The Arts Festival’s first Pup Party Page 12
Marblehead voters had their say Tuesday, July 8, on proposed zoning changes that could allow up to 600 additional housing units in three areas of town to comply with the controversial MBTA Communities Act.
The Current had a team covering Tuesday’s election. Visit MarbleheadCurrent.org for the results.
BY LEIGH BLANDER, WILL DOWD AND GREY COLLINS
Marblehead celebrated a recordbreaking Festival of Arts and July Fourth weekend with huge crowds and a fireworks comeback that wowed spectators.
“In 17 years, I’ve never seen such
a big turnout,” said Joe Tavano of the Festival’s board. “We had more people at Crocker Park on the Fourth than ever before. We had 4,000 people at Abbot Hall on Friday alone. Attendance was the biggest ever at the Champagne Reception, and our art sales are up 25% over last year.”
Tavano added, “Everyone worked
really hard, but the weather really has to cooperate, and this year it sure did.”
Throughout the weekend, people filled the streets visiting art exhibits, listening to live music and enjoying street performers. Kids gathered
BY LEIGH BLANDER
“I’ve learned most of my life skills right here,” said Lane Kaeyer as she prepared for a day coaching at Pleon Yacht Club on Marblehead Neck. Pleon is the nation’s oldest youth-run yacht club, serving about 175 sailors ages 8-17. Kaeyer has sailed at Pleon for 11 years. This spring, she and another Pleon coach, Ashley Hoguet, traveled to the Bahamas as part of an exchange program aimed at teaching
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Republic Services strike, impacting Marblehead’s trash and recycling collection, entered its second week on Monday. Republic has been sending replacement workers to Marblehead, but many residents report their trash has not been picked up. Public Health Director Andrew Petty sent a Code Red (phone) message to residents Sunday night, advising them to put out their trash for pickup on their usual day or bring it to the Transfer Station. The Transfer Station is free to all residents during the strike. Petty also urged residents whose trash has not been collected to call (781-6310212) or email the Health Department (BOHemails@marblehead.org).
“The emails received for trash/ recycling not being picked up basically covers every single street in Marblehead. The visual driving through town this morning shows that, too,” Board of Health member Tom McMahon wrote on his public Facebook page Monday morning. McMahon added, “I think the majority are going to be disappointed today and probably most of the week and it’s going to get disgusting. I recommend pretending like your trash is never going to get picked up again. What would you do? There is a location to bring it in town. Every resident has access. If you have a vehicle, are not disabled or
underprivileged kids how to sail — and the life lessons that come with the sport.
“Resilience, problem solving, teamwork,” Kaeyer listed as examples. “It’s all about putting your best foot forward and learning how to ask for help.”
The exchange program is called Make Them Sailors. Kaeyer and Hoguet spent three weeks in Eleuthera, Bahamas, volunteering at a small community sailing program that serves local kids who would not otherwise be able to afford
sailing.
“It makes sailing accessible,” Kaeyer said. “Most sailing is really, really expensive. This helps kids see and experience new things.”
According to the Make Them Sailors website, the nonprofit provides “gently used sailing gear, training and support to sailors around the world, helping them develop confidence, leadership and a lifelong love for the water. Through partnerships
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Al Williams was elected the new chair of the School Committee in a 3-2 vote at a July 2 meeting, with immediate past chair Jenn Schaeffner and Brian Ota opposing. New member Kate Shmeckpeper was voted vice chair.
The School Committee spent much of the meeting discussing the Marblehead High roof, which has been leaking for years. Voters have approved nearly $14 million in debt exclusions for the project. The committee appointed a new facilities subcommittee, led by new member Henry Gwazda and Schaeffner, to support the project moving forward.
It still needs to be decided whether to go forward with a full roof membrane replacement or a “fluid applied” approach that would prevent future leaks, according to Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mike Pfifflering. The fluid applied approach could save about $1.6 million.
“There are pros and cons to both approaches,” explained David Saindon of the project management firm Left Field.
“While a membrane replacement has a longer lifespan, it is more money whereas the fluid applied will extend the life of the existing
From P. 1
elderly you really should take this matter into your own hands. Help
roof but you’re also saving money. By having both alternates (put out to) bid, you can figure out what that savings is.”
The committee approved getting bids on both options, which will cost another $200,000.
Gwazda said he hopes the facilities subcommittee will meet throughout the summer to learn more about the two options so it can better make a recommendation to the full School Committee on which approach to take this fall.
Superintendent John Robidoux warned that when the bids arrive, the School Committee will need to make a quick decision about which option to choose.
“If we’re going to get this roof done — and it needs to be done;
anyone who you know is in those categories if you can.” McMahon continued, “Yes, this sucks. You’re missing a service that you pay for in taxes. It’s trash and it’s gross. Let’s get past all
it’s already way behind schedule — we need to make the decision, stick to the conviction, get it done whichever way we decide,” he said. “Otherwise, that roof won’t be done next summer. I want to make it abundantly clear we have to move forward regardless of what the debate ends up being at the final decision.”
Either way, work on the roof is set to begin in the summer of 2026.
Recess
The School Committee approved a new recess policy that allows for “up to” two recesses a day in elementary schools. That is already reflected in the teachers’ contract, according to union co-president Jonathan Heller.
that. Treat the situation like it will not be over any time soon and that odds are you aren’t getting help from the town. That’s my best recommendation.”
The striking Republic workers
New principal introduced Robidoux introduced the committee to the new Veterans School principal, Matt LeVangie. His last position was as assistant principal in Littleton.
“I’ve never been a principal before, and I have felt tremendous support,” LeVangie said. “It’s only been two days, but so far I’ve been extremely impressed.”
Next steps
The School Committee will meet next on July 31 at 6 p.m. A retreat is planned for August when members will be updated on several issues by the committee’s attorney and a representative from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.
are demanding higher wages and better benefits. The work stoppage is affecting 400,000 people across the state.
Visit MarbleheadCurrent.org for the latest on the trash strike.
BY WILL DOWD
Residents will pay approximately $90 more annually for water and sewer service starting July 1, following rate increases approved by the town’s Water and Sewer Commission on June 24. The combined annual water and sewer bill for a standard household will be $2,661.20 ($1,029.20 water + $1,632 sewer).
For the 82% of Marblehead households (approximately 6,560 of the town’s 8,000 water accounts) that remain within the lower water usage tier (below 22,440 gallons quarterly),
annual water bills will average
$1,029.20 — comprising the $170 administrative charge plus $859.20 in usage fees. The 18% of accounts (about 1,440 households) that exceed the 22,440-gallon threshold will face significantly higher bills due to the elevated rates for consumption above this limit.
Sewer costs show similar tiered impacts. The 85% of users (about 6,715 of 7,900 sewer accounts) staying below 22,440 gallons quarterly will pay about $1,632 annually, while those exceeding the threshold face considerably higher bills as the rate jumps from $12.10 to $13.50 per 748 gallons for
BY WILL DOWD
any usage above the 22,440-gallon mark.
Under the new structure, the quarterly water administrative charge will rise from $40 to $42.50 ($170 annually), while the sewer administrative charge increases from $37.50 to $45 per quarter ($180 annually).
For water usage, customers will pay $7.16 per 748 gallons for the first 22,440 gallons used quarterly, up from $7.10, and $11.65 per 748 gallons for usage exceeding 22,440 gallons, increased from $11.50.
On the sewer side, rates will increase to $12.10 per 748 gallons for the first 22,440 gallons and $13.50 per 748 gallons
Marblehead has received a $50,000 grant from the Massachusetts 250 Grant Program to support its “Sails & Stories: Marblehead 250” project, a yearlong series of events celebrating the town’s vital role in the American Revolution.
The award, announced July 2 by the HealeyDriscoll administration, is part of a broader initiative to commemorate the Revolution’s 250th anniversary with inclusive, communityfocused programming across the state.
“Sails & Stories: Marblehead 250” will blend heritage tourism, education and community engagement through historical reenactments, maritime events, educational partnerships
thereafter, up from $12 and $12.25 respectively.
For households using 22,440 gallons quarterly — the American Water Works Association standard comparison — the combined annual bill will increase from $1,012 to $1,029.20 for water service and from $1,590 to $1,632 for sewer service, a total annual increase of about $60.
The increases will support the FY 2026 water budget of $6.46 million and sewer budget of $5.53 million, representing increases of $256,524 and $136,448 respectively over the previous year.
and tourism promotion. Programming will begin in early 2026, with some lead-up activities in late 2025.
Marblehead’s grant is one of 59 projects across Massachusetts that received a total of $2 million in the fiscal year round of Massachusetts 250 Grant Program funding.
The Marblehead 250 Committee, formed by the Select Board in 2024, will oversee the project. The committee is co-chaired by town historian Donald Doliber, Marblehead Museum executive director Lauren McCormack and architect and historian Edward Nilsson. For more information, visit marbleheadmuseum.org/250resources/.
IN MEMORIAM Ed Bell, co-founder, co-chair (2022-2025) CHAIR Bob Peck
REACT We’re standing by to listen to your ideas. Please drop us a line and let us know what you would like to see in your community newspaper. Send your thoughts to info@marbleheadnews.org.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
If you’ve walked down Washington Street recently, chances are you’ve noticed the aroma of freshly baked bread and croissants coming from Farine, an artisanal French bread bakery that opened this spring.
“The bread is amazing,” said Alice Goldsmith, a regular at Farine. “And the croissants and brioche… it’s all delicious.”
Goldsmith added, “Grab a croissant and a coffee, and you could be in Paris.”
Kathryn and Laurent Dedieu are the team behind the little bakery at 146 Washington, and they have quite a story.
Kathryn (née MacLaughlin) grew up in Everett and spent summers with her grandparents in Marblehead. Laurent is from a little town in southwestern France.
The two met at a Doctors Without Borders humanitarian outpost in Lokichogio, Kenya. They each spent about 20 years working for Doctors Without Borders (she as a water engineer, he as a logistician) before deciding it was time to try something new.
They both love food and considered opening a restaurant or cheese shop. They eventually settled on a bakery. They moved to Paris, where Laurent went back to school to become a master bread maker. They lived in New York City briefly but ultimately chose Marblehead for their newest adventure.
They have been overwhelmed by the positive response. It’s not unusual to see lines out their door.
“We didn’t know Marblehead was craving this bread,” Laurent said in a thick French accent,
smiling.
“We’ve been surprised by all the enthusiasm,” Kathy added. “There’s been such community spirit. You really feel like people are on your side.”
Laurent does all the baking, while Kathy manages the business (and works full time training managers at Doctors Without Borders in Boston). They both work seven days a week.
Laurent’s day starts at 3 a.m. and finishes after 3 p.m., when he mops the floor and closes the bakery. Each week, he bakes about 300 loaves of bread (including ancient grains, fougasse, whole wheat and more), 300 baguettes and 1,000 croissants. Farine sells out most days.
The Water and Sewer Commission approved the new rates to address critical infrastructure needs and rising wholesale costs from both the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority and South Essex Sewerage District. The water department budget increase stems from a $132,162 rise in MWRA charges, along with increases of $38,543 in salaries and $85,819 in expenses. For sewer operations, the budget
rise is driven by a $117,206 increase in charges from SESD, along with a $22,793 increase in salaries, and a slight decrease of $3,551 in expenses.
A significant factor in sewer rates is the ongoing EPA administrative order requiring Marblehead to spend $1 million annually on infiltration and inflow removal over the next eight years, a project expected to cost more than $10 million.
The FY 2026 rate analysis also noted that sewer deduction meters have been added to the
Asked why the bakery has enjoyed such early success, Kathy answered, “We respect the core principles of French bread making and use good ingredients.”
Laurent added, “We respect the production process, the fermentation process, which gives an opportunity for full flavor.”
After traveling the world and experiencing adventures abroad, the Dedieus are happy to settle in Marblehead with their bakery — and community. They have no plans on expanding.
“We want to generate enough revenue to live our life, which is not a big life, and be part of Marblehead,” Kathy said.
To learn more about Farine, visit farinebakery.com.
system at an increasing rate, with calendar year 2024 showing a 27% loss of sewer revenue due to these meters.
SESD, which treats Marblehead’s wastewater at its Salem facility, is planning major capital improvements as part of its “Centennial Plan.” The regional authority’s treatment plant, completed in 1998, is now over 25 years old and requires significant reinvestment.
SESD is projecting $148 million in priority improvements over the
next five years.
To stabilize rates amid these pressures, the commission has increased its zero-interest loan from the MWRA Local Assistance Program. The budget includes FY 2026 payments for those loans of $625,940, a 19% increase over the previous year.
Additionally, the commission approved increases to various service fees, including doubling the real estate closing administrative fee from $25 to $50.
The town’s water and sewer system serves
The Marblehead Festival of Arts has never been a museum piece. Each July, Marblehead dusts off the basics — fireworks, gallery shows, harbor views — and then tweaks the formula just enough to keep locals guessing.
Take this year’s debut Pup Party: 150 dogs dunking in kiddie pools and mugging for a costume contest. It could have been a one-off gag. Instead, it felt like a fresh page in the festival playbook — proof that “arts” can mean paw-print paintings if you let it.
A community paint-by-number mural outside the Old Town House updated a classic kids’ craft for the whole town. Everyone patiently waited to paint a square inch of color. When the canvas hangs later this summer, the design will say “community” louder than any label.
The Moth Radio Hour-style storytelling was another smart pivot. Polished lectures and essays are fine, but hearing Bobbie Wayne confess her tweezers disaster or Thomas Connolly recall being mock-stabbed by Sir Ian McKellen reminded us that raw, five-minute honesty can steal the show.
Even the staples got a slight tune-up. Visualarts venues stretched from Abbot Hall to Masonic Lodge, with newcomers like Beyond Walls’ mural hanging on the King Hooper Mansion.
And after two dud years, the Marblehead Fireworks and Harbor Illumination roared back — 1,200 shoreline flares and a 20-minute fireworks finale that felt satisfying.
Music at Crocker Park followed the same “old frame, new photo” approach: smaller genrehopping sets leading to the Adam Ezra Group’s lawn-filling performance.
Meanwhile, the Gerry 5’s Horribles Parade delivered its signature mix of satire and spectacle, with entries like the American Pope reminding us that art can be irreverent and local at the same time. Behind all of it, 400-plus volunteers — the real source of reinvention. They rewrite schedules, test half-formed ideas and haul gear so the rest of us can wander and be surprised.
Here’s a well-deserved round of applause from the Current to all the volunteers, artists and organizers who keep this festival vibrant. We can’t wait to see what you dream up next year.
The members of the Current’s editorial board are Bob Peck, chairman of the Current; Virginia Buckingham, president of the Current’s board of directors; board member Brian Birke, Current editorial staff members Kris Olson and Will Dowd, and Joseph P. Kahn, a retired Boston Globe journalist.
To the editor:
“I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks,” wrote William Shakespeare in “Twelfth Night.” Unequal to the Bard, I must use his words to express my thanks to everyone who assisted with this year’s literary festival, participated (eagerly and fully) in the various events, submitted their best work to the 2025 writing contest, judged the writing submissions, presented workshops and talks, attended as interested listeners and offered the books of our presenting speakers for sale and signing.
Tremendous thanks to Marblehead’s Unitarian Universalist Church which, as they have done for many years, allowed us the use of their facilities; to Bill Smalley, who made certain that signage, sound and physical arrangements were everything we requested; to Roger Cowles, who did yeoman’s work creating an easy-to-use database so that even non-database users like me could understand; to Festival treasurer Kathy
BY LINDA BASSETT
Some years ago, I wrote a book about the food and cooks in North Shore neighborhoods. Doing the research I never expected to find men (they were all men) from the deep South who had carried closely held family recipes for barbecue sauces with them when they moved here in the wake of the Civil Rights movement. These gentlemen wove their barbecue stories with memories of voting rights marches, lunch counter sit-ins and Negro League baseball games. Not even one of them would part with a recipe which, in many cases, had been passed down and improved upon for generations. But each was generous with invitations to sample the fabulous flavors.
I decided, then, to make my own barbecue sauce. I researched printed recipes and played with ingredients until I came up with one I liked. But I never make the same one twice. I just keep composing variations on the theme.
To get the fullest flavor from barbecue, the meat needs to marinate first in a “dry rub,” a blend of dried herbs and spices. Then massage onto the meat, wrap it in plastic wrap, and leave it overnight in the fridge. The mix can be as simple as salt and pepper, or as elaborate as the cook can dream up. Sear the meat over high heat on the grill to ready it for the sauce. Then, while it cooks low and slow, intermittently brush or “mop” the sauce onto the meat. Before starting, set aside some of the sauce for anyone who wants to slather it on the finished product.
The recipes here are a mix of simple savory and sweet ingredients. I don’t claim that they will live up to those undisclosed sauces my taste buds still
remember. But they may be an improvement over a bottle or jar.
Just a thought: If you do rely on a bottled sauce, don’t hesitate to boost its flavor with a few of your own original enhancements. It can only improve.
WORLD’S EASIEST BARBECUE SAUCE MAKES 1 1/2 CUPS.
Atlanta is a company town. Its output, Coca-Cola, finds its way into all kinds of recipes, both sweet and savory. One of the best is a tasty barbecue sauce best on burgers or country ribs.
Just whisk together 1/2 cup catsup and one cup Coca-Cola classic (not diet or sugar-free). Brush this over the meat gradually as it cooks. Throwback barbecue sauce MAKES TWO CUPS. Try this on chicken or short ribs. I know cooks who swear by it on shrimp. Make it up to one day ahead of using.
` Two tablespoons olive oil
` 1/4 cup finely chopped sweet onion (yellow or Vidalia)
` Three garlic cloves, minced
` 3/4 cup tomato paste
` 1 1/2 cups water
` 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
` One teaspoon thyme
` Three tablespoons cider vinegar
` Two tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
` 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
` One tablespoon granulated brown sugar
` One teaspoon salt, ground black pepper
` Pinch cayenne pepper
Warm the olive oil in a small saucepan. Add onion and garlic and cook over medium heat until softened and lightly colored, about 15 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste and water. Add celery seeds, thyme vinegar, mustard, cinnamon and sugar. Season with salt, pepper and cayenne.
Simmer, partly covered, for 20 minutes. Lift the cover and stir occasionally and taste for seasoning.
Refrigerate, at least two hours, covered, to blend the flavors.
Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-and-coming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.
BY STEPHEN BACH
You’ve seen the message 100 times: “This website uses cookies. Click to accept.” Most people just click without thinking. But if you’ve ever wondered what those cookies really are (no, not the chocolate chip kind) you’re not alone. Cookies are tiny files that websites save on your device when you visit. They’re like a name tag for your browser. When you go back to that same site later, the cookie lets it know, “Hey, it’s you again!” This makes your online experience faster and more personal.
For example, if you log into a site and it remembers you next time, that’s a cookie doing its job. If you’re shopping online and close the window, then come back and your cart is still full? Yep, cookie again. It also remembers your choices — like if you prefer dark mode, or want to browse in another
language. But cookies aren’t just there for convenience. Some are used to learn more about what you do online. They track what you click, how long you stay on a page and what you might be interested in.
That’s how ads seem to magically follow you around from site to site. It’s not magic. It’s tracking. And that’s where people start to get uneasy.
Now, not all cookies are created equal. The helpful ones stick to the website you’re on. The sneaky ones — called third-party cookies — can watch you across different sites.
That’s like someone following you
through every store at the mall, taking notes. Not illegal, but a little creepy.
The good news? You can take control. Every browser lets you manage your cookies. You can delete them, block them, or tell your browser not to accept thirdparty cookies at all. If you poke around in your settings under privacy or security, you’ll find the options.
So, are cookies dangerous? Not really. But they’re not invisible either. They shape a lot of what you see online, from ads to what websites remember about you.
The key is knowing they exist and learning how to manage them.
At The Digital Docs, we get these kinds of questions all the time. And we love it — because when you understand your tech, you feel more confident using it. Until next time: stay safe out there. It can be a crazy digital world!
Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs.
BY WILL DOWD
The Marblehead Festival of Arts showcased the breadth and depth of artistic talent on the North Shore. Drawing 614 submissions, the 2025 festival accepted 395 works now displayed across six buildings and 11 exhibitions throughout town.
The annual festival transformed Marblehead into a living gallery. Judges from across the region evaluated works based on technical excellence, creative vision and emotional impact.
Here’s a wrap-up of the winners:
Mixed media — St. Michael’s Church
Heidi Kepnes’ “Post Ten Seven” creates a mysterious, layered composition that draws viewers into a dark, almost cavernous scene painted in deep earth tones. Strings extend like lines of connection or tension from an upper plateau down to a quiet pool below.
Painting — Abbot Hall
Claudia Kaufman turns simple grocery items into luminous objects in “Bag of Lemons and Limes.” With near-photographic precision, glowing yellows and greens stand out against neutral backgrounds. Judges praised its “excellent understanding of perspective technique, light and subject matter,” capturing an everyday scene with fresh eyes.
Painting the Town —
King Hooper Mansion
Ellen Grandpre’s “Environmentally Sensitive Area” transports viewers to Marblehead’s rocky shore with warm ochres, sun-bleached grays and soft brushstrokes that capture stone textures and coastal light. The show’s judge summed it up: “Classic!! You are there. I want to stand on those rocks and enjoy the waves.”
Printmaking — Abbot Hall
Jill Clemmer’s “Peonies With Swallowtail” pairs blooming peonies with a graceful swallowtail butterfly in an elegant linocut. Rich pink and coral blooms contrast with bold black linework, and the butterfly’s wings create striking negative space. Judges praised its “flawless execution” and “exceptional control in block cutting.”
Sculpture — St. Michael’s Church
Daniel Zampino’s “Rich Man. Poor Man” features two stylized slate figures — one standing confidently, one seated humbly with a cup — offering a quiet but powerful social commentary on dignity and inequity.
Judge Priscilla Danforth called it “exquisitely sculpted with a powerfully evocative composition,” adding that it
“speaks louder than words.”
Digital Art — St. Michael’s Church
Kristin Horgan’s “Enchanted Anticipation” shows a young woman standing beneath a glowing golden sun in a surreal cityscape awash in soft turquoise and amber tones. The image captures a sense of poised wonder, as if she is waiting on the edge of something new.
Drawing — Unitarian Universalist Church
Cathy Marie Michael’s “Motherless Twins, Mother Denied Life Saving Health Care After Georgia Ban” portrays a father cradling his twin children with a heavy, tender gaze. The judge praised the “highly sensitive and expressive” handling of the medium, describing the piece as feeling “effortless and highly conscientious at the same time.”
Crafts — Abbot Hall
Gretchen Langton’s “From the Mind of Jim Henson” celebrates imagination and creative legacy in this joyous felted wool tribute bursting with the iconic bright colors of Jim Henson’s beloved Muppets. Kermit’s signature green, Miss Piggy’s pink and the rainbow hues of the ensemble cast create a vibrant tapestry around Henson’s lifelike portrait. Judge James Bostick admired the work’s detail, saying it is “astonishingly realistic in Henson’s face and his wellknown characters,” and noted that it “almost feels like you can hear Kermit whispering in his ear.”
Photography — Black & White — Masonic Temple
Kagan Sinclair’s “Focused Flight” captures a bird soaring against a pale sky in dramatic black and white.
Judges described the image as “flawless,” noting its “striking light” and “beautiful highlights of light on the head and feet.”
Nick Curtis’ “Glover’s Encounter in the Fog” shows a line of Revolutionary War reenactors emerging slowly through pearl-gray mist, their crimson red coats creating the only bold color punctuating the composition. The palette of fog and earth tones makes the scarlet uniforms appear to glow through the haze. Judges praised the subtle storytelling and symbolic use of color, calling it a “nearly monochromatic photograph” where “the red of the redcoats stands out as they emerge from the fog.”
Linda D’addario’s “Summer Sophie” depicts a young woman in profile, her expression quiet and introspective in this contemplative oil portrait painted against a soft blue-gray background. Gentle peach and rose flesh tones contrast with rich brown hair woven into an intricate braid, while golden highlights catch the light on her face and shoulders. Judges admired the “pensive quality” created by her profile pose and praised the “illustrative execution of the hair and features” and “subtle lighting.”
Ainsley Miller’s untitled portrait showcases an emerging artist’s technical skill and expressive hand in this confident, contemporary work painted in warm, naturalistic tones. The detailed treatment of the subject’s gaze and skin in carefully harmonized flesh tones.
For complete coverage of the Marblehead Arts Festival, visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.
BY WILL DOWD
The tweezers were ruined. Bobbie Wayne stood in her bathroom two decades ago, staring at a chin hair and a pair of pliers her husband Dan had lent to Gus the handyman.
“I run over, I grab the tweezers out of Gus’ greasy hand, but they’re ruined,” Wayne told a rapt audience Friday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Marblehead. The old tweezers had “alligator clips,” unlike modern ones, she explained, launching into a tale of duct tape mishaps and $65 Swiss “Tweezer Man” tweezers that ultimately led to an epiphany about aging.
“I mean, who cares if I have a couple of chin hairs?” she said. “I can’t really see that well anymore to pluck them out anyway.”
Wayne was one of a dozen storytellers who took the stage for “Tell Us Your Best Story—In Five Minutes or Less,” a Moth Radio Hour-inspired event during the Literary Festival of the Marblehead Festival of Arts. Each participant shared personal experiences in a raw, unpolished style that makes the longtime radio program so compelling. The stories ranged widely but shared a common thread of vulnerability and humor.
Howard Wolfe described being
“petrified” to teach middle school. He tried to avoid it, asking to do only high school student teaching. “Too bad. You gotta do middle school,” his advisor told him.
On his first day, snow began to fall and the seventh graders’ attention drifted. Wolfe abandoned his plan and compared World War I to a playground snowball fight. The students were captivated.
“At that point, I started to love teaching middle school,” Wolfe said. He just completed his 20th year.
Cynthia Williams shared how she lied about having sailing credentials to land a cooking job on a boat called the Rachel and
the Ebenezer. When a storm hit, her inexperience was exposed.
“This is when I discovered I wasn’t a sailor,” Williams said. She left the boat in West Palm Beach, ending her brief maritime career with, “See ya, I’m getting off.”
Some stories transported listeners across decades. Dottie Foley recalled standing behind the dugout at Fenway Park in the mid-1970s as a 10 year old. Amid a crowd of boys clamoring for Red Sox second baseman Denny Doyle’s attention, her eyes met his.
“His shiny eyes caught mine … and tossed me his baseball as he disappeared down the dugout steps,” Foley said, the moment
still vivid after nearly 50 years.
Maria Judge’s story centered on a sweater her mother started knitting for her brother three decades earlier. After her mother’s death at 94, Judge, a “very modest knitter,” struggled to finish it herself before finding help at a Dorchester yarn shop.
“Eight days later, Shelly sent me a picture of the completed sweater,” Judge said. She delivered it to her brother on May 24, 2021. Three months later, a fire destroyed her condo.
“I was very glad I had not lingered another day to get him his sweater.”
Marblehead resident Donna Cotterell shared her philosophy about manifesting dreams,
exemplified by her 2013 journey to Bali following her father’s death. After attending an event in New Orleans where Lisa Nichols, an author of “The Secret”, spoke, Cotterell received an email inviting her to Bali. Despite financial constraints, she committed immediately.
“I said, ‘You know what, I’m gonna go. I don’t know how I’m gonna get there, but I’m going,’” Cotterell said. Her ex-husband ultimately provided the $2,000 needed for the trip, reinforcing her belief in the power of intention.
Steve Willard, a commercial
BY WILL DOWD
Passersby on Washington Street might wonder why a man in a Superman costume peers through an optometrist’s phoropter in the massive mural that hung above them during the Marblehead Festival of Arts. The striking portrait of Michael Boulier reflects his love of superheroes and playful spirit, serving as a tribute to a man who became familiar to many Marblehead residents through his brother-in-law’s photography exhibitions.
Boulier, who died June 3 at age 61, lived with Down syndrome and spent decades visiting his sister Maureen Ashley and her husband, Rick Ashley, in Marblehead. Though he resided in Maryland, Michael became recognizable to residents through Rick Ashley’s photography exhibitions.
The 9-feet-by-12-feet mural, installed by Gene Arnould of Arnould Gallery and Framery, 211 Washington St., for the festival that ran through mid-July, transformed one of Rick Ashley’s photographs into a public memorial. The image captures Michael in his Superman outfit, complete with the distinctive red cape and chest emblem that became his signature look.
Rick Ashley, a retired commercial photographer, began documenting Michael nearly five decades ago when he first started dating Maureen. What emerged was an extraordinary artistic collaboration that would span decades and earn national recognition, including a spot in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery.
“He absolutely loved them,” Rick Ashley said of Michael’s reaction to seeing his photographs. “I could get Michael to do anything. I’d say, ‘Mike, let’s do this.’ And he’d sit
there and do whatever I say. He loved the whole process.”
The photo shoots made “Michael feel seen,” Maureen Ashley said. Rick Ashley’s photographs reimagined him in various roles, but it was the Superman series that resonated most deeply.
“Superheroes, ice cream,” Maureen Ashley said when asked what brought Michael the most joy.
Michael’s devotion to superheroes went far beyond casual fandom. Superman was his clear favorite, and he owned an extensive collection of superhero-themed clothing.
His bedroom was a shrine to his heroes, with curtains, sheets and bedspreads all featuring superhero designs. The Superman costume became like
“Michael’s formalwear” — the outfit he felt most confident wearing for photographs and special occasions.
The family developed creative strategies to help Michael navigate public attention during outings.
“People would stare at him because he was different and he didn’t like that,” Maureen Ashley explained. “He would frown and look down. So when Jack Sparrow was the big movie, he got dressed as Jack Sparrow. And when they would stare at him, he would smile because I said, ‘Mike, they like your Jack Sparrow.’”
Born March 21, 1964, Michael was the youngest of eight children in an Irish Catholic family. When doctors advised his parents to institutionalize him at birth, his mother refused.
“That was 1964, and that’s what people did,” Maureen Ashley noted. “My mother said, ‘Absolutely not. He was the baby.’”
Michael thrived in the large family environment, developing his own forms of communication despite being nonverbal. His siblings learned to read his facial expressions and understand his needs.
The artistic partnership between Michael and Rick Ashley produced images that challenged public perceptions about people with disabilities. One photograph, “Michael #145973,” which depicts Michael napping in his Superman costume, was selected for “The Outwin 2016: American Portraiture Today” exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
“I didn’t know anything about Down syndrome until I met Michael,” Rick Ashley said. His own father’s experience with polio had prepared him to look beyond physical differences and connect with Michael as an individual.
Like his father, he said Michael showed that physical differences need not define a person’s capacity to inspire others.
The mural will be up through mid-July.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
As last-minute preparations at the
a painting of a woman in hair rollers, will be displayed on the outside of the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St., through the summer. It is by muralist Angurria of the Dominican Republic. Angurria spray painted the piece on a large brick building in Lynn in 2017, where it remained until the building was razed in 2022.
“This work tells a great story,” explained Wilson, who launched Beyond Walls in Lynn in 2017. “Angurria grew up with a single mom who owned a beauty salon in Santo Domingo. His calling card is women in hair rollers.” Since coming to Lynn, Angurria has become famous internationally.
Beyond Walls works with local and international artists on public art pieces, placing them in 15 communities across Massachusetts. The nonprofit partners with local organizations, municipalities and community members to “enhance the physical landscape, drive positive economic change and bolster community engagement,” according to its website. There are currently 82 Beyond Walls murals across the city of Lynn alone.
“The world is a better place with more public art in it,”
Wilson said. “Public art can help foster conversations and give representation.”
MAA President Jim Murphy was there snapping photos as the mural was installed.
“This is an extension of the MAA’s work to expand the reach and touch of our 100-year-old art association,” he said.
On Saturday night, Wilson led a discussion about the power of public art in front of the mural.
Beyond Walls is about to launch public pieces by a new cohort of artists across Lynn on July 28. To learn more, visit beyondwalls.org.
around Bonaparte the magician, lined up for face painting and even held large snakes brought in by the Cape Ann Vernal Pond team.
A troupe of larger-than-life extraterrestrials, called Big Nazo, danced with kids and parents on Washington Street.
Marblehead’s traditional Horribles Parade kicked off the Fourth, with about 1,000 people participating.
Fireworks comeback
After two disappointing years for the fireworks show, crowds packed familiar vantage points along Crocker Park, Fort Sewall and Chandler Hovey Park Friday night, eager to reclaim a tradition many consider the centerpiece of summer in Marblehead.
In 2023, a heavy blanket of fog rolled in just minutes before showtime, leaving thousands of eager spectators unable to see the colorful bursts despite the show going on as planned.
The following year brought an even more dramatic blow.
In the early morning hours of July 4, 2024, a fire broke out on the fireworks barge stationed at the mouth of Marblehead Harbor. The blaze, which led to the cancellation of the fireworks, was determined to be accidental and traced to leftover materials from a Lynn fireworks show the night before.
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer called 2025 a “comeback year” for the fireworks, buoyed by strong community donations and volunteer efforts that helped raise around $50,000 for the display.
Concerts @ Crocker Park
Just before the fireworks, the Adam Ezra Group played at Crocker Park as part of the Marblehead Festival of Arts.
More than 3,000 people filled the park for the live concert, with families camped out on blankets and children dancing in the front row.
The Peterson and Janos families were sitting in lawn chairs near the top of Crocker Park.
“We look forward to this every year,” said Julia Patterson. Asked about her favorite part of the holiday weekend, she answered, “Always the fireworks!”
Alexander Barker and his 22-month-old son, August, were climbing the rocks while the music played.
“We’ve tried to see as many bands as possible,” Alexander said.
The Concerts @ Crocker Park series featured 20 acts over three days and four nights.
Festival’s sandcastle has edge On Sunday, the Festival’s final day, two dozen teams signed up for the sandcastle contest at Devereux Beach. Ethan Goodwin won with his creation “Trashy Fourth.”
Hempel, who worked with me to create a budget that guided us this year and will be a definitive springboard for next year; and to Festival President Cynda Rohmer, who believed in the Literary Festival and supported us throughout.
My last thanks go to Theresa Milewski, of All Computers Great and Small, who donated her time to design the beautiful
“The trash people are on strike,” Goodwin explained as he showed off his artwork.
fisherman, shared a maritime mishap when his partner Billy, nicknamed “Billy the Rat,” was pulled overboard after his boot got caught in the anchor line.
He created a trash truck out of sand, with the word “Republic” spelled out on top with rocks. Behind the truck, Goodwin strategically placed some trash and empty cans.
four-color literary festival brochure and then stepped in to print 100 copies for us and to Heidi Chase, who also donated her time to create a vibrant and eye-catching flyer calling for submissions to the writing contest.
If I have left anyone out, it is unintentional, and I apologize. Looking forward already to 2026.
Margo W.
R. Steiner
The letter writer is the chair of the 2025 Literary Festival.
Willard radioed the fleet: “Hey, you’ll never guess what happened to Billy. He hasn’t come up yet.” When Billy finally surfaced, he joked: “Well, while I was down … I spotted the mud, wood.” Lisa Fowler recounted how her 15-year-old Volvo became airborne during a Connecticut thunderstorm, hydroplaning across lanes at 70 mph with her dog Toby as a passenger. To
Tavano named several highlights from this year’s Festival, including the new Pup Party (which will return next
To the editor: The reason for writing to the paper is to address a very dangerous parking issue that is affecting all the residents of Lime Street and Farrell Court. Parking on Pond Street I know is limited. I have compassion for
“The car levitates off the road, spinning, spiraling on a frictionless skin of water,” she said. After a hospital stay, she found Toby with a compassionate farmer who had cared for him. When she retrieved him, the farmer explained, “He didn’t want to leave the lambs.” Tom Connolly’s story offered
year) and a community paint-bynumbers artwork that will be on display throughout the year.
“Everyone was in great spirits,” Tavano said. “There are always hiccups, but things went so smoothly.”
Festival President Cynda Rohmer and the leadership team will start planning soon for next year’s 60th Festival, which falls on the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
your struggles. Unfortunately, it has resulted in cars parked so close to the edge of both street corners that it makes visibility of oncoming cars doing 35-40 miles per hour coming down Pond Street impossible to see. Edging out to Pond Street is taking your life in your hands every time you exit either street. I hold my breath every time in the hopes I won’t lose the front of my car or my life. Farrell Court houses senior citizens with various disabilities as well as the Charter School on Lime Street with a
a funny, endearing glimpse into a young actor’s unexpected moment with a legend. As a college student and former child actor, Connolly eagerly volunteered to usher at Ian McKellen’s “Acting Shakespeare” performance, hoping to reconnect with the magic of live theater.
Read more about the Festival’s exhibits (Page 5), road races (Page 9), new Pup Party (Page 12) and expanded Literary Festival (Page 5).
frequent parent/child traffic flow.
I would like to ask two things: One, please, Pond Street, residents don’t park your cars close to the end of either street. Second, I would ask the Marblehead Police to put a no parking sign up at the four street corners. I believe both actions will save someone’s life, maybe it will be mine.
Thank you.
Elizabeth Sullivan Farrell Court
invited volunteers on stage, and Connolly instinctively positioned himself upstage center — a move rooted in his old training. In a playful moment, McKellen “stabbed” Connolly while performing Juliet’s death monologue, leaving him stunned and delighted to share a brief, unforgettable stage moment with a master.
BY GREY COLLINS
Instead of sleeping late and savoring the summer like most teenagers, 2025 Marblehead High School grad Jared Kaplowitch has been gearing up for one of the busiest weeks of the year at his boat detailing company — On the Water Boat Cleaning. Kaplowitch has been waking up at the crack of dawn and heading to local docks to manage his employees and get the job done. His company was started by his brother, Noah, a decade ago, and Jared Kaplowitch has always helped out with the business, but he has since taken on a larger role and successfully grown the company. Now he manages the company’s day-to-day operations around the entire North
Shore, and he makes sure that everything is running smoothly.
“Ever since I was little I would tag along with him,” recalled Kaplowitch of his older brother.
“But now that he’s gotten older
and gone to college, I’ve gotten into the business with him, and we’ve grown it into this massive detailing company.”
Today, they have 15 employees all across the North Shore,
including two teens in Marblehead. They’re extremely busy during the summer months, doing compound waxing, deep cleaning and hull cleanings from the docks. Kaplowitch gives directions, helps out around the different sites and often does the necessary paperwork to make sure the work can go forward.
“I spend a lot of my time in the car bouncing from boatyard to boatyard, from marina to marina, and bringing boats into the docks from the guys to clean,” said Kaplowitch. “I write up a lot of estimates and invoices.”
Kaplowitch worked at On the Water Boat Cleaning for his “senior project”. He spent the second half of his last semester working outside of school in order to get more real world job
experience. Jared believes that helping to run the company over the last few years has taught him some valuable lessons that he won’t soon forget.
“I’ve learned a ton from this experience,” said Kaplowitch. “I’ve learned to deal with a ton of different people, and I’ve definitely learned a lot more about boats.”
In the fall, he is heading to Bentley University to study finance, something he’s become familiar with after countless hours on the job. But he also hopes to continue to grow and improve the company over the next few years.
For more information about Kaplowitch’s business, contact info@onthewaterboatcleaning. com.
BY GREY COLLINS
After partying and watching the fireworks the night before, hundreds of Marbleheaders showed up early Saturday morning to take on some challenging road races in the summer heat.
The Marblehead Festival of Arts Road Races included a one-mile Fun Run race and 5K and 10K races. Nearly 500 from Marblehead – and around the country – participated in the races throughout the morning. The runners gathered at the Marblehead Post Office at 7:30 p.m., and lined up to start their races. At the sound of a gunshot, they set off. Guided by MFoA volunteers and the cheering of their neighbors, they ran through the course along Atlantic Avenue, Seaview Avenue and Pleasant Street.
The overall winner of the 10K race was Jonas Hampton (39) of Swampscott, with a time of 31:05. He was followed by Jameson Maynes (21) of Milford, Ohio, with a time of
BY JOE MCCONNELL
NAME: Quinn Sullivan
AGE: 17
FAMILY: Parents Peter and Stephanie; sister Rowan, 15
SCHOOL YEAR: MHS Class of 2025
SPORTS YOU PLAY: Swimming, tennis
FAVORITE SPORT, AND WHY: Tennis, because I’ve always loved racket sports, and tennis is the most active, and I believe it also involves the most strategy.
WHAT COLLEGE WILL YOU BE
ATTENDING?: I will be attending Northeastern University this fall.
COLLEGE MAJOR: Computer
Science ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY SPORTS IN COLLEGE?: Yes, I want to play tennis, ultimate frisbee, flag football and badminton.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS
AFTER COLLEGE?: I’m not sure, but I’m looking forward to figuring that out in college.
The Current athlete profile is brought to you by National Grand Bank.
34:35, and Jonah Potatch (18) of Marblehead, who finished with a time of 35:51.
The top women’s division runner was Kristine Gendron (37) of Marblehead, who finished the 10K with a time of 38:03. Carrie Furnari (43) of Marblehead finished next, and Amy Wachler of Boston was close behind.
Marblehead runners swept the top three spots of the 5K race. Dan Donato (44) won the 5K race with ease, crossing the finish line with a time of 17:32, and out-hustling the nearest competition by more than a minute. Next was Christopher Furnari (39), who was closely followed by Ashley SandersonSnyder (39).
The winner of the 1-mile Fun
Run was Maxwell Schaffner (8) of Marblehead, who ran a 7:08 mile. The second place finisher was Marblehead runner Tyler Hogan (8), who was followed by Julien Cohen (6) of Ithaca. The runners were happy to get outside and support the festival, while also staying active and spending time with their community.
“I wanted to run today to support the Festival of Arts, and spend time with friends doing what I love,” said medalwinning Marblehead High runner Nate Assa, who just graduated. “It was a super fun experience to run in a small race in my own community, especially after a long month of intense racing.”
Former All-Conference Magician catcher heads to Stonehill to play D-1 college softball
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Luka Bornhorst was a Marblehead High School student-athlete for only three years, but she didn’t waste any time to arguably establish herself as the best catcher in the history of the school’s softball program. She initially attended Wenham’s Academy at Penguin Hall school as a freshman.
Statistics don’t lie, and they have been rather steady for the All-Conference catcher all three years. She had 66, 67 and 65 at-bats in each of the last three years for a combined total of 198 in her MHS career, while accumulating 71 runs and 74 hits over that same three-year time span. Her career MHS batting average was a rather impressive .373, and it all translated into 12 doubles, 7 triples, 4 homeruns, 37 RBI and 63 stolen bases. But offense was only half of her all-around game. The defense was equally impressive with 19 putouts and 27 assists since 2023.
Bornhorst’s Magicians played 68 games in those three years, counting the postseason (six games) in the last two campaigns. In 2024, they went all the way to the Division 2 state semifinals, before dropping a 3-2 extra innings heartbreaker to Westfield, 3-2. This year, they fell to Hopkinton, the second seed, in the Sweet 16, 7-1. The Hillers, ironically, were also eliminated in the state semifinals. But it was Bedford that beat them in another close game, 3-1. The Magicians as a team went 38-10 during the last two state tournament runs. They were 9-11 in 2023, just missing the postseason by one mere game. It’s no wonder that veteran coach Johnny Gold places Luka among some of the best players he has ever coached in his career.
“(Luka) was only in our program for three years after transferring from Penguin Hall Academy, but she quickly became one of the most outstanding young women that I’ve ever coached on and off the field,” said Gold. “She always gave the team 100%, while also being an excellent leader. She is the best catcher that I’ve ever coached, as well as also being one of the fastest. She didn’t have any defensive flaws, and has always called a great game.
“Pitcher Tess Francis has thrown five
no-hitters over the last two years, and a lot of that credit has to go to Luka. I’ll miss Luka, but I’m happy for her as she’s now moving onto Division 1 Stonehill College to continue her softball career. She’s truly an exceptional player, who plays with heart and grit,” added the veteran Marblehead coach.
Speaking of Stonehill, Luka will finally be teaming up with Lauren Donovan, also from Marblehead. Donovan, Stonehill’s ace pitcher, is going into her senior season after throwing the program’s first no-hitter this past year as a Division 1 school.
“I can’t wait to catch her,” said Luka. “She’s such an incredible person, and I’m so lucky to have her as a mentor going into college. I didn’t get to play with her in high school, but I’ve always admired her game. She came to a few of our practices this year to throw live batting practice, which helped us tremendously. Comparing Tess with Lauren is tough, because they are both very gifted and hard-working pitchers, and I can’t wait to join her on the next level.”
Bornhorst grew up also playing soccer and basketball, and picked up volleyball in high school. She loved playing them all, but there was something about softball that really clicked for her. “I was able to zone-in on softball from an early age, and
I loved the competition,” she said. “The bond the sport creates with teammates and the adrenaline rush you feel from it is unlike any other sport.”
Bornhorst started playing softball at age 7 in the Marblehead Softball Little League. Four years later, she also played for the North Shore Breakers club team. “I’ve always played up to surround myself with older players. It pushed me, which also helped improve my game.”
She’s now back playing with the Rip City USA U18 national team for the second straight summer. “They helped me through the recruiting process, and ultimately in committing to Stonehill,” said Luka.
But she only applied to Stonehill in order to keep the process “simple.” She verbally committed to the Skyhawks early on. Her plans beyond the diamond is to major in psychology, focusing on life coaching and sports psychology.
While that’s the future, Luka will never forget her high school career. “It was one of the most meaningful parts of my life. I was lucky to be a part of this team, and to have grown up playing Marblehead softball. I have endless memories with this team from making it to the Final Four in the state last year to laughing together at team dinners. The girls and my coaches created such a memorable environment, and looking back on it now, I’ve nothing but gratitude,” she said.
Bornhorst loves Gold’s idea to expose players to AAU during the offseason for the purpose of developing more success on the varsity team. “For me, AAU helped me grow both as a player and as a teammate. It also gave me a chance to learn from a variety of coaches and a bunch of game situations,” she said.
With all that in mind, Luka would love to coach someday. “I’ve had so many amazing coaches who made a huge impact on my life, and I’d love to give that back to younger players,” she said. “Softball has given me so much, and it will always be a part of my life.”
But first, there’s still at least another four more years left in her as a player, where she’ll now transition her skills that she had learned as a Magician to the Skyhawks, hoping to propel the
BY LAURIE FULLERTON
The start of the 40th sailing of the Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race featured both youth teams seeking competition and offshore racing experience and the veterans returning for the third, fourth or fifth time seeking to win their division.
Divided into seven divisions, the 46-boat fleet set off Sunday afternoon in a 18- to 20-knot southerly breeze with every competitor knowing that this could be a fast, tightly contested race in all divisions. This town tradition hosted by the Boston Yacht Club is a 361 nautical mile offshore course to Halifax, Nova Scotia and is not only a World Sailing category 2 event but is also considered to be one of the pre-eminent ocean races of the North Atlantic. The race usually takes two to three days to complete.
“This is my favorite race –hands down,”said Dan Hoffman of Annapolis who is competing in his fourth Halifax race and is on board the Swan 44, Stormy Weather and is in Class ORS-
1. “I love the feel of sailing in the North Atlantic. I love the cultural aspect of getting to Nova Scotia and I have learned so much about history walking around that city. The reception in Canada is great and that always really blows my mind. And we hope to do well. Our boat is going for line honors This is our kind of weather and the harder it blows the better we do.” There are many factors to this challenging race and one of the bigger decisions comes as the fleet approaches Nova Scotia and must pass Cape Sable Island. Some skippers truly prefer staying closer to the island rather than going way offshore, others will choose the exact opposite.
“To use a golf analogy, there are a lot of sand traps (closer to shore) and this makes it an important decision if you go on the inside or outside when approaching Cape Sable,”said XXX.
Fletcher Boland of Marblehead is racing on board the J109 Hafa Adai in the ORR-4 division owned by Marblehead resident Eliot Shanabrook.
“It is going to be a windy and fast ride,”Boland said. “A lot of it depends on wind conditions and this has the hallmarks of being a fast downwind race so we will likely go farther offshore.” “This is my third Halifax race,”Boland added. “I like the challenge and adventure of it and spending multiple days offshore. We came in second last year and have a good chance to do well this year.” Additionally, Marblehead teams include Brian Barmmer on the J109 Saorsa; (BYC) Philip Helmes and crew on the J133 Fast Company (Corinthian Yacht Club; and John Thompson’s Frers 36 Hall Pass (Eastern Yacht Club) among others.
Class ORR-3 features 11 boats, and many in this fleet, looked to the J/122 Zig Zag from
From P. 1
with sailing schools and community programs, we work to break down barriers and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience the life-changing power of sailing.”
While in the Bahamas, Kaeyer lived on a catamaran and taught kids 6-16 to sail. They’d go out in Optis,
Connecticut as the boat to beat this year. In 2023, ZigZag won their class and came in third overall.
“We are excited to come back here, and we feel this is one of the premiere offshore races we have. We like it for many reasons including the sea life, and the owner likes the tranquility of the fog, and we know there are lots of good boats out there,”said ZigZag crew member Carlos Rodriguez, Also, in the ORR-3 fleet is the J122 Wild Blue out of the Portland Yacht Club in Maine.
John Wilkerson is on board, and he has done four Halifax races and participated in the 1999 race which was one of the slowest on record. Crew mate Tom Hussey said, “This is my fifth time doing
Bobcats and Vanguards, she said.
“The younger kids learn tacking and jibing,” Kaeyer added. “The older kids practice racing and match racing.”
Her favorite memory from the trip is being out in a boat with two sisters, ages 7 and 8.
“We sailed outside the cove and saw so much wildlife –turtles, lemon sharks, sea stars, jellyfish,” Kaeyer said.
“One of the girls wants to be
the race and I feel like we have seen it all. Squalls, no wind and I think I raced in the slowest one in 2019. We are looking forward to doing well, though.” Another competitor in the ORR-3 fleet is Extra Mile, a Benneteau 47 owned by Sam Sipe.
“The first time I raced was in 2012 and being here is like coming home. One of the biggest factors in this race is the current,”Sipe said.
There is also a double handed division and David and Isaac Carlen, are a father and son team on board the Bermuda 40 Arion. “Double handing means that when we do look around at the list of people in the other fleets, they include watch captains, tactician, chef, etc. Well, we are just two, so I
a marine biologist. They were just loving it.” Next week, two sisters from the Bahamas will be traveling to Pleon to spend two weeks sailing here and staying with local host families.
Pleon Commodore Ella Benedetto, 18, pointed out that Pleon is fundraising to help cover the travel costs for the girls. Those interested can visit givebutter.com/ makethemsailors-pleon.
suppose we have a captain and cook. We won’t fly a spinnaker as you really need at least fr crew for that. But the biggest challenge is that it is tiring for just two of us and we do expect some stormy weather. So, we just must keep our stamina up.” Strategy and youthful stamina may make the ORR-1 and ORR-2 divisions particularly challenging, and they will be close over the course. The U.S. Naval Academy’s Wahoo were protested at the start of the race as they powered across the starting line with a team of midshipmen and women in their mid-20s, plus three coaches, on board but once they settle down, they are likely going to be the team to watch.
“We have been practicing, and
we have a few who are seniors and have raced this before. We have some midshipman here who have never sailed offshore before,”said Chad Schaffner, helmsman and midshipman and senior from U.S. Naval Academy. He was on the boat last year when they got line honors (first over the line).
“We had an exciting race here two years ago and we are looking forward to doing well. It is going to a tough race as our entire fleet is extremely competitive,”Schaffner said. In the ORR-2 division, a team of mainly and 18-year-olds from Community Boating Center of New Bedford includes nine teenagers and two coaches on the Baltic yacht Crazy Horse. The team includes Maisy Sperry, 19; Sophia Litos, 18; and Pete Herlihy, 18; among others. At press time, the lead boat vying for line honors was Scowling Dragon in the ORR-2 division. A true classic is also featured in the ORR-2 division as Black Watch, a custom yawl owned by Trevor Fetter (among others) and his team include sister and Olympian JJ Fetter and a member of the sailing hall of fame.
“I have competed here in 2007 and 2009. It is great to be on the original Black Watch. The forecasted conditions are exciting, but we also have an amazing team,”Fetter said. “It is a combination of family and friends, and we are really looking forward to it!” Vice Commodore Kate Ferris Richardson and many volunteers from the Boston Yacht Club will be on hand to greet the teams when they arrive in Canada. She noted she is particularly happy that so many younger sailors are on the racecourse right now.
“We have been targeting younger folks and trying to get them interested in more offshore experience. There is a great appeal as it is about teamwork, and as many are in their 20s it is great they can find community, and they all have a love of adventure. We have many young people out there sailing right now to Halifax who are doing this for the first time.”
Valerie (Abdou) Wyckoff, 88, departed on her last great adventure on June 24 just as she lived her life, with curiosity, anticipation, creativity and fortitude.
A lifelong learner, with an intellectual appetite to the end, Valerie graduated from Simmons College with a degree in publications, a certificate of library science from Salem State University, bachelors of fine arts from Montserrat College of Art and a certificate in bookbinding/ paper conservation from North Bennet Street School. She worked over the years in the libraries at Rhodes School, Shore Country Day, Frederick Law Olmsted Historic Site in Brookline and at the Museum of
Marguerite Louisa (Ure) Hatch, age 83 of Marblehead, passed away peacefully on June 18, surrounded by her family. She was born in St. Louis to the late John Stewart Ure and Marion (Porter) Ure, and raised in Oak Park, Illinois. She was a resident of Marblehead for 59 years.
Marguerite was kind, intelligent, fun, open minded and greatly enjoyed being surrounded by her loved ones. She attended Wheaton College in Norton, graduating in 1964 with a degree in English literature. Not long after
Clare Moffitt, 75, of Marblehead, passed away peacefully at home on June 30.
Born Nov. 11, 1949, in Surrey, England, Clare brought warmth into every room she entered. She dedicated nearly 40 years of her life to her work at the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, where
Carole A. Hartling, beloved mother, grandmother and cherished member of the Marblehead community, passed away peacefully on June 26, surrounded by her loving family. She was 90 years old.
Fine Arts Boston. Valerie met the love of her life, Daryl Wyckoff (James Jay Hill professor of transportation, Harvard Business School) in the last few months of college while she was at Simmons and he was at MIT. They embarked on a whirlwind romance of a few months before taking a leap of faith and marrying. They moved to Santa Monica, California, where they lived for 10 years.
graduation, she was recruited by the First National Bank of Boston as a technical writer of manuals for the new computers being implemented. She soon decided that computer language was as interesting as the English one, and moved
Born in Troy, New York, on Sept. 2, 1934, Carole graduated from Lansingburgh High School and soon embarked on a career in the airline industry. It was during this time she met her late husband, George H. Hartling. Their shared love of travel took them to many cities and states across the country before they eventually settled in Marblehead in 1960. There they raised their three daughters: Erin Seymour (Will) of Sandwich;
She discovered ceramics in the early 1960s when she took a class at the Will Rogers Historic Park in Santa Monica. This craft was her main creative outlet her entire adult life.
Relocating back to Massachusetts so Daryl could pursue his Ph.D at Harvard, they were glad to return to New England, where much of Valerie’s family was located. They made their home in Marblehead, a community that welcomed them wholeheartedly, and became active members of St. Michael’s Church.
Her love of travel and adventure took her all over the world, including Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, South America, Europe, Africa, as well as hiking in Switzerland in the summers. She shared this sense of wanderlust with her daughters, Michele and Abigail, along with her grandchildren Caleb, Toby, Haydn, Johan and his wife Sarah. She completed
on to programming computers and ultimately advanced to senior manager of a large and talented team in the database department. It was not uncommon for her to be called in the middle of the night to drive to Dorchester to help get the computers back online throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She spent her entire career with the bank, retiring in 2000 after seeing the Bank through the “Y2K bug.”
She met her future husband, Bill, of Beverly, on a blind date her freshman year of college, and soon delighted in his large and boisterous North Shore family. She decided then that the East Coast was her home. They married in 1964, and after living on Beacon Hill they moved to Marblehead in 1966.
she built lasting relationships and a legacy of compassion and dedication.
Clare loved the theater, traveling and reading and connected with people from all walks of life. She was a gifted artist and could quickly complete any puzzle. She was a dedicated wife and mother who is remembered for her kindness, calm presence and open mindedness. A breast cancer survivor, Clare lived her life with
Susan Hartling of Los Angeles, California; and Leah Feingold (Judd) of Marblehead.
Carole was deeply involved in her community. In her early years in Marblehead, she generously volunteered her time and energy with several local organizations, including My Brother’s Table, The Harbor Women’s Club, Catholic Services and the Abbot Public Library. Through her work with Catholic Services, she played a meaningful role in helping relocate international families to Marblehead and surrounding towns.
Her professional life was as vibrant and engaging
her bucket list with one last trip to Spain and Italy only a few months ago.
Music was a great passion from an early age. Valerie enjoyed open rehearsals at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, listening to the Metropolitan Opera and chamber music concerts whenever she could attend them.
Valerie leaves behind an amazing group of female friends from St. Michael’s Church, St Catherine’s Guild, RH Trail Hikers, Scorpio Girls, Clay School friends, Book Club, Cottage Garden Club, Conversation Group, BSO concert-goers and many others she met along the way.
This community of friends embraced her daughters Michele and Abigail as they said goodbye to her during her short illness.
As well as her daughters and four grandsons, Valerie also said farewell to her sons-in-law
There they raised their two daughters in the Devereux/ Goldthwait neighborhood, spending summer vacations cruising on their Pearson to Cape Cod and the islands. She also enjoyed tennis, gardening, reading, hosting holiday dinners, attending Old North Church and managing the books for Bill’s local business.
After Marguerite and Bill retired, they fulfilled their dream of seeing the world. They saw the western National Parks, went to many countries on cruise ships and had a particular love for Italy, to which they returned many times. During the summers they pointed their compass north and cruised on their boat to Maine.
Marguerite leaves her
quiet strength and resilience. She is survived by her beloved husband of 39 years, Richard; and her daughter, Sarah, sonin-law Nicholas and grandsons, Theodore and Desmond. She also leaves behind her sister, Rosemary-Ann; brother, Peter; and numerous other family members who will sadly miss her. She is predeceased by her parents and brother Henry. The family will receive friends at Eustis & Cornell
as she was. Carole began working as a tour guide at the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, where her natural talent for storytelling and her passion for history came to life. She later continued her work independently, offering historical tours across the North Shore for several prominent tour companies. Her dedication and love for sharing stories of the past continued until her retirement in 2022.
Carole is survived by her brother, Joseph Cunningham (Judy) of Troy, New York; her three daughters; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Her warmth, intellect and
Zimri Smith and Christopher Wilson. She held dear her twin sister, Deborah Schram and younger sister Marcia Seward, nieces Lauren Schram, Doris Watson, Hilary Kempainen, Lara Wyckoff and nephew Lindsay Seward, as well as their children.
ARRANGEMENTS: A celebration of Valerie’s life will take place at St. Michael’s Church, Marblehead, on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. Please dress in bright colors to honor her creative spirit. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals –Celebrations, 84 Washington Sq., in Salem. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Lifebridge Salem, P.O. Box 810, Salem 01970 or The Haven Project in Lynn, 57 Munroe St., Lynn 0190 in her memory. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit odonnellfuneralservice.com.
husband, Bill, of Marblehead, her daughters Jean (Walter) Tierney of Heber City, Utah, and Becky (Kevin) McKernan of Marblehead, and her grandchildren, Alex, Meghan, Caleb, Elsa and Declan. She also leaves her sister, Jean Hoagland of Carbondale, Illinois, as well as many nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters in law. Services will be held at Old North Church, 35 Washington St., on Thursday, July 17, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Edith Dodge Memorial Fund or the Marblehead Female Humane Society.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Marguerite’s family.
of Marblehead, 142 Elm St., on Saturday, July 19, 2025 from 2-4 p.m. with service to follow. All who knew and loved Clare are welcome to attend and share in honoring her life. Flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Clare’s name. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Clare’s family.
adventurous spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Given Carole’s love of reading, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Abbot Public Library (abbotlibrary.org). Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornell funeralhome.com.
BY WILL DOWD
Dogs filled Reynolds Park on Sunday morning for the inaugural Pup Party at the Marblehead Festival of Arts, with many sporting colorful costumes. The event turned the park into a busy mix of splash zones, ball pits and arts and crafts stations, drawing dozens of local families and their four-legged companions.
Pups of all sizes played in shallow pool areas to cool off from summer heat. Nearby, owners helped their dogs make paw print art and pose for photos at designated
stations. A ball pit set up in the center of the park stayed busy as dogs jumped in and dug through bright plastic balls.
Local vendors including Wags ’n Whiskers, Worldly Pets, Pawsitively Marblehead, Marblehead
Mutts and Petco handed out treats and toys. Tables offered free pup cups and giveaways from local pet shops. A local dog trainer provided quick tips on behavior and basic commands. The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile even
made an appearance. The three-hour celebration ran from 9 a.m. to noon with attendance limited to 150 dogs at $20 each. Human companions attended free. Activities included
bobbing for treats, custom dog tag engraving and leash decoration stations.
The costume contest featured categories for best costume — which went to a chocolate Labrador named Frank
Open Monday-Friday8a.m.-5 p.m. 781-631-2218
dressed as a s’more — and best creative pair, which went to Bella, dressed as Wonder Woman, and her owner Lucille Grant Mortan.
“They’re definitely the pleasure of our lives. They’re the loves of our lives,” said Yunita Farrar, who brought her dogs Winston, 9, and Teddy, 4. Matt Lloyd, who sat with his 16-year-old dog Layla on the grass, described his pet in three words: “calm, kind and loving.”
Ben Chew, 10, and Rowan Chew, 7, have two dogs — a Rhodesian Ridgeback named Charlie and a mutt named Chewy. They had to leave them home but shared that the pair bring silliness and love to their lives.
“When we put Chewy’s tail next to his face,” said Rowan, “he’ll chase it.” Ben chimed in, “But he never gets it in his mouth.” Former Festival president Matt Friedman and his daughter Malina organized the event.
For over200 years, MarbleheadFemale Humane Society has remained faithful to its original mission of quietly and re spec tfu lly helpi ng Ma rble head re sid ents in ne ed.
If yo u’re struggli ng to pay your bills or are experiencing asudden and unexpected financial hards hi p, we’ re he re t o he lp. Individual requests forfinancialassistance must be referred through athirdparty for consideration
We urge you to contact our partners listedbelow, or speak to your localclergy to request assistance from Ma rbleh ead Female Huma ne Soc iety:
Marblehead Counseling Center 781-631-8273
Marblehead Housing Authority 781-631-2580
Marblehead Council on Aging 781-631-6225
Marblehead Food Pantry 781-631-8340