07.01.2026 - Volume 4, Issue 32

FESTIVAL OF ARTS EDITION The Current is a presenting sponsor of the

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IN THIS ISSUE

MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25

Check out our special festival section, starting on Page 9, which includes a pullout schedule.

NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

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JULY 1, 2026

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VOLUME 4, ISSUE NO. 32

FIRST WAVE 1

Marblehead to celebrate the 250th with Revolutionary spirit. Page 2.

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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG

Independent auditors share updates on the town’s financial health. Page 2.

Five facts from this week’s Marblehead Current.

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Local toy inventor publishes first book. How video games shaped his writing. Page 2.

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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT

Marblehead High students premiere their new movie at Warwick. Page 3.

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Thick fog can’t stop sailors from rallying for one of their own. Page 15

TRASH TALK

Automated trash, recycling collection starts July 1

BY LEIGH BLANDER The town’s new curbside trash and recycling pickup program begins July 1. Residents will see Republic Services trucks, equipped with automated arms, collecting the new 65-gallon trash barrels and 95-gallon recycling carts.

Here are a few important details to keep in mind: All eligible properties are automatically enrolled in the program. Ineligible properties include residences with more than four units

and businesses. Businesses may participate in the collection program for $160 per month.

Each cart will be printed with a serial number and assigned to the property rather than the owner or resident.

The Health Department is offering smaller, 35-gallon barrels for residents in the Old & Historic District and for property owners with special circumstances. Requests for smaller barrels can be made by emailing health2@marbleheadma.gov or calling 781-631-0212.

All trash and recycling must be

placed inside the barrels. Items outside the barrels will not be collected.

The new five-year collection contract is funded, in part, by the $2.3 million override approved by voters on June 9. Property owners may opt out of curbside trash and recycling collection, but they will still pay the tax increase. Ineligible properties also will pay the higher tax rate.

For more information, read CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER the town’s curbside collection Bins for trash, black, and recycling, blue, will be in full regulations at marbleheadma.gov/ use starting July 1. trash-and-recycling.

JULY FOURTH

FESTIVAL OF ARTS

A toast to 60 years: Festival of Arts opens with flair — and bubbles

Fireworks to light up harbor July 4

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display will begin at 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 4, with fireworks launched from a barge at the mouth of the harbor.

The evening will also feature the traditional Harbor Illumination at 8:45 p.m.

Popular viewing locations include Fort Sewall, Chandler Hovey Park and Crocker Park, as well as boats throughout the harbor.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Marblehead Harbormaster have established a safety perimeter around the fireworks barge.

Boaters are encouraged to use caution when entering or leaving Marblehead Harbor on FIREWORKS, P. 7

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Bubbles fill the air at the Arts Festival Champagne Reception Sunday evening. More photos, Pages 9 and 10.

BY LEIGH BLANDER A record-breaking 500+ people turned out Sunday evening to toast the 60th Marblehead Festival of Arts at the festival’s popular Champagne Reception at Fort Sewall.

Wearing hand-decorated hats and dressed for the signature summer event, guests sipped bubbly, sampled food from local restaurants and danced to live music by the band, Rule of Three Experience.

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

“What a night,” exclaimed Joe Tavano, who sits on the festival’s board. “(We have) beautiful weather, excellent music, delicious food, incredible hats and, of course, more champagne than water in Marblehead Harbor. When this community comes out to celebrate, there’s nowhere else like it and nowhere else you’d rather be.”

Chris Buchanan, who organized the event, added: “Tonight is everything I think Marblehead is about. The

community coming together, and a team of close friends working together… nothing better. We blew away all records tonight and everyone had a great time.”

Artist Eleanor Fisher and Dennis Trece, of Lynn, have been attending the Champagne Reception for 15 years. This year, Fisher arrived in a Civil War-era ball gown complete with a hoop skirt, elbow-high gloves, CHAMPAGNE, P. 10

COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN / WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD

People gather at Fort Beach to take in the annual Independence Day fireworks in Marblehead.

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2 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

REV250

Marblehead marks America’s 250th with Revolutionary spirit

BY LEIGH BLANDER This Fourth of July, Marblehead will celebrate more than the nation’s birthday.

As communities across the country commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, Marblehead’s REV250 Committee is inviting residents and visitors to honor the town’s Revolutionary roots through a series of events that stretch well beyond Independence Day.

The committee has spent months organizing programs that began in April and will continue throughout the year, highlighting Marblehead’s role in the nation’s founding.

Saturday’s signature events will feature live readings of the Declaration of Independence.

First, the Select Board will read at Abbot Hall at 11:30 a.m. Then, at 11:45, there will be a reading at St. Michael’s Church. Finally, a reading will happen at noon at

Fort Sewall. Glover’s Marblehead Regiment will be there and fire the cannon.

Residents can also explore two museum exhibits that examine Marblehead’s Revolutionaryera history from different perspectives.

At the Marblehead Museum, 170 Washington St., visitors can view “Declarations of Independence: Marblehead’s Revolutionary War Experience.” At the museum’s new Brick Kitchen,

157 Washington St., check out “Resistance & Resilience: Slavery and Freedom in Marblehead.”

The celebration continues later this month. On July 18, Glover’s Marblehead Regiment will stage its annual encampment at Fort Sewall, offering a glimpse into life in colonial Marblehead.

bond rating and a pension system funded at 72.5%.

The town earned $3.9 million in investment income, including $1.6 million from enterprise funds such as Harbor and Waters.

“From a financial perspective, you’re in very, very good shape, and you’ve maintained that for 10 or 11 years here, just consistency across the board,” said Tony Roselli. “You do use some free cash (money left over from the previous fiscal year) during the year, but then you replenish it through the way you’re doing your forecasting and your budgeting, it gets replenished, and that’s exactly the mechanism that the people that look at you financially want to see, so that that’s five stars here and that’s why you have a triple A.”

May. Robidoux recently completed the first year of a three-year contract. He earned $215,000 during his first year and will earn $221,450 in the second year.

Robidoux, John Robidoux who recently completed his Ph.D., addressed the School Committee at its June 22 meeting.

“I’m not looking to necessarily change that number, but I thought it would be important to share — across the 17 North Shore communities the average 202526 superintendent salary was $246,000 and with a 3% increase it will be $253,000 next year. Just so folks are aware, my salary is $33,000 less than the average in this area. I’m way below market value.”

Robidoux added: “It is what it is. I’m happy with where we are. I’m happy with the School Committee, I’m happy with Marblehead. We’ll push forward and have more conversations down the line.”

Rec & Parks Commission makes case for dog park

The Current welcomes 150- to 200-word submissions to News in Brief. Send them to info@ marbleheadnews.org.

Search to begin for new town administrator At its June 24 meeting, the Select Board discussed next steps in the search for a new town administrator. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer announced last month that he plans to step down Dec. 31, 2026, about 18 months earlier than expected.

The board will issue a “request for proposals” seeking bids from executive search firms and hopes to select one by the end of July.

The board also scheduled its annual retreat for July 24.

Results of town’s 2025 audit At its June 24 meeting, the Select Board heard the results of the town’s 2025 audit.

Representatives from Roselli, Clark & Associates presented findings that included a reserve balance of nearly 20%, a AAA

School Committee approves 3% salary increase for superintendent The School Committee on Monday approved a 3% raise for Superintendent John Robidoux.

The increase was already included in the fiscal 2027 school budget approved at Town Meeting in

The Recreation and Parks Commission plans to make a pitch to turn part of the Coffin School property into a temporary or permanent dog park. The town is currently determining future uses for the Turner Road property.

“The current dog park off of Lime Street is inaccessible on two sides and only accessible by going up a narrow hill. Aside from the fact, it’s difficult for people to walk up there who may not be steady on their feet, it’s nearly impossible for the department to make repairs. With an estimated 4000 dogs in town, having another place for a dog park would be ideal,” Commissioner Karin Ernst said.

The commission next plans to ask the Select Board for an opportunity to present its proposal.

“We will ask if we can use the back left corner where the ledge is,” Ernst explained. “It’s about 180 feet by 100 feet. If the town allows us to use it, it will be properly enclosed.”

LOCAL AUTHOR

From Bop It to books: Marblehead inventor publishes debut eco-thriller

BY LEIGH BLANDER For decades, Marblehead resident Bob Welch made a career out of creating games people couldn’t put down.

Now he’s hoping readers feel the same way about his first novel.

Welch, whose career spanned toy invention and video game production, will release his first published novel, “Into The Dax,” on June 30. The eco-dystopian thriller has already earned praise from reviewers, including a rare “GET IT” verdict from Kirkus Reviews and a four-star rating from Foreword Clarion Reviews.

After spending years designing and inventing toys — including the wildly successful Bop It — and producing video games such as Civilization and RollerCoaster Tycoon, Welch has turned his attention to fiction.

“I started writing probably 20 years ago,” Welch said. “This is the third book I’ve written, the first one to be published.”

Welch moved to Marblehead in 1992 after taking a job at Parker Brothers in Beverly. He spent seven years there before striking out on his own as a toy inventor.

Later, he returned to the gaming industry when former Parker Brothers employees launched Hasbro Interactive, beginning what would become a 30-year career in video games.

One game in particular left a lasting impression — especially on Welch’s son.

“He works in international relations now and the reason is he played Civilization,”Welch said.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Bob Welch holds a copy of his new book, “Into the Dax” on Washington Street.

Welch explained the game.

“Your job is to build a civilization.

You’re looking at … how’s my technology, how’s my economy?

How’s the culture? People like me, do I need to build my military?

Can I build up my culture? So you’re learning experientially, and you don’t even know it.”

That focus on world-building eventually helped shape “Into The Dax,” which takes place roughly 200 years in the future in a fractured North America transformed by climate change.

The novel follows Kiley Van, a bioscientist whose life is upended after an attempted kidnapping forces her to flee. Along the way, she discovers long-hidden truths about her family and a powerful biotechnology developed by her mother.

“On the run she starts to meet people that reveal things about her family and her past that she

never knew,” Welch explained.

The story begins in Vermont, part of a scientifically minded nation called the Commonwealth.

To the west lies the Great Lakes Federation, a religious theocracy that controls access to water. Between them are the Adirondacks, home to a fiercely independent society known as the Dax. “It turns out her mother had invented a biotechnology that can be used for good — which is what she built it for — or evil,” Welch said.

While the book functions as a fast-paced thriller, Welch said it also explores larger questions about environmental stewardship, belief systems and power.

“The bigger story becomes kind of a conversation with yourself as the reader about how people’s beliefs influence the way they think about treating other people and treating the planet in general,” he said.

Welch describes the novel as climate fiction as much as science

CHAIR AND PRESIDENT

Bob Peck NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

CONTRIBUTORS

For a complete schedule of REV250 events, visit marbleheadmuseum.org/mhd250/.

NEWS IN BRIEF

BY LEIGH BLANDER

NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

fiction.

“To me, I was writing a climate fiction book,” he said. “And because of my video game career, it also became science fiction.”

The book’s central technology draws inspiration from realworld science involving mycelium networks — underground fungal systems that connect plants and trees.

“Everything in here is based on real science, things people are working on,” Welch said.

Although Welch studied industrial design at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and built his career designing toys and games, he credits video games with helping him learn how to construct fictional worlds.

“I think world building probably is huge in being able to write something like this,” he said.

“When I’m writing, I have the ability to just be gone in that space.”

Welch has already written two unpublished middle-grade novels and has plans for both a prequel and sequel to Into The Dax. For now, he’s focused on introducing readers to Kiley Van and the world he spent years creating.

Asked how he would describe the book to a friend, he said, “It’s an awakening wrapped in a thriller where nature, science and religion collide.”

“Into The Dax” will be available June 30 through Amazon, with plans for broader distribution and appearances at local bookstores throughout New England. You can learn more about the book and Welch at bobwelchauthor.com.

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

Grey Collins Aleka Kroitzsh Luca Tedesco Akanksha Goyal

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

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

Kathryn Whorf FOUNDERS

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

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, July 1, 2026 3

GREEN THUMB

The creative expression and endless bounty of a Marblehead garden

BY ALEKA KROITZSH For Steven and Roberta Keenholtz, gardening isn’t just a hobby. It is a creative expression that feeds their souls and their community.

Tucked away on Whittier Road, the couple’s one-and-athird-acre property is home to a hyper productive vegetable garden and a curated backyard ecosystem complete with ornamental flowers, fruit trees, berry bushes, shrubbery and an antique fountain. Each side of the house has a uniquely curated landscape of plants.

“There’s always something flowering,” Steven Keenholtz said as he climbed a staircase up a hill made of stones wedged into the soil.

The staircase, lined with broad-leaf plants and flowers, leads to what he calls his Zen spot, a paved platform where he can relax on a bench and take in his hard-earned green space.

To the left of the bench, a bare rocky ledge protrudes from the dark soil. Steven said it was an intentional decision to retain the character of Marblehead, which is “notorious for ledge.”

When the couple moved to this property 40 years ago, there was very little curated landscaping.

The hill that is now host to Steven’s Zen spot and hundreds of ornamental plants was a wooded former dump. With the help of a landscape architect, they transformed the space into what it is now.

CURRENT PHOTO / ALEKA KROITZCH

Steven and Roberta Keenholtz have created this beautiful, year-round garden in their backyard.

Steven now serves as the landscape architect of sorts, while Roberta is the selfdescribed “sous-chef.” They introduce new plants to the space, uproot species when they begin to take over, and are continuously weeding.

“It is backbreaking work to pull out all of the roots, and it’s a fulltime job,” he said.

They don’t always agree, Roberta said, like when Steven decided to uproot many of the lilies of the valley as they began to crowd out other species two years ago.

“That is, until she sees the finished product,” Steven joked.

The couple does agree, however, that the crowning jewel of their property is the vegetable garden.

Hundreds of different vegetables grow within the boundaries of their vegetable

garden, including a dozen different herbs, squashes, greens, beans and radishes and astonishingly, 30 different species of tomatoes.

The couple originally started every vegetable in their garden from seed, though many of the plants are perennials and come back on their own each year.

Steven plants such that the garden produces all year long, even erecting tents over the beds in the winter to allow the leeks, spinach, Swiss chard and kale to continue to grow.

“My grandchildren think it’s like Market Basket,” Steven said, laughing.

In addition to their own grandchildren, the couple welcomes neighborhood kids and their friends’ grandchildren to visit and pick raspberries.

Nearly every guest leaves their

homes with a bag full of produce.

In a sense, the boundaries of the garden are fluid. The couple used it to kickstart other green spaces such as the garden at the nearby Epstein Hillel school.

The couple created a garden at the school from scratch, beginning with Steven’s rotatiller which tilled the soil.

Students helped turn over the soil and plant seeds and clippings donated from the Keenholtz garden.

“That’s the beauty of a garden,” Steven said.

Every year, the Keenholtz garden produces two yards of compost and ships some over to the school.

Additionally, each year, the Keenholtz participate in the Driftwood Garden Society’s dig and divide, where they donate plants to help raise funds for the

organization which maintains the grounds of the Abbot Library.

The couple also uses their produce to make a variety of craft goods including basil pesto, tomato sauces and green and red salsa. The operation has expanded so much that the couple has four freezers in the house, one designated especially for their products.

“Those make great gifts at medical appointments and things like that,” Roberta said.

Roberta said her husband’s green thumb is decades old.

Before moving to this property in 1986, the couple lived on Pickwick Road, where they had a small area in their backyard where they could garden. So, Roberta bought her husband a book called “Square Root Gardening” by Mel Bartholomew.

“He read the book, and we plotted. It was a small little area…but he started in March and would rotate the crops, and we had vegetables through December,” Roberta said.

Steven Keenholtz’s next project is to work on the hostas, which grow at the base of a tree to the side of the house.

With a hori hori (a special kind of knife) Steven carefully digs and divides the plants so that one can grow from the roots of another that has matured enough.

“It’s always a work in progress,” he said. “You’ll come back in three years, and these will hopefully be full.”

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION

Student film, ‘Gilded Lily,’ to premier at the Warwick

BY GREY COLLINS Just weeks before the premiere of their feature film “Gilded Lily” at the Warwick Theater on July 6, recent MHS class of 2026 graduates and co-directors Matias Watts Cruz and Cam Gibson sat on a couch in the back of Mookie’s Cafe to reflect on their years-long journey that brought them to the big screen.

Their 90-minute film began as an ambitious idea during their sophomore year of high school. After countless script revisions, months of filming during the summer before their senior year, and nearly a year of post-production editing, the team is putting the finishing touches on the movie and preparing to show it to the Marblehead community- a community that has nurtured their creativity for the past few years. After three years of hard work, the finish line was in sight, and their excitement was palpable.

But Gibson and Watts Cruz agree that the final stretch has been the most demanding.

“The emotion I feel the most right now is stress.

This is the final lap, and I want everything to be as perfect as it can be,” said Watts Cruz. “So I’m spending every day perfecting it and spending a lot of time and energy getting it done.”

Right now, the team is focusing on completing the three biggest elements of “Gilded Lily’s” postproduction: audio, music and color grading. They have spent countless hours in head editor

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

The filmmakers shoot a scene from “Gilded Lily” in the basement of the Marblehead Arts Association last July.

CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS

Matias Watts Cruz and Lucas Rosen edit the audio of a scene in “Gilded Lily” about a week before the film premieres at the Warwick.

Lucas Rosen’s studio, streamlining the audio to limit background noise and enhance the dialogue.

Nick Flores, another recent MHS graduate, is working on the music score, while Rosen and Quinn Schieb are refining the film’s color grading.

The idea for “Gilded Lily” was born back in the filmmakers’ sophomore year of high school, after Watts Cruz and a few other students participated in then-MHS junior Wyatt Foley’s short film, “Currently a Paperboy” during the summer.

“For a long long time I was really into stories, but I never really had a medium until I acted in “Currently a Paperboy,” and got excited about moviemaking,” said Watts Cruz. One day after filming, Watts Cruz and fellow sophomore Quinn Scheib had the idea to make their own movie, and

got to work on a script.

“That’s where ‘Gilded Lily’ started,” he said.

Gibson says he always loved film, but since he spent most of his youth playing football, he never really got a chance to fully explore it.

“I never really had an outlet for it,” said Gibson.

But after having to hang up his cleats during his sophomore year due to a recurring injury, he got involved with writing the

early renditions of the script. Over sophomore and junior year, they continued working on the script, and the team grew.

“We just had more and more people working on the project, coming in, looking at the script, analyzing the ideas behind the story, and bringing their ideas to the table,” said Watts Cruz. “The vision was definitely made richer and deeper by all the people who came in to

INFORMAL PROBATE PUBLICATION NOTICE Docket No. ES26P1830EA Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court, Probate and Family Court, Essex Division Estate of: Valerie A. Wyckoff Also Known As: Valerie Wyckoff Date of Death: June 24, 2025 To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, by Petition of Petitioner Abigail S. Wyckoff of Minneapolis, MN, a Will has been admitted to informal probate. Abigail S. Wyckoff of Minneapolis, MN has been informally appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond.

The estate is being administered under informal procedure by the Personal Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code without supervision by the Court. Inventory and accounts are not required to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the administration from the Personal Representative and can petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Interested parties are entitled to petition the Court to institute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal procedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, if any, can be obtained from the Petitioner.

help.”

It took all of their sophomore and junior year to develop a full 98-page movie script, and over time, the story found its shape. The film depicts a group of young filmmakers, much like the ones who wrote it, who attempt to film a movie set in 19th-century Marblehead.

However, it doesn’t go quite as smoothly as the real project did, as ambition and pride derails the filmmakers’ plans and complicates their relationships.

“We went through a lot of renditions, a lot of afterschool meetings,” Gibson said. “It was an in-depth

process, but it was also a realistic one. We spent a lot of time really trying to put the pieces together.”

As the script grew, so did the team. When they started filming in June 2025, there were 20 members of the cast and crew, all current or former Marblehead High School students. Watts Cruz and Gibson co-directed the film, Rosen worked as main editor, Quinn Scheib worked as the director of photography, and Brady Weed, Max Kane, Izzy Scotland and Anya Kane were the main actors.

The team spent all of last summer filming over MOVIE, P. 8

TOWN OF MARBLHEAD PLANNING BOARD The Marblehead Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday July 14 2026 at 7:00PM on the application of Richard C. Spenceley III, and Elaine B. Spenceley, Trustees of the OTR Realty Trust for an Accessory Delling Unit Site Plan Approval Special Permit for the construction of a detached garage with an Accessory Dwelling Unit located on the second floor on a dimensionally conforming Lot located at 6 BROADMERE WAY in a SHORELINE SINGLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Town of Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held in hybrid format with remote participation available and in person at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington Street Marblehead. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov Project materials are available at the Town of Marblehead’s Community Development and Planning Office located at 7 Widger Road Marblehead. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting.

Robert Schaeffner Chairman

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4 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

More than a birthday This is the best time of the year to be here, right?

The week we invite friends so we can show off Marblehead at its finest. The Festival of Arts, the Harbor Illumination, the concerts at Crocker Park and the fireworks are Marblehead’s annual rites of summer. This year, the celebration carries an extra charge. The Festival turns 60 and the country turns 250 the same week, a fitting double celebration.

Marblehead rightly stands proud of its place in the Revolution. The Marbleheaders of Glover’s Regiment, fishermen and sailors — used to crewing with all sorts — rowed Washington’s army to safety across the Delaware and pulled them off Long Island when the war could have ended right there. Regular people, sustaining the cause. The Revolution wasn’t only muskets and oars. It was a bet that ordinary people could govern themselves, if they had the right information to make decisions and could keep a close eye on those they put in power.

That’s why freedom of the press is in the First Amendment and not somewhere lower on the list.

Marblehead had a hand in that part, too. Elbridge Gerry refused to sign the Constitution because it lacked protections for the people, a push that helped produce the Bill of Rights two years later.

The founders argued plenty about what those protections should be. Few believed in those protections more fiercely than Thomas Jefferson.

In 1787, he wrote, “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”

Admittedly, we’re a little biased toward that particular freedom. Which is why we’ve watched this past year with a knot in our stomach. Jefferson wanted a press the government couldn’t (and wouldn’t) lay a hand on. What we’ve seen is the opposite. The president sued CBS over an interview he didn’t like. Its parent company, needing federal approval for an $8 billion merger, paid $16 million to make the suit disappear.

The nation’s top broadcast regulator floated reviving an old rule to police late-night comedy.

Soon after, CBS quietly shelved a Stephen Colbert interview with a candidate for office. Follow that chain, and it runs one way, from the government, through the agency that licenses the airwaves and into the newsroom.

Then the network cancelled Colbert outright, calling it a budget decision, days after he criticized that settlement and with the merger still pending.

The president posted his congratulations.

At “60 Minutes,” the broadcast that made its name on independence, new ownership brought in leadership that veteran correspondents say tried to soften or kill vetted, fact-checked reporting. Three of them walked out, warning that the wall between the newsroom and the people signing the checks was being dismantled piece by piece. The company denies any political motive.

This is the exact danger the founders feared. They wrote the press into the First Amendment because they had lived under a government that decided what people were allowed to read. A free press stops being free the moment those in power can switch off the stories they would rather you not see.

Jefferson knew the danger, which is why he didn’t stop at wanting newspapers to exist. He wanted them in every hand “capable of reading them,” reaching what he called the whole mass of the people. He put the people in the center of that.

A free press isn’t the property of the publishers.

It belongs to everyone. When a president can sue a network into silence or a regulator can lean on what gets aired, the thing being taken isn’t theirs.

It’s yours: the ability to know what those in power are doing and to judge it for yourself.

None of that should keep anyone from enjoying this time. Just the opposite! Enjoy every minute of it. Go see the artists and listen to the music and watch the fireworks. Invite your friends. Show off the town.

But also remember you’re celebrating more than a birthday. You’re celebrating the 250-year-old idea that government power should be derived from the consent of the governed — and that there should be a press to watch over it, openly and without interference.

The Marbleheaders who rowed Washington across the Delaware did their part. Our part is to keep paying attention and to keep showing up.

What we have is beautiful and worth fighting for.

MONEY MATTERS

What summer can teach us about money

BY EMILY PROMISE

No big travel plans needed when you can spend summer in Marblehead. After a long New England winter, summer often reminds us to slow down and appreciate what matters most.

Many of the same principles that help create a memorable summer can also help build a stronger financial future.

Plan ahead

Whether it’s securing a vacation rental, planning a family trip, signing children up for summer programs or organizing time with friends and family, a little preparation often goes a long way.

Delaying reservations can often lead to higher costs and reduced availability.

The same is true when it comes to your finances.

Retirement, college funding, major purchases and business transitions are often most successful when there is a thoughtful plan in place. While no one can predict the future, having a roadmap can help you make informed decisions and navigate life’s inevitable changes with greater confidence.

Summer takeaway: Set aside 30 minutes this month to revisit your financial goals and assess your progress. As the year reaches its midpoint, consider whether you’re on track to meet the objectives you set at the beginning of the year. Ask yourself: Am I where I expected to be, and are any adjustments needed to stay aligned with my long-term goals?

Balance today and tomorrow

Summer often reminds us that our money should support the life we want to live. Vacations, family experiences and time spent together create memories that often last far longer than the season itself. Yet one of the biggest financial challenges many people face is finding the balance between enjoying today and preparing for tomorrow. The goal isn’t choosing one over the other. Through thoughtful planning, it is often possible to enjoy the present while still making meaningful progress toward long-term goals.

Summer takeaway: Before making your next significant purchase or planning a major getaway, pause to consider one simple question: “Will this provide lasting value, or merely temporary satisfaction?”

Thoughtful spending decisions often lead to greater fulfillment, better alignment with your goals, and fewer financial regrets.

Invest in what matters most

Many of our favorite summer memories aren’t tied to things we purchased. Instead, they are connected to experiences, relationships and time spent with the people we care about.

Financial planning should reflect those same priorities. While investment returns, tax strategies and savings goals are important, money itself is simply a

tool. Its greatest value comes from helping us support our families, pursue meaningful experiences and create opportunities for future generations.

Summer takeaway: Identify one financial goal that aligns with what matters most to you, whether that’s family, travel, charitable giving, retirement or helping future generations, and take one small step toward it this month.

Expect the unexpected

Even the most carefully planned summer can come with surprises. Weather changes, travel delays and unexpected expenses are all part of life.

Financial planning follows a similar principle.

Unexpected events, whether market volatility, healthcare costs, career transitions or changing family circumstances can occur at any time.

While no one can predict every challenge, preparing for uncertainty through adequate emergency reserves, and a well-structured financial plan can help provide greater confidence and resilience.

Summer takeaway: Review your emergency savings account. Does it cover three to six months of essential expenses if needed?

Take time to reflect

As we reach the midpoint of the year, summer provides a natural opportunity to pause and evaluate our financial progress.

Are you on track toward your goals? Have your priorities changed? Are there opportunities to strengthen your financial plan before year-end?

A mid-year financial review can help ensure you’re moving in the direction you intend.

Five questions to ask yourself this summer 1. Am I saving as much as I planned to this year?

2. Have my spending habits changed in ways that support my goals?

3. Do I have an adequate emergency fund?

4. Have there been any family, career, or health changes that should prompt a review of my financial plan?

5. If the rest of the year looks like the first six months, will I be happy with where I end up?

Summer offers a chance to recharge, reconnect and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. It can also provide an opportunity to revisit our financial lives and ensure our resources are aligned with what matters most.

Sometimes the most valuable financial lesson isn’t about investments or markets, it’s simply taking the time to be intentional with the choices we make every day.

Emily Promise, CEO and financial advisor at ShorePoint Advisory Group (formerly Blakely Financial), is a Marblehead native and the financial columnist for the Current.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Patriotism is our common bond To the editor: July Fourth is not just the date of our country’s founding, it is also the annual opportunity for the nation’s take slingers to Say Something Important About America. Especially with this year being the 250th anniversary of the republic’s birth.

The narratives they will ask us to reflect on, to contemplate, to consider, are all familiar.

Some are about America’s descent into autocracy or, perhaps, kakistocracy. Others are about making our country great again (it was already great).

July Fourth is not about any of this. July Fourth is about hot dogs.

It is about fireworks. It is about grilling with friends and family. It is about watching Old Glory ripple in the breeze and enjoying the

immense gift of living free in the greatest country on earth.

In 1984, Jesse Jackson said that Americans are not a perfect people, but we are called to a perfect mission. You have 364 other days of the year to dwell on our collective imperfections. For one day of the year, you can and you should, free of guilt or fatalism, indulge in the efforts of those who came before you to make such a day possible.

Even if you abhor the current state of our country, you should do this. Especially if you abhor the current state of our country, you should do this. Because you cannot, you will not, sacrifice to save a country you do not authentically love.

Some consider patriotism to be gauche. It is not. It is our common bond. It is the only bond strong enough to lash together so diverse and vast a nation and propel it through the trials of revolution, abolitionism, suffragism and

beyond in the never-ending pursuit of our perfect mission.

So, this July Fourth make worthwhile the sacrifices made on your behalf, burdened only by the duty to renew your patriotism.

Nick Ward Rolleston Road

Prickly response to lyrics proposal To the editor: I take pen in hand today to give response to a letter to the editor from Gregory Bates of Cherry Street who in the June 15 edition proposed a change in the wording to the Marblehead anthem known as “Marblehead Forever.” He writes that the song should read “First in revolution, first in 61 and 3A pricks we are known to be” instead of the original which states “First in revolution, first in 61 and from all LETTERS, P. 5

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, July 1, 2026 5

GUEST COLUMN

The birthday, a new fiscal year and some questions

BY JAMES (SEAMUS) HOURIHAN July 4, 2026 — time to celebrate the 250th birthday of our country. July 1 starts a new fiscal year for the town of Marblehead. I have seven questions and, in some cases, answers.

Birthday dress up or down?

The question is (TQI): Did the Select Board (SB) give any thought to ensure our historic town of Marblehead would look absolutely beautiful for the 250th birthday of our country?

Not only for tourists from around the world but for our own self pride?

Maybe next time. We are on the brink of looking like a third-world country. There is major street construction on two of three routes into the heart of Marblehead — Atlantic and Pleasant. The third being West Shore which finished just in time. Washington between Five Corners and Bank Square is an absolute bone-shattering rumble road as it passes by iconic Abbot Hall with Willard’s famous Spirit of ‘76 painting and a major Festival of Arts exhibit hall. Maybe the SB wanted to preserve the historic feel of a horse and buggy way to the harbor? Fort Sewall prominently features its perennial growth of annual weeds. Orne Street construction blocks a primary path to Gas House Beach, Fountain Park, Little Harbor and Gerry and Crowinshield islands.

With Gerry Street construction

the police now have a valid excuse for why they can’t timely address those underage drinking parties. At least our Transfer Station looks beautiful — a new pit, a pristine white corrugated steel building with raised 6-inch lettering “Marblehead Transfer Station,” freshly surfaced pavement, flashing yellow caution lights, red and green traffic lights. Even the road up the hill to the transfer bins is great in sharp contrast to the road up the hill to Abbot Hall.

And now we have been invaded by 4-foot Martians.

Have the Martians landed?

TQI: Don’t you think the new four-foot-high trash carts are really Martians?

The husband and wife pairs have infiltrated every residence in town including short-term rentals. Their names are numbers. I can’t figure out how they copulate though.

Immaculate conception? The Virgin Mary blue ones must be female; the Joseph black ones, male. The rumor is that starting July 1 they will congregate in groups in different parts of town on specific days, totally blocking streets and sidewalks. The novel “Martians Go Home!” by Fredric Brown famously features an invasion of arrogant, four-foot-tall, annoying little people who lack ray guns and instead harass humanity with telepathy and gossip. So be careful what you put in your trash because everyone will know about your diseases, drinking habits,

dietary preferences and more.

Post-election expertise — up or down?

TQI: Did our elected executive boards, the SB and School Committee (SC), get better in terms of relevant expertise after the June 9 elections? I am not talking about passion or devotion to the town which all candidates must have by merely running for office.

The SC continues its rise from being a DEI (dysfunctional, enfeebled and incompetent) organization. Melissa Clucas, appointed in September 2025 to temporarily replace the toxic Brian Ota, was elected for a three-year term. Over the last eight years she has served as CFO for two business software platform companies with revenue and employee numbers similar to the SC budget.

She has been instrumental in helping develop and serve as a spokesperson for the FY27 budget that recognizes a declining student population.

Ann-Marie Jordan brings a valuable perspective of an experienced educator. With decades of experience spanning pre-school, special ed and health ed, including substance abuse curriculum development and training.

Regarding the SB, Rossana Ferrante will be our second lawyer on the board, joining the reelected Erin Noonan.

Noonan is a trial and appellate attorney representing children and families in juvenile court. Ferrante, in contrast, has practical business

experience in terms of forprofit telecommunications infrastructure development projects. Ferrante also has significant town government exposure — Rec & Parks chair, Charter Committee and Planning Board.

The overrides — a get out of jail free card for the SB and SC? TQI: With the passage of $17.3 million in total overrides did we just give the SB and SC a get out of jail free card?

They have stated that they will spend the override money wisely and provide quarterly reporting. That is necessary but insufficient.

Will they relentlessly pursue opportunities for increasing revenue and reducing costs?

Given the significant number of home renovations since the pandemic, I just don’t believe our new growth numbers should be so low. How about a detailed new growth audit going back at least six years if not more. There are still additional meals and room taxes on the table. Is there revenue in licensing short-term rentals?

Are there operational efficiencies to be realized in town departments? Tackling the ever-increasing costs, potentially bankrupting costs, associated with our antiquated employee benefit contributions and pension eligibility policies should be high on the list. As well as the high variability in special ed out-of-district tuition payments where the amount is dependent upon whether you

have a lawyer and how good your lawyer is.

FY26 goal assessment and FY27 goals?

TQI - Will the SB and SC provide a public assessment of their performance relative to their 2026 goals before formulating 2027 goals? What will their FY27 goals be?

In several columns, I have been highly critical of the inability of both the SB and SC to set goals. From my Aug. 27, 2025 column: “If you don’t know where you are going, any path will take you there.”

It reads: “What’s missing is focus — a laser focus on a very small set of high priority Strategic Initiatives (SI) that address our most critical issues.

Each SI must have an Action Plan (AP) with an owner, an outline of the actions or steps that the plan will pursue and a schedule. Progress reports should be published quarterly.”

Kezer retirement?

TQI: If Washington Street is not repaired before Dec. 31 will a donkey cart be needed to carry retiring Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer down the rutted, washedout hill from his Abbot Hall mayoral office before he heads off in the early sunset to home in Amesbury?

James (Seamus) Hourihan was born in Marblehead and is a MHS graduate. For 35 years, he worked in finance, marketing and executive management roles at high-tech companies. He has lived here fulltime since 2009. He currently sits on the Town Charter Committee.

From VW engines to hard drives — A Marblehead journey

BY STEPHEN BACH

I’m going to take a step back from our usual tech tips today to wax philosophical for a moment.

I’ve had the absolute pleasure of serving this community and the surrounding areas as a tech support person since I started The Digital Docs in 2005. Being able to help people with their technology problems is an incredibly fulfilling job. I know that for folks born in the 40s, 50s, 60s and even early 70s, technology can be extremely intimidating.

We simply didn’t grow up with it. Whether it’s recovering precious data, fixing a failing hard drive, getting rid of a nasty virus or just sorting through the daily maze of technical issues,

I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction out of being that go-to person in times of need.

But my journey to becoming your local “digital doc” took a few interesting detours along the way.

I actually started my first company right here in Marblehead in the early 1970s. It was a Volkswagen repair service, and I enjoyed it immensely.

Back then, I got that exact same feeling of satisfaction from seeing a customer come in at 8 in the morning and drive home at 5 with a brand-new, rebuilt engine installed. Of course, it was a bit easier back then — cars weren’t quite as complicated, and they were all Volkswagens!

After turning wrenches for a few years, I decided to go to engineering school. Two years in, I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me, so I transferred to

To the editor: Many of the nurses and direct care workers caring for

Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs in Marblehead.

We want to hear from you

From P. 4

Haitian health care workers will be missed

Emerson College and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication in the late 70s.

That degree led me into the Boston film business, where I spent the next 10 years working on commercials, feature films

I practiced on machines for friends, family and small businesses, and I realized I loved it just as much as rebuilding those old VW engines. By 2005, The Digital Docs was born.

Hearing stories from folks from all walks of life is a privilege, and I consider it an honor to be the person you trust to bridge the gap when technology gets overwhelming.

Anyway, this is about as personal as I’ll get in this column. Next time, we’ll turn back to our regular programming with more tips and tricks. But I wanted to share a little bit about myself, and hopefully, you found it interesting.

Thanks for reading, and until next time, stay safe out there.

LETTERS POLICY

Letters dishonor we shall keep her free.”

Now if you want to play the prick, Mr. Bates, that is your right but as for your suggested lyric change to our noble song, as a proud Header I say “To hell I pitch it” and to you I wish a full “down bucket.”

Chris Butler Village Street

Every day, I truly enjoy meeting people from all over the world who walk into my little shop on Elm Street.

and documentaries. There was a thriving film community in Boston in the 1980s. As a young guy, it was a blast. I worked with great crews, rubbed elbows with some well-known celebrities and had a lot of fun.

But the entrepreneurial bug bit me again. I wanted to start my own business, and for reasons I still marvel at, I decided making T-shirts was the way to go. That little T-shirt company grew beyond my wildest expectations.

In fact, we ended up printing the shirts for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, and we were even invited to do all the printed apparel for his 1993 inauguration.

After running that company for 15 years, we ran into some difficulties, and I had to sell it.

I worked a few other jobs until around 2004 when I started learning how to fix computers.

my nursing home patients are from Haiti. The care that they provide is competent and reliable and done with spirit and dedication. The loss of their services constitutes a public health emergency. Our nursing homes are already short-staffed and there are insufficient skilled nursing facilities to meet the demand for short-term and long-term care. Our patients are languishing in hospital waiting for a skilled-nursing-facility bed to become available.

Dr. Eric Reines Green Street

The Current welcomes letters to the editor and strives to represent a range of viewpoints on our opinion pages.

Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. Letters over the word limit may be returned to the writer for editing.

Writers may be given more leeway to criticize national political candidates and other public figures. However, in all cases, letter writers should refrain from name calling and personal attacks and instead focus on the substance of matters of public concern.

Letter writers may be asked

to substantiate claims that do not relate to information previously published in the Current.

While we will make every effort to let writers have their say, we reserve the right not to publish letters.

Letters must include: » The author’s name.

Unsigned letters and form letters will not be published. » The name of the street on which the author lives in Marblehead. Only the street name will be published next to the author’s name – not their full address. » The author’s daytime/

cell phone number for verification purposes (not publication).

Letters must be received by our newsroom directly from their writers (for special circumstances, contact the newsroom). Email submissions to info@marbleheadnews.org or use the submission form found at marbleheadcurrent. org/letters.

Some letters may be shared to social media. We will share a wide array of viewpoints.

Letters must be received by noon on Friday in order to be printed in the following week’s print edition.

6 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, July 1, 2026 7

OBITUARIES

More obituaries, Page 8

Village in 2023.

A proud graduate of the Mount Sinai School of Nursing in 1960,

she worked as a surgical scrub nurse, then transitioned to running Charles’ Lynn practice.

She subsequently worked in home hospice care, then continued her work in the medical field in surgical instrument and pharmaceutical sales.

She was a former equestrian, ballet dancer, and animal lover.

Her formidable memory made her an ace at the New York Times crossword, which she did every day, and only in ink. She was a gourmet cook with a wry sense of humor; for years a sign reading, “Complaints to the cook

can be hazardous to your health” hung over her kitchen sink. She loved throwing dinner parties and decorating the house for whatever holiday was at hand.

After her upbringing in New York City, she maintained a lifelong appreciation of both performing and visual arts. She volunteered for many years as a docent at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. Always a perfectionist (with legendary penmanship) she instilled in her children the importance of only being satisfied with giving their best effort.

Barbara is pre-deceased by Charles L. Blander, her beloved husband of 58 years; her parents Annette and Leon Cohen, and her twin sister Brenda Hall.

She leaves behind her children: Andrea Blander (Seattle, Washington) and her husband Pete Huie; Daniel Blander (Marblehead) and his wife Leigh; and beloved grandchildren: Molly, Olivia, Andre, Marcelo, Liam and Dylan.

Barbara will be greatly missed.

In her memory, please consider a donation to the Audubon Society or the American Civil Liberties Union.

proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army National Guard. Following his military service, he worked for many years in his family’s successful plumbing business before later applying his talents to carpentry and painting. A skilled craftsman with a strong

work ethic, Jeff took pride in working with his hands and helping others.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoyed life’s simple pleasures. He was an avid fisherman who found the most peace and happiness fly fishing in the rivers of Pittsburg, New Hampshire. He loved playing and following ice hockey, relaxing with his pipe and spending time with those he loved most.

Above all else, Jeff was devoted to his family. His greatest joy came from being a husband, father and grandfather. He cherished every moment spent with his daughter and adored his three granddaughters, who brought him joy and so much laughter.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, Laura Best of Marblehead; his daughter, Kimberly Curtin, and her husband, Gregory Curtin of Marblehead; and his three granddaughters, Piper, Peyson and Mila; his brother Dana Best and his wife Heidi; his brother Gary Best and his wife Carol; and his sister-in-law, Beth Best. He is predeceased by his brother Ronald Best. He also leaves behind extended family members and friends who will miss his quiet strength, steady presence and kind heart.

Jeff will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his service to his country, his craftsmanship and his appreciation for the simple things in life. His legacy lives on

through the family he loved so deeply.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Jeff’s life and share memories of a man who lived with humility, integrity and unwavering devotion to those he held dear.

May he forever rest in peace.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, July 9, at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm St., 4-7 p.m. A Funeral service will be held at The Old North Church of Marblehead, 35 Washington St., on Friday, July 10, at 11 a .m.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Jeff’s family.

of 1951, Deborah dedicated her life to her family, community and many passions. She worked as a medical assistant for Dr. Paige and later as a librarian at

Abbot Public Library. She was also an art teacher, sharing her talents with students young and old.

Deborah was an active member of the Marblehead Arrangers Club, makeup artist for the Marblehead Little Theater as well as the Marblehead and Salem Masonic lodges, a longtime volunteer with the Marblehead Festival of Arts, and a dedicated member of both the Nahant Garden Club and Nahant Women’s Club. An accomplished watercolor artist, she earned recognition for her work and exhibited at local art shows. She also found great joy in gardening and floral arranging.

Above all, Deborah cherished her role as “Gam.” She was known for her endless love, frequent phone calls and ability to make every gathering special.

Her grandchildren fondly remember summers spent at Grace Oliver’s and Nahant Beach, complete with homemade egg sandwiches, Twizzlers and adventures that became treasured family traditions. Her humor, including her favorite “napkin joke” and kazoo playing, brought laughter to all who knew her.

Deborah was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton Gates, and her former husband, Charles Briggs.

She is survived by her daughter, Leslie Briggs Teague; her grandchildren, Christopher Teague and his wife Sarah, Jonathan Teague, and Caitlin Carter and her husband Christopher; and her greatgrandchildren, Alexander and Elizabeth Teague, and Mason Carter.

Her family will forever cherish the traditions she created and the love that she shared. A private memorial service will be held in July.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Deborah’s family may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.

Marblehead and the late Frederic Lausier.

Mark worked as a selfemployed plumbing contractor for over 30 years.

He was a member of the Market Square Association, Philanthropic Lodge and the Gerry 5.

Besides his mother, Donna, Mark is survived by his children, Matthew and his wife, Caitlin, and their two children, Matthew

and Nicholas; Michael and his wife, Janie, and their son, Frederic; Megan Lausier and her two children, Michael and Wesley Toborg; and Mark Lausier. He is also survived by his brother, Todd Lausier and his wife, Robin, and Lisa Lausier and her partner, Candy; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family, including his close uncle, Billy Letourneau.

His celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Gerry 5, 210 Beacon St., Marblehead.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mark’s memory may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research via michaeljfox.org.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for Mark’s loved ones may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com.

raised her three boys: George, Peter and David. It was worldfamous for fun; because of Jean.

She hosted her 95th birthday for four generations of family, 13

days before her passing.

In the late 1960s, she earned her masters degree in education. Teaching and learning were passions for Jean. She taught high school English and controversially fought tenure (unsuccessfully).

In the mid 1970s she founded the Marblehead Adult Evening Education Program. The curriculum included over 50 courses, ranging widely from Investments to constitutional law to marine biology to life drawing. She miraculously recruited a wildly competent faculty; students paid $10 for 10 classes.

By the mid 1980s, she became annoyed by her self-proclaimed

deteriorating public speaking skills (not true). But she wanted to keep teaching somehow.

So she became a bus tour guide, leading blue collar Brits throughout New England.

Fortunately, fact-checking technology didn’t exist in those days.

Her enthusiasm and curiosity infected literally thousands of people. And none more so than her family.

Jean invited each of her grandchildren (on their 10th birthday) to choose anywhere in the world for a one-on-one trip. She also curated incredible three-generation family journeys (Granny Trips), where learning and curiosity prevailed, to

several states and to so many countries including Costa Rica, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco, St. Croix, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Her relentless energy and stamina on these trips outlasted everyone else.

For many decades, Jean was an avid and passionate member of the Eastern Yacht Club (tennis), the Gut ‘n Feathers badminton club and the White Mountain Ski Runners. And while winning many championships, it was the camaraderie that always mattered most to her.

Her wishes to us all would be to travel the world; and forever be active, kind, generous and curious. She taught so much to so many.

Additional information, including parking and traffic guidance and recommended viewing locations, is available at marbleheadfire.works. If severe weather forces a cancellation, an announcement will be posted on the website. The rain date is July 5.

Residents can follow

the Marblehead Fireworks Committee on X at @ MHDFireworks and on Facebook for updates throughout the day. For traffic and public safety information, follow the Marblehead Police Department on X at @ Mheadpolice or on Facebook.

A special notice for

recreational and commercial drone operators also is available at marbleheadfire.works/drones.

The Marblehead Fireworks Committee is an all-volunteer organization, and the display is funded entirely through private donations. Those wishing to contribute may send a check payable to the Town of

Marblehead, with “Fireworks” in the memo line, to Abbot Hall.

Donations are tax-deductible.

Contributions also may be made online at fireworksforever. org or through Venmo at @ marbleheadfireworks.

Barbara Enid (Cohen) Blander, 87 Barbara Enid (Cohen) Blander, 87, died on June 20, 2026. Born in New York, New York, she moved to the North Shore in 1966 (Marblehead, then Swampscott in 1967) with her late husband Charles, to set up his OB/GYN practice here. After decades in their Blodgett Avenue home, she moved to Brooksby

Jeffrey S. Best, 84 Jeffrey Steven Best, 84, of Marblehead, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born in Lynn, Jeff was the beloved son of the late Leonard and Lillian Best. One of four brothers, Jeff grew up with a strong sense of family, hard work and loyalty — qualities that remained with him throughout his life.

Jeffrey’s life was rooted in the community that shaped him.

He graduated from Marblehead High School in 1960, and Jeff

Deborah Harlow (Briggs) Gates, 92 Deborah Harlow Gates, lovingly known as “Gam,” passed away on June 15 at the age of 92. Her family announces her passing with deep sadness while celebrating a life filled with creativity, generosity, laughter and love.

A lifelong resident of Marblehead and graduate of Marblehead High School’s Class

Mark F. Lausier, 65 Mark Frederic Lausier, 65, of Marblehead, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 19, 2026.

Born in 1961 in the Mary Alley Hospital in Marblehead, Mark was the son of Donna (Letourneau) Lausier of

Granny Howe Jean Yeager Howe was born in Newton on June 7, 1931.

She grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland; Lake Forest, Illinois; and then on a farm in Russell, Illinois. Her grit and charm (and state marimba championship) somehow landed her at Harvard (Radcliffe College); from which she graduated in 1953. Married in 1953, she moved shortly thereafter to her beloved Marblehead.

She built and lived in her house on Beacon Street for 68 years. And that is where she

Fireworks From P. 1

July 4 and to avoid the restricted area, which will be marked by four orange buoys and patrolled by volunteer civilian barge patrol vessels flying orange privileged-vessel flags.

marbleheadcurrent.org

8 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

OBITUARY

Movie From P. 3

90 scenes around the north shore, which they described as a grueling, but rewarding, process. They often started filming at the crack of dawn, and didn’t head home until midnight. The co-directors agreed that the intensity was a challenge, but also that it provided an incredible learning experience.

“It was something that was hard,” Gibson added, “but you enjoy it because we were all just so passionate about it.”

Both Matias and Cam plan to continue studying film production in college, taking with them not only technical skills, but also lessons in collaboration and memories from their first feature film.

“It’s taught us so much, not just about film, but about working with people,” Gibson said. “Matias and Quinn are two friends that I’m going to have for the rest of my life.

It’s been great to work with people that I really enjoy working with.”

Now, after years of work, the filmmakers are ready to share “Gilded Lily” with the community that watched them grow as artists. Tickets for the premiere on July 6 are reserved for cast, crew and family, while the tickets for July 13 will be sold to the public on Warwick’s website (warwickcinemas.com/).

Glover Fulford Broughton, 97 Glover F. Broughton, a lifelong Marblehead resident, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, Marine, Mason, Shriner, sailor, golfer and friend, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2026, just weeks before his 98th birthday.

Born in Tampa, Florida, on July 12, 1928, he was the son of Glover H. “Dill” Broughton and Victoria Mezquita Broughton.

At the age of 4, his family returned to Marblehead, where he would spend the rest of his life. He attended Marblehead public schools, graduating from Marblehead High School in 1946, where he enjoyed both basketball and sailing, interests that foreshadowed a lifelong love of teamwork and the sea.

Following graduation, he proudly enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving for two years aboard the USS Midway. After returning home, he attended Wentworth Institute, earning a degree in engineering. In 2001, Wentworth recognized his distinguished career and accomplishments by awarding him an honorary bachelor of science degree.

He began his professional career as a draftsman with United Shoe Machinery

Beautiful Day at Redds

by Jonathan McPhillips

Corporation in Beverly. After 25 years in engineering, he transitioned into the company’s marketing division, traveling extensively throughout the United States and Europe representing the company.

Throughout his career, he also dedicated countless hours helping operate his family’s beloved Marblehead restaurant, Dill’s. As his father aged, he assumed the roles of president and manager, ensuring the restaurant’s continued success while balancing a demanding full-time career.

He later retired from Dynapert, formerly United Shoe, at the age of 58. Retirement, however, only marked the beginning of another chapter. For more than a decade he consulted for Sylvania and Panasonic before becoming what his family affectionately called “an Uber driver before there was Uber,” transporting friends and neighbors to Boston appointments and Logan Airport.

He also spent many years driving for a dental products company.

In retirement, he found joy on the golf course, in his garden and in cooking and baking.

His homemade Joe Froggers became a cherished family

tradition. Even in his 97th year, he could still be found on the golf course or sailing out of Marblehead Harbor, two lifelong passions that brought him great happiness. He possessed a lifelong fascination with naval history and assembled an extensive collection of books, documents and artifacts. He took particular pride in being named for Revolutionary War Gen. John Glover and in being a direct descendant of Glover and Capt. Nicholson Broughton of the Marblehead schooner Hannah, recognized as George Washington’s first armed naval vessel in what would become the United States Navy.

Perhaps no organizations were closer to his heart than Freemasonry and the Shriners. A member of Philanthropic Lodge in Marblehead for more than 70 years and Aleppo Shrine for 65 years; he devoted decades to fellowship and service. He was also a member of the Northeast Club and Salem Lodge. Many will remember him as the bass drummer in the Aleppo Shrine Pipe Band and as Santa Claus at Shriners Hospitals, bringing smiles and comfort to countless children. He proudly served as chief fezzer until 2022 and considered it a great honor to serve as a guard to Illustrious Sir Gary Bartlett during his 2020 leadership year, despite many planned activities being curtailed by the pandemic. In September 2025, he was awarded the honorary 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite, Freemasonry’s highest honor, in recognition of a lifetime of dedication and service.

Above all else, his greatest joy was his family. He married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth “Betty” Atkins in 1952, beginning a remarkable marriage that lasted 70 years until her passing in 2022. Together

they built a loving home in the house they purchased in 1955, where he lived for more than seven decades and where generations of family gathered to celebrate holidays, milestones and ordinary days made special simply by being together.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife Elizabeth, son Douglas in 2016, sister Louise Lawler earlier this year, as well as his parents.

He is survived by his sister Donna Thompson, his children Sandra, Glover “Rick” and wife Alison, Christopher and husband John Myers, seven cherished grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends whose lives were enriched by his kindness, generosity and quiet strength.

Those who knew Glover will remember a gentleman of unwavering integrity, quiet humility, gentle humor and selfless service. He believed in showing up for others, whether family, neighbors, friends or strangers. He lived a life rich in purpose, guided by brotherhood, patriotism and love, leaving behind a legacy that will continue through the many lives he touched.

A life well lived. A man deeply loved. A legacy that will endure.

Visiting hours will be held Monday, July 6, 4-6 p.m. at Eustis & Cornell Funeral of Marblehead, 142 Elm St. A Masonic service and burial will take place Tuesday, July 7, at 11 a.m. at Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead, followed by a gathering at the Marblehead Masonic Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shriners Hospital or Philanthropic Lodge of Marblehead. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, July 1, 2026 9

SPECIAL SECTION

2026 Festival of Arts INCLUDES FOUR-PAGE PULLOUT SCHEDULE A festive evening

Tom Saltsman’s dragon breathed smoke.

COURTESY PHOTO

FESTIVAL OF ARTS

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Organizers provided nearly 1,000 bottles of champagne and hard lemonade at the Arts Festival Champagne Reception Sunday evening. Some of it was iced in the back of this truck.

Janet Spurr, Drew Nelson and Sheila Reilly, all of Marblehead, celebrate the 60th Festival of Arts at the Champagne Reception.

Halloween mastermind reveals secrets behind beloved creations

BY MARIELLE SABBAG For two decades, Marblehead architect Thomas Saltsman has transformed the area outside his Pleasant Street home into a Halloween spectacle, drawing crowds with towering creatures, elaborate machinery and largerthan-life displays.

On June 24, as part of the Festival of Arts, Saltsman pulled back the curtain on his creative process during a 90-minute presentation, “Dream Big and Build It,” at the Unitarian Universalist Church.

According to Jim Murphy, vice president of the Festival of Arts, the two had been working since November to bring the event together.

“I love Tom’s creativity,” Murphy said. “It is an integration

of movement and light. Who wouldn’t love it?”

About 150 people attended the event, with another 112 on the wait list, Murphy said.

Greeting attendees at the front of the room was a robot — one of Saltsman’s creations from a previous Halloween display.

“Tonight’s guest is someone very familiar,” Murphy told the audience. “His sculptures have become landmarks, and his imagination has left unforgettable marks on the community.”

Saltsman launched into his story with a slideshow tracing his artistic and professional journey.

He studied theater arts at the California Institute of the Arts and environmental design at SALTSMAN, P. 10

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10 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

People pack inside the Champagne Reception tent to try champagne and servings from local restaurants.

Champagne From P. 1

a beaded-and-feathered hat and button boots.

“These look the same as boots from the old days,” she explained, lifting her skirt to show off her footwear.

“Except mine have rhinestones,” she added with a laugh.

In the festival’s annual hat contest, Amy Brooks, of Salem, won Women’s Most Creative for her chapeau which featured a silver pirate ship under attack by a giant octopus, or kraken. She attended with a group of friends.

“It’s magical here,” she said.

“We’re drinking bubbly drinks, everyone is dressed up... it’s fabulous.”

Other winners in the hat contest were: » Men’s Most Creative: Brian Campbell, whose hat featured dumplings with chopsticks. » Women’s Most Elegant: Misty Wykes, whose hat was a colorful explosion of flowers. » Men’s Most Jaunty: Peter Fallon, who wore a bowler hat decorated with a “Spirit of ‘76” scarf.

The 60th Marblehead Festival of Arts features a mix of longtime traditions and new events. Programming began in January with a speed-puzzling

Festival-goers sip champagne while admiring the view of Marblehead Harbor.

Artist Eleanor Fisher and Dennis Treece sport historic costumes at the Champagne Reception.

competition and continued through the winter and spring.

The festival’s 11 exhibits open Thursday, July 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., joining a full lineup of events, including: » Cod & Whale art auction » Children’s Festival » Street Festival » Model boat building & regatta » Concerts at Crocker Park » Film Festival

» Literary Festival » Scavenger Hunt » Artisans’ Marketplace » Festival fitness The Current is proud to be a lead sponsor of the festival.

Visit our Festival of Arts special section, including the full schedule which you can bring with you, beginning on page 9.

Follow @MHDCurrent on social media for photos and updates throughout the festival.

The winners of the annual hat contest are: Brian Campbell (men’s most creative), Amy Brooks (women’s most creative), Misty Wykes (most elegant) and Peter Fallon (most jaunty).

CURRENT PHOTO / MARIELLE SABBAG

Marblehead architect Tom Saltsman shared the creative process behind his awe-inspiring Halloween installations.

Saltsman From P. 9

Parsons School of Design before earning a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University.

An architect by day, Saltsman begins planning each Halloween installation in August.

The tradition began in the early 2000s when he was asked to create a haunted house at the Coffin School, where his nowgrown daughter was a student.

“It’s an opportunity to try different things,” he said. “I pushed the boundaries of what you are allowed to do.”

In 2015, he began creating installations inside his garage, a move that paved the way for increasingly ambitious projects.

Over the years, neighbors and visitors have marveled at creations that included a spaceship, a giant troll and a 22-foot-tall gorilla. One of his most talked-about works was a smoke-breathing dragon in 2018.

Saltsman shared sketches,

behind-the-scenes photographs and videos illustrating how he designs and builds his creations.

He also described frequent trips to the town Transfer Station, where he scavenges materials to incorporate into his projects.

He revealed one secret behind a fan-favorite installation: He modeled his wife Brooke Saltsman’s head in clay to create a figure for his ghost ship display.

“I created my own techniques for everything to make it stand out,” Saltsman said.

COURTESY PHOTO

Architect Tom Saltsman built this 22-foot-tall gorilla one Halloween.

The audience remained engaged throughout the presentation, applauding frequently and lining up with questions afterward.

Reflecting on 20 years of creating life-size installations, Saltsman said the greatest reward is knowing the displays

become lasting memories for those who experience them.

He closed with advice for aspiring artists and makers.

“You have to try something you may not be good at. Do it, fail, do it again and learn,” Saltsman advised.

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, July 1, 2026 11

SPECIAL SECTION

2026 Festival of Arts

SCHEDULE — DON’T MISS A THING! All events are free of charge unless otherwise noted.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1

» 10 a.m. Literary Festival at Uni-

tarian Universalist Church The Disney Princess Movie That Ruined My Life ($15) » 12 p.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church Kill Talk: On Military Language and Combat Poetry ($15) » 2 p.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church Perfectly Proper Letter Writing, Then and Now ($15) » 4 p.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church Oh! The Places We’ll Go ($15) » 5–7 p.m. Film Festival at Warwick Theater Free Film Festival » 6–7:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Mason Daring, Jeannie Stahl & Friends | Folk Music » 6–7 p.m. Opening Night Awards Ceremony at Abbot Hall Official start of the Festival | Awards ceremony » 8–10:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Mark Erelli & String Quintet FARHOF Night | Americana/ Folk

THURSDAY, JULY 2

» 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Information

Booth at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Information

Booth at Bank Sq » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. MFoA Merch Store at Abbot Hall & Town House Sq » 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Film Festival at Warwick Theater Free Film Festival » 10 a.m. Literary Festival at FESTIVAL, P. 12

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12 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

Festival From P. 11

Unitarian Universalist Church How to Talk to the Media about Your Book ($15) » 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Art Scavenger Hunt at Old Town House Find all five clues and claim your prize! » 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Chamber Music at Abbot Hall Festival String Trio » 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Chamber Music at Abbot Hall The New SemiQuint Winds » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Crafts Exhibit at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Digital Art Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Drawing Exhibit at Unitarian Universalist Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mixed Media Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Painting Exhibit at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Painting the Town Exhibit at at King Hooper Mansion » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Photography Exhibit at Old Town House » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Printmaking Exhibit at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sculpture Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Senior Art Exhibit at Unitarian Universalist Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Youth & Student Art Exhibit at Old North Church » 12–1:15 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Glass Harbor Band | Classic Rock & Originals » 12 p.m. Literary Festival at Jeremiah Lee Mansion Upper Grounds When Writing Dreams Come True ($15) » 1:15–1:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Tyler Levs | Acoustic Folk Rock » 2–3:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Neidgine Destine | Haitian Music & Jazz » 2 p.m. Literary Festival at

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, July 1, 2026 13

» 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Chamber Music at

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Reading Party ($10) » 8–10:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker

Park Sugar Kings | Afro-Cuban Roots, Rock, Reggae

FRIDAY, JULY 3

» 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Information

Booth at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Information

Booth at Bank Sq » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. MFoA Merch Store at Abbot Hall & Town House Sq » 9–10 a.m. Festival Fitness at Jeremiah Lee Mansion Upper

Gardens » 10–11 a.m. Literary Festival at

Unitarian Universalist Church Generative Youth Writing Lab ($10) » 10 a.m. Model Boat Building #1 at Jeremiah Lee Mansion Lower Gardens ($45) » 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Art Scavenger Hunt at Old Town House Find all five clues and claim your prize! » 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Chamber Music at Abbot Hall Windjammers Quintet

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Festival Horn and String Ensemble » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Artisans’ Marketplace Shopping at Abbot Hall » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Crafts Exhibit at Abbot Hall » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Digital Art Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Drawing Exhibit at Unitarian Universalist Church » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mixed Media Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Painting Ehxibit at Abbot Hall » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Painting the Town Exhibit at King Hooper Mansion » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Photography Exhibit at Old Town House » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Printmaking Exhibit at Abbot Hall » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Senior Art Exhibit at Unitarian Universalist Church » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sculpture Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Youth & Student Art Exhibit at Old North Church » 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Model Boat Building #2 at Jeremiah Lee

Mansion Lower Gardens ($45) » 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Street Festival at Bank Square and Washington St » 12–1:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park School of Rock Norwood & Natick | These Kids ROCK! » 12 p.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church The Women of Marblehead ($15) » 2–3:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park B-Side Hustle | Blues, Dance, Funk, Jam, R&B/Soul, Rock » 2 p.m. Film Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church AFTERPLAY by Brian Friel (ticketed event) » 2 p.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church Researching the Non-Fiction Book ($15) » 3–4 p.m. Redd’s Pond Regatta at Redd’s Pond » 4 p.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church Marblehead, the Melancholy Maritime Muse ($15) » 6-7:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Elisa Smith | Country Night FESTIVAL, P. 14

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14 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

Festival From P. 13

» 6:30 p.m. America the Beautiful

at Marblehead Little Theater Song and Dance Revue ($25) » 8–10:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Houston Bernard | Country Night

SATURDAY, JULY 4

» 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Information

Booth at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Information

Booth at Bank Sq » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. MFoA Merch

Store at Abbot Hall & Town House Sq » 10 a.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church Erasure Poetry Workshop ($15) » 6 p.m.–1 p.m. Children’s Festival at The Jeremiah Lee Mansion » 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Art Scavenger Hunt at Old Town House Find all five clues and claim your prize! » 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Chamber Music at Abbot Hall Marblehead String Quartet » 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Chamber Music at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Jefferson Street Duo » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Artisans’ Marketplace Shopping at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Crafts Exhibit at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Digital Art Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Drawing Exhibit at Unitarian Universalist Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mixed Media Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Painting Ehxibit at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Painting the Town Exhibit at King Hooper Mansion » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Photography Exhibit at Old Town House » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Printmaking Exhibit at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sculpture Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Senior Art Exhibit at Unitarian Universalist Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Youth & Student Art Exhibit at Old North Church » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sculpture Exhibit at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church

» 3 p.m. Literary Festival at Uni-

» 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Senior Art

Exhibit at Unitarian Universalist Church » 12–1:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Marblehead School of Music-Whalers-Sea Rock » 1 p.m. Literary Festival at Unitarian Universalist Church Celebrate Our 2026 Writing Contest Winners » 2–3:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Mike McGeown Band | Rock & Soul Revue-Bringing The Boogie! » 2 p.m. America the Beautiful at Marblehead Little Theater Song and Dance Revue ($25)

tarian Universalist Church Mayhem And Murder In Marblehead: A Walking Tour ($15) » 6–7:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Sarah Blacker & The Light | Folk-Gospel » 8–10:30 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Better Than Nothing-The Last Waltz! » 8:45 p.m. HARBOR ILLUMINATION » 8:55 p.m. Concert at Crocker Park Johnny Ray-National Anthem » 9 p.m. FIREWORKS DISPLAY

SUNDAY, JULY 5

» 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Information

Booth at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Information

Booth at Bank Sq » 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. MFoA Merch Store at Abbot Hall & Town House Sq » 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Artisans’ Marketplace Shopping at Abbot Hall » 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Art Scavenger Hunt at Old Town House Find all five clues and claim your prize! » 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Chamber Music

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, July 1, 2026 15

Sports HOOP NEWS

Former Big Blue athlete succeeds mentor as girls basketball coach

BY JOE MCCONNELL After eight years on the job, legendary high school basketball coach Paul Moran, a Swampscott native, stepped down as the Marblehead High girls coach to return to his hometown to head up the Big Blue boys program once again.

But in a touch of irony, following the usual interview process of prospective candidates for the job, Moran’s replacement ended up being Phil Witt, a Swampscott boy himself, who actually played for his Marblehead predecessor, before graduating from Big Blue country in 2007. Phill also played baseball in high school. But he’s now loyal to Marblehead.

Since 2019, he has been a teacher/ coach, mostly at the middle school.

Upon making the announcement, MHS Director of Athletics Kent Wheeler stated Phill’s familiarity with the Marblehead community as a definite asset.

“Coach Witt brings a wide variety of athletic leadership and coaching experience to the girls basketball program,” said Wheeler. “He has worked with Marblehead studentCOURTESY PHOTO athletes (on) all levels from grade New MHS girls school to varsity, and is a familiar basketball head coach and respected face in the district.

Phill Witt.

He has been a member of the community since 2019, and is currently the Middle School athletic coordinator, track coach, girls basketball coach and educator. He’s also the girls JV soccer coach at Marblehead High School.”

Being on both sides of the rivalry, Witt appreciates everything that it entails for each town’s fanbases. “It was very intense back then, (when I was a player),” he said. “I’ll always remember some of the crowds we would get for our basketball games, and how loud they would be, especially in the old SHS small gym. But now, it’s been fun being on the other side (of the rivalry) the last few years. The kids are always surprised when they find out that I went to Swampscott. I’m still excited to go back there and coach, even if it’s in the new school. But at the end of the day, I’m a competitor, and hopefully we’ll be very successful against them.”

Witt has nothing but praise for Moran, his former coach.

“Obviously, he was a great player, who had a lot of knowledge about the game to pass along to us as players,” he said. “I think one of his best skills during my time there was adapting the style of play to the skills of his players. We’ve kept in touch over the years, and still have a good relationship. Hopefully, I can build on what he did here.”

Witt describes himself as a “player-oriented” coach. “High school sports have changed a lot in the past few years, but I think I do a good job of building relationships with the players, so I’m able to provide them with the support and coaching that they (all) need,” he explained. “I think the fans can expect a hard-working and competitive team that also has a high basketball IQ. My initial goals are to maintain the standard that Paul left (behind), and make the playoffs again. They had a narrow playoff loss last year, so I’d love to be able to take that next step, and win a playoff game. We will have a young team, so hopefully we can improve as the year goes on, while also building a strong foundation for the future.”

Witt has hit the ground running in his new position. The girls have already started summer workouts, and are planning captains’ practices. “I just took over at the very end of (this) school year, so it might be too late to play in most summer leagues, but hopefully we can find someplace to go to get the girls playing games this summer, as well,” he said.

The new head coach is in the process of forming his staff with Wheeler, his sports boss. The search will include finding his varsity assistants, as well as the JV and eighth grade head coaches.

“I’ve had discussions with several candidates, so hopefully they will be finalized soon,” Witt said. He will meet with the players to take a vote on next year’s captains, and expects the transition to a new coaching philosophy to be a smooth one, because he already knows each of them from his time at the Vet. “I have coached many of them in basketball, soccer or track on the middle school level, and as a result our relationship is strong (from those experiences),” Witt added.

After graduating from Swampscott High, he went on to the University of Miami, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in sports administration.

In closing, Wheeler said, “Phill is a part of our community, who understands that building our girls basketball program starts with the youth and middle school programs. He knows and is respected by many of the girls that he will be coaching this year (and beyond). He is a good fit for the program, and I’m excited to see (how he) transitions into this varsity head coaching role.”

COURTESY PHOTO / DEBBIE NOBEL

The fog lifted enough just in tme for the fifth annual Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race on Sunday.

ON THE WATER

Thick fog can’t stop sailors from rallying for one of their own

BY GREY COLLINS As a thick blanket of fog settled over the harbor Sunday, sailors — many decked out in bright pink — boarded their boats and sailed to the mouth of Marblehead Harbor for the fifth annual Fast Mermaid Pursuit Race. Twenty-four boats from the North and South shores competed to celebrate the remarkable resilience of Marblehead sailor Lindsay Smith, and financially support her recovery.

The five-mile pursuit race was created to help financially support Smith’s treatment and recovery, after she survived three gunshot wounds to her head in an act of domestic violence in 2021.

It’s been a long road to recovery for Smith, who has worked tirelessly in physical therapy to

reclaim her mobility. Sailing has been a lifelong passion for Smith, who spent many summers sailing at Pleon and works at Doyle Sails in Salem. Before the race, she spoke with the Current about the support she received from the tight-knit Marblehead sailing community during her recovery, and the source of strength it has been.

“To see the community supporting me is just beyond words,” said Smith. “It’s amazing that this has been the most well-attended pursuit race of the summer every year since it started. And I think people like to come out for a cause and it’s a fun race, it’s only about 5 miles, so it’s short and sweet.”

The sailboats participating ranged from about 20 to 50 feet. In the pursuit race, the

smaller, slower boats started first, followed by the faster boats.

Sunday’s conditions almost kept the fleet ashore, though; thick fog settled over the harbor on Sunday morning right before the scheduled start, forcing race organizers to weigh whether visibility was sufficient.

“The conditions were kind of foggy at the beginning,” organizer Jack Cochrane said. “So it was a question of whether it was safe to race or not.” He made the final decision to let the race go forward at noon, just an hour before the race commenced, as the fog lifted just enough to allow for a safe race.

Visibility was certainly still a big challenge for the sailors though, as they could only see about 100 SAILING, P. 16

DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND

Softball Little League all-stars begin District 16 tournament with three straight wins

BY JOE MCCONNELL This summer’s Marblehead Softball Little League 12-yearold all-stars, coached by Jenny Wilkins, Tom Sterio and Jim Higgins, are off to a fast start with three straight wins in District 16. This group has a history of success in these tournaments.

Just last year as 11-year-olds, they were the district champions.

The Marblehead girls began the 2026 tournament with two dominating wins over East Lynn (15-0) and Swampscott (11-1).

On Sunday, June 21, Marblehead cruised past East Lynn in a game that was called after three innings, because of the mercy rule.

Pitcher Tatum Cole, the granddaughter of MHS softball coach Johnny Gold, delivered another remarkable performance in the circle, striking out all nine batters she faced to singlehandedly complete the no-hitter.

Marblehead followed up that performance three days later on June 24 with another lopsided victory, this time over the Big Blue of Swampscott. This game lasted four innings, and

COURTESY PHOTO

The 2026 Marblehead Softball Little League all-stars are, from left, back row, Emma Conrad, Gwen Pisa, Alex Marcus, Amalia Rotigliano, Elizabeth Bedrosian, Anneka Lord and Quinn Liggio. Front row, Avery Wilkins, Kaylee Aulson, Flynn Higgins, Maya Olmstead, Kate Sterio, Ellie Serafin and Tatum Cole.

once again Cole was practically flawless. She ended up striking out 12 of 13 batters to help secure the second straight win.

Offensively, Marblehead received solid contributions throughout the lineup in both these blowouts, led by Elizabeth Bedrosian, Anneka Lord and Emma Conrad, who have consistently powered the attack.

After thrashing Swampscott,

the local all-stars went right back to work the next night against Wyoma. It was a much closer affair, but the Junior Magicians still came out on top to the tune of 3-0.

Kaylee Aulson and Cole paced the offensive attack, while Cole also did her part once again in the circle, fanning 14 to record her third straight no-hitter.

marbleheadcurrent.org

16 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Marblehead Current

Sailing From P. 15

yards ahead through the thick fog. The sailors relied on electronic navigational tools to guide them through the course.

“It was very much a navigator’s race,” said Cindy Smith, Lindsay’s mother, who sailed on Africa B Squad with her husband and daughter.

This year, Smith was out on the water, sailing with her parents, Cindy and Jud Smith on the Africa B Squad, which finished first in the spinnaker class.

Jud, a 10-time world champion sailor, introduced his daughter to sailing at a young age, and she spent much of her youth crewing alongside him.

“It’s fun to go with him because you’ll probably win,” she said.

In the jib and main division, Peter Engel’s Goldeneye finished first, followed

by W. Hundahl’s Stag in second and Christopher Lubeck’s Man of War in third. Behind the Smith’s Africa B Squad, Allen Breed’s INDRA placed second and

Dan Rabin’s Virgo placed third.

For Smith, the biggest victory was being able to reflect on how far she has come in her long and challenging road to recovery, and seeing the support of her sailing community behind her.

“The sailing community here has rallied around me in a way that I could never imagine,” said Smith. “I started getting letters from other club members here when I was in the hospital, and they were very supportive, and I caught a tear or two embracing the support of my fellow sailors” Smith wants to show, through telling her story, how devastating domestic violence can be, and how our community can do more to call it out and prevent it.

“One of the best things about this event is just for a community like this to recognize that domestic violence does not discriminate,” said Smith. “It can happen to any of us. In general, people need to start getting better at recognizing signs of domestic violence so that they can intervene before it’s too late.”

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