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HARBOR HAPPENINGS
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Best places in town to meditate
Season heats up with big races
IN THIS ISSUE
MINT CONDITION
Cruise-in drives biggest crowd yet
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MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25
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July 17, 2024
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VOLUME 2, ISSUE NO. 34
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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG
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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT
INCLUSION
Should town reassess approach to accessibility? BY WILL DOWD Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer emphasized that accessibility compliance with federal and state laws must be a primary consideration from the outset of municipal projects, following a series of oversights for the town and business owners. Most recently, problems
»Read about the library’s opening day on Page 12 with a front ramp delayed the reopening of the Abbot Library after a $10 million renovation. Earlier in the year, the newly renovated Riptide restaurant faced accessibility issues with its entrance, requiring costly
post-construction fixes. Other examples include a tutoring center on Atlantic Avenue that lacked a handicap accessible bathroom, and the Tedesco Country Club’s handicap parking area where the slope was determined to be too steep. These incidents have prompted officials to advocate for early and thorough compliance checks.
Library variance
Abbot library reopened to the public on July 10 after the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board granted a variance, allowing the library to operate while the entrance is brought into full compliance by Dec. 1. The reopening followed a postponement of the originally planned June 20 grand reopening ceremony when it
HISTORY COMES ALIVE
Marblehead goes back in time for Glover’s encampment BY LIA GORBACH A thick fog encompassed Fort Sewall and the surrounding streets. Through the blanket of mist emerged two columns of hat-topped soldiers fitted in black-buckled shoes. “Forward march!” someone bellowed from the line. On Saturday, July 13, a group of men and women marched from Fort Sewall to Gas House Beach to meet the British enemy during the annual Glover’s Marblehead Regiment encampment. Glover’s Regiment is a popular group of Revolutionary reenactors honoring Gen. John Glover, a hero of Colonial Marblehead. The day kicked off at 9 a.m. with a men-at-arms drill. Craft stands and camp tours kept visitors busy at the fort. A Colonial medicine box, cooking area and welding station were set up for demonstrations. At 10:30 a.m., ahead of the original 11:15 a.m. call to battle, the continental units marched to Gas House Beach. “It’s sort of minute-by-minute here. I think it’s because of the weather,” Michael Cognata said, dressed in a navy blue soldier’s uniform. In the fog, a tactical battle played out on the beach. Soldiers fell onto the unsteady ground as they fought the Royal forces. “The rocks were hard to go down on quickly,” Brian Ruocco laughed, commenting on the slow-motion
was discovered that the 79-foot ramp lacked necessary landings and handrails required for ramps exceeding 30 feet. A state law requires renovations exceeding $100,000 or 30% of a building’s value to meet state accessibility standards, a mandate the library renovation triggered. A 2023 audit of public ADA, P. A7
EDUCATION
New interim super: ‘It’s been a whirlwind’ Robidoux comments on push to drop MCAS requirement BY LEIGH BLANDER
COURTESY PHOTOS / STEVE ROOD
In his first few days on the job, new interim Superintendent John Robidoux toured all school buildings, attended a contract strategy session, and met with several parents, administrators, staff and a leader of the teachers union. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Robidoux told the Current. “It’s a great challenge… in a positive way.” Robidoux arrived July 1 to a district facing a civil rights lawsuit involving student restraint, antisemitism charges and heated teacher contract talks. All district union contracts expire over the summer. “It would be ideal to have that settled before school starts,” Roxbidoux said. He said he would be actively joining all bargaining sessions moving forward. He said he could not comment on the civil rights lawsuit and that he wasn’t sure about the status of Glover educators placed on leave after a student restraint last fall. Robidoux has started making calls in the search for an investigator to examine antisemitism claims and counterclaims by
ENCAMPMENT, P. A7
ROBIDOUX, P. A14
BARGE BLAZE
Fireworks donations held for 2025 Bomb squad called for illegal firework on playground BY WILL DOWD AND LEIGH BLANDER
Following the cancellation of this year’s Fourth of July fireworks due to a barge fire, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer announced the $50,000 in donations will be applied to enhance next year’s celebration. The 2025 event is expected to be bigger and better, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Kezer clarified that no fireworks were on the barge during the accidental fire, which destroyed only launching equipment. The town plans to carry over deposits and continue fundraising efforts to make the
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
2025 fireworks display more impressive than in recent years. Meanwhile, a bomb squad from the state Fire Marshal’s office came to Marblehead on July 8 to detonate a two-inch firework found on the Green Street playground. The firework was in a small rack with three PVC tubes. “This was obviously unsafe, especially near a playground,” Fire Chief Jason Gilliland told the Current. “We notified the bomb squad and they rendered it safe,” by exploding it. First, the bomb technicians moved the device from the playground to an isolated area of the Transfer Station. Gilliland doesn’t know who left
COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD FIRE DEPARTMENT
COURTESY PHOTO / SEMPERDRONE, FRANCISCO URENA
Fire Chief Jason Gilliland said the fire on this barge, which led to the cancellation of Marblehead’s July Fourth fireworks display, was accidental.
the firework there, but he’s not surprised. “I expected this could happen after the (town’s July Fourth) fireworks were canceled. It brought out everybody and their brother with illegal fireworks.” Police Chief Dennis King said he received about 10 calls on July 4
reporting illegal fireworks. “Based on the calls, my concern is the amount of illegal fireworks and the danger they create,” King said. “Anytime you possess, sell or use fireworks in Massachusetts you’re committing a crime and could be subject to confiscation
An unexploded firework was discovered in this rack at Green Street playground, according to Fire Chief Jason Gilliland.
of the fireworks, a fine or arrest in some circumstances,” King added. “It’s totally irresponsible to light off fireworks, especially in a town where many houses are close together or in wooded areas, parks or trails. I really wish people would think it through when they are setting off an explosive in town and the consequences that could result.”