FIRST WAVE
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Town Administrator Thatcher
Kezer told the Current Sept. 17 that the MBTA Communities Act will likely be back on the warrant (agenda) at Town Meeting in May.
“With the Secretary of Housing and Livable
Communities confirming that no MBTA Communities (§3A) exemptions will be granted, Marblehead is moving forward on a compliance path,” Kezer wrote in an email. “The Planning Board, working with our Community Development & Planning Department, will review the prior zoning proposal and alternatives and determine whether to refile the original plan, submit a modified version or develop a new plan. Our goal is to place a warrant article on the May 2026 Annual Town Meeting.”
Kezer added, “We have requested state technical assistance and have been
assured that a state-contracted consultant will support mapping, unit-capacity calculations and compliance review… The process will include robust public outreach similar to two years ago, and meeting dates and materials will be posted by Community Development & Planning as the schedule is finalized.”
Select Board Chair Dan Fox confirmed that the town will be working with a second consultant.
“We don’t have a meeting set yet,” he said. Fox received a letter
Town celebrates Revolutionary history
BY LEIGH BLANDER
More than 100 people gathered outside Abbot Hall Sunday to mourn the death of conservative commentator and activist Charlie Kirk, who was assasinated at a college speaking event in Utah on Sept 10.
Emily DeJoy, with the Marblehead Republican Town Committee, organized the memorial with help from several others, including resident Yael Magen.
“Your presence here is a
powerful reminder that in the face of tragedy, we do not turn inward, we rise together as a community, united in faith and strength,” DeJoy said to those gathered.
“Political violence is never the answer. It strikes at the heart of our nation, it tears at the very fabric of our society and it leaves wounds that no words can truly heal. But today, by gathering here, we take a stand against that darkness. We choose faith over fear, prayer over hate, and unity over division. Together,
BY GREY COLLINS
Marblehead came together last weekend to honor its Revolutionary past at Marblehead 250. The celebration highlighted Marblehead’s vital role in the American Revolution. Residents and visitors immersed themselves in the town’s town history all weekend, as they boarded a Revolutionary-era schooner, watched live reenactments and explored historic sites all around town. Read more about Marblehead 250 at MarbleheadCurrent. org.
we lift our voices in prayer, for Charlie’s family, for healing and for peace. Together, we show that even in grief, we can be stronger, more faithful and more committed to knowing what is right from what is wrong. That is how we honor Charlie’s life and legacy.”
Magen added, “You didn’t have to agree with everything he said. I did not agree with everything he said. In fact, there were a lot of things that I did not agree
CURRENT PHOTOS / GREY COLLINS
Clockwise from top left: Members of Glover’s Regiment fire their muskets at Fort Sewall; Local historian Meghan Boehmer portrays Sarah Mugford, a Revolutionary-era Marblehead resident; Captain Mike Rutstein teaches his passengers about the history of the Hannah as they sail around Salem Sound on the Fame; Historian Donald Friary portrays Ashley Bowen at St. Michael’s Church, teaching the audience about the sailor’s life in Marblehead.
Superintendent discusses plan to address enrollment declines
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead Public Schools have seen a 15% drop in enrollment since 2019, according to data presented by Superintendent John Robidoux.
“There’s a dip in enrollment for sure,” Robidoux said at the School Committee’s Sept. 19 meeting.
“It’s concerning.” The current enrollment at MPS is 2,513 students. Compare that to 2,963 students in the 2019-2020 school year and 3,144 students in 2016-2017.
Robidoux identified the following “key decline periods.”
2019-2020 to 2020-21, 8.7% drop » 2020-2021 to 2021-2022, 3.8% drop
» 2023-24 to 2024-25, 2% drop 2024025 to 2025-26, 2% drop
Robidoux also pointed out “notable changes at transitional grade levels.”
» Grade 3 spring 2025 to grade 4 fall 2025, down 15 students
Grade 6 spring 2025 to grade 7 fall 2025, down 9 students
Grade 8 spring 2025 to grade 9 fall 2025, down 15 students
“Grade eight to nine, that’s students going to private school or Essex Tech,” Robidoux said.
“Third to fourth grade, it’s a little
bit weird” to see a decline. School Committee member
Jenn Schaeffner expressed concern.
“There’s clearly declining enrollment,” she said. “The question ‘why’ is important. I’d like to educate every kid in this
town. We can, and we should. But, in the meantime, we’re not. And there are budget implications to that. There are opportunities, right? We have declining enrollment. We have a budget that Town Meeting provides to us, and we have an opportunity to
leverage that budget.”
Schaeffner said that she had asked the Town Clerk’s Office for census data to see if population changes may be behind some of the enrollment drop.
Robidoux also presented projected enrollment data for Marblehead from the New England School Development Council.
NESDEC projects that MPS enrollment will increase 2.1% in 2026-27, 0.6% in 2027-28, 1.7% in 2028-29, 0% in 2029-2030 and 1.5% in 2030-31.
Robidoux said he and his team will continue to analyze and discuss the data and look for ways to boost enrollment.
“The meta message is yes, we’re down enrollment,” Robidoux summed up. “We’re going to take a deeper dive… We’ll also work with the administration and the teachers to think about what we can do differently to keep the kids here.”
He and Assistant Superintendent Julia Ferreira spoke of district efforts to share more of the good things that are happening in the schools.
“We want to look at what kinds of things we can do to make sure students understand what we have to offer,” he said.
Local resident named in FLA Attorney General complaint
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead resident Robert Goodwin and his travel company, Stone & Compass, are named in a complaint filed by the Florida Attorney General’s Office, which alleges they violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The AG is asking a judge to order Goodwin to pay $2.6 million in restitution and civil penalties, and ban him from doing business in Florida.
In the spring of 2024, Stone & Compass abruptly canceled trips for hundreds of students and adults around the country, in some cases mere days before the trips were set to depart.
Goodwin told the Current that the cancellations were necessary after Stone & Compass was defrauded out of nearly $900,000 by two New York financial institutions.
In August of 2024, the New York Attorney General’s Office told the Current, “This matter is still under review.” Messages left with the NY AG’s office this week were not returned.
In the Florida AG’s complaint, Goodwin and Stone & Compass are accused of “deceptive business practices as it relates to marketing, selling, offering, providing or accepting payment for group travel services to students, parents and/or faculty members at Seabreeze High
School in Volusia County, Florida, and Flagler College in St. Johns County, Florida.”
The AG’s complaint alleges Goodwin owes $181,800 to 43 consumers at Seabreeze High School.
“Each participant paid $3,550 for the base package and additional costs for any desired upgrades,” the complaint states.
“On May 9, 2024, approximately 4 1/2 weeks prior to the date that the consumers were scheduled to depart for their foreign study program, defendants notified a representative of Seabreeze High School via electronic email that their group tour had been canceled. The Seabreeze High
School consumers repeatedly requested that defendants refund the payment that they had made for the canceled foreign study program trip. However, defendants have failed to do so.”
Goodwin and Stone & Compass face similar allegations at Flagler College, where the AG alleges Goodwin owes $616,524 to 139 people.
The Current reported back in August 2024 that 64 students at California State University Long Beach claimed to have lost $290,000 for study abroad trips arranged through Stone & Compass that did not happen.
Lawsuits
In August 2024, the Current reported that Goodwin and Stone & Compass were named in seven New York lawsuits by financial companies who claimed Goodwin owed them a total of $863,118.
Goodwin and Stone & Compass are alleged to have breached their contracts with the plaintiffs. In one case, Square Funding said it purchased 10.50% of Stone & Compass’ receivables for $246,750 and that Goodwin agreed to set up a bank account from which Square Funding could make withdrawals until the money was paid back. Square Funding claims that after depositing $49,350, Goodwin stopped adding money.
By August 2024, the
Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office had received six complaints regarding Stone & Compass, according to a spokesperson from the AG’s office.
The Current was unable to make contact with Goodwin this week or last.
New headquarters?
In May 2024, Goodwin told the Current he would be moving Stone & Compass to Bulgaria, where it has a retreat center.
On July 23, however, a Goodwin associate Amon Sharma sent an email to some former Stone & Compass participants in Marblehead announcing that the company had merged with another travel group.
“It’s safe to say that after having put a lot of effort and hard work into this we have risen from the ashes,” Sharma wrote. “It took a lot of doing but we are now fully functional again and accepting tours. The new entity is called N & N Hospitality and Tours. We are headquartered in Scotland and Bulgaria and have had a lot of success filling up our 2025 calendar.”
N&N Hospitality and Tours’ website has no mention of Goodwin, but does feature a retreat in Bulgaria once owned by Stone and Compass. Messages to N&N were not immediately returned.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Republic Services and its trash workers reached a deal Sept. 19 to end the monthslong strike that has impacted Marblehead and several other North Shore towns. Republic has informed cities and towns that its trash and recycling operations should return to
normal this week. The Teamsters Local 25 walked off the job July 1, asking for better wages and benefits. The two sides announced Friday that they have reached a five-year collective bargaining agreement.
Public Health Director Andrew Petty said the Transfer Station is now open to people with access stickers.
“We will now be checking stickers at the Transfer Station. We will now open the Swap Shed on Saturdays. Please make sure to park in a parking space and not on the grass,” he said.
“These workers stood strong for 82 days to send a message across the country,” said Teamsters Local 25 President Thomas G. Mari. “This is an
extremely strong contract, and our members are looking forward to going back to work Monday, and back into the communities they service. Thank you to the people who live in the affected communities who openly urged Republic to provide its employees with the contract that represents the hard work the employees perform every day.”
COURTESY PHOTO Marblehead resident Rob Goodwin is facing allegations from the Florida Attorney General’s Office that he violated that state’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
Superintendent John Robidoux presented enrollment numbers to the School Committee on Sept. 18.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
The School Committee learned more about Marblehead’s declining enrollment numbers at a meeting on Sept. 18.
With opening of Music Emporium, Johnny Ray fulfills his dream
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead’s newest business was rockin’ Monday night as people came to explore Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium at 31 Atlantic Ave.
Ray, who co-owns The Beacon Restaurant in town, and his partner Richard Messinger held a grand opening for their new music store. The vibe in the shop is cool and bluesy, with a baby grand and drum set in the middle of the showroom and guitars hanging under blue and pink lights on the wall. There are practice rooms and a state-ofthe-art podcast studio.
Oh, and the Emporium is also home to Messinger’s fine art printing business.
“He’s turning photographs into fine art,” Ray said. Messenger, a professional photographer, works with a special printer and produces copies of his own photographs as well as customers’ works. He can print larger-thanlife photographs, including panoramas.
“Opening a music store is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Ray said. “It just kept getting bigger and bigger as we came up with new ideas.”
Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium sells and repairs new and vintage guitars, pianos, drums and
freshman at Marblehead High, also spoke.
with, but with that, I respected him a lot. I respected him for the way that he wanted to debate, for the way that he wanted to bring forward conversation.”
Magen ended her remarks by reciting the Jewish prayer for the dead. Her daughter, Eve, a
from Massachusetts Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Edward Augustus earlier this month, 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
“Let’s all learn to disagree with each other, have civil debate, encourage it, but never, never kill someone because of their belief. It’s insane, it’s crazy,” she said.
Speakers from three churches shared prayers at the memorial: Deacon John Whipple of Star of the Sea, Paul Pantzer of
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 multi-family 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
Grace Communiy Church and Randolph Stark of St. Michael’s.
In the crowd, Kate KaneLeach, of Marblehead, carried a U.S. flag in one hand and a bible in the other.
“This is beyond devastating to me,” she said about Kirk’s murder. “I’m looking for other people who are feeling the same way.”
work with you to ensure that Marblehead can achieve compliance” and urges the town to seek assistance from an MBTA Communities compliance coordinator.
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. The plan would have
McMahon was a staff composer for Handsome Brothers Music in Somerville, where he wrote scores for commercials and PBS shows. He’s been offering lessons for 35 years in his studio and is happy to move to the Emporium.
“This is a great space to learn and procure instruments,” he said at the grand opening.
His favorite in the shop is a 1965 Epiphone Cortez guitar, followed by a 1971 Gibson SG electric guitar.
Local tenor Matt Arnold will teach voice lessons, and Dan Kenney — Britney Spears’ former music director — is
offering piano lessons. Ray says the Emporium offers entry-level prices for novices buying their first instruments as well as more expensive items, including the $10,000 baby grand. Many of the guitars are collectors’ items.
Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and weekends, noon-6 p.m. The podcast studio is available after hours. Learn more at johnnyraysmusic.com.
allowed for the possibility of 600 additional housing units in these areas, though proponents of the plan have tried to stress that it was far from certain that adoption of the plan would prompt rampant redevelopment in the districts.
According to the state, thus far 5,200 homes have been built or are in development across all 177 MBTA Communities, the Commonwealth Beacon reported recently.
electric keyboards. It offers lessons in guitar, piano and vocals.
Marblehead resident Michael McMahon, who is in the band Fun Bucket, is teaching guitar.
CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER
Johnny Ray’s Music Emporium has dozens of new and vintage guitars for sale.
Johnny Ray sits in the podcast studio at his new Music Emporium.
Michael McMahon of the band Fun Bucket will teach guitar lessons at the Emporium.
Emily DeJoy helped organize a memorial for Charlie Kirk outside Abbot Hall. CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Opinion
The empty nest egg Reassessing finances when the kids leave home
BY EMILY PROMISE
For many families, the day children leave home — whether for college, a first job or to start their own household — marks the beginning of a new chapter. Alongside the emotional shift comes a practical one: changes in household finances.
In Massachusetts, raising a child to age 18 typically costs between $280,000 and $300,000 (not including college or private K–12 education).
Once children are no longer living at home, expenses tied to food, utilities, transportation and extracurricular activities often drop significantly. This opens up an opportunity for parents to reassess their financial priorities — especially
Landscapers taken by ICE are probably in Burlington, in terrible conditions
To the editor: The three men taken from the Lasana’s landscaping truck on Beach Street Sept. 12 are probably in the basement of Homeland Security’s Burlington Detention Center in. The basement holds 30 men — no beds, no sink or shower, one open toilet in the center under a camera, cracker packets for meals, one mini water bottle three times per day, lights on 24/7, no windows, no phone call, no change of clothes, no lawyer. Women are kept in empty all-glass conference rooms with staff walking by. One open toilet, lights on, they take turns sleeping on a bloody floor (no sanitary pads) and sitting up so others can lay down. Family members show up at the front door with needed medication which is refused.
I know this because I’ve been standing outside of this building on Wednesdays from 11 a.m.1p.m. with Bearing Witness after I saw Rep. Seth Moulton’s press conference after he toured the facility. Last Wednesday, there were 650 people witnessing the stream of immigrants having to go in for appointments. Some come out. One was a 70-yearold white man who adopted a son from Vietnam 50 years ago. His son got a letter to come in. He came out alone crying. ICE is deporting his 50-year-old son back to Vietnam.
This is not about politics or immigration. This is about basic decency and insistence on due process. As ICE gears up, this is going to happen to people you know, care about, and rely on.
I’m writing this, showing up and doing everything else I can think of.
if the kids are officially off the family “payroll.” Start by taking a fresh look at your budget.
Spend a few months observing how your daily expenses shift now that your children are no longer living at home. Look for areas where spending has decreased — such as groceries, utilities and extracurriculars.
With that new found monthly cash flow, you can use this savings towards: Boosting retirement contributions, accelerating mortgage payments or saving for travel or longpostponed home projects among many things.
Outside of having extra money monthly, when you are an empty nester, you can use this time as a pivotal point to take a broader look at your overall financial picture. Here are a few items to consider:
What’s your next move?
Laura Plunkett Casino Road
The immigration actions make us
less safe
To the editor: Neighbors, I have a number of concerns about the recent federal law enforcement activity in our town but in the interest of brevity I will address only one here: SAFETY.
An unknown number of men, wearing sunglasses and vision obscuring masks sped through our towns streets in more than two very large trucks with illegally dark tinted windows and then did a cool action movie scene.
These are the streets we drive on and our children bike and play on. If there has been some sort of illegal activity, our police are more than capable of handling the situation. They are also uniquely positioned to conduct their business in a timely and safe manner with little disruption to community life. They are certainly preferable to some unknown and unaccountable person.
Furthermore, there are longstanding and clear guidelines governing these matters so there is simply no need for the additional “help.”
I would like to suggest that we can work as a community to eliminate this unneeded and unwanted intrusion.
Thank you,
William Healy Beverly Avenue
We all must ‘disagree better’
To the editor: Dear Mr. Rousseau, I have read the Letters to the Editor to the Marblehead Reporter and now Current / Weekly News for longer than I care to admit. It has been an interesting read all these years.
Revisit retirement— While time’s still on your side
During the child-raising years, many parents hit “pause” on retirement savings. Now’s the time to press “play ”— or even “fast forward.” Ask yourself: Are you on track to retire when and how you’d like?
Are you maximizing your employer-sponsored retirement benefits?
If you’re over 50, are you taking advantage of catch-up contributions?
Even small reallocations — like money once spent on school supplies or sports fees — can add up quickly thanks to compound interest.
Downsizing — or not?
A common question after the kids move out: Should we downsize?
Mr. Haug has been a regular contributor for many years. And for years I have considered his comments as pushing one to think further on the subject and consider another viewpoint, whether I agreed or not. To the point I would examine the topic further for my own self and to be informed.
You belittled Mr. Haug in your Letter to the Editor (Sept. 17) without any real proof other than to say what he writes is “simply untrue.” Further, you link his letter written well before the assassination of Charlie Kirk as shameful. That Mr. Haug had written his letter? That it was published with the news of Mr. Kirk’s assassination? How are the two even related other than the Current published both on 10 Sept.? The two events are separate as the day they occurred.
Thankfully, we all are afforded freedom of speech in this country. And you both have benefited from it. After the terrible event in Utah of Mr. Kirk’s assassination, the governor of Utah, Spencer J. Cox, a Republican, asked us all to “disagree better.” I would concur. We all need to do a better job of trying to understand each other vs. shouting down the other fellow. To “grow up or be quiet” is not a path forward. To better understand the other viewpoint is the wise counsel. Then one can agree to disagree respectfully without all the rhetoric and become better people.
James Dykes Carna Road
Retired captain rejects guest columnist’s take on Moulton
To the editor:
I write in response to the column from retired attorney Carl Goodman attacking Congressman Moulton for his
For some, selling the family home and moving to a smaller, more manageable space makes both financial and emotional sense — lower utility bills, reduced maintenance and potentially a financial boost from home equity.
But downsizing isn’t for everyone. Some couples choose to stay and repurpose the Space — turning bedrooms into offices or hobby rooms, or keeping them ready for visiting grandchildren. The key is to make the decision intentionally, not out of habit or hesitation.
Planning for the next phase
This transition is a great time to:
Revisit your estate plan
» Update insurance coverage
» Evaluate long-term care needs
» Adjust your investment portfolio and retirement strategy
comments at the 250th Marine Corps birthday celebration. I attended the same event. While Attorney Goodman is entitled to his opinions about Congressman Moulton, he is not entitled to his own facts. Goodman opines that Congressman Moulton disrespected the president when Moulton spoke about the importance of having “…leaders in our armed services with smart minds and moral courage who may even have to disobey an unlawful order.”
Fact: the oath that military service members take is to the U.S. Constitution, not the president (I took that oath as an Army officer). Officers are trained that service members must obey orders, and question or even disobey unlawful orders. That is exactly what Congressman Moulton said, and that is not disrespectful; it is faithful to the code that Moulton follows. In his remarks, Selectman Moses Grader, a Marine veteran himself, also emphasized the importance of defending the U.S. Constitution and liberty.
Attorney Goodman moves on to opine that “…the president (Trump) has shown great support for our military and respect and concern for the wellbeing for the men and women in uniform….” Another whopper.
Facts: Donald Trump referred to people who served as “suckers” and “losers”; he disparaged John McCain; his Department of Veterans Affairs has proposed massive cuts to the VA that would impact services including hotlines that provide counseling to prevent suicides; and he continues to attack the federal workforce which is about one-third veterans. This is respect and concern?
In summary, Goodman’s opinions don’t align with the facts. That he used the platform as guest columnist to attack Congressman Moulton, a decorated combat veteran who continues to serve his country with valor, is disgusting.
The financial decisions made during this phase can significantly impact your longterm security and freedom. Even with kids out of the house, financial support may continue. A recent Pew Research Center study found that over half of young adults in their 20s still receive some form of financial help from parents. To protect your long-term goals, set clear expectations—whether you’re helping with tuition, rent, phone bills or other expenses. The “empty nest” is more than just a life milestone — it’s a financial turning point. With fewer child-related expenses, you can begin focusing more intentionally on your own goals, your health and your future. Emily Promise is president of Blakely Financial, a Marblehead native and the new financial columnist for the Current.
Respectfully submitted, Robert F. Herrick, Sc.D. (Captain U.S. Public Health Service ret.) Skinners Path
Rethinking the e-bike situation in town
To the editor: Town Meeting voters created the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee to provide citizen oversight of town government employees in an effort to make our roads safer. I was behind that effort and now I regret it. Rather than following the will of the voters, Thatcher Kezer, Dennis King, and the Select Board have used the TSAC to block citizen participation and attack the town’s most vulnerable users. They have blood on their hands.
Consider Sept 15th “report” from the MPD on ebike crash history. The slide, which I hope will be shared with readers here, is disgusting. Rather than, “Driver turning left failed to yield to oncoming traffic,” we get, “motorist turning left; ebike rode into side of motor vehicle.” In each case, we hear nothing of the vehicle or the driver, but are told the cyclist was, “looking down” or “wearing dark clothes.” Ask yourself, who is behind Dennis King’s attack? I get that drivers struggle with kids flying about on bikes and ebikes, but they’re kids and they have a legal right to the entire lane of every road in Marblehead.
I drafted the bylaw creating the TSAC in the belief that people of good will in this town would come together to address traffic, what 3A voters — as the Select Board acknowledged in its letter to the state begging for relief — called their number one concern. So much for democracy in action. Dan Albert Leicester
Scents and sensitivities
How everyday fragrances release chemicals that can affect everyone’s health — and how to reduce the risks
BY AMY BERENSON
We humans love our smells: “Mountain Breeze” laundry detergent, “Vanilla Sky” candles, “Ocean Mist” kitty litter — none of which, it should be noted, smells anything like actual mountains, vanilla or oceans. Unfortunately, while our noses may swoon, our lungs often do not.
Many people genuinely enjoy a whiff of fabric softener on clean sheets, an air freshener in the bathroom or a spritz of perfume before heading out. Scents can feel comforting, familiar, even luxurious. But behind the pleasant aromas may be dangerous chemicals that impact your health. Some people experience headaches, dizziness, rashes or asthma attacks after even brief exposure. Even if you personally enjoy scents, it’s important to remember that others may not. Reactions can range from mild discomfort to serious health effects. Everyday habits — like dryer sheets that vent scents outside, wearing perfume in a crowded restaurant or using spray sunscreen — can unintentionally affect people around you. Being mindful of fragrance use is a small but meaningful way to protect the health and comfort of everyone around you and in your community.
The problem isn’t simply “strong smells” — it’s the chemicals behind them. Many scents are made from a complex cocktail of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other synthetic ingredients. University of Washington research found
that emissions from scented laundry products contained more than 25 VOCs, including acetaldehyde and benzene — both carcinogens with no safe exposure level. These chemicals don’t appear on labels, so every spin cycle can be a bit of chemical roulette for your home and your neighbors.
And the problem doesn’t stop at your door. Chemicals from laundry scents vent outside and drift into the neighborhood air.
In fact, researchers have found that emissions from popular scented laundry brands in just one city can rival a measurable fraction of vehicle emissions for certain toxic compounds. That means every load of “freshscent” laundry adds to overall air pollution, affecting not just you but your entire community.
Air fresheners, plug-ins and scented candles can be equally concerning. They can emit phthalates (linked to reproductive harm), formaldehyde (a known carcinogen) and other toxins that linger in the air and coat surfaces. Indoor air pollution can be two to five times worse than outdoors — sometimes thanks to our own “freshening” efforts. Pets are especially at risk, with faster breathing
rates and constant floor-level exposure.
Fragrance-free vs. unscented
It’s important to be aware of the language used in consumer products. “Fragrance-free” means no fragrance ingredients have been added, whether synthetic or natural. These products are formulated without scent and are the safest for people with fragrance sensitivities.
“Unscented” means the product doesn’t have a noticeable smell but may still contain fragrance chemicals — often used to mask the natural odor of other ingredients. These masking agents can trigger the same health effects as obvious scents. If your goal is to avoid fragrance chemicals altogether, choose “fragrance-free,” not “unscented.” Pets and VOCs Pets are particularly vulnerable. Cats and dogs breathe faster than humans, spend more time near floors where chemicals settle and can’t tell us when they feel sick. Studies have linked VOC exposure from scented
products to respiratory issues, liver and kidney damage and even cancer in pets. For cat owners especially, scented litter can be a hidden hazard.
Even small exposures over time can accumulate, affecting long-term health.
Myth-busting: “Natural” doesn’t always mean Safe
Essential oils and other “natural” (there is no legal definition for the term when used in consumer products) fragrances are often marketed as healthier alternatives, but they can still trigger sensitivities or allergic reactions in humans and pets. Just because something comes from a plant doesn’t mean it’s harmless when inhaled or applied. Ventilation, limited use and fragrance-free options remain the safest approach for indoor spaces.
Simple steps for safer scents
Reducing fragrance exposure doesn’t have to mean living in a cave. Some practical tips: Ventilate frequently — open a
A meal from the Greek islands
BY LINDA BASSETT
A meal from a carry-out shop is fine in a pinch. But many order-in meals taste better made at home. You get larger quantities and use pantry ingredients. Yes, there’s the clean-up afterwards (the only offensive part of cooking), but I enthusiastically congratulate the cook when I do it myself.
To get veggies into the family, I put out a bowl of hummus or tzatziki with pita triangles and an alphabet of fresh veggies from broccoli to zucchini. (Either dip can be storebought, but it’s just as easy to whirl the ingredients in a food processor.) I add Greek-style salad and rice pilaf. The key to getting the flavors right is the marinade for the chicken and the dressing for the salad. Start with 100% olive oil. Skip the extravirgin kind: it won’t matter. Whole lemons are essential for best flavor. Not bottled juice. First, grate the yellow zest from the bitter white of the peel, then cut the lemons in half and squeeze out juice. (Hint: Juice the lemon into the bowl through a fine-mesh sieve to catch seeds.) Add chopped garlic for balance. (I do this a day ahead and refrigerate, tightly covered, overnight.) Herbs are best fresh, but I often raid the pantry for dried ones. Just remember, if using dried, use only half the quantity called for in the recipe as the dried herbs tend to shout rather than whisper. I trick palates with fresh parsley added to dried herbs. (Never use dried parsley: it may as well be cardboard shavings.) Black pepper, freshly ground, also adds more punch to the finish. To save time, mix up both marinade and dressing at once, doubling the amount of the recipe listed
here. Divide the result into two bowls. Use half to marinate the meat.
Then whisk a tablespoon of wine vinegar into the other half to make salad dressing. Set aside.
Toss together two lettuces — one crunchy; one tender — tomato wedges, cucumber rounds, red onion slice, and black olives (not canned). Add a hefty crumble of feta cheese and toss with dressing a few minutes before dinnertime.
GREEK ISLAND FLAVORED CHICKEN
MAKES 6 SERVINGS
I pair this with a boxed rice pilaf. To mask my deceit, I stir in chopped fresh parsley and mint and a squirt or two of lemon juice at the end of cooking.
This chicken is oven-baked, although it
takes very well to the outdoor grill and as long as the weather holds up, I will grill. (Actually, I leave the grill on the deck all winter and will happily grill steaks during a snowstorm.)
` 1/2 cup olive oil
` 2 cloves garlic, minced
` 2 lemons, juiced and zested
` 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves, chopped
` 1 tablespoon each fresh oregano, parsley, and thyme, chopped
` ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
` 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, garlic, lemon juice and zest, the herbs, salt and pepper.
Add the chicken turning to coat with marinade. Refrigerate, covered, for 30 minutes to 2 hours (no longer).
Heat oven to 400F. Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place chicken breasts on top.
Bake until the internal temperature reads 160F, about 20-30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving over rice.
TSATZIKI MAKES 1 CUP
` 1 cup plain 5% yogurt
` ½ cucumber, seeded
` 1 clove garlic Juice of ¼ lemon
` Fresh or dried dill, minced, to taste
` Salt, pepper to taste
Process the yogurt, cucumber, garlic and lemon juice using a stick blender until not quite smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and dill, to taste. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-andcoming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.
window or use fans.
Use fragrance-free laundry products, cleaning supplies and personal care items.
Skip plug-in air fresheners, sprays and scented candles.
Use natural odor absorbers like baking soda or activated charcoal to neutralize odors without chemicals.
Create your own DIY simmer pots with citrus peels, cinnamon sticks or herbs to provide a pleasant scent without toxins. Choose air-purifying houseplants, like spider plants or peace lilies, to improve indoor air quality.
By taking these steps, you reduce VOC exposure for yourself, your pet, and especially those who haven’t agreed to the exposure (your neighbors). You’ll breathe easier, enjoy safer indoor air, and demonstrate consideration for everyone in shared spaces.
Eau de fresh air
Sometimes the best fragrance is no fragrance at all. Going fragrance-free isn’t just about protecting yourself; it’s also about looking out for others. Your considerate choices can make homes, offices, restaurants, communal living spaces and public areas safer and more enjoyable for everyone. Think of it as Eau de Fresh Air — a scent everyone can enjoy safely.
Amy Berenson is a Marblehead resident, Sustainable Marblehead member and environmental advocate who believes that small changes can add up to a more sustainable world.
Thank
you for supporting Company 2
Heroes
To the editor: Dear residents of Marblehead, I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support you extended for our second annual 5k run | walk | ruck for Company 2 Heroes. Your enthusiasm and participation were instrumental in making the event a resounding success.
The community spirit in Marblehead is truly inspiring. From the local businesses that generously provided sponsorships (3 Cod, Marathon Sports, East Regiment Beer Company, TrayDog & Piper Sandler, to name a few) to the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy, every contribution played a vital role in our achievements. Your support not only helped us raise awareness but also brought us closer to our mission of supporting veterans and their families.
We are deeply appreciative of the warm welcome and encouragement we received from everyone in Marblehead. It is communities like yours that empower organizations like ours to make a meaningful impact.
We hope to see you next year on Saturday, Sept. 12. Thank you once again for your generosity and support. We look forward to future collaborations and continuing our partnership with the wonderful town of Marblehead.
Warm regards,
Claudette
Mason Susan Road Board member Company 2 Heroes
LINDA BASSET PHOTO
Greek flavored chicken rbings the taste of the islands home.
COURTESY PHOTO
Local resident, Current columnist is selling a $22M ranch out west
No, it’s not his
BY LUCA TEDESCO
Court Merrigan’s journey to Marblehead was a winding one. After spending a decade living in Japan and Thailand before returning to his family’s farm on the Nebraska-Wyoming border (lovingly referred to by Merrigan as “Wyo-braska”), the agricultural real estate broker came out east in search of new adventures.
You may have even read his many “My Marblehead first time” columns in the Current, where he describes the town through a newcomer’s eyes.
“I had been to Boston one time in my life before I came out here in a moving truck,” said Merrigan. “I thought, ‘well look, there’s real estate. I can do that.’ For instance, I’m selling a cranberry bog on the south shore. I sell farms, ranches, big tracts of land, wherever they may be.”
And while every tract he represents may be “one-of-akind,” his most recent listing is something truly extraordinary.
Centered about 100 miles southeast of the ultra-exclusive ski resorts of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, lies the Midland Ranch, a 1.15 million acre tract stretching from the Wind River range in the north to the Red Desert in the south. To put the ranch’s scale in perspective, Rhode Island could fit within the tract almost twice over.
Having been under the stewardship of the French Basque Arambel family for over 120 years, the land has gone viral for its natural beauty and sheer immensity.
“I’ve never had anything like this happen in my life,” said Merrigan. “There were a couple
of (news) articles on it. It was in the Washington Post and a couple of magazines out west.
And then the marketing people put a video on TikTok and it got a million views.”
You can watch the video at https://loom.ly/hr0VLOU.
The overnight interest in the ranch was also spurred on by its price tag. In order to take ownership of one of North
America’s most impressive tracts, prospective buyers are prepared to spend over $22 million.
However, the eight figure asking price can be considered a bargain when one understands the importance of the work that is done on the ranch.
Functioning primarily as a sheep and cattle ranch, the Arambels engage in the practice
of transhumance, migrating their herds to-and-from the mountains based on the seasons.
“This practice is very old,” said Merrigan. “It’s probably the original way that we herded animals. This family has French Basque roots. That’s where they got this practice from and they still do it.”
Beyond driving their massive herds of livestock, the ranchers
act as stewards of the land upon which they live and work. The ranch is directly in the path of major animal migration routes and is the home to the largest concentration of greater sage grouses in the world.
“They work in harmony with the species that are there,” said Merrigan. “With all those species come predators, too: wolves, cougars, coyotes. All those species are in abundance. It’s all one ecological system that works together and they’re very much a part of it.”
Outside of the once in a lifetime opportunity granted by his work on the Midland Ranch, Merrigan has had the ability to experience a vast range of American lives first hand. From working as a farmhand in Nebraska to a real estate broker in Boston, he sees that there is more that unites us across geographic, social and political divides than what drives us apart.
“I just feel very thankful, blessed, frankly, that I get to operate in both worlds,” said Merrigan. “I get to be out in the middle of nowhere in the mountains and I could be in Marblehead, which is one of the most remarkable towns in the United States. I feel like I’m having a pretty fortunate ride.”
Marblehead Turns Pink, with lots of local support
BY BELLA TRAVAGLINI
Susan Hassett thought that her two-year battle with breast cancer had been “wrapped up in a little box, with a big pink bow” hidden away in the back of her closet — until she realized that she needed to pay it forward.
It was this past spring, while on a business call that had turned to friendly chatter, that Hassett, 68, learned of a free, multi-faceted support service for breast cancer patients; a service she had been unaware of during her treatments, surgeries and recovery.
The Needham-based “Ellie Fund” was founded in 1995 by brothers Jeff and Eliot Popkin to honor their mother, Eleanor “Ellie” Popkin, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The organization offers rides to medical appointments, child-care reimbursements, prepared food home delivery, housekeeping services and an array of additional tailored services for breast cancer patients, both female and male, throughout the state, regardless of financial status or insurance coverage.
One in seven women is affected by breast cancer, and some without resources are forced to opt out of treatment, Hassett said.
“I had an amazing village,” Hassett reflected. “My family, and a husband who shopped and cooked for me every night, helping me get some food into
my stomach. Friends who would say, ‘Hey John, I can take Susan to her chemo.’ But it dawned on me that there are others out there who do not have a village.”
Driven, along with a dedicated team of about 10 other women, many of whom have been impacted by cancer, Hassett hit the pavement this summer for “Marblehead Turns Pink for Ellie.” The campaign aligns with October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
To date, nearly 100 town businesses have committed to helping raise awareness for Ellie Fund starting in October by hanging posters in their store fronts, stringing pink lights and even offering pink cupcakes, said Hassett. While the pink team sees the first leg of the three-year campaign as an informational introduction, some businesses will be holding raffles, while others plan to donate a percentage of event proceeds during the kick-off.
While at her chemo treatment for breast cancer at MGH
TURN MARBLEHEAD
PINK TEAM MEMBERS
» Susan Hassett
Donna Rice
Debbie Powell
Francie Hill
» Margaret Bacon
» Marty Willis
» Terrie Leake
» Jansi Chandler
Noreen Rodgers
Kathi Kaligian
» Amy Judd
Danvers in the spring of 2024, Susannah Haesche, 41, learned of Ellie Fund.
“My oncologist asked if I’d like to speak to a social worker,” said Haesche.
Unsure if she’d benefit from such a meeting, Haesche said that she is grateful to have been offered it because it was through her talks with a social worker that she learned of the organization.
“It was most important to me that my children still have fun and go to summer camp to keep their lives as consistent as possible,” said Haesche, who has two young children. “Ellie Fund each month for three months helped cover the cost of those camps while I was at my treatments. That gave me peace of mind. I am fortunate in that I have all that I needed — my family, insurance — to get me through, but it can be isolating. Ellie Fund didn’t just provide practical support, but also
emotional support. Receiving the gift cards reminded me that someone else is out there who saw me and cared. I was seen.”
Tickets will soon be available for the Friday, Oct. 3 advance screening of the award-winning movie, “Hello Beautiful” at the Warwick Cinema. The movie, which was filmed in a Marblehead home, is based on Christine Handy’s novel, “Walk Beside Me,” a story of a model who faced illness and triumph, said Donna Rice, a pink team volunteer.
Tickets will also soon be available for dinner at “The Landing” on Saturday, Oct. 4, with the restaurant donating 10% of the proceeds to “Ellie Fund.” Following dinner, local band True North will provide complimentary live music at the restaurant.
Shoppers and visitors can stop by the Marblehead Turns Pink table at the Marblehead Farmers Market and “Discover Marblehead’s Fall Festival” on Saturday, Oct. 4.
The best approximation of existing female breast cancer cases in Massachusetts is 7,000 as provided by the American Cancer Society, said Danna Remen, director of strategic initiatives for Ellie Fund. In 2025, 7,240 new breast cancer cases are predicted, based on the state’s most recent confirmed registry data, said Remen.
Of the 14 state counties, Essex County has the second highest female breast cancer cases, with
a count of 741, accounting for 12% of the statewide average, said Remen. Middlesex County tops the list with 1,407 cases. Over the past decade, Ellie Fund has directly assisted 18 Marblehead women, said Remen. The organization stands ready to assist all women and men diagnosed with breast cancer for emotional and financial stabilizing services, she said. Towns across Massachusetts have always stepped up for the Ellie Fund, both in raising awareness and in raising funds, said Kate Ward, director of development of Ellie Fund. Still, she is thankful for what Hassett and her pink team have accomplished in a few short months.
“Marblehead has taken it to a new level this year, mobilizing 100 local businesses in support of breast cancer awareness and Ellie Fund’s mission,” said Ward. “We are deeply grateful and absolutely thrilled by this extraordinary outpouring of generosity. Led by longtime resident Susan Hassett, the committee has worked tirelessly since July to galvanize the town, and they have done just that. Marblehead serves as a shining example for other communities to take inspiration from when creating their own October for Ellie campaigns.”
For more information on the town’s initiative, visit elliefund. org/marblehead-2025/.
To learn more about Ellie Fund visit elliefund.org.
COURTESY PHOTO Current columnist Court Merrigan is involved in the sale of a highprofile, $22M ranch far from Marblehead.
COURTESY PHOTOS
The Arambel family has ranched sheep and cattle in Wyoming for over 120 years.
Traffic committee prioritizes education, trail etiquette amid e-bike ridership surge
BY AKANKSHA GOYAL
Marblehead’s Traffic Safety Advisory Committee continued last week to grapple with how to respond to a surge in e-bike and e-scooter use, particularly among younger riders. The panel stopped short of recommending new regulations but signaled strong support for public education, trail etiquette guidelines and signage aimed at balancing safety for riders and pedestrians.
Committee Chair Gary Hebert opened the discussion with an updated presentation on crash data and state rules for e-bikes. He clarified, following a presentation at the previous meeting, that Massachusetts legally recognizes only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, which provide motor assistance up to 20 mph. More powerful Class 3 bikes, capable of 28 mph with assistance, are treated as motor vehicles, requiring a driver’s license. Hebert cautioned against restricting access on popular routes such as the Rail Trail, which state law classifies as an “improved trail” where e-bikes are allowed.
“If you do take them away, for example, prohibit all e-bikes and e-scooters on the trails, then you would [be] sending them
ON THE ROAD
somewhere else and that might not necessarily be a safer place for the people, the users of those vehicles,” he said.
He suggested the town could instead consider signage to set expectations, including an advisory 15-mph speed limit and reminders for riders to yield to pedestrians, while pursuing outreach campaigns to encourage safe and courteous use.
Police Chief Dennis King echoed that approach, stressing both the limits of enforcement and the need to reach young riders directly.
“There’s not a situation where we have the ability to enforce, generally speaking, people going 15 or 20, um, on an e-bike or 25 miles an hour or scooter or the like,” he said.
Instead, police are focusing on “bad bike behavior that is reckless” and intervening when
Local leaders
BY LEIGH BLANDER
If you commute into Boston, there’s a big project being discussed you should know about. It’s called the Lynnway Multimodal Corridor Project, and the MBTA hosted a meeting at Abbot Library on Sept. 17 to hear feedback and answer questions.
Marblehead Select Board
Chair Dan Fox and member Erin Noonan came to the meeting to share their worries about the traffic impact on Marblehead residents driving into Boston. “My main concern is for the residents of Marblehead
who commute to Boston, and we want to ensure that their voices are heard as plans move forward,” Fox said. “Recent announcements regarding improvements to the Lynnway have raised legitimate concerns about how these changes will affect their commute and their quality of life. We need to make sure that all communities affected by this project have their voices heard.”
Noonan added, “One of the current proposals includes a dedicated bus lane, which would reduce car and truck travel lanes from three to two. I spoke with the project manager today to
they can do so safely.
King said the department’s school resource officer will work with principals on bike safety sessions and general rules of the road. Committee members agreed to develop educational materials, potentially drawing on examples from Salem, MassBike and national organizations.
Officials noted that neighboring towns have taken different approaches. Some have capped e- bike and e-scooter speeds at 15 mph townwide, while others have distributed flyers on bike etiquette or run safety campaigns in schools. Marblehead officials said they will review those models before making recommendations to the Select Board.
Resident Rick Smyers, newly elected as the committee’s incoming chair, said he wholeheartedly supported the decision to lead with education.
“The behavior kids are able to do on these e-bikes is sometimes beyond their capabilities to do safely,” he said. “Education is a great way to fill that gap until they get more experienced and are able to operate more safely.”
But some residents remain skeptical of how the town is framing this issue. Dan Albert, a Marblehead resident who authored the bylaw creating the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, told The Current that the way crash data was presented at Monday’s meeting risked misplacing blame on young riders.
Referring to presentation data showing seven e-bike crashes between 2020 and 2024, Albert noted one 2023 incident description that read: “Motorist turning left out of Bubier Rd onto Pleasant St. struck e-bike in the middle of the road wearing all black without lights or reflectors.”
He said this description, one of several he raised concerns about, left out key context, noting there is no law against wearing black clothing and no indication of whether lights were even required at the time.
He also criticized what he called the town’s hands-off approach to the Rail Trail, where more powerful Class 3 e-bikes
and motorized bicycles are becoming common, creating discomfort among pedestrians and cyclists alike.
“When you allow certain behaviors to be normalized, you create a problem,” Albert said. “So we do have a very serious problem of Type 3 e-bikes and motorized bicycles on the rail trail. It makes people nervous.” He urged the committee to hear directly from young riders. Instead of only instructing them on safe behavior, he said officials should ask them why they ride where they do and what they think would make them safer. Children inevitably make mistakes, he added, and the town should embrace a “safe systems” approach that anticipates those errors.
“The safe systems approach says, human beings make errors, that our job as road safety people is to build a system which accommodates and expects human error,” he said. “And unless we do that, all we’re doing is blaming the most vulnerable citizens.” The committee is expected to revisit the issue at its next meeting on Oct. 20, when members will continue work on e-bike education materials and potential recommendations to the Select Board.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead resident and retired Apple executive
Dan Riccio made a $500 million donation to UMass Amherst’s College of Engineering — the largest gift in that campus’ history.
Riccio and his wife, Diane, live in Marblehead and Atherton, California. He worked at Apple for 26 years, building its design team and creating its product development process. He worked on products including the iMac, iPhone and IPad. Riccio graduated from
UMass in 1986. “As a proud alum, I’ve seen UMass-Amherst, including its College of
stress that the Lynnway is a state highway and a vital lifeline for Marblehead, Swampscott, Nahant and East Lynn residents commuting to jobs, hospitals and Boston. I urged them to use up-to-date traffic data and fully consider the needs of all stakeholders — especially the overwhelming majority of users who are motorists.”
The timeline for the project states that this fall is set aside for “concept development” and “collecting public feedback.”
At the meeting, Noonan said she learned that the project manager will have a conceptual design to present for public
Engineering, become a world-class institution over the past 20 years,” he said in a press release.
feedback later this fall.
“He hopes to be able to conduct the public input sessions by Thanksgiving,” she said. “I encouraged him to have strong outreach to Marblehead, Swampscott and Nahant, including evening sessions.”
Detailed engineering for the project will be done between 2026 and 2027, and construction is set for 2027 through 2030.
Noonan said there may be ways to improve the road without creating a traffic nightmare.
“Improving safety and multimodal access is important, but it must not come at the
“While UMass has come a long way, I believe it has untapped potential, and with the right level of
expense of the Lynnway’s essential role as an arterial route relied upon by thousands every day,” she said. “Currently, the Lynnway has poorly coordinated traffic signals. Drivers and buses alike are routinely forced to stop at multiple intersections in a row, creating unnecessary queuing, idling and pollution.” She added, “Modern signal coordination and Transit Signal Priority are proven solutions to improve bus reliability already used in Boston, Cambridge and Somerville — and they don’t require removing lanes.” Learn more about the project at mbta.com/lynnway.
investment and support, its best days are yet to come.” Riccio’s gift will support
scholarships, fellowships and professorships, as well as funding for initiatives, according to UMass.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Thousands of pumpkins have arrived at Clifton Lutheran Church in Marblehead and are on sale on the church’s lawn at 150 Humphrey St. A total of 8,000 large and small pumpkins will be displayed before Halloween.
Clifton Lutheran has partnered with a Navajo reservation in New Mexico for 10 years to purchase these pumpkins. The purchase helps support the indigenous people on the reservation.
Meanwhile, Clifton Lutheran will host its 10th annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Sept. 28, 1-4 p.m., with proceeds going to Mission of Hope International in Haiti.
MOHI provides medical and dental care, education and housing, and runs an orphanage.
“They have near 100% graduation rates and really high rates of post secondary education (many of whom return to MOHI to teach and help run the program), in a country with dismal educational outcomes,” said
Clifton Lutheran Pastor James Bixby. “The work they do is fantastic, and one of the few ways to help out in that country without intermediaries, bribes or other corruption involved.”
Bixby added: “There will be great opportunities for not only fun and family, but also to learn more about the ongoing crisis in Haiti, and what we can do.”
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:
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. Marblehead
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
CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS
For the 10th year, Clifton Lutheran Church is bringing in thousands of pumpkins for sale, benefit a Navajo reservation in New Mexico.
Sports
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Marblehead football stays perfect
BY LUCA TEDESCO
DUDLEY — The Marblehead
Magicians moved to 3-0 on the season with a 35-22 victory over the Shepherd Hill Regional High School Rams at Carmignani Memorial Field in Dudley on Friday evening.
“The things that we thought we could do against them, we could do in the second half, but it was more about the execution in the first half,” said head coach Jim Rudloff postgame.
The Magicians defense made the first big play of the night late in the first quarter, pouncing on a fumble by the Rams quarterback to set up shop at their own 27-yard line.
The drive would be marred when quarterback Finn Gallup was shaken up by a hard hit while scrambling out of the pocket. However, sophomore Marcus Waitekus was only needed to come on in relief for one play before the starter would retake the field.
The Rams opened the scoring past the halfway mark of the second quarter, capping off a 73-yard scoring drive with an end-around run by wingback Devin Rowden from 11 yards out to put the hosts up 6-0.
Following a long kickoff return by Rylan Golden that put the ball at the midfield stripe to start the drive, the Magicians would march their way down to the 3-yard line before being called for holding.
Marblehead was able to regain composure, however, with Gallup finding Golden at the front of the end zone for a 15-yard touchdown. Finbar Bresnahan slotted the point after to give the Magicians the 7-6 lead heading to half.
MHS VARSITY SCHEDULES
Thursday, Sept. 25
4 p.m., boys and girls cross country vs. Beverly, JC Phillips Estate, Beverly
4:30 p.m., unified co-ed basketball vs. Pentucket, Marblehead High gym
5:15 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Danvers, Danvers High field house
Friday, Sept. 26
4 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Masconomet, Boxford turf field No. 1
5:30 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Woburn, Woburn High gym
7 p.m., boys football vs. North Andover, MHS Piper Field
Monday, Sept. 29
6 p.m., girls soccer vs. St. Mary’s (Lynn), Lynn Manning Field
Tuesday, Sept. 30
3:30 p.m., boys golf vs. Beverly, Tedesco Country Club
4 p.m., unified co-ed basketball
4 p.m., boys cross country vs. Salem, Lead Mills Conservation Area
4:30 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Danvers, Morse Field, Danvers
4:30 p.m., girls cross country vs. Salem, Lead Mills Conservation Area
5:30 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Masconomet, Masconomet High gym
Friday, Oct. 3
4 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Peabody, Marblehead High
4 p.m., boys soccer vs. Peabody, Peabody High Stadium
7 p.m., girls soccer vs. Peabody, MHS Piper Field
The visitors made an early statement after the halftime interval, pushing their way deep
into enemy territory by way of a 14-yard catch by Owen Coyne and a 15-yard facemask penalty.
Gallup would make quick work of the short field, finding the goal line for his first rushing
touchdown of the season, putting the visitors up two scores.
Upon regaining possession, the Magicians continued to pound their way to paydirt, this time by way of a 1-yard plunge by Breydan Callahan to give Marblehead a 21-6 lead in the dying seconds of the third quarter.
The Rams’ double-wing option rushing attack finally appeared to break the will of the Marblehead defense as the game wound into the final term. The hosts put together a lengthy scoring drive that was finished off by a 6-yard touchdown run by Aiden Tyler that, following a successful two-point conversion, brought the hosts within a score, 21-14.
The celebrations would be short-lived, however, as Callahan scored his second touchdown of the night, this time on a 35-yard run, on just the third play of the following drive, putting the Marbleheaders up by 14.
Not to be outdone, Tyler would make a 20-yard touchdown rush of his own to make the score 28-22 following another successful two-point try.
The Magicians offense put the game to bed when Golden made a spectacular play on a deep ball from Gallup, high-pointing the ball over a defender’s head before spinning out of a tackle and diving into the endzone to put the final points of the night on the board.
The victory sends Marblehead to 3-0 on the season while Shepherd Hill takes their first loss of the season. The Magicians return to Piper Field next Friday at 7 p.m. when they take on the 0-2 North Andover Scarlet Knights.
Magicians right the ship with wins over Saugus and Danvers
BY JOE MCCONNELL
After beginning the season with four straight wins, the Marblehead High boys soccer team (6-2) dropped its next two, but rebounded nicely to end last week with a couple of victories over Saugus and Danvers. Coach Elmer Magana’s club hopes that it’s just the start of another run of successes, and with many more regular season games still left to be played, they are only four points away from clinching a postseason berth.
Non-league host Andover shut down these Magicians, 2-0 to snap their four-game winning streak on Sept. 13. But playing shorthanded might have contributed mightily to the loss.
“We had injuries to our defense and midfielders, and so it was tough to go up against a skillful team like Andover under those circumstances,” said Magana, “and to make matters worse, Ilan Druker was denied a goal when his free kick hit the crossbar. But their goalie also made spectacular saves to shut us out. Their defenders also blocked shots on the goal line with their bodies as if it was hockey. It was insane. But the bottom line is that we missed our chances, and they didn’t.”
Marblehead goalie Matias Watts-Cruz made two critical saves among others to keep things close on the scoreboard.
The Marblehead boys had since taken their road show to Beverly on Sept. 15, but while they did score a couple of goals, the hometown Panthers netted three to win the game.
“The toughest field to play on is arguably in the Panthers’ den,” said Magana. “Our injuries continued to follow us. But our guys were determined to leave everything on the pitch, and they did.
“But the Panthers bring physicality to the rest of their skillset, which makes it a dangerous combination (to combat),” added Magana. “However, our boys pushed back after falling behind 2-0.”
Mark Vinokur ignited the offense with a goal to begin the second half. Captain Jared Halpern then battled two defenders to send a cross to his fellow captain Miles Fontela-Tuttle, who headed home the tying goal. But the Panthers quickly recovered with a breakaway score.
Throughout the final 12 minutes of
the game, the visitors created offensive opportunities, but couldn’t score. It didn’t help matters any that Beverly collapsed pretty much all of its defenders in front of the net to make it nearly impossible to score a goal. But at the other end of the pitch, Watts-Cruz came up with three stops to keep his teammates in it.
“Nonetheless, it was still a great team effort,” said Magana. “Our boys kept their heads up. No one so far had put fear in the Panthers like we did. But sadly, forward David Magen injured his ankle 30 minutes into the game, and he will be wearing a boot for a few weeks. We are definitely going to miss the pressure that he puts on
COURTESY PHOTO / MHS SENIOR KAI ROZINSKI
Marblehead High boys soccer forward David Magen (3) gets tripped up by a Swampscott defender during a game earlier this month. Last week, however, Magen injured his ankle against Beverly, and he will probably be out of the lineup for a few weeks.
COURTESY PHOTOS / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD
Finn Gallup (12) scored his first rushing touchdown of the season during Friday night’s game at Carmignani Memorial Field in Dudley on Sept. 19.
Rylan Golden (6) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against Shepherd Hill.
Magicians weekly sports notebook
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Marblehead crosscountry girls make history against Peabody
It was an historic day on Marblehead’s cross-country home course at Lead Mills for the girls team (3-0), when they took care of Peabody in a close meet, 25-30 on Sept. 10. It was their first-ever win over the Tanners in the Coach Will Herlihy era, and quite possibly ever. That momentum carried over to the Masco meet one week later on the Bradley Palmer State Park course. As it turned out, the Chieftains ended up being just another victim for these Magicians to the tune of 23-32.
“This is the first time that the Marblehead girls have beaten Peabody in a dual meet since I started coaching here in 2022, and as far as I know it’s also the first time that (this program) have ever beaten Peabody,” said Herlihy.
Of the 12 Marblehead runners on this year’s squad, 11 of them have improved on their times so far this fall.
“It was a great team showing by our girls (against Peabody). They raced with lots of heart and guts,” said Herlihy, “while also showcasing the characteristics of a championship-contending team.
“All of these girls have worked so hard through the early stages of this season, and this win against Peabody was a sweet victory worth celebrating. It was also a glimpse of their potential,” added the veteran Marblehead coach.
“We are certainly not overlooking anyone else in the NEC throughout the rest of the regular season, but they now know they have the potential to compete for an NEC title, not to mention be ranked among the best in the state this postseason.”
Herlihy went on to say,
“Senior captain Marri O’Connell continues to stand alone as the best runner in the NEC, having now already beaten three of the top 8 finishers in last year’s NEC Championship Meet. Her time of 18:45 against Peabody improved on her existing home course record from the prior week against Swampscott by 13 seconds. She continues to make fast times look casual.”
Junior Sarah Munroe (19:37) finished second overall in the Peabody meet, a 23-second improvement since the Swampscott encounter.
“(Munroe) has established herself as an elite talent, who can easily match up with the NEC best,” said Herlihy.
Sophomore Norah Walsh (21:04) was fifth, a 1:03 improvement in just one week.
“She battled hard with Peabody’s third and fourth place runners in the second half of the race, before ultimately breaking away in the final mile,” said Herlihy.
The two remaining top 5 Marblehead scorers against Peabody were sophomore Ruby Assa (eighth) and freshman Sophia Letwin (ninth). They also
From P. 9
opposing defenses.”
But despite the frustrations that came out of the Beverly game, the Magicians got back on the winning track with a 3-0 shutout win over host Saugus.
“After losing the previous two, we were determined to bounce back,” said Magana. “The Sachems came out super hungry, pressing us all over the field.
improved on their times since the opener against Swampscott by 0:28 and 1:46, respectively.
“Despite being a sophomore, Ruby ran like a seasoned veteran, knowing exactly where she needed to be to best help her team win the meet,” said Herlihy, “while also being a guide for her freshman teammate Sophia, who also left it all on the course.”
Rounding out Marblehead’s top 7 versus Peabody were freshman Nadia Siragusa (11th) and junior captain Jesslyn Roemer (13th).
Boys come up short against Masco
The boys team (0-3) is still looking for their first crosscountry win after Masco defeated them, 24-31 at Bradley Palmer State Park on Sept. 17.
“(Masco) got the best of us in this meet,” said coach Brian Heenan.
Senior captain Henrik Adams (16:37) continued to impress this season with another firstplace finish. He was supported by teammates Will Cruikshank (fifth), Filip Grubor (sixth), Zach Pike (ninth) and Isaac Durand (10th), who all had top 10 finishes.
Girls soccer stays unbeaten
The Marblehead High girls
They too were determined to stop us from scoring. But after absorbing their best shots, we went on the attack and scored.”
Halpern, Druker and FontelaTuttle accounted for the three goals. Julien Poitevin assisted on Ilan’s score, and Quinn Cohene set up Fontela-Tuttle’s marker.
“We pressed and passed the ball quickly to create our scoring chances,” said Magana, “and midfielder Erik Badzak conducted our attack orchestra by successfully punching holes in
soccer team (4-0-2) had another unbeaten week after battling Beverly to a scoreless stalemate under the lights at Piper Field on Monday, Sept. 15, before edging Saugus two days later, 3-2, also at home.
Coach Lisa Wales said that the encounter against Beverly “was a very exciting, fast-paced game,” despite the obvious lack of goals on both sides.
“We played really well in the second half, but just weren’t able to find the back of the net,” Wales added.
Courtney Histscherich, Lucy McDonald, Lucy Church, Sydney Ball, Callie Gilmore and Ainsley McDonald were singled out by the coach for their exceptional play against the Panthers. Goalie Hailey Gilmore did her part to preserve the point in the Northeastern Conference (NEC) standings with five saves.
But these Magicians got back into the win column against Saugus with a hard-fought triumph over their NEC rivals.
Liv Carlson, Callie Gilmore and Lucy McDonald were credited with the goals. Ainsley McDonald led the team in assists with two. Sydney Ball collected one helper.
Hailey Gilmore made another five saves, but this time they were all in the first half, before Lily Heller took over the goaltending chores, coming up
the Saugus wall. “I’m very proud of my boys. We barely had three (substitutes) due to injuries and illnesses. Newcomer Julien Poitevin filled in for the injured David Magen, and did a fantastic job.” Watts-Cruz was able to secure his fourth shutout of the young season after making two saves against Saugus. He has made 21 saves so far this year.
A trip to Danvers closed out the week for the Magicians, and they were able to make it two in
us well on offense, while the defensive line played its heart out to stop some Beverly scoring opportunities.”
Dulac scored both Marblehead goals, one in the second quarter from Zoe Dwyer, and another one in the third quarter. On the other side of the field, Meggie Grenier, Paige Waldman and Kate Andriano were all over the Beverly forwards most of the time, while constantly communicating with their teammates in the backfield. Hayes played the entire game in net, coming up with eight stops.
Volleyball powers past conference rivals Peabody, Beverly
A pair of 3-0 shutout wins over Peabody and Beverly last week has the Marblehead High volleyball team (5-1) cruising in September.
High girls crosscountry runners Sarah Munroe and Norah Walsh set the pace to finish second and third in the team’s historic 25-30 win over Peabody at Marblehead’s Lead Mill on Sept. 10, just behind top finisher and senior captain
Against Peabody on Sept. 15, Lila Moniz and Greta Sachs led the offense with 11 kills apiece, while Mari Modrzynska tacked on another 10. Sydney Faris finished up with eight aces and 23 digs.
Setters Eva Burke (16 assists) and Sydney DaSilva (17 assists) also contributed to the Marblehead offense.
It was more of the same against Beverly two days later. Moniz led again in kills with six. Modrzynska and Sachs each collected five in another dominating performance by the Magicians overall. Burke chipped in with 14 assists.
with two more stops to help deny a win for the Sachems.
Field hockey splits the week on consecutive days
The Marblehead High field hockey team (3-2-1) began last week with a 3-0 shutout home win over non-league Everett on Sept. 15. They were back on the Piper turf the very next day, where they fell to visiting Beverly, 6-2.
Elizabeth Hayes started the Everett game in goal, making three first half saves that included one incredible block to stop a breakaway scoring bid by the Crimson Tide. Molly Beauchesne took over the goaltending chores in the second half to preserve the shutout.
“Our offense played hard, but Everett’s defense challenged us to keep the game close on the scoreboard,” said firstyear coach Alison Carey. “All the credit goes to Everett’s goalie Wilins Julien, who was everywhere his team needed him to be to make the saves. I will always appreciate a great game, and in this one Julien was incredibly fun to watch. We’re looking forward to seeing him again, when we play at Everett on Oct. 8.”
Keliane Salem, Carolyn Black and Layla Dulac did beat him to account for the home team’s three goals.
But then, Beverly came to town to humble these Magicians.
“This was a tough loss, but give Beverly credit, they played a great game,” said Carey. “Our passing and teamwork served
a row by edging the Falcons, 2-1. Halpern notched one of the goals from Poitevin, and Druker had the other one that was assisted by Bubacarr Jallow.
“We were able to move the ball around to crack the Danvers wall,” said Magana. “Our midfielders — Erik Badzak, Jared Halpern and Mark Vinokur — found the holes in the wall to create our scoring chances. But we also missed so many other chances.” Magana said that newcomers
“In the back row, Sydney Faris was stellar (against the Panthers), passing to a 2.5 serve receive percentage, while adding seven digs,” said coach Killeen Miller.
Golfers enjoy another week
The Marblehead golfers (8-1-1 in the NEC, 8-2-1 overall) took care of Danvers (46-26, Sept. 16) and Salem (58.5-13.5, Sept. 18) on the road last week, but between those two matches they were humbled by Masco at Tedesco, 40.5-31.5. Against Danvers, Max King (6-3), Greyson Leventhal (8-1), Will Macrina (5.5-3.5), Joy Meshulam (7-2), Colby Moore (5.5-3.5) and Ted Dulac (6-3) won their respective matches over the Falcons, while Tyler Forbes settled for a tie (4.5-4.5). Forbes, Leventhal and Moore, all shooting 39s, were the team’s medalists.
In the match against the Chieftains, Dylan Whitman (6.5-2.5) and Leventhal (5.5-3.5) came through with the lone Marblehead victories. Forbes once again ended up in a tie. Forbes and King, both shooting 36s, were the team’s medalists. Leventhal was close behind them with an overall score of 37. Bowden Laramie, Zac Plum, Forbes, King, Leventhal, Macrina, Meshulam and Moore secured the victories against the Witches. Moore was the lone medalist after shooting a 34, one under par. Leventhal (35) and Forbes (36) also played well, according to coach Bob Green.
like Julien Poitevin and Quinn Cohane played well, while filling in for their injured teammates. “Left back Bubacarr Jallow also had a great game, defending and assisting the offense,” the coach added.
Starting goalie Watts-Cruz was out visiting colleges, but JV1 keeper Andrew Halvorson was a good substitute, protecting the net, according to Magana. “He made three important saves to help us get this win,” said the coach.
COURTESY PHOTOS / ANGIE FISHER
Marblehead High girls cross-country senior captain Marri O’Connell is in the lead during the team’s historic 25-30 win over the Peabody Tanners at Marblehead’s Lead Mill on Sept. 10. It’s the first time in at least three years since they defeated their NEC rivals, while coach Will Herlihy seems to think that it has never happened before.
Marblehead
Marri O’Connell.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Current welcomes submissions (150-200 words) to its News in Brief section. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews. org.
Town awarded $80K climate resilience grant
The town, Marblehead Housing Authority and Sustainable Marblehead have been awarded from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to advance “Resilient by Design: Cooling Marblehead’s Housing for the Future,” a climate resilience initiative aimed at improving community spaces within public housing sites and to reduce urban heat island effect while protecting vulnerable residents. The four public housing sites that will be involved with the project are New Farrell Court, Powderhouse Court, Green Street and Barnard Hawkes Court.
This project will focus on safeguarding elderly, lowincome and disabled residents, groups disproportionately at risk during increasingly frequent and dangerous extreme heat events driven by climate change. Through the design of nature-based solutions, “Resilient by Design” will work to create shaded and welcoming outdoor spaces, foster stronger social connections among residents and to lower ambient temperatures.
“Extreme heat is certainly a pressing climate challenge facing many communities. Many of our residents are vulnerable and at real risk,” said Marblehead Housing Authority Executive Director Cathy Hoog. “This grant will allow us to creatively transform developments into cooler, greener, more resilient community hubs. Creating cool, comfortable spaces encourages socialization and decreases isolation, which is beneficial and impactful for residents. We are so thankful to work with our partners in the community on this exciting project.”
This grant will not be impacted by the town’s noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act, according to Sustainability Coordinator Logan Casey.
MRJT member Lou Meyi honored by Moulton
Marblehead Racial Justice Team member Lou Meyi has been named an honoree for the 10th annual Peter J. Gomes Service Award, created in 2016 by Congressman Seth Moulton. The award recognizes the public service and community contributions of constituents across the 6th District.
Meyi has been a racial justice advocate for decades, living in Marblehead for over 40 years before moving to Salem recently. He is a longtime member of the MRJT, where he has championed affordable housing, public transportation and local history projects. In 2025, he served as emcee of the annual Dr. King Day Breakfast.
Meyi is active with the NAACP North Shore Branch and serves as MRJT’s liaison on METCO and equity issues. He is also a
commissioner of Essex Heritage, a member of St. Stephen’s UMC’s Ministry Team and a contributor to historic projects with the Marblehead Museum.
Meyi and five other honorees will be recognized at a public ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hall, second floor, 160 Derby St., Salem.
Locals lace up for Jimmy Fund Walk
Twenty Marblehead residents are set to join the Jimmy Fund Walk on Sunday, Oct. 5. The event raises funds to support all forms of adult and pediatric care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This year’s goal is $9.5 million
The Jimmy Fund Walk takes place along the famed Boston Marathon course, and participants have the flexibility to choose from four distance options: 5K walk, 10K
walk, half-marathon walk and marathon walk. Walkers who prefer to participate virtually can complete their chosen distance from any location.
Marblehead walkers include: Susan Bean, Steven Weinstein, Pat Donovan McLeod, Karen Meyer, Susan Walton, Luke Weiss, Samantha Weiss, Ellie Weiss, Zach Weiss, Michele Cohen, Mark Chambers, Nicholas Mosher, Linda Weinstein, Steven Weinstein, Doreen Stacey, Pat Donovan McLeod, Michele Cohen, Brian Cohen, Lauren Crawford, Abby Drummond, Rossane Ferrante and Stephen Walker. For more information, visit jimmyfundwalk.org.
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.
Household hazardous waste day
The town is hosting its fall household hazardous waste day at the Transfer Station on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 4-7 p.m. Here are a few items that people can bring: oil-based paints, fuels, motor oil, insecticides, chemical fertilizer, photo chemicals and fluorescent bulbs. People may not bring prescription medicine or syringes, ammunition or fireworks, and commercial or industrial waste.
There are new fees this year: $40, 0-3 gals or up to 6 lbs. $55, 3-10 gals or up to 20 lbs. » $90, 10-25 gals or up to 50 lbs.
Enter the Transfer Station on Green Street. Only credit cards and checks will be accepted. For more info, call 781-631-0212.
MYSA golf tourney; Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. shotgun start
Marblehead Youth Soccer Association is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a golf classic fundraiser at Tedesco Country Club.
Founded in 1976, MYSA has been a cornerstone of youth sports in Marblehead for five decades, providing opportunities for thousands of local children to learn the game of soccer, develop lifelong skills and build community.
This inaugural Golf Classic will bring together players, families, alumni and supporters to celebrate MYSA’s rich history while raising funds for its future. Proceeds will support the introduction of AI-enabled video technology to enhance training for players and coaches and to capture game memories for families. Funds will also continue to ensure fully-paid scholarships for families in need, reaffirming MYSA’s commitment that every child in Marblehead has access to soccer. For more info, visit events. golfstatus.com/event/ MYSAGoldenAnniversaryGolf.
Neighbor takes rap for rock placed near dog feces
Thursday, Sept. 11
12:28 p.m. An officer investigated a report that a tractor-trailer had taken down a pole on State Street.
4:35 p.m. Officers spoke to a Jersey Street resident who had the purchase of an Apple MacBook Air, which was picked up at a Dorchester Best Buy, charged in June to a debit card that she had cancelled the same day the fraudulent order was placed. She explained that she had been unsuccessful in obtaining a refund from the bank. The officers forwarded the information to detectives for follow-up.
11:55 p.m. Officers investigated the report of suspicious activity on Front Street that proved to be unfounded.
Friday, Sept. 12
9:12 a.m. An officer was dispatched to the intersection of Ratlin and Ridge roads to investigate the report of a crane blocking the roadway. The officer arrived to find the crane off the side of Ridge Road, parked in the side driveway of a home on West Shore Drive, from which a tree company was taking trees down. The officer determined that the roadway was open, with ample room for vehicles to get by. The owner of the company was advised that it would be in his best interest to hire a police
detail to ensure safety. The owner said he understood but felt it unnecessary in this case because it was a dead-end street. He said he and his crew would ensure the roadway and area remained safe.
11:02 a.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on West Shore Drive.
11:03 a.m. An Oak Street resident reported receiving annoying phone calls.
4:36 p.m. Officers investigated the report of a disturbance on Beacon and Green streets.
7:32 p.m. A request for a water rescue was received from a boat off of Stramski Way.
11:46 p.m. A 34-year-old Arizona man was taken into protective custody on Atlantic and Ocean avenues.
Saturday, Sept. 13
8:09 a.m. Officers responded to the scene of a vehicle crash reported on Pleasant Street.
7:05 p.m. Officers investigated a 911 hang-up call from Barnard Hawkes Court. The resident explained that her husband had been causing a scene during dinner, and she had unsuccessfully tried to get him to leave, though he had left by the time officers arrived. The woman said she was not sure where he would have gone. She was advised to call the police again if he returned.
Sunday, Sept. 14
12:34 a.m. Officers restored the peace after a general complaint on Willow Road.
3:20 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a minor vehicle crash on Atlantic Avenue and Chestnut Street.
Monday, Sept. 15
2:36 p.m. An officer investigated a report of vandalism on Intrepid Circle. An officer spoke with a Glover Property Management employee who reported that the front door to one of the units was coming off the hinges and not closing properly. The employee told the officer that the damage had been discovered around 8 a.m., after not having been damaged when he left work the previous Friday afternoon. The employee reported that they believed that someone might be damaging the doors intentionally because similar damage had taken place to the rear entry door the weekend before. The officer took
pictures of the damage to both doors.
3:48 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Pleasant Street to take a report from a resident about ongoing harassment from a neighbor. The resident brought the officer to the backyard and showed him a small rock that she believed the neighbor had thrown over into her yard. The resident then spoke to her father on the phone and learned that he had put the rock in the yard to mark off dog feces.
3:56 p.m. An officer went to Tedesco Street to speak with a resident who had been negotiating the purchase of a woodbeam prefab garage for over $32,000, only to determine that he had been the victim of what was likely a professional phishing scam. The resident had already been in contact with the financial institutions involved in the transaction as well as the proprietors of a website involved in the transaction, and the resident believed he may have acted in time to stop the transfer of funds.
3:56 p.m. An officer went to Green Street to take a report from a resident who believed his car keys may have been stolen. The resident explained that he had been cleaning out his vehicle in his driveway and had the keys sitting on the front porch. At one point, he had gone inside
the house for a few minutes and returned to find the keys missing. He also saw what he thought might be a person going through the bushes and out to Green Street. The man said that he was aware that he had “enemies” but later amended that to say there were people who just “don’t like him.” The man said that his home has security cameras but that they were shut off. While the officer and the man were speaking, his father was mowing the lawn nearby but showed no interest in wanting to stop mowing the lawn or speaking with the officer. The officer tried to ask him if he had seen anyone take his son’s keys, and his only reply was that he “hadn’t looked inside for the keys yet.” The officer advised the son to park the car in the garage, if possible, and to turn the cameras back on.
5:26 p.m. An officer investigated the report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Beach Street.
Tuesday, Sept. 16
9:40 a.m. An officer spoke at the police station with a man who had been notified by his bank about multiple attempted fraudulent charges to his business’ Mastercard account. The bank flagged the charges as
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead Police want you — to sign up for the Citizen Police Academy.
COURTESY PHOTO
Marblehead Racial Justice Team member Lou Meyi is being honored for his work.
Marblehead Youth Soccer Association is celebrating its 50th birthday with a golf tournament.
Marblehead’s best bets
Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a
Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.
St. Andrew’s Fall Rummage Sale
Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m.-noon
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 135 Lafayette St., invites bargain hunters, vintage lovers and eco-friendly shoppers to its fall rummage sale. A community favorite, the sale offers everything from household essentials to boutique-quality finds at affordable prices. The “Stuff-a-Bag” event follows from noon to 1 p.m. Proceeds from the sale directly support St. Andrew’s outreach efforts and ministries.
Treasure Sale
Saturday, Sept. 27, 8
a.m.-noon
Check out Marblehead Museum’s annual sale of vintage items, antiques and collectibles, including books, Marblehead items, small furniture, lighting, jewelry, artwork, maps, ceramics, household items and clothing, quilts and accessories. It’s happening at the Lee Mansion Garden, 161 Washington St. Rain date Sept. 28.
Jazz in the Garden: Mark Shilansky
Sunday, Sept. 28, 2-4 p.m.
Enjoy live Jazz in the Garden with Mark Shilansky featuring piano, bass, guitar and vocals. 10 Central St. Reservations are required. $20-35 per person. Contact Margi Flint at margiflint@mac.com or call 781-888-4312.
Around Marblehead’s First Harbor
the area of earliest settlement. The tour begins at Grace Oliver’s Beach on Beacon Street and ends at Gas House Beach off Orne Street.
Organ recital & Michaelmas Evensong
Sunday, Sept 28, 4:30 p.m.
As part of this year’s St. Michael’s Music Series, the first offering will be Craig Phillips’ Archangel Suite played by Christopher Wells. Following the recital will be an Evensong Service. A free offering will be taken at the door ($20 suggested), or people can subscribe to the entire series for $100. Visit stmichaels1714.org. 26 Pleasant St.
Teen DIY: Geode skulls
Thursday, Oct. 2, 3-4 p.m.
Come create some creepy decor! Make a geodestyle skull to display during this spooky season or to enjoy year-round. At Abbot Library, 235 Pleasant St., this program is for middle and high school students. Register at tinyurl.com/geode-skull.
Author talk: Laurie Fullerton at BYC
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.
BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS
The Marblehead Arts Association is preparing for its fall exhibits, featuring photography, painting, and digital art and animation. An opening reception is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 28, 2-4 p.m. The exhibits will run through Nov. 2.
The art of Judy Schmid, of Marblehead, and David Rabkin, of Cambridge will be displayed. Schmid specializes in encaustics; a process of mixing pigments and beeswax, then melting layers of the mixture onto a canvas. Encaustics dates back to the ancient Greeks.
Rabkin’s work is grounded in photography that often incorporates other media. He can’t remember a time in his life that he wasn’t creating. From photography, to jewelry, to furniture making, it has always been in his nature.
He started using “blurring” techniques with his photos as a way of intensifying the emotional impact.
The Boston Yacht Club hosts Current sailing reporter Laurie Fullerton who will do a short presentation about her new novel, “Side Launch.” Carol Arnold of the BYC says the public is welcome, and she encourages anyone interested in learning more about BYC membership to come. BYC is located at 1 Front St. “Side Launch” is about a journalist who moves to the fictional Maine town of Clydebank to write for the local paper. She stumbles on a ramshackle shipyard nearby and meets a local, who is trying to build a 70-foot wooden schooner using old shipbuilding techniques and traditions that few remember.
Marblehead’s Folklore and Tales
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2-3 p.m.
Interested in knowing about the eerie past of Marblehead? Join Peter Muise at Abbot Library as he discusses his research and findings into the folklore of Marblehead. Muise is the author of “Witches and Warlocks of Massachusetts” and “Legends and Lore of the North Shore.”
Bunker Bar hosts live music
Saturday, Sept. 27, 7-9 p.m.
Come hear Brendan Kane and Nick Sears playing live at the VFW’s Bunker Bar. 123 West Shore Drive
Judy Schmid, of Marblehead, is exhibiting her work at the MAA this fall.
COURTESY PHOTOS David Rabkin’s art is part of
MAA’s fall exhibit opening Sept. 28.
Locals join musical adventure to help cure cancer
BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS
An annual musical tradition, with deep Marblehead connections, is set for Saturday, Oct. 4, at North Shore Music Theater in Beverly.
The show, “Myth Magic & Mystery,” is presented by Voices of Hope, a nonprofit that raises funds for cancer research through theatrical performances. Its mission is to achieve a cancer-free world.
Over the last 16 years, VOH has donated more than $1 million to the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapies at Massachusetts General Hospital. Belinda Termeer is a longtime Marblehead resident, whose husband, Henri, died of cancer.
The money raised by VOH has helped bring more than 20 potential cancer drugs to the FDA, according to VoH spokesperson Missy Padoll. Termeer told the Current, “It’s an incredible and amazing thing that people want to do this. This nonprofit has just been so
impacted by cancer that they just wanted to make a difference… I truly believe they have made a difference.”
This year’s performance features musical storytelling where legends come to life. It includes hit songs like “Defying Gravity,” “Superstition,” “Going the Distance” and “Pure Imagination.”
The show has a volunteer cast and crew of about 120 people (all of whom have been touched by
cancer in some way), including an 18-person orchestra. At least two performers hail from Marblehead: Mary Economou and her husband, Nick, who is a cancer survivor.
Nick said performing with other people touched by cancer is a powerful experience.
“That was a huge help,” he said.
Jennifer Hurley, also of Marblehead, added about VOH, “It’s just a remarkable
organization. These are extremely high-quality performers sacrificing their time, which is great because it’s about raising money and people come and it’s a good production.”
Paddol, who is also a performer, said the once-a-year show is extremely moving and meaningful.
“A lot of the people who come to our shows and who participate in our shows as either performers or
members of our production staff are either themselves cancer survivors, or they are performing or participating on behalf of a loved one who had or has cancer and so there’s this healing element that comes from being among other people who have shared a common experience and can really understand what you’re going through,” she said.
To learn more about VOH or to buy tickets, visit vohboston. org.
Holiday musical tradition returns for 45th year; rehearsals start this week
BY LEIGH BLANDER
It’s that time of year again!
The Old North Festival Chorus and Orchestra will hold their first rehearsal on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Registration begins at 7 p.m., and rehearsal will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The 45th annual Festival Chorus Holiday Concerts will be held Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Old North Church, 35 Washington St. Rehearsals will happen every Wednesday, 7:30-9 p.m. until the concert. (Rehearsals may run longer closer to the concert.)
Musical selections for the holiday concerts include Joseph Haydn’s “Missa in tempore belli,” John Rutter’s “When Icicles Hang” and other seasonal favorites.
Singers are not required to audition but are expected to have experience; high school
— grades 9 through 12 — are encouraged to join. All participants will be required
fraud, the charges were not processed, and the man had not lost any money. The man went on to explain that he had also been the victim of identity fraud as someone had called the bank pretending to be him. The man told the officer that the person had called the bank and tried to make account changes using his Social Security number and his mother’s maiden name. The officer advised the man to monitor his credit and to place a freeze with all the major credit bureaus. The officer also explained how to report identity theft to the FTC. The officer told the man to check all his accounts and report any fraudulent activity he found.
10:32 a.m. An officer investigated suspicious activity reported on Barnard Hawkes Court.
12:44 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash reported on Washington Street.
1:11 p.m. Larceny, forgery or fraud reported on Pequot Road.
Wednesday, Sept. 17
9:44 a.m. An officer investigated the report of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street.
9:53 a.m. An officer spoke with a woman who had mailed a check for over $1,300 to the IRS about 10 days earlier by placing the stamped envelope containing the check inside the drive-up mailbox at the post office on Smith Street. On Sept. 16, the bank notified her that the check had apparently been stolen and altered, changing the payee and the amount to over $22,000. The bank had rejected the check, and the woman had frozen her credit and was in the process of changing her accounts but was concerned that her Social Security number was written on the check. She was advised to contact the Social Security office and also report the incident using identitytheft.gov. Police ran a computer search of the name of the payee and came back with only one match to a 20-year-old in Minnesota.
12:04 p.m. An officer took a report related to a past car crash on Rockaway and Summer streets.
12:55 p.m. While monitoring traffic at the intersection of Pleasant and Essex streets, an officer observed a black SUV enter the parking lot of 89 Pleasant St. and park in a clearly marked handicapped parking space. The driver and sole occupant exited the vehicle
and proceeded inside Starbucks to retrieve her coffee order then returned to the vehicle and began to exit the lot. As she exited onto Spring Street, the officer observed her holding her cell phone and manipulating it as she proceeded on Spring Street to the stop sign at Pleasant Street. According to the officer’s report, he could see her still looking at and manipulating her cell phone and not proceeding past the stop sign despite having ample opportunity to do so, giving priority instead to whatever she was doing on her phone. When she finally took the right turn on Pleasant Street, the officer said he noticed that she was still using the phone and that there was not a visible handicapped-disabled placard displayed in her vehicle. As the officer proceeded onto Pleasant Street from Essex Street to get into position to conduct a traffic stop, the SUV in question, with the driver still using the phone, proceeded through the crosswalk at 89 Pleasant St., which was occupied by a woman and four school-aged children attempting to cross the street. According to the officer, the pedestrians had all left the sidewalk and were clearly in the SUV’s outbound lane of travel, which the driver failed to notice. The officer
immediately conducted a traffic stop, reviewing with the driver the litany of bad behavior he had witnessed and issued her a citation.
6:01 p.m. An officer took a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Washington Street.
Thursday, Sept. 18
2:19 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Barnard Street.
3:07 p.m. An officer went to Manataug Trail to speak to a resident who for the past couple of years had been embroiled in a dispute with a neighbor over flooding that had been occurring at the man’s home, which he believed was due to his neighbor digging trenches to get floodwater to flow from his own yard into the the man’s yard. The man continued that, earlier in the day, his neighbor had a contractor come by related to some construction he was planning to alleviate the flooding issue. The only problem was the area the neighbor was intending to would be on the man’s property and not his own. The man acknowledged that it was a civil issue, and he had already obtained a lawyer, but he wanted to have his statements documented in a police report.
3:56 p.m. Officers responded to
a disturbance on Pleasant Street.
6:47 p.m. Two officers were dispatched to Girdler Road to speak with a family of a 6-yearold who had been riding her bike around the neighborhood and had stopped to fix her bike seat when she was approached by a man who asked her her name and whether she needed help. He then offered her some Jolly Rancher candies. The child took the candies and left on her bike without further incident. The man was described as older, possibly with a brown beard, but the child had been unable to provide a name or a better description. The child also told her mother that the man might have been driving a truck with a trailer attached to the back. The officers searched the neighborhood but did not find anything suspicious or anyone matching the description. The officer advised the family to call 911 right away if the girl saw anything else or if remembered anything more.
7:56 p.m. An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle on Washington Street.
9:17 p.m. An officer investigated a report that a woman’s ex-boyfriend was harassing her.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Old North Festival Chorus and Orchestra is starting rehearsals.
COURTESY PHOTO / MISSY PADOLL
Voices of Hope practicing in Andover for its October performance, “Myth Magic & Mystery.”
CURRENT PHOTO / SAOIRSE STALLINGS
Voices of Hope members Nick Economou and Mary Economou and Jennifer Hurley, all of Marblehead.
Police From P. 11
Frederick W. Jackson, 92
Frederick W. Jackson, 92, of Marblehead, loving husband of the late Barbara (Paige) Jackson, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends in his home at The Mariner in Marblehead, Sept. 18. Born in Cambridge, on July 20, 1933, Fred was the son of the late Henry B. and Mary (Field) Jackson.
Fred leaves behind his four children, Lea Morrissey (Chris), Debbie Jackson (Dan), Steve Jackson (Diane) and Mike Jackson (Maggie). He was the proud grandfather of Elizabeth (Ryan), Caroline (Rob), Anne (Shawn), Sean, Peter, Kaitlin, Ben, Graham, Rebecca (John)
Beverly Simpson, 92
Oct. 26, 1932, to Aug. 30, 2025
Beverly was born in Springfield to Archer Roberts Simpson and Maude Ethel Gordon. She attended Longmeadow grammar schools and loved all of her education. She was delighted to attend the MacDuffie school in Granby knowing it was a special place. Beverly then followed her sister Barbara to attend Wellesley College, graduating in 1954. She loved travel and after college graduation set out impulsively, with no schedule, to visit Europe for three months. Around 2020, Bev reactivated her contacts with Wellesley and became class president.
Carolyn Bartlett
Steadman,
101
Carolyn Bartlett Steadman, age 101, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 19 after a short illness. She was predeceased by her husband James G. Steadman and their son, Thomas J. Steadman. She was born to Herbert L. and Caroline R. Bartlett at the Mary
Gerald (Jerry) Tucker, 85
Former Marblehead officer, firefighter
Gerald (Jerry) Tucker, 85, of Marblehead, passed away peacefully on Sept. 19. A true “Header,” he was born in Marblehead to Dorothy and Emerson Tucker and raised in the shadow of Abbot Hall on Washington Street until
Police
From P. 13
9:38 p.m. Two officers were dispatched to Lincoln Avenue to investigate the report of an unwanted guest. The officers met with a couple who reported that they no longer want their downstairs “tenants” living in their home. The woman went onto say that she and her husband had met the downstairs couple through a Facebook site and agreed to provide the family a place to stay once they arrived in the United States on Sept.
8. The woman said they agreed to allow the family to live in
and Rachel. Fred also was greatgrandfather to Eleanor, Hadley and Henry.
After graduating from Milton Academy and Yale University, Fred married Barbara Paige (predeceased 2019) in 1955 and entered the US Air Force as a pilot flying the C-119 actively until 1957 and for several years after in the U.S. Air Force
Beverly taught in our public schools for a few years, and entered marriage with J. Knickerbocker Stone. They had three children, John “Kip” Stone, Elizabeth and Nathaniel. All survive Beverly. In the 1970s when we were struck with the energy crisis Beverly founded “Wood Heat” and imported “Godin” stoves that are made in France. Godin ultimately awarded the entire United States as her territory. Beverly set up her stove store on Washington Street in Marblehead, across from the Lee Mansion. Customer visits were very few for wood stoves. To increase activity and foot traffic, Bev soon added the sale of bicycles. Bev was an adventuress and entrepreneur. Around the year 2000, Beverly continued to volunteer at improving our schools and
A. Alley Hospital in Marblehead on June 23, 1924. She graduated from Marblehead High School
graduating high school. He enlisted in the Army in 1958 and proudly served until 1963, when he returned to his hometown. A car and motorcycle
their attached apartment, rent free, and would assist them in finding housing and a job with the understanding that they would leave once they secured a job or another place to live.
The woman stated that she had come to believe that the couple was not really trying to find a job or place to live and wanted the police to remove them from their home. The officers explained that the downstairs couple had rights as tenants, and that police could not remove the family simply because the woman, as landlord, no longer wanted to accommodate them.
The officers explained to the woman that she would need to
Reserves. In 1957, he and Barb moved to Syracuse to begin a career with General Electric. They moved to Marblehead in 1960 where Fred continued his career with GE in Lynn.
Fred always had a passion for cars. He followed his enthusiasm for automobiles by switching gears in his career to manage the Auto Dynamics Formula One company in Marblehead. He later went off on his own to found the Orbit Plastics Company in Salem (later in Salisbury).
He maintained his love of classic cars for decades owning several models which involved him in many competitions through The North Shore Old Car Club. He fully embraced new automobile technology as it became available and was one of the first in Marblehead to own a hybrid car followed by an all
joined up with Ted Sizer. Ted had founded the “Coalition for Essential Schools,” which advocated Nine Principles to upgrade public education. Bev was assigned to organize the coalition in the state of Rhode Island, and delighted in this assignment.
A man named Ed Colbert had lost his wife of 52 years and was seeking a new partner. Ed contacted a golfing friend Tony Anthony, in Peterborough, New Hampshire and asked for an introduction to KC. Tony replied that KC was happily engaged, That was that!!!! But, a couple of weeks later Tony called back to tell Ed about a woman in Boston whom Ed would like to meet. It took four weeks of telephone tag before Ed showed up at 50 Commonwealth Ave. with an armful of beautiful flowers.
Like Bev, Ed had started his
and Salem Hospital School of Nursing and worked for many years as a registered nurse at Salem Hospital and the Lafayette Nursing Home. Carolyn met Jim when he returned from World War II and they married in1946. They raised four children, Thomas, Richard, Kenneth Steadman, and Matthew Stensrud.
Carolyn and Jim spent a full life together for over 50 years. They enjoyed their family time boating and camping in the summer and skiing in the winter. They instilled a joy of
enthusiast, he loved to tinker on vehicles in the driveway but rarely kept a car for more than a few months before moving on to the next “project.”
Later in life, he found the hobby of building birdhouses from scraps of wood he would find at his part time employer, Gilbert and Cole. Many of those birdhouses can still be seen in yards around town.
A dedicated first responder, Jerry was a Marblehead police officer in the early 1970s until he moved to the Fire Department, making lifelong friends, working there until his retirement. He
go through the civil legal process of eviction in order for the family to be forced out of their home. Though they did not like this answer, the woman and her husband said they would head to Housing Court in the morning.
Friday, Sept. 19
3:56 a.m. Officers investigate a report of suspicious activity on Washington Street.
10:49 a.m. A caller on Brown Street reported receiving annoying phone calls.
11:30 a.m. An officer went to Terry’s Ice Cream to speak to the owner about a nowformer employee who had been terminated for stealing ice cream
electric automobile.
Most important to Fred and Barb were their family. They joined the Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead in 1965, bought a sailboat named Slipstream and spent many happy summers with their kids on the water with close family friends.
Fred’s childhood summers at his family’s home on the Cape became an annual event that Fred and Barb shared with their children for many summers. Those Cape summers provided an opportunity to spend time with his siblings Marge (John), Tom (Robin) and Barbara (Kenny) along with many nieces and nephews. Nothing beat grilling swordfish and sipping a martini while watching all the activity on the front lawn at the house on Eel River (he referred to it as “God’s country”).
own wood stoves called Energy Harvesters. They had so much in common, not only the stove businesses, but Ed, like the coalition, had engaged with the schools of Brockton and Lowell.
Ed’s Company, Data Instruments Inc., enrolled 30 technology companies, to assign one or two of their own engineers to teach one day per week at the public middle schools. The objective was to encourage students to enjoy science, and choose science as a major in high school.
Beverly had an ideal home in Boston at the corner of Berkeley Street and Commonwealth Avenue. Tony had told Ed she played Golf at Tedesco Country Club. On their first date she took him to Legal Seafood and then strolled with Ed to the Esplanade, whereupon Ed stated that was even a short walk. Bev took off, marching her way
the outdoors to their children and grandchildren. Later in life, they shared common interests in travel and golf. Both were active in the First Baptist Church, currently Grace Community Church, in Marblehead. Carolyn enjoyed people, always with a smile and a positive attitude. Hobbies including cooking, knitting, sewing, painting and photography, were an important part of her life. Carolyn spent her last 13 years at the Bertram House in Swampscott.
Carolyn is survived by her children, Richard and wife,
was a proud member and former board member of the local chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2005. He was also a founding member of the Gerry 5 VFA, joining the club at the age of 15, when it started in a friend’s garage.
Fred will be deeply missed by his four children, 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren, as well as his Mariner community, including Nancy and Judy. His children would like to extend a special thanks to Kathie and Sabrina who have been such wonderful caregivers over the years. A private burial will be held for the immediate family. Assisting the family is O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals –Celebrations, 84 Washington Square, Salem. In lieu of flowers, if you would like to remember Fred, please consider a donation to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, 01923 or The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD, 21741.
towards the Mass Avenue Bridge, at rapid pace, then across to MIT, east to the Salt and Pepper Ridge the back to the Esplanade. ATHLETIC, ENERGETIC !!!!!!!
Bev loved to travel, and she was the prime mover to visit: France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Croatia, Norway and Russia where they floated up the Volga River from Moscow to St. Petersburg, ending in Helsinki, Finland.
Bev and Ed had beautiful homes in Boston and Concord. After four years of commuting to Boston/Concord, they decided they could live together and chose Marblehead where Bev raised her children and still had so many wonderful friends. Now Beverly has passed on from wonderful Marblehead and nearly 19 happy years with Ed!
Anne; Kenneth and wife, Joanne; Matthew and wife, Cyndi; along with grandchildren Elizabeth Steadman, Mike and Ghissela Steadman, Amelia and Jay Shaw, Kelly and Jeremiah Dezan, James and Lauren Steadman, and 13 great-grandchildren. Carolyn also leaves a niece, Elaine Bartlett Russell. Funeral services will be private. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Carolyn’s family.
He is survived by his three children, Jerry Jr. (Kathy), Glenn (Beth) and Anne Marie. Also, his former wife LeeAnn (Rick) and his brother, Tom. He is predeceased in death by his brother Frank and sister Linda. He truly loved his seven grandchildren, Olivia, Caroline, Zachary, Gabrielle, Madeline, Jack and Max, as well as his newest greatgranddaughter, Harper. Visitation hours for Jerry will be held at Murphy Funeral Home on Wednesday Sept. 24, 4-7 p.m. There will be a graveside service the following morning, Sept. 25 (which would have been his 86th birthday) at Waterside Cemetery at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Marblehead Veterans Post 2005. For more information and online guestbook, please call Murphy Funeral Home at 978-744-0497 or visit murphysfuneralhome. com.
and sodas from the business.
The owner then began to suspect that the former employee had also been stealing cash from the store and determined that money was missing from both the register and the tip jar.
Using the security footage, the owner said he had been able to view the employee taking between $130 and $150 from the register. When confronted about the money, the former employee claimed she had only taken money that one time.
The owner stated that he did not want to pursue any charges against the former employee, and that he only wanted the incident documented in case she
returned to the store. The officer advised him about how to obtain a no-trespass order.
2:03 p.m. Officers, firefighters and ambulance crews responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Tedesco Street and Leggs Hill Road.
3:31 p.m. Officers, firefighters and ambulance crews responded to the scene of another vehicle crash on Tedesco Street and Leggs Hill Road.
10:33 p.m. Officers investigated a disturbance reported on Pleasant Street that proved to be unfounded.
11:51 p.m. Officers responded to the report of a disturbance on Doaks Lane.
Headlight
Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community
What I learned this summer as an intern
Georgia Marshall, Assistant Editor, Junior
Before becoming an intern for Girls’ Life magazine, the idea of an internship felt vastly different in my head. I thought of it as an unpaid job full of high expectations and underestimation from bosses and employees. Now, after having completed the summer internship and continuing on in the fall with a more defined role, I understand that being an intern is so much more than that. I’ve gained invaluable experience in a field that I am passionate about, and I have learned more about it, and about myself, than I ever thought possible. Clichéd as it is, the internship really did change the way I see myself and my future. Instead of being cast away and designated to pointless tasks, as is often stereotyped, I was trusted with real work — pitching ideas, writing pieces, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how a magazine actually runs. As I continue to grow and flourish as a writer and journalist, I hope to take with me what I have gained, and will continue to gain, from the experience. Having avidly subscribed to and read the magazine since middle school, I know that it stands for more than just a teen magazine. Beyond the flashiness and seemingly surface-level subject matter (although pop culture, fashion, and personality quizzes are always the most fun to explore), it carries a message of positivity and inspiration for girls everywhere. The diversity represented, inspiring stories shared, and powerful advice on everything from school to friendships to overall happiness truly make the magazine stand out. Still, I only had a basic understanding of what it would mean to me until I applied for the internship. After being accepted into the program, I quickly became enveloped in it, even though the internship was fully remote. After several nights of training via Zoom, in which we learned how to use the backend of Admin (the platform used for formatting and posting content on the website), were taught how to pitch articles and quizzes, and gained the knowledge of typical magazine lingo (we call print writing “copy,” and our area of coverage the “beat”), for the website and social media, we jumped into writing.
Interns create content: primarily personality quizzes and articles relating to any topic we find interesting or important. I was able to focus especially on the book beat, but I wasn’t limited to that. I wrote about everything from romanticizing studying to packing the perfect beach bag to emulating my favorite main characters. The flexibility allowed me to find a voice that suited me in that realm of writing. I was able to refine my techniques, and balance the fun and casual nature of the pieces with the message that made them impactful.
So much of what I gained was allowed by the kindness and accommodating nature of the editors and senior advisors. Each employee made me feel welcome and comfortable. I was able to troubleshoot, brainstorm, and communicate effectively with anyone and everyone on the staff.
I gained skills as a collaborator within a workspace that I will continue to use when I enter the workplace, whatever type that may be, as an adult. Now, I am more excited than ever to begin the fall term. My commitment and effort have rewarded me with acknowledgement from the editor-in-chief, as well as my first copy piece being published in the winter edition of the magazine.
That leads me to my final point. No matter what your internship is, if you dedicate yourself fully and try your best with everything you take on, you will be noticed and gain connections.
Beyond this, the experience of an internship means you will stand out in a field of applicants for a degree or position in that field later on. I know I will continue to learn and grow in my position, and as a writer, and that is thanks to what I have gained from the Girls’ Life magazine.
Headlight Staff 2025 - 2026
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grey Collins
Takeaways from my first job
Anna Cruikshank, Assistant Editor, Sophomore
This summer, I faced the dilemma every teen faces over the summer: where should I work? I wanted to work to make money and gain experience, but starting late in the hiring season made it tough. After unanswered calls and plenty of “Sorry, we’re full,” I almost gave up. As a last effort, I decided to go in person to The Landing and ask to be a hostess. If I couldn’t get hired there, I would declare my mission a failure. I went inside with my resume and a positive attitude; I hoped that they would focus on my good character rather than my experience, or lack thereof.
To my surprise, I got the job! When I returned home, I realized that I had no idea how to be a hostess. A few weeks later was my first training day, and it felt like being thrown into a shark-infested Marblehead Harbor. It was the week before fourth of July, a.k.a The Landing’s busiest week in the entire year. My managers were kind and my trainer was patient with me as I was learning, but I could feel the pressure of every moment of the dinner shift. During my two training shifts, I learned the basics of Open Table (restaurant seating software) and how to restock, clean things, and deal with customer difficulties. Although training was incredibly hard, I was excited for my first shifts alone!
As the weeks went on, I gained confidence and I learned something new every day. Although good views and nice weather at my workplace were pros, there were many experiences that proved to me that working in a restaurant is one of the hardest things one can do. First and foremost, learning to keep a smile on my face as customers berated me
in person or on the phone because I couldn’t guarantee deck seating during a night with 200+ reservations. Being a hostess, I am the first person people see when they come in, and often the first person they complain to. If you’ve never been a hostess before, it’s hard to describe how angry people can get over deck seating. Aside from the troubles of seating people, I struggled with learning the particular ways the different staff wanted things to be done. Certain managers wanted me to dish out bar menus on weekends and be firm to tell walk-ins “No” on busy nights; for another manager, I had to essentially do the opposite. I could do everything right according to a manager’s instructions, but someone else would not be pleased. Dealing with the different-manager-different-rules conundrum felt impossible, but it made me more versatile.
Although sometimes frustrating, being hired at The Landing is one of the best things to ever happen to me. I learned how to dress professionally, how to interact kindly with rude people, and how to be a better team member. The biggest lesson I learned at The Landing was how far kindness can get you. It sounds cliché, but working at a bustling icon of Marblehead was stressful, and it taught me to approach every customer, every day with kindness.
I know I wasn’t the fastest or most efficient hostess–I never fully knew how to use the phone, and couldn’t correctly cashout–but I was a valued employee because I applied the lesson of respect and kindness. In the end, I walked away with two big lessons: kindness takes you further than skill, and never, ever, promise customers deck seating.
MHS: Important Quarter Dates 2025-2026
Quarter 1 Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - Thursday, November 6, 2025 (46 days)
Quarter 2 Friday, November 7, 2025 - Tuesday, January 27, 2026 (45 days)
Quarter 3 Wednesday, January 28, 2026 - Wednesday, April 8, 2026 (45 days)
Quarter 4 Thursday, April 9, 2026 - Wednesday, June 17, 2026 (44 days)
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Georgia Marshall, Anna Cruikshank, Evan Eisen
REPORTERS: Anna Baughman, Teagan Freedman, Eve Magen, Maya Berman, Piper Browning, Sophie Li, Mary Prindiville, Theodore Benning, Madeline Duffy
Timothy staying with vet until someone makes him their pet
Breed: Domestic shorthair
Size: Medium
Age: Adult
Sex: Male
Timothy is just looking for love and attention, according to volunteers at the Marblehead.
“You can tell by his face that he has had a hard life and is just looking for that special someone to offer him a safe, loving home,” those volunteers say.
Timothy enjoys receiving attention and does give little love bites to show his appreciation of attention, so he would do best being adopted by a true cat person, one who knows this is a sign of affection, according to shelter volunteers.
The Marblehead Animal Shelter
had no space for Timothy, and he was going to be turned back out onto the streets after being neutered and receiving routine shots.
“Thankfully, our vet offered him space till he can find a home,” volunteers at the shelter reported.
Volunteers believe
Timothy would do best in a quiet home, one without dogs. They are not yet sure how he would do with other cats.
Timothy is up to date with routine shots, house trained and neutered.
If you can offer this “soulful fellow” a home, volunteers encourage you to fill out an application at marblehead-animalshelter.org.
