalgic piece of Driftwood history: the restaurant’s old ice cream window.
“That’s a fun addition we may be bringing back,” she said.
Marblehead historian and photographer Dan Dixey recalled helping Galvin solve the mystery of an old sign she discovered in the restaurant.
“On the morning of July 3, 2020, I was having breakfast in the Driftwood,” Dixey said.
“Colleen told me she had found a sign in the attic and was wondering where it used to hang. She brought it down to show me. It said ‘Driftwood Dairy Whip,’ and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had an old photo showing it. It was across the street from the Driftwood and may have only been there one year, 1969. It was fun helping Colleen solve the mystery.”
Betty Breuhaus, the local author who owns the Front Street building that houses the Driftwood, said the transition has stirred mixed emotions among longtime customers.
“Of course, there’s something really sad about it,” Breuhaus said. “But Maria has said over and over she’s going to keep it just the same.”
Local mother helps lead fight against child exploitation
BY LEIGH BLANDER
As Massachusetts welcomes huge crowds for the World Cup this summer, a Marblehead mother of three is helping lead efforts to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable children.
Sonja Solberg Potter, co-executive director of the Boston-based organization My Life My Choice, has spent the past 13 years working to combat the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Amid concerns that large international sporting events can create increased opportunities for traffickers and buyers, My Life My Choice has expanded its capacity to respond if more young victims are identified.
“With any large sporting event, there’s an increased concentration of trafficking,” Solberg Potter told the Current.
She continued, “It is happening every day, and it’s impacting every community, but when there are waves of people coming from all over the world, we know there will be people trafficked to the event from other states and that community’s own vulnerable people are at heightened risk…. The state has been planning for a while, getting youth and
adult-serving trafficking organizations on board to be prepared if there’s an influx or the possibility of an increase in victims.”
Commercial sexual exploitation of children, or C-SEC, refers to a range of crimes and activities involving the sexual abuse of a child in exchange for something of value that is given or promised. It can happen in person or online, including on gaming platforms.
“Now that young people are on their phones and devices constantly, exploiters use these to set up meetings or exchange videos,” Solberg Potter explained. “They just know how to find the kids who are more susceptible — children
looking for connection and belonging and love and all these things who have likely already experienced abuse or neglect, and so (exploiters) know how to find them and manipulate them.”
The average age at which children served by My Life My Choice experience their first sexual exploitation is 13, Solberg Potter said, aligning with national statistics.
Survivor-led support
Founded in 2022, My Life My Choice served 177 children last year throughout Eastern Massachusetts, from Worcester to the New Hampshire border and Cape Cod; 29 were from Essex County. It is a survivor-led
organization, meaning survivors’ lived experiences and expertise at the core of everything it does. About half of the organization’s 246 employees are survivors who mentor victims.
“Our approach is based on the social justice framework that the people most impacted by an issue should have the loudest voices in its solution,” Solberg Potter said.
Solberg Potter explained how mentors work with exploited teens.
“Sometimes, they’re helping them safely exit and getting resources and connected,” she said. “Sometimes, they’ll meet with them once a week. It’s about building a connection, helping them find safe adults or learning a safe relationship. A lot of times it’s also like, they need a place to stay. We work with a pretty complicated complex safety net as one of the providers.”
The organization recently hired its first former mentee as a staff member, a milestone
Solberg Potter said illustrates the power of survivor-centered support.
Because the commercial sexual exploitation of children is widely underreported, experts say no definitive national count exists. However, federal estimates suggest that roughly 199,000 incidents of sexual exploitation of minors occur each year in the United States, while between 244,000 and 325,000 youth may be at risk of exploitation.
With the recent Jeffrey Epstein revelations, Solberg Potter hopes residents understand that trafficking is not confined to distant places or big cities.
“It happens everywhere,” Solberg said.
“I think it’s important to understand that it can happen to any kid.” At the same time, she noted that exploitation disproportionately affects vulnerable youth. “Harm and violence to any child should be cared about,” she said. “All children should be safe.”
Anyone experiencing exploitation or concerned that a child may be experiencing exploitation can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-3737888 or text BeFree (233733). Those seeking help or wanting to learn more can be connected with local resources in Massachusetts, including My Life My Choice at mylifemychoice.org.
COURTESY PHOTO
Sonja Solberg Potter at home in Marblehead
Opinion
EDITORIAL
Over a barrel
Board of Health member Tom McMahon is not wrong when he said of the town’s new trash collection program on Facebook recently, “We’re here now and need to move forward.”
However, McMahon is too dismissive about the value of what he called “Monday morning quarterbacking.”
Usually, when municipal government action is greeted with outcry — as the invasion of the oversized barrels has been — there are lessons to be learned. There also may be quick fixes that can ameliorate a situation, even if everyone’s issue is not solved.
To review: For months, the Board of Health has been talking about — and inviting input on — what should happen upon the expiration of the town’s current trash contract.
At a public meeting last Oct. 30, Public Health Director Andrew Petty explained that no major company was willing to bid on a contract to continue to collect the town’s trash and recycling manually. So, we’ve known for months that automated collection — and the special “toters” it requires — were coming, like it or not. At that public meeting, Petty said he was pricing out plans that included one that would give residents the choice of either 35-gallon or 65-gallon toters for trash, along with a separate toter for recycling.
But by the time the Board of Health signed a contract to continue using Republic Services for trash collection in March, the contract was one-size-fits-all. Everyone would be getting 65-gallon trash bins and 95-gallon recycling bins.
As is now clear, many residents did not comprehend what 65- and 95-gallon toters would look like — until they landed in their driveway. McMahon may be correct that “Monday morning quarterbacking” is unproductive. But so, too, is blaming residents for paying inadequate attention, as we have seen McMahon suggest. Details about the town’s trash collection program have shifted, and especially if residents didn’t know the capacity of their current trash barrels, it was easy to miss the extent to which they would be dwarfed by the new ones.
In our view, the shock, surprise and dismay over the arrival of the barrels speaks for itself. The Health Department may think it adequately communicated the degree to which things were about to change. But the reception the new toters has received says otherwise.
The Health Department may never again oversee a town-wide change of this magnitude. But this situation should illustrate the value in going the extra mile with public outreach.
As one speaker at a recent public meeting on trash noted, other towns that have moved to automated collection mailed notices to every resident, which Petty estimated would have cost $8,000. Especially after town voters invested $2.3 million per year, forever, by passing an override to fund trash collection, a town-wide mailing would have been short money — and a wise investment. It is also not entirely clear why the idea of allowing residents flexibility to choose the size of their barrels had to go away. Beverly, which is rolling out a similar automated collection system on the same timetable, is giving residents a choice. Those who opt for the smaller barrels are even getting a break on the cost ($200 per year, instead of $300). The Health Department now indicates that its twoperson office could not handle that kind of customizable approach. If true, it’s unfortunate that possibility was floated in the first place. Now, we have a situation where residents in the Old & Historic District, the elderly and those with mobility issues are being given priority for a limited number of smaller toters, and even residents fortunate enough to receive them may have to wait six weeks before they arrive.
The Health Department has been coy about its capacity to accommodate requests for smaller barrels. As a result, it’s hard to know the extent to which demand will outpace the supply. Perhaps it will all work out. However, the process seems destined for further bumpiness. Will there be an appeals process for those who believe they were denied smaller barrels unfairly, as there is for residents denied tax abatements?
The Health Department has expressed concerns about limited resources. But it has now created a system where it will be forced to expend those resources to assess the validity of requests for smaller barrels and prioritize their distribution. It didn’t need to be this way.
The board also gave inadequate consideration to how distasteful many residents would find the image of so many suddenly obsolete trash receptacles winding up at the Transfer Station on their way to a landfill. We commend residents Ann Murphy and Barbara Roy, who have led grassroots efforts to “save the planet one barrel at a time” by finding new homes in Peabody for barrels still in good condition. Over 500 had been relocated as of this writing.
Sustainable Marblehead, guided by Elaine Leahy, has also been actively promoting creative reuse of discarded carts — turning them into compost bins, rain barrels and mobile storage units for tools and sports gear.
But it should not have fallen to residents to ride to the rescue. In its negotiations with Republic, the town could have insisted on a provision in the contract to work with the town to find an environmentally responsible way to dispose of trash barrels that were no longer usable. The environment was simply not a priority, it seems. All that said, it is indeed time to “move forward.” For most people, the cost of having their trash and recycling picked up curbside weekly — about $5 per week for the median homeowner — is still a bargain. Given the rapidly changing market for trash collection services, the Board of Health deserves credit for keeping the cost manageable. Residents should reflect on whether the super-sized toters are truly an unbearable hardship or merely an inconvenience. For its part, the Health Department can do its part to help the town “move forward” by acknowledging its contribution to the current disarray and by being as understanding and accommodating as its resources will allow as the town continues to navigate this change.
SUSTAINABLE MARBLEHEAD
How to stay hydrated this July 4
BY JESSICA VALATKA
If you have visited the Marblehead Festival of Arts the past several years, you may have stopped by one of two stations perfect for filling reusable water bottles or compostable cups provided by Sustainable Marblehead. One is the 300-gallon “Quench Buggy” from the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority with power donated by the Arnould Gallery and Framery, and the other is the 125-gallon “Water Monster” with water donated by Whitmore Brothers Construction.
Complete with compostable cups and Black Earth Compost bins, these stations have prevented thousands of single-use plastic water bottles from entering the landfill, while opening up an opportunity for individuals to reimagine waste reduction in local communities.
The convenience of single-use plastic bottles can be tempting. However, it can be helpful to remind ourselves of the science and data that gives us a better idea of how harmful plastics actually are, and if it’s worth it for your personal goals. You may even find that single-use plastic bottles aren’t as convenient as you thought.
According to Earthday.org, Americans purchase about 50 billion plastic water bottles annually, averaging to about 156 bottles per person.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that a single plastic bottle can take 400 to 1,000 years to decompose, becoming harmful microplastics early in the process.
Those microplastics have now been detected in every ecosystem on Earth, from Antarctic ice to tropical coral reefs. More than 1,500 species, both marine and terrestrial, are known to ingest plastics. They’ve been found in humans too — in livers and kidneys — and chemicals that leach from plastics may be linked to developmental, reproductive, neurological and immune disorders.
Bottled vs. tap
You may be partial to bottled water because you have assumed it is cleaner than tap water. In reality, the Natural Resources Defense Council found that there is no assurance to that claim, estimating 25% or more of water sold in a plastic bottle is really just tap water. Consumers of bottled water ingest significantly more microplastics every year than consumers of tap water.
Plastic pollution is a waste issue and a climate issue
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimates that in 2019, plastic
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Voting from Scotland? Don’t bother
To the editor: Three cheers for Marblehead democracy, which achieved a satisfactory outcome Tuesday without the help of this local voter. Registering for a mail-in ballot was the easy bit. Knowing I was going to be in Scotland on June 9, I strolled into the Town Clerk’s office a week or so before leaving and signed the absentee voter form. It takes time to print ballot papers, and the law of the Commonwealth is that a mail-in ballot must be mailed out by the Town Clerk to an address, so I chose a reliable Marblehead friend, to whom I am enduringly grateful. Sure enough, the packet arrived with her on Tuesday May 19, a few days after we had left Marblehead for Europe,
products were responsible for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions across their full life cycles, with 90% of those emissions coming from the production and conversion of fossil fuels into new plastic. Without major changes in behavior and policy, those emissions are expected to double by 2060.
The World Economic Forum projects that the global plastics industry could account for 20% of total oil consumption and up to 15% of global carbon emissions by 2050. Choosing a refillable bottle over a plastic bottle is therefore a first great step in supporting a safer climate.
Plastic Free July
Sustainable Marblehead is aligning their water station resources with a global movement called Plastic Free July, which supports millions of people in making choices that reduce plastic pollution. Please sign up to help us at our water station on July 3 and July 4 at signupgenius. com/go/5080A4FA8AC2EA6FA7-64558440help#/. You’ll be right in the center of action and excitement of the Festival of Arts and do some good for the planet! For more information and ideas on how to reduce waste and lead a more sustainable lifestyle, please check out our website at sustainablemarblehead.org. Visit our “10 Simple Things You Can Do for the Planet” at the bottom of the homepage. More information can also be found at epa.gov/plastics/impactsplastic-pollution and nrdc.org/stories/ bottled-water-vs-tap-water
Jessica Valatka is Sustainable Marblehead’s summer intern and a student at University of Massachusetts Amherst.
but we had a cunning plan and there was time in hand to have it all DHL’d to my attorney’s office in Perth, Scotland, where it duly arrived on Wednesday May 27. Here it waited patiently for me until I pitched up from Greece on Monday June 1. There is a point to all this. I got straight to work at a table in a
in hand) and set about trying to get it back to the Town Clerk in Marblehead ASAP. Perth, Scotland, is a fairsized town just over twice the size of Marblehead. Yet it lacks anything like our UPS Store. We did find a mom & pop store which is a dropoff for FedEx, but when asked if he
COURTESY PHOTO
Sustainable Marblehead has set up water stations at the Arts Festival for the last few years.
COURTESY PHOTO Marbleheader Rhod Sharp fills out his spring election ballot in Perth, Scotland.
‘I’m
a believer now’: One man’s Rotary journey
BY PETER J. SPEZIALE
Giving is receiving? We’ve heard that before. I never understood it. I practiced law in New York for 13 years, then started 22 years ago a specialty finance company. Who has time for volunteer work? “Time is money” was a phrase I better understood.
Ten years ago, I left New York and moved to Marblehead. Eventually, I joined the Rotary Club of Marblehead — less so to serve on its charitable missions (convinced I had zero time for that); more so, to meet people. And I did — awesome people. Weekly lunch meetings in the Boston Yacht Club, interesting guest speakers, bonding. Months later, the unimaginable happened. I raised my hand and said, “OK, I’ll join a committee.” That moment, I remember moaning to myself — this is never going to work, I shouldn’t have joined the Rotary.
And then, the magic began:
1. I became a book buddy for a third grader. I provided books and we exchanged letters, all via the student’s teacher, encouraging reading on topics the child expressed interest in. The child wrote back about the books he read. It worked!
2. Every December, the Rotary assists the Edith Dodge Memorial Fund with holiday cookie deliveries to local seniors. I greeted about 30 local elderly residents on their doorstep.
Many were widowed, living alone and likely hadn’t gone out much due to wintery conditions. I showed up with a giftwrapped box of cookies and a holiday card. The light in the eyes of the elderly people I visited filled my heart.
3. We are grateful for the annual assistance of Marblehead’s Little Harbor Lobster Company, which donates 80 pounds of lobster to
Rotary’s Lobster Raffle in July.
All proceeds from ticket sales and donations from locals are applied to college scholarships and camperships for Marblehead’s youth. I joined the effort for the last two years. This year’s ticket sales are just two weeks away.
4. I’m co-leading the Rotary’s annual 5k race (Sunday, Nov. 1, 11:30 a.m.) starting and finishing in Crocker Park. Runners of all
ages run through Old Town and beyond. All funds raised support multiple charitable causes, including programs addressing mental health for Marblehead students.
I’m a believer now: Giving is receiving. Donating time and effort to charitable causes gives me the privilege of touching the heart and soul of our community. Should I be enjoying this as much as the beneficiaries
Donating time and effort to charitable causes gives me the privilege of touching the heart and soul of our community.
of my donated time? I am. I’m now serving on The Rotary Club of Marblehead’s Board and I’m the president elect for the 2027-28 term. Do I have less time to devote to work, family, playing? The math says yes. But not really, because somehow, I’m getting it all done, and here’s the key: I’m a role model to my son, I’m a happier person, I’m contributing to the community and I’m helping people. Now here’s a call to action: Join the Rotary Club of Marblehead. Make an impact on people’s lives, including your own.
With over 46,000 clubs and 1.4 million members worldwide, our global community impact is soaring. The Rotary Club of Marblehead has been serving local and international communities since 1923. Help send a child to camp or college: Buy lobster raffle tickets July Fourth weekend at Rotary tables outside Crosby’s, Old Town House and Abbot Hall. Also, visit marbleheadrotary.com.
Peter J. Speziale is the presidentelect of the Rotary Club of Marblehead.
Seize the stalk: Cooking asparagus while it lasts
BY LINDA BASSETT
Fresh local asparagus exists for only a moment in time. The pencil-thin spears show up in grocery bins and farmers’ market stalls every spring. I gather large bunches for myriad recipes. Stored in the vegetable crisper until time to cook, they only need a fast rinse or quick bath in cool water.
I bend each spear and this intelligent veggie shows a cook precisely where to trim. It will snap in the right spot.
The slender stalks cook quickly when dropped into a skillet of boiling water. Bright and tender in minutes! (A vegetable that grows above ground should be cooked in already boiling water; those that grow below ground come to a boil along with the water.) Drain, then shock it in icy water, to keep it crisp and bright. Gently re-warm in a skillet with melted butter. I cook more asparagus than needed to continue the feast. Then, I toss it into omelets, salads, quiche, soup, pasta and rice.
CREAMY ASPARAGUS
SOUP WITH SNAP PEAS AND CHIVES
MAKES 4 TO 6 SERVINGS. Delicious hot or room temperature, when spring weather varies daily. When I want to show off, I nestle the bowls of soup into a larger bowl of crushed ice and tuck a few greens down into the ice for a pleasing visual. For an elegant, silky soup, strain through a fine mesh sieve after pureeing. Garnish with chives or pea shoots (found near the microgreens) for a perky twist. Butter and olive oil
When it is entirely smooth, add the cream a little at a time, tasting until it is the way you like it. Sprinkle chives or pea shoots over the top.
PASTA WITH FRESH ASPARAGUS
MAKES 6 SERVINGS. Remove a cupful of the pasta cooking water to add to the sauce, by the tablespoon, in case the sauce needs thinning. Add a few slivers of roasted red or yellow peppers to the toss.
` 1 pound rigatoni of mezze rigatoni pasta
` 1 cup whole milk ricotta
` ½ cup grated Parmigianoreggiano cheese
` 1-2 bunches asparagus, trimmed, and sliced diagonally into 2-inch pieces
` Chives, flat leaf parsley
` Lemon zest from 2 lemons – save juice
` Lemon flavored OO for drizzling
Bring a pot of water to a boil; add a handful of salt; when it returns to a boil, add pasta, stir and cover. When it returns to a boil, remove the cover, and cook until al dente.
In the final minutes of cooking, add the asparagus to the pot. When the asparagus is bright green, drain the pot. While the pasta cooks, whisk together the cheeses in a large bowl. Stir in the parsley, chives and lemon zest. Add salt and pepper. Drain the pasta and add it immediately to the bowl with the cheese mixture. Toss well to mix all the ingredients. Pass with more grated cheese.
Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-andcoming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.
COURTESY PHOTO
Peter J. Speziale, left, with Greg Bates and Bruce Eissner, sells Rotary lobster raffle tickets last year outside of Crosby’s.
CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT Locally
Select Board begins search for town’s next administrator
BY LEIGH BLANDER
At its meeting Wednesday, June 24, the Select Board will begin discussing the process of hiring a new town administrator following Thatcher Kezer’s announcement that he will retire Dec. 31, 18 months earlier than expected.
“The first step will be to retain a search firm or consultant to assist in the recruitment of candidates, similar to what has been in the past,” Select Board
Chair Dan Fox told the Current. The Select Board is also working to finalize a new contract for Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin, who has been working on a month-tomonth basis since her contract expired in March. Fox said both the board and Benjamin want to continue working together.
Planning for a smooth transition
In a lengthy interview with the Current, Kezer
said he’s committed to helping Marblehead navigate the transition and preparing his successor to succeed.
“It really will be a four- or five-month process” to find and hire his replacement, he said. “They’ll be selecting a person at the end of October or early November. Whoever my successor is, I want them set up for success. I’m already working on a transition document with the active projects and plans we have in place.”
Kezer said Marblehead is in a stronger position to attract talented candidates than it was when he arrived four years ago.
“All the organizational and position changes we’ve made … everything we’ve accomplished in the last four years … makes Marblehead very attractive for quality candidates,” he said.
Reflecting on a difficult chapter
Kezer arrived in Marblehead as warning signs about the town’s long-term finances were becoming increasingly apparent. During his tenure, officials repeatedly warned that the community faced a structural budget deficit and dwindling reserves.
He said helping residents understand the scope of the problem remains one of his proudest accomplishments.
“When I walked in the door and looked at the finances, I quickly identified we had problems and there’s a clock that’s running out… the free cash clock,” he said. “It took a number of years and it took making really, really tough decisions to convince the community that it needed to address this if it wanted to keep the services it has.”
On June 9, voters approved a $15 million, three-year override aimed at preserving municipal services and improving the town’s long-term financial stability. They also approved a $2.3 million override to cover increased trash collection costs.
“I’ve been doing budgets since 1992. I’ve done more than my fair share,” Kezer said with a laugh.
Building systems for the future
Kezer also pointed to modernizing the town’s operations through technology and data systems as a key accomplishment.
He said Marblehead historically relied heavily on paper-based processes and lacked the accessible information needed for strategic decision-making.
“You want to be making critical decisions on solid data and that information wasn’t readily available. Now we have that capability.”
He also said he is proud of fostering collaboration among Marblehead’s departments, boards and
commissions. “Marblehead is really like 11 separate municipalities operating in the same 4 square miles,” he said, referring to the town’s many boards and committees.
Kezer continued, “Everybody came on board as a team to address the challenges. We were ‘all in’ for Marblehead.”
Challenges still ahead
Although he believes Marblehead is better positioned than it was four years ago, Kezer said major work remains.
“The overall effort is to prepare Marblehead to have the resources to take on the challenges of municipal government,” he said. It is now positioned to meet the challenges of providing municipal services.”
He identified infrastructure as the town’s biggest long-term challenge.
“That includes your resiliency, like improvements that need to be made in the harbor, as well as municipal facilities and ongoing improvements to the roads, water, sewer,” Kezer said.
Advice for his successor
Whoever takes over the role, Kezer said, should understand both Marblehead’s culture and the changing realities facing local government.
“Challenges that face municipal government are always evolving… financial challenges are unrelenting,” he said. “Have a big-picture awareness of where the challenges are coming from and know the culture of the community.”
He also offered one piece of practical advice for navigating public criticism.
“I would not advise anyone in this role to jump on Facebook and respond,” he said. “It’s like trying to walk in front of a jet engine. It will just suck you in, and you’ll be dust coming out the other end.”
Why he’s stepping away
Kezer said his decision was driven not by politics but by a desire to focus on new pursuits after decades in public service.
Serving as Marblehead’s town administrator since 2022, Kezer said there was no singular event that prompted his retirement. Instead, the decision evolved gradually.
“It wasn’t like there was one moment in time,” he said. “It’s just something you think about, contemplate. And part of the answer is your finances. Am I in a position where I can retire? Yeah, at this point I am.”
The other part, he said,
could take a FedEx consignment the proprietor laughed gently and suggested that it would be “much more reliable” to take it to the local post office. “Things go missing here all the time,” he added encouragingly.
This was done and the ballot sent international mail, to be signed for on delivery with endto-end tracking. It would be with the Town Clerk, the postal clerk told us, in 5-7 “working days.”
Counting on fingers ensued and we calculated that from Monday, June 1, it would make it by June 8 or 9 — election day itself.
For a mail-in ballot to be accepted, it must be received by 5 p.m. on election day.
Well, it was not. And as of this writing, Thursday June 11, it still has not. I tracked the package and all was joy with the British Post Office, from pickup in Perth at 2:20 p.m., June 1, to receipt at the International Customs bureau of the United States Postal Service in Jamaica, New York, at 6:37 a.m. on Friday, June 5. Pretty slippy of Britain’s Royal Mail, eh? Not so good on the USPS International Customs end. It’s an envelope addressed to the Town Clerk in Marblehead. Inside is a second envelope. Containing a ballot. And it’s still there. Having a lovely time in Jamaica, New York All right. We should have reached out to a reliable courier service, which somehow could have located us somewhere in Scotland. We did locate the DHL depot in an industrial estate on the outskirts of town, but after knocking at the locked door the man there refused to take it. “We only do parcels here,” he said with a satisfied smile. At least he didn’t call me “mate.” Then there is the trifling matter of expense. To DHL for courier delivery to Perth, Scotland (including a $24 “fuel surcharge”): $86. To send it internationally end-to-end
From P. 1
marbleheadma.gov to request alternatives. There is a limited supply, and wait times may be about six weeks, he said.
The discussion repeatedly returned to the challenges facing older residents.
A 77-year-old woman who lives near Sewall Street described the physical difficulty of maneuvering the larger containers.
“I’ve had three shoulder replacements and knee replacements,” she said. “This for me is a health issue. I would like ones that are small and can fit in my garage.”
Another resident who lives off Beacon Street said the logistics of transporting the carts to the main road were unrealistic.
“I’m 73,” she said. “I am not going to truck two 95-gallon bins down Mill Pond to Beacon Street.” She noted that snowbanks in winter would make the task even harder.
“I know lots of other people who live on the streets off Beacon,” she said. “Most of them are elderly. They’re in their 70s and 80s. How are they going to get these 95-gallon bins down the road? They’re not.”
Petty encouraged residents
tracked etc. from Perth to the USPS Customs desk in Jamaica, New York, where it remains indefinitely: about $15.
Yes, I know, I’m still Scottish and if you take care of the pounds the pennies will take care of themselves. But what price democracy? About $101. And it didn’t work. Rhod Sharp Franklin Street
Questions for the Board of Health
To the editor: Why did the Board of Health sign off on spending nearly a million dollars for new oversized trash and recycling containers that very few of us want? Why weren’t we given a choice of which size we needed or if we needed any at all? It seems clear that the rollout was rushed and ill-prepared. This is a tremendous waste of taxpayer dollars.
It’s also created a small mountain of plastic trash that needs to be hauled to the dump. Here are a few of the questions that need to be answered.
1) Why were the large 95-gallon recycling and 65-gallon trash barrels selected as the default and delivered to every single address in Marblehead? Many residents have no need for such large containers and others don’t have room for them. Some of our elderly and disabled residents will find the new containers very difficult to maneuver even with little content inside because they are so heavy. Telling us that possibly, someday down the road it’s conceivable that we could be switching to bi-weekly pickups isn’t a very good reason.
2) Why weren’t residents surveyed about the barrel sizes they prefer or even if they need new barrels? Many of the large barrels are being returned for the smaller size. There is already an excess supply of the large barrels so the returns will either be stored indefinitely or trashed which is a waste of money.
3) Why were multi-unit properties that consolidate their trash and recycling given new barrels for each unit? Some of these properties, like Glover Landing, have over 100 units and each one got a pair of barrels. They are all being returned and likely trashed.
4) Why can’t residents continue to use their barrels that are compatible with the automated system? Telling us that the town needs to own every trash barrel used by residents isn’t a good answer.
5) Why wasn’t there a plan ready to collect old barrels and either find a home for their reuse or have them recycled? While some volunteers are helping to move some the returned barrels that are in good shape to new homes, this represents only a small percentage of the returns. More planning and effort to deal with the returns should have been considered.
We just approved an override that included trash and recycling expenses. We trust that our elected and hired leaders will manage those funds thoughtfully and responsibly with clear communications to the residents. We expect more from our Board of Health and from our Health Department. They should be held accountable.
Marge and Mark Adams Briar Lane
Thank you, Board of Health?
To the editor:
I wanted to publicly thank the Board of Health for providing me with my new simply enormous garbage and recycling cans. Why struggle along with the appropriately-sized ones that I purchased after evaluating my storage space and disposal needs when I can have a garbage can in which I may, if necessary, dispose of an entire dead steer? I am confident too that my next door neighbor, a lovely person in her 70s who lives alone and does not have a driveway, will get as much use and enjoyment
out of her new steer-disposal can as I will. Like most of my neighbors I especially appreciated the serendipity of the cans’ appearance, as it seems to me this new plan materialized magically out of the blue without my having expressed even a whiff of desire for a change in the garbage schema to anyone. I wonder what other needs of mine that I have not expressed to anyone will also be proactively solved without my input by the Board of Health? The mind boggles.
Most sincerely, Katherine Howe Washington Street
Sidewalks, roads and town officials
To the editor:
Over two and one half weeks (starting on 5/4) I placed two phone calls that weren’t returned; followed by an email, not returned; and then a third call requesting information from our town administrator. Not good public relations, but who knows.
I wanted to inquire about what was happening with the major borrowing allocation of $15,500,000 to specifically fund roads and sidewalk improvements across town, which voters approved at the 2022 Town Meeting.
My wonder started when driving around town. I was thoroughly confused seeing so many handicapped access ramps being put in questionable places.
Many of the ramps are located within 10 feet to 20 yards of sidewalks that are impassable; due to massive tree diameters or their bulging roots, huge ruts and cracks, and the limited dimensions of the many sidewalks. Besides that, many are placed in locations handicapped people would not be choosing to travel, e.g., West Shore Drive.
Reasoning one would have to be a kangaroo to pass over those sidewalks, did our DPW, or whoever was responsible for
with special circumstances to contact the Board of Health directly.
“Tell me your issues, and I will add that into it,” he said.
The meeting also featured criticism of how the rollout was communicated to residents.
One speaker said Arlington had mailed residents letters explaining their options before launching a similar program.
“They sent a letter to everyone and said, ‘Here’s what we’re going to be doing,’” she said.
“Then you wouldn’t have this problem, and everything could’ve gone much more smoothly.”
Petty said staffing limitations made a customized rollout difficult.
“There are two people who run the waste department,” he said. “We did not have that time.” He estimated that mailing notices to all households would have cost about $8,000.
Repurposing discarded barrels
The board also heard from resident Barbara Roy, who has coordinated efforts — with the help of Sustainable Marblehead — to repurpose discarded barrels. She and a small group of volunteers have transported about 500 of the plastic barrels to Peabody, where there is a need.
Roy urged officials to continue looking for creative solutions.
the election results.”
the planning, just rubber stamp it? Why wasn’t the plan made available to the public through the local papers, an MHTV interview, or a public meeting? If so, surely some questions would have been raised. Whatever the case, the project appears to be poorly thought out for the $15,500,000 taxpayers’ tab.
When I was finally contacted, the administrator told me he would contact the DPW supervisor and get answers to: WHAT were the plan’s schematics? .
WHY was the project to be chronologically divided up?
WHEN are those divisions scheduled for completion?
WHEN will the whole project be completed?
WERE there any state or federal grants acquired?
One other related question was: HAS ANYTHING been done re: when, historically, utilities and contractors dig up our roads and leave them with unacceptable repair/patching work? That question was brought up at the 2022 Town Meeting. Specifically asked was, “Why the utilities and contractors who dig up the roads don’t have to sign contracts stating that they will be held responsible for making good on any less than professional/ shoddy repair work done.” This, as well, would beneficially reduce long-term damages: alignments, tires, shocks …, to all our cars.
I haven’t heard back again after being told I would be on 5/29, and, sending a second email reminder on 6/10.
Cumulatively, the total sandbagging/railroading time directed my way has exceeded six weeks. Will I ever be contacted, or am I just going to be “waiting for H to freeze over”? If this happened in a sizable private business, there would be a thorough review, reprimands made and the possibility of someone/people being ushered to the door.
Jody Magee Guernsey Street
urged residents and officials alike to focus on solving problems rather than revisiting past decisions.
“We have to look at each other as community partners,” he said. “I have a list of mistakes that I made. It doesn’t do us any good to ruminate about how we could’ve done it better.”
Businesses approved for curbside pickup
“Find some solutions,” she said. “Think outside the box.”
The board also clarified that neighbors may now share carts under the tax-supported system approved in the June 9 election.
“Neighbors are more than welcome to share barrels at this time,” Petty said.
Despite the concerns, officials emphasized that the move to automated collection was necessary.
“No company was going to bid on collection unless we did automated collection,” Petty said. “We had no choice. This is the industry driving this through for safety reasons and everything.”
Board Chair Dr. Tom Massaro
In addition to discussing residential concerns, the Board of Health voted to allow eligible businesses to participate in the curbside collection program for a monthly fee.
Under the approved policy, qualifying businesses can receive one 65-gallon trash cart and one 95-gallon recycling cart for $160 per month. Businesses that require additional capacity would pay higher rates under the fee schedule.
Petty estimated that approximately 165 businesses could be eligible.
Food establishments, liquor stores and businesses handling chemicals would not qualify.
“It’s a great revenue stream for the town,” Petty said.
Petty acknowledged that he may not have barrels for businesses before the Festival of Arts, which begins July 1.
was deciding how he wanted to spend the next chapter of his career.
Kezer emphasized that his decision was entirely personal and unrelated to Marblehead’s recent election season.
“I told Dan Fox of my decision before the election,” he said.
“I wanted to make sure my decision had nothing to do with
“Do I want to continue doing the daily grind — eight-, 10- ,14hour days — or do I have some other projects to help municipal government but at a strategic level, think-tank level and not have to be grinding every day?” he said.
His retirement will take effect Dec. 31, 18 months before his contract expires.
What’s next Retirement, Kezer said, won’t mean stepping away entirely from public service.
He plans to devote more time to his work on the Salem State
University Board of Trustees and the Amesbury Board of Assessors. He also hopes to launch a long-envisioned organization for former mayors.
The concept would bring former municipal leaders together to preserve institutional knowledge and support those currently serving.
“It will be an organization that
a sitting mayor can turn to when looking for advice or counsel,” he said. “That doesn’t exist now.”
He also expects to spend more time enjoying one of his favorite hobbies: ice hockey.
Before that, though, he has one immediate priority: recovering from a scheduled hip replacement Monday.
COURTESY PHOTO
A resident in the Old & Historic district left this message on their new, larger trash and cycling barrels. Trash
The Marblehead Pickleball Organization donated new pickleball paddles to the Village School and replenishing equipment at the Veterans School.
“Getting paddles into the hands of our kids is one of the best ways to grow the sport,” said Kate Dinsmore, a Marblehead Pickleball board member. “We want to make sure students have access to the equipment they need to learn, play, and enjoy the game.”
The donations are part of the organization’s ongoing effort to introduce pickleball to younger generations while promoting healthy activity, teamwork and community involvement.
Sports
Marblehead sailors make waves from Bermuda to the IOD Worlds
BY LAURIE FULLERTON
This past Friday marked the start of the 125th year of the biennial Newport Bermuda race which features two Marblehead teams now currently offshore and heading for Bermuda, as well as individuals from town serving as navigators, tacticians and crew in this renowned offshore competition.
Marblehead resident and rear commodore of the Boston Yacht Club Robert Bova is on board the Beneteau 40.7 PHOENIX. Additionally, Rick Williams from the Boston Yacht Club is on board his J-130 CHARIAD, along with Marblehead resident and past BYC commodore Peter Fein who is the navigator on board the Swan GEMINI 2 to name some of those from town who are in this race. There were an estimated 5,000 spectators at Fort Adams in Newport on Friday, where the race started right off the fort.
The Current heard from Rob Bova on Sunday through his wife, Sally, who, at press time, is now 200 miles away from Bermuda, which is the start of the final stretch of the race.
“All good onboard Phoenix. We have had very sporty conditions over the last few days. We had winds gusting up to 35 knots, with seas running at about 15 feet. We double reefed the main and were using a small jib. It was very rough conditions, but Phoenix managed it well along with the crew,” Bova said. “Now, we are sailing in beautiful sunshine, calm seas with about 200 miles to go to Bermuda.”
Bova is an avid offshore sailor and last year placed fourth in his division in the Marion to Bermuda race, as well as winning his division in the Marblehead
to Halifax Ocean race in 2023 and 2019. Rick Williams is a champion sailor in both offshore and fleet racing.
There has always been a keen interest in Marblehead for this 636 nautical-mile biennial ocean race which in the past was won by Marbleheader Ted Hood (overall winner 1968), Rich Wilson (overall winner and youngest to win, 1980) and Robbie Doyle, the winning
Festival races: fast times, hometown finishes
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead runners turned in several standout performances Saturday during the Festival of Arts road races, with local competitors claiming top finishes in the Fun Run, 5K and 10K events. In the Mile Fun Run, 10-yearold Reid Gage of Marblehead was the overall men’s winner, crossing the finish line in 7 minutes, 34 seconds. Abby Pry, 7, of Incline Village, Nevada, led the women’s field in 8:49. Marblehead’s Gemma Giacalone finished second among women in 8:53. The 5K featured a Marblehead sweep of the top two men’s spots, as Scott Snyder won in 17:30 and Christopher Furnari placed second in 18:51. Ashley Sanderson-Snyder of Marblehead was the women’s champion, finishing in 19:34, while fellow Marbleheader Hayley Martin took second in 22:02. In the 10K, Peter Shield of Somerville captured the men’s title in 34:37. Marblehead’s
while Marblehead’s Sally Reiley placed fourth among women in 46:30 and Justina Perro finished
COURTESY PHOTOS / MARK WHARTON REID
ABOVE: Crew of the Marblehead boat Phoenix at the Newport Bermuda race last weekend.
RIGHT: Sailboats compete in the Newport Bermuda Race last weekend.
MHS boys soccer coach Magana, players are hooked on the World Cup like everybody else
BY JOE MCCONNELL
We’re only over a week into soccer’s World Cup teams invading North America, there are already a couple of observations that stand out in the early going. First and foremost is Team USA’s fast 2-0 start in Group D with wins over Paraguay (4-1, June 12, in Los Angeles) and Australia (2-0, June 19, in Seattle). Their domination in both games has ardent or even casual soccer fans in this country dreaming of what might be, while we also celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday.
Another moment that won’t be forgotten any time soon in these parts is the Scots’ takeover of Boston and neighboring suburbs. They are here obviously to watch their national team of Scotland play for the Cup in first round games at Boston (Gillette) Stadium in Foxboro.
Scotland is in Group C, and is currently 1-1. They defeated Haiti in their opener, 1-0 on June 13, only to lose to Morocco by the exact same close score six days later on June 19. But beyond the games, their fans just might have reeducated the Massachusetts fan on how fun sports can be without the wins and losses.
It’s evident that the sport appears to be growing around here with still another several weeks of World Cup action to go. Youth and high school teams are sure to be the real winners, but with that said Marblehead High School boys soccer coach Elmer Magana and his team are enjoying every minute of these games.
“The boys have gotten together to watch the matches, but I live in (Gloucester), so it’s hard to host them (up here),” Magana said. “But I know the
boys have different teams that they are backing, so after the matches we are discussing, analyzing and dissecting the pluses and negatives (of them).”
Magana said that “there are lessons that we can take from other countries in order to form, develop and cultivate the next futbol stars,” while adding, “unlike the USA, many countries finance youth futbol academies, so money is not an issue when finding the next
(Lionel) Messi. In the USA, we have many talented players at the youth level, but many can’t afford paying the high fees in order to enter an academy and get noticed.”
But Magana is thrilled that Team USA is off to a great start.
“By qualifying to the next round, the success of our US team will energize youth soccer around the country, which it’s good for high school soccer, because that’s our farm system,” he said.
As far as the tournament itself is concerned, the Marblehead coach has naturally been captivated by the competitiveness of the games.
“Overall, the matches have been extremely competitive, skillful, physical and a joy to watch,” he said. “If no one takes down defending champ Argentina and France, both teams should meet in the final for a rematch (from four years ago). I predict
a 2-1 (final win for) Argentina over France, while Team USA should (at least) make it to the quarterfinals.”
Magana would love to attend a game in person, but there’s a matter of personal economics involved in the process.
“Unfortunately, the tickets are extremely expensive, and I would have to surrender my teacher salary of two weeks in order to (just) afford a ticket, parking and food,” the Magicians coach explained.
Team USA heads back to Los Angeles to face Turkey in its final Group D game on Thursday, June 25. The knockout rounds will then follow, starting with the Round of 32. It’s then the Sweet 16, before the quarterfinals (Elite 8). The World Cup championship game is scheduled to be played on Sunday, July 19, at New York / New Jersey (MetLife) Stadium.
Marblehead High spring track decathlon trio combines to finish fifth in the state
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High School spring track program has a history of success participating in decathlons, and this year is no exception.
Weston High School and Regis College played host to the annual MSTCA (Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association) Multi Championships earlier this month, bringing together the best high school decathlon athletes in the state. The decathlon stretched over two days, and it all began on June 8.
This year’s decathlon consisted of the 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, 400, 1500, long jump, triple jump, high jump, shot put, discus and javelin. The triple jump replaced the traditional pole vault in this competition. A total of 160 student-athletes from all over the state took part in it.
The decathlon opened up on Day 1 with the 100, and concluded with the running of
the 400 with three field events in between. The 110-meter hurdles kicked things off on Day 2, and it all came to an end with the 1500-meters, equivalent to the mile run. There were three more field events that took place on this day.
“The 1500 is the greatest test for athletes in a decathlon,” said coach Nolan Raimo. “Everything hurts going into this
long-distance run, and so it’s simply a pure test of wills at that point.”
Raimo added that the decathlon is often deemed a competition that determines the “best athlete,” because it involves sprints, hurdles, distances, throws and jumps horizontally and vertically. Any weakness is exposed, while athletes have to take advantage
Girls mile relay team returns home from Nike nationals as All-Americans
BY JOE MCCONNELL
From June 18-22 at Eugene, Oregon’s Hayward Field, the Nike Outdoor National High School Track Meet took place. The Marblehead Track Club, consisting of only four qualifying competitors, compiled four points, along with a host of other teams nationwide.
MHS captain Marri O’Connell (7:33.41)
Sailing
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navigator in 2014 on board Shockwave to name some of our famous townspeople who have competed in the aptly named Thrash to the Onion Patch over the past 125 years. It is so-called because sailors face unpredictable, heavy weather, high winds and massive waves crossing the Gulf Stream — a combination known as a “hard thrash.” Bermuda earned the nickname “onion patch” due to its rich agricultural history, where large, sweet onions heavily thrived and were
finished 26th out of 50 runners in the steeplechase, which is essentially 2,000-meters that encompasses a water jump that the racers must jump into and hurdles that are utilized as long barriers, similar to horse jumps in equestrian events.
The Marblehead 4xmile relay team of Sarah Munroe, Eleanor Morgan, Norah Walsh and O’Connell (21:41.08) placed fifth in the country to earn All-American honors.
exported for over a century.
IOD Worlds In other news, this past week also featured the finale of the International One Design Worlds, which ended on Friday.
Overall winner and Nova Scotia, Canada resident Peter Wickwire (representing the Chester IOD Fleet) won the event by two points over second place finisher Charlie Van Voorhis. Wickwire overcame a dramatic last-race dismasting but through accumulative points over six days of racing was able to secure the championship.
The IOD worlds featured intense, high-wind conditions
of their strengths.
Marblehead High senior captains Alex Humphreys and Graham Firestone, along with classmate Colin Hart represented the program in Weston.
“Alex led the (trio) with a score of 5,225 points to place 11th overall,” said Raimo. “Colin finished 24th with 4,931 points, and Graham was 26th with 4,895. Together, they (compiled) 15,051 points, which placed them fifth in the state, the best team finish in (MHS track) history.”
Raimo said that each of the three Marblehead athletes had “different skill sets,” while adding, “Alex was the most wellrounded with experience in all of the events, which showed in the final results. He consistently placed in the 30s out of 160 competitors across all the events. But he was outstanding in the javelin (sixth) and shot put (ninth). He also came in 20th in both the high jump and triple jump, and set personal bests in seven out of 10 events.”
Hart entered the competition as a long sprinter and distance runner, and was outstanding in the 1500 (third), 400 (18th) and shot put (19th). Firestone stepped it up throughout the season, competing in a variety of events, according to Raimo, but the throws are his strengths. He finished second in the javelin, fourth in the discus and sixth in the shot put at the decathlon. But individually, all three ended up in the top six among the all-time MHS decathlon participants.
All-time MHS decathlon leaders
» Brad Gilbert (1977, 6,500 points, state champion, sixth all-time in the state)
Nolan Raimo (2012, 5,819 points, state champion)
» Alex Hersey (2023, 5,495 points, fifth place)
» Alex Humphreys (2026, 5,225 points, 11th place) Colin Hart (2026, 4,931 points, 24th place)
» Graham Firestone (2026, 4,895 points, 26th place)
with a gale warning limited racing on Thursday, and the final day on Friday saw massive breeze and dramatic racing. Bermuda sailing legend Peter Bromby was in early contention but suffered setbacks in the heavy breeze. Marblehead’s Bill Widnall and last year’s world champion placed 10th overall, and Marblehead’s Carolyn Corbett was 12th.
Looking ahead
In further news, this Sunday marks the fourth annual Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race on Sunday, June 26. This is a yearly fundraiser to support the ongoing recovery of Marblehead
native Lindsay Smith, who was the victim of domestic violence in November 2021. Smith is the daughter of Jud and Cindy Smith of Marblehead. Jud Smith is a 10-time world champion and two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year sailmaker at Doyle Sails in Salem, where Lindsay also works. Lindsay needs continual physical therapy as she works her way back from a catastrophic event three years ago when she was shot in the head three times by her ex-boyfriend. She initially recovered from that but had setbacks including a stroke. The fundraiser helps to cover the costs of that therapy, which is
not covered by insurance.
“The fundraiser is for Lindsay who continues to improve but it is a long tough process,” said family friend and event organizer Bump Wilcox. “Lindsay is working hard to improve. It is a battle.”
The Eastern Yacht Club will be hosting the event which will be a pursuit race. The pursuit race format means that competitors cross the finish line quite close to one another after staggered starts have the slowest and smaller boats starting first. It is always exciting to see when all the top boats converge on the finish line together.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Marblehead High Spring track decathlon athletes, from left, Colin Hart, Graham Firestone and Alex Humphreys pose with their head coach Nolan Raimo, right, during the annual MSTCA (Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association) event earlier this month in Weston. The local trio ended up combining to finish fifth in the state.
Sarah Munroe, Eleanor Morgan, Norah Walsh and Marri O’Connell of the Marblehead Track Club pose with Marblehead’s very own marathon runner Shalane Flanagan during the Nike Outdoor National High School Track Meet in Eugene, Oregon last weekend.
COURTESY PHOTO
YouOught to Know
The Oldest Bet in the World: The Quiet System Protecting Modern Civilization
For thousands of years, insurance has helped societies absorb risk, recover from loss, andkeepmoving forward. Long beforemodern banks or stock markets existed, merchants hadalready identified the core problem:whathappens if something valuable disappears before it reaches its destination?
THE FIRST RISK-SHARING SYSTEMS
Around 1750 BCE, traders in Babylon used agreements recorded in the Code of Hammurabi that resembled early forms of risk transfer.A merchant could borrow money to finance ashipment at ahigher rate than a standard loan. If the cargo arrived safely,herepaidin full. If it was lost at seaor stolen, the debt was forgiven. The lender charged more for taking on that risk, but the merchant was protected from completeruin. The core idea was already there: risk could be shared.
As Mediterranean trade expanded, merchants developed more sophisticated ways to spread losses. Rather than one investor funding an entire voyage, multiple parties would each assume part of the exposure. If aship returned safely,everyone profited. If it sank, no single person lost everything.
Marine insurancegradually evolved from these arrangements, particularly in trading centers such as Genoa and Venice during the late Middle Ages. The system helped make long-distance trade possible in aworld where storms, piracy,and shipwrecks were routine. The same logic governedthe fishing ports of colonial New England, where Marblehead merchants routinelyfinanced voyages to the Grand Banks, absorbing the risk that no single fisherman could carry alone.
THE COFFEE HOUSE THATCHANGED FINANCE
By the late 1600s, maritime trade had becomeglobal, and uncertainty itself had become abusiness.
In London, merchants and shipowners gathered at a coffee house run by Edward Lloyd. Investors would agree to cover portions of shipping voyages in exchange for a fee, signing their names beneath the description of a ship and its cargo. That practice gave rise to the term “underwriter.”
Over time, the gathering evolved into Lloyd's of London, one of the most influential insurance marketplaces in the world.
DISASTER
CREATES MODERN INSURANCE
In 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed more than 13,000 homes and transformed how cities thought about risk.
Dedicated fire insurance companies emerged soon afterward. Some maintained private fire brigades, and buildings were marked to show which insurer covered them. Insurance became institutionalrather than informal. It was no longer just about merchants and ships. It became part of how entire cities functioned.
By the 1700s and 1800s, the industry was becoming increasingly mathematical. Actuaries studied mortality,
probability,and long-term patterns to price exposure more accurately.Insurance graduallyexpanded into life insurance, property coverage, industrial protection, automobiles, health care, and eventually modern finance.
THE SAFETY NET BENEATH MODERN LIFE
Today,insurance operates quietlybeneath much of the economy.Mortgages depend on it. Businesses require it. Shipping, construction, manufacturing, and transportation all rely on mechanisms designed to cover loss and keep commerce moving.
Most people notice insurance only when something goes wrong. Yetmuch of modern economic life depends on the assumption that individual losses can be spread widely enough that no single failure brings the broaderframework down.
The model functions most effectivelywhen losses remainrelatively independent and spread across many people, places, and events. Localized disasters can usually be managed because costs are distributed broadly across large pools of policyholders, regions, and industries.
Whether protecting cargo ships centuriesago or helping communities rebuild after disasters today,the underlying principle has held.
WHEN MANY THINGS GO WRONG AT ONCE
The challenge becomes greater when losses occur simultaneously and on a massive scale.
The largest insurance losses in history have generally followed the same pattern: catastrophic events striking densely populated regions with enormous concentrations of homes, businesses, infrastructure, and economic activity
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005. The September 11 attacks struck New York City in 2001. Japan’s 2011Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami rippled through supply chains worldwide. Each produced insured losses measured in the tens of billions of dollars.
THE SYSTEM TODAY
Insurers today face rising coastal exposure, higher rebuilding costs, and weather-related claims that have grown more frequent and more expensive. The infrastructure many communities depend on was built for earlier conditions. Pricing, coverage,and risk models are adapting in response.
For thousands of years the underlying purpose has stayed the same: turning uncertainty into something people and businesses can live with. Insurance does not removerisk. It makes risk manageable enough for ships to sail, cities to grow,and people to bet on the future.
CURRENT EVENTS
Marblehead’s best bets
Current Events spotlights notable happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email info@ marbleheadnews.org.
By Julia Rockler
Fascinators
at MAA
Wednesday, June 24, 6:30-8.30 p.m.
Make your own bespoke fascinator (fancy head piece) at the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St. You can wear your design at the Arts Festival Champagne Reception (see below). Supplies are provided but it’s encouraged to bring your own netting, feathers and other embellishments. Fees: $25 for MAA members, $30 non-members.
Go behind the scenes
Wednesday, June 24, 7-8:30 p.m.
Spend an evening with local architect Thomas Saltsman exploring the creative process behind his multi-media Halloween installations that have drawn crowds from around the world for nearly 20 years. RSVP at marbleheadfestival.org. The event is at the UU Church on Mugford Street.
Yoko Miwa Trio
Thursday, June 25, 7 p.m.
End your day listening to the Yoko Miwa Trio at the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St., as a part of its Arts and Jazz series. Tickets are $35 each and can be purchased at the Arnould Gallery or at marbleheadarts.org.
which runs entirely on volunteer labor, relies on residents to staff exhibits, assist with children’s activities, help with setup and breakdown, and support dozens of events across town. “The MFoA is 100%
Bee aware
Wednesday, June 24, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Get to know more about bees by joining beekeeper Carlo Lopez Ricco for a presentation on bee swarms with a Q&A session at Abbot Public Library. 235 Pleasant St.
Arts Festival Champagne Reception
Sunday, June 28, 5 p.m.
Farmers’ Market
Saturday, June 27, 9 a.m.-noon
Come shop for fresh fruit, vegetables, prepared foods, crafts and more at the Marblehead Farmers’ Market, behind Veterans School.
is one of the highlights of summer in Marblehead and the kickoff of the Festival of Arts. A gala on the ocean at beautiful Fort Sewall, this is the place to see and be
dance to favorite tunes, meet new friends, reconnect with old friends and have a great time. Tickets
community powered. It’s an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit. No one — from our board of directors through our chairpersons and event staff — ever takes a check,” Tavano posted to Facebook. “We volunteer because we love Marblehead, we love this annual celebration, and we want it to continue for generations to
come. But we can only plan it; it’s up to all of us to make it happen!”
Festival President Cynda Rohmer said volunteers are especially needed in the following areas: The Children’s Festival: Saturday, July 4, at the Lee Mansion. Volunteers are needed for setup from 8 to 10 a.m., activity assistance from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and breakdown from 1 to 2 p.m. As of this week, only four of the 48 available volunteer slots had been filled. Exhibits throughout town: At Abbot Hall, which hosts the crafts, painting, printmaking and Cod and Whale exhibits, only 16 of 72 shifts had been filled.
The Drawing and Senior Art exhibit at the Unitarian Universalist Church had filled 10 of its 30 volunteer slots.
The Photography exhibit at Old Town House had
nine of 35 positions filled, while the Student Art exhibit at Old North Church had just three of 20 volunteers signed up.
St. Michael’s Church, home to the digital, mixedmedia and sculpture exhibits, also had only three of its 20 slots filled.
Festival organizers warned that if enough volunteers
do not step forward, they may have no choice but to temporarily close some exhibits or cancel portions of the festival altogether.
“Please, consider donating an hour or two of your time to keep the festival alive and thriving,” Tavano said. “It’s up to all of us to throw this uniquely
Marblehead celebration of art and community.” Residents interested in volunteering can sign up through the Festival’s volunteer page at marbleheadfestival.org/ volunteer. This annual celebration can only happen, Tavano said, “if all of us make it happen.”
The annual Champagne Reception
They grow up so fast…
BY RICH CRUZNER
This spring, I was fortunate enough to spot several baby screech owls (owlets) on the exact day they left their nest. Having followed them for several months after they hatched, I was incredibly eager to catch them “branching.” Once these owlets fledge, however, they don’t linger long — often vanishing into the upper canopy within a day or two. Now that the trees are in full leaf, finding them after those first couple of days is nearly impossible.
The Marblehead Current is proud to partner with photographer Rick Cuzner, who has been photographing local wildlife for nearly 20 years.
Talk a walk with By Lantern Tours
BY MELISSA STACEY
The following is an interview with Andy Maercklein, owner of By Lantern Tours, conducted by Discover Marblehead. By Lantern Tours, launched this spring, provides immersive, story-driven walking tours through the historic streets of Marblehead and Salem. Their lantern-lit tours bring local history to life with fascinating stories, legends, maritime history and revolutionary tales that go far beyond the typical history lesson. From Marblehead’s role in the American Revolution to the town’s most intriguing lore, each tour is designed to be engaging, personal and memorable. To book a walking tour, go to ByLanternTours.com.
Andy, tell us about By Lantern Tours and how you help/serve your clients.
Lantern Tours offers storydriven walking tours of historic Old Town Marblehead. My wife, Marybeth, and I co-founded the business around a simple belief: Marblehead has one of the most extraordinary stories in American history, and most people have never heard it. We offer three tours: the REV250 Tour, Legends & Lore, and Ghosts & Consequences. Groups stay small by design, because the stories deserve that kind of attention. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a Marblehead local, you’ll hear things that will surprise you.
What inspired you to start your business? We live in the
middle of all this history, and once you start paying attention to it, it’s hard to stop. We’ve sat in the kitchens of colonial homes and heard the real stories of the families who built them. We’ve explored attics and basements, opened secret doors and found trap doors leading to wells. We know which houses used to be taverns and bakeries. We’ve seen them, heard the stories and fact-checked them to make sure they’re true. At some point we started sharing these stories with friends and family, and people leaned in. They wanted more — so, we told more. That’s genuinely how this started.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned in running a business? That passion is the product. Marybeth and I spent our careers in advertising and marketing, and what that taught us, more than anything is how to tell stories. When you share something with genuine passion, people feel it. That’s true whether you’re selling a national brand or walking a group of strangers through a 300-year-old street. The other thing we’ve learned is that in a small town, everything is personal. Every booking matters. Every guest who leaves happy tells three people. Every five-star review is
a salesperson working for you around the clock. Marblehead has been generous to us, and we carry that with us every single tour. What do you love most about Marblehead? That it’s real. There’s no reproduction here, no theme park version of history. The buildings are original. The streets are original. The harbor looks the way it looked when
Marblehead’s men launched from it. When you walk a guest down a narrow street in Old Town and tell them the story of who lived in that house — and the house is still standing right in front of them — you can see it land. That moment of genuine connection with history doesn’t happen anywhere else quite the way it happens here. And the people. Marblehead
has a character that’s entirely its own. Stubborn, proud, fiercely independent. Exactly the kind of town that would row Washington across the Delaware in a snowstorm and not make a big deal about it.
What is something people would be surprised to learn about you? That for most of our adult lives, Marybeth and I were consumed by the thing most parents are consumed by: raising our three kids.
That was the priority, the focus, the full-time project. Everything else came second. At some point the kids grew up. And in that space, something unexpected happened. We started paying attention to the town we had been living in — really paying attention. The history, the stories, the houses, the harbor. We started digging. One story led to another, and we couldn’t stop.
Starting a walking tour business was never the plan. The kids may be grown, but we’re still very much in their lives — and they in ours.
Marybeth’s mom lives with us too. But between all of it, we’ve found something that genuinely energizes us.
The business spotlight is a weekly feature published in partnership with Discover Marblehead. Discover Marblehead is “dedicated to the promotion of Marblehead, Massachusetts. Our mission is to highlight local businesses, tourism, community events and attractions through social media, email marketing and community outreach.” To learn more, visit discovermhd.com.
COURTESY PHOTO Andy and Marybeth Maercklein started By Lantern Tours this spring.
Natalie
Umanita Bloom, 83
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Natalie Umanita Bloom, who departed this life on May 24, 2026, at the age of 83. A beloved daughter, mother, grandmother and friend, Natalie found her final days at the Bostonian Skilled Nursing Home in Dorchester, where she received the compassionate care she so richly deserved.
Born on May 16, 1943, in the family home in Chelsea, Natalie was the cherished youngest child of Antonio and Anna (Minutoli) Umanita. Raised in a vibrant family of five, she nurtured her passions early on. An exceptional student, she attended the
Shurtleff School and graduated from Chelsea High School before pursuing a diverse and fulfilling career. After training at beauty school, she pursued a brief career in mechanical drafting, finding satisfaction in the male-dominated field. She then ventured to U-Mass Boston graduating with a bachelor’s degree as a paralegal. Her creative spirit propelled her to
William F. Winslow, 87
William “Bill” Francis Winslow of Stoneham, formerly of Reading passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026 surrounded by his family.
He was born in Marblehead, son of the late Harold and Helen Winslow. Beloved husband of Oralee (Lee) Winslow. Loving father of William F. Winslow, Jr. and Kristen O’Brien and her
attend Parsons School of Design in New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts School at Tufts University, where her artistic talents flourished.
Natalie’s artwork has graced the walls of various restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes and private collections, leaving a legacy of beauty in her wake. A devoted single mother, Natalie raised her two daughters and one son in Chelsea. She then relocated to Queens, New York, where she welcomed her third daughter with ex-husband Ron Bloom, before settling in Marblehead, in 1992. She is remembered fondly for her passionate devotion to her family, cooking and hosting joyous holiday celebrations. As a proud grandmother, she adored her five grandchildren, showering them with love and warmth.
husband Christopher. Proud ‘Papa’ to Rachel, Matthew, Maeve and Mary-Kate. Brother to Elizabeth McCollum and the late Margaret Ott. Bill was born and raised in Marblehead. After graduating from Marblehead High School, Brewster Academy and the University of New Hampshire, Bill joined the Navy and was a proud Vietnam veteran. He had a successful 35 year career in human resources and thoroughly enjoyed his retirement in
Beyond her family, Natalie was a fierce advocate for the less fortunate. She co-founded Mass Fair Share, lending her voice to those in need, and served on the board of directors for HAWC, supporting women impacted by gender violence. Her volunteer work with Girls Inc. in Lynn reflected her unwavering commitment to empowering young women. Her maiden name, Umanita, represents the word humanity in Italian, and the foundation of her passions lay in understanding and honoring humanity in others. Natalie was predeceased by her dear siblings: Angela Umanita, Charles, Anthony “Nino” and Joseph Umanita; and her loving nephew and nieces. Natalie is survived by her loving children: Kathleen Dobbyn, Maria Cheevers and her husband Joseph, Richard Schneiderman
Port Charlotte, Florida. His retirement was filled with lots of golf, travel and pool and beach days with family and friends. He loved meeting his UNH Theta Chi fraternity brothers for lunch at the Cafe Escadrille and also meeting his Marblehead childhood friends at the Three Cod Tavern or The Landing. Bill’s greatest joys were his wife, children and grandchildren. There will be a graveside burial service on Tuesday, June 30, at the Waterside Cemetery, 294
and ex-daughter-in-law, Lauren Rook, and Sarah UmanitaBloom. She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren: Annie Elizabeth Cheevers, Natalie Eileen Cheevers, Calvin Rook, Whitney Rook and Ryan Jose. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews. Her memory will forever be etched in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to HAWC, 27 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970 or visit; https:// hawcdv.org/ or Casa Myrna, 451 Blue Hill Ave., Boston, MA 01212 or visit; https://casamyrna. org/ in her name, keeping her giving spirit alive. May Natalie find eternal peace, and may her legacy inspire all those she leaves behind.
West Shore Drive, Marblehead, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a celebration of life at the VFW, 321 West Shore Drive, Marblehead. Please feel free to attend either or both. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to the VA Bedford HCS, CDCE (135), 200 Springs Road, Bedford, MA 01730 referencing his name. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for the Winslow family.
Small boat goes adrift, takes trip to Salem; Creesy Street kids menace neighbors
Saturday, May 30
» Alarms: 1
» Building/property checks: 0
» Abandoned 911 calls: 0
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
2:27 a.m. A disabled vehicle was reported on Atlantic Avenue.
8:01 a.m. Boat complaints were made on Allerton Place, Gregory Street, Skinners Path and Ocean Avenue
8:11 a.m. Wind and rain downed trees or branches on Ocean Avenue, Pig Rock Lane and Atlantic Avenue, Trinity Road, West Shore Drive, Gingerbread Hill Road, Elm and Cowell streets, William and Hibbard roads, Cornell Road, Cornell Road again, Carol Road, Atlantic Avenue and Greystone Road, and Sheldon Road.
10:57 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street and Bubier Road.
11:02 a.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Elizabeth Road.
11:22 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Carol Road to investigate a report that a town tree had come down, ripping wires from the side of a home.
Upon his arrival, the officer found the tree resting in the home’s driveway, having just missed striking the homeowners’ vehicles. The tree had fallen onto the cable utility wires leading to the house, ripped them from the home and causing minor damage to the side of the house, which the officer photographed. The Tree Department removed the downed tree, and the cable company was notified to address the damaged wires.
11:53 a.m. An officer went to Sunset Road to investigate the possible theft of a small gray boat, which its owner explained had been tied up to the docks at the end of the road. Initially, the man believed someone had cut the rope, but upon closer inspection he realized the rope may have snapped in half due to the wind and strong water current. The man said that he
would be contacting Salem harbormaster. By the time the officer arrived back at the station, the man had called police to report that he had found his boat at the end of Salem Harbor.
1:51 p.m. An officer assisted at the scene of a vehicle crash on Ocean and Atlantic avenues.
3:07 p.m. Solicitors were reported on Bubier Road.
9:34 a.m. Assistance was provided on Atlantic Avenue.
Sunday, May 31
» Alarms: 1
» Building/property checks: 5
» Abandoned 911 calls: 2
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1
6:08 a.m. A 67-year-old Marblehead woman was arrested on an in-town warrant after officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew investigated an abandoned 911 call on Creesy Street.
8:07 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Intrepid Circle to speak to a woman who reported that the people in the apartment above hers have been creating what she deemed an excessive amount of noise every morning. But this morning, the noise was a series of loud bangs that occurred intermittently between 6 and 7:30 a.m. The officer explained to the woman that she needed to call as the incidents were happening so that an officer could evaluate the situation in real time. The officer told her that he would document what she had told him and suggested that she reach out to the condo association, as this seemed to be more of a civil issue than anything else. The woman then told the officer that the people were due to move out at the end of this month, and the officer explained that what she had heard today seemed to be the move-out, as there was a large amount of personal property located on the first floor.
8:23 a.m. An officer rendered services after a general complaint on Warren Road and Rockaway Avenue.
10:39 a.m. Officers investigated the report of a disturbance on Rowland Street.
12:54 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Village Street and West Shore Drive.
2:13 p.m. An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle on Ocean Avenue.
3:03 p.m. An officer investigated a report of an erratic e-bike rider on Atlantic Avenue and Gerry Street.
3:27 p.m. An officer went to Green Street to investigate a neighbor complaint. Upon his arrival, he was met by a man who reported that children who appear to be between the ages of 10 and 15 from Creesy Street ride their e-bikes by his house, throw things and scream racial slurs at him and his family and also yell out their windows at them. The officer went over to Creesy Street to see if he could locate the children, but he was unsuccessful.
3:53 p.m. An officer investigated another complaint from a different neighbor on Green Street who made a similar report of a group of four or five kids about 14 years of age who had been running out of a Creesy Street apartment complex and throwing water balloons at vehicles driving by or other neighborhood kids. The woman said that when she tried to speak with them about their behavior, the kids responded with “foul language” before running back inside the apartment. She was not able to identify any of the
kids. The officer advised the woman to call police if another incident happens so police could try to identify who the kids are.
10:07 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Woodfin Terrace.
10:25 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Sparhawk Terrace.
Monday, June 1
» Alarms: 2
» Building/property checks: 1
» Abandoned 911 calls: 0
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 3
7:58 a.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Pleasant Street. The vehicle could not be located.
8:05 a.m. An officer investigated a boat complaint on Pond Street and issued a citation.
9:28 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Maverick Street and filed a report.
10:03 a.m. An officer investigated a past hit-andrun vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue. Upon his arrival, the vehicle’s owner explained that his unoccupied vehicle, which was parked outside Plus Cafe, had been struck by another vehicle, sustaining damage to its left side, including his left side mirror and rear left door. The officer saw a camera outside of Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium and planned to follow up when the business reopened the following day to see if it had captured any useful footage.
10:13 a.m. An officer went to Abbot Public Library to speak with the director about a glass window downstairs near the children’s area that had been discovered to have been broken. The window had a large hole in the center, possibly from someone using a blunt object to cause the damage from the exterior of the building, in the officer’s estimation. The officer
advised the director to contact the library’s insurance company and to have someone clean up the broken glass to prevent anyone from being injured.
10:59 a.m. A 68-year-old Swampscott resident was arrested and charged with a “fourth or greater offense” of driving under the influence of alcohol and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle after a crash on Washington Street.
11:23 a.m. An officer spoke with a Swampscott resident who had nearly fallen for a scam involving his Marblehead bank account. The man explained that he had been using his wife’s laptop when a message about an alleged virus popped up on the screen. Shortly thereafter, a message popped up on the screen, giving him a phone number to call to get assistance from “Microsoft” to address the virus. The man had called the number and spoke with someone calling himself “Mike,” to whom he granted access to his computer. “Mike” told the many that he was going to be paid $200 as compensation for his troubles, and they used the computer to log into the man’s bank account. Instead of $200, the screen seemed to indicate that $20,000 had been deposited into his account. “Mike” then demanded the extra $19,800 back and asked the man whether he wanted to do things “the legal way” or work with him without going through formal channels. The man agreed to pay “Mike” the money back and was told he would need to write out a check for the amount and get the cash. The man went to a Marblehead branch of the bank, but when he attempted to get $19,800 in cash, he was told that branch was unable to give out such a large amount and that he would need to go to the Salem branch. Once he was at the Salem branch, he decided to check his account
balance first, and he got uneasy when the additional $20,000 no longer seemed to be there. He decided to call back “Mike,” who reassured him that everything was fine and that he should go back to the bank and get the money. But at that point, the staff of the bank informed him that he had been dealing with a scammer. The man had not lost any money and had already changed his account information with the bank.
12:41 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Green Street. The source of the issue could not be located.
2:20 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Nahant Street.
3:30 p.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Rockaway and Atlantic avenues.
5:29 p.m. An officer investigated a report of solicitors on Wallace Road and Ocean Avenue.
6:13 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a solicitor on Village Street. The officer found and spoke with the solicitor who identified himself as a representative of a pest control company. The officer advised him of the town bylaw requiring solicitors to register. The solicitor agreed to shut things down for the day and said he would be contacting his manager about the registration requirement.
7:57 p.m. A cellphone was found on Atlantic Avenue.
9:01 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Smith Street. The vehicle could not be located.
Tuesday, June 2
» Alarms: 2
» Building/property checks: 4
» Abandoned 911 calls: 1
» Vehicle stops, citations: 2
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
5:08 a.m. Officers assisted with an investigation on the Marblehead-Salem line on Leggs Hill Road.
10:05 a.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Lafayette and Maple streets.
1:11 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a hit-and-run crash involving a vehicle parked in the lot of the Council on Aging on Humphrey Street. Upon his arrival, the officer was shown the damage to the parked vehicle by its owner, which was to the rear passenger side quarter panel and “light,” in the officer’s estimating. The vehicle owner explained that no note had been left on his vehicle.
1:53 p.m. An officer investigated a report of vandalism on Cross Street.
2:27 p.m. An officer investigated a report of
Goodwin From P. 1
suspicious activity on Green Street and West Shore Drive.
4:29 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Gregory Street.
5:01 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on School Street.
7:25 p.m. No action was required after a general complaint on Stonybrook Road.
Wednesday, June 3
» Alarms: 1
» Building/property checks: 3
» Abandoned 911 calls: 4
» Vehicle stops, citations: 1
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
3:39 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Access Road.
4 a.m. Officers investigated the report of a disturbance on West Shore Drive.
9:33 a.m. An officer was dispatched to Merritt Street to investigate a report that a truck had struck a house. Upon his arrival, the officer met the homeowners outside, who stated that a white truck had just clipped the corner of their house, leaving the scene five minutes prior to the officer’s arrival. In the opinion of one of the homeowners, the driver may not have realized that he had struck the house. The home owner had been able to jot down the truck’s license plate number and the phone number on the side of the truck. The officer inspected the damage, which was to the roof. The officer also observed what looked like white paint transferred onto the purple house. A neighbor then came out and reported that he had witnessed the truck strike the house. Once back at the station, the officer called the phone number on the truck and spoke with a company representative, who provided the license number for the driver of the truck. The officer explained that he was filing an accident report and provided the homeowner’s number with his permission to assist with the exchange of insurance information. 12:59 p.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Humphrey Street and Glendale Road.
1:43 p.m. Assistance was given to another agency on Creesy Street.
2:39 p.m. A request for assistance on Pleasant and Washington streets was referred to another agency.
4:39 p.m. A flag was found on Ocean Avenue.
5:13 p.m. An officer assisted with a utility issue on Tedesco Street.
5:31 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Pleasant Street.
7:48 p.m. An officer took a report over the phone from a man who was having issues with credit card fraud. The man said that he has had three different
credit cards get compromised over the last two weeks. He had been in touch with his bank and the credit card companies but said they had not been very helpful beyond setting him up with new cards. The man was mainly looking for advice on how to deal with the situation. The officer told him about reporting his identity stolen with the Federal Trade Commission through IdentityTheft.Gov. The man said he would give it a try.
7:54 p.m. Officers investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Humphrey Street and Seaview Avenue. The vehicle could not be located.
11:19 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Orne and High streets. The issue could not be located.
Thursday, June 4
» Alarms: 0
» Building/property checks: 4
» Abandoned 911 calls: 0
» Vehicle stops, citations: 1
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 3
8:57 a.m. An officer investigated a report that a bicycle had struck a car on Pleasant and Spring streets.
10:50 a.m. An officer investigated a possible violation of a non-criminal town bylaw on Gallison Avenue.
11:55 a.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Mechanic Square.
1:44 p.m. Solicitors were reported on Atlantic and Seaview avenues.
4:47 p.m. Vandalism was reported on Green Street.
5:40 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Devereux Street.
9:09 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Devereux Street.
Friday, June 5
» Alarms: 0
» Building/property checks: 5
» Abandoned 911 calls: 2
» Vehicle stops, citations: 0
» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 5
3:17 a.m. Officers assisted a citizen on Pleasant Street.
7:30 a.m. A complaint about a moving vehicle on Pleasant Street was referred to another agency.
8:46 a.m. An officer was dispatched to West Shore Drive to investigate a report of a recovered stolen motor vehicle parked in the Gatchell’s Park parking lot. When he arrived, he located the vehicle, which had been stolen from Danvers, with damage to its rear bumper in the parking lot over by the main baseball field and batting cages. While waiting for a Danvers detective to respond, the officer spoke with the man who had noticed the vehicle in the lot two days earlier but did not think much of it at the time, as the vehicle appeared to have baseball equipment in it. He thought that the vehicle might belong to an umpire and may
have broken down. The man said that, when he came to begin maintenance on the field today, he found it odd that the vehicle was still in the same spot. The Danvers detective then arrived, processed the vehicle and arranged to have it towed back to Danvers.
8:51 a.m. An officer investigated a possible violation of a non-criminal town bylaw on Bonad Road.
9:23 a.m. An officer investigated a possible violation of a non-criminal town bylaw on Seans Way.
9:44 a.m. A general complaint was made on Washington Street.
9:48 a.m. An officer investigated a possible violation of a non-criminal town bylaw on Pleasant Street.
10:25 a.m. An officer investigated a possible violation of a non-criminal town bylaw on Andrews Lane and Harbor Avenue.
10:56 a.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Creesy Street.
11:23 a.m. A complaint was made about a moving vehicle on Woodfin Terrace.
11:28 a.m. An officer investigated a report of vandalism on Front Street.
11:52 a.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Beacon Street.
12:02 p.m. An officer spoke over the phone with a woman whose vehicle had been broken into during the previous night. The woman explained that, after spending the night at her friend’s house on Gregory Street, she had gone out to discover that the personal belongings in her car had been tossed into the back seat and scattered throughout the car, though none of her personal belongings had been stolen, nor had her vehicle been damaged. She explained that she just wanted to make a record of the incident.
12:37 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Beacon and Orne streets.
12:45 p.m. A citation was issued after a general complaint on Humphrey Street and Countryside Lane.
1:16 p.m. An officer investigated the report of a vehicle crash on Ocean Avenue but could not locate it.
1:54 p.m. Police were notified that WGBH would be in town until 8:30 p.m. on Ocean Avenue and Beach Street.
2:19 p.m. An officer restored the peace after a contractor dispute on Londonderry Road.
3:28 p.m. Officers investigated a report of solicitors on Anchorage Lane.
3:28 p.m. A utilities issue on Stonybrook Road and Wheeler Place was referred to another agency.
3:54 p.m. An officer investigated a possible violation of a non-criminal town bylaw on Maverick Street, which proved to be unfounded.
in some cases mere days before the trips were set to depart.
5:23 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Ocean Avenue.
5:47 p.m. An officer assisted at the scene of a vehicle crash on Washington Street and filed a report.
6:12 p.m. Officers investigated the report of a disturbance at the UPS Store on Bessom Street. Upon their arrival, he was met by two men, one of whom explained that he was just trying to buy some items inside the store, but the other man would not allow him to, and the two started arguing. The would-be customer explained that he is an employee of the store but is off duty today, and the man he was arguing with was not only his co-worker but his roommate. The officer then spoke with the on-duty employee who was still on the phone with the store’s manager whom he had called after the argument erupted. The manager said that they did not want the off-duty back inside the store for the time being. The officer then went back outside and advised the offduty employee that he was not welcome back in the store and that he needed to move along. The man seemed confused and lingered while talking in circles, according to the officer’s report. After several minutes, the officer was finally able to convince the man to leave. The officer advised the on-duty employee to call police again if his roommate returned to the store and recommended calling Lynn Police if the man caused any problems once he was back at their apartment.
10:29 p.m. Officers investigated the report of a disturbance on Mohawk and Higgins roads, which proved to be unfounded. Officers were called back to the area at 11:02 p.m. but still could find no issue.
11:38 p.m. Officers restored the police after the report of disturbance on Morgan Lane.
Saturday, June 6
» Alarms: 3 » Building/property checks: 4 » Abandoned 911 calls: 0 » Vehicle stops, citations: 1 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 9:37 a.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle that proved to be unfounded on Woodfin Terrace.
12:01 p.m. Officers and firefighters investigated a report of a truck that struck power lines, taking them down and causing a power outage in the area of Stonybrook Road. Upon his arrival, one of the officers was met out front of the two homes most directly affected by their respective owners. One homeowner showed the officer the damage her home had sustained, as the truck ripped her entire electrical service off her home and also caused damage to her electrical box on the inside of her home. He then spoke with
