10.22.2025 - Volume 3, Issue 48

FIRST WAVE

1 The town is working on a new 3A plan. Page 1

2 About 800 people turned out for local ‘No Kings’ rally. Page 1 3 Congressman Moulton returns AIPAC money. Page 1

Working on new 3A proposal, town seeks input from last plan’s opponents

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The town is exploring new options for complying with the state’s MBTA Communities Act and has hired Barrett Planning Group to identify alternatives to the plan rejected by town voters in July.

“They’re helping us identify districts, additional districts beyond what’s already been looked at,” Director of Community Development and Planning Brendan Callahan said at an Oct. 14 meeting. The MBTA Communities Act requires 177 cities and towns,

including Marblehead, to zone for more multifamily housing in an effort to ease the state’s housing crunch. Marblehead needs to zone for 897 units.

Speaking at the meeting, Select Board Chair Dan Fox emphasized that the town will not bring back the rejected

3A plan to Town Meeting in May. That plan identified three multifamily zones including Broughton Road, Tioga Way and parts of Pleasant Street. Fox said he and other town leaders are meeting with 3A opponents to get their input as they develop a new proposal.

‘No Kings’ rally draws hundreds

BY LEIGH BLANDER

About 800 people came out for a “No Kings” rally in Marblehead Saturday afternoon — many carrying signs and others dressing up in costumes.

“We all have to work together to get rid of this tyrant,” said Andrea Utne, referring to President Donald Trump. Utne was dressed in an inflatable lobster costume, in a nod to the frog outfits at Portland, Oregon, protests.

Eleanor McMahon and friend Alison Juves, both of Marblehead, held signs together and waved at honking cars passing by.

“The (political) pendulum has swung too far the wrong way,” Juves said. “We’re here to make some good trouble.”

McMahon said she was protesting the weaponization of the Department of Justice, the military build-up against Venezuela and more.

“We have to show up,” she added.

Marblehead fifth-grader Bode Potter carried a sign defending LGBTQ rights, democracy and immigrants.

“I don’t like Trump,” Potter said. “He’s taking away all the immigrants before they get a chance to defend

“We are having those conversations,” Fox said. “We are hearing loud and clear, the last plan doesn’t work. There is public outreach to a limited group, and it will be expanded as we move forward to make

POLITICS Moulton, running for Senate, says he’ll return

AIPAC money

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Congressman Seth Moulton, a Democrat who grew up in Marblehead, announced Oct. 16 that he is returning $35,000 in donations from the American Israel Political Affairs Committee and refusing to accept any money or support from the group. The day before, Moulton officially launched his run for the U.S. Senate, challenging fellow Democrat Ed Markey.

“I support Israel’s right to exist, but I’ve also never been afraid to disagree openly with AIPAC when I believe they’re wrong,” Moulton said. “In recent years, AIPAC has aligned itself too closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. I’m a friend of Israel, but not of its current government, and AIPAC’s mission today is to back that government.”

According to Open Secrets, AIPAC and individuals associated with it donated $42,850 to Moulton in 2023 and 2024. AIPAC had been Moulton’s top campaign donor over the last two years.

Moulton is making his campaign about generational change.

In a campaign video, Moulton said, “Our party has clung to the status quo, insisted on using the same old playbook and isn’t fighting hard enough. The next generation will keep paying the cost if we don’t change

Brown School Monster Mash a scary success

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Hundreds of families packed the Brown School’s annual Monster Mash celebration Friday evening to celebrate Halloween.

The Current stopped by to check out this year’s costumes and, of course, to see if any students could get Principal Mary Maxfield in the dunk tank. (They did!) Parts of the school were transformed into a haunted house, and there were lots of spooky carnival games.

Marren, left, and Josie Waldo show off their costumes and cookies at the Monster Mash.

Brown School Principal Mary Maxfield smiles after getting soaked in the dunk tank.

ABOVE: Michael Pacquette with North Shore Indivisible and Andrea Utne (aka the lobster) stand at the “No Kings” rally in Marblehead Saturday.

MOULTON, P. 3

Town officials weigh crypto ATM risks amid state debate

BY AKANKSHA GOYAL

With Massachusetts considering new rules for cryptocurrency ATMs, Marblehead officials are taking a closer look at whether to regulate the machines locally as police statewide report a rise in scams tied to digital-currency kiosks.

The state’s Joint Committee on Financial Services heard hours of testimony last week on a proposal that would, for the first time, require cryptocurrency kiosk operators to register with the state, post fraud warnings and set daily transaction limits. It would also require kiosk operators to refund victims of fraudulent transactions.

State Rep. Jenny Armini, D-Marblehead, who supports the legislation, said it represents a case of “the law needing to catch up with technology.” “This is essentially another kind of ATM,” Armini told the Current. “So if this is another kind of ATM, it needs to be regulated. There’s no reason why cryptocurrency should be any more available than regular currency.” Select Board Chair Dan Fox said the issue hasn’t yet surfaced as a major concern locally, but the board is gathering information.

“We are in conversations with legal counsel discussing our options about regulations and what that would look like,” he said. “Everything’s on the table… anywhere from making them register as well as possible potential bans.” Fox said officials want to protect seniors and other vulnerable residents while allowing legitimate operators to continue if possible.

“We’d like to take a preventative approach as opposed to waiting for something bad to happen,” he said. Any local action, he added, would need approval at the Town Meeting after legal review, police input and coordination with other communities.

Within Marblehead, police say they’ve seen a steady stream of cryptocurrency-related scams.

Earlier this year, a local teenager helped stop an elderly woman at Richdale on Smith Street from falling victim to a Bitcoin ATM scam.

“We field a number of calls regarding cryptocurrency being related to scams throughout town,” said Detective Theresa Gay. “Whether or not those machines are actually in town or whether they’re directed to go to another place depends on the fact pattern, but we certainly deal with this often.” Gay said the department receives about five to 10 such reports a month, noting that the shift to cryptocurrency mirrors how scam tactics have evolved.

“What used to be scams where victims would be directed to buy gift cards have turned into scams where victims are directed to go to specific cryptocurrency machines in the area,” she said.

Tracking those cases, she added, is difficult and time-consuming.

“Those machines aren’t owned by criminals themselves; it’s just the criminal enterprises directing the usage of those,” Gay said, highlighting that cryptocurrency transactions are particularly hard to trace because once the money is sent, it disappears almost instantly.

The department is still working

to identify exactly how many cryptocurrency ATMs are in town, she said, and urged residents of all ages to stay vigilant and contact police if they suspect a scam.

To prevent fraud, Marblehead police have partnered with local businesses and banks to post warnings and train employees to recognize red flags.

At the State House hearing, lawenforcement officials described these machines as “the Wild West” of financial fraud and urged lawmakers to impose limits and consumer protections.

Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, whose office covers Marblehead, urged lawmakers to act quickly, calling the kiosks a “payment portal for scammers.” His office has investigated more than two dozen cases, many involving elderly victims, but said the problem is vastly underreported because victims often feel shame or embarrassment.

“At this very moment, someone is being scammed,” Tucker said. “There’s no doubt that someone is being scammed.”

According to the FBI’s Internet

Crime Complaint Center, losses tied to cryptocurrency kiosk scams jumped 99% nationwide last year from 2023, reaching about $247 million. Tucker said Massachusetts has between 650 and 800 crypto ATMs, many in gas stations and corner stores.

Ethan McClellan, director of government relations for Bitcoin Depot, the world’s largest cryptokiosk operator, spoke against the stricter clauses outlined in the bill. He said low transaction limits and fee caps would effectively drive legitimate operators out of Massachusetts while failing to curb scams.

McClellan urged lawmakers instead to focus on licensing, clear disclosures and stronger compliance measures to protect consumers.

Some communities, including Waltham and Gloucester, have already passed local ordinances banning crypto kiosks, while Danvers is considering similar measures.

Armini said Marblehead leaders could consider local action if the machines become a problem.

“If Marblehead is experiencing enough of a problem, then the Select Board would probably be a faster route to solving it,” she said, noting that the state’s legislative process can be “slow and deliberative.” Fox said Marblehead will keep researching options but emphasized education as one of the best defenses.

“The more that people are aware, the less likely they are to be scammed,” he said. “It’s not always about regulations but about making sure people understand what’s out there.”

Future Forward program helps public housing residents set, achieve goals

BY LEIGH BLANDER

The Marblehead Housing Authority has launched Future Forward, a self-sufficiency program designed to help residents of public housing set and achieve their personal, educational and career goals.

Future Forward offers participants individualized coaching, resource navigation and the opportunity to build financial stability.

The Marblehead and Salem Housing authorities used a $100,000 state grant to hire Sandy Reiniger as the Future Forward coordinator. So far, more than 20 MHA residents have expressed interest in the program.

“Future Forward gives our residents the support, tools and resources they need to make real

BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS

Managing childhood anxiety

progress toward their goals,” Reiniger said. “Whether that’s going back to school, starting a new job or improving financial security, we want to help our residents take meaningful steps forward.”

Reiniger will meet with

The Friends of The Marblehead Public Schools are presenting Lynn Lyons on Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. in the PAC at the Veterans School. Lyons, a licensed independent clinical social worker, is presenting her book, The Anxiety Audit. Learn about childhood stress and anxiety and how to help.

Learn how to advocate for affordable housing

The Housing Stewards Program by Harborlight Homes will have a three-evening event 10/27-10/29 from 6-8 p.m. Learn how to foster effective advocacy for affordable housing in your community. Participants will gain unique insights into housing history, financing and learn different ways to advocate. Community members will share their experiences and perspectives on affordable

residents one-on-one every few months. The program lasts three years, with the possibility of a two-year extension.

“I’m their resource person, their cheerleader,” Reiniger said. “I give positive feedback and brainstorm with them to break down barriers.”

The work can sometimes involve family goals, too.

“A lot of moms have a child with special needs, which takes a lot of their time. There may be resources that can help them,” she said.

Another key part of the program involves financial savings.

As public housing residents earn more money, their rent automatically increases. With Future Forward, the MHA will invest the additional rent money

CHAIR Bob Peck

housing challenges. The free event (which includes dinner) is at the JCC of theNorth Shore, 4 Community Road. Register at https:// loom.ly/2DxANu8

in escrow so it can earn interest.

“If you have a signed contract, the MHA can start a savings account in your name,” Reiniger explained. “Residents can then use that money to potentially get themselves out of debt or for car repairs … different things that have haunted them.”

MHA Executive Director Cathy Hoog is a big fan of Future Forward, saying it’s “about more than short-term assistance — it’s about long-term empowerment. When residents thrive, our entire community benefits. We are excited to see how this program will support Marblehead families in building brighter, more sustainable futures.”

To learn more about Future Forward, contact Reiniger at sreiniger@salemha.org.

Swinging for a cause

Marblehead Counseling Center’s bi-ennial golf tournament is scheduled at Tedesco Country Club for Monday, Oct. 27. This year, there are new sponsors and tournament events, including a $10,000 putt contest! Cost for entry is $1,000 per foursome which includes refreshments, gift bags, prizes and celebratory cocktail reception. marbleheadcounseling.org.

Town to taxpayers: Proposed assessments up 3.5-6.1%

The fiscal year proposed property tax assessments are available to review through Friday, Oct. 24, at the Assessors Office on Widger Road, Abbot Hall, Abbot Library and online at marbleheadma.gov/asesessors-office. The revaluation resulted in aggregate changes of value in the range of +3.5% to +6.1% for commercial and residential properties.

standing by to listen to your ideas. Please drop us a line and let us know what you would like to see in your community newspaper. Send your thoughts to info@marbleheadnews.org.

IN MEMORIAM Ed Bell, co-founder, co-chair (2022-2025)

Help keep the Current coming by scanning this QR code. Thank you!

COURTESY PHOTO

The Marblehead and Salem Housing Authorities have hired Sandy Reiniger as the Future Forward coordinator.

CURRENT PHOTO

An elderly woman was almost scammed using this bitcoin machine at Richdale on Smith Street. A teenager in the store alerted police.

Pies for a Purpose raised $1,800 for the Ellie Fund at an Oct. 4 pie sale. The Ellie Fund supports women with breast cancer and their families. Shown here, left to right: Kari Breed, Jamie Kapeleris, Jessica Pratt, Pies For a Purpose founder Diana Breed, Meredith Mendelson, Ellie Fund Executive Dir. Jill Philips and Gabrielle Coffman.

Locals support rescue pups, amid surge in need

BY BELLA TRAVAGLINI

Two Marblehead women have taken on the selfless task of fostering dogs for a North Shore rescue, as the state faces a gr owing crisis of lost and abandoned dogs and cats; a phenomenon that exploded after COVID hit in 2020, overcrowding shelters and tapping out the number of people willing to foster.

“What do we do with all of the animals in need when there are not enough people to adopt and pay for the life of the animal?” said Cynthia Sweet, the passionate and vibrant founder of Sweet Paws Rescue, currently based in Groveland. “It’s an equation that doesn’t add up!”

Lisa Miller, who lives in town, has fostered about 150 dogs for Sweet Paws in the six-plus years since she signed up. She learned of the rescue through a friend, and decided that since she is an at-home mom, she could open her heart and home to help.

“My heart lies with the pregnant moms and babies,” said Miller, who primarily cares for expectant dogs and has delivered 19 litters of dogs at her home.

“When a dog comes into my home, withdrawn, terrified, abused, not knowing what a toy is, they are like a shell. I’ve slept in bean bags on the floor next to the dogs who are often struggling. And as time passes, and I see them pick up a toy, or they crawl into my lap and put their head on me, finally feeling safe — it’s like magic, and it’s my privilege.” Three puppies in Miller’s care were adopted two weeks ago, with the smallest pup, Abby, a black and white mixedbreed, finding her home through a Sweet Paws adoption event.

Following a significant vetting process, Sweet Paws provides training for fosters and all supplies, foods, toys and covers the cost for all veterinary care.

“The only thing Sweet Paws asks the fosters to do is to provide love and care,” said Miller.

The notion of fostering had been percolating for over

sure everyone has a say in this process.”

Town Planner Alex Eitler said the town will send any new plan to the state for preliminary approval — hopefully before the end of the year — before presenting it to residents. At that point, Callahan said there would be public meetings where residents can weigh in.

Housing Committee member Kurt James emphasized that the town is losing money while out of compliance. Earlier this month, the state alerted town

two-and-a-half-years for lifelong resident Kate Thomson, after she adopted her dog, Finn, from Sweet Paws through Miller, who was fostering the Pyrenees mix at the time.

She had recently lost her longtime golden and knew that she may not be ready to take on the feat of fostering. Feeling that she is in a good place now, Thomson last week picked up her second foster, Marvin, an 11-week-old, cinnamon-colored puppy found abandoned with his littermates on the side of the road down south. As a new foster, Thomson is navigating how to best deal with what can be a very emotional venture.

“My job is to be a lily pad,” said Thomson. “On my lily pad, I have to convey to the dogs the knowledge that humans are kind,

leaders that Marblehead was not eligible for nearly $3 million in grants.

At a meeting later that day, the Planning Board appointed member Marc Liebman to be its point person on any new 3A plan. Liebman will work closely with Eitler and Fox.

“I’m kind of on a mission of exploration to see what’s the most likely outcome, and report that back, and take into consideration the opinions of people who may not have felt heard the first time around,” Liebman said.

Planning Board Chair Bob Schaeffner added, ““It seems

until they are ready to move on to the next lily pad and the next lily pad. And my takeaway is all the puppy snuggles.” Sweet, the only paid employee, has high praises for her dedicated crew.

“Our fosters and volunteers are the backbone of this organization. Without them, we would not be able to operate,” said Sweet.

During COVID, when everyone was holed-up at home, many decided to adopt a pet, said Sweet. As time went on, some of those who adopted couldn’t make ends meet with rising housing costs and others losing their jobs. Some didn’t take into consideration the costs for feeding a pet and veterinary care. As a result, many animals have been surrendered or abandoned, she said.

clear that Broughton Road was always, that was noncontroversial, and it already has plans for development. The concerns were about Tioga Way and Village Street, Village Plaza. So we’re looking, in a sense, for an alternative to those two districts.”

Broughton Road update

Marblehead Housing Authority Executive Director Cathy Hoog updated the committee on the $67 million Broughton Road redevelopment project. The public housing community currently has 62 units, most more than 75 years old.

state.

Sweet Paws Rescue is entirely foster-based, without a brickand-mortar shelter, which is by choice, said Sweet. Her belief is that animals do better in foster homes, where they are less stressed and their true personalities can come to light, so that they can be perfectly matched with a home. The rescue is not eligible for public funding, so they rely entirely on donations and fundraisers.

The rescue has been operating

The MHA is partnering with WinnDevelopment on the redevelopment.

“We’re in a really great position now,” Hoog said. She added, “There’s definitely a need for affordable housing in Marblehead. Subsidized housing inventory is pretty low.”

Winn’s plan is to fully renovate 44 units and demolish and replace another 18. In addition, Winn will construct about 60 units in a new building towards the front of the Broughton Road property.

a holding facility since 2011 in Groveland where dogs are quarantined for the required 48-hour hold for the dogs and cats brought up by a transport company. The strays then go to either a foster or doggie day care until they are successfully adopted out. While the group has 100 fosters in Massachusetts and another 100 down south, it’s not enough to meet the demand.

In Massachusetts alone, the percentage of the number of strays the rescue serves has increased to 50%, up from the 3% it was prior to 2019. There are exciting plans on the horizon for the rescue since Sweet purchased a 20-acre farm in Boxford a couple of months ago. Sweet has made her home here, drawn to the property with the dogs in mind by its sprawling barn and access to miles of walking trails in the abutting Wild Cat Conservation Area. Plans are in the works to renovate the barn for use as the new Sweet Paws Rescue holding facility for the animals transported from the south.

“Our volunteers have to maneuver a main street in Groveland when they go to feed and walk the dogs,” said Sweet. “Our facility has served us well, but there is no green space, and the strays are frightened by the passing trucks. In Boxford, we are surrounded by nothing but woods. There will be off leash outdoor and indoor space. Our volunteers will be able to walk the dogs on the trails. It will be wonderful.” To learn more about Sweet Paws Rescue, visit sweetpawsrescue.org.

New units will be an “affordability mix,” she said. Current Broughton Road residents who may need to be displaced during construction will be relocated and are guaranteed a spot when the project is complete.

course. This isn’t a fight we can put off for another six years. The future we all believe in is on the line.”

Moulton also discussed his work in Congress, citing his authorship of a high-speed rail plan, which he says would cut carbon emissions, create goodpaying union jobs and lead to record investments in affordable housing. And he details passage of his bipartisan 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that has connected over 13 million people in crisis to critical health support.

Moulton said Americans need to be willing to have difficult conversations.

“We’re in crisis, and with everything we learned last

election, I just don’t believe Senator Markey should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old,” says in the video. “Even more, I don’t think someone who’s been in Congress for a half century is the right person to meet this moment and win the future.

Senator Markey is a good man, but it’s time for a new generation of leadership.”

Moulton came under fire earlier this year when he said he wouldn’t want his daughters playing sports against trans athletes. However, he voted against a bill banning transgender women and girls from participating in school athletic programs designated for female students.

Emily DeJoy with the Marblehead Republican Town Committee told the Current that Moulton is “not an asset” for the

“His record in Congress reflects a consistently liberal approach to policy, often supporting higher taxes, increased government spending and regulations that burden small businesses,” DeJoy said.

“We believe Massachusetts deserves leaders who prioritize fiscal responsibility, individual liberty and policies that strengthen families and communities over political ambition.”

DeJoy added, “As for his House seat, we hope to see a candidate emerge who embodies these conservative principles — someone committed to economic growth, public safety and accountable, principled leadership that truly represents the people of Massachusetts.”

Anne Gugino Carrigan, who leads Marblehead’s Democratic

The existing 62 units will remain public housing, and “rents will remain exactly as they are.” Residents pay 30% of their income in rent, according to Hoog.

Town Committee, said the committee is remaining neutral in the Senate battle.

“Democracy is alive and well, and our committee will support the fairly elected winner,” she said. “But at this stage, the committee is not endorsing either candidate. May the campaign begin.”

Moulton is a Marine veteran who served four tours in Iraq. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Harvard College. He entered politics in 2014.

Moulton briefly ran for president in the 2020 election. He withdrew from the race in August 2019. Several candidates have come forward announcing campaigns for the 6th Congressional District seat, including former White House aide Dan Koh, Topsfield town official Jamie Belsito and Middleton software

Hoog and WinnDevelopment have met with residents to get their input on the project and will continue to do so, Hoog said. For more information on the Broughton Road project, visit broughtonrd.com.

engineer Beth Andres-Beck.

Last month, the Current contacted state Rep. Jenny Armini, of Marblehead, and Sen. Brendan Crighton, of Lynn, to see if they had interest in running for Moulton’s House seat.

Crighton responded, “I would never rule anything out, but right now I’m focused on our crucial work in the (Massachusetts) Senate.”

Crighton gave a firmer answer to the Boston Globe last week, saying that while he was flattered by calls for him to run and had given the campaign a “serious look,” he concluded that it was “not the right time.” Armini answered, “The Massachusetts House is the only house I want to serve in. It’s where I can do the most good for Marblehead, Swampscott and Lynn.”

Marvin, an 11-week-old puppy, is being taken care of by Kate Thomson in Marblehead and needs a new home.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Sweet just purchased this sprawling barn which will undergo renovations to serve, partly, as a holding facility for the southern strays.

One of Lisa Miller’s foster pups, Abby, was recently adopted at a Sweet Paws event.

CURRENT PHOTO / BELLA TRAVAGLINI

Cynthia Sweet, founder of Sweet Paws Rescue, with three of her six dogs, (from left) Frankie, Cheddar and Alfie, at her new Boxford farm.

Seven-month-old southern stray, Mocha, resting at the Boxford farm. Sweet took Mocha in because there is no one to foster her.

Opinion

‘No Kings’ is patriotism personified

Nearly 7 million people participated in more than 2,700 “No Kings” rallies across the country on Saturday, Oct. 18, according to estimates.

With its afternoon rally, Marblehead contributed modestly to that total — we counted about 800 people — but still an impressive showing for a small seaside community. Some, no doubt, had also spent part of their afternoon on Boston Common, where about 125,000 gathered to hear remarks from Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, among others.

Skeptics of the rallies — and even some supporters — might ask: What was the point? What did this exercise accomplish?

The best answer to those questions is: We’ll see.

When you think about it, none of the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment promises immediate gratification.

The press supplies information to the public; it’s the public that decides what to do with that information.

A “petition” to the government is the first step in a process — often an arduous one that offers no guarantee of success.

The freedom to practice — or not practice — religion has intensely personal benefits, some of which may be realized in the present. But for adherents of many faiths, the ultimate payoff only comes when we leave this earthly plane.

So it is, too, with the freedom of assembly. Countless boycotts, sit-ins,

Freedom Rides, marches and walks culminated with 250,000 people descending on the nation’s capital for the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. Even then, it took nearly a year before President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, and another full year passed before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 became law.

Only history will be able to render a final assessment of what the “No Kings” movement produces, and that history has only begun to be written.

Nonetheless, the leaders of the “No Kings” movement, who also organized an initial round of 2,100 demonstrations that drew an estimated 5 million people in June, can already lay claim to certain accomplishments.

First, imagine if those organizers had tried to throw these “parties,” but no one came. The administration might well interpret that as a tacit endorsement of actions many view as unconstitutional, whether that is redirecting or simply not spending money Congress has appropriated, authorizing military strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea with dubious legal authority, or conducting “expedited removals” without due process of undocumented immigrants, many of whom have been peaceful, productive members of American communities for years.

At a minimum, the millions who attended “No Kings” rallies sent a loud, clear message: “We don’t approve.” How members of Congress

— including those up for reelection in 2026 — and individual voters internalize and adapt to that message will unfold in the days and weeks ahead.

However, the “No Kings” rallies achieved something else, too. In an age built to seduce us into becoming “keyboard warriors,” the rallies offered a reminder of the far healthier exercise of showing up with bodies, voices and signs, rather than just a snarky tweet or Facebook comment.

The online content that enrages us, often prompting a reflexive response — what the social media companies call “engagement” — is not just ephemeral; it may be destructive. Consuming the latest outrage fed to us by social media algorithms triggers a secretion of dopamine. As the dopamine starts to wear off, we seek out our next “hit,” starting us down the road to compulsive overconsumption.

If all the “No Kings” rallies managed to do was convince people to put down their phones for a few hours to stand shoulder to shoulder in common cause with their fellow humans, it could still be considered a success.

But the “No Kings” rallies did more than that. They also captured attention. Stories about the rallies were placed “above the fold” on Page 1 of Sunday’s daily newspapers and led TV newscasts. The Current’s Facebook post with a link to a gallery of photos from the Marblehead rally immediately began to rack up hundreds of “likes” and dozens of

comments. To be able to dominate the conversation in this day and age is no small feat, MSNBC host Chris Hayes, author of the recent book “The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource,” would likely tell you.

Of course, capturing attention ideally is a means to an end, not an end in its own right. As President Trump himself regularly demonstrates, there are many ways to use a microphone, not all of them socially beneficial. But at least for one day, attendees of the rallies managed to wrench the microphone from him and members of his administration, providing a replicable blueprint for future efforts with a more focused message.

Whether the echoes of the chants at the “No Kings” rallies will foster any change is no more knowable today than it was in the days immediately after Dec. 16, 1773, when 30-year-old Dr. Elisha Story of Marblehead, a member of the Sons of Liberty, helped dump 342 chests of British East India Company tea into Boston Harbor to protest British taxation without representation.

As we now know, all Story and his fellow patriots managed to accomplish was to plant the seeds for the birth of a nation that has been a beacon of freedom and democracy for nearly 250 years.

The attendees of the “No Kings” rallies here and across the country are worthy heirs to Story’s legacy. We commend them for their quintessential display of American patriotism.

A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down The changing world of childhood vaccines

BY DR. TOM MASSARO

Anyone who has spent time with kids probably knows Mary Poppins’ recipe for making a bad tasting medicine more palatable. Fewer perhaps know the song was written about the Sabin oral polio vaccine which in Mary Poppins’ London was given in a sugar syrup to counteract the bitter taste of the vaccine. (In the U.S. it was delivered on a small cube of sugar.)

Sabin’s oral attenuated live vaccine followed Jonas Salk’s inactivated virus version which was delivered by injection. Both scientists were universally recognized for their discoveries which saved children worldwide from often paralyzing and sometimes fatal infections. Both scientists generously refused to apply for patents on their remarkable discoveries saying these vaccines were their “gifts to mankind.”

Even though it has been more than 60 years since Mary Poppins first sang her song, I am amazed and saddened by what has happened in the world of childhood vaccines since that time. Rather than being seen universally as life-saving compounds — gifts to mankind — childhood vaccines are now being described in some circles

as generating unnecessary risks to children today.

The scientist in me can’t help but ask: How could this radical about face have occurred? I find it hard to believe that anyone would intentionally seek to harm children by taking vaccines away from them, so I have to believe the individuals remodeling the current childhood vaccine infrastructure must have different data than I do. I try to closely follow the published scientific literature and I am comfortable with what I hear from the American Academy of Pediatrics and most other medical societies which endorse vaccines as enormously effective investments in reducing infections and saving lives.

Since 1994, the Vaccines for Children program has covered the cost of vaccines. A summary of the health and economic benefits for the first 30 years of the VCF program was published in Aug. 2024. It showed routine childhood vaccinations for the 117 million children covered have prevented 508 million illnesses, 32 million hospitalizations and 1,290,000 deaths. The costs of those immunizations was $268 billion at a net savings of over $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs. With discounted vaccine prices every dollar spent on the VCF program results in a savings of 11 dollars. Unfortunately,

WELLNESS SURVEY

All Marblehead residents 18 and older are urged to take a survey regarding their health and wellness. The confidential assessment run by a team from UMass Boston is part of the Creating a Healthier Marblehead (CAHM) initiative, which is based on the belief that the Board of Health should be more actively involved in improving the wellness of our community.

however, funding for childhood vaccination programs is slated to be reduced in the most recent federal funding proposals. Reported measles cases are already at their highest levels in decades. As of Oct. 7, 2025, 1,563 cases have been confirmed from 41 states. Measles is one of the most infectious viruses known. As vaccine hesitancy increases, the likelihood of even more significant outbreaks increases. Many people think measles infection is “no big deal” and that there are few consequences of refusing measles vaccine. In fact, the risks of the vaccine are trivial compared to the risks of the disease. As someone who has managed a 3 year old with measles pneumonia on a ventilator, I can in good conscience say that measles infections can be very serious. If 10,000 children were to get measles infections, 2,000 will require hospitalization, 500 will have pneumonia, 10 will get

encephalitis (brain swelling) and between 10 and 30 will die In contrast, if 10,000 kids get MMR vaccine as directed, three will experience a febrile seizure and one might have abnormal blood clotting.

The 2023 Nobel Prize in chemistry was awarded to two scientists for their research that led to the unique COVID m-RNA vaccines which are estimated to have prevented 18 million hospitalizations and 3 million additional deaths.

They also saved about $1.1 trillion in medical costs that would otherwise have been expended. Yet, the grant funding for the research that would have extended this innovative technique to other infectious diseases and even some forms of cancer was terminated for a reason that seemed nonsensical to a Harvard epidemiologist. The reason given was that these vaccines failed to completely protect against respiratory

infection over the long term — which is definitely true, but they did protect high risk individuals from severe disease which allowed them to survive their infections. The logic of that decision and many others related to vaccines is unclear to many of us.

Parents sometimes wonder about the number of vaccines their children get these days compared to when they were young. Can we be overwhelming their developing immune systems? That is a thoughtful question, and the answer is reassuring to those of us in the field. The reality is that over the years, scientists have learned more about the bacteria and viruses that cause these illnesses, and they are able to be much more accurate in their targeting. In the mid 80s, children under two received vaccines against 7 seven diseases. Those vaccines targeted over 3,000 antigens to work effectively.

Today, children under 2 receive vaccines against 15 infectious diseases but their formulas target about 320 antigens. This much more focused targeting results in less stress to the young immune systems. Vaccines save lives. There are many issues in medicine that are debatable, but for me, this is not

Recycle those junk drawer minerals

BY CHRIS RANDALL

In the battle to fight climate change, lithium batteries are an essential piece of the puzzle to reduce carbon emissions. People frequently point to the current methods of production of batteries as a reason to delay transitioning our transportation fleet away from fossil fuels. Often missing from the conversation is the widespread use of lithium batteries in the devices that power our lives and our responsibility to mitigate the impact of our consumer habits. There are legitimate worries that the use of lithium batteries to replace fossil fuels for transportation comes with geopolitical, humanitarian and environmental baggage. Minerals are sourced all over the world including many places with less than ideal labor practices and or lax environmental regulations. The most widely discussed example is Cobalt which largely comes from the Democratic

ASK LIZZIE

Republic of Congo. Most of the mineral refining and battery manufacturing takes place in China, although this is changing. All of these materials need to be shipped around the world using fossil fuel burning ships. Fortunately, there are American companies pioneering the field of battery recycling who aspire to create a domestic, circular economy. Since the ingredients that go into batteries can be broken down to an elemental level, they can be recycled almost endlessly. As we improve our process of recycling

battery material, we decrease the negative effects of battery production and our rechargeable devices and electric cars get greener and greener, not to mention more affordable.

While EV and hybrid batteries are almost always repurposed or recycled, we do not have such a great track record of recycling portable electronics. According to Redwood Materials (a battery recycler based in Nevada), we recycle less than 5% of the lithium containing electronics that we consume, and throw away over 150 million phones per year! We have an almost endless appetite for portable electronic devices, effectively importing battery minerals one device at a time. While the overall size of the battery in a smartphone (or any portable device) may be miniscule compared to those in electric vehicles, the percentage of cobalt is far higher and every bit helps.

If we can collectively commit to responsibly dispose of our own devices, we can have a real impact on the supply chain of battery minerals. Think for a moment about all of the rechargeable devices in your house. Headphones and bluetooth speakers, cell phones, kids toys, power tools, laptops and peripheral computer devices, even electric toothbrushes. If something is rechargeable, chances are there are valuable minerals that can be recycled at the end of its useful life. If those devices are not recycled and end up in the trash they can pose a fire risk, leach toxic material into the environment, or decompose and release greenhouse gasses.

I have committed to doing my part to bring a greener future to our children and I’m calling on all Marbleheaders to commit to the proper disposal of your own batteries. Conveniently,

Staples in Vinnin Square has a consumer electronics recycling program. They will happily, and responsibly dispose of your devices; just delete any personal information and bring them in the front door to the register. If that feels like too big of an ask, please email me at marbleheadbatteryrecycler@ gmail.com and I can come pick them up for you.

While fossil fuels are extracted and burned, never to be used again, there is a potential future where our cars are powered by renewables and we can nearly stop mining for battery minerals and endlessly recycle the materials that go into the devices that we use every day. That future is a long way away, but the more obsolete devices that find their way to a recycler, the closer it becomes.

Chris Randall is a Sustainable Marblehead board member.

Maybe college kids can’t cope because we forgot to let them play on their own

BY LIZZIE ASSA

Resilience isn’t taught at 18, it’s built at 4 — on the living room floor

A therapist who works with college students recently told me something that stopped me in my tracks. She said her clients — smart, capable, raised-on-enrichment, tutors and club sports kids— are struggling with the same three things:

» They shut down completely after a setback.

They can’t solve problems without involving their parents.

» They overthink every decision like it’s life or death. These aren’t college problems. These are play problems.

The second she said it, I thought to myself, these kids probably didn’t have a lot of unstructured time to play independently when they were little.

I am talking about the kind of play that builds grit, decisionmaking, and self-trust, not just entertainment.

I am referring to child-led play where:

» You’re bored… so you figure it out.

From P. 4

one of them. However, the current wave of vaccine hesitancy is threatening that reality. As fewer children are immunized, more will get infected and, ultimately, more will die. I hope that before rejecting the recommended vaccines and schedules, parents will take the time to learn more about these issues from reliable sources, to talk with their caregivers or other trusted individuals and to allow their children to benefit from these safe and

Your tower falls, you get upset, you pull it together and start again.

» Nobody’s directing or entertaining… so you come up with your own plan.

That’s the kind of play that has slowly been disappearing and replaced by screens, enrichment and club sports. We pack our kids’ schedules in the name of giving them opportunities we didn’t have.

We step in to help, fix, suggest and narrate, all with the best intentions. We bring the forgotten violin, we edit their homework and email their teacher when they get a bad grade. It feels like good parenting. It feels like love…But in the process, we accidentally take away the one thing they really need: Room to lead.

I know 18 feels far away when your four year old still needs help opening a yogurt tube without exploding the pink

valuable medicines.

The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the Board of Health which he chairs.

Dr. Tom Massaro is chair of the Board of Health and also serves on the Town Charter Committee. He is an emeritus professor at the University of Virginia where he practiced medicine and taught public health, health law and the business of medicine for many years. He lives in Marblehead with his wife and son. He is not writing for the Board of Health.

sticky mixture until it’s dripping down the kitchen wall. But the mess is kind of the point.

These patterns don’t start in high school. They start now.

In your living room. In the small, seemingly unimportant moments we don’t even notice. And you have the power to change the pattern right now. When your kid asks you to play… and suddenly you’re doing everything

The voices. The plot. The setup.

You think:

“This is how we connect.”

“This is what good parents do.”

And I get it. They’re asking for you. It feels like your job to say yes.

Totally normal and wellmeaning. But also? It’s exhausting for you, and building some not-so-great patterns for them

Here’s what I want to add to the “to play with my kid

BY LINDA BASSETT

Salmon fillets are one of my go-to meals when I’m fresh out of ideas, in a rush, or too exhausted to put together a big meal on a weeknight. I buy frozen (not farmed) wild salmon — several fillets to the package to keep for these culinary brain-freeze nights. Then all I have to do is pull as

or not” conversation:

You don’t have to stop playing with your kids, but you can stop running the show.

Instead of being the lead character, be the mirror.

That can look like:

Being nearby, interested but not in charge of the game, the Lego directions or the craft. It can look like being curious by asking interesting questions, but not leading their answers and certainly not changing the plot of the game or the design of the building. There’s a big difference between playing to entertain them and playing as a “mirror.”

So when they say, “You be the duck!”

The entertainer parent starts quacking and being silly and exciting and fun!

The mirror parent says, “Sure. What should the duck do?”

And when they pause, you don’t jump in with the next plot twist.

You wait.

As parents, we are not there to fix or make their play magical.

That belongs to them.

You’re just there reflecting what’s already unfolding and showing interest in what matters to them.

That subtle shift in your role is what helps your child learn:

My ideas matter. I can figure things out.

» I don’t need someone else to entertain me.

» I don’t need someone else to decide for me.

And under the surface, they’re building:

» Resilience

» Problem-solving

» Confidence in their own thinking

The ability to start without waiting for someone else. These are the exact things that college-age kids are still trying to learn.

So next time your kid asks you to play, don’t take over. Let the duck drive the car.

You’re just along for the ride. And yes, it will feel weird at first. It will be awkward for you both.

You’ll probably feel like you’re not doing enough.

But that’s the good stuff. That’s how you know change is happening.

They don’t need one more activity. They need more time to figure it out.

Lizzie Assa is an early childhood expert and founder of The Workspace for Children.

Her forthcoming book, “But I’m Bored: The Complete Guide to Independent Play (Ages 1–8),” will be available for preorder on Nov. 3.

Many days, many ways

many pieces as I want out of the freezer, and look in the pantry for a way to enhance them. I can play with mustard, mayo, hot sauce, lemon or lime juice from the refrigerator door. Or I can mine the produce for herbs from dill to cilantro to parsley and more. Then I just need a side or two.

Fresh veggies, potatoes or rice or pasta, each enhanced just a tad to go with the fish. No matter the time of year, my favorite method is grilling. But I will pan fry or bake when rain

stops me from grilling. I keep my grill ready to use year-round!

The fun starts with a marinade. Fish marinates quickly, so no more than an hour soaking covered, in the fridge.

The fat — usually oil — is first. Brush a grill with oil before heating, then baste as it cooks.

To cook on the stove, heat a skillet, then add oil to film the bottom. Use medium heat because

See how one family powers their home on sunshine

SUBMITTED CONTENT

What does it look like when a home truly runs on sunshine? Visitors can find out at the Mini Green Home Tour on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 34 Pinecliff Drive, where one Marblehead family has transformed their home into a fully electric, solar-powered system without a single visible panel or drop of fossil fuel. Installed in 2021, the home’s Tesla solar

glass roof replaces traditional shingles with solar tiles that generate 12.6 kilowatts of clean electricity. The system powers the entire home, charges two electric vehicles and operates quietly and seamlessly.

“When we first installed the system, we were amazed by how integrated the technology is,” said homeowner George Hooper. “The roof itself makes electricity, the battery stores it, and the app shows exactly how it all works together.”

Power and storage in one seamless system

Energy generated from the roof flows directly into the home and to a Tesla Powerwall Gen 3, a compact wall-mounted battery that stores 13.5 kilowatt-hours of

electricity. The Powerwall provides overnight power and keeps the lights on during outages.

Adding intelligence to the setup is a Span smart circuit breaker panel, which allows residents to monitor and control power use through a smartphone app. The system shows

which appliances use the most energy and lets users decide which circuits stay powered during an outage. For example, you can choose to keep the refrigerator and Wi-Fi running while pausing high-energy appliances like the dryer.

A glimpse into the future of home energy

Together, the Tesla Solar Roof, Powerwall and Span panel create a fully integrated clean-energy Ecosystem. They:

» Generate electricity directly from the roof. Store excess power in the battery for later use. Manage every circuit for maximum efficiency. The result is a resilient, quiet and zero-emission home that demonstrates what the future of residential energy can look like. See it for yourself The Mini Green Home Tour offers visitors a guided look at how renewable energy flows through this home, from solar collection to storage to everyday use. Guests will see how the system powers lights, appliances and electric vehicles, all with zero emissions.

Over neighbor complaints, Planning Board approves later lights at Piper Field

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Emotions ran high Tuesday night as a group of Marblehead High School neighbors spoke against a request to allow the lights at Piper Field to stay on until 9 p.m. for as many as 180 nights a year for games and practices. After a heated public hearing, the Planning Board unanimously approved the request, with conditions.

Those conditions include requiring the school department to keep track of the evenings it uses the lights and asking the Building Department to record and share complaints about the lights. The Planning Board will meet in one year to review that data and hear again from neighbors.

Superintendent John Robidoix is also requesting the use of a public address system at 12 events a year.

After the vote, one disgruntled neighbor walked past Robidoux and said, “Thanks for ruining our neighborhood.”

Currently, the lights at Piper are until 9 p.m. about 70 to 80 nights a year, according to Robidoux. That’s far more than the 12 nights approved several years ago, and the six nights initially approved when MHS was built more than 20 years ago.

Peter Wilkins bought his family home at 39 Devereux St. before the high school was built in 2002.. With the opening of the school, Wilkins said the “burdens were substantial” to his neighborhood.

“The traffic, the lights, some of the vulgarities we have to listen to,” Wilkins said, describing game days and nights. “We have been good neighbors, but to ask for 180 days a year... Our homes are our sanctuaries.”

Neighbors also complained about hearing whistles and crowd noise, and even “public drinking, public urination.”

Some opponents asked why the town would give the school district more nights with lights, when it has seemingly ignored current and previous limits.

“I find it astonishing that the school department has been blatantly violating the special permit by the ZBA (as if) it doesn’t apply to them,” one man said. “The current zoning bylaw won’t let you do it, but I’m going to do it anyway. And now, give me more. Let me have more.”

About five or six neighbors spoke against the request, and Wilkins said he had a petition with the signatures of 36 neighbors who are opposed.

Several people spoke in favor of the lights request, including Pat Noonan, president of Marblehead Youth Soccer.

“Without a doubt, this is the best facility in town and the only lighted turf field,” he said. Supporters raised $1 million to update Piper Field about two years ago, including new lights.

Several parent-coaches spoke about the challenges of having too few lighted playing fields in town, particularly for soccer and lacrosse. Marblehead youth teams often have to travel long distances to use borrowed fields because availability is so tight in town.

Resident Al Wilson, who lives near Gatchell’s Park and is

involved in youth soccer, said he loves the lights and all the energy that comes along with games.

“I absolutely welcome it,” he said. “I think it’s a real shame that we’re only talking about 180 nights.”

Another parent coach who lives on Smith Street and said he was the closest abutter to Piper Field said he can “barely see” the lights.

“One of the great things Marblehead does is promote youth sports,” he said. “You want to coach these young kids in the dark? I think most of us are forgetting when we were a child. You want to go out there and just play.”

The Planning Board’s approval is not the final step. Robidoux must also get the Zoning Board of Appeals’ green light.

Town tackles rising recycling costs, wellness efforts and flu warning

BY AKANKSHA GOYAL

The Board of Health wants to hear from residents, as the town chooses a new trash and recycling vendor.

At an Oct. 15 meeting, Public Health Director Andrew Petty said the town is considering three main options for curbside collection: continuing the current system with residents using their own barrels and limited recycling; switching to automated pickup with barrels provided by the town; or automated pickup with recycling every other week, which could reduce costs.

He noted that all options would result in higher expenses.

“[The cost increase] is going to be close to 100%... for the processing cost,” Petty said. “Right now there is no processing cost. We don’t have to pay for any kind of disposal of recycling.” The board discussed how limiting curbside recycling would not necessarily reduce the total amount collected, as residents could still bring recycling to the transfer station. Revenue from facility sticker sales, which Petty said could reach about $600,000 this year, helps offset some of the town’s residential disposal costs.

He also noted potential savings if the town purchased standardized barrels in bulk as part of automated collection,

which could lower the price per container to $55 to $65 compared with roughly $110 for individual purchases.

Petty said he plans to hold a public information session later this month, likely at the Council on Aging, to give residents a chance to learn more about the options and provide feedback before issuing a new request for proposals.

“I’ll go back and forth with people as much as they need so they can ask their questions and I can provide the answers,” he said.

Community wellness and autism research Earlier in the meeting, Chair Dr. Tom Massaro reported that the town’s CAHM survey is underway. The project, he said, will help guide future mental health prevention efforts.

He noted that while chronic diseases such as cardiac, pulmonary and cancer illnesses tend to peak later in life, mental health challenges often emerge earlier.

“If we invest a little bit of resources, effort and time,” he said, “we will get a much longer period of payment from that investment.” Massaro said the board wants to focus on social factors that influence wellbeing and to work more closely with schools and other town departments. He also suggested creating a nonprofit to raise small grants for preventive programs.

The board’s public health outreach has continued through recent newspaper columns, including one addressing the connection between acetaminophen and autism. Massaro discussed new genetic studies that challenge earlier claims about Tylenol’s risks and said the board will continue using local news columns to raise “health literacy” in town.

Local tragedy sparks call for parental responsibility

Board of Health member Tom McMahon said school and town officials are exploring stronger parental education measures after recent teen tragedies, including mandatory “pre-prom” meetings and stricter athletic penalties for students caught drinking.

“The worst offenders, I’d say, are not even the kids, it’s the parents,” McMahon said, criticizing adults who host underage parties, drink at high school games, or pressure schools to overlook consequences for their children.

He said changing that culture will require parents to “step up to other parents” and call out unsafe or illegal behavior.

Flu season outlook

Board member Dr. Amanda Ritvo gave an early warning about this year’s flu season,

describing last year’s outbreak was “severe.” She cited preliminary data showing nearly 47 million illnesses and about 40,000 deaths nationwide, with hospitalizations across all age groups nearly double the 15-year average.

Ritvo urged residents not to underestimate influenza, which can be especially dangerous for young children, older adults and people with chronic health conditions who face higher risks of pneumonia, respiratory failure and death.

“Flu may feel familiar, but it continues to pose serious risks every year,” she said. She encouraged people to get vaccinated in October to ensure protection through the winter months, noting that immunity takes about two weeks to develop and lasts roughly six months.

Ritvo said residents have several vaccine options this year: the standard flu shot, a high-dose version for older adults, and a nasal spray for children and adults ages 2 through 49. For the first time, the nasal spray can even be ordered and administered at home.

“The influenza vaccine is incredibly safe, with benefits far outweighing the risks,” Ritvo said,= adding that most side effects like soreness, fatigue, or a low fever are mild and temporary. She also addressed a

common misconception about the vaccine.

“It’s physically impossible to make you sick with the flu, because it is a dead virus,” she said.

“What you’re experiencing are more side effects.” The vaccine, she explained, can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death and often results in milder symptoms for those who do get sick. People with egg allergies can safely receive any of the available vaccines, she noted, and last year’s vaccines reduced the risk of doctor visits or hospitalizations by 40 to 60 percent.

Transfer Station work and new wellness app

Petty reported that construction is underway at the Transfer Station, with work continuing through the winter and paving likely to be completed in spring. Operations for residents are expected to continue during the project.

He also announced that the town has joined Bloom, a mental health app that connects residents to 24/7 telehealth, recovery and wellness resources. The program, free for Marblehead residents, will be rolled out in the next couple of weeks.

Residents can sign up by scanning a QR code on flyers distributed by the town or through the town’s website.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

Neighbors and youth sports fans pack a meeting Oct. 14, where the Planning Board approved a request to keep lights on later at Marblehead High’s Piper Field.

COURTESY PHOTO A drone shot of Piper Field and its lights.

themselves.”

The scene was festive with music, dogs and baby strollers. The vast majority of passing cars seemed to be beeping and waving in support. Two or three trucks with Trump flags drove past, beeping.

Congressman Seth Moulton, who grew up in Marblehead, was there shaking hands.

“I’m impressed that even in a small town like this so many people are coming out and standing up for Democracy,” Moulton said.

Michele Fendel Bonner and her husband, John, waved their signs along Lafayette Street.

“I don’t have a choice,” Michele said when asked why she came out Saturday. “I can’t stand by. I don’t even recognize my country any more.”

Sarah Garibitto of Marblehead said her “general disgust with the state of the world” prompted her to attend the rally.

“I hate the way we’re treating people now,” she said.

Dressed in colonial garb, Mark Shasha, of Swampscott, carried a sign that read, “Project 1776 was better.”

“I oppose everything about the Trump administration,” he said. “I really can’t stand the bigotry. There’s always been some bigotry in politics, but now it’s being celebrated.”

The rally was organized by North Shore Indivisible, which hosts “No Kings” standouts at the same location at the corner of Lafayette and Maple streets every Saturday, 4-5 p.m.

ABOVE: People of all ages joined the “No Kings” rally in Marblehead Saturday.

LEFT: Alison Juves and Eleanor McMahon protest President Donald Trump.

John Bonner of Marblehead displays his sign at the “No Kings” rally.

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

Mark Shasha of Swampscott: “I can’t stand the bigotry.”

Sports

Magicians survive Peabody scare, stay perfect with 35-14 win

BY LUCA TEDESCO

PEABODY

— Sparked by a monster second half performance by senior running back Breydan Callahan the Marblehead Magicians remained undefeated with a 35-14 win over the Peabody Tanners at Peabody Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

“[It was a] classic trap game,” said Marblehead head coach Jim Rudloff postgame. “Once again, we kind of had to put our foot on the gas in the second half. That’s not going to be good enough going forward.”

After forcing the Tanners three-and-out on the opening drive of the game, the Magicians offense slowly matriculated their way into the red zone, primarily using their vaunted rushing attack to gain yards.

Callahan seemed to score his eighth touchdown of the year on a 16-yard rush, but the points were wiped off the board due to a penalty. A second foul on the drive pushed the Magicians back to fourth and 15 from the 31. Rudloff elected to go for it on fourth down, but the no-win situation of long yardage on a short field would end in Finn Gallup’s second interception in two games.

The turnover would cost the Magicians six points as

the Tanners drove 64 yards to the end zone in six-and-a-half minutes to put the first points on the board midway through the second quarter.

Marblehead’s offense came back on the field with purpose, quickly driving their way into Peabody territory. Gallup, forced to scramble out of the pocket on a broken play, found a wide open Tim Wales in the back of the end zone to give the visitors the lead with under five minutes remaining in the half.

After making a major third down stop, the Magicians would

kick the hurry-up offense into high gear. The late-second quarter drive was highlighted by a 56-yard heave by Gallup to Owen Coyne who stumbled down at the eight-yard line. The potential insurance touchdown would never come, however, as a Peabody defender punched the ball out of the grasp of Finn Gallup to keep the score at 7-6 heading to halftime.

Marblehead came out of the break on a mission. The Magicians’ playcalls force fed the ball to Breydan Callahan, who would make up for 54 of

the Headers’ 77-yard opening drive that was capped by a five yard gallop by Gallup to the goal line.

The wind was immediately taken out of Marblehead’s sails as Peabody’s special teams unit matched the Magicians with a 90-yard kickoff return touchdown that was followed up by a successful two-point try to tie the game at 14-all.

Marblehead’s next two offensive possessions, each ending in Callahan rushing touchdowns, finally put the Tanners away. The senior would

finish with 167 rushing yards for the game, 125 of which came in the second half.

Trent Brown would put the exclamation point on the ballgame with an unbelievable one handed grab in the endzone to make the score 35-14 and cement Marblehead at 6-0 with two games remaining in the regular season. The undefeated Magicians will face their toughest opponent yet this season when they take on the 6-1 Masconomet Chieftains in Boxford next Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

Magicians sports weekly notebook

BY JOE MCCONNELL

Girls secure NEC crosscountry championship

The Marblehead High girls cross-country team (7-0) completed perfection after besting Winthrop by a virtual shutout, 15-50 on the Magicians’ home course at the Lead Mills Conservation Area on Oct. 15. Winning the Northeastern Conference title on Senior Day is something coach Will Herlihy’s team will never forget. As usual, senior captain Marri O’Connell was the first runner to cross the finish line. Throughout her entire sensational four-year scholastic career, Marri has never been beaten in a conference dual meet.

“It’s an impressive accomplishment that speaks volumes to both her talented skills as a runner and her durability on a cross-country course,” said Herlihy.

Freshman Ginny Donato was the second runner to finish the race, while breaking her own personal best time on the home course by 1:02.

Sophomore Norah Walsh and freshman Izzy Anaya Lanzillo accounted for third and fourth place. Lanzillo also turned in a personal best time on the home course by 1:50. Senior Hailey Schmitt completed the sweep for Marblehead with a fifth-place finish. Rounding out the team’s Top 7 was junior Maggie Miller, who had help from sophomore teammate Ruby Assa. It was

Miller’s varsity debut.

Boys finish up with winning record

The Marblehead High boys cross-country team (4-3) closed out the regular season with a decisive win over Winthrop, 15-48 at the Lead Mills

Conservation Area on Oct. 15. The victory also enabled coach Brian Heenan’s squad to end up with a winning record.

“We were led by a group of five runners in the win over Winthrop,” said Heenan.

“They all crossed the finish line together, and they were seniors Henrik Adams, Will Cruikshank, Zach Pike and Colin Hart, and one junior Filip Grubor.”

Junior Felix Regnault and senior Tom Svencer were not far behind them to round out the team’s starting seven.

It’s now time for the postseason, where the Marblehead boys can measure their skills against the rest of the state. It started last Saturday, Oct. 18, when they took part in the annual Catholic Memorial Invitational at Franklin Park in Dorchester, and this Saturday, Oct. 25, they will be at Gloucester’s Stage Fort Park for the running of the annual NEC Meet, which determines the 2025 all-star team.

Girls soccer winds down regular season with title aspirations

With only four games left on the regular season schedule, the Marblehead High girls soccer team (11-1-2) continued to pile

up the wins, with the latest two coming last week against Northeastern Conference rivals Danvers (4-1, Oct. 15) and Winthrop (7-0, Oct. 17).

According to the Oct. 17 Division 2 power rankings, these Magicians are seeded 17th. There are 63 teams altogether in this division. This latest poll, however, doesn’t take into account the dominating win over the Vikings.

In the game at Danvers, Callie Gilmore was the team’s leading scorer with two goals. Liv Carlson, chipped in with one goal and two assists. Courtney Hitscherich contributed one goal and one assist to the winning

cause. Ashley Mortensen was credited with one assist. Goalie Hailey Gilmore came up with four saves to keep the Falcons at bay.

“Our whole team played well in this game against Danvers,” said second-year coach Lisa Wales. “We kept the intensity level up throughout the entire game. The passing, layering and shot selection were right where they needed to be.”

Wales went on to say that Avery Gould played a “terrific game, as she continues to work incredibly hard all the time.”

The Marblehead coach also praised the efforts of Syd Ball, Ainsley McDonald and Cam

O’Brien, while Ashley Mortensen held the defensive unit together. Lucy McDonald, Lucy Church and Hitsherich were phenomenal in the midfield.

In the eyes of Wales, Callie Gilmore and Carlson were fantastic up top, and specifically she mentioned that Callie played with poise, while adding that she reads the flow of the game very well.

Lucy McDonald scored on a penalty kick in the Winthrop game, but it was Callie Gilmore and Ball who paced the attack with two goals apiece. Cam O’Brien chipped in with a goal on a solo effort. Carlson also poked one home from Lucy McDonald. She also picked up an assist on one of Callie’s tallies. Church had the helper on her other marker. Isabel Mortensen set up one of Ball’s scores, while the other one was unassisted. Goalie Lily Heller recorded two saves to produce another clean sheet this fall.

“This was an all-around team effort for us,” said Wales. “Winthrop is a young team, who played hard throughout the entire game.”

The Magicians were expected to face Masco to begin the penultimate week of the regular season on Monday, Oct. 20, at Piper. This game could decide the NEC title. The Marblehead girls will then be off until Saturday, Oct. 25, when they head to Lynnfield to take on the non-league Pioneers at 10 a.m. Newton South (Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m.) and Salem (Oct. 29, 7 p.m.)

CURRENT PHOTO / LUCA TEDESCO

Marblehead players huddle during pregame warmups ahead of Friday night’s win against Peabody.

COURTESY PHOTO / KATE WALSH

Traveling in the lead pack all by themselves, Marblehead High girls cross-country runners Ginny Donato and Marri O’Connell set the pace during the meet against Winthrop at home on Oct. 15. Teammates Norah Walsh, left, and Hailey Schmitt, right, follow close behind, along with Izzy Anayza Lanzillo, who’s running directly behind Donato. All five runners ended up capturing each of the top five spots.

Statement week on the pitch for Magicians as the regular season winds down

Boys explode against Danvers, before battling ninth-ranked West Springfield to a draw

BY JOE MCCONNELL

After totally dominating visiting Danvers last Wednesday (Oct. 15) to the tune of 9-0, the Marblehead High boys soccer team (9-3-1) welcomed nonleague state powerhouse West Springfield to Piper on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 18), but that game quickly turned into what players and fans can expect to see in the upcoming state tournament. it ended up in a hard-fought scoreless tie. But before we jump ahead, there are still five regular season games left on the schedule, starting with a trip to Salem to face the Witches on Oct. 20 after press deadline. They will then be in Boxford Wednesday (Oct. 22) to go up against the Chieftains starting at 4 p.m., before returning to Piper Saturday night (Oct. 25) for a game against non-league North Andover at 6:30 p.m. Games on the road against Winthrop (Oct. 27, 6 p.m.) and non-league Melrose (Oct. 29, 4:30 p.m.) will conclude the regular season. They will then sit around and practice some, while waiting for the state tournament pairings to be

Notebook

From P. 9

will come to Piper the following week to complete the regular season schedule. The Division 2 state tournament pairings will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Field hockey remains in the playoff hunt

The field hockey team (7-6-2) dropped two games last week to Beverly (3-1, Oct. 14) and Masco (2-0, Oct. 17), but it still has a winning record, which bodes well in qualifying for the Division 2 state tournament. They still have three games left on the regular season schedule to stay on the plus side of the .500 mark. As of Oct. 17, they are ranked 34th in a division that’s comprised of 54 teams. Danvers were expected to wrap up the home season at Piper Monday afternoon (Oct. 20). They then got on the bus for Gloucester the next day to go up against the Fishermen. Both of these games were played after press deadline. A nonleague game against host Bishop Fenwick completes the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 23, in Peabody, starting at 4 p.m. Under the lights in Beverly last Tuesday, Sadie Beane scored Marblehead’s lone goal of the game on a solo effort in the third quarter. Goalie Elizabeth Hayes came up with 12 saves to keep her teammates close on the scoreboard.

“Beverly is a smart, wellprepared team, but our defense

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Girls field hockey: Beverly 2, Marblehead 1

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Girls cross country: Marblehead 15, Winthrop 50

Boys cross country: Marblehead 15, Winthrop 48

Girls volleyball: Marblehead 3, Beverly 0 (25-15, 25-10, 25-12)

Girls soccer: Marblehead 4, Danvers 1 Boys soccer: Marblehead 9, Danvers 0 Thursday, Oct. 16

Girls volleyball: Marblehead 3, Saugus 0 (25-9, 25-16, 25-13)

Friday, Oct. 17

Girls field hockey: Masconomet 2,

announced on Nov. 1.

The game last Saturday pitted the ninth best team in Division 2 (West Springfield, 7-1-8) against the 12th best (Marblehead), according to the Oct. 17 power rankings.

The Terriers also won the state title as recently as 2021.

But the Marblehead JV squad delivered a message before the main event to their western Massachusetts counterparts with a 2-1 victory. At that point, the Terriers knew it wasn’t going to be an easy afternoon.

“It was truly a playoff atmosphere,” said coach Elmer Magana. “The Terriers brought height, speed, skills and good goalkeeping (to Piper), but nevertheless both teams still took turns exchanging offensive attacks and defensive stops.”

The Marblehead coach said that the eye of the storm was in the middle. “Both teams neutralized each other’s attacks,” he added. “We knew the strength of the (Terriers) was their midfielders, so we focused on stopping them from sending the ball to their forwards by closing the gaps and double-teaming them, and that strategy was pretty successful,

was focused and ready for them,” said first-year coach Alison Carey. “Avery Wysor made an incredible save, and at one point I thought we might have had an opportunity for a defensive goal, either by Paige Waldman or (Wysor), who were both constantly pushing us up field.”

But the Marblehead offense also did not let up in this game. “We had some great opportunities that might have tied it up, but overall, we were still very happy with the outcome,” said Carey. “When we huddled up between quarters, we’d talk about what we were experiencing on the field, so we would know how to adjust our game. I’m also reminding them to always have fun, because we play our best field hockey, when we remember to enjoy the game.

This is a special group, and it’s such a privilege to coach them.”

The first time that the Marblehead girls played Masco in September they had lost, 9-1, so naturally Carey was happy with last week’s final score.

“To say that I’m pleased with our performance would be an understatement,” she said.

“Masco is a powerhouse in the NEC, but in this game, we did our job. We wanted to challenge them when we could on offense, while still remaining focused on our defensive game.”

Carey knew that they needed to keep the goal scoring differential below three to help improve their placement in the power rankings, and they accomplished that goal.

because we only allowed two shots on goal in the first half, and just two more in the second.”

Marblehead goalie Matias Watts-Cruz blocked an on goal shot from outside the box in the first half, and in the last two minutes of the game he made a great save from inside the box. “(Watts-Cruz) called the shots for his defense to perfection to earn his seventh shutout of the season,” said Magana.

Adam Loughlin and T.J. Kelly did their jobs in the middle of the field, along with sophomores Judah Spell and Noah Smerka. Captain Ilan Druker also had to play in the middle after Bubacarr Jallow left the game with an injury. “Ilan, (in particular), had a monster game controlling the ball to create scoring chances,” said Magana.

Outside winger Julien Poitevin also tried to develop a scoring play late in the game after he sent a dangerous cross into the box, but to no avail.

Freshman center midfielder Mitchell Leighton played next to Druker, and was brilliant in winning the air balls, according to Magana. “The game ended in a

“Our defense is a well-oiled machine. They can make it look easy as if they are playing intuitively,” said Carey. “They have so much trust and smart communication already built up in each other that they have become a model for the rest of the team, not to mention the program in general.”

Not to be overlooked, the offense kept on pushing throughout the rematch to create opportunities, but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Afterwards, Carey took time to single out several members of the offensive unit for their efforts.

“Nobody beats Emma Ryan’s hustle, and Zoe Dwyer was absolutely everywhere we needed her to be in this game. She was making smart passes, while also keeping the pressure on,” the coach said. “Sadie Beane and Addie Rotigliano also left it all out on the field.”

The first-year coach also praised the efforts of midfielders Keliane Salem, Julia Mann, Carolyn Black and Shea Bickell, who continued to play smart field hockey. “Overall, this was an excellent game for us,” said Carey.

Golfers end up eighth in north sectionals

After finishing up the regular season with an 11-2-2 record, the Marblehead golfers ended up eighth out of 14 teams in the Division 2 North Sectionals at Bradford Country Club on Oct. 14.

scoreless draw against a tough Terrier squad from western Mass.,” said Magana afterwards. “We are extremely proud of our boys for battling a state powerhouse right to the end. This definitely had the feel of a playoff game against a highly-ranked opponent, and today we sent a clear message throughout the state that Marblehead soccer can compete and battle with the best of the best.”

In the Danvers game earlier last week, Magana knew that the Falcons would be flying high after consecutive conference victories. “We talked to the boys about how close our last game was at their place (a 2-1 Marblehead win on Sept. 19), and so we needed to slow them down in this game sooner rather than later,” said Magana.

The Marblehead boys carried out those pregame instructions perfectly in the form of a 9-0 rout. Captain Miles FontelaTuttle was the MVP of the game, according to Magana, after pacing the team’s offensive attack with four goals. “The desire to climb up in the power rankings inspired the

Will Macrina posted Marblehead’s lowest round after shooting a 79. “Will just missed qualifying for the Division 2 state individual championships by one shot,” coach Bob Green said. Max King (81), Tyler Forbes (83) and Greyson Leventhal (83) rounded out the team’s four lowest scores on this day. Colby Moore (84) and Joy Meshulam (93) also participated in the sectionals.

The top three sectional teams qualify for the state divisional title match in Foxboro this week. Marblehead’s lowest four scores totaled 326, only 10 shots higher than Billerica, the third-place team.

The final Division 2 North standings at Bradford are as follows: Canton (298), Masconomet (310), Billerica (316), Newburyport (320), Reading (321), Wakefield (322), Milton (322), Marblehead (326), Gloucester (337), Arlington Catholic (352), Woburn (352), Lynn English (378), Medford (387) and Somerville (393).

MHS volley wins two more as regular season winds down

After losing their last match way back on Sept. 19 against non-league host Burlington, 3-0, the Marblehead High volleyball team (13-2) has rattled off eight straight wins, including last week’s home triumphs over Beverly (Oct. 15) and Saugus (Oct. 16) by identical 3-0 scores. The Marblehead girls

‘Monarchy,’ – as his friends call him, because of his intense play – to keep on finding the back of the net in this game,” said Magana.

Druker accounted for two scores, while also creating even more opportunities all game long. Julien Poitevin also played well on the wing with his pinpoint crosses.

Erik Badzak was rewarded with a corner goal after doing a great job helping out the forwards and defenders.

“Our defense, in particular, was solid, with (Loughlin and Kelly) specifically stopping every Danvers attack,” said the veteran Marblehead coach. “(Loughlin) also scored a goal on a penalty kick.”

The coach also singled out varsity newcomers Spell and Smerka for playing a solid twoway game, and Cruz once again did his job in net to secure another shutout.

“Overall, I was very impressed with how hungry our boys came out of the gates against Danvers,” said Magana. “They knew we needed to win by at least three goals to help us climb up in the power rankings, (which they did with plenty to spare).”

are now eighth in the Division 2 power rankings, as of the latest statewide poll on Oct. 17. There are 57 teams in this division. Against Beverly, Greta Sachs led the way with seven kills and four blocks. Lila Moniz was equally as effective on the offensive end with nine kills. Eva Burke also contributed mightily to the winning cause with 24 assists and six aces.

Playing on back-to-back nights is never easy, but these Magicians are on a roll, and it appears nothing will detour them right now. The Sachems found that out last Thursday in the MHS gym.

Moniz helped power her teammates to another victory with 16 kills. Sachs chipped in with six more against her Saugus counterparts. Burke finished up with 32 assists and three aces. Mari Modryznksa contributed to the win with a solid, all-around performance that included eight aces, five kills and six digs.

There are only three regular season matches left on the schedule, before the postseason begins next week. Perennial powerhouse Notre Dame Academy of Hingham (Oct. 20) and Danvers (Oct. 21) invaded the MHS gym on Monday and Tuesday of this week to take on the Magicians after press deadline. They will then face rival Swampscott on Oct. 23 in Big Blue country, starting at 6 p.m. to officially wrap up the regular season.

Marblehead 0 Boys football: Marblehead 35, Peabody 14 Girls soccer: Marblehead 7, Winthrop 0 Saturday, Oct. 18

Boys soccer: Marblehead 0, West Springfield 0

CURRENT RECORDS

Boys football, 6-0 (No. 4 in Div. 4)

Boys golf, 11-2-2 Girls volleyball, 13-2 (No. 8 in Div. 2)

» Boys cross country, 3-2

» Girls cross country, 7-0

» Girls field hockey, 7-6-2 (No. 34 in Div. 2)

Boys soccer, 9-3-1 (No. 12 in Div. 2) Girls soccer, 11-1-2 (No. 17 in Div. 2)

Wednesday, Oct. 22

4 p.m., girls soccer vs. Masconomet at MHS Piper Field

4 p.m., boys soccer vs. Masconomet at Masconomet High, Boxford

Thursday, Oct. 23

4 p.m., unified coed basketball vs. Danvers at Marblehead High gym

4 p.m., girls field hockey vs. Bishop Fenwick at Bishop Fenwick, Peabody

6 p.m., girls volleyball vs. Swampscott at Swampscott High gym

Friday, Oct. 24

6:30 p.m., boys football vs.

Masconomet at Bunker Stadium, Boxford

Saturday, Oct. 25

10 a.m., girls soccer vs. Lynnfield at Lynnfield High

10 a.m., boys and girls cross country at Stage Fort Park, Gloucester

6:30 p.m., boys soccer vs. North Andover at MHS Piper Field

Monday, Oct. 27

4 p.m., unified coed basketball vs. Beverly at Marblehead High gym

6 p.m., boys soccer vs. Winthrop at Miller Field, WInthrop

6:30 p.m., girls soccer vs.

Newton South at MHS Piper Field

Wednesday, Oct. 29

4:30 p.m., boys soccer vs. Melrose at Melrose High

7 p.m., girls soccer vs. Salem at MHS Piper Field

Friday, Oct. 31

7 p.m., boys football vs. Danvers at MHS Piper Field

Saturday, Nov. 8

1 p.m., Coed competitive cheerleading at Gloucester High

Thursday, Nov. 27

10 a.m., boys football vs. Swampscott at MHS Piper Field

Gold shares stories from decades on the sea

BY LAURIE FULLERTON

Sailor David Gold, 77, spends every summer in Marblehead and the rest of the year is based in Geneva, Switzerland where he’s an expert on health and safety culture in the workplace. Formerly, he worked for the International Labor Office (a United Nations specialized agency) for 23 years, which allowed him the opportunity to work in many countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Arab states, North and South America and Oceania. He is fluent in French with a working knowledge of German, Malay, Indonesian and Thai as well as an indigenous language (Passat Chow Lay) spoken by the Sea Gypsies of Thailand. Throughout a long and fascinating career in occupational safety and health, sailing in some of the most beautiful and challenging places the world has been a lifelong pursuit and passion of his as well. He is also an avid local sailor in boats ranging from the Town Class to ORC racing boats. The Marblehead Current caught up with David Gold just before he and his wife, Marianne, were returning to Switzerland. Laurie Fullerton sat down with Dr Gold, and she wanted to learn more about his expertise in both sailing and safety and how both have become a truly integral part of his life.

Q. How did you get so interested in sailing?

A. I grew up in Swampscott and remember in 1954, Hurricane Carol roaring in. A defining moment for me at 6 years old was working together with my father to pull his boat from a heavy surf up the beach on rollers. This moment tied me to the sea and storms. Not much later, I told my father I wanted to cross the ocean on a sailing ship.

Q. You have a Ph.D as an occupational safety engineer, which has taken you all over the world. Could you tie in an example of how your knowledge of safety and love of the sea (both sailing and scuba diving) have given you a unique opportunity?

A. Yes. In 1993, I independently started work on a project with indigenous fishermen divers on Thailand’s west coast. These indigenous people are of Polynesian origin and are referred to as Sea Gypsies. I felt bonded with these people, and sometimes dived using their primitive equipment. The problem was that their deep-sea working diving practices were extremely dangerous, but also essential for their livelihood. I

wanted to apply my safety and health competencies to help them. In 1992, the Sea Gypsies were dying at a rate of 400 deaths per 100,000 workers. By 1997, my project brought the death toll to zero. For example, I established procedures for avoiding Carbon Monoxide poisoning, as well as reducing the risks of decompression sickness and air embolism while diving. In concert with local public health workers, we developed and they followed the ten rules of safety during diving and passed a lot of this safety knowledge down to the next generation.

Q. Speaking local languages and spending so much time working on safety in the AsiaPacific region must have given you some local knowledge of the region. How did you spend your free time when there?

A. In the Region, when not working with the Sea Gypsies, I took every possible leave day and sailed with other sailing enthusiasts and became a diving instructor. I also windsurfed, so I was on the water a lot.

Q. It seems wherever you

have lived, you developed a love of cruising. You are a certified captain who has sailed in the US, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Are there certain things you can compare your professional safety career and cruising on your own?

A. I have logged over 6,000 nautical miles at sea and strongly feel that the fiber of any competent sailor is safety. My work often did overlap with port safety, maritime safety, diving safety and fishing safety so I used my professional competencies to teach others how to identify danger, calculate risk, and implement control measures.

Q. What were some of your most challenging trips as a cruiser when situations arose that were not entirely in anyone’s control?

A. I feel like I am a storm sailor. That charges me up. It gives me energy, and I like having the helm in a storm. But it is never a guarantee that something won’t suddenly happen that imperils our safety. I was sailing in the Caribbean with my family on a 40-footer in

1986. There were 20-foot rollers and the jib hourglassed. I started to go on deck and, while holding on to the safety lines, I was swept overboard. It is something that my wife and I will never forget. I was able to get back on board. The chartered boat had no harnesses nor jacklines. Another challenging trip was sailing from Normandy into the Channel Islands. The Channel Islands were like second nature, as they reminded me of sailing around Nahant Bay.

We were suddenly surrounded by heavy fog and darkness. Due to a drunk and sickly crew member stumbling into the GPS antenna, we lost the electronic navigation system, and simultaneously, the batteries shorted out. As we were under sail with strong tidal currents, strong winds with no lights, and unable to start the engine, the captain was in a state of panic as he could not sail by compass, nor could he adequately estimate a position by reading a chart.

At this point, he asked me to take over the vessel. We hoved to, found a bit of stability and

shining a flashlight into the binnacle and using another flashlight to plot an estimated position on the chart, I was able to determine a course to a safe anchorage. We used a lead weight and a line to determine depth and estimate the tidal range. We anchored safely until the weather cleared.

Since we had all these factors at play, the boat and crew were at enormous risk. It has since occurred to me that so many sailors today have become complacent and too dependent on electronics. I am still amazed by how many sailors have lost basic navigational skills. Some do not know the difference between true and magnetic north. This all becomes extremely important on the water if systems fail.

Q. Your many sailing experiences led to a recent trip that strikes me as a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. In December 2024 for one month, you were a member of the crew of the fully rigged, 240-foot Danish tall ship, the Christian Radich, crossing the Atlantic from Las Palmas to St. Martin. How can you describe that experience?

A. It was an amazing time, and I was one of a crew of 93 on the tall ship. We had 27 sails and had the opportunity to climb into the rigging and up onto the yards. Sleeping in hammocks, we manned two four-hour watches per day. On this trip, Norwegian was the language of the ship. I was the only non-Norwegianspeaking person on board, but I had a chance to get to know the captain as she spoke great English and gave me a daily briefing. It was an amazing experience.

She demonstrated amazing leadership skills.

My first tall ship experience was in 2021 when I was on the 300-foot three-masted barque- rigged tall ship, the Stratraad Lehmkuhl, sailing from Norway to Spain. The Stratraad Lehmkuhl is a sister ship to the USS Eagle.

Q. Is there any place that you think, above all, you might like to return to as a cruiser and what is it about it that you love?

A. I get a great deal of pleasure sailing in my home waters in Nahant Bay, Marblehead, Salem and Beverly on up through Gloucester, as well as racing Townies as part of the Marblehead Townie Association. I also love the coast, the wilderness and the navigational challenges of sailing the coast of Maine and the coast of Nova Scotia. Being at sea, under sail, anywhere, is part of who I am and what I love to do.

salmon cooks quickly and burns easily. In the oven, the oil goes down on the sheetpan, and is drizzled over the top of the fish. Outside the oven, cook the skinless side first, then turn it. This is the side that will “look at you” on the plate, the presentation side, so you want a perfect finish. Resist the temptation to move the fish as it cooks. It will pull away from the pan when cooked. Turn it too quickly and it will stick. In the oven, no turning is necessary. Place the salmon skinside-down on a foil-lined sheet pan. When cooked, once more on medium heat, clean-up is a snap.

PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH ASIAN FLAVORS

Makes 4 servings.

This one self-marinates as it cooks. The miso, white rice wine vinegar, and toasted sesame oil are in the international aisle of the supermarket with the soy sauce.

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Set aside in a shallow bowl large enough to hold the fillets in one layer.

` 4 skin-on salmon fillets, about 1-inch thick

` Coarse salt, fresh ground black pepper

` 4 teaspoons maple syrup

` 1 tablespoon white or brown miso

` 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

` 2 teaspoons soy sauce

` 1garlic clove, finely grated

` 2 tablespoons neutral oil, e.g. vegetable, canola, or light olive oil

` Pinch of red-pepper flakes (optional)

` ¼ teaspoon toasted sesame oil (optional)

` ¼ cup roughly chopped cilantro, leaves and tender stems

` Flaky sea salt, to sprinkle over the top at the end of cooking.

` 1 lemon or lime, cut in wedges for serving Heat oven to 350-375F degrees.

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, miso, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce and garlic. Pour the mixture on top of the salmon and turn the fish in the marinade to be sure it is coated. Marinate, just short of 10 minutes. Place the salmon skin side down on the sheet pan. Bake until opaque, about 12 minutes. Scatter with cilantro and spritz with lime juice. Season with flaky sea salt.

Linda Bassett lived in Marblehead for years and has worked as a cook, trained up-and-coming chefs, studied food history and led food tours. Her book, “From Apple Pie to Pad Thai,” is about local cooks and cooking.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Marblehead resident David Gold takes the help of the 240-foot Danish tall ship this year, the Christian Radich, during a crossing of the Atlantic from Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain to the Caribbean island of St. Martin.

David and Marianne Gold pictured here in calm waters sailing in the Caribbean. The couple has done a number of family bareboat charters in the Caribbean.

David Gold spent many years implementing better safety practices with the Sea Gypsies of Thailand, including writing a Ph.D. thesis on this fascinating culture and way of life.

CURRENT PHOTO / LINDA BASSETT Salmon is a go-to meal any time of the year.

Marblehead’s best bets

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email

editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Leigh Blander

Halloween Mahjong Madness

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6-9 p.m.

All levels are welcome to Halloween Mahjong at Hunt and Gather, 9 Pleasant St., in Marblehead. Come in costume (optional but encouraged!) and play for a good cause, The Ellie Fund. $60 entry includes tournament play, light bites and refreshments. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to The Ellie Fund, in honor of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There will be prizes for top players and best costumes, snacks, and eerie drinks! Register at https://loom.ly/ jUqf7p8.

Love for Runway

Thursday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Sip, shop and support Runway for Recovery at Marblehead’s local businesses. Participating businesses will donate a percentage of sales to Runway for Recovery, a nonprofit that provides families with a continuum of support along their journey with breast cancer. Start at Shubies for some bites and drinks, and shop along Atlantic Avenue and in the Historic District.

Paint Night

Thursday, Oct. 23, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Join Paint Night, led by Angela Dixey, in an acrylic painting project. Held at Lighthouse Fitness Studio, there will be light appetizers and bring your own beverage. Reserve your spot at harborfitnessstudio.punchpass.com/classes/18470169!

Q&A with mystery (and romance) writer Sherry Thomas

Monday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.

Abbot Public Library is teaming up with Ashland Public Library for a virtual event with Sherry Thomas featuring her new book, “The Librarians!” There will be a discussion of Thomas’ roots as a romance writer and her move to mysteries. Registration is required to attend via Zoom. tinyurl.com/Sherry-Thomas.

Contest

Town trick-or-treat

Thursday, Oct. 30, 4-6 p.m.

The Marblehead Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual trick-of-treat event. Enjoy sweets and treats and extended shopping hours at participating businesses around town. Look for the Halloween pumpkin poster displayed by retailers to indicate their participation.

Beatles concert at the Lee Mansion Garden

Friday, Oct. 31, 5:30 p.m.

Studio Two, a Beatles tribute band, will rock the night away at the Lee Mansion Garden with a free, family-friendly performance. Studio Two has been performing the iconic music of The Beatles since 2012. No registration required.

The All Hallows Eve Ball Friday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. Head over to The Beacon Restaurant on Halloween Night for entertainment from The Johnny Ray Band. Prizes will be given out for best costumes. For more information, thebeaconmarblehead.com/entertainment.

Mystery Book Group

Tuesday,

Children’s Halloween Party at the Abbot Public Library

Friday,

BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS

Michael Regilio got his start in music at Marblehead High School (Class of 1990) playing in the band, Jane Road. At 27, he moved out to Los Angeles with a Boston band, gaining radio time and magazine covers. But at around 35 years old, he was ready for a change.

“It [music] just didn’t quite have the sparkle used to have and I’d always always loved comedy. I’d always been the class clown.” said Regilio.

“Alex Ouanes, one of my good friends, bought me a stand-up comedy class and I said ‘That’s very sweet of you’ but just my initial instinct was thank you but no thank you. He already paid for it and said ‘You’re going, I signed myself up too and I’ll be right next to you.’”

Regilio added: “We took the class together, and after two hours, they said you have to write one minute of stand-up. I got up with my one minute of stand-up I had written over the course of two hours and I got my first laughs and I was 100% hooked.”

comedy.

Regilio shares a lot from his youth in Marblehead in his comedy. Back in his teens, the best place to hangout was swimming at Crocker Park on a summer Friday or Saturday night. He also remembers Neck runs.

His favorite performance so far has been the night of

recording his special, “War Bar” that is primarily about his memories in Marblehead in his youth. The special has just aired this month, available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube and Google Play.

“To get on stage in front of a loving audience, I was lucky enough to do it at a place called

Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles,” Regilio said. He also finished a screenplay, “Young Republicans,” about his time in the club at Marblehead High and the chaperone-less trip they took to D.C. to see George Bush’s inauguration.

Regilio also has his own podcast, “Regilio Vs. Everything,” where he speaks on current events in the world to ignite change.

“I just got an email yesterday

from somebody that made me happy. They said ‘I was a happy person until I found your podcast, now I’m fuming mad at the world’. I was like ‘Good.

That’s how you should be.’

There’s no point in being happy right now. You should be mad and doing something about it.” said Regilio. To find more on Regilio, check out his Instagram at michaelregilio or his X at michaelregilio1.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Marblehead native Michael Regilio is making L.A. laugh with his

Michael Regilio at President Bush’s inauguration with the Young Republicans of Marblehead.

Wreaths Across America baton passed to local duo

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Kim Crowley and Emily DeJoy have taken over Marblehead’s Wreaths Across America program this year and are encouraging people to get involved.

“Kim and I have long felt a deep sense of gratitude for the men and women who have served our country,” DeJoy wrote in an email to the Current. “Participating in Wreaths Across America gives us the opportunity to honor those who sacrificed so much for our freedoms.”

She continued, “This year, we wanted to make a meaningful impact in our own community by ensuring that the veterans in Marblehead are remembered and celebrated in a tangible, respectful way. It’s a powerful

way to bring our town together around a cause that transcends politics, showing unity, respect and gratitude.”

DeJoy explained why Wreaths Across America is important to the town.

“Being part of Wreaths Across America allows our community to come together in a meaningful act of gratitude, education and service,” she said. “It’s not just about laying wreaths — it’s about teaching our children the value of sacrifice, bringing neighbors together for a shared purpose, and ensuring that the legacy of our veterans continues to inspire future generations.”

DeJoy added, “Marblehead’s participation reflects the best of our community spirit: respectful, committed and deeply appreciative of those who served.”

DeJoy and Crowley’s goal is to raise enough money to place wreaths on all 2,500 veterans’ graves at Waterside and other cemeteries in town.

“Every wreath represents a life honored and a story remembered, and we want to make sure no veteran is overlooked,” DeJoy said.

Marblehead 9-1-1 dispatcher

Teresa Collins brought Wreaths Across America to Marblehead in

2022. This year, she handed it off to Crowley and DeJoy.

On Dec. 13, local volunteers will lay wreaths at Waterside Cemetery on West Shore Drive. To make a donation, visit http://bit.ly/3W4ubbZ.

In May, The Maine Monitor reported that Worcester Resources, the for-profit company that supplies all the wreaths for Wreaths Across America, had been hit with more than $50,000 in fines for workplace safety and recordkeeping violations.

Last December, the U.S. Department of Labor cited Worcester Resources for housing more than 71 migrant workers below the factory, where there were no windows. Additional workers stayed in trailers without potable water.

When asked about the allegations and fines, Wreaths Across America’s spokeswoman Amber Caron responded to the Current by email, saying, “National nonprofit Wreaths Across America is aware of the OSHA violations involving our approved wreath vendor, Worcester Resources (d/b/a Worcester Wreath). We recognize the company’s stated commitment to worker safety and well-being and are confident they are taking appropriate steps to address the matter.”

Caron added, “All suggested improvements have been made for the 2025 season, and they are working with the appropriate state departments to ensure all standards are met or exceeded.”

Public outcry grows as General Glover’s historic home faces threat of demolition

BY MONICA SAGER

This article is shared with permission from the Swampscott Tides, a nonprofit news source.

Lee Silverman drove from Brunswick, Maine, to be in Swampscott Thursday evening for the Historical Commission’s public hearing on efforts to save the General Glover Farmhouse.

“I’m proud to say that my four children are among the seventhgeneration direct descendants of General John Glover, who helped found the US Navy,” Silverman said. “It seems both absurd and profoundly disappointing that we are even entertaining the idea of demolishing General Glover’s final homestead, the home of one of the Navy’s founders, a hero of the American Revolution and a man whose sacrifices made our freedoms possible.”

Architecturally, the Glover Farmhouse is one of Swampscott’s oldest surviving homes and one of the few remaining 18th-century structures in the region. It is one of the last intact 18th- and 19th-century farm properties in both Swampscott and Marblehead, still standing at 299 Salem Street, on the border of the two towns. That said, on July 24, the Swampscott Historical Commission was notified by the town’s building commissioner that the owners of the Glover property had filed for a demolition permit. Although a nine-month demolition delay was previously placed on the development approved in 2022, that delay expired in January 2024.

“This house has stood on the corner for 250 years and then watched the American Revolution unfold,” said Nancy Schultz, the chair of the Swampscott Historical Commission. “Let’s leave it there for another 250 years.”

A group of about 50 people gathered at the Swampscott Elementary School on Thursday to voice their concerns

around the demolition of the Glover Farmhouse as well as implore how they can assist in the preservation efforts.

“First, let me say, I’m a supporter of housing and development. I’m also a supporter and believer in historic preservation in maintaining and remembering our history, town history and national history,” said Select Board Member David Grishman, who was speaking at Thursday’s meeting on his own behalf.

“Little by little our history is being lost in town, as we recently lost Marian Court and more recently the Pittman House and the development by the train station. Personally, I didn’t show up and I didn’t show up to meetings to save the Pittman House, and I regret that. I’m sorry, Nancy. But as a town, I don’t believe we should make the same mistake twice, especially with a structure with such historical significance.”

John Glover was born in Salem in 1732. By 1770, as tensions escalated and the Boston Massacre occurred, the shadow government known as the Committees of Correspondence was formed. Marblehead elected Glover, among others, to represent and communicate within this network.

In 1775, Glover was elected lieutenant colonel of the 21st Massachusetts Regiment from Marblehead. After Colonel Jeremiah Lee died in April of that year, Glover became the regiment’s commander. He marched his troops to join the siege of Boston, where General George Washington chartered Glover’s schooner to raid British supply vessels. Known as “Glover’s Regiment,” the Marblehead militia became the 14th Continental Regiment, made up of roughly 500 local mariners and militiamen. This group saved Washington’s army from being trapped after the Battle of Long Island and later delayed British advances at the Battle of Pell’s Point.

Glover is perhaps most famously remembered

for leading his regiment in rowing General Washington across the Delaware River on the night of December 25, 1776. The crossing culminated in a surprise attack on Hessian mercenaries in Trenton.

“Evidently, before leaving the shore, General Washington asked John Glover if he could make it across. Glover responded, ‘yes, on one condition.’

‘What’s that?’ asked Washington,” Silverman said. “‘When we’re on the water, I’m in charge.’”

Glover was later offered the option to purchase the farmhouse property.

Before the American Revolution, the house was owned by Salem Loyalist and judge William Browne. The house was seized by the Massachusetts government due to wartime policies. Glover moved there in 1782, and his farmhouse once sat on 180 acres of land. Today it sits on 1.56 acres in Marblehead, 2.28 in Swampscott and about a quarter of an acre in Salem.

Schultz said the house is National Register and Landmark eligible. About 75% of the original house is completely intact in the inside of the building, according to Schultz. She showed photos of beehive ovens, doors, paneling and hardware that is original to the house.

“It’s associated with lots of significant individuals,” Schultz said. “Every period is incredibly rich with history.” While the future of

the Glover Farmhouse is still uncertain, Schultz was adamant about the fundraising and campaigning efforts. National Development, which has proposed building on the property, has stated it would preserve the Glover farmhouse if certain conditions are met. Part of the negotiations involves refinishing the exterior of the house within about two years, which Schultz said would cost between $1.5 and 2 million.

“The Swampscott Historical Commission has voted unanimously, and we are very close to establishing a donation account through the town of Swampscott,” Schultz said. “We are embarking on an extremely ambitious fundraising campaign. We have a new team member who’s going to lead us in that, and we are going to leave no stone unturned.

I’m hoping we’ll have the million and a half by Christmas.”

The crowd had a variety of ideas, from contacting local government officials like Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) to have Ken Burns film at the Glover Farmhouse for his documentary of the country’s 250th anniversary. Schultz did share that moving the house was out of the question because it could lose its historical significance as well as damage the chimneys that “are in such fantastic shape.” While there were some complaints about the potential of the land

surrounding the Glover House becoming housing, the community did share ideas of veteran offices, event areas, a museum and a space for the Glover Regiment

“The regiment is behind trying to save the Glover House,” said Larry Sands, the captain of the Glover Regiment. “I think at least having a portion of it being a museum that draws on some of that history is great. I’m actually teaching a class next spring at the University of Arkansas on John Glover in the history of the American Navy and a little bit of everything, so people are interested all over the country.”

It was even suggested to use the structure as a tourist attraction in hopes of diluting larger groups in areas like Salem.

“One of my big concerns in Essex County as a whole is how to balance out, if you’ve noticed, we’re

experiencing tremendous over tourism to the point that Salem is losing money trying to prevent a crowd crush,” said Sarah Gillis, who is from Lynn. “I think the way forward to avoid the downgrades of overtourism while keeping the revenue coming into our county is to essentially spread the crowds out. I believe the Glover House would be a fantastic option for that initiative.”

Others also gathered in Swampscott from neighboring towns, like Meghan Perlow, of Marblehead, who spoke of her son, Logan.

“When mothers get requests from their kids, it’s usually ‘I want a new video game. I want a new bike,’” Perlow said. “Logan said, ‘I want to save the Glover House.’” Perlow and her son drive by the house almost on a daily basis. They’ve learned the history, and Logan taught his classmates about it as well. The third-grade group sketched out their own designs for what a preserved Glover House might look like within the overall area, and the Swampscott Historical Commission now is in possession of them.

“When it comes to this home, I just have the plea to the town, to the Selectmen, the developers, that to sustain the structure for the future generations,” Perlow said. “When it comes to Logan and his classmates,

COURTESY PHOTO

Locals are working hard to save the historic Glover Farmhouse.

Edwin Gehring

Smith, 94

Edwin “Ed” “Turk” Gehring Smith, 94, of Naples, Florida, and Marblehead, passed away on Oct. 9. Born in Portland, Maine, and raised in Swampscott, Ed was the beloved son of Marcia and Fred Smith, and the devoted husband of Margaret “Maggie” Smith for 69 wonderful years. Ed graduated from Phillips Academy Andover and Yale

University. He served proudly as a Naval officer during the Korean conflict aboard the USS Formoe and USS Lewis in the Pacific. A natural athlete, Ed played

MUSICIAN REMEMBERED

hockey, swam and captained the baseball team at Andover, later continuing hockey at Yale. His love of music was equally strong. He was honored to sing with The Whiffenpoofs of 1953 and later performed for many joyful years with the Paradise Coastmen barbershop chorus in Naples. After his Naval service, Ed and Maggie settled in Marblehead to raise their family. He joined his father at Brockway-Smith Co. (BROSCO), eventually serving as president and chairman. Under his thoughtful leadership, the company flourished for decades, remaining a proud family business until its sale in 2023

after 133 years of operation. Ed gave generously of his time and talents to his community. He served as president of Tedesco Country Club and the National Sash and Door Jobbers Association, and as a trustee of Salem Hospital. He and Maggie treasured their years with friends at Royal Poinciana Golf Club, where Ed could often be found enjoying a good round, good music and good company. Ed was preceded in death by his cherished daughter Pam Lane and his sister Nancy Durkee. He is survived by his loving wife Maggie; children Charlie Smith (Jane) and Carol Spillane (Paul); grandchildren Stephanie Cleary, Cortney Cummings, Lydia McMahon, Emily Dainys, Delia Brown, Katie Donahue, and Dan Spillane; and nine greatgrandchildren who brought him immense joy. A private family service will be held in Marblehead. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff of Lilac Care for their loving support. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ed’s memory to the Moorings Park Foundation –Lilac Care, 120 Moorings Park Drive, Naples FL 34105. fullernaples. com

Just weeks after retiring, local folk musician struck by motorcycle, dies in Guatemala

BY LEIGH BLANDER

Local folk musician Bob Franke died Oct. 16 after being struck by a motorcycle in Antigua, Guatemala, where he and his wife had retired within the last few weeks. Franke survived surgery after the accident but then died of a heart attack.

Franke, who lived on the North Shore for decades, performed at Me&Thee Music in Marblehead many times and even started his own music coffee house, called Saturday Night in Marblehead, at St. Andrew’s Church in the late 1980s or early ‘90s.

Me&Thee founder Anthony Silva knew Franke for 40 years and wrote a tribute to his friend.

“We are so saddened to hear of Bob Franke’s death in Guatemala, where he and his wife Joan recently moved,” Silva wrote. “He was a pillar of our folk community with a deep understanding of the human condition. His songs brought

tears to our eyes because he wrote from the heart and soul and wasn’t afraid to probe

deeply. Loss, pain, healing, forgiveness, renewal. His songs were mini sermons that stayed

with you, and they will stay with us forever.”

Silva had seen Franke about

a month ago, when Franke attended a concert at Me&Thee. Franke’s wife addressed his fans and friends on Facebook:

“He wanted you all to know that he loved his life, and he loved that you shared it with him. Hearing how his words touched your lives gave him meaning and purpose. He wrote his songs to heal himself, but he was gladdened to hear that they healed so many of you as well. He loved everyone in his Facebook audience and was glad to share his life with you. God bless you, Bob. I will love you for the rest of my life.”

Franke wrote and performed music for 55 years, playing in concert halls, clubs and on street corners across America. The Boston Music Awards named him Outstanding Folk Act in 1990. He had written about 200 songs and released a dozen albums. He also composed an Easter cantata that was performed at St. Andrew’s Church for more than 40 years.

Solar glare makes tempers flare on Neck

Friday, Oct. 10

3:28 p.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby to a woman who had begun to suspect that her identity had been stolen upon returning from vacation earlier in the week. A withdrawal of $600 had been made from her checking account, and the passwords to her Linkedin and Netflix accounts had been changed. The woman had also begun to receive sexual emails and text messages from unknown senders who claimed to have nude pictures of her. The woman told the officer she had already blocked any number or email that she did not recognize and had frozen her credit, as the suspect had attempted to open new credit cards in her name, too. The woman said she was already in the process of being refunded the money taken from her checking account but wanted the incident documented in case a police report was needed. The officer suggested filing a report at IdentityTheft.gov as well.

5:38 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Harbor Avenue to investigate a report of a road rage incident involving two pedestrians and the driver of a vehicle. Upon his arrival, the officer found the vehicle pulled over on Harbor Avenue with its hazard lights on and the driver sitting in the vehicle. The driver told the officer that, as he was rounding Harbor Avenue towards the causeway, the sun had gotten in his eyes, making it hard to see and causing him to have to swerve out of the way of two pedestrians later than he would have liked. The

driver said that the pedestrians had gotten upset with him, and he had gotten out of his vehicle to deny that he had been speeding. When they started to film him, he returned to his car and waited for the officer. The officer confirmed that the sun was directly in the eye line of vehicles coming off the Neck at the time of the call. The two pedestrians said they had been walking side by side when the driver of what they claimed was a speeding vehicle had begun to yell at them about not walking single file. The male pedestrian then confirmed that he had begun filming the driver as he walked towards them. All agreed to go their separate ways.

10:05 p.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on Pleasant Street.

Saturday, Oct. 11

12:59 p.m. A disturbance was reported on Londonderry Road.

Sunday, Oct. 12

1:27 a.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on Barnard Hawkes Court.

11:17 a.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on Pleasant Street.

12:28 p.m. An officer was dispatched to Prospect Street to assist in the investigation of a hit-and-run crash in Swampscott. The officer found the vehicle suspected to be involved parked on the street and noticed that it was missing its right front headlight. He photographed the damage and then went to the front door of the home of the vehicle’s owner. The man who answered the door said the

woman who had been driving the vehicle was not home. He was advised to call the Swampscott Police as soon as possible, which he said he would do.

7:32 p.m. An officer spoke at the police station with a woman who swims and works out regularly at the Jewish Community Center of the North Shore on Community Road and pays an extra fee for access to a women’s only locker room, which requires her to scan a bar code to enter. Earlier in the day, she had placed her smartwatch and necklace into a plastic bag, which she then placed in her tote bag, which she left in the locker room while she swam. She returned to find the necklace and smartwatch missing. The smartwatch was indicating that it was now located near Intrepid Circle.

Monday, Oct. 13

4:03 a.m. The report of a disturbance on Pleasant Street proved to be unfounded.

7:46 a.m. A caller inquired about whether the causeway would be closed due to rising tides from the nor’easter.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

7:22 a.m. An officer went to speak with the crossing guard located at the intersection of

Pleasant and Village streets, who reported that he had almost been struck by a white work van. He stated that he was crossing a student from Vine Street onto Pleasant Street when the van came to a screeching stop. He added that, as he went to cross the student a second time, the van started to move forward again and then came to a stop. The officer noted in his report that it was dark and raining at the time and that visibility was low.

10:16 a.m. An officer took a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Smith Street.

10:58 a.m. Officers, firefighters and an EMS unit responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Pleasant and Gerry streets. A citation was issued.

1:56 p.m. A cellphone was found on Pleasant Street.

8:26 p.m. Officers investigated a 911 hang-up call from Green Street.

Wednesday Oct. 15

10:45 a.m. An officer spoke by phone with a man who had a credit card opened in his name for which he had not applied. The man had received two early morning email notifications about the new card being active. He had already frozen his credit using the three major credit bureaus and had contacted his banks to inform them of the fraudulent activity. The man reported that there had been no approved transactions since the credit card was opened and said he just wanted a police report on file, in case any fraudulent activity occurred later.

12:30 p.m. An officer

investigated a report of annoying phone calls on Pierce Street.

5:15 p.m. Officers, firefighters and EMTs responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Broughton Road and Humphrey Street.

7:56 p.m. An officer took a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Washington Street.

9:18 p.m. An officer investigated a 911 hangup call from Locust Street.

Thursday, Oct. 16

9:15 a.m. An officer spoke in the police station lobby with a woman who had twice been the victim of check fraud within the last month. The first time, a check had been made out in the amount of $1,100 to someone she did not know. She had closed the account, and the bank refunded the money. Then on Oct. 15, a second fraudulent check had been written, this time for $4,500, from her new account. The woman said that the signature on the check looked similar to hers, but she did not believe it was. The woman had once again closed the account and opened a new one. The officer asked the woman if she mailed checks, and the woman confirmed that she tended to use the drive-up mailbox at the post office on Smith Street. He advised her to avoid mailing checks if possible or otherwise use bank checks. He also advised her to have her computers checked for malicious software as a precaution.

The officer then relayed the information the woman had shared to a detective.

COURTESY PHOTO Folk musician Bob Franke, who played for decades in Marblehead, has died.

HEADLIGHT

Performing Arts’ Boston Trip

Last Friday, the Performing Arts department at Marblehead High School went on their first trip of the year to Boston. Leaving after third period, the students took a bus into the city and had lunch outside at the Christian Science Plaza. Then they walked to Symphony Hall to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra perform the works of Claude Debussy and Gustav Mahler, with the female choir Lorelei Ensemble and soprano soloist Nikola Hillebrand singing alongside the instrumentalists. “Stunning talent. Truly wonderful, and an inspiration for the aspiring musicians in the audience,” said an orchestra student at MHS.

After such a motivatingperformance, the students made their way to the Prudential Center for an hour of free time. Most people shopped at the stores like Sephora, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and CVS, or got a quick snack at Eataly. Then it was off to dinner at California Pizza Kitchen, a new addition to the Boston Trip itinerary this year, for family style salad, pasta, pizza, and cookies. Arabella Pelekoudas, a junior in Mixed Choir, said, “CPK was really fun. It was great to just sit down, eat warm food, and hang out together. The servers were super nice and the Shirley temples never ended.”

There was also a dance party in the bathrooms, where students played music and talked. Overall, CPK was a positive experience for everyone!

As the sun set, everyone made their way over to the Berklee College Performing Arts Center for a live student performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. But before heading inside, they got an impromptu balcony performance from a Berklee student on his guitar. Students cheered for his performance, and minutes later he came down to the street to sing for everybody! Armed with a good voice and the musical cry of ‘Just gimme the dollar!,’ his moment in the spotlight was certainly a highlight of the trip. “It was an intriguing experience, and I hope that man goes far with his dreams and guitar,” recalled Liliana Lopez, a junior Mixed Choir member.

As for Cinderella, the students were in complete awe at the level of professionalism and skill of the Berklee students. Everyone cheered after each song, and some even lost their voices! Being one of said students, I have yet to recover, but it was all worth it for seeing two live performances in one day, eating delicious food, and being able to spend the trip with some of my closest friends.

Headlight Staff 2025 - 2026

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

This year at MHS, we are excited to welcome several new teachers to our community. Among them is Ms. Gvirtsman, who is teaching French 3, French 4, and AP French.

Ms. Gvirtsman has an impressive background in language education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in French from the Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow and her master’s degree from Colorado State University. Over the years, she has taught in public schools around the state, as well as in private academies. She has also tutored students individually and in groups. In addition, she leads online courses in different languages on Outschool for students around the world, designing engaging curriculums based on interactive activities and conversation-based learning.

From a very young age Ms. Gvirtsman knew she loved language, especially French. She is fluent in five languages: French, English, Spanish, Russian, and Hebrew. She strongly believes that language and culture go hand in hand. “I think that it is great for people to know different languages and cultures. It really enriches your life,” she explains.

So far, Ms. Gvirtsman has been impressed with how welcoming MHS is. She loves working with her students and especially appreciates the school’s recognition of Jewish holidays. Her top priority, as always, is for her students to thrive: “My number one goal is for all my students to succeed.” She encourages all students to work hard, because “with dedication, you can achieve anything.”

This year, she is hoping to start a Russian Club, which would give students a chance to explore a new language or practice skills they may already have, all while learning more about Russian culture.

Beyond the classroom, Ms. Gvirtsman enjoys cooking, traveling, and trying new things. She loves spending time with her family and six kids. “I really enjoy when all my kids and I can do something together,” she says. When asked what advice she would give students, her answer was simple but wise: “Don’t spend so much time on... computers and phones because interacting with and talking to people is very important.”

With her enthusiasm for teaching, her wide-ranging knowledge of languages, and her dedication to students, Ms. Gvirtsman is a wonderful addition to MHS. “I want to make a difference in kids’ lives,” she shares. In her classroom, students will not only learn French, but also gain a deeper appreciation for world cultures. She is excited to begin this new chapter, and the school community is equally excited to see the positive impact she will make. Bienvenue Ms.Gvirtsman!

Grey Collins

EDITORS: Georgia Marshall, Anna Cruikshank, Evan Eisen

FACULTY ADVISOR: Thomas Higgins

REPORTERS: Anna Baughman, Maya Berman, Piper Browning, Madeline Duffy, Teagan Freedman, Sophie Li, Eve Magen, Will Pelliciotti, Mary Prindiville, Daphne Seliger

Welcoming Ms. Gvirtsman

Anna Baughman, Junior

Daphne Seliger, Sophomore

they’re tomorrow’s curators. They’re tomorrow’s historians and preservationists. I just don’t want to see where there’s nothing left for them to take care of and preserve.”

Duncan Maitland, a member of the Swampscott Historical Society, brought up that taking the property by eminent domain is an option.

“We need to come up with a plan now,” Maitland said.

Ken Shutzer also brought

up the potential to rezone the area or to have some sort of condition within the town’s contract with the developer that the house has to remain intact.

“There’s not a single person in the town of Swampscott that doesn’t wish that this building remained,” Shutzer said.

And Silverman seemed to agree.

“To allow the destruction of Glover’s homestead would be a failure of memory – and frankly, a betrayal of the very principles for which he fought. If we let this piece of American history fall, what message do we send to future generations?” Silverman said. “This isn’t just about preservation. It’s about patriotism, responsibility and respect.”