IN THIS ISSUE
FOOTBALL
CURRENT EVENTS
TILE BY TILE
Magicians hope to get back on track against Danvers Friday
Looking for a little fall fun after last weekend’s storm?
Teacher turns mahjong lessons into lasting connections
Page 9
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NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
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VOLUME 4, ISSUE NO. 45
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ON THE ROAD
DPW lays out what’s next with road work BY LEIGH BLANDER DPW Supervisor Amy McHugh tried to give residents a clearer picture Sept. 23 of where Marblehead’s road and sidewalk money is going, outlining projects planned over the next several years and promising new tools to help the public track the work. McHugh’s Sept. 23 presentation to the Select Board came amid mounting frustration over the condition of Marblehead’s roads and questions about how the town is spending the $12.475 million
voters approved in 2022 for road paving and sidewalk reconstruction. But the presentation did not include a written timeline showing when upcoming projects are expected to begin or be completed — something residents and Select Board members have repeatedly requested. “Our goal is simple: Fix the right streets at the right time, once,” McHugh told the board. That means, she said, the town cannot simply pave the streets in the worst condition. DPW considers pavement ratings, safety, accessibility, sidewalks
and planned utility work before deciding when and how to tackle a road. The goal is to avoid repaving a street only to have a gas or water company tear it up shortly afterward. “We’re not just resurfacing old roads; we’re building longlasting, integrated public ways,” McHugh said.
Where the money stands Of the $12.475 million approved under Article 11 in 2022, the town has spent $4.17 million, committed another $1.82 million and has
approximately $6.48 million remaining, McHugh said. So far, McHugh said the money has been used on more than “6 miles of full total street projects, plus minor rehabilitation and major ADA and sidewalk enhancements.” Some of that remaining money is already being eyed for several significant projects. The largest is a proposed redesign of the Pleasant Street corridor between Devereux and Smith streets. The approximately $3.5 million project would narrow the roadway to two lanes, upgrade
traffic signals and include bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including a shared-use sidewalk. The town has applied for a $1 million grant toward the work, with Article 11 money expected to cover the remaining cost if the grant is awarded. McHugh emphasized the safety concerns along the corridor, which has been the site of two fatalities and a serious bicycle crash near the Rail Trail crossing. The project would complement MBTA-funded ROADS, P. 7
Storm batters coast
A sailboat is submerged near Glover Landing.
High winds ripped the sail on this boat in Marblehead Harbor.
COURTESY PHOTOS / BRUCE DURKEE
Story, more photos, Page 3
CLOSURE
Journalist’s 40-year pursuit of justice featured on ABC’s ‘20/20’ Claire Gravel, a 20-yearold Salem State student, was murdered in 1986.
COURTESY PHOTOS
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
BY LEIGH BLANDER For nearly 40 years, a photograph of Claire Gravel sat on Marblehead resident James Maroney’s desk. Maroney never met Gravel, the 20-year-old Salem State student murdered in 1986. But he covered her killing as a young reporter, and something about the case never let him go. “She could have been my sister or my friend,” Maroney told the Current. “She had no
voice.” Over the decades, Maroney produced reports about the unsolved murder, contacted newspapers and television stations, revisited places connected to the crime and even hung banners and posters asking a question he refused to let disappear: Who murdered Claire? Now, four decades after he first reported the story, Maroney is part of an ABC
After nearly 40 years of covering Claire Gravel’s murder and with her killer behind bars, James Maroney says he finally feels MARONEY, P. 7 at peace.
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2 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT. CHAIR AND PRESIDENT
Bob Peck NEWSROOM Editor - Leigh Blander
lblander@marbleheadnews.org
Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org
Sports Reporter Joe McConnell
jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org
CONTRIBUTORS
Lizzie Assa Stephen Bach Margaret Bacon Linda Bassett Virginia Buckingham Cheryl Byrne Julie Flynn Laurie Fullerton James (Seamus) Hourihan Dr. Tom Massaro Maggie Mulvihill Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Emily Promise Chris Stevens
CHAIR OF HONOR
200-year-old chair honors missing service members BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead Veterans Agent Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli and VFW Commander Ron Knight unveiled a 200-year-old chair as the town’s first POW/MIA chair
of honor at the Select Board’s Sept. 23 meeting. “I am coming before you to present the POW MIA chair dedicated to those who never made it home,” TrionfiMazzuchelli told the Select
Board. More than 80,000 U.S. service members remain missing in action. “It’s a chair of honor,” TrionfiMazzuchelli added. “No one is supposed to sit in it. It has the
FREELANCE REPORTERS
stanchions and the flags.” The chair is currently displayed in the Select Board meeting room but may eventually be moved to another location in Abbot Hall.
LATINA EXCELLENCE
Maria Torres honored for her entrepreneurship, community impact
Grey Collins Aleka Kroitzsh Marielle Sabbag Luca Tedesco Akanksha Goyal
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gene Arnould Brian Birke Jaki Fishkin Bob Peck Donna Rice Mark Schwartz Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD
Peter Fallon Joseph P. Kahn Kris Olson Bob Peck Mark Schwartz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Kathryn Whorf
BY LEIGH BLANDER
FOUNDERS
Maria Torres has built a growing North Shore business presence around food, hospitality and a commitment to bringing people together. Now, the Marblehead entrepreneur is being recognized for it. Torres, owner of Maria’s Gourmet and Fine Foods and the Driftwood Restaurant, was recently honored as a 2026 Latino Excellence on the Hill Award recipient, joining Latino leaders from across Massachusetts during a celebration at the State House marking Hispanic Heritage Month. State Rep. Jenny Armini nominated Torres. “Maria Torres has built more than a successful business — she has created places where people feel welcome and connected,” Armini said. “Her entrepreneurial spirit, warmth and commitment shine through in everything she does. I’m proud to recognize Maria’s accomplishments and the positive impact she has made across our communities.” Torres, who is Puerto Rican, has drawn on the culinary traditions she grew up with to serve Puerto Rican, Caribbean and American food through her family-run business, Maria’s Gourmet and Fine Foods in Marblehead. Her business has grown beyond its original location. A few months ago, Torres took ownership of the Driftwood Restaurant, the longtime Marblehead institution that has served generations of residents for nearly 60 years. Torres has said she intends to preserve the Driftwood’s traditions and familiar atmosphere while taking on stewardship of the beloved restaurant. She has also expanded beyond Marblehead, opening Maria’s Gourmet Cafe in Swampscott. For Torres, the State House recognition was a celebration not only of her businesses, but also of her Puerto Rican heritage and the community that has supported her. “I am truly honored and grateful to be recognized as one of this year’s Latino Excellence on the Hill Award nominees, Class
Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Leigh Blander Will Dowd David Moran Kris Olson DESIGN AND PRODUCTION
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Join us. We invite you to help support our effort to establish and maintain a free press for a strong community. To get involved, visit www. marbleheadCurrent.org/volunteer. COURTESY PHOTO
Maria Torres, center, has been honred as a 2026 Latino Excellence on the Hill Award recipient. She is seen here with State Rep. Jenny Armini and Sen. Brendan Crighton.
of 2026!” Torres said. “It was incredibly meaningful to join Latino leaders from across Massachusetts in celebrating the contributions, leadership, and strength of our community during Hispanic Heritage Month.” Torres thanked Armini and her staff for the nomination, as well as state Sen. Brendan
Crighton and the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, which hosted the event. “I am proud of my heritage, thankful for the community that has supported me throughout my journey, and deeply honored to receive this recognition,” Torres said.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Buyer(s)
Seller(s)
Address
Date
Price
Posard FT and Mark Posard
16 Liberty Road
Sept. 11
$2,400,000
Juan Ferando P. Botero and Rebecca L. Mesiner
Joan G. Finn 2007 T and Michael E. Finn
2 Rolleston Road
Sept. 11
$1,130,000
Lune Klappe-Regan and Conor Regan
Anthony M. Sasso and Nora E. Palermo
27 Waldron St.
Sept. 11
$1,615,000
Ellawinn Marblehead LLC
Mary Jo McConnell Est and Alexandra Cernkovic
29 Circle St.
Sept. 10
$850,000
Ellawinn Marblehead LLC
Mary Jo McConnell Est and Alexandra Cernkovic
31 Circle St.
Sept. 10
$850,000
Daniel and Eleanor Donato
Sarah P. Cecil 2002 RET and Sarah P. Cecil
8 Risley Road
Sept. 11
$1,125,000
Simon and Camryn Barats
Simon Barats
9 Mohawk Road
Sept. 9
$1
Johanna and Wayne Fox
121 Redington St.
Sept. 8
$890,000
Marblehead Brian J. and Marina O’Sullivan
Swampscott Sean M. and Jaime L. Regan
REACT
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, September 30, 2026 3
COURTESY PHOTO / TANYA BRAGANTI
Eloise Martin, 8, of Marblehead, leans into the nor’easter near The Barnacle Restaurant.
COURTESY PHOTO / BRUCE DURKEE
High winds knocked over this sailboat at Little Harbor Boatyard.
CURRENT PHOTO / NOAH WILSON
Waves crash over the wall along the Causeway.
COURTESY PHOTO / BRUCE DURKEE
This sailboat washed ashore near Riverhead.
BATTERED BY THE STORM
Nor’easter tears boats off moorings, sends seven ashore
COURTESY PHOTO / RICK CUZNER
Several boats washed ashore near Glover’s Landing.
BY LEIGH BLANDER COURTESY PHOTO / KATE THOMSON
A powerful nor’easter battered Marblehead Harbor over the weekend, ripping boats from their moorings and sending them crashing onto rocks and beaches. At least one sailboat sank. By Monday morning, Harbormaster Mark Souza said crews were still assessing the damage as rough conditions continued. “At this time we are still in an active storm management protocol. We do not have a full assessment of the damage as we are still experiencing severe weather conditions. A general overview is that approximately seven boats have washed aground in various locations. When conditions become safer to put manpower on the water to assess property damage we will have a better view of the totality of storm damage.” Boats were seen washed ashore at Riverhead Beach and near Glover’s Landing. Souza said it was the most damaging storm to hit Marblehead Harbor since 2018. The early-season nor’easter also brought down trees and limbs and knocked out power to about 50 customers across town. Rick Cuzner, who serves on the Harbor and Waters Board, said it’s always a tough call whether to haul out or a storm. “As an engineer, I tend to look at the ‘material failure’ side of things. Things like bigger pennant lines, making sure moorings are properly serviced and making sure there is nothing on the bow to chafe pennalt lines. Generally, hauling is best and can alleviate many sleepless nights.” At Devereux Beach, dozens of surfers took advantage of the heavy waves while spectators gathered along the shoreline to watch the storm churn up the coast.
Dozens of surfers rode the storm waves at Devereux.
COURTESY PHOTO / TANYA BRAGANTI
The nor’easter churned up waves at Devereux Beach.
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4 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
Opinion EDITORIAL
A hometown thank-you Thank you for your service. To say that these days has become almost clichéd, right up there with “have a nice day.” Meant to acknowledge the sacrifice made by our military personnel and other watchdogs of our safety and well-being, these words are often spoken more reflexively than sincerely. That’s especially true when uttered by government officials who disrespect women and people of color who’ve served honorably by treating them as secondclass heroes. If that. Earlier this month, Seth Mouton — proud son of Marblehead, decorated Marine Corps combat vet, six-term U.S. congressman — lost his bid for the Democratic nomination to unseat Sen. Ed Markey. The outcome was hardly a surprise; Markey had led in most polls by a comfortable margin. The campaign, though sometimes heated, was not really a clash of opposing political beliefs and priorities. Markey, 80, ran on his record as a liberal-toprogressive lawmaker. Moulton, 47, aligned with him on most issues while arguing for younger party leadership. We won’t rehash what many felt were Moulton’s strategic missteps and gee-I-wish-he-hadn’t-said-that moments. He lost, case closed. And we remind readers that as a nonprofit, the Current cannot endorse candidates for office, local or otherwise. Thus, we did not take editorial sides in the MoultonMarkey race, nor in the primary election to fill Moulton’s seat in November. That said, we believe Moulton’s record of serving his country and 6th District constituents should not be swept aside while he considers his next career steps. A Harvard College graduate, he joined the Marines shortly before 9/11 and did four tours of duty in Iraq, leading infantry platoons during some of that war’s heaviest fighting. Battle-tested yet critical of the war itself, he later acquired credentials in the business and academic worlds before jumping into politics. Meanwhile, his support for fellow vets struggling to receive adequate care never wavered, eventually becoming a centerpiece of his legislative agenda. Anyone who has attended his Veterans Day town halls knows how profoundly Moulton has been shaped by his wartime experiences — including reckoning with his own PTSD symptoms. His efforts to pass laws establishing the 988 national mental-health crisis hotline and Veterans ACCESS Act speak for themselves. His sponsorship of a war powers resolution keeping U.S. troops out of Iran looks pretty smart, too, as does his opposition to insider trading in prediction markets by the politically connected. More outrage on that front, please. Still, does any of this matter in our current political environment, with its toxic culture-war clashes and “gotcha” media campaigns? And what about the widespread belief that Moulton’s unseemly “ambition” doomed his Senate campaign? A few thoughts here. One, the number of military vets currently serving in the House (79) and Senate (18) is a relatively small cohort of the current Capitol Hill gang; even fewer came under enemy fire while in uniform. Moulton has worked tirelessly recruiting vets like himself to run for office. Liberal or conservative, they share risk-all life experiences that our country claims to value. Give Moulton credit for steering them towards next-level patriotic service. Two, we recall another ambitious young Massachusetts Democrat, also Ivy League educated, who effectively transitioned from combat vet to antiwar critic to seasoned politician-diplomat. Moulton may not be another John Kerry, true. Yet Kerry’s own ambitions, seldom downplayed, served him well as a senator, presidential candidate, secretary of state and master negotiator — notably on the Iran nuclear pact torn up by the current administration, leading to the mess we’re in now. Three, while his message was targeted at his fellow Democrats, both parties would be well-served to heed Moulton’s call for new leadership and fresh ideas. The time is now. Not 2028. Moulton’s message was on target here. Will Capitol Hill function better with Moulton sitting on the sidelines? Possibly, although it could hardly get more dysfunctional. Will Moulton himself be better off leaving the D.C. infighting to others? Maybe. That’s for him to assess. But before he leaves office in January, we think he deserves a final salute. That and some quality family time at home in Marblehead. So, thank you for your service, Congressman Moulton, past, present, and future. We look forward to your next act.
SUSTAINABLE MARBLEHEAD
Investments can be your climate action BY ELAINE LEAHY
When we think about reducing our carbon footprints, what usually comes to mind are actions like electrifying our home heating systems, driving less, walking and biking more, or using less energy. These are important measures to consider, but another very effective — and often overlooked — way to make a difference is to consider our investments and what our money is supporting. Whether it’s a retirement account, mutual fund or other investment, our money doesn’t simply stay put. Financial institutions invest and lend money throughout the economy, providing capital to businesses and various projects. Depending on where your money is invested, it can help finance anything from fossil fuel extraction and carbon-intensive industries to renewable energy, energy efficiency or other climate solutions. Climate investing is an approach that focuses on companies or technologies that are addressing
climate change while also seeking financial returns. If you’re considering making changes to your investments, please do your own research and consider talking with a qualified financial professional. That said, the following are some general educational topics you may want to research when exploring your investment strategies.
Three ways to put your money to work for climate One approach is to choose funds that exclude or reduce investments in fossil fuel companies and other high-carbon industries. The idea is straightforward: rather than
providing capital to companies whose business models depend heavily on fossil fuels, investors can move their money elsewhere. The broader strategy is about reducing demand for those investments, limiting exposure to fossil-fuel assets and sending a signal about investor priorities. Another method is to focus in on businesses and projects that support the transition to a lowercarbon economy. This might include renewable energy, energy storage, electric transportation, energy-efficient buildings, grid infrastructure, water technologies and other climate solutions. A third way to make a difference is by using your shareholder voice. Owning stock sometimes gives investors certain rights, including the ability to vote on shareholder resolutions and possibly participating in other forms of corporate engagement. Investors and asset managers can use those SUSTAINABLE, P. 5
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Applauding efforts to restore the local oyster population To the editor: As a commercial diver operating in Salem Bay for the last 55 years I’ve been an acute observer of all things marine-life related. I’ve also been a Marblehead shellfish constable for the last 40 years. This letter is in response to the latest noble efforts to reintroduce the native oyster population. (“From tiny oysters, big hopes for healthier waters”, Current Sept. 14) Since the mid 1980s our local waters have been home to a huge population of European flat oysters. I started noticing what I thought were rock scallops here and there but it wasn’t until I was doing work in Wyman Cove in 1987 that I witnessed a massive population blanketing the bottom. Bagging up a dozen or so, I brought them to the state’s Cat Cove Marine Lab. The biologists were shocked to see this new invasive species in our waters. My theory is they came from the Shetland Park facility where at the time a company called Sea Plantations had rented two floors out and were producing a variety of marine animals for universities along the East Coast. I believe they were raising these oysters, sucking the seawater from the South River, circulating it through their tanks and discharging back out. The spawn from these oysters is what created the now billions populating all the gravel inclines surrounding our Salem Bay coastline. This new effort may very well create a new variety of cross-bred To the editor: oyster known in the future as the “Marblehead variety.” One can only hope, but in the meantime educating the local population as to what lurks under our local waters should be saluted. Ray Bates Cherry Street
Happy 60th anniversary to a special couple To the editor: A special shout out to Bradford “Nick” Freeman Jr. and Marilyn (Ames) Freeman who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 3. They were married at Marblehead’s Old North Church. Life-long residents of the town, the couple went through public school here and have remained committed to each other and to the Marblehead community ever since. Nick served in the Coast Guard and found himself on the icecovered, 310’ cutter Casco in the North Atlantic before returning to Marblehead and going to work with the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier, a position he held for decades. Additionally, he served for many years as an elected member of the Water & Sewer Commission. He frequently and proudly refers to himself as “Marblehead’s biggest know-it-all” — his family and close friends agree! Marilyn worked at a bank before taking on what Nick always considered the most important and most difficult job of all, raising their son, and running the household. Later, she would go on to become the long-time office administrator for the church where they were married. She also donated countless hours of heart and soul, working with Penny Wigglesworth and her Penny Bear Company and Linda Hall’s Parkinson’s Support Group. Later in life, she took up playing handbells in the church’s bell choir. Through the years, the couple worked together at their small family businesses of snow plowing and firewood sales, all to make a better life and give their son better than they
Bradford “Nick” Freeman Jr. and Marilyn (Ames) Freeman
had themselves. They enjoyed spending time with family and friends and in particular, working the family’s large blueberry farm in Maine. Some of their happiest days were spent together in the solitude of the fields. As a couple, they exemplify commitment to one another. They created a loving, stable, quiet, nurturing home, providing everything their son needed and instilling the value of hard work and saving for the future. Together, they have shown what a marriage can and should be if people are willing to commit to one another and work together, all the while treating each other with love and respect. The last six decades have seen some grey hairs, wrinkles and a variety of aches and pains along with the loss of loved ones, but through it all, they have remained the best of friends and confidants, facing every challenge and success together. Hopefully they will have many, many, many more anniversaries to come. With much love, gratitude and admiration, Matt Freeman and Lisa Anastos
marbleheadcurrent.org
Marblehead Current Wednesday, September 30, 2026 5
GREAT GOURDS
Five thousand pumpkins, one big community effort BY LEIGH BLANDER At Clifton Lutheran Church, the pumpkins are multiplying. What began 10 years ago as a modest experiment — with about 600 pumpkins and a congregation wondering whether anyone would actually buy them — has grown into one of the church’s biggest annual traditions. This year, roughly 2,500 jacko-lantern-sized pumpkins are already on the church’s front lawn, with another full truckload arriving in two weeks. By then, Pastor James Bixby expects the total to reach about 5,000, not counting the countless tiny pumpkins and decorative varieties scattered among them. The pumpkins make their way from a Navajo reservation in New Mexico, where they are sustainably grown, to Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St., where they become everything from Halloween jacko-lanterns to school decorations, party centerpieces and the stars of pumpkin illumination events. And apparently, there is no shortage of takers. Bixby said the church has become the home of the top-selling church pumpkin operation in Massachusetts — a
COURTESY PHOTOS
Some 5,000 pumpkins are for sale outside Clifton Lutheran Church.
rather impressive designation for an effort that started as a 600-pumpkin gamble. In mid-September, Clifton Lutheran members offloaded all the gourds from the delivery truck with help from Scouts from Troop 79 and the Marblehead High Interact Club. A small pumpkin costs just $1. Decorative minis and other small varieties generally run $2 to $4, while the largest pumpkins range from $10 to $45.
This year’s crop includes some particularly enormous pumpkins — the biggest he has seen in his decade of pumpkin dealing, Bixby said — as well as a new gray-and-orange variety that stands out among the traditional orange. But the real measure of the operation isn’t how many pumpkins are sold. It’s what happens to the money afterward. Over the past nine years, the church has sent approximately
$180,000 back to the reservation where the pumpkins originated. With this year’s sales, that figure is expected to surpass $200,000. That makes the annual pumpkin patch something considerably larger than a seasonal fundraiser. It has become a small bridge between a New Mexico community and a Massachusetts one, with thousands of pumpkins making the trip east and hundreds of thousands of dollars making
their way back. “The community here is so amazing,” Bixby said of Marblehead. He emphasized how many volunteers, customers and local organizations have helped turn what once seemed like an ambitious pile of 600 pumpkins into a 5,000-pumpkin annual tradition. Pumpkins are for sale daily through Oct. 31: Monday-Friday, 1-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-5 p.m.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
Girl Scouts hope Play Club keeps growing BY MARIELLE SABBAG A group of Marblehead Girl Scouts spent the spring encouraging Brown School students to put down their screens, head outside and simply play. Now that they are freshmen at the high school, they hope to keep the Play Club going — and eventually expand it to other Marblehead schools. Girl Scout Troop 7031 launched the Play Club at Brown School as part of its work toward the Girl Scout Silver Award. “Play Club focused on allowing the students at Brown School to engage in free, unstructured play, allowing them to build critical thinking and interpersonal skills,” said 14-year-old Lily Laskowski. Laura Tufts, the troop’s adviser, said the girls were tasked with identifying a community issue and developing a solution that could create sustainable change. They discovered Let Grow Play Clubs (a national nonprofit focused on restoring childhood independence), and decided to focus on giving children more opportunities for unstructured, screen-free play. From the beginning, Tufts said, Brown School Principal Mary Maxfield supported the idea. Maxfield helped secure the playground, recruit teacher chaperones and publicize the program to families. Each Friday, children gathered on the school playground, where
Sustainable From P. 4
rights to push companies toward greater climate disclosure, emissions reductions and other changes. Some sustainable funds emphasize this strategy rather than simply excluding companies from their portfolios.
‘Green’ can have different meanings There is no single definition of
Girl Scout Troop 7031: From left, Addy Tufts, Maeve Weibust, Lily Laskowski and Scarlett Barry helped launch a Play Club at Brown School this past spring.
they were given a variety of toys and sports equipment — and the freedom to decide for themselves what they wanted to do. The Play Club became the troop’s Silver Award project. “The Silver Award project is a really huge accomplishment and represents 50 hours of work from each of the girls,” Tufts said. Troop members Scarlett Barry, Lily Laskowski, Addy Tufts and
Maeve Weibust have each been involved in Girl Scouts since elementary school. For the project, the girls divided up responsibilities. Barry focused on supplies, while Laskowski handled materials. Addy Tufts created surveys to collect feedback and Weibust worked on communications and community contacts. Barry, 14, said Play Club was one of the biggest projects she has worked on.
“It was a project that helped kids learn independence through unstructured playtime after school,” Barry said. “It was interesting to see these kids play and think so freely.” Addy Tufts, 14, called the project a success, with children forming new friendships while enjoying a screen-free environment. “I am proud that our group was able to help children in Marblehead get off their screens and build better relationships with their friends,” she said. The younger students weren’t the only ones who benefited. Laskowski said the experience helped the Girl Scouts develop their own leadership skills. And they don’t want the project to end. The girls hope to establish Play Club as a high school student organization. Taking inspiration from a similar student-run STEM club at
“green” or “sustainable” so a bit of extra research can be useful when you hear these terms. For example, two funds with similar names can use very different investment strategies. To illustrate the variety of options that are classified as sustainable, a quick search of a large investment company’s sustainable mutual funds included: Option A: Companies that are working to remove, reduce or mitigate the effects of climate change.
Option B: Companies helping to deliver safe, reliable and easily accessible water. Option C: Companies related to alternative and renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution control, water infrastructure, waste and recycling technologies. Depending on what issues are important to you, be sure to explore more information in the description of the fund. The SEC also warns investors about greenwashing, in which
environmental or sustainability claims exaggerate what a product actually does. Your money is part of your climate footprint Just as none of us can do every climate action perfectly, there is also no “perfect” way to invest in climate. There are, of course, many considerations that go into smart and focused investing besides climate, such as time horizon, risk tolerance, diversification and individual goals. But by starting to think
COURTESY PHOTOS
Brown School students take part in free, unstructured play during the Play Club this past spring.
Brown School, Addy Tufts said they believe that model could provide a way for Play Club to continue. There are still several steps to make that happen, Barry said. The girls need to find a high school adviser, speak with school administrators and recruit new members. Laura Tufts said establishing the program at the high school could allow Play Club to continue even after the original Girl Scouts graduate — and potentially expand to Glover or Village schools. For Addy Tufts, the Silver Award project is about more than earning one of Girl Scouts’ highest honors. “I want Play Club to continue so children in Marblehead have an easy way to get off their screens and socialize with other children in their school community,” she said.
about the content of your investments, you can take yet another climate action that you may have overlooked. We often talk about using our money to vote with our wallets when we buy something. Our savings and investments give us another opportunity to put our money where our values are. Elaine Leahy is executive director of Sustainable Marblehead.
marbleheadcurrent.org
6 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
SAY CHEESE
Max dresses to impress, year after year Marblehead student and budding fashion icon Maximilian Averback has outdone himself again with another snazzy school photo. The Current has been sharing Max’s school pictures since kindergarten, when he first wowed us with his picture-day
style. He’s a student at Epstein Hillel Academy. Every year, he dresses to impress — and fourth grade is no exception. Max sported his signature bow tie and sparkly jacket. Looking sharp, Max!
COURTESY PHOTOS
Through the years: School photos of Maximilian Averback from kindergarten through fourth grade. Averback is a student at Epstein Hillel School.
MCAS RESULTS
MCAS: Growth in younger grades, drops in high school BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead Public Schools students continued to outperform their counterparts statewide on most measures of the 2026 MCAS, but the latest results show a mixed picture, with gains in several younger grades and subjects alongside significant declines at Marblehead High School. In grades 3-8, 58% of Marblehead students met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, while 60% did so in math and 63% in science. Those figures compare with statewide rates of 40% in ELA, 41% in math and 41% in science. But the districtwide numbers mask substantial differences among grades. The most notable improvement came in science. Among Marblehead students in grades 5 and 8, 63% met or exceeded expectations in 2026, up from 53% in 2025. Eighth-grade science performance rose from 48% meeting or exceeding expectations in 2025 to 59% this year. Fifth-grade science increased from 61% to 68%. Eighth-grade math also showed a significant increase,
with 70% of students meeting or exceeding expectations in 2026, compared with 57% the previous year. Overall, grades 3-8 math edged up from 59% to 60%, while ELA slipped slightly, from 59% to 58%.
High school scores decline The high school results present a different picture.(In 2024, Massachusetts voters approved Question 2 which removed MCAS as a high school graduation requirement.)
In Grade 10 ELA, 48% of Marblehead students met or exceeded expectations in 2026, down from 54% in 2025. The percentage of students who did not meet expectations increased from 4% to 12%. Grade 10 math was comparatively stable, with 57% meeting or exceeding expectations in 2026, compared with 56% in 2025. The largest year-to-year decline came in Grade 10 science. The percentage of students meeting or exceeding
expectations fell from 71% in 2025 to 51% in 2026 — a 20-point drop. The percentage of students partially meeting expectations increased from 27% to 39%, while the percentage not meeting expectations rose from 2% to 10%. Even with those declines, Marblehead’s Grade 10 results remained above statewide rates. In 2026, 48% of Marblehead 10th graders met or exceeded expectations in ELA, compared with 45% statewide. In math, the figures were 57% and 44%, respectively. In science,
Marblehead’s 51% compared with 41% statewide. Superintendent John Robidoux declined to comment about the MCAS scores, emailing the Current: “Our team needs to review the data and will begin sharing results, and our feedback, thoughts, concerns, areas or growth and areas of strength in public during upcoming School Committee meetings.” The results come as Marblehead Public Schools continues to grapple with budget and staffing challenges. Voters approved a $15 million multiyear town and schools operating override in May after a difficult budget process that included $4.7 million in cuts and the elimination of 22 full-timeequivalent positions. The override was designed to provide greater financial stability and predictability in future school budgets, rather than restore all of the cuts made in the current budget year. The MCAS results provide one measure of student achievement, but they do not by themselves establish why scores changed from one year to the next. MCAS, P. 7
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, September 30, 2026 7
Roads From P. 1
improvements planned for the intersection of Smith, Baldwin and Pleasant streets. McHugh said the town is also setting aside approximately $1 million for work on Curtis Street, Roosevelt Avenue and Maverick Street, where utility projects have further damaged already poorly rated roads. DPW and its consultant are now considering how extensively sidewalks should be added or rebuilt there. The streets present challenges because of trees, parking, intermittent sidewalks and their dead-end configurations, McHugh said. On Maverick Street, however, providing sidewalk access to the Rail Trail is a priority, she added. The town is also proposing $1 million for sidewalk improvements, including ADA-accessible ramps around schools and along Humphrey and Tedesco streets. A grant application to pay for some of those improvements was unsuccessful. Another $800,000 is proposed for less extensive road rehabilitation on portions of Pleasant and Humphrey streets and Evans Road. Those streets need work now, McHugh said, even though utility upgrades that could eventually require more extensive reconstruction are still years away.
What could happen next
Select Board members pressed McHugh for something residents have repeatedly requested: a clearer timeline showing which roads will be repaired next. McHugh said sections of Pleasant Street, Humphrey Street from Maple Street toward the high school, and Evans Road have been submitted to the town’s paving contractor for work. Some could be completed this fall, but if the contractor cannot get to them before the
Maroney From P. 1
News “20/20” report on the Gravel case that aired last Friday night. The national broadcast marks the end of a story that has followed him through almost his entire career.
A young reporter and an unsolved murder Maroney was 28 and early in his journalism career when Gravel was killed on June 29, 1986. At the time, he worked for Continental Cablevision, reporting for North Shore TV News, a biweekly newscast distributed to communities across the region. Gravel, of North Andover, was a Salem State student who worked at National Braille Press. She had been out with friends in
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
DPW Supervisor Amy McHugh, second from right, looks at her presentation on a screen at the Select Board meeting Sept. 23.
paving season ends, work would begin in the spring. “If he doesn’t get it done this fall, you know he’ll be out the gate in the spring with those,” McHugh said of Evans Road. Curtis Street, Roosevelt Avenue and Maverick Street are expected to follow, potentially in the spring, although designs are still being worked out. Washington Street remains a more complicated and longerterm project. National Grid is replacing gas infrastructure along the street, including work extending from Rockaway Street toward Orange Street. At the same time, the town is working on design questions involving sidewalks, accessibility, utility poles, parking and the previously developed Five Corners design. McHugh said DPW does not want to pave Washington Street while major utility work remains unfinished. The tradeoff is that residents may continue to live with a deteriorated road for some time. “I’ve gotten a lot of pushback because it kills me to pave a road, knowing that I have to dig it up to do all these utilities,” McHugh said. “But common sense does say if it’s going to be
Salem before she was killed. Her body was discovered near Route 128 in Beverly. Maroney interviewed investigators and Gravel’s parents, Bob and Mary Gravel, for a longer report on his news magazine program, “North Shore Perspectives.” He gained the family’s trust and became increasingly determined that Claire’s death not simply fade into the files of an unsolved case. “This story was dead,” Maroney recalled. “So I said, ‘I’m going to generate stories about it.’” He kept doing exactly that. Even after moving to Ohio for a time, Maroney continued following the investigation. He estimates that for years, virtually every television piece produced about the case could be traced in some way to his efforts to keep attention focused on it.
10 years for its utility, you might as well pay.” Officials discussed the possibility that the town could eventually use Chapter 90 state road money for an interim paving project on Washington Street, leaving more extensive sidewalk reconstruction for later.
No five-year schedule — yet Board members repeatedly returned to the question of timing, saying residents want to know not only why a street is waiting but approximately when they can expect something to happen. The town does not have a firm five-year construction schedule, McHugh acknowledged. Utility schedules, engineering, funding and other factors make long-range dates difficult to guarantee, she said. A street can remain in the pipeline for years as gas and water work is completed, trenches settle and designs are developed, McHugh explained. McHugh said the town has learned from recent projects that residents need much more information before work begins. DPW is now focusing on
providing a more reliable 12-to-18-month outlook, rather than promising dates years in advance that could change.
New maps and FAQs coming Improving communication was a major part of McHugh’s presentation. The Current reported in August that residents were asking for a publicly accessible priority list, a long-term capital plan and a map showing completed, active and planned projects. At the time, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer acknowledged that communication was an area where the town needed to improve. McHugh said Tuesday that several of those tools are now in development. An FAQ page expected to launch in October will centralize project status, funding information and explanations of how roads are selected. It will initially include a static map and information about projects expected over roughly the next 12 to 18 months. The town is also building the underlying GIS system needed for a more sophisticated public map. The internal GIS base map
Claire and for her mom and dad,” he said.
A break decades later
COURTESY PHOTO
At the time of Gravel’s murder, James Maroney worked for Continental Cablevision, reporting for North Shore TV News, a biweekly newscast distributed to communities across the region.
Around anniversaries of Gravel’s death, he would travel around the North Shore, returning to locations connected to the case. He posted signs and hung banners — including one over Route 128 — asking who had murdered Claire. “I wanted a resolution for
The resolution Maroney had hoped for finally came through advances in DNA testing. John Carey was indicted for Gravel’s murder in 2022. This March, an Essex County Superior Court jury convicted Carey, 66, of first-degree murder. Prosecutors said DNA testing found Carey’s genetic material on the tank top used to strangle Gravel. Carey had previously been convicted in an unrelated attempted murder case involving the strangulation of another woman, a case that resulted in his DNA entering the system and ultimately helping investigators connect him to Gravel’s killing. On April 9, Carey, of Gloucester, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility
MCAS From P. 6
Charter School sees gains in math, science Separately, Marblehead Community Charter Public School posted gains in math and science in the 2026 MCAS results, while English scores dipped slightly overall. Charter students outperformed statewide averages in all three subjects. Some of the Charter School’s biggest year-over-year gains came in fifth grade. In math, 56% of fifth graders met or exceeded expectations, up from 30% last year — a 26-point increase. Fifth-grade science climbed from 32% to 53%, while English rose from 32% to 44%.
Eighth graders also posted strong results. Sixty-three percent met or exceeded expectations in math, up from 46% last year and compared with 42% statewide. In eighth-grade English, 63% met or exceeded expectations, compared with 42% statewide. On the civics assessment, 60%
met or exceeded expectations, up from 50% last year and compared with 40% statewide. “We are incredibly proud of our students and staff, and the strong results reflected in this year’s MCAS scores,” Head of School Stephanie Brant wrote to the Current. “MCCPS students outperformed the state averages
in both ELA and mathematics by significant margins, with particularly strong and sustained growth in mathematics over the past several years…. “These results reflect the dedication of our educators and our commitment to providing all students with rigorous instruction and the support they
is targeted for summer 2027, with a fully interactive public version expected by summer 2029. Eventually, residents should be able to click on a street and see information about past, current and future capital work. In the meantime, McHugh said DPW has expanded its communications through Marblehead TV, town website updates, Traffic Safety Advisory Committee briefings, neighborhood Zoom meetings, advance project notices and paving door tags. “Communication is faster, clearer and more consistent, but we still need to keep improving,” she said. McHugh said the larger shift is from responding to individual failing roads to planning streets as interconnected infrastructure — coordinating pavement, sidewalks, accessibility, utilities and bicycle and pedestrian needs. Article 11, she said, made that approach possible by allowing Marblehead to go beyond the basic paving historically funded largely through the state’s Chapter 90 program. The 2022 money has helped finance more than 6 miles of what McHugh calls “total street” projects, along with smaller road repairs and sidewalk and ADA improvements. But the remaining $6.48 million will not cover every road awaiting work, she stressed. When voters approved Article 11 in 2022, the concept was that Marblehead would make another major investment in its roads roughly every five years, McHugh noted. As projects move forward, she said, the town will continue balancing the condition of the pavement against utility schedules, safety, accessibility and available money. “We’re moving from reactive repairs to long-term infrastructure planning,” McHugh said.
of parole. “The family of Claire Gravel has waited 40 long years for justice,” Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said after the conviction. Maroney had waited, too. His decades of reporting became part of the story itself. This summer, ABC News called. Producers interviewed Maroney for the “20/20” report that aired last Friday and was expected to be made available for streaming on Hulu and ABC. com. For someone who spent decades trying to persuade other journalists that Gravel’s story still mattered, having it told on a national network carries special meaning. “No story has ever come close to meaning this much to me,” Maroney said. “I’m finally feeling relief.”
need to succeed.” The results were more mixed in other grades. Seventh-grade math saw the largest decline, falling from 69% meeting or exceeding expectations in 2025 to 41% this year. Seventh-grade English dropped from 64% to 48%. Fourth-grade results also declined. Forty-eight percent met or exceeded expectations in both English and math this year, down from 55% in English and 61% in math last year. Year-to-year comparisons by grade come with an important caveat: The students tested in a particular grade this spring are not the same students who took that grade-level test a year ago. As a result, changes from one year to the next do not necessarily show whether individual students improved or lost ground.
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8 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
2nd Annual
Marblehead Turns Pink for Ellie Fund |
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, September 30, 2026 9
Sports
COURTESY PHOTO / RAYMOND WAITEKUS
Acknowledge and move on. The Magicians face the Danvers Falcons Friday after last week’s loss to Scituate.
FOOTBALL
Magicians lose in stormy fashion BY LUCA TEDESCO With an early season nor’easter bearing down on the Bay State, the Marblehead Magicians took a tough 42-21 road loss to the twice-defending champion Scituate Sailors on Friday night. “We were outcoached, we were outplayed,” said Marblehead head coach Jim Rudloff postgame. “We were taking really bad angles, we were out of place on a lot of plays, we were looking at the wrong things. We’ve got to do a better job coaching that up… play calling, calling the defense. Everything.” Marblehead started the game on their heels, being pushed back 80 yards in just five plays by the Sailors’ vaunted running attack. Senior running back Grayson Foley carried the ball for 55 yards on his first four rushes before quarterback Tyler Stelljes found the end zone on a keeper around the left side of the line for a 25-yard score. The Magicians started their opening drive strong with quarterback Sawyer Adams finding Madden Lyons for a 16-yard reception to put Marblehead in enemy territory early. The drive came up empty, however, with the ball changing
CURRENT PHOTOS / LUCA TEDESCO
Marblehead defenders chase after a Scituate ballcarrier during a game at Caito Field in Scituate on Friday, Sept. 25.
hands on an unsuccessful fourth down conversion attempt. After the sides traded punts, Scituate doubled their lead on the strength of a 43-yard Foley romp to the end zone in which he shrugged off three would-be tacklers to put the Sailors up 14-0 with just under three minutes to play in the first period. Scituate struck again after taking over on downs by way of a pass to a wide open receiver in the middle of the field for a 46-yard score. After another unsuccessful Marblehead drive, Scituate seemed to have salted the game away early with a 77-yard sprint down the sideline by Foley, but the play was called back due to holding at the line to gain, setting up a second first-and-10 opportunity for the hosts.
With the score being wiped away, the Magicians got up off the mat and punished a second mental mistake by the Sailors when Trent Brown snagged Stelljes’ pass and returned it to the 15-yard line. A penalty would see the Magicians start at the opposing 30, but Scituate returned the favor with a personal foul of their own to put the Magicians back in the red zone. Bailey Finkle made his first grab of the year on a pass to the goal line by Adams before being tackled just short of a score. Adams punched the ball in himself to make it a two score game midway through the second quarter. Scituate would not need the ball for long, scoring on another lengthy run by Foley to give
Marblehead coaches discuss strategy during halftime at Caito Field in Scituate on Friday, Sept. 25.
them a 28-7 lead that they would take into halftime. Marblehead seemed to come out of the half significantly stronger. Under the direction of quarterback Marcus Waitekus, the Magicians stormed their way down the field with the help of a pair of spectacular catches by Trent Brown to put the Magicians in range of the goal line. Lyons found the end zone on a quick screen from Waitekus to cut the lead to 14 following a Finbar Bresnahan kick. Foley found his way to the endzone twice before Marblehead could respond, first on a 20-yard rush then on a 49-yard jog to the endzone after catching a pass in space to
put the Sailors up 42-14 with six minutes to play. Sawyer Adams would give the Marblehead fans in attendance something to remember when he turned what could have been a reasonable five yard gain into a 23-yard journey as he broke away from no less than five Scituate tackles to send the Magicians back to the North Shore on a slightly more positive note. With their 42-14 loss, Marblehead drops to 1-2 as Northeastern Conference play begins next week. The Magicians will play the second leg of a three-game road trip against the Danvers Falcons next Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
MAGICIANS’ NOTEBOOK
Cross-country teams dominate Beverly BY JOE MCCONNELL
Girls remain undefeated; boys get first win The Marblehead High girls cross-country team remains undefeated at 3-0 after beating Beverly, 22-39 at home on Sept. 23. Marblehead’s top tandem of Sarah Munroe and Eleanor Morgan battled it out with Beverly’s top runner Grace Corbett, but Corbett had just enough in the tank down the stretch to come in first. “All three runners pushed each other to very fast finishing times,” said coach Will Herlihy. “Sarah ended up second, followed by Eleanor, who was right on her COURTESY PHOTO heels.” Still perfect with a 3-0 record, the Marblehead High girls cross-country team is, from left, second row, senior Thea Shaw, sophomore Patty Norah Walsh celebrated her Windsor, freshman Charlotte Sheridan, senior captain Evelina Beletsky, senior captain Jesslny Roemer, sophomore Abby Orne, sophomore Izzy birthday with a 55-second personal Anaya Lanzillo, sophomore Sophia Letwin, sophomore Ginny Donato, senior Violet Taylor, senior Maggie Miller and junior Evie Becker. Front row, NOTEBOOK, P. 10
BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW
junior Ruby Assa, sophomore Nadia Siragusa, senior captain Sarah Munroe, sophomore Eleanor Morgan, junior Norah Walsh and senior Maddie Gelb. Missing from photo, Willow Waddington.
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10 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
ON THE LINKS
Par for the course: Golfers sweep away the competition BY JOE MCCONNELL Another week, another couple of wins for coach Bob Green’s Marblehead High School golf team, eight of them to be exact as the month of September winds down. It includes last week’s triumphs over Danvers (45-27, Sept. 22) and non-league Malden Catholic (47-25, Sept. 23), both at Tedesco. Overall, the Marblehead boys have an 8-0 record, and are 6-0 in the Northeastern Conference. The month was scheduled to conclude away from Tedesco against Masco at Ferncroft on Sept. 29, and then Danvers again at the Wenham Country Club on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. After that, these Magicians have
Notebook From P. 9
best on her home course to come in fourth. After a Beverly runner finished fifth, the home team secured the next six places to secure the victory. “Nearly every one of our runners ran significant personal bests, which is a (good) sign for even more success in future meets,” said Herlihy. The Marblehead boys also dominated Beverly, 19-42 to win their first meet of the season after two losses. The boys were led by senior captain Filip Grubor’s first place finish. He was followed by junior captain Victor Pechhold, who came in third. Freshman T.J. Waters was right behind him in fourth. Sophomore Ivan Monin and senior captain Felix Regnault were credited with fifth and sixth place finishes. “After two losses to start the season, it was great to see the boys come together and have their best performance so far,” said coach Brian Heenan.
Schedule heats up for girls soccer with three more games In its three most recent games, the MHS girls soccer team (2-23) had a mixed bag of results. They first tied non-league North Andover, 1-1 on Sept. 19, before beating Salem on Sept. 23, 4-1, only to lose a heartbreaker to visiting Beverly, 1-0 the very next night at Piper. Against the Scarlet Knights, these Magicians played with “intensity,” according to coach Lisa Wales. “We won the 50 / 50
just five regular season matches left on the schedule, before they test their skills against the rest of the state. Marblehead won seven of its matches against the Falcons last week, with the other encounter ending in a tie. Co-captain Tyler Forbes easily topped his Danvers counterpart, 7-2 after shooting a 33. Colby Moore was victorious, 5.5-3.5. Moore shot a 39. Pete Ryan shot a 37 to defeat his Danvers opponent by the same score. Will Macrina ended up on top in a close match, 5-4. Max King doubled up his winning margin of difference, 6-3, as did Teddy Dulac. John Rand persevered, 5-4. Co-captain Greyson Leventhal settled for a
balls, and made the right runs at the right time,” she said. “This was our best game so far this season. We only had one small lapse when North Andover tied it up with 16 minutes left in the game.” The coach added that senior Hailey Gilmore continued to be “a steadying presence in net.” She came up with five saves against North Andover to help preserve the tie. Junior Stella Smith was a standout at midfield, and sophomore Nina Badzak also turned in a fine game, said the coach. Junior Phoebe Fontela-Tuttle accounted for the Marblehead goal, her second of the season. It was a solo effort. “Phoebe is working hard, and after being injured last season it’s terrific to see her return to form,” said Wales. “Overall, I’m really proud of the entire team’s effort. I would have naturally liked to get the win, but I know the effort, hustle and smart decisionmaking on the (pitch) were still there. We continue to get better in each game.” The Marblehead girls started slowly versus Salem, but when senior captain Callie Gilmore took a pass from Fontela-Tuttle to account for a goal, the rest of the team started to rev it up. Gilmore also scored once more in this game. “Fontela-Tuttle was involved in all four goals,” said Wales. “She scored once to go along with collecting three assists.” Sophomore Izzie Gonzalez scored her first career varsity goal on a cross from FontelaTuttle. Senior captain Camryn
tie, 4.5-4.5, despite shooting a 37 after nine holes. It was more of the same lopsided results with another seven individual winning matches against the Lancers. Leventhal returned to the winner’s circle, 6.5-2.5. He shot a 35. Moore, shooting a 39, breezed to an easy 8-1 triumph. Both Ryan and Macrina recorded identical winning scores of 6.52.5, while each shot a 38. Shooting a 37, King came out on top, 5.5-3.5. Dulac had a similar final score, and got there individually by shooting a 39. Rand won a close encounter, 5-4. But Forbes, despite playing well with a low score of 37, lost in a heartbreaker.
Despite outplaying two top D-1 reams, boys soccer falls short
O’Brien also had an assist on that marker. “This was a good team win for us, with multiple players giving us some good minutes,” said Wales. “In particular, the likes of sophomore Maddie Terry, and juniors Laurel Kearney, Sophia Patterson, Grace Turner and Shae Callahan also contributed to the effort.” The Beverly game was “hardfought,” Wales said. “The Panthers have an excellent team,” she continued. “But senior captain Ainsley McDonald was spectacular on defense throughout the game to slow them down with her ability to tackle and win 50 / 50 balls.” Sophomore Anna Cannuscio, who made a goal-saving clear early on in the game, and seniors Camryn O’Brien and Carys Moran were also singled out by the coach for their defensive prowess. Wales also mentioned that Callie Gilmore always raises the level of her play against formidable competition, and it was no exception against Beverly. Hailey Gilmore did her job once again in net to keep the game close with six clutch saves.
VARSITY SCOREBOARD
VARSITY SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Sept. 22 Boys golf: Marblehead 45, Danvers 27 Girls field hockey: Bishop Fenwick 4, Marblehead 2 Wednesday, Sept. 23 Boys golf: Marblehead 47, Malden Catholic 25 Boys cross country: Marblehead 19, Beverly 42 Girls cross country: Marblehead 22, Beverly 39 Thursday, Sept. 24 Girls field hockey: Marblehead 2, Saugus 0 Girls soccer: Beverly 1, Marblehead 0 Friday: Sept. 25 Girls volleyball: Marblehead 3, Beverly 0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-15) Boys football: Scituate 42,
Wednesday, Sept. 30 3 p.m., boys golf vs. Danvers at Wenham Country Club 4 p.m., unified co-ed basketball vs. Peabody at Peabody Veterans Memorial High 4 p.m., boys and girls cross country vs. Salem at Winter Island, Salem 4 p.m., girls soccer vs. Danvers at MHS Piper Field 5:30 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Peabody at Peabody Veterans Memorial High gym 5:30 p.m., boys soccer vs. Danvers at Danvers High Friday, Oct. 2 4 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Peabody at Marblehead High 4:30 p.m., boys soccer vs. Reading at Reading Memorial High Stadium 6:30 p.m., boys football vs. Danvers at Danvers High Monday, Oct. 5 4 p.m., boys golf vs. Peabody at The
Marblehead 21 Boys soccer: Beverly 1, Marblehead 0 Saturday, Sept. 26 Boys and girls cross country at Ocean State Invitational, postponed Boys soccer vs. Central Catholic, postponed TEAM RECORDS (THROUGH SEPT. 27) Boys football, 1-2 Boys golf, 8-0 Girls volleyball, 4-1 Boys cross country, 1-2 Girls cross country, 3-0 Boys soccer, 3-2 Girls soccer, 2-2-3 Girls field hockey, 3-3-1
COURTESY PHOTO / MHS GOLF INSTAGRAM PAGE
Marblehead High golf co-captain Tyler Forbes, concentrating on an approach shot, is helping lead his teammates to a perfect 8-0 record so far alongside his fellow captain Greyson Leventhal.
The MHS boys soccer team (3-2) dropped a pair of 1-0 road games to non-league North Andover on Sept. 19 and Beverly six days later to fall from the unbeaten ranks. “We turned in a masterpiece of a game against North Andover,” said coach Elmer Magana. “Each and every player on the team did their part in order to compete (equally) with one of the top Division 1 Merrimack Valley Conference teams. Although we outplayed the Scarlet Knights, we couldn’t find the back of the net. But in the last five minutes, they did with an outside shot. We played our best soccer to date, but just couldn’t pull off the win.” It was pretty much more of the same against the Panthers. “They say history repeats itself, and for us it did,” said Magana. “Almost a week after playing North Andover, we found ourselves in the same situation at Beverly. We once again outplayed the competition, only to lose it in the last 10 minutes.” The Marblehead boys simply battled both Division 1 schools in games that could have gone either way. But as Magana lamented, “Mr. Goal, the guest of honor, failed to show up for us on both occasions.”
Volleyball bounces back against Beverly After dropping its first match of the year to host Newburyport, 3-0 on Sept. 23, the MHS volleyball team (4-1) bounced right back to beat Beverly by the
Meadows Golf Club, Peabody 4:30 p.m., girls soccer vs. Gloucester at MHS Piper Field 4:30 p.m., boys soccer vs. Gloucester at Newell Stadium, Gloucester 5:30 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Masconomet at Marblehead High gym Tuesday, Oct. 6 3:45 p.m., boys golf vs. Gloucester at Bass Rocks Golf Club, Gloucester 4:30 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Swampscott at Blocksidge Field, Swampscott Wednesday, Oct. 7 4 p.m., boys and girls cross country vs. Danvers at Lead Mills Conservation Area, Marblehead 4 p.m., boys soccer vs. Masconomet at Masconomet High, Boxford 4 p.m., girls soccer vs. Masconomet at MHS Piper Field 5:30 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Saugus at Saugus High gym
exact same score two days later at home. Lila Moniz led these Magicians in kills with 10 to help secure the win. Sydney Faris and Piper Browning were the leaders from the service line with eight and five aces, respectively. Sydney Da Silva continued to dominate as the team’s setter with 23 more assists against the Panthers.
Field hockey splits the week The MHS field hockey team (3-3-1) started last week by getting doubled up by nonleague host Bishop Fenwick, 4-2 on Sept. 22. But they quickly regrouped to shutout Saugus at home, 2-0 two days later. Both Marblehead goals were scored in the third quarter. Julia Mann netted the first one, before Ella O’Brien added that all-important insurance tally assisted by Layla Dulac. “Our offense controlled most of the (action) with support from our midfielders,” said coach Alison Carey. “Going into this game, we set a goal to increase our shots on net, and we did just that.” Forwards Zoe Dwyer, Lily Desgrosseilliers, Dulac and O’Brien, along with midfielders Shea Bickell, Keliane Salem, Carolyn Black, Molly Chamberlin and Mann helped keep the ball in the offensive zone, and they didn’t hold back on their scoring opportunities. “The Sachems’ defense turned in a great effort,” said Carey, “but we kept our focus, and stayed together as a team. This is a great group, and I really enjoy coaching them.”
Thursday, Oct. 8 4 p.m., unified basketball vs. North Andover at North Andover High gym 4:30 p.m., boys golf vs. Beverly at Beverly Golf & Tennis Club 5:45 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Reading at Hawkes Field House, Reading High Friday, Oct. 9 4:15 p.m., girls soccer vs. Melrose at Fred Green Field, Melrose 4:30 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Beverly at MHS Piper Field 5 p.m., boys football vs. St. Mary’s (Lynn) at Manning Field, Lynn 7:30 p.m., boys soccer vs. Everett at MHS Piper Field Sunday, Oct. 11 TBA, boys and girls cross country at Twilight Invitational, Cape Cod Fairgrounds, East Falmouth
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Marblehead Current Wednesday, September 30, 2026 11
This Fall, Let’s Turn Changing Seasons into New Beginnings. Work with the #1 Real Estate Team in Marblehead.
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We are Two generations 45+ Full time Marblehead Realtor. years experience serving the Call or text For Wherever North Shore. Deeply Local and You’re Headed. Personally Invested in everyone we work with.
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Unexpected medical emergency creating a financial crunch?
We're here to help. If you’re struggling to pay your bills or are experiencing a sudden and unexpected financial hardship, we’re here to help. Individual requests for financial assistance must be referred through a third party for consideration. We urge you to contact our partners listed below, or speak to your local clergy to request assistance from Marblehead Female Humane Society:
Marblehead Counseling Center 781-631-8273 Marblehead Housing Authority 781-631-2580 Marblehead Council on Aging 781-631-6225 Marblehead Food Pantry
For over 200 years, Marblehead Female Humane Society has remained faithful to its original mission of quietly and respectfully helping Marblehead residents in need.
www.marbleheadfemalehumanesociety.com scan to donate
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12 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
CURRENT EVENTS
Marblehead’s best bets Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email the Current at info@marbleheadnews.org. —By Leigh Blander
Fall Fair returns to Lee Mansion Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Me&Thee welcomes Rj Cowdery, Hope Dunbar Friday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m.
The Me&Thee Music season continues with a double bill featuring
singer-songwriters Rj Cowdery and Hope Dunbar. Cowdery has won the Kerrville New Folk and Mountain Stage NewSong contests. Dunbar blends Americana, country and folk with a prairieinspired style. More info and tickets at meandtheemusic.org. 28 Mugford St.
Discover Marblehead and the Marblehead Museum team up for the seventh annual Fall Fair, featuring 21 artistvendors, portraits by Acorn Gallery art students, drinks from Shaken & Served and more. It’s all happening on the lawn at the Lee Mansion, 151 Washington St. Pumpkin decorating kits will be sold to benefit the Marblehead Food Pantry. Admission is free, and the event is rain or shine, moving inside the Lee Mansion if necessary.
Greek tragedy takes the MLT stage
Swamp-Stock: Rock the Night! Thursday, Oct. 1, 6-11 p.m.
Come support the Marblehead Counseling Center at its rockin’ fundraiser featuring several North Shore bands, including B-Side Hustle, Lois Lane and the Daily Planets, The Merj, Glass Harbor and Funbucket. There will be dancing, light appetizers and a cash bar. The event is at Swampscott’s new Performing Arts Center, 153 Humphrey St. Tickets are $60. More info at marbleheadcounselingcenter.org.
Oct. 2-18, various times
Marblehead Little Theatre presents Euripides’ “Medea.” The classic Greek tragedy follows Medea, a sorceress who plots her escape and revenge after being betrayed by her husband, the hero Jason.Tickets and information are available at mltlive.ludus.com. MLT is located at 12 School St.
Fall Fest - NEW DATE Saturday, Oct. 3, 2-5 p.m.
Clifton Lutheran Church will host its annual Fall Fest with all proceeds benefitting Mission of Hope International in Haiti (mohintl.org). 150 Humphrey St. Come enjoy a bouncy house, lawn games, hot dogs and kids’ crafts.
Cookbook Club explores Irish cooking
Remembering Dolly: Songs and Stories of the Country Diva
Wednesday, Oct. 7, 12:30-2 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Abbot Library’s Cookbook Club returns with a culinary trip to Ireland. Participants will explore Irish cooking, select a recipe to prepare at home and bring it to the meeting for tasting and discussion. The club uses food and cookbooks as a starting point for conversations about recipes, cooking techniques and the evolving American kitchen. The discussion will be led by Marblehead Current food columnist Linda Bassett. Space is limited, and registration is required at tinyurl.com/ Cookbook-Club-Irish.
Local musicians Holly Cameron, Elisa Smith and Charisse Nocera will perform many of Dolly Parton’s most beloved songs at this concert at Old North Church, 35 Washington St. $20 per person suggested donation at the door.
Sidewalk Sales Saturday, Oct. 3
The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its annual Sidewalk Sales, including many businesses along Atlantic Avenue, Washington Street and other locations. Happy shopping!
RAISE YOUR VOICE
Old North Chorus tunes up for 46th holiday season BY LEIGH BLANDER Christmas is coming early to Old North Church — at least for anyone who likes to sing. The Old North Festival Chorus is gearing up for its 46th annual holiday concerts and inviting experienced singers, including high school students, to join the tradition. Rehearsals begin Wednesday, Sept. 30, in the Old North sanctuary, with registration at 7 p.m. and singing starting at 7:30 p.m. Maria van Kalken, director of the Festival Chorus and Orchestra and Old North’s minister of music, will mark her 38th season leading the ensemble. This year’s program stretches from Bach and 18th-century
sacred music to spirituals, jazz and a musical romp through “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The centerpiece will be Giovanni Alberto Ristori’s “Christmas Mass,” written by the Italian composer and contemporary of Vivaldi. The chorus will also perform excerpts from J.S. Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio.” To mark America’s 250th anniversary, the program will feature works by American composers and arrangers, culminating in Craig Courtney’s “A Musicological Journey Through the 12 Days of Christmas.” Traditional holiday music and audience singalongs will round out the concerts, accompanied by the Old North Festival Orchestra. Returning soloists include
Calling all singers: Old North Church is inviting people to join its renowned Festival Chorus.
sopranos Anne Burgett and Holly Cameron and tenor Kevin Hayden. Auditions are underway for a bass-baritone section leader and soloist. Chorus members do not need to audition, though some singing
experience is expected. Students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to join. Rehearsals will be held Wednesdays from 7:30-9 p.m., running later as the concerts approach.
COURTESY PHOTO
Performances are Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit oldnorthfestivalchorus.org.
marbleheadcurrent.org
Marblehead Current Wednesday, September 30, 2026 13
PICK, PASS, PLAY
Tile by tile, teacher builds a mahjong community BY LUCA TEDESCO
CURRENT PHOTO / MARGARET BACON
Marblehead native Kate Danforth is opening a new children’s store in town.
BRICK & MORTAR
Marblehead native bets on new store for children BY MARGARET BACON
Kate Danforth has spent much of her career thinking about how people shop online. This fall, she is making a decidedly physical bet on brick and mortar retail in the town where she grew up. On Saturday, Oct. 3, the Marblehead native will open Lunita, a children’s clothing and gift store at 27 Atlantic Ave. The store will carry clothing from newborn through age 8, along with gifts, accessories and products from local makers. For Danforth, the move from e-commerce to a storefront is less of a departure than it might seem. Her background includes e-commerce, merchandising and product management at Wayfair, where she helped the company open its first physical retail store in Chicago.
That experience has shaped decisions about Lunita, from inventory and pricing to the mix of sizes and styles on the sales floor. Even before opening, Danforth has been looking for gaps in what is available. One stood out: stylish, reasonably priced clothes for toddler boys. “I was seeing that it’s really hard to find great toddler boy clothes,” she said. “Girls get racks and racks of options. Boys get a corner with the same five things.” But the idea for Lunita did not begin with market research. Danforth began thinking about a children’s store after having the first of her two children nearly four years ago. “I remember shopping when my children were very young and feeling really welcomed and understood,” she said. DANFORTH, P. 14
LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD CONSERVATION COMMISSION The Marblehead Conservation Commission will hold a VIRTUAL (Zoom) public hearing beginning at or after 7:00 PM on October 8, 2026 on an application of Ann Marie Jordan (owner) for the proposed construction of a detached garage and the conversion of an existing gravel driveway to pervious pavers at 8 Roydon Road (Map 157 Lot 42), in an area subject to the Wetlands Protection Act and the Marblehead Wetlands Protection Bylaw. The hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2025, a.k.a. An Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency. Interested person(s) may request an appointment to review plans and information by e-mailing. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: CallahanB@ marbleheadma.gov. For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the agenda at least 48-hours prior to the hearing and the Zoom link is accessible via https://www.marbleheadma.gov/events A link to the agenda is found: https://www.marbleheadma.gov/conservation-commission. Left click on the agenda date. David VanHoven, Chairman Marblehead Conservation Commission
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING MARBLEHEAD MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT PROPOSED ELECTRIC RATE ADJUSTMENTS Pursuant to the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 164, Section 58, the Marblehead Municipal Light Board will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6:00p.m. The hearing will be held in person at Abbot Hall. The purpose of this hearing is to receive public comment on proposed revisions to the Department’s electric rate schedules. The proposed changes may include adoption of the renewable energy trust surcharge for all metered rate classes ($0.0005/kWh), increasing the surcharge for customers requesting analog meters, and/or reducing the residential base rate. By Order of the Municipal Light Board Jean-Jacques Yarmoff, Chair
Marblehead’s Jodi Kerble first learned the game of mahjong with her friends on the pool deck of the Jewish Community Center over 20 years ago. Now, as the game has exploded in popularity over the past year, Kerble, a middle school math teacher at the Windsor School, has become something of a mahjong guru, teaching students of all ages the game in group sessions including a three CURRENT PHOTOS / LUCA TEDESCO week course at the Three Clockwise from left, Cindy Thomas, Olivia Goodell, Melanie Arsenault and Terri Fitzgerald work on an assignment given to them by mahjong instructor Jodi Kerble. Hundred Fifty bakery in Swampscott. “[Mahjong] is kind of like cards,” Kerble said, describing the game. “There are suits and jokers and, kind of like poker, there are hands that you can create… Imagine that the tiles are a deck of cards. You pick one and you discard one and the first person to make their combination wins.” Eight students took part in the recent course at the Humphrey Street bakery with Kerble using handouts and assigning “homework” to help teach the game’s complex rules and tiles. “It’s got a lot of strategy,” said Terri Jodi Kerble dressed up in a mahjong themed outfit to teach the final class of a mahjong Fitzgerald of Saugus, who clinic hosted at the Three Hundred Fifty bakery in Swampscott. attends the class with her daughter, Melanie. “I teach her classes here. didn’t realize there’s a lot It’s been something fun of rules, a lot of strategy to do at night when the and you need all the help bakery is closed. It’s a you can get to start!” nice opportunity to have The goal of the game people come in the bakery is to make a hand of 13 at night and learn a new tiles that corresponds game.” to one of the legal hands With the mahjong published by the National community exploding Mah Jongg League in size across the North before anyone else. After Shore, Kerble, as well as the initial deal, players the co-founders of The perform what is known as Mahjong Experience, Amy the “Charleston” where O’Connor and Lytania three tiles are passed in Mackey-Knowles, have different directions to been forced to turn many improve their hand before Jenny Geary, of Marblehead, completes a hand to win a people away due to the game of mahjong at a course held at the Three Hundred the game officially begins. limited class sizes being Fifty bakery in Swampscott on Sept. 23. Another key element outpaced by demand. of the game, and one “It builds community,” that has helped its rise in way to connect with “Jodi reached out to me, said Kerble. “People are, I popularity, is the social others through something her daughters actually think, wanting to be part nature of mahjong. and enjoy each other’s both work here, and I of that community so they “I think it’s a nice way company.” thought it was such a can learn and play with to connect with people,” The setting of the cool thing to have at the other people… Now that said Olivia Goodell of mahjong classes at the bakery,” said Tapper, a everyone’s playing, I think Marblehead, who plans Three Hundred Fifty recent masters degree they want to be included. on teaching the game to bakery helps bring out recipient from Johnson I think mahjong really her friends. “You don’t the social element of & Wales University. builds community.” necessarily have to have the game, with players “Mahjong has been Kerble will be taking a a chatty game. I mean, enjoying cookies and blowing up all over the brief hiatus from teaching we’re still learning so we coffees baked and brewed area and I thought it the game in October but don’t talk much during by owner Lilly Tapper and would be such a fun plans to restart courses it, but I think it’s a nice her staff. opportunity to have Jodi later in the fall. Town of Marblehead Invitation for Bid Marblehead Municipal Light Department is requesting proposals for: 23KV POLE REPLACEMENT AND TRANSFER The Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD), the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from Qualified Vendors for the 23KV POLE REPLACEMENT AND TRANSFER in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in accordance with these specifications. Copies of the Request for Proposals may be obtained via MMLD’s Procurement Portal https://procurement.opengov. com/portal/marblehead. This procurement is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and is therefore subject to 2 CFR 200.317–200.327, Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), Davis Bacon Act (DBA) for labor subject to prevailing wage, and Massachusetts General Laws including M.G.L. c. 30B and M.G.L. c. 164 §56D and M.G.L. c. 149, §§ 26–27H. Bids will be received until October 9, 2026, at 10:00 am and publicly opened at that date and time. Any bids received after such time will not be accepted unless this date and time has been changed by addendum. All bids for this project are subject to applicable public bidding laws of Massachusetts. Attention is directed to the minimum prevailing wage rates to be paid as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the weekly payroll record submittal requirements under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 149, Section 26 through 27D inclusive. Each bid shall be accompanied by a bid deposit in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the total bid price. The bid deposit shall be in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check, treasurer’s check, or bid bond made payable to Marblehead Municipal Light Department. Failure to submit required bid deposit with bid shall result in bid being deemed non-responsive. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder whose proposal is determined to be the most advantageous to MMLD based on price and other evaluation factors considered, as outlined in the Instructions to Bidders. The bidder agrees that its bid shall be good and may not be withdrawn for a period of 30 days after the opening of the bids. MMLD reserves the right to waive any informalities, to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any or all bids, or take whatever other action may be deemed to be in the best interest of MMLD.
Town of Marblehead Invitation for Bid Marblehead Municipal Light Department is requesting proposals for: 25KV 1000 KCMIL COPPER CONDUCTOR The Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD), the Awarding Authority, invites sealed bids from Qualified Vendors for 25KV 1000 KCMIL COPPER CONDUCTOR in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in accordance with these specifications. Copies of the Invitation for Bids may be obtained via MMLD’s Procurement Portal https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/marblehead. This procurement is funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and is therefore subject to 2 CFR 200.317– 200.327, Build America, Buy America Act (BABA), Davis Bacon Act (DBA) for labor subject to prevailing wage, and Massachusetts General Laws including M.G.L. c. 30B and M.G.L. c. 164 §56D and M.G.L. c. 149, §§ 26–27H. Bids will be received until October 9, 2026, at 10:00 am and publicly opened at that date and time. Any bids received after such time will not be accepted unless this date and time has been changed by addendum. All bids for this project are subject to applicable public bidding laws of Massachusetts. Attention is directed to the minimum prevailing wage rates to be paid as determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development and the weekly payroll record submittal requirements under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 149, Section 26 through 27D inclusive. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The bidder agrees that its bid shall be good and may not be withdrawn for a period of 30 days, Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays excluded, after the opening of the bids. MMLD reserves the right to waive any informalities, to accept or reject, in whole or in part, any or all bids, or take whatever other action may be deemed to be in the best interest of MMLD, at its discretion, including canceling this Invitation for Bids.
marbleheadcurrent.org
14 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
POLICE LOG
Donated vehicle’s plate misused; Bible verse scrawled on Amazon package Monday, Sept. 7
» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 5 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 10:10 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Wyman Road. 1:19 p.m. An officer investigated a disturbance on Barnard Hawkes Court. 6:17 p.m. An officer investigated an issue related to utilities on Maverick Court and Maverick Street. The issue could not be located.
Tuesday, Sept. 8
» Alarms: 4 » Building/property checks: 4 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1 8:49 a.m. An officer rendered services after a general complaint on Washington Street. 8:53 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Washington and Hooper
streets, but no action was required. 9:57 a.m. An officer rendered services after a general complaint on Maverick Street. 11:08 a.m. Services were rendered after general information was provided on Creesy Street. 11:20 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Smith Street and filed a report. 3:27 p.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a woman whose debit card had been hacked. The woman explained that she had just discovered multiple fraudulent charges on her account. She ticked off 11 such charges totaling $500 from Uber, Uber Eats and the delivery service company Gopuff, but she said there were many more beyond those. She said she was working with her bank to get reimbursed for the fraud. The officer told her that if she came back in with the rest of the charges, he could attach them to his report. The woman said she knew not much could be done, but she wanted
Wednesday, Sept. 9
the police to be aware and to have the incident documented. The officer advised her to check her credit report and other accounts for any additional fraudulent activity. 3:30 p.m. An officer rendered services after investigating a general complaint on Creesy Street. 5:44 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Ocean Avenue but could not locate the issue. 7:02 p.m. Services were rendered after a boat complaint on Salem Harbor. 10:49 p.m. Another agency was assisted on Cabot Street in Salem.
» Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 7 » Abandoned 911 calls: 0 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 12:05 p.m. An officer went to Pierce Street to assist with a neighbor dispute. 12:40 p.m. Officers responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Ocean and Atlantic avenues. At least one vehicle was towed. 3:49 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on West Shore Drive. The vehicle could not be located. 3:55 p.m. An officer dispatched to Village Plaza to investigate a report of a possible break-in to a vehicle. Upon his arrival, he spoke with the vehicle owner, who explained that she had gone inside Village Pharmacy for approximately 10 minutes. When she came out, the front driver’s side and front passenger side doors were open. She did not think anything had been taken from the vehicle, and no one was
inside her vehicle when she came out of the pharmacy. 3:59 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Pleasant Street. The issue could not be located. 4:19 p.m. An officer ran speed enforcement on Rockcliff Road after the department received complaints about speeding cars due to a detour for a traffic detail nearby. The officer found traffic to be moderate to light, and he did not witness any traffic violations. The average speed of vehicles was around 15 mph, he reported. 4:48 p.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Ocean Avenue. 5:40 p.m. Services were rendered after a boat complaint on Naugus Avenue. 6:29 p.m. An officer spoke over the phone with a West Shore Drive resident who wanted to report some suspicious events regarding her mail that occurred earlier in the day. The woman POLICE, P. 15
NEWS IN BRIEF BY LEGH BLANDER The Current accepts News in Brief submissions of 150-200 words at info@ marbleheadnews.org.
No changes to MPS cellphone rules — for now The Marblehead Public Schools are sticking with their current cellphone rules for now while administrators monitor how well they are working and state lawmakers consider broader restrictions. Superintendent John Robidoux told the School Committee that students in kindergarten through eighth grade must keep phones “off and away” throughout the school day. Administrators are also addressing smartwatches, Meta smart glasses and other connected devices. At the high school, students can access their phones between classes and during lunch but not during instructional time. Each classroom has a caddy where students are expected to park their phones unless a teacher allows their use for an educational purpose. “If there’s 17 kids in the classroom, there should be 17 phones in the caddy,” Robidoux said. Robidoux said the approach is generally working well, though administrators will continue monitoring enforcement. Teachers are also expected to stay off their personal phones during instructional time. “We have to model that
COURTESY PHOTO / ROBIN WORRALL
The Marblehead Public Schools are keeping their current cellphone rules, for now.
COURTESY PHOTO
The Rev. Patrick T. Gray is the new priest in charge at St. Michael’s. He is shown here with his wife, Naomi.
for our students,” he said. School Committee members Melissa Clucas and Kate Schmeckpeper raised the possibility of extending the high school restrictions to lunch and other noninstructional periods, saying less phone use could encourage more face-to-face interaction among students. Robidoux said the district has not made plans for an all-day high school ban and noted that students appear to socialize regularly during
Danforth From P. 13
“People helped me find what I needed. I want Lunita to provide that same kind of support.” She considered opening a store when Pint Size & Up on Atlantic Avenue closed, but the timing was not right. More recently, after hearing there might again be room in Marblehead for a children’s store, she began seriously exploring the idea.
lunch. He said the district is well positioned if Massachusetts ultimately requires stricter rules because students are already accustomed to putting phones away during class. “Until the Legislature tells us something different, I think we’re in a good place with this,” Robidoux said.
New priest at St. Michael’s The Rev. Patrick T. Gray
Family visits to Spain, where her husband grew up and still has relatives, also shaped her vision for Lunita and introduced her to Spanish children’s clothing. “The Spanish children’s clothes are unbelievably beautiful,” she said. “They’re well crafted, they have longevity, and they can be elegant when you need an elegant option, but also amazing play clothes for everyday wear.” Lunita will carry Spanish and other European lines, including
has been named priest in charge at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Marblehead. Gray comes to St. Michael’s after 16 years as rector at Christ Church in Hamilton-Wenham. “I am delighted and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as priest in charge of St. Michael’s,” said Gray. “St. Michael’s is a wonderful parish with a remarkable history and a warm and welcoming congregation. I am excited to become part of the St. Michael’s family and the wider Marblehead community, and I look forward to all that we will experience and accomplish together.” St. Michael’s senior warden, Robert L. Howie Jr., added, “We are delighted to welcome Fr. Gray and his family to St. Michael’s and to the Marblehead community. This is an exciting new chapter for our parish, and we look forward with great optimism to his ministry among us.” St. Michael’s Church was founded in 1714.
marbleheadma.gov/2026october-householdhazardous-waste-day.
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Feel the power
The Marblehead Health Department has scheduled the next Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 4-7 p.m. at the Transfer Station. There is a long list of items that may be disposed of that evening, including oil-based paint, antifreeze, lighter fluid and furniture polish. For the full list, visit
brands such as Pink Chicken, Kissy Kissy and Rachel Riley. The assortment will range from everyday play clothes to special-occasion clothing, along with gifts, accessories and personalized items. Danforth is also collaborating with women-owned businesses and local makers. Fabric, construction, quality and the story behind a brand all factor into what earns a place on Lunita’s shelves. One baby line was founded by a Peruvian woman who now
Explore the rise of Christian nationalism The UU Church of Marblehead at 28 Mugford St. will host a free community event on the rise of Christian nationalism on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2-4 p.m. Supporters of Christian nationalism view it as an affirmation of the nation’s Christian heritage. Critics warn that it challenges the constitutional separation of church and state. Come hear perspectives from three members of the local religious community and a theologian from the Boston University School of Theology. Bring your questions for a lively audience. Speakers: Rev. James Bixby (Clifton Lutheran Church), Rabbi Michael Schwartz (Temple Sinai), Rev. Andre Bennett (Zion Baptist Church) and Luis Menéndez-Antuña (Boston University School of Theology).
The Marblehead Municipal Light Department is inviting the community on Wednesday, Oct. 7 for coffee and donuts, a little MMLD history and a behind-the-scenes look at the people and work that keep Marblehead powered every day. It’s all part of Public Power Week. There will be tours at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. MMLD is located at 80 Commercial St.
runs the business with her mother. Its clothing is made from Peruvian Pima cotton, with some pieces featuring hand-embroidered details made by women in Peru. At the same time, Danforth is concentrating on becoming part of Marblehead’s year-round retail community. Lunita plans to participate in the town’s children’s trick-or-treat event and Small Business Saturday, and she is already looking forward to the Christmas Walk. Even the name reflects the
Annual MarbleShred day is Oct. 3 Marblehead Bank will be holding its annual free community shredding day for the public on Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m.-noon. The event will be held in the parking lot of the bank’s 21 Atlantic Ave. office. Shredding confidential documents is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself from identity theft, the bank noted. The bank will also host a food drive to benefit the Marblehead Food Pantry. This event will be held rain or shine.
MAA welcoming applications The Marblehead Arts Association is welcoming applications for new artist membership in the following categories: fine arts, photography, sculpture, craft, digital art and animation, wearable art and culinary art. Artists wishing to apply for membership should complete the online application and drop off five pieces of their work with a $25 fee at Marblehead Arts Association, 8 Hooper St, by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 13. All two-dimensional works should be thoroughly dry and ready to hang, as the quality of presentation, framing and wiring is also taken into consideration as part of the jurying-in process. Applications can be completed online at marbleheadarts.org/ calls-for-art.
family behind the business. Lunita means “little moon” in Spanish, a nod to her husband’s heritage and the Spanish culture that is part of their children’s lives. “My kids are always pointing up and saying, ‘Look at the moon!’” Danforth said. “It just felt like the perfect name for a children’s store.” Lunita will open Saturday, Oct. 3, at 27 Atlantic Ave., with children’s activities planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
marbleheadcurrent.org
Marblehead Current Wednesday, September 30, 2026 15
OBITUARIES
School, Lynn, with the Class of 1955. After staying home to raise her children, she later enjoyed working at Camilla’s Den Clothing in Marblehead and
providing medical billing for several doctors including at Salem Pediatrics and Salem OBGYN. Along with her husband, Mary was dedicated to the Marblehead community. She was a lifelong and active member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish and its ministries. She was also a member of the Women’s Guild and Shipyard Association. Nothing was more important to Mary than her family. A loving and devoted wife, she cherished her late husband, Dexter, and believed that she had married her soul mate. She cherished spending time with her family and friends, especially her
grandchildren whom she adored and became her main focus. She also really enjoyed dining out with her family and friends, including a circle of over 19 of her St. Mary’s High School classmates with whom she had re-connected over the past several years. Mary was the loving mother of Ann Marie Finch and her husband, Scott, of Marblehead; the late Chief Warrant Officer Michael Gillis, U.S.M.C, and the late Sharon Carlson; the cherished grandmother of Tyler Carlson, Hannah (Carlson) Hayes and her husband Timothy, Corey Finch, Kyle Finch and his fiancé, Halle McKay, Connor
Finch and the late Brandon Finch; and the dear sister of the late John Leo Kelley. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. A funeral Mass for Mary will be held on Friday, Oct. 2, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Burial will follow in Waterside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s memory to Tunnel to Towers Foundation via tunnel2towers.org. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Mary’s family.
married Robert L. Russell, her gregarious extrovert husband of 35 years, in a match that proved that opposites really do attract. At Camp Fire of the North Shore, one of the oldest Camp Fire councils in the country, Marlys provided steady leadership in an era of challenge and change. She was co-creator of a new club program for kindergarten children and she expanded programming in new directions, investing in after-school care in Lynn and Salem and classroombased self-reliance training for
fourth-graders, who learned to resist peer pressure and stand up to bullies. After her retirement in 2010, Marlys was happiest at the helm of her tiny, no-frills kitchen, where she reveled in preparing too much food for her children, grandchildren and friends. Guests at her annual Christmas Eve gathering looked forward to the Norwegian feast of meatballs and lefse all year — and treasured the tins of exquisite Christmas cookies she sent home with them. Baking was her way of expressing love, butter and vanilla her terms of endearment, and her laptop bookmarks read like affectionate poetry: chocolate spice cake with caramel icing. Honey bun coffee cake. Creamiest rice pudding. Pistachio muffins. Marlys cherished her Midwestern roots and her closeknit family there. She shared stories of growing up in South Dakota with her four siblings and Norwegian schoolteacher parents, and she made sure her
own children felt connected to that heritage via frequent summer road trips to the wideopen heartland where they could run wild with their prairie cousins. She also loved Marblehead’s rich history, and shared it with visitors to the town as a gift shop volunteer at Abbot Hall. She was a longtime member of Clifton Lutheran Church, a steadfast Democrat, an avid reader of newspapers and novels, a devotee of PBS mystery shows and a “West Wing” superfan who recently rewatched all seven seasons. A passionate Green Bay Packers shareholder and fan for six decades, since her indoctrination by her cheesehead husband, Marlys hosted Packer game parties for decades by the glowing fireplace in her 350-year-old historic home, the epicenter of Russell family life for generations. Marlys lived a life of understated dignity and strength, and her lasting legacy will be the simple lessons she
instilled: Gather together in good times and bad. Celebrate the small things. And believe that tomorrow can be better than today. She is survived by her children, Carrie and Jennifer Russell, Bowdie Russell and Heidi Chisholm; by her grandchildren, Bowdie, Caitlin, Shamus and Morgan Russell; Esther Tobin; Carl and Russell Chisholm, Cadence and Poesy Chapman and Maisie Russell-Deveney; by her great-grandchildren, Cain Tobin and Finnegan, Delaney and Kinsley Russell; and by her brothers Paul and Gordon Sather. Donations to honor her memory may be made to the North Shore Hearing Foundation at nshearingfoundation. com, Camp Fire North Shore at campfirenorthshore. networkforgood.com, or Emily’s List at win.emilyslist.org. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Marlys’ family.
According to Registry of Motor Vehicles records, the plate had been revoked due to a lack of insurance. The officer advised the man to call the RMV to cancel the plate. 6:32 p.m. General information provided on Surf Street was referred to another agency. 7:01 p.m. An officer investigated a report of suspicious activity on Pleasant Street. 7:44 p.m. Officers investigated a report of suspicious activity on West Shore Drive. 8:12 p.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Village Street.
investigated a general complaint on Devereux Street. 7:59 p.m. An officer rendered services after an issue related to utilities was reported on Gregory Street. 8:56 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Commercial and Prospect streets. The problem could not be located. 9:29 p.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on Creesy Street. 10:38 p.m. An officer restored the peace after a disturbance was reported on Ocean Avenue. 11:18 p.m. Officers restored the peace after a disturbance was reported on Pleasant Street.
Sunday, Sept. 13
Friday, Sept. 11
Saturday, Sept. 12
Mary P. (Kelley) Gillis, 90 Mary Pauline (Kelley) Gillis, age 90, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. She was the loving wife and best friend of the late Dexter C. Gillis with whom she shared over 52 years of marriage. The daughter of the late John Leo Kelley, Jr. and Sarah (Crowell) Kelley, Mary was born and raised in Marblehead. She graduated from St. Mary’s High
Marlys (Sather) Russell, 83 Marlys (Sather) Russell of Marblehead, a devoted mother and grandmother and a longtime executive director of Camp Fire of the North Shore, died on Monday, Sept. 21. She was 83. A graduate of Yankton High School in Yankton, South Dakota, and Augustana College in Sioux Falls, she began her career as a social worker in Austin, Minnesota. But she soon embarked on a life-changing adventure, moving cross-country to Boston with two friends on a lark, with no job and no intention to settle down for good on the East Coast. She began what would be a 40-year career serving children on Boston’s North Shore, starting out as summer camp director at Camp Fire’s Camp Waluta and rising to the top job at the small nonprofit, and she
Police From P. 14
had gone outside and noticed that her mailbox was open, which she found odd. There was mail inside of the mailbox, but nothing that would have kept the door of the mailbox open. She removed her mail and went back inside. Later on, she had gone back outside and noticed that there were papers laying on the walking bridge in front of her unit, which she discovered included bank statements and a debit card that had been mailed to her. The debit card was still inside of the envelope, and she did not believe anything of hers had been stolen or was missing. But the woman still found these events extremely unsettling, as they had left her feeling like she was being targeted. The woman said she planned to contact her bank to request a new card, and she also planned to call the post office. She said she would call the police again if she noticed anything else missing or any other suspicious activity. 6:47 p.m. Services were rendered after issues related to utilities were reported on Prospect Street and Prospect Court. 8:56 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on West Shore Drive. Upon his arrival, he was met by a woman who had heard a loud crash outside and went out to find that her vehicle, which had been parked on the street and unoccupied, had been struck, suffering damage to its left side. The striking vehicle had left the scene, but it had left a possible white paint transfer on the vehicle, and the woman had also found a piece of the striking vehicle’s fender and possible mirror cover. Her son’s research determined that the fender may have come from a 2018 Subaru Impreza.
Thursday, Sept. 10
» Alarms: 2 » Building/property checks: 12 » Abandoned 911 calls: 1 » Vehicle stops, citations: 2 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1 3:26 a.m. Officers investigated a report of a loud air horn on State and Front streets. 7:38 a.m. Services were rendered related to found or lost property on Smith Street. 10:38 a.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Broughton Road. 11:15 a.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Humphrey Street. 1:34 p.m. Services were rendered after a tree or branch was reported down on Humphrey Street. 1:47 p.m. Services were rendered after suspicious activity was reported on Humphrey and Birch streets. 2:02 p.m. A report of a tree or branch down on Beacon Street was referred to another agency. 2:38 p.m. An officer assisted after a report was made about a lack of crossing guard on Pleasant Street and Baldwin Road. 3:42 p.m. General information was provided on Seaview Avenue and Humphrey Street. 3:54 p.m. Services were rendered with an issue related to found or lost property on Atlantic Avenue. 5:31 p.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a man who had donated a vehicle to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, but he had been unable to remove one of the registration plates before doing so. The foundation never returned the plate to him, and he had just received an EZ Pass bill in the mail for $142.84 from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, apparently indicating that someone was using his plate on an unknown vehicle fraudulently.
» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 13 » Abandoned 911 calls: 5 » Vehicle stops, citations: 0 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 1 7:06 a.m. A lost iPhone was reported on Mechanic Street. 8:56 a.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Ocean Avenue. 11:21 a.m. A vehicle was towed after general information was provided on Broughton Road. 12:04 p.m. A report of a tree or branch down on Atlantic Avenue and Community Road was referred to another agency. 1:28 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Curtis Street. 2:22 p.m. A citizen was assisted on State and Front streets. 2:39 p.m. An officer investigated the report of a minor vehicle crash on Clifton Heights Lane. 2:54 p.m. Officers rendered services after a general complaint on Essex Street. 3:03 p.m. An officer assisted a citizen on Elm and Pearl streets. 3:19 p.m. No action was required after a general complaint on Pleasant Street. 7:35 p.m. No action was required after an officer
» Alarms: 0 » Building/property checks: 6 » Abandoned 911 calls: 3 » Vehicle stops, citations: 1 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 8:47 a.m. Services were rendered after a general complaint on Schooner Ridge. 9:44 a.m. An officer rendered services after a general complaint on Liberty Lane. 10:55 a.m. An officer rendered services after a general complaint on Farrell Court. 1:02 p.m. Services were rendered after general information was provided on Gregory Street. 2:49 p.m. Services were rendered after a power outage was reported on Harbor View Lane. 7:41 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Bessom and Pleasant streets. The issue could not be located. 8:45 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Washington Street. The call proved to be unfounded. 11:54 p.m. Officers investigated a general complaint on Barnard Hawkes Court. The call proved to be unfounded.
» Alarms: 1 » Building/property checks: 7 » Abandoned 911 calls: 3 » Vehicle stops, citations: 1 » Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 8:14 a.m. Officers assisted a citizen on Pleasant Street. 12:54 p.m. A lost iPhone was reported on Lafayette Street. 2:20 p.m. An officer spoke in the station with a man who had received an Amazon package with a reference to a New Testament verse, “John 3:16,” scrawled on it with a Sharpie marker. The man found the inscription concerning, as its arrival coincided with his observance of Rosh Hashanah, and if the driver had been the culprit, that driver now knew where he lived. The man showed the officer the photo he had been sent confirming that the package had been dropped off, which showed that the message had been written on it before it arrived at his door. The man had reported the incident to Amazon but also wanted police to know about it, too. He promised to update the officer on any response he received from Amazon. 3:32 p.m. Services were rendered after an issue related to utilities was reported on Ocean and Atlantic avenues. 4:03 p.m. Officers, firefighters and an ambulance crew responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Ocean Avenue. 6:29 p.m. An officer investigated a general complaint on Ocean Avenue. The issue could not be located. 10:20 p.m. No action was required after general information was provided on Lighthouse Lane. 11:27 p.m. An officer investigated a complaint about a moving vehicle on Maple and Humphrey streets. The vehicle could not be located.
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16 Wednesday, September 30, 2026 Marblehead Current
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