09.17.2025 - Volume 3, Issue 43

FIRST WAVE

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FBI and other law enforcement agents took three local landscapers into custody on Beach Street Friday morning, according to their employer Ali Williams of Lassana Landscaping.

“They all have families,” Williams told the Current on

Monday. “They have been with us for a while, two for over three years, the other one new this year. All very reliable, hardworking good people who care about the quality of work that they do.”

Williams said she has gotten no information about the men’s whereabouts.

“I know the families are working with their lawyers

on getting the men released. I wish I could give you more information, but we have not been given any ourselves,” she said.

Friday’s scene

Resident Sarah Fox said she was walking down Beach Street when several vehicles “hemmed in” a Lassana Landscaping truck, and men wearing FBI and police

gear started screaming at the driver. Fox said she heard one agent yell, “Your identification is fake!”

James Covington with Boston’s ICE office confirmed to the Current that it was a “targeted enforcement operation” by ICE.

“It was in support of Operation Patriot,” Covington said. “A targeted enforcement

BY LEIGH BLANDER

When Cynthia Belmer heard about the crash that killed 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell last month, she couldn’t sleep at all that night. She stayed up researching ways to prevent another tragedy.

Belmer, who has three young children, and other local moms have formed a group, MADD 4 MHD, to address drinking and driving in town.

“My husband was born and raised here, and he lost one or two of his

BY KRIS OLSON

Local voices were quick to offer condolences to the family of Charlie Kirk and call for an end to political violence after the conservative activist was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10. Press Secretary Emily DeJoy shared with the Current the message sent to Marblehead Republican Town Committee members calling on them to “lift up Charlie’s family in prayer” and “stand united against political violence.”

Some

and Jenna McLaughlin. They are standing at the site of last month’s memorial for 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell, who was killed in an alleged drunk driving crash. A 16-year-old driver i charged.

classmates in a similar way,” Belmer told the Current. “Knowing that my kids are going to be exposed to this town culture, I had to do something.”

Belmer discovered two laws that she hopes will encourage teens to call for help rather than engage in unsafe behaviors, including drinking and driving.

“Kids need to be informed about these laws,” Belmer said. “They need to be encouraged to speak up. I’m hoping to make a tiny difference. If I can change one person’s mind, that

will be amazing.”

Belmer created a flyer about the laws that was handed out at the Marblehead High School parents night last week. (To see the flyer, visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.)

Elloree Jennings, a mom and Veterans School teacher, is also very involved. She knew Gatchell and has been heartbroken by her death. The tragedy has motivated Jennings to take a leading role in changing the

“As we grapple with this tremendous loss, now is the time for unity,” the statement read in part. “Our conservative movement has always stood on the foundations of faith, resilience, and community, and that must remain steadfast today.” (The statement appears in full on the Current’s letters page.) On X, Congressman Seth Moulton also decried the rise of political violence in America.

“Political violence of any kind has no place in our country,” he wrote. “We also should get serious about

addressing the root causes of this violence, or it will only continue to grow.”

He also expressed his condolences for

operation means we were going after someone specific.”

Marblehead Police Chief

Dennis King said, “We were not notified, nor asked to assist, but are aware of the reports of the activity.”

“This is horrible,” Fox said. “This man didn’t do anything wrong. He was on his way to

HOUSING State rejects request for 3A zoning exemption

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Select Board Chair Dan Fox tells the Current he has received a letter from Massachusetts Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Edward Augustus, denying Marblehead an exemption from the MBTA Communities Act.

The letter is dated Sept. 11 and reads, “The MBTA Communities Law is a critical tool to address the dire need for the Commonwealth to add at least 222,000 new homes over the next 10 years. EOHLC is committed to collaborating with municipalities like Marblehead that have been unable to adopt the required as-of-right multifamily zoning. But there are no exceptions or exemptions from the MBTA Communities Law, and EOHLC does not offer exceptions or Exemptions.”

The letter continues: “We remain willing to work with you to ensure that Marblehead can achieve compliance,” and urges the town to seek assistance from an MBTA Communities Compliance coordinator.

The letter also references a July communication from Attorney General Andrea Campbell stating that as of January 2026, the state “is prepared to bring an enforcement suit against any MBTA community that has failed to both adopt the required zoning and apply for a determination of district compliance from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.”

In a special referendum in July, Marblehead voters rejected the town’s proposal to comply with 3A. The plan identified three areas for multifamily zoning, including Tioga Way, a part of Pleasant Street and Broughton Road. It would have added the possibility of 600 units in these areas.

Fox reacted to the letter Monday morning. “Although we are disappointed that the state is unwilling to grant us an exemption or any kind of an exclusion from 3A, we are not surprised given the past court rulings as well as the previous communications with Secretary Augustus. While the Commonwealth has expressed a willingness to work with us, Marblehead must adopt compliant multifamily zoning to avoid enforcement action and loss of state grant eligibility. Moving forward, we need to be proactive as a town to see if we can find a solution that satisfies as many citizens as possible. We cannot just sit back and wait to see what the Attorney General does in January. The Select Board remains committed to engaging residents and pursuing a path forward that balances state requirements with our community’s character.”

COURTESY PHOTO/GAGE SKIDMORE

Charlie Kirk speaks with attendees at the 2025 Student Action Summit at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida on July 13.

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

members of the newly formed MADD 4 MHD, (left to right) Kate Anslinger, Deanna Oswald, Holland Jennings, Elloree Jennings, Callie McLaughlin

CRACKDOWN, P. 2

MADD, P. 2

KIRK, P. 2

work, going to make our lives easier. Now his life is changed forever. Who is going to pick up his kids after school today?”

A local GoFundMe has raised more than $3,800 as of Monday to help the families of the landscaper(s) with legal expenses. Dozens of people had donated.

Immigration attorney Diann SlavitBaylis, who lives in Marblehead, was surprised by the action Friday morning.

“Obviously this was an ambush and the people (in the Lassana truck) didn’t know their rights, and that is what ICE is counting on,” Slavit Baylis said. “To come into a suburb, it’s not to fight crime, it’s just to pick up people who are not expecting it.”

Slavit Baylis advises her clients that if they are pulled over by ICE or other federal agents to roll down their window and keep their hands on the steering wheel. Drivers are required to provide a name and address, but they are not required to say anything more.

“They (the agents) can search the car if they have probable cause, so say clearly, ‘I do not

consent’ and then remain silent,” she said.

According to its website, Lassana Landscaping was launched in 2002 by Williams and her husband Lassana Diawara, who first met in a small farming village along the Niger River in Mali, West Africa, where Diawara was farming rice on his family’s land and Williams was working as an agricultural Peace Corps volunteer.

In 2001, they moved back to Williams’ hometown of Marblehead, where Diawara worked for a couple of years at Kipp’s Greenhouses and met some of his first landscaping customers.

shared a personal statement about Marblehead’s drinking culture.

drinking-and-driving culture in town. She is coordinating volunteers to post pink ribbons around Marblehead in Gatchell’s memory.

Jennings’ daughter, Holland, was in Gatchell’s class and knew her. Holland is working with her mom on MADD 4 MHD. She says drinking and driving is “pretty common” among Marblehead teens.

“They think it’s cool, or that it makes them look cool,” Holland said. “I want to make sure teens understand what can happen — that you can get really hurt or hurt someone else.”

Callie Oswald, 13, agrees that drinking and driving is “too normalized” in town.

“It is a problem, and we need to teach kids about it,” she said.

One early initiative MADD 4 MHD is working on is asking the town to enforce laws against drinking (by students and parents) at high school sporting events.

Before Friday’s football game, MHS Principal Michele Carlson sent an email to families reminding them “outside beverages, large bags and backpacks are not allowed at the game.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with MADD 4 MHD can contact Belmer at belmer. cynthia@gmail.com.

Board of Health response

At a Sept. 9 meeting, BoH Chair Dr. Tom Massaro introduced a multi-step proposal to address the issues of mental health and substance abuse in town. The steps include meeting in small groups to learn more about the problems and then involving a broader audience of stakeholders. proposed a three-step plan to address the issues of mental health and substance abuse in town. The steps include forming small groups to learn more about the problem, researching and then involving a broader audience of stakeholders.

BoH member Tom McMahon

Kirk’s family, including his wife and two children, ages 3 and 1.

“As a father of two young girls myself, I can’t imagine what they’re going through tonight,” he wrote.

But Moulton subsequently drew criticism from remarks he made on CNN the following day, which were amplified by the website Mediaite.

Moulton suggested that President Trump could show he’s “serious” about wanting to stop political violence by overturning pardons he issued for those convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

“If the president is serious about stopping political violence, then maybe he should start by

“‘Marblehead, a drinking town with a sailing problem.’ Many of us, including me, have found this phrase humorous. We even sell T-shirts and stickers depicting it. Over the past decade or so, though, I stopped finding this phrase amusing. In fact, I see it as us celebrating a part of our town that has caused lasting damage to many and sends the wrong message to our youth.

To be clear, I lived this phrase for much of my young adult life, including while I was in Marblehead High School. I look back though and realize how lucky I was to make it through that phase in my life unharmed. Drinking to excess, with everyone else. Driving both a car and a boat while under the influence, again with everyone else. I did it all, with everyone else. When tragedy hits, it’s often followed with a stigma where the person responsible was being reckless and making poor choices, and I don’t think that’s wrong. However, in a town with a drinking culture like ours, the stigma is really just ‘luck.’ I was ‘lucky’ to not be the victim of tragedy. I certainly had plenty of opportunities to be that victim. I’d say the same for virtually every single person I know in town. I also know some that weren’t ‘lucky.’ None of the ones I know were bad people or did anything that me, my friends or many others in town didn’t do. They just were unlucky that day. That’s the difference between them and the rest of us.

In my late 30s, I stopped ‘feeling’ the drinking culture we have. Within the past couple of years, it wouldn’t be odd for me to go a month or two without a single drink. Did I have less fun as I weaned off? No. If anything, I was WAY more productive. I had toyed with the idea for a while of just stopping all together. Why? My kids. I have a 3-year-old and a 9-month-old. I thought maybe if they never saw their dad drink

rescinding the pardons for all the domestic terrorists who came to the Capitol on Jan. 6 to kill cops, to kill Speaker Pelosi, to kill — to kill Vice President Pence,” Moulton told CNN’s Kate Bouldan on “CNN News Central.”

Moulton again called for “an honest conversation about the origins of this political violence and why it has risen so dramatically since Donald Trump’s first term.”

“We need to have that conversation if we’re serious about stopping it,” he said.

On Friday, Moulton reported on X that his remarks on CNN the previous day had led to his office receiving “an extraordinary number of violent and graphic threats yesterday and today from right-wing individuals online and over the phone — directed

Congressman Seth Moulton, who grew up in Marblehead, slammed the ICE action.

“Armed agents in unmarked cars surrounding a local landscaping truck and screaming at the driver in front of neighbors without even notifying Marblehead Police or the district attorney is not law enforcement — it’s intimidation,” he said.

Moulton continued, “These tactics do nothing to protect our communities; they only terrorize them. People should not have to fear being caught in the middle of an ICE operation on their way to work or school.

When residents are afraid of their own government, they are less likely to cooperate with law enforcement — and that makes everyone less safe.

State Rep. Jennifer Armini said,”It is shocking and distressing to see federal agents in Marblehead. Landscapers are not criminals. They are part of our economy and, by extension, our community. The goal of today’s actions is not to keep us safe. That’s the big lie. Its goal is to destabilize our communities and terrorize individuals and their families. Marblehead has never given into tyrants, and we’re not about to start now.”

ever, while still having a good time, maybe they wouldn’t fall into the same culture that I did. I decided my friend’s wedding this past Memorial Day weekend was going to be the last day. Friends of mine slowly found out, and then you’d hear the little comments. ‘Hey Tom, when you come by this weekend, are you gonna be lame?’ By ‘be lame,’ what they meant was, ‘Are you not going to drink?’ Now granted, these are my friends just giving me a hard time, but my kids were right there when they said it. It just made me really think. What message are we sending our kids? If you don’t drink, then you’re ‘lame’? I stopped because I knew my audience. My daughter and my son. I think we all need to take a step back and realize that we all have an audience actively watching us, and it’s our youth. They see us have a few drinks when we’re out to dinner then drive everyone home. They know when we’ve been out drinking and came home in our own car. They see the drinking on the boats and at yacht clubs. They see it when we’re with our friends at parties. They’re watching and forming opinions on what’s acceptable and what’s not when it comes to drinking activities.

I have a friend with kids older than mine that made an interesting point. ‘The last time a kid died drinking and driving in town, he was celebrated as a “great youth sports athlete,” and not a single person said he died drinking and driving. Moments of silence, banners, golf tournaments, youth basketball tournaments, bumper stickers, opening day speeches … not a single time was I there and anyone said, “This is because of drinking and driving.” In my eyes, the community handled the situation all wrong. It was a cautionary tale that was swept under the rug.’

I think he’s right. And to that, I’d ask why? Why are we whitewashing the truth of the story for our youth? It’s not helping them make better decisions. And telling the

toward me, my family, and my staff — after I pointed out the simple fact that President Trump should join Speaker Johnson and other level-headed Republicans in condemning political violence, not inciting it further.”

Moulton wrote, “The solution to political disagreement in America is never violence. It should be easy for everybody to say that.”

But Moulton’s CNN appearance also did not sit well with Marblehead resident Sharman Pollender.

“At what point will you, and your party, acknowledge that this divisive approach is part of the problem?” Pollender wrote in a letter to the Current, which appears on Page 5.

She suggested to Moulton, “It’s time to act like an adult, have a

truth doesn’t make the victim a bad person or show they accomplished less. Again, they were unlucky. I’ve often heard, even from school administration, that we have to be worried about triggering the kids. I can’t stand the word ‘triggered.’ Is this why we don’t tell the truth? Because I can tell you as a student who walked the MHS halls as a senior when one of these tragedies took place, NOTHING is more triggering than when it happens. And I don’t think hiding reality from students helps. In fact, I think it only acts as an enabler for it to happen again.

I commend the School Committee and Jenn Shaeffner stepping up to try and address the drinking problem we have with our youth in town. I love that the chair of my board, who is still new to town and learning our ways, hasn’t hesitated to want to be a part of the solution, and I agree wholeheartedly with his letter to the editor. I also want to explore all options we can to help as elected town leadership. I’ve received fantastic suggestions from residents in town for good governance to address these concerns, and I hope those suggestions keep coming.

Right now, there is a lot of fear, anger and questions from the community, and town leadership should step up, and some are. They can create helpful strategies and policies, but they can’t solve the problem. If we don’t take a look at ourselves and the culture we’ve created and celebrated and make some serious changes in our own lives, then we’ll just keep facing periodic tragedies. Thoughts and prayers, put the sticker on your car, rinse and repeat.

I’m not suggesting any Prohibition-like changes. All I’m saying is that we understand that we’re being watched and ask ourselves how we’d like to be perceived. We have a full-time audience in our youth, and we want them to make responsible decisions as they get older. That starts with us ALL leading by example.”

real conversation like what Charlie (Kirk) would’ve had and focus on righting the wrongs instead of doubling down on them.”

Kirk, 31, was the founder of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, and Wednesday’s event was a part of the organization’s “American Comeback Tour.”

A suspect in the shooting, 22-year-old Utah native Tyler Robinson, turned himself into authorities and was arrested Friday morning. Robinson, who had been a third-year student in the electrical apprenticeship program at Dixie Technical College in St. George, Utah, could face the death penalty.

The town of Marblehead lowed its flags on Sunday to mark Kirk’s death, as was ordered by Gov. Maura Healey and Trump. NEWSROOM

COURTESY PHOTO / SARAH FOX

tells the Current the action on Beach Street Friday was part of Operation Patriot and was targeted.

App-based mental, emotional support system coming to town

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Soon, all Marblehead residents and employees will have access to a new app that offers a widerange of mental, emotional and physical health support — all for free from their phone.

Public Health Director Andrew Petty announced that the town is using $14,500 in opioid settlement funds to hire Bloom, a platform that provides therapy, crisis care, resources and more.

The Current contacted Bloom’s co-founder Joanne Mercaldi to learn more.

Current: What will Marblehead residents and employees have access to?

Mercaldi: With Bloom, Marblehead residents can access world-class experts, therapy and practical tools for mental health and overall wellbeing — anytime, anywhere.

Residents have access to therapy, in-network psychiatry for all ages, expert-led resources 24/7 and personalized coaching for mental health, parenting, eldercare and holistic wellness.

This month, we’re offering live workshops on grief and loss, relationships, bullying

and financial wellness, along with our Family Connection Challenge to inspire meaningful moments at home.

Current: How does Bloom help communities?

Mercaldi: BLOOM takes a holistic approach by integrating mental and behavioral health, caregiving support and personal well-being into one easy-touse platform. By combining education, expert resources and direct access to care, we help communities overcome barriers like cost, stigma and long wait times while improving outcomes. BLOOM collaborates with

more than 350 leading experts, sharing trusted resources from organizations such as McLean Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital and Chopra Global.

Current: How many communities does Bloom serve?

Mercaldi: BLOOM currently supports multiple corporations and cities through their employee assistance programs and has expanded into entire communities by partnering with departments of public health. These leaders recognize the need

to support residents holistically — beyond traditional care.

Mercaldi added, “We want Marblehead to know that BLOOM is here to be your partner in health. Backed by more than 350 world-class experts, our mission is to change health outcomes for you, your families and your community — helping you thrive both at home and at work.”

The city of Peabody hired Bloom after the recent suicide of a young student who had been bullied, Petty said. The program should begin in Marblehead Oct. 1.

Town previews upcoming road, utility work

BY LEIGH BLANDER

DPW

Marblehead’s

Director Amy McHugh presented several street and utility projects coming up in town at the Sept. 10 Select Board meeting. They include:

Pedestrian and ADA ramp improvements

Work on pedestrian accessibility and ADAcompliant ramps is scheduled to begin in late September. The initial focus will be along Atlantic Avenue on the outbound side near the

Temple Emanu-El ramp and sidewalk.

Additional ADA ramp work is scheduled for West Shore Drive at Jersey Street, coordinated with school holiday periods to minimize disruption.

Sidewalk and ramp upgrades are also planned along Pleasant Street, from Maverick Street to Prince Street on the outbound side. Looking ahead, in

spring 2026 further ADA improvements will be made at Tedesco and Humphrey streets, as well as along West Shore Drive and Lafayette Street.

Paving projects

Full-depth reclamation paving for West, Mystic and Florence streets began on Sept. 15. This process involves removing existing pavement, re-grading the road base, resetting structures, installing a binder course, reconstructing sidewalks and applying a final topcoat of pavement.

Water system upgrades

Water utility improvements are ongoing in multiple areas,

according to McHugh. The Pleasant Street connection project is scheduled to be completed by early October. Following this, work will shift to Gerry Street, where water system upgrades are planned to take place from October through December.

Gas utility upgrades Several significant gas line replacement projects are underway, McHugh

said.

Work along Conant and Winthrop streets began this month and will continue through next April. Atlantic Avenue is scheduled for work this month, while Prospect Street upgrades will extend from September through February. Finally, gas line work on Gerry Street is scheduled between December and February 2026.

EDITORIAL

Marblehead’s youth and AI

Recent news about Marblehead schools continuing to implement artificial intelligence policies as part of their educational framework is very welcome news. Artificial intelligence — easily accessible from any digital device — is quickly affecting our children’s academic lives.

AI presents enormous opportunities for students to expand their knowledge, challenge their thinking, spark creativity and build new skills. Building AI literacy will help prepare our children for today’s digital world.

That is why school leaders deserve kudos for the district’s AI Steering Committee, led by Assistant Superintendent for Learning Julia Ferreira. As it recently presented to the School Committee, the AI Steering Committee seeks to build AI competencies and readiness to protect and foster our students’ original, critical, and creative thinking abilities. It also rightly focuses on engaging parents, teachers and administrators on the responsible use of AI in schools and equipping teachers to provide students with the guidance and support necessary to ensure what the committee calls “authentic learning.”

We look forward to watching the district’s thoughtful approach to giving our students a strong AI foundation in the schools.

Because A.I. is so pervasive and easily accessible outside the academic environment, Marblehead also needs to take a hard look at how our school-aged children engage with it in a way that safeguards their mental health. More and more, young people struggling with mental health are turning to AI chatbots for comfort and assistance and receiving seriously flawed information and advice.

One contributing factor to this development is that children are not receiving or cannot access the mental health care that they need. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, in the years 2021 and 2022, only about 27% of teenagers always received the social and emotional support they needed.

To be sure, AI chatbots can help fill some of this huge statistical support gap. They are always and easily available at low or no cost and make vast amounts of mental health information accessible. And because they are trained to confidently communicate like us, they convincingly replicate online human connection and experiences.

A Dartmouth College study shows the great promise of this technology to address mental health challenges. While acknowledging that there is no replacement for in-person care, the researchers found that a chatbot designed to treat mental health symptoms significantly reduced some users’ symptoms from major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder or an eating disorder.

The flip side of adolescents’ current use of AI for mental health support, however, is fraught with well-documented risk. The reality is that most AI chatbots lack necessary guardrails. Because many chatbots are designed to eagerly validate, accommodate and avoid conflict, they often fail to set boundaries and challenge users.

Adolescents who are still developing socially and emotionally and seeking affirmation and connection are particularly susceptible to these influences. They can develop an unhealthy dependency on their relationship with chatbots. Those relationships sadly can reinforce negative thought patterns, include ideas of self-harm, and cause even greater psychological stress and contribute to tragic outcomes.

Yes, many AI developers are making efforts to identify these situations before they devolve and refer users to realworld resources, but they are works in progress and not fail-safe.

In the meantime, the American Psychological Association offers some helpful guidance for parents and guardians: talk with children about the AI tools they are using and how they are using them, help children understand that chatbots are programmed responses and not genuine relationships, and remind children that health information and advice should not come from an AI chatbot but from a health care provider, mental health professional or another trusted adult.

Marblehead community leaders also have an important and influential role to play. The school district’s AI Steering Committee and the Board of Health’s upcoming Creating a Healthier Marblehead initiative present opportunities to work together to create awareness programs and recommendations surrounding children’s safe and responsible use of AI chatbots. These leaders can collaborate with school counselors and psychologists and other mental health professionals to provide valuable AI guidance and help identify warning signs when children may be relying too heavily on AI chatbots for emotional support and wellbeing.

Now is the time to prepare the next generation of Marblehead students to become thoughtful and responsible digital citizens who thrive alongside AI while protecting their and others’ mental health.

If you or someone you know can use emotional support, call or text the national mental health hotline at 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org.

ASK LIZZIE

Maybe a ‘good day’ at school

isn’t what you think

BY LIZZIE ASSA

From preschool pickup to college drop-off, this part hasn’t changed.

I remember holding my breath all morning after preschool drop-off.

Was she crying?

Did he pee his pants again?

Would she talk during snack time or just sit there frozen?

Everyone told me I’d feel relieved once they started school. That I’d get to use those few hours to run errands, fold laundry or grab coffee with a friend.

But once I finally dropped them off, the physical chaos of kids underfoot was replaced by a constant loop in my head:

Was this a “good day?”

Were they okay?

Did their teacher see them? Like them?

Would they make friends? Would I?

If you’ve ever stood at pickup, watching for your kid to burst through that door, and instead of scooping them up, you found yourself asking:

“Did you cry?”

“Did you raise your hand?”

“Did you play with anyone?”

I say this as someone who’s been on both sides — a preschool teacher and a mom of three (now all big kids). You’re not the only one.

While you are busy trying to track their emotional safety and grasping at some tiny straw that you aren’t totally screwing this up, you’re not seeing that many, many parents around you are doing the exact same thing.

Here’s something that will help ease your mind: Children are not meant to show up to school already knowing what to do and how to do it.

Preschoolers don’t come to school to perform; they come to learn how to be part of a community. They are there to play, explore and learn how to be at school. That is the curriculum. And if we keep labeling their day “good” or “bad” based on whether they cried, raised their hand or played with someone new, we’re missing the point.

And now, years later, with a middle schooler, a high schooler and a college freshman, I’m still unlearning it.

They’re not supposed to already know how to do it. They’re supposed to be learning.

How to ask for help.

LETTERS

Town GOP calls for unity against political violence

To the editor:

In the immediate aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Marblehead Republican Town Committee issued the following statement: Dear Friends and Fellow Conservatives, It is with indescribable sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news: Charlie Kirk has been tragically shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. At just 31 years old, he was a tireless advocate for our values, mobilizing young conservatives through Turning Point USA and his “Prove Me Wrong” campus events.

As we grapple with this tremendous loss, now is the time for unity. Our conservative movement has always stood on the foundations of faith, resilience, and community, and that must remain steadfast today.

In this moment of grief, let us: Lift up Charlie’s family in prayer. We mourn alongside his wife, Erika and their two young children, may God’s comfort surround them in this dark hour. » —Hold fast to our faith.

How to fail a quiz and not turn it into a crisis. How to go to practice with cramps and an empty water bottle and still show up for your teammates. I still catch myself wanting the “good day” report. I still want the kind that’s easy to explain and sounds good in a text to my husband. But that’s not really the stuff that counts in the long run. The real stuff is messier and doesn’t look like much from the outside. I am learning to recognize “they didn’t panic when they forgot their science folder” as a win.

So let’s reframe a few things:

They didn’t cry at drop-off = good. They did cry, expressed emotion and trusted their teacher to comfort them = also good.

They tried something new = good.

They repeated a familiar activity because it felt safe and familiar = also good.

They participated in circle time = good.

They took their time, observed and took it all in = also good.

If you’re looking for progress, look for the emotional wins.

Kids are not supposed to know how to manage it all. Instead, we want them to learn how to not know and still be okay. Maybe a “good” day isn’t one where everything went smoothly. Maybe it’s one where they felt safe enough to struggle, to ask for help, to start over. And maybe our job as parents is not to measure how easy they made it look, but how brave they were for showing up at all.

I hope this doesn’t just change how you think about their school days. I hope it changes how you’re going to greet them at pickup tomorrow.

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.

Charlie’s conviction in his Christian beliefs was central to his leadership. As believers, we trust that God’s guiding hand never fails, even in tragedy. » Stand united against political violence. This senseless act reminds us of the rising aggression targeting public figures, and our voices. Now more than ever, our movement must remain peaceful but resolute.

Carry forward Charlie’s legacy. Let us honor his passion for conservative principles by mentoring the next generation, driven by faith and civility, just as Charlie did so boldly.

Charlie Kirk was more than a political figure. He was an emblem of youthful Christian conviction and fearless advocacy. His message called us to boldness, grounded in truth and conviction. Now, even as grief weighs heavily on our hearts, we must rise in unity and faithfulness.

Let us pray, reflect, and recommit to a future shaped by conviction, compassion, and courage. May our faith and fellowship be a beacon in this dark time, and may God sustain us all.

With heartfelt sorrow and steadfast faith, Emily DeJoy, press secretary Riverside Drive

It’s wrong to celebrate a death

To the editor:

On September 10, Charlie Kirk was assassinated. While it was horrifying enough for a young family to lose their husband and father, what was more horrifying was watching people celebrate his death.

Rep. Seth Moulton found the compassion in his heart to go on CNN and blame “right wing “ extremists.

In case anyone needs a refresher on how to act with decency, the correct response was “I am sorry for the loss of Charlie Kirk’s family.” Full stop.

To those celebrating the death of a man because his views differed from yours, please check yourself. The person wearing a Trump shirt or a Harris shirt both have the right to express their opinions without fear of death, without fear of being harassed walking through Marblehead.

To those screeching he was a racist or homophobic it might shock you to learn that that is not a reason to kill someone. It is wrong to celebrate death.

Nicole Cohen Clifton Avenue

In response to Congressman Seth Moulton

To the editor: In response to Seth Moulton’s interview on CNN. It would’ve been far more appropriate to simply offer your condolences, rather than immediately launching into right-wing extremism talking points with fake statistics. Over and over, your party has chosen to push this “whatever it takes” narrative and often labeling republicans “nazis” and demeaning anyone who doesn’t align with you politically.

At what point will you, and your party, acknowledge that this divisive approach is part of the problem? We’re at a point where unity and accountability are more important than ever. Enough with the nonsense. It’s time to act like an adult, have a real conversation like what Charlie (Kirk) would’ve had and focus on righting the wrongs instead of doubling down on them.

Sincerely,

Sharman Pollender Reed Street

3A and a Sisyphean task

To the editor:

The latest section 3A zoning act vote is in — again. The angst and uncertainty of standing on our own and looking down the road less traveled has already begun.

While the state metes out our punishment for not being followers, perhaps a positive example of Marblehead leading the Commonwealth (no, not Marblehead as birthplace of the American Navy, nor protecting the USS Constitution at the fort, not our contribution to Naval aviation, nor even to Gerrymandering,) is instead our own Barbara Anderson who reminded government who pays the bills.

Many will recall in the 1970s and ‘80s the state enjoyed an undisciplined spending addiction. This habit was fueled by relentless & exorbitant property tax assessments that were crushing citizens. Exasperated, frustrated and motivated, Anderson led a yearslong, grass-roots campaign against the inertia of state bureaucracy to break the fiscal status quo. She ultimately succeeded to install guardrails for budgetary responsibility, restraint and accountability known as Prop 2 ½. She was a long-shot, citizen-advocate and champion of every taxpayer in the state.

Now all these years later, a monolithic body politic has created an impressive echo

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to its News in Brief section. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews. org.

Do you drive into Boston? What you should know

Learn more about the Lynnway Multimodal Corridor Project that will impact the roadway for years to come. There is a public meeting at Abbot Public Library on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at noon.

“The Lynnway Multimodal Corridor Project will transform a historically car-centric roadway into a safer, dynamic connector for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and drivers,” reads the MBTA website.

“With more than 3,000 daily bus riders along the Lynnway and key connections to nearby routes serving over 8,500

chamber of mutual admiration that, as we have all witnessed, is inebriatingly empowering to our legislators. Without political counterbalance, an inflated sense of Legislative importance promotes overriding the interests of the constituency.

Just last year the people of the Commonwealth overwhelmingly said “audit” — the pols said “no.”

Here in town, the voters again have spoken against the overreach and folly of 3A and again our reps seem comfortably unmotivated to amplify the voice of the people. Plenty of “I told you so” political (and media) bias a little over-enthusiastically reporting on how the state denies us our own money. But few, if any reports of any work in progress offering ways to correct the obvious flaws or sweeten the legislation.

For example: (If this has anything at all to do with the MBTA then) How about a traffic-reducing Salem/Peabody/ Beverly-bound bus for riders of the Salem commuter rail, the students of “‘nowhere to park” Salem State University, & some “car-free” access to the employers and commerce of the North Shore?!

As Barbara Anderson showed us — the citizens are sentenced to the Sisyphean task of eternally leading our public servants to what we want. Not vice versa.

Paul Clingen Rowland Street

‘Wear your seatbelt’

To the editor:

As the investigation continues into this very sad incident, one thing we can say to all young drivers and passengers, indeed, to anyone getting into any vehicle, “Always wear your seatbelt.”

Ray Urban Cloutman’s Lane

The letter writer is referring to the August crash that killed 13-year-old Savanah Gatchell.

On the state of our roads

To the editor:

I read with great interest the Current article on the Rail Trail and the significant amount of money being spent by the town to improve the Rail Trail and other enhancements for the biking community. While I applaud these efforts I often wonder as I drive through town why our roads are worse than some third world countries and are certainly worse than some in other towns and cities in the states surrounding us here in New England. Antidotally, it’s likely that ½ of our roads in town would be deemed to be in poor condition. I use Humphrey Street, Pleasant Street, Washington Street, Village

riders daily, these upgrades will improve travel time and reliability for over 70,000 riders each week.”

To learn more about the project, visit mbta.com/projects/ lynnway-multimodal-corridorproject

Marblehead Police want you!

Marblehead Police are hosting the 11th Citizens Police Academy Oct. 3-Nov. 2. More than 200 residents have taken the class so far. Learn the ins and outs of policing and the criminal justice system — taught by police officers.

Download the application at https://loom.ly/q7Kki-4.

For whom the bell tolls

At the board’s Sept. 10 meeting, Fire Chief Jason Gilliland has asked the Select Board to approve the decision to rotate the bell

Street and most particularly West Road as prime examples of this neglect.

Our streets are more like scarred pathways with uneven patchworks of tar than regularly serviced roads of asphalt. You spend most of your time driving seeking to avoid holes and divots versus being in a relaxed state. It is certainly not a pleasurable experience to drive in our town.

On average in town, we are paying a very high property tax price of $8,652 for the enjoyment of this driving experience. This is three times the national average and approximately the same as a single family home in San Francisco where I know they have better roads and bridges than we do.

Conversely, in other states that I often travel to, such as New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, less than 5% of their roads are deemed to be in poor condition. These states face the same challenges we do here in Massachusetts (harsh winters, freeze-thaw cycles, high traffic volume, heavy vehicles, aging infrastructure, colonial era roads, cost of modernization) yet they are able to properly allocate the time and resources to insure that their citizens are driving on newer or wellmaintained roadways that are safe to drive and somewhat pleasurable to be on. I often wonder why places like New Hampshire with no state income tax and no sales tax can have significantly better roads than we do here in Marblehead with more extreme temperatures than we do in the winter. Other cold weather states like Indiana also have great roads because with focus and investment they enable communities to invest in infrastructure.

Our poor infrastructure is costing us every day negatively impacting our economy, creating significant traffic congestion and most certainly doing unnecessary damage to our vehicles particularly on the tires and shocks of our cars.

Again, I applaud the effort on the Rail Trail but why doesn’t the same type of community effort be made on our roads? For every dollar we spend on the Rail Trail, should we not spend $2 or $3 on our road system that all our citizens actually use every day? I see all the investment made for bikers in towns like Lynn and Salem, but I rarely see anyone fully utilizing it particularly on the Lynnway where major dollars were spent creating that pathway.

So, in places where there are great roads what is happening to create that?

Cities and towns that prioritize and maintain their road networks, rather than letting them deteriorate, tend to have higher quality roads.

Robust and stable funding

in the Abbot Hall clock tower. Gilliland said the bell hasn’t been rotated since he’s worked in Marblehead — Gilliland started at MFD in the late 1980s — and it is wearing thin in the spot where it is hit by the hammer.

The Select Board approved the request. The rotation should happen soon.

Going green-er

At its Sept. 10 meeting, the Select Board unanimously approved a new Zero-Emissions

Vehicle

First Procurement policy. It requires the town to purchase or lease exclusively battery electric vehicles for all light-duty passenger fleet replacements, wherever feasible.

The goals of the new policy include: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

» Complying with the state Green Communities Program requirements

streams, sometimes through dedicated road taxes and/or grants, are crucial for ongoing maintenance and improvement projects. We see lots of road construction in town for the gas piping, but the work done to repair the roads creates an uneven network of patchwork.

Cities and towns serving as major tourist centers, logistical areas or transportation hubs often have well-maintained extensive road networks, such as my example Indiana, with their “Crossroads of America” program. Can we charge visitors to our town more to enhance our infrastructure?

Cities and towns that implement proactive maintenance, especially in areas with harsh winters or high traffic volumes, are able to keep their roads in good condition.

To me this all comes down to focus and investment. Why not here in our lovely town?

John Phillips Seaview Avenue

Making trips to the Transfer Station permanent, and profitable?

To the editor:

I’m enjoying the weekly trip to the Transfer Station and would prefer it to a return to regular garbage pickup. I’m wondering if the town would agree to providing a token rebate for homeowners who opt out of regular disposal service at their house?

Michael Thompson Nicholson Street

Board of Assessors chair responds to letter writer

To the editor:

I am not accustomed to writing to the local paper, but because of misleading statements made by Mr. Hourihan in his comments about new growth taxes

(“MARBLEHEAD MUSINGS: New revenue sources — where is the buried treasure?”), I feel that a reply is necessary. He begins by stating that Scituate, Duxbury, Marshfield and Swampscott are similar “built out” communities. Marblehead has an area of 4.4 square miles. The areas of Scituate, Duxbury and Marshfield are, respectively, 17.2, 23.8 and 28.5 square miles. I don’t believe that any reasonable person would consider these three communities to be as “built out” as we in Marblehead are.

This leaves us with our neighbor Swampscott, and even this comparison is not as simple as it would appear. For

» Enforcing environmentallyresponsible fleet maintenance

» Minimizing the town’s consumption of natural resources Improving local air quality and public health

To that end, Sustainability

Coordinator Logan Casey asked the Select Board to approve a free, one-month lease of an electric mini bus for the Council on Aging, which it did. The eJest vehicle could eventually replace a gas-powered COA bus.

The e-bus arrives Sept. 22.

Police accreditation

The Marblehead Police Department has been issued re-accreditation and will be formally recognized in October. Accreditation is a self-initiated process through which police agencies voluntarily strive to meet and maintain professional standards established for the law enforcement profession. According to MPD, “This

instance, since the Swampscott tax rate is almost 30% higher than ours, similar building improvements would result in almost 30% higher new growth in Swampscott. This is because new growth is determined by the value of the improvement multiplied by the community’s tax rate. Not to mention Swampscott has a dual or “split” tax rate which is currently $21.17 per thousand for commercial and industrial properties. I for one appreciate our low tax rate and this trade-off.

Our office staff led by Todd Laramie is still working diligently on the town’s fiscal year growth. Mr. Hourihan mentions buried treasure. Upon a closer look at the facts, it is apparent that contrary to what some might think, there is not the proverbial pot of gold in new growth. We should accept the fact that with a very limited supply of open space, we do not have the potential for major land development and its corresponding tax growth. The communities that Mr. Hourihan mentions, on the contrary, have that potential.

For FY 24 and FY 25 the town of Lexington had $5.7 million and $6.7 million in new growth, most of which was attributed to the demolishing of original houses and the rebuilding of larger, more modern homes. Are these permanent changes to our neighborhoods and diminishment of historic charm what we really want for our town?

John Kelley Merritt Street Chair, Marblehead Board of Assessors

Resident criticizes letter writer for Trump/Nazi comparisons

To the editor:

Dear Mr. Haug:

I have been reading your almost weekly letters to the local papers to my amusement for years. Your misinformed, illogical and often hypocritical arguments were mostly tired and puerile, but always pathetically comical.

Sadly, what you so strongly seem to believe in is simply untrue.

But now, in light of your latest inflammatory rant, directly comparing the Trump administration to Nazi Germany, ironically published in the Current on Wednesday, Sept. 10, the very day Charlie Kirk was so cowardly gunned down for effectively advocating his beliefs, I can no longer remain silent: Shame on you, Mr. Haug, shame!

Enough is enough, please grow up or be quiet.

Donald H. Rousseau Orne Street

achievement reflects our commitment to excellence and accountability, and marks six consecutive years of accredited status for the Department.”

MPD mental health grant

The state’s Department of Mental Health has awarded MPD a $121,300 grant to support the work of the department’s mental health clinician, Gina Rabbitt. Rabbitt serves 32 hours per week in this role and provides an additional eight hours per week focused on opiate and substance use disorder work.

Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer added during the Select Board’s Sept. 10 meeting, “While this grant had been significantly reduced in the governor’s budget proposal, our local legislators, Rep. Jenny Armini and Sen. Brendan Crighton, worked effectively to reinstate the full funding, ensuring the continuation of this vital community service.”

Town to turn pink for Ellie Fund

SUBMITTED CONTENT

Under the leadership of Marblehead resident and breast cancer survivor Susan Hassett, a group of local women has launched a movement to “Turn Marblehead Pink.” Their goal is to rally the town in support of breast cancer patients and families while raising awareness and funds for the Ellie Fund. The Massachusetts nonprofit provides free services such as rides to treatment, meals, grocery gift cards and childcare assistance.

Hassett says that during her own cancer journey she was fortunate to have “a village” of support. “Many women don’t,” she explained. “That’s where the

Ellie Fund comes in — to ease the burden of care during an incredibly difficult time.”

For months, the group has been reaching out to Marblehead’s businesses, restaurants and clubs to join the campaign. The response has been overwhelming: more than 70 local establishments have already pledged to participate by “turning pink” and helping to spread the word.

The community is invited to paint the town pink on Oct. 3–4, with a weekend of events.

Highlights include an advance screening of the film “Hello Beautiful” at The Warwick Theater on Friday, Oct. 3, and dinner with live music by True North at The Landing Restaurant

on Saturday, Oct. 4. Shoppers and visitors can also stop by the special Marblehead Turns Pink tables at the Marblehead Farmers Market and Discover Marblehead’s Fall Festival on Saturday.

To learn more or make a donation, visit: elliefund.org/ marblehead-2025/.

The local women involved include: Debbie Powell, Francie Hill, Margaret Bacon, Marty Willis, Stephanie Andrews,Terrie Leake, Jansi Chandler, Noreen Rodgers, Donna Rice, Kathi Kaligian, and Amy Judd.

The Current will have more on the Turn Marblehead Pink weekend in our Sept. 24 edition.

Q: Can Ihave my car serviced at a non-dealership location under warranty?

A: Yes, you can – just be sure the shop uses manufacturer-approved oils, filters, and parts. It’salso important to follow or even exceed the recommended service intervals. We recommend oil changes every 5,000miles with synthetic oil to helpextend the life of your vehicle. Note that warranty repairs or recalls typically must be done by a dealer,and it’sagood ideatokeep maintenance records in case awarranty claim arises.

Servicing all makes &models, foreign and domestic, cars and trucks. Specializing in European Vehicles

Musician/optician Jim Trick takes over beloved shop in town

BY BELLA TRAVAGLINI

When Sheryl Levy looked into the mirror at Marblehead Opticians trying to decide if she liked the eyeglass frames that the optician said were perfect for her, she exclaimed that they looked like they were out of the 80s comedy show, “Golden Girls!”

“And you know what happened when I said that?” asked Levy. “Jim burst into song — the theme song from “Golden Girls!” she laughed.

The warm and fun atmosphere at the cozy shop at 51 Atlantic Ave. is just one of reasons why Levy says that she’s been a customer for over 20 years.

Optician Jim Trick acquired ownership of the business in February 2025, after his longtime colleague and friend, Gary Freedman, made the decision to retire and sell the shop he had owned for over 20 years as he faces a courageous battle with cancer.

“Everybody knows that Gary Freedman is a nice guy,” said Trick, “but the truth is that Gary is five times nicer than people even know him to be. In the 26 years we’ve worked together, I’ve never once seen him compromise his integrity or his moral code. Not ever, not once,” Trick added fondly.

Trick, who has been an optician for 36 years, came to work at Marblehead Opticians 26 years ago on a per diem basis that lent him license to a unique, dual-profession life.

Original owner, Wayne Harmon, who founded the shop in 1976, heard of Trick through a sales representative who ‘talked him up,’ Trick said.

“I started a business that allowed me to tour nationally as a performing musician,” said Trick, a folk aficionado who sings and plays acoustic guitar. “I got to travel for that, and cover as an optician for vacations, and maternity leaves.”

Trick has performed at places like Club Passim in Harvard Square, a folk music club where Joan Baez and Bob Dylan got their start. He has served as a guest lecturer for the Berkeley College of Music in Boston and has written albums, while

touring the U.S. and as far as Barcelona, Spain. His first client as a freelance optician was Marblehead Opticians. Trick became fast friends with Harmon and Freedman from the moment he walked through the door. He grew up in Haverhill and was living in Amesbury at the time, but Marblehead simply felt like home.

“In 2014, I drove 10,500 miles in nine weeks because I needed an adventure,” said Trick. “I wanted to see the country: Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, the California coast. When driving back to Marblehead after this life-changing trip, I realized why our town is as great as it is.

We’ve got the salty fishermen, who worked our waters for generations, along with the wealthy executives, who you would never know were wealthy. We are a true community.”

The business is built on the “LL Bean model,” which Trick says is a combination of a devotion to exceptional customer service with a satisfaction guarantee and expanded offerings to include top-shelf designer frames and some more affordable options.

The store includes a lab where lenses are ground onsite and Trick has no plans to change the tried-and-true way of doing business.

“We have eyewear for

everyone,” said Trick, which includes prescription sunglasses, diving goggles and ski masks. Trick said that he committed to what is best for the customer. If a $200 frame looks better than a $500 frame, he will steer the customer to the less expensive one.

“Doing the right thing leads people to greater success,” he said.

Since Freedman’s departure, Trick hired Brian Kelly, who once ran the pediatric optical department at Boston Children’s Hospital, while Yaris Cruz takes care of the administrative duties.

Trick’s musical career took a back seat for the past couple of years, but he has begun writing music again and is working on another album. Once he has his feet under him, he plans to take up performing again, but more on a local level.

As for those Golden Girls glasses? Well, Levy took Trick’s trusted advice and bought them.

“People everywhere, at the airport even, stop me to compliment them,” she said.

BY LEIGH BLANDER

A new season is coming to Marblehead’s popular public access station, MHTV. Longtime executive director Joan Goloboy, who lives in town, is retiring, and the station is looking for her successor.

Goloboy has led MHTV since 2011, during which time the station has won many prestigious awards, including Best Small Market Station in the Nation and Overall Excellence in the Northeast Region, both from the Alliance for Community Media. MHTV covers local government meetings, sporting events and town events. It also produces feature stories about special programs and people in Marblehead. Asked the secret to MHTV’s success, Goloboy answered, “It’s the people who make the TV shows that we do. We have very high standards. Also, it’s Marblehead… it’s a beautiful and interesting place with smart people.” Goloboy’s relationship with MHTV dates back to the 1990s, when she moved to town after performing in Off Broadway musicals in New York City.

She remembers connecting with a friend who was learning to edit video.

“I thought, ‘That sounds like fun,’” she recalled. “Just about that time, Continental Cablevision built a studio in Marblehead and was teaching people to edit. I signed up, and they started asking me to cover meetings.”

Goloboy eventually left for senior leadership positions at cable television operators AT&T Broadband and Comcast and was the director of the Digital Media Center at Endicott College.

When MHTV became a community-owned nonprofit, she returned as its first executive director.

She has many great memories from over the years. The period that stands out the most is the pandemic.

“We really got a lot of people on board with us during the pandemic,” Goloboy said. “We did really well and were able to provide timely updates on what was going on, and it connected with both our longtime and newer viewers.”

She will always remember covering the USS Constitution’s 1997 visit to Marblehead and her feature stories on Bette Hunt, town historian emerita, and her walking tours.

“Bette’s just wonderful,” Goloboy said.

She is most proud of forging a strong relationship with the community, upgrading the studio (located at the Veterans School) and advancing technology from analog to digital.

Goloboy isn’t sure what she’ll do next. As for her beloved station?

“Everybody knows that cable is having trouble surviving,” she said. “It’s hard to tell what’s ahead. MHTV will just keep on providing what the town needs through news and programming.”

MHTV has only three other staff members, Programming Manager Jon Caswell, Production Manager James Maroney and Jess Burton, sportscaster and producer.

Goloboy hired Caswell

straight out of college in 1989, and he’s been working at MHTV ever since.

“Joan has been pushing me to do my best for years,” Caswell said. “That can mean getting the right equipment when we need to, making sure we pay close attention to the details and telling stories in a way that makes it interesting to people.”

MHTV is always looking for volunteers, whether it’s people to help cover sporting events or residents interested

The Annual Meeting of the Corporation of MARBLEHEAD BANK will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. at the Boston Yacht Club, 1 Front St., Marblehead, for the election of officers and any other business which may legally come before the meeting.

Dr Keith Taylor Chairman

in creating their own programming. MHTV welcomes residents to come in, learn how to use the equipment and then produce their own shows.

For more information on that, contact info@

marbleheadtv.org

You can watch MHTV on Comcast (Channel 8 or HD at Channel 1073) and Verizon (Channel 28 or HD at Channel 2128). Learn more at marbleheadtv.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

MHTV Executive Director Joan Goloboy sits at the station’s news desk. She is retiring this fall.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Jim Trick took over ownership of Marblehead Opticians this year.

Sheryl Levy loves her “Golden Girl” glasses from Marblehead Opticians.

Another former MPS employee

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The Marblehead School Committee has a new member. In a joint vote Wednesday night, the Select Board and School Committee appointed Melissa Clucas to fill the vacant seat on the School Committee through June.

Clucas, a chief financial officer and mother of three, received six of the eight votes. Former teacher Mark Schwartz and former School Committee member

Sarah Fox each received one vote. Candidate Yael Magen received no votes.

Clucas’ experience in finance and budgeting appeared to give her the edge, as the district faces a challenging budget season that may lead to educator layoffs or a tax override request.

“I’m hoping to have a

positive impact on the budget cycle, bringing a lot of transparency to the process,” Clucas told the Current right after her appointment.

Clucas also focused on “building bridges” with the community and educators, after a bitter strike last year.

Asked by Select Board Chair Dan Fox what she would most look forward to serving on the School Committee, Clucas said, “Unpacking change and building those bridges in the community.”

Clucas said she would rely on facts and data, rather than emotions, to make hard decisions.

“I’m a very levelheaded person,” she said. “I’m not someone who jumps to conclusions. I’m a really good balance because I don’t have a big personality. I’m not

looking for the spotlight; I’m just looking to do the best thing in the most efficient way possible.”

Litigation against district

The School Committee met in executive (private) session Sept. 12 to discuss a “threatened litigation” by former employee Lauren Skelton-Leard.

An email to SkeltonLeard was returned with this message: “I am writing to inform you that Lauren Skelton is no longer employed with the Marblehead Public Schools, effective August 22, 2025.”

Skelton-Leard was based at the Glover School.

Superintendent John Robidoux did not respond to questions about Skelton-Leard’s departure.

The district is facing several lawsuits, including one filed recently by former HR director Kelley Ferretti.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Melissa Clucas, right in the white shirt, answers questions from members of the Select Board and School Committee Wednesday night. She was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the School Committee.

YELLOW MAGENTA CYAN BLACK

Sports

Strong second half secures 26-20 MHS victory over Bishop Fenwick

BY LUCA TEDESCO

The Magicians picked up their second win of the season Friday night, 26-20, over the Bishop Fenwick Crusaders at Piper Field.

“It’s a great win for us,” said Head Coach James Rudloff. “We haven’t beaten them in two years so this was a big win for the program.”

Marblehead’s offense came out with a bang when quarterback Finn Gallup found Rylan Golden for a 40-yard reception on the third play of the game, setting the Magicians up in the red zone early. The opening drive concluded with a 30-yard Finbar Bresnahan field goal, his first of the season, to give the hosts an early 3-0 lead.

The Crusaders methodically drove their way down the field before wide receiver Jamie Dubie beat his man in single coverage down, scampering 32 yards to the endzone to cap off a 13 play, 95 yard drive.

Marblehead attempted to match the Crusaders’ with a long drive of their own, but their push into the Bishop Fenwick red zone would end in a lost fumble at the five yard line.

However, some Magicians’ special teams unit would reach deep into their bag of tricks on the ensuing drive. On fourth down deep in their own territory, the Crusaders would have their punt blocked by James

who would fall on the

The celebrations would be short-lived, however. A quick pass from Andrew Kiricopoles to Tyler Connolly would turn into a 55-yard touchdown, putting the visitors up 13-10 heading to the half.

After taking the ball in strong field position, the Magicians initial drive of the second half would net points thanks to a 38-yard field goal, tying the ballgame at 13-13. Following a critical fourth down stop, Gallup opened Marblehead’s next possession with a run that would net 30 yards following an

unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called on the defense.

The Magicians capitalized on the big play, wrapping up the brief five-play drive with a nineyard Callahan plunge into the endzone to put the hosts up by two scores late in the third quarter.

After Madden Lyons made his second pick of the

evening, Bresnahan would give Marblehead fans yet another reason to cheer. Following a bad snap, the junior made the unbelievable, but ultimately correct, decision to boot the ball away from 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage, ending up with what could be described as the most exciting 10-yard punt in the history of football.

“All I thought was to punt it,” said Bresnahan. “I didn’t think of anything else. I could’ve ran with the ball, but I was not trying to get hit or anything so I just kicked it.”

The Magicians put the game away on their next possession when Gallup launched a 50-yard touchdown pass to Golden to put Marblehead ahead by 13 with just over six minutes to play.

“[Golden] has been my guy since seventh grade,” said Gallup following the game. “We were working on that play all week. We knew we could get them over the top for a touchdown. Any time you give Rylan a chance he’s going to come down with it. It’s always great when you have [number] six on our side.”

The visitors scored late in the fourth quarter to make the final score 26-20. The Magicians move to 2-0 on the season while the Crusaders begin the year 0-1. Marblehead will make the trek to Dudley next week to face off against the Shepherd Hill Regional High School Rams at 6 p.m. on Friday.

Magicians weekly sports notebook

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Field hockey team enjoys winning week on the road

After a 0-1-1 start to the season, the Marblehead High field hockey team won two straight road games last week against Peabody (4-1, Sept. 9) and Saugus (1-0, Sept. 11).

Both Marblehead and Peabody played to a scoreless tie in the first quarter, but the action picked up for the locals in the second on a goal by Chloe Rowland from midfielder Keliane Salem. Zoe Dwyer and Layla Dulac also scored in this period to help the team record its first win of the year. Dulac scored again in the fourth quarter after taking a beautiful reverse pass from Dwyer.

“The first few weeks of the season have been spent rebuilding the roster after we graduated a significant number of seniors last year,” said firstyear coach Alison Carey. “Our first three games — scrimmage at Lynnfield, and home against both Malden Catholic and Bishop Fenwick — provided a great opportunity to experiment a little with player positions and dynamics, before getting into the Northeastern Conference schedule.”

Carey said that the team’s defense has been consistently strong to date, and it was no exception against Peabody.

“For example, Paige Waldman was a force on the field against Peabody that helped the offense maintain possession

of the ball,” Carey said. “Paige is a hard worker, who has an exceptional ability to read what’s happening on the field, while communicating that to her teammates efficiently.”

The coach is also proud of the offense. They all worked together to set up some great scoring opportunities. Julia Mann, in particular, is a huge presence at center-midfield.

“Julia was relentless in pushing the ball up field against Peabody, while also supporting her attack teammates,” said Carey.

Carey was pleased by the way the offense just played its game, specifically mentioning Dwyer and Dulac, who were magic together on the turf. “Zoe’s passes were extremely on point, while Layla is a great athlete, whose ability to receive passes on the go, control the ball and get into scoring position are huge assets for the offense,” the coach added. “But what I really loved the most was how effortless the plays looked at times against Peabody. This tells me that our team is finding its game, and we couldn’t ask for better timing.”

It was a much closer affair against Saugus, and as a result the defense played a great game to help secure the team’s second win of the year.

Carey singled out Noa Brochstein, who plays left defense, after she made a critical defensive block in goal, to deny Saugus of a sure score. Goalie Elizabeth Hayes also did her part to record the shutout, coming up

with 10 saves.

At the other end of the field, the offense was relentless, according to Carey. They were credited with 18 shots on goal.

Center-forward Sadie Beane scored the lone goal of the game assisted by Salem with just 43 seconds left in the final quarter.

“I’m so proud of our offense for staying grounded and keeping their focus in this game,” said Carey. “Sadie’s goal really underscores the effort that the team brought to the turf against Saugus. But every player on this team worked hard until

the last second.”

The game ended rather dramatically, when the Marblehead defense shut down a Saugus opportunity to score a goal on a penalty corner.

“We played for each other in this game, but the work that the players have been putting in at practice is definitely showing up on the field so far,” said Carey.

Girls soccer picks up two more shutout wins

Following a close 1-0 win against host Masco to open up the season. The MHS girls

soccer team (3-0-1) traveled to North Andover on Sept. 6 to blank the Scarlet Knights, 2-0. The Magicians then came home to take on rival Swampscott on Sept. 8, and typically it was a close contest, but this time there was no winner or loser. It ended in a hard-fought 1-1 tie. They followed up that stalemate by going back on the road to shutout Peabody, 4-0 on Sept. 10.

Against North Andover, Liv Carlson got the scoring started just six minutes into the game with a goal from Callie Gilmore. Gilmore notched the insurance tally in the second half on a beautiful shot to the low left corner of the net. Keepers Hailey Gilmore and Lily Heller split up the goaltending chores to share in the shutout victory.

Senior captain Ashley Mortensen was outstanding in the defensive midfield, according to coach Lisa Wales. The coach also mentioned that Lucy Church and Alma Gaunt had great games. “Lucy, in particular, is quick, makes great runs to the net and is one of the best defensive offensive players we have on the roster,” the coach added.

The varsity game was not the only one on the schedule last Saturday in North Andover. The JV1 and JV2 teams were also there to play their Scarlet Knight counterparts as a part of the annual “Sarah Strong Games,” named after Sarah Duval, an

Machado

ball in the end zone to hand the lead back to Marblehead late in the first half.

COURTESY PHOTO

Marblehead High girls varsity soccer player Lucy McDonald races up field with the ball during the non-league game against host North Andover on Sept. 6. The Magicians ended up shutting out the Scarlet Knights, 2-0.

COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD

Breydan Callahan (#13) runs into the end zone to give Marblehead the lead in Friday night’s game against Bishop Fenwick.

Boys soccer stymies two more foes to remain undefeated after four games

BY JOE MCCONNELL

There are few complaints throughout the first two weeks of the season for the Marblehead High boys soccer team. The Magicians played four games, and won them all, all by shutouts. You can’t get much better than that.

Coach Elmer Magana’s team opened up last week against rival Swampscott on the road at Swampscott’s Blocksidge Field on Sept. 8, and by game’s end the Big Blue fans had little to cheer about, because the visitors walked away with a tidy 3-0 win.

Miles Fontela-Tuttle netted the first goal of the game from Ilan Druker. Druker came back to put one home himself assisted by Jared Halpern. Then, Erik Badzak’s 35-yard rocket shot sealed up this win very nicely. Magana summed up his team’s third straight shutout win succinctly. “Swampscott parked the bus (defensive wall), and as a result it only produced two counterattacks in the game,” the veteran Marblehead coach said of the home team’s strategy to slow down their rivals.

“Our CDM (center defensive midfielder) Erik Badzak was able to move the ball from left to right to find the holes in that Swampscott wall,” added Magana. “We kept on pressing to punch three goals in to win for the first time there since 2019.”

Goalie Matias Watts-Cruz made two critical saves to record his second shutout on the young season. The Marblehead boys returned home to take on Peabody two days later at Piper, and the Tanners quickly found out that it’s difficult to score on this team

this year. It was another 3-0 win for the Magicians. Mark Vinokur notched the first goal in this game assisted by Druker. David Magen followed with a score of his own set up by Halpern. The home team then got a little help from Peabody to

Volleyball bounces back with two wins after Newburyport loss

Andover resident who tragically lost her courageous battle to cancer four years ago at the age of 12. All proceeds from all three games went to the Sarah Duval Memorial Fund.

Next up was Swampscott, and “this was a battle from start to finish,” said Wales. “Credit to Swampscott, they came ready to play a very physical, all-around game.”

Senior Liv Carlson scored 23 minutes into the game assisted by senior captain Sydney Ball. But the Big Blue evened the score at the 20-minute mark of the second half.

But the team got back into the win column with a dominating performance against the Tanners. Carlson was the team’s leading scorer with a hat trick on her birthday. Callie Gilmore tacked on the fourth tally, a rocket shot that was assisted by junior Avery Gould. It was Gould’s first career varsity point. Hailey Gilmore and Heller once again split up the goaltending responsibilities to record yet another shutout.

Sydney Ball, Callie Gilmore and sophomore Stella Smith had the assists on Carlson’s scores. It was Smith’s first career varsity point.

“This was an all-around team effort,” said Wales. “Senior Isabel Mortensen, in particular, played an incredibly aggressive game. She was always first to the ball, while also being solid and composed in all aspects of the game. She is one of the hardest workers on our team, and is the ultimate teammate.”

Junior Ainsley McDonald and senior captain Ashley Mortensen anchored the defense in this game. Samara Dosch returned from a knee injury, and was an immediate calming presence, constantly making smart decisions with the ball.

The MHS volleyball team (3-1) closed out the first week of the season with a loss to visiting Newburyport, 3-1 on Sept. 5.

Lila Moniz and Greta Sachs led the offense against the Clippers with 12 kills each. Eva Burke and Sydney DaSilva combined to come up with 36 assists. Greta Sachs finished up with seven solo blocks and four assists.

But Killeen Miller’s team bounced back nicely to shutout host Ipswich, 3-0 on Sept. 9.

Moniz (7 kills) and Sachs (6 kills) paced the offensive attack, while setters DaSilva and Burke each accounted for nine assists. Defensively, Sydney Faris collected 12 digs, while chipping in with four aces.

The Magicians closed out the week by defeating Winthrop by the same identical score at home on Sept. 11. Moniz led the offense with 10 kills, while Sachs was close behind with nine. Faris, a libero, finished up with nine aces. Setters Erin Wilder, DaSilva and Burke combined for 25 assists.

Harrier boys drop close meet; girls run well in Clipper Relays

The boys cross-country team (0-2) suffered its second loss of the year in as many meets against visiting Peabody at home on Sept. 10, 27-29.

Henrik Adams (16:51, first) ran another great race, according to coach Brian Heenan, as he outkicked Peabody’s top runner in the final 200 meters to secure the victory.

Will Cruikshank came in third. Zach Pike battled through illness to finish fifth. Filip Grubor (ninth place) and Isaac Durand (11th) rounded out the team’s Top 5. “They both ran more than a minute faster than the previous week,” Heenan said.

Prior to the Peabody meet,

the Marblehead boys traveled to Maudslay State Park in Newburyport to compete in the annual Clipper Relays on Sept. 6.

The top boys team of Cruikshank, Pike and Adams ended up 20th. The second team of Colin Hart, Durand and Grubor turned in a spectacular debut in this meet, finishing 43rd, and Thomas Svencer and Alex Murray ran impressive opening legs for their relay teams.

After the girls portion of the Clipper Relays, coach Will Herlihy said, “it was our best team showing that I’ve seen since I started coaching in Marblehead. I was incredibly impressed with everyone’s effort, and from the results it looks like we may be the team to beat in the NEC this fall.”

Marblehead had five full teams compete against 98 other squads from around the state. The Magicians’ top squad — Marri O’Connell, Norah Walsh and Sarah Munroe — finished fifth overall in 37:20, the fastest MHS time in quite a while in this meet, with all three runners finishing in 13 minutes or less.

Marblehead’s second and third teams ran with each other for the duration of the race to finish 28th (42:57) and 29th (43:28). The team’s fourth and fifth threesomes also ran well together, finishing 65th and 79th in 51:16 and 53:35.

Individually, the Magicians had eight runners improve on their two-mile time trials from two weeks ago, and those runners and their lower differential times are as follows: Sophia Letwin (-1:49), Nadia Siragusa (-1:30), Patty Windsor (-1:17), Izzy Anaya Lanzillo (-1:06), Ginny Donato (-1:05), Walsh (-0:34), Evelina Beletsky (-0:24) and Ava Bannister (-0:20).

“Everyone on this team has really bought into the program. They are all showing outstanding commitment. It’s the best thing to see as a coach,” said Herlihy. “There is something really special

produce the final tally, and that one went into the books as an own goal, a soccer term meaning that the ball went off the opposing team and into the net.

“From the start, we pressed Peabody to produce turnovers,” said Magana. “Captain Jared Halpern, our center midfielder, battled for every contested ball, and as a result our passing was effective and the outside attack was on fire, specifically captain Ilan Druker, who assisted on the first goal with a cross that resulted in Mark’s header.

“We were determined to go up first, and we did,” added the veteran Marblehead coach, “because we knew that Peabody had size and skillful players. In the second half, Peabody made an effort to comeback in this game, but it was in vain.” Vinokur, a center midfielder, was dominating, according to Magana. “Our defenders – T.J. Kelly, Adam Loughlin, Bubacarr Jallow and Ethan Clock –stopped every Peabody attack, while (Watts-Cruz) came up with a key (second half) save that helped produce shutout No. 3,” said Magana.

MHS VARSITY SCHEDULE

Wednesday, Sept. 17

3:30 p.m., boys golf vs. Masconomet at Tedesco Country Club

4 p.m., boys and girls cross country vs. Masconomet at Bradley Palmer State Park

4 p.m., boys soccer vs. Saugus at Saugus Middle High

brewing in this program, and the camaraderie, spirit and support this team has shown for each other are big reasons why we now look forward to the rest of the season.”

These Magicians resumed the Northeastern Conference season last Wednesday (Sept. 10), and ended up defeating Peabody at home, 25-30 for their second straight victory this season.

Golfers swing away for two more wins

The Marblehead High golf team is now 6-1-1 after two more wins and a tie last week. But they closed out the week with a loss to non-league Newburyport, 167-177 on Sept. 11. They defeated host Beverly in a close match, 36 ½-35 ½ on Sept. 8, before blowing out Saugus two days later at home, 57-15. The tie came against Masco at home on Sept. 9, 36-36.

In the win against Beverly, Greyson Leventhal (5-4), Joy Meshulam (5.5-3.5), Dylan Whitman (5-4) and Bowden Laramie (7-2) took home wins, while Will Macrina tied his match. Leventhal was the team’s medalist after shooting a 35.

“We were trailing by five points with two matches remaining, but on Bowden Laramie’s last hole, he putted for par from 30-feet out to win his match by those five points to tie things up,” coach Bob Green said. “Dylan Whitman then made his birdie putt to give us the close onepoint win.”

In the tie against Masco, Leventhal (5-4), Meshulam (5-4), Macrina (6-3) and Whitman (5.53.5) recorded victories. Tyler Forbes tied his match, 4.5-4.5, and was the team’s medalist for lowest score with a 38. Leventhal and Macrina were close behind. They each shot 39s. Against Saugus, Max King, Colby Moore, Ted Dulac, Zac Plum, Forbes, Leventhal, Macrina and Meshulam all had victories. Leventhal was the team’s medalist with a 35.

4:30 p.m., girls soccer vs. Saugus at MHS Piper Field

5:30 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Beverly at Beverly High gym

Thursday, Sept. 18

3:45 p.m., boys golf vs. Salem at Olde Salem Greens Friday, Sept. 19

3:30 p.m., boys soccer vs. Danvers at Danvers High

4 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Swampscott at Marblehead High

5:30 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Burlington at Burlington High

6 p.m., football vs. Shepherd Hill Regional at Shepherd Hill Regional High, Dudley

7:15 p.m., girls soccer vs. Danvers at MHS Piper Field

VARSITY SCOREBOARD

Wednesday, Sept. 10

Boys golf: Marblehead 57, Saugus 15

Boys soccer: Marblehead 3, Peabody 0

Girls soccer: Marblehead 4, Peabody 0

Girls cross country: Marblehead 25, Peabody 30

Boys cross country: Peabody 27, Marblehead 29

Thursday, Sept. 11

Boys golf: Newburyport 177, Marblehead 167

Girls field hockey: Marblehead 1, Saugus 0

Girls volleyball: Marblehead 3, Winthrop 0

Friday, Sept. 12

Boys football: Marblehead 26, Bishop Fenwick 20

Team records (through Sept. 12)

Girls field hockey, 2-1-1

Boys football, 2-0

Boys soccer, 4-0

Girls soccer, 3-0-1

Boys cross country, 0-2

Girls cross country, 2-0

Boys golf, 6-1-1

Girls volleyball, 3-1

FILE PHOTO

Marblehead High School boys soccer tri-captain Ilan Druker looks to take the ball away from his Danvers counterpart during a game last year. After four games this year, Druker is helping lead his teammates to an undefeated record, all by shutouts.

COURTESY PHOTO

The Marblehead High girls soccer varsity JV1 and JV2 teams pose with their North Andover counterparts after going up against each other in nonleague games at North Andover on Sept. 6. All three teams were there to take part in the annual Sarah Strong Games, named after Sarah Duval, an Andover resident who tragically lost her courageous battle to cancer four years ago at the age of 12. All proceeds from all three games went to the Sarah Duval Memorial Fund.

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

Jazz at the Arts

Thursday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m.

as

a part of a Jazz at the Arts concert series. Doors at 8 Hooper St. open at 6:30 p.m. There will be a cash bar. Tickets, $35, can be purchased at marbleheadarts.org or the Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St.

Me&Thee with Garnet Rogers

Friday, Sept. 19, 8 p.m.

Me&Thee Music continues its 56th season with one of Canada’s best known acoustic performers, Garnet Rogers.

“His literate humor and lightning-quick wit moves his audience from tears to laughter and back again,” according to a Me&Thee press release. Rogers was born in Hamilton, Ontario, where he began his professional career barely out of high school.

This season, the Me&Thee will be collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the Marblehead Food Pantry before each performance. Online tickets are only available at meandthee.org and in person locally at Arnould Gallery, 111 Washington St. Doors open at 7:15 p.m. with community seating. 28 Mugford St.

Book sale

Saturday, Sept. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Fall into good reading with the Friends of Abbot Public Library’s fall book sale. Find your next great read (which you won’t have to return!) while supporting the library. Proceeds from the book sale will go towards Abbot Public Library’s programs and services, including museum passes, Library of Things and more. The library is located at 235 Pleasant St.

What leatherback sea turtles can teach us

Friday, Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m.

Marblehead resident and WINGS, Women of Discovery board member Karen Zieff will host a conversation with Callie Veelenturf on leatherback sea turtles and the rights of nature.

The event is at the Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St. Veelenturf is founder of The Leatherback Project and the National Geographic Society’s newest program, For Nature. Tickets are $20 and available at https://loom.ly/tLViLp4.

All aboard!

Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 20-21

Marblehead 250 invites residents and visitors to experience Revolutionary War Marblehead at locations in the Historic District from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Highlights include Glover’s Regiment at Fort Sewall; an historical interpreter portraying the widow of war hero, James Mugford; 18th-century diarist Ashley Bowen portrayed by Donald Friary; and a colonial Anglican service at St. Michael’s Church. In addition, audience members can decide which side of the Revolution they would have defended by participating in a recreated town meeting at the Old Town House; visit the

Jeremiah Lee Mansion and discover Lee’s role in procuring weapons and supplies for the rebels; and learn about the town’s Tory population at the “King” Hooper Mansion, home of the Marblehead Arts Association.

New this year: the Fame from Salem, which is very similar to John Glover’s schooner Hannah, will be docked at State Street Landing each morning, with the option of a paid harbor sail each day. To learn more visit marbleheadmuseum.org/ headers-in-the-revolution.

Driscoll energizes crowd, talks 3A at Dems picnic

BY LEIGH BLANDER

About 170 people gathered for the annual Marblehead Democratic Town Committee picnic at the Gerry 5 on Monday, Sept. 8. Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll stopped by and greeted the crowd.

“She said Massachusetts leads the nation in so many things — best place to bring up kids, first in public education,” recounted Anne Gugino-Carrigan, head of the MDTC. “The one thing we need work on is affordable housing.”

The governor’s office is expected to send a letter any day now, rejecting the town’s request for an exemption from the MBTA Communities Act. Marblehead is in noncompliance with the law and could be sued by the state. The town is already losing grant money tied to 3A. Driscoll reiterated that the administration is eager to work with Marblehead to pass 3A, said Gugino-Carrigan.

Rep. Jenny Armini, who lives in town, said while President Donald Trump is stripping citizens of their rights, Massachusetts is stepping up.

“When Washington attacked women’s reproductive rights, the Legislature codified them,” she said. “Our governor stockpiled [the abortion medication] mifepristone. And we recently

made it illegal to collect data of providers and patients who are subject to draconian laws in other states. That includes gender-affirming care, as well as abortion care.”

Armini added, “When the Supreme Court loosened gun laws, the Massachusetts Legislature tightened them. We have the lowest rate of gun deaths in the nation because we pass laws that make it hard to purchase them. You cannot legally buy or possess a weapon of war or high-capacity magazines in Massachusetts.

And as far as public health, you recently saw our governor take matters into her own hands by mandating the coverage of vaccines and making COVID shots available to those who want and need them. She’s working with surrounding states to develop a science-based vaccine review process.” Secretary of State Bill Galvin was also there and said that voting rights are under attack across the country. He has sponsored a ballot question to allow election-day voter registration, which is legal in 20

states but not Massachusetts.

“The proposal will allow for election-day registration if you have identification; it’s very specific. For our MAGA friends out there, it specifically says you have to be a citizen of the United States, of course,” Galvin said. “If we are successful in doing this, this will result in tens of thousands of people being allowed to vote on election day. And we know as Democrats, when people vote, we win.”

‘Fight normalization’ Armini said it’s easy to feel helpless in these times. But

she had this advice: “Fight normalization with every fiber of your being. If any aspect of what we are seeing in Washington — the assertion of a king-like executive that dispatches his own paramilitary into our cities, the trampling of due process, congressional complicity — if any of this becomes accepted governing, well, I shudder to think.”

She continued, “Remind people that this isn’t normal… this is un-American. Call your cousin in Kansas. Write letters to the editor. Break the social taboo of not talking politics at dinner. Don’t be afraid to say some version of ‘This is batshit crazy. And oh, have you heard about this terrific House candidate in a Pennsylvania swing district?’”

Scholarships

The MDTC picnic is a fundraiser to support the committee’s Edwin L. Goldberg and Selma L. Goldberg scholarships for Marblehead High School seniors each spring. “Students do not need to be registered Democrats but do need to have demonstrated a commitment to civic engagement, politics or government,” explained MDTC’s Renee Keaney. “We also look at academic records and leadership qualities in narrowing finalists.”

COURTESY PHOTO / MDTC

Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll stands with young Democrats at the MDTC picnic.

The Marblehead Arts Association and Gene Arnould present Debby Larkin and the Jeff Stout Quintet

Dwight David Jennings

Sailor, brother, devoted friend

It is with a heavy heart we share that Dwight passed away two days shy of his 59th birthday.

Dwight Jennings was born and raised in New Canaan, Connecticut. The only son to Alice and David Jennings, he gracefully navigated being the middle child to two older sisters and two younger sisters. He spent many summers in Maine at Camp Agawam and attended Trinity Pauling in New York. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa. He was passionate about learning everything about a subject that interested him — his latest subject being crypto and related companies in that industry. He could give gardening advice with great insight — a hobby that he learned at the hand of his

maternal grandfather, Edwin Eberman. He was a dedicated history buff and the best to watch a sports event with — citing stats and side stories. He was an avid reader and writer and was working on a fictitious novel inspired by the NewportBermuda race in the 1940s. Most recently, he became a self-taught

wood carver, carving whales that he enjoyed gifting to friends and family. To many he was a longtime friend and his loyalty in those friendships withstood the test of time.

Upon moving to Marblehead in the early 1990s, Dwight went sailing and was hooked. Over the next 30 years, he sailed competitively on many boats out of Marblehead Harbor, sailing several years in the NewportBermuda race, Halifax, America’s Cup Jubilee and Figawi.

He is predeceased by his father David Jennings. He is survived by his mother and stepfather Alice and Eric Dalrymple, Naples, Florida. He is also survived by his sisters Janet Smith (Tim), Ipswich; Gail Jenkins (Chris), Lookout Mountain, Tennessee; Amy Duke (David), Atlanta, Georgia; and

Linda Kitzman (Mike), Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. He also leaves nieces Claire Rehm, Kylie Lee, Lindsey Thomas, Sophie Duke and Lucy Kitzman.

His inner peace was sailing, and he always signed off any conversation or text with “Safe Harbor” – a term wishing a secure place.

In keeping with Dwight’s wishes, his immediate family will hold a private ceremony to honor his life.

Because Marblehead and the sailing community deeply influenced Dwight’s love of sailing, we invite those wishing to honor his memory to consider a gift to this foundation that supports sailing for children in underserved communities: Corinthian Sailing Foundation, PO Box 4011, Nahant Street, Marblehead, MA 09145.

Town marks 24th anniversary of 9/11

BY LEIGH BLANDER

About 100 people gathered at Memorial Park to mark the 24th anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11.

Residents, town officials, faith leaders and police and fire personnel were there to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11, including the first responders who died that day and thousands more who have died since from illnesses related to the attacks.

“First responders and volunteers who spent days, weeks and months digging through the rubble, hoping to save lives or recover remains, are still paying the price,” said Fire Chief Jason Gilliland in his opening remarks. “The battle for their health and recognition of their sacrifice continues to this day — and it is our duty to stand by them.”

Police Chief Dennis King also

spoke.

“As we recently celebrated the Marines 250th birthday at Fort Sewall and the jets passed overhead, it reminded me of the F14s passing through the sky, which were the only aircraft permitted to fly in the immediate days following 9/11, as I watched as a police officer at the LNG tank in Salem,” he said.

King continued, “Let’s be clear. This is not only a day of remembrance. It also represents a day that we pledge to carry on with life in America without being paralyzed by the fear that the terrorists intended to install into our fabric and our core. We can both honor and remember this day in history and the 2,977 lives lost with ceremonies like this; but the way we also honor them is fighting for the beliefs that make us the targets

ourselves — the beliefs of freedom, individuality, liberty and justice for all.”

Marblehead lost several of its own on 9/11 and in the ensuing war on terrorism, including Dr. Frederick Rimmele III, Erik Isbrandtsen, William Weems and Robert Jalbert, as well as servicemembers Christopher Piper, Rachel McKay and Christopher Shay.

Also at the event, Jack Collins played Taps, Cpt. Gregg McLaughlin recited the Firefighter’s Prayer, Select Board Chair Dan Fox laid a wreath near the 9/11 monument and Veterans Agent Roseann TrionfiMazzuchelli told the story of how she, and so many others, were recalled to active duty that fateful day.

To close the ceremony, Firefighter William Boardway rang a bell in a traditional honoring of fallen firefighters.

Bette Hunt notecards raise $1,200 for Old Burial Hill restoration

SUBMITTED CONTENT

Profits from the sale of Bette Hunt notecards, which were launched in April this year at the Marblehead Museum, have topped $1,200. Hunt is donating all the proceeds to the Old Burial Hill restoration fund.

The town historian emeritus who retired in 2015, Hunt, 93, is renown for her walking tours of Marblehead. In July this year she was presented with a Marblehead Forever Award by the Select Board chair, Dan Fox, for her work keeping the spirit of Marblehead alive.

While many are aware of her tireless efforts on behalf of the Marblehead Museum and the town, fewer people know that Hunt studied at the Museum of Fine Arts School in Boston and for the last 50 years or so has been creating beautiful pen and ink drawings of Marblehead as Christmas cards.

“The idea for notecards was really fine-tuned by Gene Arnould of the Arnould Gallery”, said Vicki Staveacre who formed the production team with her husband Rhod Sharp. “We initially thought about putting some of Bette’s drawings into a calendar but Gene pointed out that they have a limited shelf life which is why we went with the cards.” The cards, which come in sets of 12, feature two each of six distinctive drawings including

PHOTO / WILL DOWD Supporters gather with Bette Hunt (seated, center) at the Marblehead Museum for the launch of note cards featuring her distinctive ink drawings. Proceeds from sales will benefit preservation efforts at Old Burial Hill cemetery.

the Marblehead Light, Lookout Court, Fort Beach and Abbot Hall as seen from Crocker Park.

“The first printing of 60 boxes of cards launched at the Marblehead Museum in April sold out so we ordered more in time for the July 4 holiday weekend,” Staveacre said. The cards are now exclusively available from the Arnould Gallery.

The Old Burial Hill Cemetery was established in 1648 and contains approximately 1,000 grave markers of various types. Out of 640 headstones, 120 pre-date 1740. There are grave markers of 60 Revolutionary War veterans. Care and maintenance of the

cemetery is the responsibility of the Old Burial Hill Committee established by the Select Board in 2009 to oversee the restoration of Old Burial Hill. One of its greatest accomplishments was the creation of the Old Burial Hill Cemetery Archive, completed by committee member Standley Goodwin in 2014. The archive includes complete details of all the graves including names, inscriptions and photographs of the headstones. It can be found on the town of Marblehead website: marbleheadma.gov/ old-burial-hill-committee/. One of the oldest stones and described as the crudest is for Deliverance Beenlan who died

on August 21, 1719 aged 3 months and 7 days. Committee Chair Alex Finigan said several important restorations were done last year including reinstating two gravestones — those of Jane Waters (c. 1698) and Archibald Selman (1778) — that had been held off site for years after the stones had broken into pieces. These repairs were made possible by the generosity of many Headers — most notably Biff Michaud and Standley Goodwin, both of whom made significant contributions to the preservation of Old Burial Hill in 2024. This year, in addition to

continuing to repair and preserve important monuments, the most exciting project is returning the gravestone of “Agnis Negro,” an enslaved Black woman who died in 1718. This historically significant gravestone was stolen from Old Burial Hill approximately 50 years ago and long thought permanently lost. However, due to the efforts of the Marblehead Racial Justice Team, which led an effort to learn more about Agnes’s life and fund the creation of a reproduction gravestone, the original stone was remarkably returned.

The work of the committee and the preservation of Old Burial Hill’s monuments is entirely donor-funded. Sustaining and growing the support of a generous donor base is one of the key missions of the Old Burial Hill Committee said Finigan.

“We are therefore indebted to Bette Hunt for her work on the committee for many years and also for the generous donation of the $1,200 profits from the sale of her notecards”, Finigan said.

“We would like to see if we cannot raise a further $1,200 from the community to match Bette’s generous donation.” For those who would like to donate, please make a check payable to the Town of Marblehead with “Old Burial Hill – Bette Hunt” in the memo line. Checks can be sent to Abbot Hall at 188 Washington St.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Fire Chief Jason Gilliland speaks at the 9/11 memorial ceremony Thursday morning.

MHS football helmet plucked from locker room, hawked online

Friday, Sept. 5

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 4

9 a.m. Larceny, forgery or fraud was reported on Atlantic Avenue.

» 10:32 a.m. An officer investigated the report of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street.

8:37 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Overlook Road.

» Saturday, Sept. 6

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2

10:09 a.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a man whose wife had been in contact with a person claiming to be selling a stroller for $200 on Facebook. The man said that the person requested they send $75 through the Zelle payment app for a down payment before giving them an address on Jersey Street to pick up the stroller. The man had then driven from Lexington to Marblehead to retrieve the stroller, but when the man arrived on Jersey Street, the homeowner advised the man that they were not selling anything and had probably been scammed. The man shared the phone number to which the Zelle payment had been made and a screenshot of the Facebook listing.

12:41 p.m. An officer went to Fuller Lane to speak to a woman who had been the victim of credit card fraud. The woman stated that, two days earlier, she received a text message on her phone informing her that she was being hacked. Over the course of three hours, the woman was convinced to provide access to her phone, her Apple account, her Venmo account and her credit card. Since that time, she had cancelled the credit card and disputed charges that had been made on it. The officer asked to see the original text message and was told it had been deleted. The officer managed to recover the text, but as he did so, it was again deleted before his eyes. The officer turned off the phone and advised the family not to turn it back on and instead bring the phone to the Apple store. The officer further advised them to shut off any Apple products linked to her Apple account. The officer also advised the family to file a report with the FTC via identitytheft. gov and not answer any more unsolicited texts. He further

advised the woman to lock her credit through the major credit bureaus.

12:45 p.m. An officer went to Endicott Avenue to take a report related to the theft of a purse from an unlocked vehicle. The homeowner described the purse as being a bright orange LuLu Lemon fanny pack, which contained her driver’s license, a debit card, a credit card, a health care card and a work fob. The resident said the theft could have taken place anytime between 5 p.m. the night before and 8 a.m. The woman had already cancelled both the debit card and credit card. The officer checked the area for cameras but could not locate any.

Sunday, Sept. 7

11:38 a.m. An officer met a driving instructor at the station who explained that she had been in the middle of a lesson with a student when two SUVs — one an Audi, the other a Toyota — began to follow her vehicle while driving in an aggressive manner.

The instructor stated that the two vehicles would continuously honk their horns and pull up close to her bumper at red lights and rev their engines as if to scare or intimidate her student driver. The instructor continued that, as she told her driver to parallel park on the dead end portion of Devereux Street, the two vehicles pulled alongside her car. As the instructor was telling the driver to perform a threepoint turn, the Toyota SUV pulled in behind their car as the Audi pulled into a driveway. The instructor told the student driver to put the vehicle in park as she exited to confront the drivers of the other two vehicles whom she did not know. As the instructor approached the driver’s side window to confront the driver of the Audi SUV, the vehicle sped away down Devereux Street towards Smith Street. The Toyota then sped off down Pierce Street towards Atlantic Avenue. However, the instructor was able to write down both vehicles’ registration numbers, which the officer used to identify the drivers. The officer then went to speak with both drivers and their parents at their respective homes. The officer admonished them about the seriousness and potential consequences of their actions and gave them both verbal

warnings. The officer indicated that if he needed to speak to them again for similar actions, they might not be so lucky. Upon returning to the station, the officer was met by the driver’s ed instructor, who updated the officer that her student driver had “come clean” and admitted that the drivers of the other vehicles were his friends.

4:51 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a tree down on wires on Atlantic Avenue and Gerald Road.

Monday, Sept. 8

Vehicle stops, citations: 1 10:29 a.m. An officer went to Rowland Street to speak to a resident whose landlord had shown up unannounced and begun to cut down all her flowers because he wanted to sell the property. When the officer asked the woman if she had tried talking to the landlord about finding common terms about the yard, the woman stated that she had not because the landlord was acting aggressively, and she was frightened by him. She then stated that she had been paying rent at home for the past 16 years and was confused about why the landlord was suddenly kicking her and her family out now, without any warning. Moments later, the officer made his way over to speak with the landlord who was still cutting down bushes and flowers. The landlord began to explain that he had been in contact over the past two weeks with the woman’s husband, and that the couple had been advised that he would be coming to the house and cleaning up the yard because the home would be going up for sale as soon as the next day. The officer then asked the landlord why he was being aggressive towards the woman, which the landlord denied, adding that he would be willing to talk to the woman about the flowers since that was the main reason she

was upset. As the tenant and landlord began talking, it was clear that neither could answer questions about their lease agreement. Another officer who had responded asked the woman if she would feel safer if the landlord packed up and left for the day, and she replied yes. The landlord asked for permission to clean up the bushes and flowers that he had already cut down and said he would leave immediately thereafter. The officer then advised both parties that this was a civil issue and that if they could not reach an agreement, they would have to go to civil court. The tenant was then advised to obtain a copy of the lease agreement so she could better understand her rights and to consult a lawyer if issues continued.

8:13 p.m. An officer went to Marblehead High School to speak to a student and his father. The student said that he believed that his helmet, which had been on the top of the locker with a lock on the mask for deterrent reasons, had been stolen from the locker room. The student said that he had last seen the helmet around 3:30 p.m. Friday after football practice. Today, he noticed that the helmet was missing before practice and reported the incident to his coach. The student believed that the helmet had been taken during the junior varsity football game held at MHS on Saturday morning. He had subsequently seen what he believed to be the helmet on sale on Facebook Marketplace for $225, as the photo showed the same scratch marks on the side and mouthguard as his helmet had.

Tuesday, Sept. 9

» Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1

7:42 a.m. An officer investigated the report of a vehicle crash on Eisenhower Road.

10:58 a.m. Officers investigated the report of a vehicle crash on Leggs Hill Road.

5:11 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Pleasant Street to investigate a report of destruction of property. The owner of the property showed the officer a concrete block wall that had sustained significant damage from an unknown cause.

The tenant in the building had last seen the wall intact at 9

p.m. on the previous Saturday night. The property owner planned to see if a tenant in the building next door had cameras that might have captured the incident.

Wednesday, Sept. 10

Vehicle stops, citations: 2 Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 5

2:43 p.m. An officer spoke with a resident of Angenica Terrace who had been targeted with an email scam. The woman explained that she had received an email from what appeared to be her sister-in-law. When she opened the email, her computer began flashing warning signals for her to call Microsoft for assistance. The woman called the phone number on her screen and spoke to a man with a Middle Eastern accent, who requested access into the woman’s Microsoft account and computer. The woman complied, and the man gained access to her computer. The man uninstalled an anti-virus application on her computer in what he said was an attempt to fix the problem. The woman was then told she would be refunded $150, which would be transferred into her checking account at a local bank. When the woman looked at her checking account online, the $150 had not gotten deposited. The man asked the woman to transfer $25 from her savings account. The woman followed the instruction and transferred the $25. The woman then opened up her savings account online and discovered $25,000 had been deposited. The man then told the resident to send him $24,750 by wire transfer from the bank so he “wouldn’t get in trouble.” She was going to be able to “keep” the $150 for the refund, plus another $100 “because she was a nice lady.” On her way to the bank, the woman started to realize she was being scammed. When the bank looked up her savings account, they discovered the $25,000 had come from another of her own accounts, not from an outside source. The woman decided to close all of her accounts at the local bank and also to bring her computer to Best Buy to get it wiped clean. The officer also advised her to keep an eye on her other accounts and consider contacting the major credit bureaus.

will be your best friend — someone who will lay across your desk as you are working or cuddling into you as you watch TV,” the shelter says. “He will be perfectly content being a single feline in your home.”

Nait does get along with the female kitties.

“But

Volunteers add that they are not sure how Nait would do with children, so a home without kids would probably be best.

Nait came to the Marblehead Animal Shelter as a sick kitty and has made a beautiful recovery, according to volunteers. He is hanging out at the shelter’s veterinarian’s office till he finds his perfect home. Nait is up to date with routine shots, house trained and neutered.

Nait Nait has greyishbrown fur with tiger markings, but wisps of blue-gray are starting to emerge in his coat. COURTESY

For over200 years, MarbleheadFemale Humane Society has remained faithful to its original mission of quietly and re spec tfu lly helpi ng Ma rble head re sid ents in ne ed.

If yo u’re struggli ng to pay your bills or are experiencing asudden and unexpected financial hards hi p, we’ re he re t o he lp.

Individual requests forfinancialassistance must be referred through athirdparty for consideration

We urge you to contact our partners listedbelow, or speak to your localclergy to request assistance from Ma rbleh ead Female Huma ne Soc iety:

Marblehead Counseling Center

781-631-8273

Marblehead Housing Authority 781-631-2580

Marblehead Council on Aging 781-631-6225

Marblehead Food Pantry

781-631-8340

And rea Dodge

Mindy Reic hman

LivermorePoss Team Emily Gaffney