08.13.2025 - Volume 3, Issue 38

FIRST WAVE

BY WILL DOWD

A longstanding footpath to the ocean on Marblehead Neck is now the subject of a legal review after a neighboring homeowner moved to restrict public access, raising broader questions about the status of so-called “paper streets” across town.

The path, known as Cove Lane, runs between private homes off Kimball Street and leads to a small beach overlooking Chandler Hovey Park. Though narrow and grassy, Cove Lane has been used informally for decades by residents walking to the shore — and it appears on town maps as a traditional passageway. But in July, one of the

abutters — Gerald M. Shea, of 13 Kimball St. — filed a legal notice asserting his private ownership and warning that no public rights-of-way should be presumed.

In the document, Shea stated his intent to block any claim of access “by custom, use or otherwise” by several named individuals and the general

BY WILL DOWD

Ryan Park slips beneath the surface of Fort Sewall’s waters at dawn, holding his breath for up to four minutes as he descends 30 feet into an underwater world most people never see. Armed with a 6-foot Hawaiian sling spear, the 32-year-old dentist has made these cold New England waters his second home.

“Every time I’m in the water, it’s like, it’s extreme, it’s so divine, it’s so pure,” said Park sitting outside Mookie’s, struggling to find words adequate to his experience. “It’s almost like your soul has been purified.”

Since moving to Marblehead in

BY LEIGH BLANDER

public. The notice was recorded at the Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds on July 21 and posted on the property shortly after.

Shea declined to comment.

Community response grows Joe Korzenik, a summer resident who lives on Waldron

late 2023, Park has immersed himself — literally — in the North Shore’s coastal ecosystem. What began as a solitary, self-taught fascination with free diving (without an oxygen tank) has grown into a daily ritual, a community service and a deeply personal form of meditation.

‘The Deepest Breath’ Park grew up in Niagara Falls, Canada, and relocated to Massachusetts to learn and practice dentistry, specializing in wisdom teeth extraction. But it was a Netflix documentary — “The Deepest Breath” — that transformed his relationship with the ocean and gave

Over her 95 years, Shirley Rosen has had many adventures. She owned the consignment shop Treasure Chest on Pleasant Street for 26 years. She’s a singer and a painter. She even worked as a clown. You might think she’d be slowing down… but you’d be wrong.

Rosen, who lives at The Mariner, just launched a new business called Ring-a-DingDing. As CEO, she designs, makes and sells jewelry.

“It was a surprise, really,”

Rosen said at a recent interview at The Mariner. “I designed this ring, and it just took off. Everyone’s wearing them.”

Rosen will be selling her rings at the Marblehead Farmers’ Market on Saturday, Aug. 16, and at Bobbles and Lace, which is owned by her granddaughter. Rosen and her daughter, Val White, will also be meeting with the manager of the Salem Hospital gift shop soon to talk about a merchandise deal.

Rosen created the ring at a monthly jewelry-making class at The Mariner. Her ring is made of

Court in the Historic District, discovered the posted signs on July 30 while visiting what he calls his “favorite beach.”

That evening, he posted photos and information about the restriction on Facebook to alert the community.

For Korzenik, the issue

sterling silver beads with a gem stone, colored glass or shell. It takes her about 30 minutes to make each one. She is selling them at the Farmers’ Market for $15 each. (She sells them for a discounted $10 at The Mariner, where they are all the rage.)

Rosen was born in Winthrop and moved with her husband, Stanley “Sooky” Rosen, to Marblehead when their daughters were little. Sooky was a professional musician with big bands in Boston and Shirley

COURTESY PHOTOS / RYAN PARK

Ryan Park, a Marblehead resident and free diver, stands in shallow water with a freshly speared tautog in hand. Park routinely dives off the North Shore without scuba gear, harvesting fish and lobsters by hand or pole spear.

A trio of tautog — also known as blackfish — lie beside a pair of sandals and a ruler for scale after a successful dive. The largest fish, weighing over 10 pounds, was taken by free diver Ryan Park in coastal Marblehead waters.

A pink sea anemone clings to a rocky crevice off the Massachusetts coast, captured by diver Ryan Park during an early morning descent on June 11. The anemone’s tentacles sway in the current, a reminder of the North Shore’s hidden biodiversity.

COVE LANE, P. 6 PARK, P. 6

BY LEIGH BLANDER

This week, the state rescinded a $50,000 grant for Marblehead’s months-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Revolution. The money, awarded in July, was yanked on Aug. 5 due to Marblehead’s noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act.

“This is a devastating blow,” said Marblehead Grant Coordinator Donna Cotterell. “This was an awesome opportunity to share Marblehead’s history.”

The $50,000 was going to be used for several programs and events, including a tall ship visit to Marblehead Harbor next July, historical reenactments and performances, educational materials and more.

“We were planning a series of events, because Marblehead played a big part in the Revolutionary War and leading up to the war,” Cotterell said. “I’m disappointed because the funding targeted untold stories. I was looking forward to lifting up stories of African American and Native American Marbleheaders.”

Marblehead Museum Executive Director Lauren McCormack is also upset about the lost grant.

“That’s a lot of funding, and the town could have used it to develop multiple programs,” McCormack said.

The town will continue to look for funding to try and salvage some of the programming,

perhaps from federal or private sources, according to Cotterell.

“We see this as an investment for the town for economic development with tourism,” she said. “As a town, we’re not just losing the $50,000. We’re losing a whole lot more in tourism dollars.”

Resident Jim Murphy, who sits on the 250 Committee, added in an emailed statement, “Although I do appreciate and respect that there are very differing views on how legislation impacts municipalities, the vote which placed Marblehead in noncompliance resulted in loss of critical funds for infrastructure improvements, and required the Massachusetts Office of Travel

and Tourism to terminate funding of the recent $50,000 grant awarded to the town for programs to celebrate REV 250, is very disappointing.”

Last month, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said the town will lose more than $4.6 million in state funding, including $1.28 million in already-awarded grants for projects such as shipyard resilience and MBTA safety improvements. Another $354,792 in contracted grants for infrastructure and planning projects have effectively been revoked.

Additional pending applications worth more than $3 million for historic preservation and downtown planning are now ineligible. The town also risks losing access to $2.98 million for Village Street Bridge reconstruction and would need to forgo an $11.6 million federal port infrastructure grant because it cannot provide the required local match previously covered by state funding.

Latest campaign finance reports show GOP influence

BY LEIGH BLANDER AND WILL DOWD

New campaign finance reports, filed after the town’s June election, reveal more about how much candidates raised and spent.

Two candidates reported accepting support from the state and/or town Republican parties. School Committee candidate Emily DeJoy received $800 in in-kind donations from the Massachusetts and Marblehead Republican committees. Board of Health candidate Kim Crowley reported a $300 donation from the town GOP committee.

School Committee contest

Newcomers Kate Schmeckpeper (with 4,800 votes) and Henry Gwaza (4,332) handily won the two School Committee seats. Campaign finance reports show Schmeckpeper raised $4,717.16 in donations and spent $5,655.38. Gwazda raised $2,055 and spent $3,361.70. Emily DeJoy, who came in third with 1,586 votes, collected no cash donations and spent $2,219.99. The $800 in in-kind donations from the GOP was used for text messages and emails.

Incumbents Sarah Fox (649) and Alison Taylor (789) did not submit the mandated post-election finance reports, according to the Town Clerk’s Office. According to their preelection filings, Fox spent $396.76 of her own money. Incumbent Alison Taylor reported

spending no money.

Board of Health

In the Board of Health race, winning candidate Dr. Amanda Ritvo raised $1,395.72 in cash donations and spent $2,548.44 of her own money. She received in-kind donations of campaign T-shirts and an ad.

Kim Crowley spent $1,873.07 of her own money, in addition to the $330 from the Marblehead GOP.

Select Board

Jim Zisson, who won the lone Select Board seat with 66.9% of the vote, reported $1,516.81 in personal spending and no outside

fundraising.

Opponent Yael Magen, who had initially reported raising $2,000 and spending $1,516.81 of her own money, amended her filing to show she raised just $466 in donations and personally spent $2,156.59.

In total, spending in the Select Board race rose slightly to $3,673.40, narrowly surpassing the town clerk race to become the second-most expensive contest of the cycle.

Incumbent Town Clerk Robin Michaud won re-election with 3,361 votes, defeating challengers Terri Tauro (1,966) and Melissa Flanagan (848). Michaud spent just $53.27 of her own money and accepted no donations.

Tauro reported raising $3,642.01 in donations, spending $3,576.77 on campaign literature and lawn signs, and loaning her campaign $617.01. She also received $700 in in-kind contributions.

Flanagan, who had not filed campaign finance data before the election, has now disclosed raising $175 in donations and loaning her campaign $1,300 for sign purchases.

Planning Board incumbent Edward Nilsson defeated J. Timothy Swigor 3,345 to 2,440, retaining his seat with 57.8% of the vote. Nilsson reported spending $552.50 out of pocket and raised no money. Swigor reported that he neither raised nor spent any campaign funds.

School Committee takes first step to recruit new member

Moves into private session to

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The School Committee met Aug. 7 and voted to formally alert the Select Board that member Brian Ota vacated his seat. Ota stepped down earlier this month. The group also established a special subcommittee to work on the high school roof project.

Member Henry Gwazda will sit on the new roof subcommittee and invited interested members of the community to join. Anyone interested can contact Gwazda at gwazda.henry@marbleheadschools.org.

Responsibilities will include:

Helping meet a demanding schedule of deadlines

Helping evaluate project bids

» Achting as a liaison to the community and providing updates on project progress

Experience with the complexities of municipal construction projects is preferred.

The Select Board and School Committee will soon announce that applications are being accepted for Ota’s former seat. The two groups will hold a joint meeting to interview interested applicants and choose Ota’s successor.

The School Committee then went into executive (private) session to discuss “threatened litigation from a former administrator.” No details were released. Also in executive session, the committee was scheduled to discuss “strategy related to collective bargaining” with the teachers union. It’s not clear what that involved but may have something to do with discussions about starting the school day five minutes earlier to allow for more recess. Reached for comment, union co-President Jonathan Heller said he was “uncertain.”

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER New campaign finance reports show the state and local GOP played a role in Marblehead’s June election.

Maddie’s Anglers Club hosts veterans for Wounded Warriors fishing expedition

BY GREY COLLINS

At 6:30 on Saturday morning, 30 boats from the Maddie’s Anglers Club, carrying veterans from the Wounded Warrior Project and their families, set out from Boston Yacht Club for a six-hour fishing expedition.

These veterans, from around New England and New York, some of whom sustaining life altering injuries and PTSD, were treated to a morning of fishing for striped bass on the Salem Sound by some grateful local fishermen and boaters. The annual event is hosted by the Maddie’s Anglers Club.

“To be able to show our appreciation for the brave men and women who have served our country was really great,” said Andy Garnetts with Maddie’s Anglers club, who helped organize the outing. “It’s always the highlight of the summer.”

Maddie’s, which was founded 30 years ago, is a group of Marblehead fishing and boating enthusiasts who spend time hosting friendly fishing competitions in the summer, and guest speakers at Maddie’s Sail Loft during the winters.

“It started as just a small group of guys looking for something to do during the winter, and going down to Maddie’s once a month,” reflected club member Rick Cuzner about the origins of the Anglers Club. “It was probably 10 members, now it has grown to around 100 members. It’s a really fun little group.”

The club hosted the wounded Warriors for the first time in 2013, when they took veterans out for a day of fishing off Marblehead’s coast. It was an immediate success, and has been an annual summer tradition for the club ever since.

“It was just an amazing event for everybody, not just the wounded warriors, but everyone who was involved,” said Cuzner. “I’m still friends with people that we took out the first time, and we’ve tried to keep it going. It’s one of the most looked forward to events that we host every year.”

Anglers president Will Danforth added, “It’s easily our favorite event of the summer. It is not focused on the politics of war, only a way for us to show our appreciation to the brave men and women who sign up to serve our country. Some of our members have been taking out the same group of Warriors for years.”

The Wounded Warriors Project, which was launched in 2003, offers programs and services to U.S. military veterans who have combat-related injuries or mental illness.

This year, 34 Wounded Warriors and 65 guests hit the harbor. Twenty-seven captains from Maddie’s Anglers volunteered to ferry the warriors and their guests to their fishing spots on the Salem Sound, where they spent the next few hours reeling in striped bass off the coast of Beverly and Gloucester before returning to Marblehead around 1 pm.

The largest striped bass was 41”, caught and safely released on Fin & Tonic with Captain Jock Danforth. Other species caught were bluefish and haddock.

“I just think it’s so fun to get these people out there. They have given a lot for us, so it’s nice to give back and take them out on the water,” said Cuzner.

This is one of the club’s biggest events of the summer, and they worked hard for months to make it happen. They coordinated with officers at the Wounded Warriors Project to find local `warriors to take fishing, worked

to find volunteers from the club to take the warriors onto the water, and with the Boston Yacht Club, who donated their waterfront for the day, “To be able to have a day on the water where these men and women can enjoy a day in a beautiful town that we get to call home is awesome,” said Will Danforth, the president of the club. “It was a great day. People even saw whales and sharks. Our backyard is pretty special.” To learn more about Maddie’s Anglers Club, email maddiesanglers@gmail.com or follow them on Instagram @ maddiesanglersclub.

CURRENT PHOTOS / RICK CUZNER

Maddie’s Anglers Club hosted its 12th annual Wounded Warriors fishing trip last weekend. The warriors on board Fin & Tonic caught a 41” striper.

Thirty boats joined the Wounded Warriors fishing trip in Marblehead Harbor last weekend, hosted by Maddie’s Anglers.

The Double Header hosted veterans from Wounded Warriors at the fishing outing this past weekend.

Veterans with the Wounded Warrior Project enjoy a day of fishing thanks to Maddie’s Anglers Club and local fishermen.

EDITORIAL

Thank you, Will Dowd

This week, the Current is regrettably saying farewell to one of its co-founders, Will Dowd. If you know Will — as many of you of course do — you know of his boundless energy, curiosity and love for the town of Marblehead. His unfailing optimism helped fuel the Current from its earliest days. His long history in town gave him a trove of institutional knowledge that was invaluable in informing his coverage of town government affairs. His endless fascination with Marblehead’s history made his stories about some newly discovered relic sing.

So, why say goodbye?

Because unfortunately, at the end of the day, the Marblehead Current is a nonprofit business. To be sure, it is a unique one, given its mission of service to the community. But that status does not relieve the Current of its obligation to balance its books.

In its recent history, the Current has sustained an enterprise that cost approximately $40,000 a month. Through the generosity of our donors and advertisers, we have met that burden — almost. However, along the way, as our bank balance has dipped, the Current’s volunteer board periodically has grudgingly approved drastic temporary measures, like 25% across-theboard pay cuts.

Throughout its existence, a dedicated group of board members and other volunteers have worked feverishly to brighten the Current’s bottom line, organizing house parties and other events, selling advertising, filing grant applications and courting donors.

But after three years of data, we have developed a good sense of our capacity to raise operating revenue from local donors and other sources, especially during a time of broad financial uncertainty.

Those limits could no longer sustain a newsroom that, as best we can tell, has been significantly larger than those of the other startup nonprofit news organizations that have popped up across eastern Massachusetts.

The board offered Will the opportunity to continue writing several stories a week for the Current. He was not the only staff member asked to sacrifice to stabilize the Current’s finances. Unfortunately, in Will’s case, the numbers just did not work out.

We, of course, will continue to work for brighter days, as we turn over every rock in search of funding. We have — and will continue to — pursue every grant that we might think is a “fit,” and we will hope that one day the philanthropic community will have a greater zeal for funding local journalism. In our view, local news is a rising tide that can lift many other boats. Now, we just need the funders to share that vision.

We are aware of a burgeoning effort to pass a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature that would create an independent public grantmaking body to support local journalism and civic information needs, patterned after the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium. The New Jersey consortium has distributed more than $10 million to more than 60 organizations focused on local news and information. If Beacon Hill sees fit to create such a body here, perhaps that will offer some help down the road. Until the cavalry arrives, however, the bills — including the one that recently got 14% higher due to increases in U.S. Postal Service rates — have to get paid. That has, unfortunately, meant that devastatingly difficult choices have had to be made.

We believe those difficult choices leave the Current well positioned to stand the test of time. If you have been enjoying the Current and have some time and talent to help ensure that it does, in fact, endure, please reach out to info@ marbleheadnews.org. We likely have a volunteer role for you.

In the meantime, we are going to get back to work providing the residents of Marblehead the independent journalism they deserve — a mission that the founders of the Current, Ed Bell, Jessica Barnett, David Moran, Leigh Blander, Kris Olson and, yes, Will Dowd — deeply believed in and continue to believe in. Thanks for reading — and thank you, Will.

ASK LIZZIE

Preparing your kids for school

BY LIZZIE ASSA

School readiness isn’t reciting the alphabet

It’s being able to handle a “no” at the bakery.

Yesterday at the beach, I watched a 6 year old with messy blond braids sprint across the sand toward the ice cream truck, damp dollars clenched in her fist. She was sandy, sweaty and ready for a popsicle. Quietly but confidently, she told the driver, “One Spider-Man pop,” and she pointed to the picture on the side of the truck.

He shook his head briskly, “No Spidermans left, honey,” he said.

She froze. For just a second, she looked back at her mom, who was sitting on the beach about 50 yards away. A tiny flicker of “What now?” crossed the little girl’s face. But her mom didn’t move. She didn’t shout instructions or take over. She just watched and confidently waited for her daughter to figure out what to do.

The girl turned back to the menu, ordered a lemon ice, and paid all by herself.

No tears, no fuss, just a girl who knew how to make a second choice when her first one wasn’t available.

That’s school readiness.

Not flashcards. Not being able to write your name perfectly. Not knowing all your letter sounds. Real school readiness is a 6-year-old who can pivot when her first choice isn’t available.

Here’s what else matters when preparing kids to start school (spoiler alert, it’s all stuff you can’t cram into a workbook.)

1. They are starting to be able to roll with small disappointments.

Not getting to sit next to their favorite friend. Not being chosen first to go to the painting easel. Someone knocking over their block building.

How you can facilitate this at home this summer: Let them feel the small ouch without rushing to fix it. These moments are the curriculum. Model and talk often about making second choices in everyday life.

“I wanted to pick up tacos for lunch, but the stand was closed. I had to make a second choice, so we are having grilled cheese instead.”

“Oh darn, you wanted the blue towel, and your sister took it to camp with her. Guess it’s time to make a second choice. The other towels are in the closet. Pick one and put it in the bag.”

“Dad wanted those big yellow tomatoes for the salad, but the store was out. I chose the small red ones instead.

LETTERS

An example worth following

To the editor, Thank you, Bonnie Grenier, for your letter of last week, “‘Old lady’ questions rule of law in America.”

I am 88 years of age and still of sound mind and body. At least, I think so! Since the election of Trump and the MAGA team I stopped reading political news. I was angry, frightened and depressed. I felt helpless. I still harbor some of these feelings but now realize I must do what I can to fight the dangers and regressions being perpetrated by Trump. His mantra is destroy, demean and destruct.

Bonnie, you asked, “What do we do about this?”

Sign up and support the following organizations financially and/ or sign various petitions they file with appropriate politicians and organizations.

This is done on-line. moveon. org, commoncause.org and Environmental Defense Fund at edf. org). You might also contact the office of Rep. Seth Moulton for more resources.

I do this from the comfort of my home. Easy, convenient and hopefully effective. Like you, Bonnie, I must and will try to help my country, my freedoms and our democracy. My message is not just

I wonder if he will use those for the salad or make something else?”

“The librarian told you that someone had already checked out the shark book you wanted, and you picked a book on piranhas instead. When you were small, you might’ve cried about that, but now I see you easily making second choices!”

2. They’re starting to do small things for themselves. Zipping their jacket. Opening their snack. Putting on shoes that might be on the wrong feet but who cares. “I can do it” moments build real confidence and self-worth.

How you can facilitate this at home this summer: Leave time and mental bandwidth to let them do it themselves.

“That’s a tricky zipper. Take your time, I’m not in a hurry.”

“You got your shoes on all by yourself! It looks like they’re on the opposite feet. Do they feel okay to you, or do you want to switch them?”

“That Goldfish packet is hard to open. You tried pulling it and ripping it. Here are some scissors so you can keep working at it.”

3. They’re starting to be able to wait a reasonable amount of time without falling apart.

Waiting for their turn at the swing. Standing in line at the water fountain. School is full of waiting, and handling small doses of boredom supports kids in getting ready for the rhythm of classroom life.

How you can facilitate this at home this summer: Practice small moments of waiting.

“We need to wait three minutes for the cookies to cool down before we try them.”

“I need to finish writing this email before we can go to the park. You can sit next to me, or find something quiet to do until I’m done.”

“You’ve been waiting so patiently while I talked to Noah’s mom. That’s the kind of waiting you’ll do sometimes at school, too.”

4. They’re starting to use their voice around other

for us older folks like you and me, Bonnie. Any and all of us who value our freedoms are encouraged to follow this example.

Very truly yours, Walter Haug

Highland Terrace

Resident invites community to join democracy efforts

To the editor:

This is an invitation. Are you quite frantic about what is happening to our democracy? Are you tired of the lies and misinformation and ranting on social media that come from all sectors of the country? Do you wring your hands and wonder what I, one person, can possibly do in response?

Here’s what I do to stay somewhat sane in these times:

Join the Saturday standout from 5 to 6 p.m. at Lafayette and Maple streets when I can. We hold signs (a variety – mine is a “no kings” graphic) and wave to cars going by, enjoy their thumbs-up or horn-toot, chat and laugh and the kids can play in the park.

Write letters to the editor, like this one, and to our representatives. Support the good guys: PBS and Public Radio; environmental and preservation groups. Read our local paper to see what’s happening that I can join in on.

Attend the Marblehead League

of Women Voters “Defending Democracy” working group meetings (check out the League website). Ideas and actions are reviewed and car pools created, important trainings for local and wider actions are noted, etc. Smart, savvy, wise, kind women and men, these.

Follow the Sustainable Marblehead newsletter (you can google it) because climate change is not going away and SM is living the mantra: “Think globally and act locally.” Another extremely intelligent, helpful, welcoming group of town folks. Everyone should be on their email list.

Taking part in the regular postcard writing brigade that is researched and recommended for effectiveness by Swing Left and Act Blue and other national organizations. They also do phone banking. Check the websites.

Read Heather Cox Richardson’s blog every day. It’s free. She gives history and context that helps me hope for something better.

Attend church at 8 a.m. at the light house on Sunday mornings to feed my spirit.

The experts tell us that just 3 1⁄2% of the population making their voices of dissent heard can turn the tide over time.

In sum, paying attention to local

LIZZIE, P. 5

Daily habits build strong defenses against identity theft

BY STEPHEN BACH

At our “digital hospital,” almost half of the issues we deal with every week involve malicious software attacks and identity theft. Criminals are becoming much more sophisticated in finding ways to trick you. Protecting yourself from identity theft is much easier when you turn good habits into part of your daily routine. Begin by collecting your (snail) mail every day. Leaving sensitive documents such as bank statements or credit card offers in your mailbox or mail slot overnight can make you an easy target for thieves. If you can’t always pick up your mail right away, consider installing a lockbox mailbox for added security. When sending out important mail, use official postal boxes instead of leaving items in your home mailbox, where they could be stolen. Regularly monitoring your bank and credit card statements

is another effective defense. Set a weekly reminder to review your statements and watch for any unfamiliar transactions, no matter how small. Many banks and credit card companies offer account alerts that notify you of large or unusual activity — make sure to take advantage of these features. If you notice anything suspicious, contact your financial institution immediately to report it.

Freezing your credit is a powerful way to prevent identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name. You can request a credit freeze for free by contacting each of the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — either online or by phone. Be sure to keep the PIN or password they provide in a safe place, as you’ll need it to temporarily lift or remove the freeze when you need to apply for credit.

Using strong, unique passwords for all your online accounts is essential. Create passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Avoid reusing

wrong.

How you can facilitate this at home this summer: Create lowstakes opportunities for them to be their own advocate with safe adults.

passwords across different sites. A password manager can help you generate and safely store complex passwords, making it easier to keep track of them. For even more protection, enable two-factor authentication wherever possible so that even if someone gets your password, they’ll need a second form of verification to access your account.

When it comes to paperwork, don’t just throw documents with personal information into the trash. Invest in a cross-cut shredder and use it to destroy old bills, bank statements, pre-approved credit offers, prescription labels, insurance forms and anything else that contains sensitive details, especially your Social Security number.

» Knowing all their letters and numbers

Reading before kindergarten

Perfect behavior

grown-ups.

Getting in the habit of speaking up develops an inner voice that says, “If I don’t know something, I can ask.” Build the foundation for classroom advocacy. You want your child to know they can raise their hand when they don’t understand, ask to use the bathroom, or tell the teacher when something’s

news, reading and listening to wise and trustworthy pundits, joining a group that is doing “good trouble,” staying connected to the good stuff that is actually happening every day makes it possible for me to think we can get through this time, hopefully in time, not unscathed, but wiser and maybe kinder for what lies ahead.

Mimi Hollister Glover Square

Recognizing the power and promise of Social Security on its’ 90th Birthday

To the editor:

The vital lifeline for tens of millions of Americans everywhere – including 1,324,309 individuals in Massachusetts — used for housing, groceries, gas and the other everyday necessities is about to mark its 90th birthday. And with that anniversary comes a responsibility to strengthen the program — and determine how we can help it age in the healthiest way. As the bedrock of retirement for many Americans, it is vital to protect Social Security for decades to come. It is incumbent on us to ensure the program continues to work for the 67 million Americans across the country who rely on it. On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, that is, the United States’ OldAge, Survivors and Disability Insurance program. In January 1935, Ida M. Fuller, the first person to receive Social Security, collected a monthly check of $22.54 — that’s $518.58 in inflation-adjusted dollars. From

“When we get to the ice cream shop, you can tell them what flavor you want. I’ll be right here.”

“The librarian is at the desk if you want to ask her where the bathroom is. I can come with you, but you do the asking.”

You can stop worrying about:

that beginning, the program now provides $1.4 trillion in retirement security; and as an inflation-adjusted federal program it allows Americans to plan on a financial safeguard during retirement.

Social Security should never “go broke” because it is a payas-you-go system where every American worker pays into Social Security. The program is funded by payroll taxes and will continue to pay benefits. But the program does face funding challenges. The most recent Social Security Trustees’ Report finds that the surplus will run out in 2035. To prevent that shortfall, Congress must once again step up — as it did when it reformed the program in 1983.

This year administrative chaos at the Social Security Administration is contributing to a customer service crisis that has been ongoing for years. Currently call wait times, hold times, customer service resolutions and staffing issues are causing many Americans who need access to the program to face hours on the phone or in line at their local offices. The cuts in staffing levels have strained SSA’s ability to provide vital services.

Incredibly, as this challenge emerges more people — approximately 10,000 people every day — are retiring.

The new Social Security Commissioner would be well served by re-committing the Social Security Administration to providing timely, efficient and effective customer service. SSA needs to be clear when communicating any possible changes, and what effects that lower staffing levels will have. And Congress needs to provide oversight to ensure that customer service is prioritized at this vital agency that serves so many Americans!

AARP has worked with every

Be cautious about unsolicited emails, texts or phone calls that ask for personal information, and always verify the identity of anyone making such requests by contacting the company directly through official channels.

Checking your credit reports at least once a year is another smart move. You can request a free report from each of the three credit bureaus annually at AnnualCreditReport.com. To keep an eye on your credit all year, consider staggering your requests — get one report every four months from a different bureau. Review your reports carefully for unfamiliar accounts or errors, and if you find anything suspicious, dispute it directly with the bureau. Keeping your devices secure is also crucial in the fight against identity theft. Install reputable antivirus software on your computers and mobile devices, and set it to update automatically so you’re always protected against the latest threats. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, and use secure Wi-Fi networks, steering clear of

give them the belief that they can figure things out.

How they measure up against their peers

From a mom who has three “big kids” now (17, 15 and 12), the best thing you can do is stop micromanaging their childhood and trust that the messy, everyday moments at the supermarket, the park or the library are the valuable ones. Your job as the parent is to

administration and Congress, regardless of party, to protect and strengthen Social Security. More than 67 million Americans rely on this vital program, and for 90 years, Social Security has been the foundation of retirement in the United States. It’s imperative to ensure the strength of the Social Security program not just for another 90 years, but for generations to come.

Linda McLaughlin Casino Road

‘Let’s all be peakbusters!’

To the editor:

“Honey, it is so hot. Turn up the air conditioning will ya?”

Your answer can be “no.”

We’re approaching the hottest part of the summer, summer’s annual peak. These are the highest energy use days. The annual peak is significant because that one hour of highest energy use is used to set our electric rates and justify spending hundreds of millions of dollars every year on peaker plants and new infrastructure. These traditionally oil and gas facilities add hazardous 2.5 particulate matter to the air, require more pipelines while our present pipeline infrastructure has experienced 5,727 serious accidents between 2005 and 2024 and spew yet more greenhouse gases that further warm our planet. Yup, irony is the driving force of the universe!

Peakbusting is what you can call our collective, intentional reduction of energy use when there is a high demand. We can collectively and strategically reduce our electricity use in ways that prevent the electric grid from reaching its highest peak. So, this August, slow down, drink water and spend time in publicly cooled environments that can be used by many people.

public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions.

Finally, stay alert and help others do the same. Be cautious about unsolicited emails, texts or phone calls that ask for personal information, and always verify the identity of anyone making such requests by contacting the company directly through official channels. Take time to educate children and older adults in your family about online safety, including the importance of not sharing personal details or clicking on suspicious links. Sharing these tips with friends and family can help protect your entire community from the risks of identity theft. By making these practical steps part of your everyday life, you’ll build strong defenses and enjoy greater peace of mind.

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

If you’re feeling behind this summer, you’re not. Start today by letting them pick the wrong popsicle or stumble through their zipper. Life will teach them the real stuff if you allow it to unfold, and walk beside them as it does. You’re doing more than enough. Important note for parents of neurodivergent kids: For some children, these skills will develop on a different timeline or look a little different in

Let’s bust the peak. Judith Black Prospect Street

‘When’

– A poem

To the editor:

When you wake up and get a drink of water, think of Gaza.

When you drink your morning coffee, think of Gaza.

When you go to the bathroom, think of Gaza.

When you feed your kids and pets, think of Gaza.

When you need to take medicine, think of Gaza.

When you go to your bedroom to sleep at night, think of Gaza.

When there is no home or hospital to go to, think of Gaza.

When you feel abandoned by the world, think of Gaza.

K.R. Curtis Bubuier Road

Don’t

buy into the latest bicycle ‘freak-out’

To the editor: Welcome to the latest freakout about bicycles. The first came with the bicycle craze of the 1890s and was aimed at “scorchers” who were said to be riding dangerously fast. But the anti-bike crusade had another target: women’s lib. From medical doctors to misogynists, commentators railed against women in bloomers. Women on bikes?! What will they do next, vote?

So it is today in Marblehead where residents went to my Traffic Safety Advisory Committee with alarm over “e-bikes.” Their concern, nominally, is safety, the safety of children most most of all. The response from the chief law enforcement officer in town was predictable: he’ll do nothing other than urge parents to teach their kids to be safe. Marblehead doesn’t like regulation, he said.

practice. A child who needs to stim while waiting, or who asks for help in their own unique way, is still building the same foundation of resilience and self-advocacy.

Lizzie Assa is a parenting strategist, play expert, and founder of The Workspace for Children. A mom of three in Marblehead, she writes one of Substack’s top 50 parenting newsletters. Her upcoming book, “But I’m Bored,” explores independent play as a path to raising confident, resilient kids.

That’s appropriate because, as everyone knows, drivers have free reign to treat stop signs and speed limits – even in school zones – as mere suggestions. In fact, there is already enough regulation to protect children and pedestrians from electric bicycles. E-bikes are not allowed on sidewalks or on “natural” paths (i.e. ones without any kind of surfacing). They are, like all bicycles, allowed to use every street and road in the Commonwealth, the middle of the street, just like any motor vehicle. Given the townwide speed limit of 25 miles per hour, there is already more than enough room for electric bicycles to move with motor vehicle traffic on our streets.

As for the TSAC members’ claim that parents are letting kids on powerful, $2,000 adultsized e-bikes, that’s a bit off base. What I have seen in town, and what many may mistake as e-bikes are classified by law as motorized bicycles. These require a driver’s license like any other motorized vehicle.

Chief Dennis King is right in that his department does not have the resources to enforce the laws that already exist. But the real solution is to ensure that every street in this small seaside town is safe for motor vehicles, bicycles, and electric bicycles alike. Sadly, member Gary Hebert has designed and member Amy McHugh has cheerfully eliminated bicyclefriendly design features in every project they have overseen.

What’s needed is not new regulation but a new attitude: just as the suffragettes of the 1890s fought for and achieved equality, so too must the parents and children of Marblehead demand an equal right to the streets that their tax dollars pay for.

Dan Albert Leicester Road

extends beyond the Neck to represent something fundamental about Marblehead’s character.

“I don’t think of it as a Neck issue,” he said. “I think of it as an issue for all of us.”

Korzenik and other residents worry about the precedent such restrictions could set for Marblehead’s other historic pathways.

“I’ve seen rights-of-way, lesser known rights-of-way, just landscaped over, taken over by landowners or abutters,” he said. “I see it and it’s not right.”

The naming of specific individuals in Shea’s legal notice particularly troubled Korzenik, who called it “an intimidation tactic.” He wants the town to fight the abutter’s land claim.

“Not fighting this sets a terrible precedent,” he said. “By vigorously defending it, you help forestall, you help push off, inhibit other people from trying to bully the town into giving up rights-of-way.”

Marblehead’s pathways represent something deeper than mere convenience, Korzenik said.

“It’s part of our heritage,” he said. “It doesn’t belong to me. It doesn’t belong to the homeowner. They may own the land, but the right-of-way belongs to the public.”

Meanwhile, Shea’s filing has prompted scrutiny from town officials.

Joint ownership?

In an Aug. 6 email, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said the town is working with legal counsel to determine its rights and responsibilities regarding Cove Lane.

“While it was previously understood that the town held full ownership of Cove Lane based on transactions dating back to the early 1900s,” Kezer wrote to the Current, “our current understanding is that

the property may be jointly owned by the town and certain private residents, extending down to the beach area.”

Kezer clarified that the beach itself “is not in question and is clearly under town ownership.”

He also emphasized that “no single party would have the authority to unilaterally restrict access to the property,” assuming joint ownership proves accurate.

The legal team is now

his life an unexpected purpose.

After watching the documentary in January 2024, Park became captivated by free diving. Within months, he was training himself through YouTube videos, practicing breath-holding in swimming pools and gradually extending his time underwater.

His passion intensified after meeting Mike Casselli at Fort Sewall, a spearfisher who gave Park his spare Hawaiian sling and introduced him to the hunting aspect of the sport.

The device operates like an underwater bow and arrow — a pole spear powered by a rubber band that Park charges up on his hand before releasing when he spots a fish.

“You let it go,” Park explained.

“We smoke (kill) them like that.”

By August, Park was diving daily before work, often spending two hours in the water. His gear includes a weight

belt for neutral buoyancy, a specialized free diving mask, a knife for emergencies, a stringer to keep caught fish and a dive flag for safety. In winter, he switches from his regular wetsuit to a 7-millimeter version that allows him to stay in the water — sometimes reaching 37 degrees — for an hour.

The waters around Marblehead offer surprisingly rich hunting grounds. Park regularly catches tautog and cunner fishes — his two primary targets — along with flounder and sea urchins he prepares as sashimi. On a recent Sunday, he landed one of his biggest catches ever: a 2-foot-long fish that drew what he called amazed reactions from beachgoers.

At Folly Cove in Gloucester, which Park calls “one of the best, most famous dive sites in New England,” he encounters northern red anemones, soft corals and rock crabs hiding in the rocky topography where big fish congregate. Fort Sewall, his regular morning spot, rates an eight out of 10 for diving

reviewing historical deeds and assessing whether the town ever took formal possession or maintained Cove Lane, which could support a claim of public right-of-way.

Town’s historic passageways Cove Lane is one of 18 known passageways in Marblehead still recognized as open for public use, according to the Marblehead Conservancy. These paths, some

conditions when visibility cooperates.

Helping lobstermen

His dives have evolved into community service. When local lobsterman Jack Berns asked for help retrieving traps tangled in harbor moorings, Park discovered a way to bridge what he called tension between divers and commercial fishermen.

“I’m showing the community — especially the lobstermen — that there are good divers out there who want to help,” said Park.

of which date to the 18th and 19th centuries, were originally carved out so fishermen and townspeople could access the harbor from their homes.

Kezer emphasized the town’s commitment to protecting historic access rights where warranted.

“We’re reviewing all the documentation carefully,” he said. “If the town has an interest, we will take the necessary steps to preserve it.”

The 18 public-use passageways include:

Downtown Marblehead (8): Lookout Court & Prospect Alley

» Hollyhock Lane » Alley Steps

In recent weeks, Park has recovered six lobster traps from depths of up to 30 feet, using a carabiner hook provided by Berns to attach to the gear before signaling for it to be hauled up. The work requires navigating strong currents, untangling lines from moorings and sometimes cutting rope with his dive knife when the tangle proves too complex to unravel.

“I really want to help the lobster industry thrive in Marblehead,” Park said. “Especially for Jack and his family, I really want to help them.”

The physical demands of free diving in New England waters are considerable. Park trained formally at East Coast Divers in Brookline, learning equalization techniques — popping his ears and sinuses to manage pressure changes during descent. His training allowed him to extend holding his breath to 4 minutes and 5 seconds, though actual dives typically involve 1-minute round trips with 20 seconds

» Gingerbread Lane & Gingerbread Hill

» Knights Hill Road

Alley: High Street to Elm Street

Alley: Mechanic Street to Market Square

» (One additional passageway may be unlisted)

Marblehead Neck (10):

Desmoulin Lane

Fuller Lane

Castle Rock & Castle Rock

Lane

» Point O’ Rocks Lane

» Lighthouse Lane

Cove Lane

Nahant Street

Peabody Lane

» Harvard Street

» Parker Lane

hovering at the bottom.

Visibility remains the biggest challenge. While November and December offer the clearest conditions — up to 30 feet when summer algae disappears — most of the year requires navigating murky water.

Safety protocols are paramount. Park emphasizes diving with a buddy whenever possible and knowing personal limits. After years as an openwater swimmer and lifeguard, he’s learned to read conditions carefully, aborting dives when currents or weather create dangerous situations.

His enthusiasm extends beyond personal fulfillment. Park envisions introducing youth snorkeling programs and regularly removes trash from dive sites — his “number one pet peeve.”

When pressed to describe what draws him back each morning, Park offered an unexpectedly tender comparison: “It’s like when you come home and your mom gives you a warm hug and embrace.“

would sing.

“She’s always been adventurous,” White said. “She skipped school once to see Frank Sinatra.”

White added that she and her two sisters grew up in Marblehead “in a house with no rules.”

“Our parents would even let us drive the car when we were 13 years old,” she said.

One summer, the family was visiting Salem Willows and were

approached by a man who said he needed to hire clowns for the park and would pay them each $100 a day to dress up, make balloon animals and paint kids’ faces. All five family members happily agreed and did it every weekend in the summer of 1980.

Asked where she gets her creativity, Rosen paused and answered with a big smile. “Heaven,” she said. Rosen sells her rings every Monday at the Mariner Little Store, 265

St.,

11 a.m.

Pleasant

from

to noon. The community is welcome to stop by and shop.

COURTESY PHOTO / RYAN PARK

A moon jellyfish drifts silently over a bed of seaweed off the Marblehead coastline. Diver Ryan Park frequently encounters these delicate creatures during his underwater explorations.

Shirley Rosen is decked out with several of her rings, which she designs and makes herself.

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Shirley Rosen, 95, designs and creates these sterling silver rings and sells them around town.

COURTESY PHOTOS

The cove at the end of Cove Lane includes a small, rocky beach area and views of the harbor. Town officials say the beach itself is clearly under municipal ownership.

Cove Lane is located between homes on Kimball Street and leads to this beach, overlooking Chandler Hovey Park on Marblehead Neck. The area has long been used by residents walking to the shore.

A car is parked near the corner of Kimball Street and Cove Lane, where multiple signs mark the disputed footpath as private property. The path appears on town maps but is now the focus of legal scrutiny.

Town launches website … again

BY WILL DOWD

Marblehead debuted its redesigned website on July 29, marking a relaunch after technical problems forced officials to take the platform offline in February.

Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin sent an email Aug. 4 promoting the new site, highlighting features designed to improve community engagement and accessibility. The announcement came months after functionality issues emerged with the Feb. 20 launch of the $13,750 redesign.

“This modern, user-friendly platform is designed to enhance the way we engage with the community, providing easy access to essential information, services and local news,” Benjamin wrote.

The new website features a streamlined layout for quick navigation, resources for residents, businesses and visitors, up-to-date news and events, emergency alerts and enhanced accessibility for all

BY WILL DOWD AND LEIGH BLANDER

Rail trail site walk, listening session set for Aug. 13

The Marblehead Department of Community Development & Planning is inviting the public to join a site walk and listening session to discuss proposed improvements along the Marblehead Rail Trail on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m.

The Community Development & Planning director, town staff and project consultant Toole Design Group will provide an overview on preliminary design details, solicit public input, provide a tentative project schedule and include a questionand-answer session throughout the public site walk.

The site walk will cover two locations: Salem branch from West Shore Drive to Lead Mills beginning at 4 p.m., and Swampscott branch from Smith Street to Seaview Avenue beginning at 5:15 p.m. Project goals include connectivity and access for recreational, cultural and economic linkage; ecological protection and restoration to improve natural linkage, stabilize and restore resource areas and improve water quality; and alternative transportation and traffic mitigation to provide alternative transportation resources designed for all trail users and enhance connections to schools, business districts and neighborhoods.

For more information, contact CDP@marbleheadma.gov.

Golden retriever family portrait

The Occasionally Annual English Golden Retriever Family Portrait will take place at Chandler Hovey Park on Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. All dogs and dog lovers are welcome to participate in the community gathering.

Chamber announces strategic shift

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce announced a strategic restructuring aimed at delivering increased value to its members and deepening its impact in the local business community. As part of this transformation, the Chamber says it hopes to evolve its operations to become leaner, more focused and member-driven. By reallocating resources from traditional

website just two days after the redesign went live.

“We determined that there were too many fixes and updates that were required to

administrative overhead to targeted outreach, digital promotion and partnershipbuilding, the Chamber is recommitting itself to its core purpose: promoting Marblehead businesses and supporting local economic vitality.

This new approach includes a stronger emphasis on direct member engagement, social media visibility and communityconnected programming, ensuring Chamber efforts translate directly into benefits for local businesses.

“Our focus is clear,” the Chamber Board wrote in a statement. “We’re here to support, spotlight and advocate for Marblehead businesses — every day.”

The Chamber invites local businesses and community members to stay tuned for new programs, enhanced member features and upcoming opportunities to get involved. For more information, contact the Marblehead Chamber of Commerce at info@ marbleheadchamber.org or 62 Pleasant St. Dollars for Scholars awards $52K in scholarships

Marblehead Dollars for Scholars honored 15 high school seniors with scholarships

be completed by the vendor to be fully functional and informative at this time,” Kezer wrote in his message to board members.

totaling $52,000 at its annual awards ceremony on June 1.

Over the summer, the local nonprofit organization will award an additional $156,000 to rising college sophomores, juniors and seniors, who must reapply for their scholarships each year.

Recipients from the MHS Class of 2025 include Justin Gonzalez, Tucker Crane, Cole Goodwin, Roberto O’Neal, Abagail Goodwin, Madison Smith-Miller, Camden Harvey, Sean Heenan, Jacob Hershfield, James Pulido, Marin Tiffany, Campbell Crane, Aria Hoover, Thomas Carlson and Gunther Fehrenbach.

“We are very proud of their achievements, and we wish them continued success in college,” said Marblehead Dollars for Scholars president Jac Bentley.

Bentley said the presentation of scholarships at the annual awards ceremony is the fulfillment of the organization’s mission to support deserving high school graduates in their pursuit of higher education.

Marblehead Museum to host Brick Kitchen Gala Marblehead Museum will host its Brick Kitchen Gala on Saturday, Sept. 13, 5-8 p.m. Visitors will be among the first to see the newly renovated Brick Kitchen building on the Jeremiah Lee estate.

Visitors can also walk through the Jeremiah Lee Mansion, the new Standley H. Goodwin Research Center and view archeological discoveries made by the team from the Fiske Center at UMass Boston. There will be live music, as well as food and drink.

The Brick Kitchen is only the third surviving detached slave quarters owned by a museum in New England. The building serves as the hub of domestic labor, both hired and enslaved, in the Lee household beginning in the 1760s.

Tickets are $125 and a portion of each ticket is deductible. Get tickets at marbleheadmuseum. org/gala or call 781-631-1768.

Bocce celebration

Celebrate the Council on Aging’s new bocce court as a dedication on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center, 10 Humphrey St. There will be refreshments served. Transportation is available. RSVP at 781-631-6225.

users, according to Benjamin’s announcement.

Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer previously informed the Select Board that numerous

functionality issues emerged with the platform, including broken links and incomplete information. The town was forced to revert to its original

The homepage of the relaunched Marblehead website.

COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM

Marblehead Museum will host a gala in the newly renovated Jeremiah Lee Mansion brick kitchen building Sept 13.

COURTESY PHOTO

The Occasionally Annual English Golden Retriever Family Portrait will take place at Chandler Hovey Park on Aug. 21.

COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS

Members of the MHS Class of 2025 and the endowed scholarships they received in parenthesis include, front row (left to right): Justin Gonzalez (Capt. Richard W. Bridgeo), Tucker Crane (Twin Towers Memorial), Cole Goodwin (Deborah and Thomas McNulty), Roberto O’Neal (Francis W. Swain, Marblehead Rotary Club), Abagail Goodwin (Judy and Gene Jacobi), and Madison Smith-Miller (Pam S. Lane). Back row (left to right): Camden Harvey (Bradley C. Sheridan), Sean Heenan (Ralph Carlton), Jacob Hershfield (Bradley C. Sheridan), James Pulido (F. Reed Cutting), Marin Tiffany (Harvey A. Remis), Campbell Crane (Edward D. Carey), and Aria Hoover (Harold & Elizabeth Shattuck). Missing from the photo are Thomas Carlson (Alexander W. Kulevich) and Gunther Fehrenbach (Jean Howe).

Local singer wows Fenway crowd

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Marblehead’s Chloe Curtis returned to Fenway Park with her a cappella group Pitch, Please to sing the national anthem Aug. 5.

Curtis graduated from Marblehead High in 2023 and is a rising junior at Emerson College in Boston. She has been singing with Pitch, Please since 2023.

Curtis just returned from an internship with film marketing company Mob Scene in Los Angeles. Her sister, Callie, a rising senior at MHS, also participated.

Pitch, Please will be performing at the gala for the Jeremiah Lee Mansion’s new brick kitchen on Sept. 13.

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

The a cappella group Pitch, Please poses with Wally at Fenway Park.

This was Chloe Cutis’ second time performing at Fenway Park.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Chloe Curtis of Marblehead, center front, with her a cappella group Pitch, Please at Fenway Park.

Sports

Corinthian Classic keeps tradition and competition on course

BY LAURIE FULLERTON

The 26th annual Corinthian Classic was a tightly contested two-day competition with five divisions, but it was the Vintage Class division that saw three elegant elder statesmen finish in a three-way tie. The tie was broken using U.S. Sailing rules, but it was a proud moment for all three vintage classics with the deciding first place win going to the 122-year-old Custom Yawl Black Watch 71, owned by Kyle Dufur.

The 91-year-old Alden Schooner Spirit owned by Lars Forsberg placed second, and third place went to the 118-yearold Neit, a Herreshoff sloop owned by Van Brown.

“Part of what is really fun is this is a pursuit race, so we came in first on the last day, but on the first day we came in third. Our tiebreaker win today was calculated in part by how the other boats finished and our time, but it was exciting that we all did so well,” said Black Watch’s Trevor Fetter. “Today we knew we had to beat our competition, and this was a great point of sail for us. We really love this regatta and love coming here. I have been coming to this classic for 15 years.”

Marblehead’s Ted Moore, who raced on the vintage yacht Spirit noted that “all three boats were very well sailed. Yesterday, it was a great, reaching race which was great for us. It was great for me to sail with Lars Forsberg, whom I have been sailing with since we raced to Bermuda together in 1978 and it’s great that he is here today.”

The Modern Classic division is the largest fleet, and its firstplace finish went to Jud Smith on Africa B Squad. He placed third on day one of racing, but today’s first-place finish gave him the overall win.

“Today was more of a windward/leeward but we also had to sail around Baker’s Island and towards Manchester where it got very light and tricky. I think that is when the course

became like a game of golf where you begin putting uphill. It was the most strategic part, and I think that is when we did well to get through the light air around the islands and Powers Rock off Manchester,” Moore said. In the Spirit of Tradition class, Jennifer Aspinall took first place on her Alerion 33 Sport while Bill Widnall took first in the International One Design class, which had seven boats racing.

For Quin Vaillancourt, he sailed alone in the Classic division on board his L. Francis Herreshoff-designed Rozinante, which he built himself. Although there were no other competitors in his division this year, he said that the race was fun and challenging.

“It was beautiful sailing conditions and I always love the challenge of this race. I think Rozi has become kind of a fan

favorite of this event, but it is the only time I race each year. In all the years I have joined this race, I have very much become a better competitor, and it has made me a better sailor,” Vaillancourt said. The Corinthian Classic honors the spirit and beauty of older yachts, and a special award was given to Bruce and Leanne Dyson for their dedication to yachting and to this event.

Proudly ser ving Marblehead and the

over 35 years Servicing all makes &models,

&domestic,cars &trucks Specializing in European

COURTESY PHOTO / BRUCE DURKEE

Classic racing at its best with the Herreshoff Sloop Neith passing the International One Design in front of Baker’s Island.

COURTESY PHOTO / BRUCE DURKEE

The International One Design class is a great addition to the Corinthian Classic with competitive racing among all. Octogenarian Bill Widnall took first place after two days of racing.

COURTESY PHOTO / BRUCE DURKEE

What fall sports athletes need to know before the first day of practice

BY JOE MCCONNELL

As you are reading this, we’re only days away from the first day of practice for the Marblehead High School fall sports athletes. The football players will report to head coach Jim Rudloff on Friday, Aug. 15. The golf team will also see its summer end early on this day, while all other fall teams are slated to begin three days later on Aug. 18. But first, there’s some paperwork to complete, before they can suit up.

Let’s start with the players completing and submitting the online registration form after clicking on the register now button to open it up on the school’s athletic department website at students. arbitersports.com/programs/ mhs-2025-fall-athleticsregistration.

Up-to-date in-person physicals are also required, but for your convenience you can upload them and drop them off at the athletic department’s office. The physicals must be dated July 15, 2024, or after to be eligible to play, according to MIAA regulations.

The annual user fees, the third requirement before playing, must be sent to the MHS athletic department via online payment at the end of the day on Aug. 14. The breakdown of the fees may be found on the registration form link. All registration forms with the user fees must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on the aforementioned date of Thursday, Aug. 14,

and sent to Kristin Morello’s email at morello.kristin@ Marbleheadschools.org.

But once all of that administrative paperwork is done, it will be time to report to the respective fall sports coaches, and here’s where and when to do so:

Varsity and JV football players must be in the weightroom at 6 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 15, where they will be met by Rudloff. The freshmen won’t have to report until Monday, Aug. 18, at the MHS fieldhouse (7:45 a.m.).

Also on Friday, Aug. 15, the varsity, JV and freshman golfers will meet coach Bob Green at DiLisio’s Driving Range to begin their first of many practice rounds, but not until 1 p.m.

The boys and girls crosscountry teams will convene at Gatchell’s Park early Monday morning, Aug. 18, at 7:55 a.m.

Will Herlihy, the girls coach, and Brian Heenan, the boys coach, will be there to hit the ground running with a workout regimen for their athletes to get the season quickly underway. Volleyball coach Killeen Miller will be at the MHS fieldhouse at 8 a.m. also on Aug. 18 to welcome her varsity, JV and freshman players to the first day of practice.

Varsity, JV and freshman boys soccer players will be at Piper for the first day of practice with coach Elmer Magana again on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m. The varsity, JV and freshman girls with their second-year coach Lisa Wales will hold their first practice together there five hours later at 3 p.m., followed by the varsity, JV and freshman field hockey team two hours later. They will officially get together with the program’s new head coach Alison Carey at 5 p.m.

Pickleball plays a big role in town

BY MAGGIE MULVIHILL

AND PETER SULLIVAN

If the dog days of August don’t propel you to abandon your wellworn beach chair and do a bit of exercise, let Marblehead’s Dr. Calvin J. Dorsey provide some inspiration.

At 87, the retired physician competes regularly in matches organized by Marblehead Pickleball Inc., a nonprofit organization established in 2024 by a band of enthusiastic local players aimed at encouraging their friends and neighbors to play and build a supportive community around the sport.

Ambling towards the Veterans Middle School pickleball courts last week under a blazing son, the 87-year-old retired surgeon geared up for one of two weekly matches organized by Marblehead Pickleball Inc.

Sporting a purple team shirt, Dorsey is the oldest player on the league’s 80-person roster but a keen competitor. A lifelong golfer, Dorsey said when he heard about a game called pickleball, he was hooked.

“Pickleball was physical, it was active, and it was a competition,” Dorsey said.

The paddle sport, first created in Washington state in 1965 as a children’s backyard game, is a combination of tennis, table tennis and badminton. With unique scoring rules and court lines, pickleball players use smooth-faced paddles and perforated, hollow plastic balls. Teams of two players hit the ball over a 34-inch net until one side cannot return a hit or commit a rule violation.

The game’s popularity is exploding. A 2024 report released by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association stated pickleball grew 224% over three years, with U.S. cities and towns building thousands of courts for the 14 million players across the U.S. Prominent athletes like NBA player LeBron James have invested in Major League Pickleball, established in 2021 to spur the growth of professional pickleball teams. The world’s largest pickleball stadium opened in Fort Lauderdale this year. USA Pickleball, an Arizona-based nonprofit which governs the game in the U.S., is partnering with resort company Sandals and Beaches to create unique pickleball Caribbean vacations.

Pickleball organizations now dot the Bay State landscape, though Marblehead appears to be unique in official municipal support for the sport. Marblehead residents Joe McKane, Buck Grader and Bryce Sudyam worked with town officials to help establish 10 dedicated municipal pickleball courts and two multi-use courts with removable nets at the Veterans School or the back of Seaside Park.

There are over 160 permanent courts in Middlesex and Essex counties, said regional district Ambassador Joe Lyman, 81, of West Peabody, who both teaches the game and plays three times a week. Rather than socializing at Dunkin Donuts where the biggest exercise is “lifting a cup of coffee,” pick up your paddle and play, he said.

“With pickleball, you are out there, interacting with other people,” Lyman said. “The comradery and interaction, regardless of your level of play, is one of the biggest benefits of pickleball.” Marblehead players can

reserve a court for free and play with friends or participate in the Marblehead league, which hosts summer matches each Monday and Tuesday. League members are assigned to one of four teams – the Red Hots, Purple Rain, Blue Steel or Green Fury – and match results are posted weekly on Marblehead Pickleball’s website.

The league holds semi-final matches and mid-season outings

and celebrations, said Lisa Spinale, the USA Pickleball ambassador for Marblehead Pickleball and an avid player. Spinale began playing during COVID, relishing competing outdoors, meeting new people and spreading the word about the game’s physical and mental benefits. Spinale creates lively reels for the 4,000plus followers of Marblehead Pickleball’s Instagram account, writes a monthly newsletter and helps organize practices, competitions and fundraisers.

“It’s provided a big outlet for people to get out,” Spinale said. “It gives you a sense of belonging to the community.”

Spinale, along with Marblehead players Kate Dinsmore, Tony Mongiello and Anne Tassel, established the nonprofit organization last year.

Marblehead players are attracted by pickleball’s low learning curve, the abundance of municipal courts, the ability to borrow free paddles and balls from the library and a pair of tennis shoes already at home. Player Melinda Huff got involved by first taking pickleball lessons

through the Recreation & Parks Department. She loves Marblehead Pickleball’s aim of “fostering community” as well as the game’s endorphin-generating nature. The “open and inviting” culture of the Marblehead league is a big draw, added Dinsmore. “If you move to a new town, look for a pickleball group and you will instantly meet new friends,” Dinsmore said.

An engine for good Marblehead Pickleball has also evolved into a generous charitable engine, driving support for worthy causes such as January’s donation of 50 high quality paddles to students at Marblehead High School. In April, the organization raised $13,000 for “Fund the Field” during the town’s first pickleball tournament to help pay for lights and turf at the high school’s new outdoor field. Last year, Marblehead Pickleball co-sponsored a fundraiser with Friends of Marblehead Basketball, raising $20,000 for the Heather Walker Fund. The fund honors the life of Marblehead resident and Boston Celtics vice-president Heather Walker, who died of cancer in 2023.

Next up: A Sept. 13 tournament to benefit Girls Inc. of Boston and Lynn. Local businesses donate funds to pay for items needed for regular pickleball matches, such as team shirts identifying competitors on the courts.

Elaine Brown, a longtime golfer and now a pickleball devotee, credits Spinale with Marblehead’s robust player community.

“She is incredibly committed, passionate and a great advocate for us and sport,” Brown said. Dorsey does caution potential players about injury risks created by playing in improper footwear like “crocs” or becoming dehydrated. Dorsey witnessed one man with a history of a sedentary lifestyle rupturing an Achilles tendon while playing with his wife and daughter.

But reflecting on why he keeps playing, Dorsey said: ‘In pickleball, as in life, go forward not backward.” Marblehead resident Maggie Mulvihill is a Boston University journalism professor. Peter Sullivan, a former Current intern, is starting his first year in BU’s Journalism program next month.

CURRENT PHOTOS / PETE SULLIVAN

Marblehead Pickleball members are devoted players.

Marblehead has 10 dedicated pickleball courts, including this one at the Veterans School.

Dr. Calvin J. Dorsey, 87, is an avid pickleball player in Marblehead.

Marblehead’s best bets

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Leigh Blander

The Oyster Affair

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 6-8 p.m.

Check out the first Shubie’s Social Club event. They’ll be shucking fresh oysters live on the spot at the Shubie’s Oyster Cart on the patio. Plus, they’ll have a curated bottle wine list available for purchase of bubbles, white, rosé and nonalc options, too. And you can always go inside and pick out your favorite bottle. There will also be a small bites menu available for purchase.

Tickets for this bivalves and bevs event are $25. https:// loom.ly/q7mDTzE

Jazz at the Arts: Yoko Miwa Trio

Thursday, Aug. 21, 7 p.m.

The Marblehead Arts Association and Gene Arnould present a performance by the Yoko Miwa Trio as a part of the Jazz at the Arts concert series. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. There will be a cash bar. Tickets are $35. 8 Hooper St. marbleheadarts.org

Creative Stress Relief for Teens

Thursday, Aug, 21, 3-4 p.m.

Worried about school, current events or just life in general? Stop by during this hour of mindful crafting at Abbot Library. Create a fidget keychain, make a stress ball or relax and make your own creation. No registration required. 235 Pleasant St.

Fogle’s Backyard Theatre Fest

Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, 6 p.m., Aug. 15-24

Don’t miss “Summer Shorts,” a program of classic, one-act comedies performed by the Mugford Street Players of Marblehead, under the direction of John Fogle.

The troupe will perform “I’m Herbert” by Robert Anderson, featuring Anne Roberts and James Butterfield, and David Ives’ “The Universal Language,” performed by Kristine Burke and Bob Karish.

Seats may be reserved by texting 781-962-0409. Reservations will be confirmed by return text. Shows are free, with donations welcome. All shows are weather permitting.

Dance party

Saturday, Aug. 16, 8 p.m.

Come to The Beacon for live music with The Guy Ford Band. Make dinner reservations, too. 123 Pleasant St.

Poetry Meetup

Sunday, Aug. 17. 3:30-5 p.m.

Stop by the monthly Poetry Meetup at Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St.

Public art hides in plain sight

BY WILL DOWD

In Marblehead, civic memory clings to rooftops and hallway walls. A copper weathervane tilts atop Abbot Hall, golden codfish carvings glint above clapboard doors and Works Progress Administration murals line town hall corridors with scenes of schooners, treaties and faith.

None of it announces itself as art. That may be why it matters because they’re honest, enduring and rooted in place. They were made to last. And they still do — handmade, wind-worn, publicly placed and locally kept.

Declaration in copper and gold

Two of Marblehead’s most visible symbols live high above the town — literal weather vanes, civic markers in metal. Each declares a piece of identity.

Atop the tower of Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., a copper vane bearing the word “ABBOT” has been turning since the building opened in 1876. The original was hurled from the roof by a hurricane in 1955; a replacement was fabricated decades later and reinstalled in 2014 after metalworker Marian Ives repaired corroded sections.

The current vane still spins above the clock tower, 164 feet off the ground, the highest point on the Marblehead peninsula.

A few blocks south, the bell tower of Old North Church, 35 Washington St., holds a 52-inch gilded codfish — a civic relic believed to stretch back to the early 1700s. The fish is said to have first topped Marblehead’s second meetinghouse before being moved to its present location in 1824.

A town built on fishing Codfish don’t just crown churches in Marblehead. They hang above doorways, mounted like subtle symbols, carved in wood and gilded in gold leaf. Most were made by one man.

“There was a shanty on Fisherman’s Beach, located at Little Harbor, with a codfish weathervane on the roof,” wrote Ray Abbott, the codfather of Marblehead, in a short autobiography. “I thought that was really neat.” So he carved his first.

Dozens more followed. Abbott’s wife, Jean, applied the gold leaf. Their grandson, Derek Abbott, later joined the family workshop.

“They were completely handcarved from pinewood. It was a true family business,” Derek said. Many still hang today — handmade folk symbols of labor, identity and place.

Marblehead Historian Emeritus Bette Hunt once summed it up plainly in an interview: “They symbolize what made the Massachusetts Bay Colony prosper: the cod.” The cods became so recognizable that some have been stolen. A spate of late-night “codnappings” in the 2010s prompted homeowners to bolt their carvings higher or retire them indoors. Still, the symbol persists — not as kitsch but as declaration.

Grief in paint

For John Orne Johnson Frost, public art began in a secondfloor room with a barrel stove and a sense of loss. He started painting during the turn of the 20th century and at the ripe old age of 70, decades after losing his fish business, and he resolved to capture the town he remembered and the stories handed down to him.

His “Gale of 1846: Ruin, Wreckage and Death” depicts the hurricane that devastated Marblehead’s fishing fleet.

With ghostly ships and blocky, naïve figures, Frost channels both personal sorrow and civic mourning. Text painted directly onto the stormy sky reads: “11 vessels lost. 65 men. 43 widows. 155 fatherless children.”

The piece is displayed today at the Marblehead Museum, 170 Washington St., alongside several others by Frost — “The Market Place, Marblehead,” a bustling scene of civic trade, among dozens others. Meanwhile, “Signing of the Deed of the Town of Marblehead, 1684,” which reimagines the founding agreement between English settlers and the Naumkeag. It hangs in the Select Board Room above letters written to ‘Headers from Founding Fathers.

Frost’s paintings are flat, bright and emotionally charged. Each is a kind of folk documentary, made from stories, memory and, yes, house paint.

Two WPA artists, one civic canvas In 1934 and 1935, the Works Progress Administration — a New Deal agency launched by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to combat unemployment during the Great Depression — sent two painters to Marblehead: Arthur L. Kelley and Thomas S. Baker. Together, they covered the first floor of Abbot Hall in murals. Altogether, one can find a dozen.

Like Frost, Kelley painted the town’s history — the deed signing, the town’s first

meetinghouse, a schooner launch at Little Harbor. His style was structured and reverent.

Baker brought a lighter touch.

His murals included a decorative map of Marblehead’s coast, a clipper ship under sail and a J-class yacht — a nod to the town’s evolution from a working harbor to a sailing capital.

As one interpretive text from the Marblehead Historical Commission puts it: “Kelley paints the past — treaty, church, labor. Baker paints the place — maps, ships, movement. This pairing is powerful. Kelley gives us how Marblehead began. Baker gives us what it became.”

Their murals remain in place, making Abbot Hall not just a seat of government, but a civic gallery. One just has to look.

A Revolution, framed

“The Spirit of ‘76,” painted by Archibald M. Willard, was never meant to be Marblehead’s — but it became so.

Originally created for the

1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, the 10-by-11foot canvas was purchased and donated to the town by Gen. John H. Devereux in 1880. It now hangs in the Select Board Room of Abbot Hall.

“In memory of the brave men from Marblehead who have died in battle on sea and land for their country,” Devereux wrote in his gift inscription.

The painting shows three musicians — a wounded drummer, a fifer and a young boy — marching forward in resistance. Willard used his own father, a family friend and Devereux’s son as models.

What’s wild about most of Marblehead public art — the codfish, the canvases, the weathervanes — is that none of it tries to be art. These objects don’t demand attention or cling to any particular aesthetic. They feel like part of the furniture — or woven into the architecture of the town itself — and that may be what gives them their power.

CURRENT PHOTO / WILL DOWD

A hand-carved, gold-leaf codfish hangs above a shop entrance on Washington Street — one of dozens made by Ray Abbott and his family in a decadeslong folk art tradition.

CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS

The copper weathervane atop Abbot Hall, reading “ABBOT,” was reinstalled in 2014 after the original was destroyed in a 1955 hurricane. It remains the highest point on the Marblehead peninsula.

John Orne Johnson Frost’s “Gale of 1846” memorializes the hurricane that sank 11 vessels and left 155 children fatherless. Painted with house paint on board, the work blends memory, grief and history.

“The Spirit of ’76,” painted by Archibald Willard, hangs in the Select Board Room of Abbot Hall. Though not originally commissioned for the town, the iconic Revolutionary image has become a Marblehead fixture.

A Works Progress Administration mural by Arthur L. Kelley depicts the 1684 signing of the Marblehead deed between settlers and members of the Naumkeag. It hangs in Abbot Hall.

Randy S. Krivitsky, 70

Our beloved partner, brother, uncle, cousin and dear friend

Randy S. Krivitsky died peacefully on August 7, at his summer home in Limerick, Maine. His adoring life partner, Margo, at his side, Randy spent his last days surrounded by family and friends who shared laughs and memories of a life well-lived. His generosity continues in death as he chose to gift his body to Harvard Medical School, furthering science and education. A

Sydney Parvin Jerabek, 78

Sydney Parvin Jerabek passed away peacefully on July 31, surrounded by her loving family. Born on Feb. 21, 1947, to Jan and Linc Parvin, Sydney was raised on Long Island, New York, alongside her beloved siblings Tad, Elin, Bret and Kent. In West Islip, she met and married her childhood sweetheart, Charlie Jerabek. The two later settled in Rye, New Hampshire, where they raised their children, Rod and Molly.

Sydney was a creative, caring mother with a sharp sense of humor and a huge heart.

fourth-generation iron worker, most of his career he worked in his family’s business — Boston Iron Works in Chelsea. An avid outdoorsman, he loved everything from the beach to

She welcomed her children’s spouses, Jon and Crystal, with open arms and was a devoted and involved grandmother to Max, Grayson and Charley. She and Charlie enjoyed an adventurous life together filled with travel and family time until his passing in 2014.

A true creative in every sense,

the mountaintops; he enjoyed mountain and rock climbing, waterskiing, hiking, tossing, boating, lakes, rivers, streams and oceans. Randy was a diehard Boston sports fan, car enthusiast and a generous, talented craftsman who helped friends, family, neighbors and clients with everything from simple fixes to the toughest of projects. He built many fishing boats with his brother Matt Finn at Marblehead Builders. He built and skippered a number of winning “boats” for Swampscott Rotary’s Duct Tape Regatta. He never saw a to-do list he couldn’t tackle. Randy will be sorely missed by his friends, family

Sydney was a gifted painter, an elegant dresser and the ultimate hostess. Her artistry showed in every aspect of her life — from sewing her own clothes as a teenager to running a successful decorative arts business in the 1980s and ‘90s, where she crafted and sold painted boxes and home décor pieces that are still cherished by many today. Her children and grandchildren are proud to have inherited her creative spirit. As a hostess, Sydney had a rare ability to make others feel truly special. She prepared delicious meals and paid attention to every detail — from the table settings to the final, indulgent dessert. Her guests never forgot how cared for and special she made them feel. Her homes reflected that same warmth, each designed

and wonderful neighbors on Leo Road. He loved animals, was every dog’s best friend and a longtime volunteer for animal rescue organizations. Randy was knowledgeable about such a variety of subjects – he was truly a Renaissance man. Born in Boston and raised in Marblehead, Randy graduated from Marblehead Public Schools and attended Northeastern University before joining his father and grandfather at B.I.W. Randy was the son of the late Arthur and Evelyn (Dreben) Krivitsky, he leaves his loving life companion Margo Hansen, his dedicated brothers Alan

as a welcoming sanctuary filled with beauty, comfort and a place for connection. Sydney loved nothing more than to host a house full of family and friends.

Following Charlie’s passing, Sydney bravely began a new chapter in Marblehead, where she spent the final decade of her life. She quickly formed deep and lasting friendships — more than most people make in a lifetime. A lifelong lover of the ocean, Sydney adored the view from her Front Street home and often invited friends and even passersby in to enjoy it.

She became known in town for her vibrant window boxes she lovingly tended — admired by all who passed her home. Sydney never missed a chance to spend time with her family, to say “I love you,” to make

Krivitsky of Saugus and Matt Finn of Marblehead; BK; his niece Sydney Krivitsky, and nephews Kyle and Jack Krivitsky, his favorite girl, Laura King of Denton. Texas, and several cousins. He was predeceased by his beloved niece Elissa Krivitsky.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to World Central Kitchen or the Pan-Mass Challenge. In keeping with his wishes, there will be no services, we encourage you to celebrate his life in your own time and in your own way. Please share a favorite Randy story or memory in the comments or leave him your to-do list!

others feel seen and supported, and to hold them close. In her final days, she urged her family and friends: “Go have fun. Just remember me smiling.” Her legacy is one of creativity, kindness, warmth and a life lived with a beautifully open heart. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.

All are welcome to attend a celebration of life on Thursday Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sydney’s name can be made to the Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers, where she received kind and compassionate care. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Sydney’s family.

Women’s rights sign purloined; pastor’s ID used in scam

Excerpts from the Marblehead police log of Monday, Aug. 4 through Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025.

Monday, Aug. 4

5:58 a.m. While conducting selective traffic enforcement in the area of West Shore Drive, an officer noticed a small black sedan with very loud exhaust, which matched the description of a vehicle that police had received several complaints about over the previous week. The officer stopped the vehicle and determined that the vehicle had a suspended registration, which the driver said surprised him, as he believed the issues with the registration had been rectified. The vehicle was towed from the scene, and police confiscated the license plates.

9:40 a.m. An officer issued verbal warnings to a pair of drivers in the vicinity of Humphrey Street.

2:13 p.m. A Wilson Road resident reported seeing two men get out of what he thought was a black Land Cruiser and throw three used tires into his neighbor’s backyard. The resident had confronted the

men and made them retrieve the tires and leave. When police ran the license plate the resident provided, it came back to a Toyota Tacoma owned by someone in Orleans.

6:19 p.m. An officer spoke at the station with a Salem man who reported that his identity had been used in an attempt to commit unemployment benefits fraud. The man had tried unsuccessfully to report the fraud attempt to the state Department of Unemployment Assistance both online and over the phone.

8:32 p.m. Two officers were dispatched to the area of Commercial and Prospect streets to investigate a report of a man yelling at people. The officers spoke with a woman who said that she and her male friend had gotten into an altercation with a group of kids who had directed a racial slur at her friend. The other parties involved in the altercation later came to the station and denied they had used a racial slur or any other inappropriate language.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

9:15 a.m. An officer responded to Mugford Street to speak with a woman whose sign reading “Women’s Rights Are Human Rights” had been stolen from her front yard by a man and a woman. She shared with the officer video footage of the theft, which had been captured by her security camera.

9:25 a.m. An officer took a report at the scene of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street.

10:01 a.m. An officer took a report at the scene of a vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue.

11:58 a.m. An officer spoke at the station with Monsignor Timothy Moran, pastor of the Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, who reported that someone had used his

name and a fake email address to scam a parishioner into sending the scammer gift card. The parishioner had already reported the incident to Swampscott Police, where she lives. He was advised to check his credit report and other financial accounts to ensure there was no evidence of additional fraud.

4 p.m. An officer responded to Colgate Road to take a report from a woman who reported that someone had stolen a package with contents valued at approximately $200 that had been delivered to her home on Saturday, while she was not home. She explained that she had not reported it sooner because Amazon advised her to wait 48 hours to ensure that the package had in fact been stolen. The woman explained that she was not too concerned about follow-up but just needed to file a report to obtain a refund from Amazon.

9:08 p.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on Willow Road.

1311:53 p.m. An officer investigated a disturbance on Broughton Road.

Wednesday, Aug. 6

12:24 a.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on Pleasant Street.

7:02 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Knight Avenue.

12:37 p.m. An officer was driving on West Shore Drive when another vehicle sped through the stop sign on Turner Road, causing him to hit his brakes to avoid a collision. After the officer stopped the vehicle, the driver was unable to find the car’s registration and explained that he did not have a driver’s license. The officer explained to the man that he could not continue to drive the vehicle, and he agreed to have it picked up by the registered owner.

3:29 p.m. An officer took a report related to larceny, forgery or fraud reported on Crestwood Road.

Thursday, Aug. 7

12:56 p.m. An officer investigated the report of a disabled vehicle on Village Street.

9:02 p.m. A Brook Road resident reported losing an earring.

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.

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Marblehead Council on Aging 781-631-6225

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www.marbleheadfemalehumanesociety.com

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