FIRST WAVE
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The town’s fiscal 2027 revenue is projected to decline by $514,462 to $109,244,857, leading Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin to predict the need for the first general override since 2005 “to sustain high-quality services.” Benjamin presented a gloomy
financial forecast at a Select Board meeting Oct. 22. In local receipts, the town’s interest income is expected to drop $800,000. Building permits and fees are projected to dip by $100,000, due to a slowdown in local building. Local automobile excise taxes are predicted to drop $200,000. While state aid is expected
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The town has settled an arbitration case with Marblehead Police Officer Chris Gallo, Select Board Chair Dan Fox announced Oct. 22. On Feb. 12, an arbitrator ordered the town to reinstate Gallo nearly a year after the Select Board terminated his employment. The Select Board then decided not to appeal that decision. The town will pay Gallo a
total of $295,000 for salary and missed overtime and details he might have earned during the time he was suspended with pay in June 2021 through his reinstatement in March. The total also includes $35,000 for reimbursed insurance payments. The money will be paid in two installments, this fiscal year and next fiscal year. Gallo was accused of spending extended amounts of time at home during his overnight shifts. He was
to increase 1% to $9 million, it will not keep pace with inflation at 3%. The town is projecting $2.1 million in additional property taxes (the limit under Proposition 2 ½), bringing the total amount of property taxes to $77.8 million. Meanwhile, costs are expected to soar. The town is about to sign a new trash and recycling
HALLOWEEN TRADITION
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead architect Tom Saltsman reached back into childhood for his latest largerthan-life, magical Halloween installation outside his home at 32 Pleasant St. Saltsman has designed and built a giant, mechanical hermit crab and is creating a tide pool in his driveway, complete with barnacles, seaweed, lighting and sound effects.
It’s been visible since the weekend but will be animated with visual and sound effects by Thursday, Oct. 30, Saltsman said.
Everything in the display is scaled up about 100 times, Saltsman said, including the barnacles, some of which are two feet in diameter.
“It’s inspired by my childhood memories of playing in tide pools,” Saltsman told the Current as he gave this reporter a sneak peak last week. “Tidepools are a childhood fascination.”
Salstman grew up in Connecticut and has fond memories of tide pooling in Old Saybrook and along the Long Island Sound.
“I wanted it to be apolitical,” he said about this year’s installation. “I wanted to focus on the kids, talk to the kids.”
Saltsman built the hermit crab, 10 feet tall and 14
also accused of conduct unbecoming of an officer related to a domestic incident involving his girlfriend.
The arbitrator, however, ruled that the town’s findings were flawed.
The $295,000 is on top of the at least $340,149 in legal and other expenses incurred by the town during Gallo’s suspension and arbitration process, according to town financial records obtained through public records requests. That
contract that is predicted to increase costs by $800,000 to $1 million. Employee insurance costs are increasing 14%, and personnel costs (which make up 80% of the town’s budget) are set to climb about 3% due to contractual obligations. Pension costs are also expected to rise. Other expenses are not yet known. Town department heads are being asked to prepare levelfunded spending plans, which will be undercut by climbing costs.
Benjamin also warned that the town shouldn’t be tempted to tap into free cash (money left over from previous years), as it has for many years. Finance
Haunting hobby: Architect reveals latest creation
This moving, grunting gorilla was one of Saltsman’s favorite Halloween installations.
» Check out more Halloween happenings in Current Events, page 12.
feet wide, from wood and Styrofoam. It has two claws, six legs, several mouth parts, a body, eyes and two sets of antennae. It has eight motors to animate different parts and a pulley system that will move the crab in and out of its shell.
“It’s like a giant puppet,” Saltsman said.
In the past, Saltsman has built incredible scenes including a dragon breathing smoke, a 22-foot-tall grunting gorilla and an 18-foot-tall translucent walking man. He often transforms the inside of
total includes the $251,824 the town paid Gallo while he was on leave.
Fox called the settlement a “full and final resolution of all financial matters” related to the Gallo case, “without admission of guilt on either side.”
“This is always a compromise,” he said. Fox did not immediately respond when asked by email where the town would find the funds for the Gallo settlement.
his garage to fit the theme and invites people to walk through.
The owner of a design and construction firm, Saltsman has been creating awe-inspiring Halloween pieces for nearly 20 years. It all started when his now-grown daughter was a student at the old Coffin School, and he created a Halloween experience for kids there. This year marks the 10th anniversary of his driveway installations.
Each October, passersby on foot and in cars start slowing down outside Saltsman’s home to check on his latest creation. Last year, he created a scene from 2124 with a large, lit face with expressions and moving eyes, along with a robot, tethered dog and enlarged, bio-engineered mite.
The year before, he created a mythical forest troll in his driveway with an eerie woodland inside his garage. In 2023, he designed and built a 20-foot Egyptian goddess with the head of a cobra and body of a woman.
Saltsman works full time and spends dozens of hours in the evenings and on weekends working on his Halloween projects. He started working on the hermit crab in September with his wife, Brooke Trivas Saltsman, and a handful of loyal friends/ volunteers who help him each year, including Jill Dearborn and Tim and Katie Sullivan.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead architect Tom Saltsman, on the ladder, works on his latest Halloween installation Monday afternoon. His brother, Charles, and volunteer Tim Sullivan look on.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Tom Saltsman’s latest Halloween creation, a giant hermit crab, will be live with visual and sound effects Oct. 30. Saltsman built eight motors and a pulley to animate the crab.
Local food pantry braces as food stamp benefits set to expire
BY LEIGH BLANDER
The Marblehead Food Pantry has stocked up on supplies and volunteers, in advance of what could be a surge in customers next week as people lose access to food benefits due to the government shutdown. Across the state, about 1 million residents may be impacted, according to Gov. Maura Healey.
“We’ve been in touch with the schools and have received a lot of inquiries as to how the community can help,” Marblehead Food Pantry Director Marcy Schwam told the Current on Friday.
Schwam added, “The pantry has added extra volunteers for our distribution shifts to cover additional people and move them through quicker. The Salem mobile pantry will visit us on Nov. 4, 9-11 a.m., and be ready for an influx. It’s a bit uncertain how long this all lasts.”
Typically, the pantry serves about 100 households, with the most popular items being basic baking supplies like flour and sugar, as well as canned goods like beans or lentils.
Schools Superintendent John Robidoux emailed parents and guardians Monday with a list of food resources, including the Food Pantry.
» Marblehead Food Pantry marbleheadfoodpantry.org
Hours: Tuesdays 9 a.m.–12 p.m., Thursdays 5–7 p.m.
Location: Star of the Sea Parish Center, 80 Atlantic Ave.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead Community
Charter Public School celebrated Massachusetts STEM Week with a series of speakers and events culminating with a tree planting honoring the school’s 30th anniversary.
“As a project-based learning school, we value hands-on, real-world experiences and the community partnerships that
Other information:
» Open to Marblehead residents with photo ID and proof of residency (e.g., a bill) No income verification or detailed questions required.
» Marblehead residents may visit once per week.
» Salem Mobile Pantry visit: Nov. 4, 9-11 a.m. Thanksgiving distribution: Nov. 22, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for registered clients of the Marblehead Food Pantry. The deadline to sign up for Thanksgiving is Oct. Registration is in person during distribution hours.
If you are able to help, bring food or financial donations to the Food PAntry at the Mason Lodge, 62 Pleasant St, Tuesdays, n9-11 a.m. If this time isn’t convenient, contact info@ marbleheadfoodpantry.org.
Salem Pantry (The Market)
thesalempantry.org/the-market
Hours: Open five days a week; families may visit once per week. See specific hours at hesalempantry.org/events/ category/fall-hours/ Location: 47 Leavitt St., Salem Families can preregister online or at first visit. Marblehead Little Free Pantry l ittlefreepantrymhd. weebly.com Hours: Openaccess pantry available anytime Location: Marblehead Community Charter Public School, 17 Lime St. Shelf-stable items available anytime, no registration needed.
Family Table (Temple Sinai) templesinaiweb.org/social-action/ food-pantry Hours: Varies; food pantry and delivery program Location: Marblehead (Temple Sinai) Other information: Program serves local families Making Ends Meet makingendsmeetmhead.org
Provides emergency financial assistance and material support.
Marblehead Female Humane Society marbleheadfemalehumanesociety. com/referrals/ Provides emergency financial assistance and material support.
The Marblehead Counseling Center marbleheadcounseling. org/services/social-services/ They can help connect you with community support organizations. MCC can be reached at 781-631-8273.
Local faith-based organizations may also be able to provide emergency support.
People who need help navigating resources should contact their child’s school counselor for guidance. The resources were compiled by counselor Kaitlyn LeBaron with members of the district’s counseling team.
make them possible,” said Head of School Stephant Brant. The tree was donated by Marblehead Garden Center.
Students “were eager to roll up their sleeves, get their hands dirty and take part in a project that will grow alongside our school community,” said MCCPS 8th-grade teacher and alumnus Nick Santoro.
Gov. Maura Healey delivered a special message via video:
“Everytime you ask a question, try an experiment, build something or just figure out how something works, that’s STEM in action,” Healey said. “It’s about being curious, solving problems and using your creativity to make the world better.”
Other highlights included a Charter 8th-grader sharing stories from her summer internship at the Coastal Ocean Science Academy and Sustainable
delivering a schoolwide presentation.
Young students celebrate Festival of Leaves
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Devereux School hosted its Fete des Feuilles (Festival of Leaves) this past weekend. More than 75 students and their families gathered to celebrate the season with art, poetry, music and pumpkin decorating.
Marblehead
COURTESY PHOTO Students at MCCPS plant a tree to mark the state’s STEM week and the school’s 30th anniversary.
Catherine and John Coletti, of Swampscott, show their decorated pumpkins at the Fete des Feuilles Oct. 25.
COURTESY PHOTOS / DYLAN HAARER Students at the Devereux School gather Oct. 25 for the Fete des Feuilles (Festival of Leaves).
Emily Rossi, a nursery student at the Devereux School, shows off her pumpkin at the Fete des Feuilles Oct. 25.
CURRENT PHOTO / SAOIRSE STALLINGS
The Marblehead Food Pantry is gearing up for a surge in customers as federal food benefits end Nov. 1 due to the government shutdown.
Young entrepreneurs hope to refresh Marbleheadopoly game
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Max and Gwyneth Pisa are quite the young entrepreneurs. You may have seen them selling lemonade and popsicles at Fort Sewall in the summer. They’re always looking for new business opportunities and ways to raise money for good causes.
“It’s fun being on your own and making money,” said Max, 12. “This summer my friend and I made $200 in one day for the Park on Elm.” The kids also love playing board games — along with their mom, Kelly, and dad, Renzo. Max’s favorite is Monopoly.
“It’s fun to control and try to win,” he said. “It’s easy to learn, and you can play it over and over without getting bored. It’s always different.”
One day, Kelly found an old Marbleheadopoly game at the Magic Hat Thrift Shop and brought it home. Instead of Park Place and Boardwalk, Marbleheadopoly, produced in 1995 by the Friends of Marblehead Public Schools, features landmarks like Chet’s Video, Eaton’s, EnergyWorks, King’s Rook, Spirit of ‘76 Bookstore, Betsy’s, Super Sub, Marblehead Munchies, J. and S. Brandi’s, Chocolate by Design and Penny’s.
The game included some places that are still around, like Arnould’s Gallery & Framery and Marblehead (Savings) Bank.
After playing the game about 20 times, Max and Gwenyth, 11, had an idea: What if they created a modern-day Marbleheadopoly game and sold spaces to new advertisers? Their dad, who is from Florida, did the same thing when he was their age growing up in Key Biscayne, and they still have that game.
The siblings, who are students at Tower School, created a business plan with pricing. There are 40 property spaces on the board and other branding opportunities. Prices range from $1,000 for hot properties to $250 for a “Fate card.”
Then they used Canva to design a sales presentation and business cards.
They’ve started reaching out to local businesses, and three have already signed up to be featured in the new game: Arnould Gallery and Maddie’s (who also appeared in the 1995 version) and Old Town Antiques.
The advertising money will cover the cost of producing the games. Then, all game sales will be “pure profit,” Max said. The Pisas plan to donate some of the proceeds to the Marblehead Food Pantry.
They’ll be soliciting game ads through March and then hope to sell the finished product at the Marblehead Arts Festival in July.
Anyone interested in learning more or buying an ad can contact marbleheadopoly@gmail. com.
Opinion
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY
The psychology of money
Understanding the emotions behind financial decisions
BY EMILY PROMISE
From the outside, managing your finances can appear straightforward, income, expenses, savings and investments.
Yet anyone who has faced a financial decision knows that money is rarely just about numbers.
Emotions, experiences and personal beliefs influence how we save, spend and invest.
Understanding the psychology of money helps explain why even the most rational people sometimes make financially irrational choices.
Common emotional biases in finance
Behavioral economists and psychologists have identified several recurring emotional patterns that affect financial decisions: Loss aversion: Most people feel the pain of losing money twice as strongly as they feel the pleasure of gaining it. This can cause investors to hold onto poor-performing assets for too long, or avoid risks altogether.
Instant gratification: The pull of short-term rewards such as a purchase, a trip or a new gadget can outweigh the satisfaction of long-term goals like saving for retirement or paying off debt.
Herd behavior: Following trends (such as the latest Instagram video) or acting on popular advice, buying the “hot stock” of the month or mimicking what others are doing can lead to impulsive choices that don’t align with your financial plan.
Making financial decisions based on emotion rather than strategy can have lasting consequences.
The cost of emotional investing Few areas demonstrate the psychology of money more clearly than investing. In theory, markets reward patience and discipline. In practice, investors often react to emotion rather than evidence.
Here are several ways emotional investing can undermine long-term results: Buying high, selling low: Entering the market during periods of excitement and exiting during downturns locks in losses and limits future gains. When markets rise, optimism and fear of missing out drive many to buy at high prices. When markets decline, fear leads to panic selling. This “buy high, sell low” cycle is one of the most common, and costly, investing mistakes.
Overreacting to headlines: Market news and social media amplify short-term volatility.
Frequent trading based on daily headlines often hurts long-term performance. Timing the market: Attempting to predict market movements may seem appealing, but this rarely works out. Missing just a few of the market’s bestperforming days can significantly reduce overall returns. It is important to remain diversified
and invested over the long-term.
Balancing today and tomorrow:
Emotional spending can make it difficult to strike the right balance between enjoying money now and saving for the future. Overspending in the present can delay retirement or other major goals, while excessive saving can prevent people from enjoying the rewards of their hard work.
Neglecting a plan: Without a clear financial strategy, emotions tend to take the lead.
A structured plan provides direction and helps maintain perspective during periods of uncertainty.
According to a 2023 DALBAR study, the average equity investor underperformed the S&P 500 by nearly 3% annually over 20 years. This was not due to poor investments, but to poor timing decisions driven by emotion.
Money, identity and relationships
Money also influences how we relate to others. Couples, for example, often bring different financial values into their relationships. One may prioritize saving, while the other emphasizes lifestyle or experiences. These differences can lead to conflict unless they’re discussed openly and respectfully.
Open communication about financial goals and values helps partners work together and reduces emotional tension around money decisions.
Building a more rational approach
While we can’t remove emotion from financial decisions, we can manage its influence. The following steps can help build a more disciplined and confident approach to money:
Automate savings and investments to reduce impulsive actions and ensure consistent progress toward goals.
» Establish clear, measurable objectives that serve as anchors and road map for where you want to go.
» Pause before major financial decisions. Even a short waiting period can prevent emotionally driven choices, especially when making big purchases.
Have frequent conversations regarding money to make sure that you and your family are on the same page of your financial goals and the road map to get there.
A balanced relationship with money
By understanding the psychological factors behind your financial behavior, you can make more informed decisions, reduce stress and stay focused on longterm goals.
Emotions will always play a role in money management, but awareness and planning can keep them in check. The result is not only better financial outcomes, but also greater confidence and peace of mind along the way.
Emily Promise is president of Blakely Financial, a Marblehead
A Swiftie at 60
BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM
I am way late to this party, but better late than never. Before you stop reading because you’re not interested in Taylor Swift, her music, her engagement, her friendship bracelets, hear me out.
I wasn’t either. But there’s a reason to tune in to her now. In an era when despair, distrust and disgust are the primary emotions animating many people’s days, she offers this: Agency, optimism and resilience.
No one is more surprised than me to find her the subject of this column.
In 2022, when I had friends and relatives almost weeping in frustration at the Taylor Ticketmaster ticket sales fiasco, I wasn’t too far from responding, “Taylor who?” And when I had friends buying tickets to her tour in other countries in 2024 lest they miss out, and one relative suggest seeing her was akin to seeing the Beatles in their prime, I thought, if I did not say aloud, “Are you on drugs?” (Not yet knowing drugs are decidedly not in the Swiftie vibe.) As one decidedly unexposed to a ton of popular culture (never seen “Mad Men,” never seen “The Office,” never seen “The Godfather”) this is what I thought I knew of Swift: She was in her 20s, had a lot of breakups and liked sparkly dresses. I was correct on two of the three.
When I learned last year that she was in her mid-30s, my first reaction was an eyerolling “and she’s still singing about romantic heartbreak?”
Heartbreak is the stuff of teenagers and 20-somethings, I thought, rather cynically. When is she going to write
songs about career debacles and parent losses and sickness and, I don’t know, home ownership?
Clearly, I’m not a lyricist.
But as coverage of the Eras tour engulfed the media and the reels on my Instagram feed, I couldn’t help but start paying attention. It was two of her older songs written in her late teens and 20s which drew me like a magnet. “Love story” about a happy-ever-after ending to the Romeo and Juliet tragedy, and “All too well,” turning a relationship’s end on its head as a torn-up masterpiece drew me in, I realized, because of the reframing of well-known emotional journeys. Reframing is the number one tool in the resilience toolbox. It’s what we try to teach our kids and ourselves, when life doesn’t go the way we hoped.
Then, her latest, “Life of a Showgirl” was released. It’s getting dissed in some quarters but not this one. Whether you’ve dealt with a bad boss and had to stand up for yourself or better, turn the tables (“Father Figure”); were undermined
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Shop local … for democracy’s sake
To the editor:
The United States is a consumer society. Nearly 70% of our economy is driven by consumer spending. On the positive side, these spending habits give “we the people” the power of the purse, the opportunity to determine where and how we spend our disposable income.
So, take a minute to think about your own spending. Whose bottom line do you want to support, the giant corporations who fund an administration that is putting our democracy in jeopardy or your local businesses who make an important contribution to the community? People you know and can count on?
If you are concerned about the direction our country is headed, you can do your part by limiting your spending to essentials, but when you do
but pursued your dreams relentlessly nonetheless (title track, “Life of a Showgirl”); or held on by your fingertips until a better day came (“Opalite”), these lyrics speak to so much of what we each need to assert for a happy life regardless of the lightning strikes around us. Tenacity, hope, selfdetermination. What qualities could better serve her young girl fanbase as well?
Like many recording artists, Swift writes and sings about the circumstances she is personally faced with. I hope I’m still within decades from now when she writes of middle-aged sorrows and joys, empty nests and later-in-life pursuits of purpose. I even have an idea for the album title: “Swift at 60, I’ve only just begun.”
Virginia Buckingham is a former president of the Marblehead Current board of directors, a frequent commentator on WCVB’s On the Record and author of “On My Watch A Memoir.” She is working on a second memoir, “As This Mountain” and writes a biweekly column for the Current.
need to shop, shop local. With the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect time to seriously think about your priorities.
As a reminder to all of us, the League of Women Voters of Marblehead is engaging in a bumper sticker campaign prompting people to shop local. Look for the red and blue bumper stickers that read “Shop Local!! Save Democracy!” Big businesses understand economic pressure and will act to protect their bottom line. When we consumers band together, we can use our power to send them a message to think about where they are spending their capital.
If you would like to help spread this message with your own bumper sticker, email the League of Women Voters of Marblehead at lwvmarblehead@gmail.com.
‘ Our children deserve to learn in an environment free from bigotry and fear’
To the editor: The Marblehead Ministerial Association would like to express our deep concern and disappointment over the recent discovery of antisemitic, racist and sexist graffiti on our school property. Such acts are not only hateful but also completely contrary to
Bonnie Grenier, Sagamore Road
Nancy Powell, Front Street Peggy Hogarty, Green Street League of Women Voters of Marblehead
Taylor Swift offers the optimism and resilience this era needs.
Decoding everyday tech: Wi‑Fi, bluetooth, and other terms explained
BY STEPHEN BACH
We hear tech terms like Wi-Fi, bluetooth and “the cloud” every day, but many people still don’t know exactly what they mean. And that’s okay — no one is born understanding this stuff. (Especially those of us born before the 1960s!) The good news is, once you strip away the jargon, most of it is pretty simple. Here’s a quick guide to a few common terms that pop up in everyday tech conversations, explained in plain English. Let’s start with Wi-Fi. It’s what lets your devices get online without plugging them in. Instead of using cables, Wi-Fi sends internet data through the air using radio waves. Think of it as an invisible cord that connects your phone, laptop or tablet to the internet. That’s how you’re able to scroll social media
the values of respect, inclusion and safety that our community strives to uphold. Antisemitism, racism and sexism are not abstract concepts — they cause real harm to real people in our community. Vandalism that targets others based on religion, race or gender is more than mere defacement — it is an attempt to divide and intimidate. Given the timing of this incident with the second anniversary of the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, this is especially true for many of the Jewish members
The Current welcomes submissions (150–200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org.
BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS
Community meeting on curbside trash, recycling
Join Board of Health member Tom McMahon and Health Director Andrew Petty Thursday Oct. 30, 3-4 p.m. at the Jacobi Community Center, 10 Humphrey St. as they discuss the next curbside collection contract for trash and recycling. Trash and recycling are expected to soar by up to $1 million next year. Share your thoughts and ideas on how the town should move forward.
Header elected Massachusetts Counselor Educator of the year
Dr. Melissa Kaplowitch, of Marblehead, has been selected as the Massachusetts Counselor Educator of the year by the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselor Association after being nominated by colleagues and students.
from the couch or watch a movie in bed without being physically connected to anything.
Bluetooth is another type of wireless connection, but it works over shorter distances and links devices directly to each other.
For example, when you connect your phone to wireless earbuds or pair a keyboard with a tablet, that’s bluetooth at work. You can think of it as a short, invisible wire that lets two devices talk to each other — no internet required.
Now let’s talk about the cloud. No, not “iCloud” specifically — iCloud is a brand name that Apple uses. Microsoft uses OneDrive for their cloud, and there are many others. This one confuses a lot of people, but it’s just a fancy way of saying your files are stored online instead of just on your device. Imagine it like a digital storage locker. Instead of keeping everything on your phone or computer, you’re saving your photos, documents and other data in a secure space you can access from anywhere
of our community. Students who are targeted by such hate may experience fear, anxiety and a sense of not belonging in spaces that should nurture their potential.
The MMA is deeply grateful to the Marblehead High School administration and the Marblehead Police for their swift response to this incident, and to the many community leaders, organizations and neighbors that have already come together in solidarity to stand firmly against these expressions of hate. While it is disheartening that such behavior occurs in a place meant for learning and growth, this
coordinator of the Master’s in Counseling program where she trains students to become licensed mental health counselors.
Roof improvement projects begin
The Town of Marblehead announced the beginning of roofing improvement projects at the Mary A. Alley Municipal Building and the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center. These projects represent an investment in maintaining and extending the life of the town’s public facilities. Work will continue through the beginning of December. Together, the two projects include an investment of more than $800,000 in the preservation of Marblehead’s infrastructure. The $450,000 Mary A. Alley Municipal Building project and the $389,000 Jacobi Community Center project are funded by Article 11 Capital Improvement Funding, approved at the 2022 Town Meeting.
Understanding
Eldercare – Caring for Aging Loved Ones
with the internet. That way, even if your computer crashes, falls off the roof of your car or is the victim of your morning coffee, your important stuff is still safe and reachable.
Then there are cookies — not the kind you eat. In the digital world, cookies are little bits of information that websites save on your device. They’re kind of like name tags that help a website remember who you are. So if a site keeps you logged in or remembers what you added to your shopping cart, that’s cookies doing their job. Some also track your browsing for advertising, which is why
moment can also serve as a call to action. Our children deserve to learn in an environment free from bigotry and fear. We must continue to educate our young people about empathy, tolerance and the importance of standing up for one another, as well as encourage language that unites instead of incites. Only through awareness and accountability can we prevent these acts from recurring.
The MMA was founded in 1981 as Christian and Jewish congregations came together in response to antisemitism; today, our group comprises over a dozen faith communities in
it’s a good idea to clear them occasionally or adjust your privacy settings. Finally, there’s antivirus and anti-malware software, which is like a security guard for your computer. It constantly scans for harmful programs — like viruses or spyware — and works to block them before they can do damage. Think of it as your computer’s immune system, always on patrol in the background. Without it, your system is a lot more vulnerable to threats that can steal your data or slow things down.
However, be aware that all Microsoft operating systems come with the built-in Windows Defender, which works remarkably well, and it’s free. But beware: The Digital Docs have treated many computers over the years that have had expensive third-party products like Norton or McAfee that did not prevent the customer from being infected or compromised. It’s like the breaks on your car:
Marblehead who unequivocally reject hate in all its forms.
Our shared covenant affirms a central teaching of all our faiths: that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We reaffirm this covenant each year, and recommit ourselves to putting this belief into practice.
Signed,
The Marblehead Ministerial Association
Pastor Jim Bixby, Clifton Lutheran Church
Deacon Kris Larson, Our Lady Star of the Sea Reverend Susan Morrison, retired United Methodist clergy
if you drive carefully and use the brakes properly, you’ll be safe. But if you head towards a tree (a bad website or respond to a scammer) and don’t hit the brakes, you’ll probably hit the tree!
The bottom line? You don’t need to be a tech expert to understand the basics. Wi-Fi is the internet without wires. Bluetooth helps your gadgets talk to each other. The cloud stores your stuff online. Cookies help websites remember you. And antivirus keeps your computer safe. Once you know what these terms mean, you’ll start to notice them everywhere — and now you’ll know exactly what they’re talking about! Until next time: stay safe there. It can be a little like the old Wild West, but understanding just a little bit of tech stuff will keep you secure and informed.
Stephen Bach is the owner and chief of surgery at The Digital Docs in Marblehead.
Reverend Lindsay Popperson, Old North Church UCC (convener of the MMA)
Rabbi Samantha Safran, Temple Emanu-El
The Reverend Clyde Elledge, Church of St. Andrew Pastor Sinu Je, St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church
Pastor Nick Gagnon, Grace Community Church Teri Allen McDonough, Marblehead Counseling Center
The Rev. Mimi Hollister, retired United Church of Christ Clergy
The Rev. Thomas E. Ortung, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
to do something like this that are affordable, so we are giving people several options to not only honor someone, but become a part of the stewardship of Bibbo Park going forward.”
Kaplowitch began her journey in higher education in 1994 when she accepted a full-time teaching position at St. John’s University in New York. She joined the faculty of Salem State University in 2001 as an adjunct instructor. In 2019, she joined the Psychology Department as a full time assistant professor. She is currently the program
Each giving level allows for a permanent plaque to be placed with the name of the person (or people) to be honored or memorialized. Founder’s Walkway board plaques will be installed for a sponsorship of $150, while three other levels are available for larger sponsorships: Trees (8) are $2,500; benches (10) are $5,000, back wall pergola (1) $5,000 and plazas (2) are $10,000. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Checks should be made payable to ‘Marblehead Friends of the COA.’ Sponsorship forms can be picked up at the Council on Aging, 10 Humphrey St., and at various locations throughout town. Look for the black ‘LEGACY’ brochure. If you wish to receive a sponsor form via email or USPS mail, please send a request to Steve Harrington, campaign organizer, at SteveCOA560@gmail.com. NEWS IN BRIEF
On Wednesday, Nov. 1, the Architects of Moving & RE/ MAX Beacon Realty will present a free panel discussion called “Empowering Families with Expert Advice on Senior Care” at Marblehead Museum’s Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen. This is a workshop for adult children navigating the complex needs of aging loved ones. Expert panelists will share their insights on this important topic. With subjects like balancing independence and safety for loved ones, managing shifting
family dynamics, considering estate/financial planning needs and navigating the healthcare system. Sign up for limited registration at https://loom.ly/qWjzyxY.
Food Pantry needs your help
The Marblehead Food Pantry is seeking sponsors for Thanksgiving meals. Sponsor a Turkey for $30, a provision bag for $40, pie for $10 or a full meal for $80.
Donations can be mailed to: 80 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead MA 01945. All donations are tax deductible.
‘Legacy and Love’ Campaign for the Council on Aging
The Council on Aging has announced the kickoff of its Legacy and Love campaign to support the new Bibbo Park and bocce courts.
Dedicated this past August, the new facility boasts two large new bocce courts, beautiful landscaping and benches and picnic tables for lounging.
“It’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate someone in your life in a permanent and meaningful way,” says COA Executive Director Lisa Hooper. “There are precious few ways
The Council on Aging has announced the kickoff of its Legacy and Love campaign to support the new Bibbo Park and bocce courts.
COURTESY PHOTOS
Roofing improvements have started at the Mary A. Ally Municipal Building and Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center.
Melissa Kaplowitch
Architects of Moving & RE/MAX Beacon Realty will present a panel discussion called “Empowering Families with Expert Advice on Senior Care” at Marblehead Museum’s Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen.
From P. 4
Father-son duo build classic car paradise
BY LUCA TEDESCO
Tony
Scivetti Jr.,
of Marblehead, has been obsessed with classic cars for as long as he can remember.
“My grandfather had this 1930s Ford and he used to drive me to my first day of school every year,” he recalls. “The seats were like Lazy Boy couches, no seat belts, and the smell. Just the way you felt driving in that… I was like ‘this is sweet!’”
Now, 20 years after riding to school in his grandfather’s Ford Model A, he, alongside his father, Tony Sr., have built a slice of car enthusiast heaven within the walls of a former machine shop on Park Street in Beverly.
The building in which G63 Auto Club resides was initially meant to be nothing more than an extra space to store some of the classic cars owned by the Scivettis after their Marblehead driveway space had been exhausted following the addition of a 1967 Pontiac and a 1968 Ford Mustang to their collection in 2019.
“It started because we had this building, we had our cars here, and then friends and family heard that we had this space and they would bring their cars here,” Tony Jr. said when discussing the origins of the club. “We were like, ‘we could probably make a business out of
this.’”
The club, named after the Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV model, acts as something of an automotive speakeasy, a way of doing business that, according to the Scivettis, is by design.
“We don’t put up signage,” said Tony Sr. “We don’t want anyone to know that we’re in here. But, sometimes we have our door open and people walk by and say ‘We’ve always wondered what was going on in there!’ People are starting to know, but I don’t want to be too flashy about it.”
G63’s busy season is from November through the start of spring. While the club currently houses about 10 cars, by Thanksgiving the space will be packed with over 40 vehicles of all shapes, sizes, makes and models.
The full range of vehicles stored at the facility include a Porsche 911 Turbo S (which has a top speed of 200 miles per hour), a “slammed” Volkswagen Golf and a 1940s Packard sedan. Collectively, the cars stored at G63 have a valuation in the millions of dollars.
If the storage and social club aspect of G63 weren’t enough, the Scivettis also rent out vehicles from their personal collection, including a 1964 Chrysler Imperial, a 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL and
a 1985 Dodge Custom Van for private events, films and even a Samsonite ad campaign last fall.
“My grandfather loved 30s Fords,” said Tony Jr. “At some point in the 80s, he had a fleet of three Ford Pheytons and he would rent them out for weddings. He had his own business called Doc’s Livery, so he would do similar things to what I do now.”
More than anything, the club is a family affair for the Scivettis. When asked about how he got his father to go ahead with the plan, Tony Jr. said, “It’s not hard to persuade when we both have
a bug. We both have the car bug. It’s in us. Luckily, we’ve been blessed with the opportunity to do this and we’ve just been running with it.”
In the future, Scivetti hopes to build a wide reaching community of car enthusiasts with G63
clubhouses in major cities across the country.
“My dream is to have a G63, not just here in Boston, but in Miami or Houston,” said Tony Jr. “It would all be connected. There’s so much opportunity, especially with the rentals, storage, clubhouse activities, events. I think the sky is pretty much the limit!”
CURRENT PHOTOS / LUCA TEDESCO
Tony Scivetti Jr. and Sr., of Marblehead, are the founders of G63 Auto Club, a social club and storage facility for classic car enthusiasts from across the North Shore.
Monk accuses town of colluding with feds
BY LEIGH BLANDER
There’s been a flurry of court activity involving the Christian Orthodox monk Father Andrew Bushell of Marblehead and his legal battles against the town, including a new federal lawsuit that claims Marblehead and the Department of Justice colluded to block Bushell from “engaging in protected religious activity within Marblehead’s borders.”
The FBI raided Bushell’s residence on Conant Road on Oct. 13, 2022, and arrested him on charges of misusing federal COVID relief funds.
The Department of Justice later dropped the charges “in the interests of justice,” according to a DOJ statement.
The new lawsuit against the town and DOJ claims, “Based on their animus for Plaintiffs’ religious operation, on information and belief, Marblehead officials made false reports to the Federal Bureau of Investigations that Father Andrew was not a real monk and none of the organizational Defendants were legitimate religious organizations…. These insidious lies achieved their goals.”
Bushell is one of several plaintiffs in the case, alongside entities with which he is affiliated, including St. Paul’s Foundation; the Shrine of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Patron of Sailors, Brewers and Repentant Thieves; and Marblehead Brewing Co. LLC. Bushell is suing in his individual capacity and as protos of St. Paul’s Foundation and father guardian of the Shrine of St. Nicholas.
Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer told the Current he hadn’t been served the Oct. 10 complaint officially but did forward a copy of it provided by a media outlet to the town’s attorney. Jon Blair, who only recently became the Light Department’s general manager, declined to comment.
The case has been assigned to
Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley.
In a separate, previously filed federal lawsuit, attorneys for the religious nonprofit corporation
Egypt House filed an emergency motion in U.S. District Court to prevent the release of photos taken inside its Conant Street residence during a July 23 visit by Marblehead Board of Assessors Chair John Kelley, Assistant Assessor Todd Laramie and others.
The photos are set to be entered into the public record at a Nov. 12 Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board hearing.
When that happens, the photos “will become
cash carousel we’ve been on.”
Other pieces of the town’s financial picture include:
Committee Chair Alec Goolsby said the new free cash amount should be certified by the state soon and “could be $2-3 million less” than last year.
Select Board member Erin Noonan agreed that relying on free cash to balance the budget is dangerous.
“The cost drivers far outpace living within the Prop 2 1/2 cap,” Noonan said. “We need to get off this free
The town’s new restaurant and lodging taxes generated about $700,000, according to Goolsby. Federal COVID relief funds (ARPA) will be fully spent by the end of 2026.
The town has maintained its AAA bond rating, but “operations and maintenance funding need attention,” said Benjamin. Marblehead is not alone. A
immediately available to media outlets including the Marblehead Current, already used by Defendants to great effect in manipulating the public views about Egypt House and the Orthodox Catholic faithful in a hostile manner,” Egypt House alleges.
A hearing on the emergency motion is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 3 in the Boston courtroom of U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy.
Egypt House claims the residence has a religious use and is therefore exempt from property taxes.
In that lawsuit, Egypt
new report by the Massachusetts Municipal Association describes a “perfect storm” facing cities and towns across the country. With skyrocketing costs, shrinking state and federal aid and Prop 2 ½ limits, many communities are struggling to balance their budgets.
The revenue forecast is the beginning of Marblehead’s budget process. More financial information will be coming at the State of the Town address in January or February.
House accuses the town of violating the Constitution and federal laws and seeks a permanent injunction preventing town officials from “continuing their pattern of religious discrimination and constitutional violations.”
The suit also seeks an order immediately recognizing Egypt House as tax-exempt, retroactive to 2022, and money damages.
Pleasant Street shrine, brewery Bushell has been trying to open a monastic shrine and brewery, called St. Nicholas, at 120 and 124 Pleasant St. The buildings are currently boarded up.
“First, the Marblehead Building Commissioner embarked on a mission to solicit assistance from other agencies in denying a building permit to St. Nicholas,” the Oct. 10 complaint states. “Second, Marblehead arbitrarily and capriciously rejected St. Nicholas’ compliant electrical service designs for years, preventing St. Nicholas from opening to the public. Third, the Marblehead Board of Assessors has created one hurdle after another to bar St. Nicholas from recognition of tax exemption status.”
In the complaint, St. Paul’s claims that the town has worked with other religious organizations, specifically Star of the Sea, to grant permits, including for food service.
The complaint also alludes to another pending proceeding pitting St. Paul’s and the town against one another, this one before the state’s Board of Electricians’ Appeals, over what St. Paul’s characterizes as the town’s “baseless denial of electrical design.”
St. Paul’s prevailed in a previous petition to the board, according to the complaint.
The buildings at 120 and 124 Pleasant St. are boarded up.
Civil case settled
In September, Bushell settled a case filed in Essex Superior Court involving Mary Wipperman of Florida. Wipperman, whose son had done an apprenticeship with the monk at Marblehead Salt Company, accused him of inducing her to invest $180,000 in the brewery and failing to live up to his end of the contract.
“The parties reached a resolution,” Wipperman’s attorney Daniel Pasquarello told the Current. He declined to provide specifics of the settlement.
To read several court documents mentioned in this article, visit https://loom.ly/ gASFIfc.
BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS
When Marlene Richards took responsibility for caring for her partner with Alzheimer’s, it changed her life. But she found help — and now more people can, too. Richards signed up with AgeSpan, a private nonprofit that supports people with challenges and their caregivers. Richards found counseling, safety devices, like a stair lift installation in her home, and overall support that helped her manage her partner’s care and her own well-being.
“One of the things I learned was that the first to die is generally the caregiver, not the patient,” she said. “That was a
wake-up call.”
Richard continued: “The biggest challenge is taking care of yourself, and it’s the most important one because there just was no energy left at the end of the day for me. (There is) constant worry and fear…. I think that the biggest problem our society has right now is that there’s so many people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The caregiver is just expected to be the hero and take care of all the problems and do it with a smile.”
Richards, who lives in Billerica, learned about AgeSpan through her local senior center. Now, AgeSpan is coming to the North Shore, including Marblehead. The agency was recently
awarded a $62,000 grant from the state.
Crystal Polizzotti, director of AgeSpan’s Family Caregiver Support Program, encourages people to apply for assistance. AgeSpan can provide caregivers everything from guidance on long-term care and finances to
house cleaners and dogwalkers.
“We have very minimum eligibility requirements around this program, no income requirements, only that the family caregiver is 18 + and either they or their care recipient lives within one of our 28 cities and towns,” Polizzotti said.
“The person they’re caring for can still be living at home; they can be in assisted living or a skilled nursing facility. We know that caregiving is a 24/7 job whether you’re with your care recipient or not,” she added. “This program was developed in the early 2010s because we realized that nobody was checking in on the family
caregivers who were doing this hard work day-in and day-out and we have a professionally trained team.”
Polizzotti said people should know they are not alone.
“We’re entering a phase where we’re about to have the biggest population of folks over the age of 65 and so we have a lot of older adults from the baby boom. A large population now needs the care and we’re thinking about one-in-four people have some level of cognitive impairment, so it’s very common,” she said.
Marblehead caregivers can visit AgeSpan.org to learn more about available resources.
The properties at 120 and 124 Pleasant St. remain boarded up.
CURRENT PHOTOS
Father Bushell stands in the Pleasant Street space he hopes to turn into a monastic shrine and brewery.
CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER
The Select Board hears a gloomy financial forecast for the town at its meeting on Oct. 22.
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Debbie Noble
Sports
NET TALK
Volleyball secures second title in 10 years
Magicians sweep past conference foes with 12 wins in as many matches
BY JOE MCCONNELL
With one non-league match still left on the regular season schedule, the Marblehead High volleyball team had a 16-2 overall record, and was the Northeastern Conference (NEC) champions after ending up 12-0 against those familiar foes. The title clincher appropriately came against the Big Blue last Thursday night, Oct. 23. There’s nothing like beating a longtime rival, especially at its place, to make a milestone moment even more memorable. It was coach Killeen Miller’s second conference championship (the first one was in 2015) since taking over the program in 2013. For the record, it took four sets, before they had the chance to enjoy the feat.
The team’s lone two losses were against visiting Newburyport, 3-1 on Sept. 5, and host Burlington exactly two weeks later on Sept. 19, 3-0, both non-league opponents. They wrapped up the regular season against non-league host Andover on Oct. 28 after press deadline, the day the state tournament pairings were announced by the MIAA (Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association).
As of the Oct. 24 Division 2 power rankings, these Magicians are seeded sixth statewide. There are 57 teams in this division. The state tournament pairings were once again announced on Oct. 28 after press deadline. Checkout miaa.net for details on the team’s first opponent, and the time and place of the match.
Miller says that there’s no great mystery in this year’s team’s run to the top of the conference. “There was no secret (formula),” she said after her club beat its longtime rival Swampscott, 3-1 on Oct. 23 in Big Blue country. “Our girls set this as one of several goals they made at the start of the season, and we knew we had the potential to achieve it. They came in ready to compete, establishing their identity from Day 1.”
After opening up the conference schedule with a 3-0 win over Masco, last year’s reigning champs, on Sept. 3, the Magicians knew that they had the confidence to challenge for the title. From there, they continued to show up wellprepared, and ready to execute, according to Miller. But it didn’t come smoothly right away. “Early on in the season, we recognized the need for more consistency in our
Magicians lose streak, NEC crown to Masco
BY LUCA TEDESCO
Boxford — The Marblehead Magicians football team took their first loss of the season, dropping a 45-42 shootout to the Masconomet Chieftains at Bunker Field on Friday night.
“We can’t do anything about what just happened. The important thing is do we get anything out of this,” said Marblehead head coach Jim Rudloff following the loss. “You might feel foolish, you might feel bad that we just lost the way that we did, but the real fool is the person that takes nothing from this.”
The Magicians’ offense had a dream start to the game, marching 82 yards in just two minutes, 35 seconds. The opening drive concluded by Breydan Callahan who ran 32 yards untouched to put the game’s first points on the board.
The Chieftains matched the Headers stride for stride, going 81 yards on their first possession. Masco’s star back, Jack Fabiano, found the goal line from two yards out for his 24th touchdown of the season. The hosts elected to go for two, but failed to convert.
Finn Gallup made his presence known early, running 74-yards before being marked down at the one-foot line before finding Timmy Wales at the back of the end zone for a three-yard scoring reception to give Marblehead a 14-6 lead.
After forcing a Masco punt, the Magicians would once again force their way into enemy territory by way of the run. Gallup broke off another big run, this time for 39 yards, following it up with a key two-yard fourth down run to put the Magicians in scoring position.
Magicians sports weekly notebook
BY JOE MCCONNELL
Field hockey clinches
postseason berth
Entering the final week of the regular season, the Marblehead High field hockey team (7-7-4) needed to finish with at least a .500 record to clinch a spot in the Division 2 state tournament, and it did just that.
According to the Oct. 24 power rankings, these Magicians are ranked 34th. They recorded two ties against Danvers (3-3) and Bishop Fenwick (2-2) last week sandwiched around a 3-0 loss to host Gloucester, but it was enough to make the playoffs. Against Danvers at home on Oct. 20, goalie Elizabeth Hayes helped secure the tie by coming up with eight critical saves. Emma Ryan powered the offense with two goals, both in the first quarter. Sadie Beane set up her first score, while Keliane Salem assisted on the second tally. Layla Dulac netted the third marker in the third quarter from defender Paige Waldman, a first for that unit this fall.
First-year coach Alison Carey’s squad then took off for Gloucester the very next day to face the Lady Fishermen (13-3-1, 12th seed in Division 3). It was a competitive matchup against a very good club.
“Our defense managed to limit Gloucester’s scoring opportunities in the first half of the game, while shutting down any potential goals in the final two quarters that would have broken the game wide open,” said Carey. “On the flip side, the Gloucester defense was ready for us, and while we had several solid chances, we just couldn’t find the back of the net.” Hayes did her part once again to keep the game close on the scoreboard with 11 saves.
After a day off, the Magicians were ready to host the Crusaders in the final regular season game.
This was a fun game,” said Carey, “and it was an absolute team effort from beginning to end. I’m so proud of the way the team played against
(non-league) Bishop Fenwick to complete the regular season.”
Carolyn Black ignited the offensive attack with an unassisted goal in the third quarter. Chloe Rowland was credited with the second goal from Zoe Dwyer in the fourth quarter to help avoid a loss, which would have eliminated them from the playoffs. Hayes sealed the deal in net after making seven saves.
Playing with injuries, girls soccer preps for the playoffs
The Marblehead High girls
COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD
Marblehead’s Finn Gallup (12) is lifted in celebration by Declan Gibson (51) after he scores a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter of a game against Masconomet at Bunker Field in Boxford on October 18.
COURTESY PHOTO / AUTUMN MORAN
Marblehead High girls soccer player Lucy Church (22) boots the ball to set up the offense during the Oct. 17 game against visiting Winthrop.
COURTESY PHOTO / ABBEY DION Marblehead High girls cross-country runners Ava Bannister (33rd), Ginny Donato (17th) and Nadia Siragusa (30th), from left, pose for a photo after running well in the Catholic Memorial Invitational Freshmen 3K at Dorchester’s Franklin Park on Oct. 18.
Boys warm up for playoffs with two more wins
BY JOE MCCONNELL
The Marblehead High boys soccer team (11-4-1) started last week with nine wins, and ended it with two more after defeating visiting non-league North Andover on a Saturday Night Prime Time Special at Piper by the narrowest of margins, 1-0.
The Magicians opened the week with a road win over Salem, 2-0 on Oct. 20, before dropping a 3-1 decision to host Masco on the grass in Boxford two days later.
In that North Andover game, T.J. Kelly took a ball from his own box about 15 minutes into the second half, and proceeded to run past defenders left and right, before firing a rocket to the top righthand corner of the net to account for what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
“The shot came from outside the North Andover box, and it looked like a goal that was scored by (Argentina’s) Diego Maradona during a 1986 World Cup game in Mexico (For the record, Argentina went on to win the Cup that year),” said coach Elmer Magana.
After that thrilling win, there were still two more road games left on the regular season schedule against Winthrop (Oct. 27) and Melrose (Oct. 29,
Notebook
From P. 9
soccer team (11-1-4) battled visiting Masco (13-3-1) to a scoreless tie to begin a new week on Oct. 22.
Hailey Gilmore played a great game in net, coming up with seven saves, while Sydney Ball and Ainsley McDonald anchored the defense. “All three players were terrific in this game,” said second-year coach Lisa Wales.
The Marblehead girls opened up the season against the Chieftains back on Sept. 3 in Boxford, and were able to come home with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph. It was Masco’s first Northeastern Conference (NEC) loss in 60 games, dating back to 2021. The defending Division 2 state champs were also ranked fourth nationally in a preseason poll. It was definitely a statement game for these Magicians.
As of the Oct. 24 Division 2 power rankings, Masco was ranked fifth, and Marblehead 17th.
“We were able to take three out of a possible four points from Masco this season,” said Wales. “They have beaten every other NEC team this season, while we are the only NEC team not to concede a goal to them, despite dealing with multiple injuries.”
Wales and her coaching staff are naturally quite proud of what their players have accomplished so far this year. “The grit, resolve, heart and untiring effort that we have seen as a staff from our players is simply incredible,” she added. “They are a special group on and off the field.”
It was more of the same last Saturday morning (Oct. 25) on the road in Lynnfield, when they played the non-league Pioneers to a 1-1 tie.
Heading into a new week, Marblehead had only two regular season games left on the schedule, both at Piper, against non-league Newton North (Oct. 27) after press deadline and Salem (Oct. 29, 7 p.m.), before the state tournament pairings are announced this coming weekend.
Goalie Hailey Gilmore came up with five first half saves against host Lynnfield, before leaving the game with an injury. Lily Heller took over the
4:30 p.m.), before the Division
2 state tournament pairings are announced on Saturday, Nov. 1.
As of the Oct. 24 power rankings, the Marblehead boys are ranked 17th. But that could change significantly after the win over North Andover, and two more possible victories in those aforementioned road games this week.
But getting back to the game against the Witches, it came down to the last 20 seconds, according to Magana.
“The Witches cast a spell on us in the form of a defensive wall (parked the bus in front of the net),” the coach added.
“Their goal was to keep the score close, and to attack in the last 20 minutes of the game, but an outside right shot by sophomore Julien Poitevin was mishandled by the Salem keeper, and as a result the ball slipped into the net at the 23-minute mark.”
Erik Badzak, a center defensive midfielder, kept on trying to find holes in the Witches wall, but the gaps closed quickly, when they booted the threats away. But finally, in the last 20 minutes, the Witches wall came down when they went into attack mode. The Marblehead midfielders were then able to find the gaps to create scoring
goaltending chores, and was able to make three more stops to help preserve the tie.
Sadie Halpern netted the Marblehead goal, her first of the season, assisted by Izzie Gonzalez, also a first for her this year.
The Magicians played this game without four starters – Allie Gilmore, Liv Carlson, Courtney Hitsherich and Lucy Church – after losing Avery Gould, the first sub off the bench, the previous week to a season-ending knee injury (ACL / dislocated knee cap / meniscus tear).
“(Coupled that with the fact that) we were already without the services of senior Sammy Dosch, who also recently sustained a season-ending knee injury, and then wouldn’t you know halfway through the first half of this game, Hailey (Gilmore) was involved in a collision with a Lynnfield player, and had to leave the game to get stitches,” said Wales. “We brought two freshmen up from the JV team (Nina Badzak and Izzie Gonzalez) for today’s game, and now Nina had to go to the sidelines with a wrist injury in the first half. To say we have been hit hard with injuries would be an understatement. This also happened to us last year, but like last year we asked everybody else left on the team to step up, and they did.”
Wales added that her girls were on their heels throughout most of the first half against Lynnfield, but nonetheless stayed with it to keep the game close. Lynnfield scored early on in the second half, but the visitors tied it up a short time later on Halpern’s first goal of the season from Gonzalez.
“Sadie herself battled back from an ACL injury, so to see her score a goal was heartwarming and very timely as we prepare for the playoffs,” said Wales.
But the play of the game came from Heller. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock. she was able to deflect a shot, before catching it behind her. “This was an exciting game from start to finish,” said Wales.
“Before the game, we spoke to them about adversity, and how we would rise to the challenge, and we did,” the coach added.
“I’m so proud of the effort from everyone. We asked them to step up and play different
COURTESY PHOTO / MHS SENIOR KAI ROZINSKY
Marblehead High boys soccer
senior goalie Matias Watts-Cruz takes a break in the action during a recent game.
chances.
“It looked like a 1-0 win for us, but in the last 20 seconds, a crossing feed into the box landed at the foot of Poitevin, who passed it to Quinn Cohane. Cohane then rocketed it into the net with his left foot,” said
positions, while also believing in each other, and they did. Seniors Isabel Mortesen and Nora Mahan, in particular, were fantastic, giving it everything they had. This is one of those games that we will remember for a long time, because of their perseverance and grit.”
Boys cross country gets ready for the state meets
Before the Marblehead boys cross country team (4-3) wrapped up the regular season with a victory at home against Winthrop on Oct. 15, 15-48, they warmed up for the state postseason meets with the annual running of the Twilight Invitational on the site of the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth on Oct. 11.
The Magicians competed in the Medium School Division, where they finished eighth out of 23 teams. Will Cruikshank (16:50, 38th) crossed the finish line first among the Marblehead boys. Henrik Adams (41st, 16:54), Filip Grubor (45th, 16:59), Zach Pike (57th, 17:21), Colin Hart (106th, 18:26), Thomas Svencer (128th, 18:51) and Isaac Durand (131st, 18:56) also took part in the statewide event.
“This was a great showing against many of the teams that the boys will see at the state divisional championship meet in a few weeks,” said coach Brian Heenan.
On Oct. 18, the Marblehead boys traveled to Franklin Park in Dorchester for the annual Catholic Memorial Invitational.
The Magicians competed in three separate races. The ninth-grade boys turned in an impressive showing, with Isaac Durand leading the way. He crossed the finish line in 13th place to earn a medal. Ivan Monin also earned a medal after coming in 25th. The Top 25 finishers were awarded medals for their efforts.
Daniel Le ran his best race of the season, according to Heenan, to end up 107th overall.
In the JV race, Jack Franklin was the top Marblehead finisher, coming in 36th. He was followed by Grey Collins (44th) and Graham Firestone (61st).
In the varsity race, the Marblehead boys finished ninth out of 116 teams. Adams was the top finisher on the team, crossing the line in 26th place. Cruikshank (34th), Grubor
Magana. “As soon as the referee signaled it a goal, the final whistle sounded to give us the 2-0 win.”
Senior goalie Matias WattsCruz registered his seventh shutout after making one key save in the last five minutes to preserve the slim lead at the time.
The veteran Marblehead coach said that defenders Adam Loughlin and Kelly turned in solid games, while adding that the MVP of this game was Poitevin and his relentless attack, who even factored into the entire offense by scoring one and assisting on the other.
“I’m proud of our boys for never giving up in trying to crack the Witches defensive wall,” said Magana.
It was now onto Masco, and another classic on grass in Boxford between these two teams on a rainy day.
“We knew that the Chieftains wanted to avenge their earlier loss to us, a 4-3 decision on Sept. 3, so we fortified our midfielders to control the tempo of the game, which we did for the first 25 minutes,” said Magana. “During that sequence, we created two scoring chances, but failed to score. Regardless of the wet grass surface, we still moved
(36th), Pike (58th) and Felix Regnault (114th) rounded out Marblehead’s Top 5 barriers.
Girls finish third in the CM Invitational
The MHS girls cross country team ran in the annual Catholic Memorial Invitational at Dorchester’s historic Franklin Park on Oct. 18.
The Magicians were involved in three races on this day, and had individual medal winners in all of them. In the varsity race, the locals ended up third overall against a competitive field that included Lexington, the state’s top team.
Senior captain Marri O’Connell was the first Header to finish, coming in ninth overall, and Sarah Munroe was 18th. The Top 25 finishers were awarded medals for their efforts.
Norah Walsh (39th) and Ruby Assa (44th) improved on their best 5K times by 5 and 14 seconds, respectively. Sophia Letwin (105th), Evelina Beletsky (107th) and Hailey Schmitt (138th) also ran well in this state invitational.
In the JV race, Evie Becker came in sixth. “Evie had been battling an injury all season long, but it looks like she may be coming back at the most critical point of the season,” said coach Will Herlihy. Angie Fischer (43rd), Adelina Thiede (45th), Thea Shaw (46th), Molly Helmuth (67th), Anna Cruikshank (70th), Maddie Gelb (74th) and Emma St. George (79th) also turned in solid performances for the JV Magicians.
In the freshman race, Ginny Donato (17th) earned herself a medal with a Top 25 finish. Teammates Nadia Siragusa (30th) and Ava Bannister (33rd) ran personal bests over the 3K distance.
Forbes chosen AllConference golfer; King, Leventhal make all-star team
The Marblehead High golf team ended the regular season with an 11-2-2 record. They then participated in the Northeastern Conference (NEC) Open at Bass Rocks in Gloucester on Oct. 16 to determine the 2025 all-star team.
When it was all said and done, junior co-captain Tyler Forbes was selected to the
the ball well. But eventually, the Chieftains found the back of the net from the corner.”
The home team maintained the lead until late in the game, when Marblehead sent in an extra forward to try to score the equalizer, but missed twice.
The Magicians also had trouble escaping injury, when center midfielder Bubacarr Jallow was fouled hard on a play, and was taken out of the game in the first 15 minutes of the second half, which only left them with one substitute.
But a free kick from Ilan Druker found Loughlin, who headed a rocket into the net. They had two more chances to score, but came up short. Watts-Cruz made key saves to keep his teammates close on the scoreboard.
“Although soccer was made to play on grass, when you play on turf (most of the time), it’s a different game,” said Magana. “However, I’m so proud of our boys. They never gave up, regardless of the grass, rain or injuries.”
Loughlin, a center back, was the MVP of this game, according to Magana, because of his solid defense, as well as scoring the team’s goal “on a great header,” the coach added.
All-Conference team, while classmates Max King and Greyson Leventhal made the allstar squad.
“(Forbes) had a very good season as our No. 1 golfer this fall,” said veteran coach Bob Green. “He compiled a 6-4-4 record with a 37.9 stroke average. His leadership, positive attitude and competitiveness set an outstanding example for the entire team.”
King was second in the team’s lineup for 11 out of 14 matches this year, and had a 7-6-1 record with a stroke average of 39.9, according to Green.
Greyson Leventhal, playing all but three matches this year in the third position, accounted for a 12-1-1 record with a 37.4 stroke average.
“From 1 through 10, we were very strong this fall,” said Green. “Our individual combined record totals were (an outstanding) 78-26-8.”
Junior Will Macrina, who was fourth in the lineup, had a 12-1-1 record with a 39.5 stroke average. Joy Meshulam was 10-4 with a 42.3 stoke average, and operated out of the fifth spot.
At No. 6, freshman Colby Moore was 12-2 with a 40.6 stroke average. Seniors Dylan Whitman (10-2, 42.3), Bowden Laramie (3-4-1, 42.7), Zac Plum (3-1, 44.8) and Teddy Dulac (3-2, 42.2) rotated through the seventh and eighth positions all season long.
“More important than their incredible golf skills, they were all outstanding young people, led by Forbes and Meshulam, our captains this year,” said Green.
The team as a whole won the NEC Sportsmanship Award. “Being chosen by the other conference coaches and players for this award is a great honor. It says so much about every player on the team,” said Green.
The veteran Marblehead coach went on to say: “The players should be so proud to be chosen for this award. It says so much about their individual and collective character, while also being competitive (on the links). They were all a pleasure to coach, and were enjoyable to be around.”
The good news is that seven of the 10 players on the varsity roster will be returning next fall, something that the coach is already looking forward to as another year wraps up.
Local rower takes on Head of the Charles
BY LUCA TEDESCO
If Julie Smith has any regrets in her life, it was walking away from rowing in her sophomore year of college. As a freshman, she walked onto the Syracuse crew team but chose to step away from the sport in order to focus more of her time on her studies.
“Rowing is sort of an all encompassing kind of sport,” she said. “It’s all three seasons. Sometimes the practices are multiple days. After my second year, being a financial aid kid, it was hard to be a member of the team because it demanded so much of my time, so, unfortunately, I had to leave.”
However, after moving to Danvers, Smith saw an opportunity to jump back into the sport she loves when she joined Marblehead’s RocknRow club in 2019. While primarily using it as an opportunity to exercise and get out on the open water, Smith became interested in rowing in the Head of the
Volleyball
sets,” said Miller. “Moving senior setter Eva Burke into a better position on the court stabilized the offense, and it really also helped balance the team.” Other moves were also critical to the team’s success during the last two months. Moves like setter Erin Wilder going to the right side of the court, and not wasting any time to become an immediate success as an offensive weapon. Sydney DaSilva, also a setter, quickly became a defensive specialist. It was another example of changing up the lineup for the better. “It has been huge for us to keep these setters on the court, even if that meant shifting roles,” Miller said. The veteran players, who have taken care of the perimeters over the last couple of years, returned stronger and more mature, according to Miller, which also helped the team become champions this season. She was referring to Mari Modrzynska, who has been “steady and composed in big moments.” There’s also the growth of Lila Moniz “on the
Charles after her recent 50th birthday.
“As a rower, the Head of the Charles is just the quintessential rowing event,” said Smith. “When you turn 50, and you have these monumental milestones in your life, you think ‘Oh, how am I going to celebrate this?’ Well, I’m going to row in the Head of the Charles.”
After having been waitlisted for the Head of the Charles, Smith registered for other local regattas in September and October in order to practice and
get experience racing around other boats.
“It was very challenging,” said Smith. “It was a very humbling experience to get into a racing shell, which is a very different experience than when you’re out enjoying the beautiful scenery of Salem harbor.”
Just two days after her first race, Smith was informed that she had gotten off the waiting list and would be racing in the Head of the Charles. After a few more regattas and practice sessions on the famed five
pin, both in power and her willingness to take the big swings, and that combination has also elevated us,” the coach said.
Greta Sachs returned as the team’s top middle player, but the coach added that moving Sammy Walker to the middle opposite her made a difference, as well. “That was a massive win for us, because Sammy brings speed, strength and quickness to the team, and she adjusted extremely well moving from the pin,” Miller explained.
With the team now coming of age, what are the natural expectations for the postseason? Miller is very confident answering that question.
“These kids are ready to
Coach Rudloff would again elect to go for it on fourth down at the Masco 28. The gamble would pay off spectacularly with a second Callahan touchdown run to put the visitors up 21-6 with 8:30 remaining in the half.
After making a massive fourth down stop, Marblehead extended their lead to 22 when Madden Lyons took the option pitch and walked in for the fourth Magician touchdown of the game.
With the Masco offense in the hurry-up, Fabiano would run in for his second touchdown of the game, this time from 40 yards to send the Chieftains to halftime with momentum and a manageable 28-13 deficit.
After trading punts following the halftime interval, the Chieftains picked up a few quick first downs to set them up deep in Magician territory. The potential scoring chance would be squandered, however, as Masco quarterback, Drew Gustafson, fired the ball into the waiting arms of Lyons, nabbing his sixth interception of the season.
After forcing Marblehead three-andout, the Chieftains, down 28-13, began the scoring frenzy late in the third quarter with Fabiano grabbing his hattrick score from 16 yards to put Masco within two scores.
Marblehead would follow up with a headscratching scoring drive of their own. After working their way into enemy territory, a designed QB run with Gallup seemed to go awry. Swarmed by Masco
make a legitimate run toward a (state) tournament title, and I can’t wait to get started,” she said, “Earning the opportunity as a high seed to also host early round matches gives us additional confidence at home.”
But the veteran coach also realizes that it will be anything, but a cakewalk to that elusive state crown. “We’re not one of the ‘big name’ teams in Division 2, and we weren’t really on anyone’s radar early on in the season. That has definitely worked in our favor. But, because of all that, we’ve prepared well, and done our homework on opponents, while hitting our stride at the right time. I truly believe we’re still getting better, and I love that for this team, as we (head into
defenders, Gallup lived up to his team’s name, pitching the ball to Owen Coyne who ran into the end zone for a trick touchdown.
Fabiano again found the endzone for his fourth score of the night with an 18-yard run to cut the Marblehead lead to 10 with eight minutes to play.
Following a penalty on the ensuing kickoff, Marblehead recovered the onside kick and took the ball at the Masco 42. After being forced three-and-out, the Magicians found even more luck, recovering the muffed punt and regaining possession at the 12. Gallup seemingly put the dagger through the Chieftains with a 12-yard touchdown rush to give the Magicians a commanding 42-25 lead with 5:30 to play.
Undaunted by the 16-point Marblehead advantage, Masco scored again, this time
kilometer course, raceday finally arrived.
“I was really really concerned about the logistical aspect,” said Smith of her raceday experience. “Where am I putting my boat in? How am I getting to the starting line… I was really nervous about that aspect.”
After a stressful but incidentfree crossing of the river to the holding area, the horn sounded and the race down the Charles began.
“It really went through in a blur,” she said. “At one point
November).”
The road to the conference title came to a roaring conclusion last week against Danvers and aforementioned Swampscott.
In the Danvers match at home on Oct. 21, Sachs continued to lead the offense with nine kills, while Moniz and Modrzynksa added another four each that helped propel the team to the 3-0 shutout win. Burke contributed 22 assists and 6 aces to the winning cause.
Sydney Faris led the team from the service line with 7 aces and 10 digs.
That win was just the warmup of what was to come two days later in Swampscott. “It was a back-and-forth match that took us four sets to clinch it,” said Miller afterwards.
Wilder came up big as a setter in this unforgettable match, ending up with 26 assists. Modryznksa recorded a doubledouble with 12 kills and 11 digs.
Sachs took some big swings in the fourth game of the match that resulted in finishing up with 8 kills and 6 blocks. Faris was once again consistently receiving serves very well, while anchoring the defense that included producing 28 total digs.
with a 67-yard touchdown reception to sophomore Trip Weidman to cut the lead to 10.
After recovering the onside kick, the Chieftans scored their second touchdown in 20 seconds, this time on a 42-yard reception by the elder Weidman brother, Cal, to make the score 42-38.
Marblehead, looking to ice the game, had luck fall their way when Callahan caught a tipped pass from Gallup to set the Magicians up deep in Masco territory. The Chieftain defense held firm, forcing Gallup into an intentional grounding foul and requiring the Magicians to punt.
Masco would quickly drive their way down the field to set up Fabiano for a oneyard plunge to pick up his fifth touchdown of the night to complete the comeback and give the hosts a 45-42 lead with 18 seconds on the clock.
Needing a miracle, Marblehead seemed to find it when Coyne made a 50-yard catch to put the Magicians in field goal range with five seconds remaining.
With time for one more play, the Magicians put the game on the left leg of Finbar Bresnahan. The kick sailed wide left, sealing Masconomet the 45-42 victory.
The teams combined for an eye popping 1,087 yards of offense, with running backs Jack Fabiano and Breydan Callahan combining for 527 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
The Magicians come home for a Halloween game Friday, Oct. 31, against Danvers. Follow the play-by-play live on X at @MHDCurrent.
early on in the race, I had turned around and there was a gentleman trying to cross. He had finished his race and the tip of his boat was in the race line. I had to come to a full stop because I was going to hit him with my oar.”
Other than the near collision, Smith’s race went off without a hitch. While the Friday morning crowd was smaller than those that would pack the shore and bridges along the route over the weekend, Smith had friends and family on hand and students of the Centerville Elementary School in Beverly, where she is principal, watching on, “We’ve been talking a lot about perseverance and having the courage to try new things,” said Smith. “Learning is hard. Confronting something you feel that you’re not great at is really humbling. When I came back to school, all the kids were like ‘Did you win?’ I didn’t win the race, but it was a personal win. I set the goal, completed it and now I need to work on being better.”
VARSITY SCORES
Monday, Oct. 20
Boys soccer: Marblehead 2, Salem 0
Girls volleyball: Marblehead 3, Notre Dame Academy-Hingham 0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-23)
Girls field hockey: Marblehead 3, Danvers 3
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Girls field hockey: Gloucester 3, Marblehead 0
Girls volleyball: Marblehead 3, Danvers 0 (25-6, 25-17, 26-16)
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Girls soccer: Marblehead 0, Masconomet 0
Boys soccer: Masconomet 3, Marblehead 1 Thursday, Oct. 23
Girls field hockey: Marblehead 2, Bishop Fenwick 2
Girls volleyball: Marblehead 3, Swampscott 1 (25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 27-25)
Friday, Oct. 24
Boys football: Masconomet 45, Marblehead 42
Saturday, Oct. 25
Girls soccer: Marblehead 1, Lynnfield 1
Boys soccer: Marblehead 1, North Andover 0
TEAM RECORDS
» Boys football: 6-1 (No. 6 in Div. 4)
» Boys golf: 11-2-2
Girls volleyball: 16-2 (No. 6 in Div. 2)
Boys cross country: 4-3
» Girls cross country: 7-0
» Girls field hockey: 7-7-4 (No. 34 in Div. 2)
» Boys soccer: 11-4-1 (No. 17 in Div. 2)
Girls soccer: 11-1-4 (No. 17 in Div. 2) (Records through games of Oct. 25. MIAA rankings as of 4 a.m. Oct. 24.)
VARSITY SCHEDULE
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. 1
1 p.m., co-ed competitive cheerleading at Central Catholic High School, Lawrence
Monday, Nov. 3
4 p.m., co-ed unified basketball vs. North Reading at North Reading High gym
Saturday, Nov. 8
1 p.m., co-ed competitive cheerleading at Gloucester High School
2 p.m., boys and girls cross country, Northfield Mountain Recreation Center
Wednesday, Nov. 12
4 p.m., co-ed unified basketball vs. TBD at Danvers High
Saturday, Nov. 15
TBA, boys and girls cross country, Fort Devens, Willard Park Field
Thursday, Nov. 27
10 a.m., boys football vs. Swampscott at MHS Piper Field
From P. 9
From P. 9
COURTESY PHOTO
Julie Smith of Danvers rows down the Charles River during the Women’s Grand Master/Veteran Singles race in the 2025 Head of the Charles Regatta on Oct. 17.
COURTESY PHOTO / ELEANOR SACHS Marblehead High volleyball player Sammy Walker skies high to tip the ball over the hands of her Peabody counterparts during the match at Peabody on Oct. 8.
COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD Marblehead’s James Machado (23) celebrates after recovering a muffed punt during the fourth quarter of a game against Masconomet.
Marblehead’s best bets
Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org. Leigh
Wildlife Out Your Window
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m.
Join the Abbot Library for an author event with Brad Timm about his book, “Wildlife Out Your Window: Fascinating Facts About 100 Animals Commonly Seen in the Northeastern U.S.” Timm, a wildlife ecologist, will share some of his favorite facts from the book, discuss simple actions each of us can take to help wildlife around us, answer wildlife questions and more. This is a familyfriendly event. Registration is required at tinyurl.com/ Brad-Trimm-Talk. Signed copies of the book will be available to purchase.
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.
Children’s Halloween Party at the Abbot Public Library
Friday, Oct. 31, 10:30 a.m.
Young children ages 1-5 and their caregivers are invited to come in costume to a Halloween party at Abbot Library. There will be notso-spooky story time with picture books read aloud by library staff,
St.Michael’s Spooktacular
Thursday, Oct. 30, 4-7 p.m.
Bring the whole family for crafts, games and food at St. Michael’s Church. Entrances are on 26 Pleasant St. and 9 Summer St. This is a free event with no registration, and a rest area for adults!
Pumpkin Illumination Contest
Thursday, Oct. 30, 4-6:30 p.m.
The 17th annual Pumpkin Illumination will be held at the Jeremy Lee Garden. Carve and decorate your pumpkin for prizes to win in categories of Spookiest, Most Creative and Most Marblehead. The public can vote for the People’s Choice Award. Admission to the garden is $5 per person or $20 per family. Tickets available at the door. Submitting a pumpkin is free, all pumpkins must be registered at this link: https://loom.ly/z3byxbs.
Little Explorers at Epstein Hillel School
Sunday, Nov. 2, 10-11:30 a.m.
Epstein Hillel School, at Six Community Rd, is hosting its first open play program for children ages 2-5. The program, called Little Explorers, includes arts and crafts, sensory play, stories and coffee and snacks for parents. This event will have an Autumn Adventures theme. It’s free and open to call. To register, contact rkaren@epsteinhillel.org.
Friday, Oct. 17
Vehicle stops, citations: 3
Vehicle stops, verbal warnings:
3 12:52 a.m. An officer on proactive patrol on Pleasant Street ran a random plate query of the vehicle in front of him, and the search revealed that the registration was “expired nonrenewable.” The vehicle also had a validation sticker on the rear license plate that had expired on July 31. The officer pulled the vehicle over, and when the driver was informed about the issue, he was “surprised but understanding,” according to the officer’s report. The officerin-charge approved towing the vehicle and removing its license
Art as Prayer, Resistance and Joy: Opening reception and artist talk
Sunday, Nov. 2, 12-2 p.m.
Marblehead artist Cathy Marie Michael invites the community to the opening reception of her first solo art show at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 28 Mugford St. Michael will deliver an artist talk at 12:30p.m. to share the human stories behind her portraits. She works in pastel, which she says allows her to convey the strength and resilience of people who prevail in the face of grave injustice. The show will be up for the month of November during limited church hours: Mon 2-5 p.m.; Tuesday & Thursday, 11:30 .m.-3 p.m. and Wed. 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
St. Michael’s hosts the second concert of season
Sunday, Nov. 2, 4 p.m.
This recital and Evensong will feature Jeremy Bruns, who is a guest organist and choir director.. Bruns is an internationally renowned musician with appearances at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey in London, Canterbury Cathedral, Washington National Cathedral, St. James’ Cathedral in Toronto and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
A free-will offering of $20 will be taken at the door.
plates. The vehicle was towed to the home of the owner, who was “calm, cooperative and understanding” throughout the interaction, according to the officer.
8:47 a.m. An officer and later a detective spoke by phone with a woman about a possible chimney cleaning scam. The woman explained that she had reached out to a company to schedule an appointment to have work done on her chimney. Several days earlier, a man with a strong Middle Eastern accent — she had asked about it, and the man said he was from Israel but that his grandmother was from Morocco — had shown up to do the work. After using
a telescoping instrument to inspect the chimney, he quoted her $1,900 to do the work and requested a $600 deposit, which he said was to purchase a crown for the chimney. After some initial difficulty using a mobile payment app, the man had been able to get the payment to go through by using what
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.
Rebirth Brass Band: Benefit Concert for the Marblehead Animal Shelter
Friday, Nov. 7, 7-11 pm
Come support the Marblehead Animal Shelter at Abbot Hall, 188 Washington St., and a night of tunes from the Rebirth Brass Band and special guests Emperors Norton’s Stationary Marching Band. For ticket information, visit: eventbrite.com/e/ rebirth-brass-band-tickets-1450209328139.
Rock the Arts Night
Thursday, Nov. 6, 7-10 p.m.
Friends of the Performing Arts invite you to join the 5th Rock the Arts Night to celebrate the talent and dedication of Marblehead High School performing arts students. Guests of the gala will enjoy live music by 5X Fast, small bites, a cash bar, raffles and a silent auction, all while coming together to support the arts at MHS. Funds raised help provide instrument upgrades and repairs, sets and costumes, scholarships for graduating seniors, enrichment opportunities and much more.Get tickets (or make a donation) givebutter. com/2025MHSFoPAGala.
he said was his boss’ account. While the man did return to her house the same day to retrieve a phone charger he had left behind, he had subsequently failed to return to do the work. The woman described the man as very personable and kind, so he did not trigger any immediate suspicion. However, upon further reflection, she realized that he had brought only a short ladder, which now seemed strange, given the size of the chimney. The woman had left messages with the numbers she had used to communicate with the “business” but had not received any return call. The number the man had given her, which he said was his personal
cellphone number, was not working. The detective explained how she would be investigating further and instructed the woman to contact her bank, which might want to take extra steps to protect her from further fraud.
10:37 a.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Pleasant Street.
6:49 p.m. An officer spoke at the station with a man and woman who had a pair of disturbing encounters with a boy they estimated to be about 13 years old on the railroad path. The first incident occurred between the Tower School and
Local authors aim to make bedtime a little easier
BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS
Ashley Sanderson-Snyder was visiting family and cleaning off the dinner table when her 5-year old nephew, Charlie, was put to bed. Hearing hearing people downstairs and missing out on family time, Charlie crept out of bed to the top of the stairs.
His question, “What’s going on?” was met with, “Nothing is happening, go back to bed!” and the cycle continued each night of Sanderson-Snyder’s visit. The ritual inspired her to write a book that could get kids not only into bed, but settled into a calm night’s sleep.
Sanderson-Snyder first drafted the book, “Drift Away Dreamers” in 2018, before she had children of her own, while living in New York.
“I just thought of all these different things that you could be doing as a child and how you could settle down and go to sleep. Hopefully inspiring children to have fun when they’re dreaming …. (will) help the parents,” said Sanderson-Snyder.
Her own children, 5 and 4, follow a more firm bedtime routine, with her and her husband sitting down to read to their kids at night.
“I think we’re quite strict with their bedtime routine. I very much want my children to stay in bed when it comes to bedtime and have really made a big deal of family stories,” SandersonSnyder said. “So every night we sit down and read a story together. My husband and I sit on a sofa in my kids’ room, we do a story and then we go off and take each kid to bed. We always make sure that we have a family story together. I really like that moment at the end of the day to be together and relax.”
The new book is meant to relax children through a soft storyline, starting with the poem
that reads: “My little darling, close your eyes. My little darling, do you realize?” Sanderson-Snyder met artist
Lauren Philpott through a mutual friend. Being interested in art from a young age, Philpott quickly got involved as the book’s illustrator.
Having to create the different themes in the book was something Philpott was challenged with, because of the multitude of characters and
actions all brought to life.
“It wasn’t like there was one child that was followed through a storyline, which was also what makes it so fun and imaginative — that every child can put themselves in the shoes of each character. But that also means making a lot of different characters. It was definitely a process, and we went through it considering if we are using girls and boys, and including different ages,
different races, and different interests. We really looked at each character with the words and tried to develop a story with the illustrations that way,” said Philpott.
Philpott has one child, a 17-month old who was born during the making of the book.
“She’s a terrible, terrible sleeper, so that’s been a challenge in itself. But one thing that she does love is books. It’s been really fun to read her
this book, to read her other stories and to really understand what makes a great bedtime story, what makes it fun and entertaining and engaging, but also settles the child down and not ‘I’m distracted and I want to go do something else,’” Philpott said.
Marblehead easter eggs
The book includes a few Marblehead easter eggs (odes to its creators’ hometown pride) and Bunny and Bear, two characters you can spot hiding throughout the book to engage children into the storyline.
“Writing the story and having the draft ready was good, but now actually doing it and turning it into a book is the final thing, and we did it. I think it’s great, there’s a lot of moving pieces. It was definitely a good learning experience. I think this is all about dreaming things, never say never.” said Sanderson-Snyder.
“Drift Away Dreamers” is now available at driftawaydreams. com. Sanderson-Snyder and Philpott say they’re working on a second project now.
BY LEIGH BLANDER
Marblehead native and photo collector Dan Dixey is out with his fourth book, just in time for the holiday season.
The book, “Marblehead Facts, History & Old Photos,” is packed with 200 pictures and stories from around town. Photos date back to the 1860s; the stories go back to 1629.
“It’s a fun book,” Dixey told the Current. “It’s got a lot of little things that people will talk about, argue about.”
One example: Dixey, whose family arrived in Marblehead in 1629, explains the difference between a Marbleheader, Header and True Header. (No spoilers here.)
The book begins in 1629 and features photos from the big Marblehead fires in 1877 and 1888, Dixey said.
“There are also some mentions of the older stores that are long gone… like McClain’s Fish Market… and the yacht clubs,” he said. “Big storms, Link Hawkes (famous for moving his barn across Redd’s Pond). There are musters and parades.” Dixey is an 11th-generation Marbleheader.
He traces his family back to 1629 when they arrived in Salem, which then encompassed Marblehead. He grew up on Reed Street and graduated from Marblehead High School in 1971. He worked in HVAC sales and moved to Maine in 2005. But
he comes home to Marblehead frequently.
“Growing up in the town meant a lot to me, especially when I started learning that my family came in 1629 and stuck around,” he said. “That really drew me in.” Dixey has collected about 5,000 photographs of Marblehead. If you ask him his favorites, he’ll hesitate.
“That’s kind of a tough one,” he said. “Street views, I guess, especially when there are horse-and-buggies in them. You recognize all the buildings, because they’re all still here.”
He also made a documentary about Marblehead’s lobstering history that played to sold-out crowds at the Warwick and Marblehead Museum.
Dixey said he has an idea for his fifth book but isn’t sharing it just yet. He has 47 boxes of “Marblehead Facts, History & Old Photos” in his living room to sell first. (He had to carry them into his house by himself.) To learn more about “Marblehead Facts, History & Old Photos,” visit marbleheadimages.com/books. The book will also be available in local retail stores.
CURRENT PHOTO / SAOIRSE STALLINGS
Lauren Philpott (left) and Ashley Sanderson-Snyder, both of Marblehead, hold their new book, “Drift Away Dreamers.”
COURTESY PHOTOS
ABOVE: Marblehead native Dan Dixey sits with 75 boxes of his new book, “Marblehead Facts, History & Old Photos.” RIGHT: Dan Dixey’s new book, “Marblehead Facts, History & Old Photos,” has nearly 200 photos and stories from around Marblehead.
The cover and some inside pages from “Drift Away Dreamers.”
Charles S. Cilley
Charles “Chuck” Cilley passed away peacefully at Avita in Wells, Maine, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, humor and devotion to family.
Born to Homer R. Cilley and Carolyn D. (Somers) Cilley, Chuck grew up in Marblehead and graduated from Marblehead High School before attending Bowdoin College, where he earned his bachelor of arts in 1963. After college, he married Carol Poor, and together they raised three children.
Chuck spent his career in
Paul ‘Pete’ Dunleigh Simpson
A life distinguished by service, family, love and integrity
August 12, 1944-October 15, 2025
It is with deep sadness that the family of Paul “Pete” Dunleigh Simpson announces his peaceful passing at home, surrounded by his loving family. Pete’s life was marked by devotion to his family, distinguished service to his country and a steadfast commitment to professional excellence.
Raised in Marblehead by his parents Paul and Jean Simpson, Pete loved his hometown and its values and spirit shaped him and
Hawthorne Pond. The woman said the boy was on an electricpowered BMX style bike and had intentionally driven towards her at high speed before veering off at the last moment. She had a second encounter with him about 20 minutes later where Maverick Street and the railroad path intersect. This time, the boy had stopped the bike and had spoken aggressively to her, placing her in fear, before they each went their separate ways. The boy was wearing a tan jacket, black pants and no helmet. He was described as having medium-length brown hair and being “short and chubby for his age.”
9:31 p.m. Officers restored the peace after a disturbance on Pleasant Street.
11:05 p.m. Officers investigated the report of a disturbance that proved to be unfounded on Pleasant Street.
11:07 p.m. Officers restored the peace after a disturbance on Kenneth Road.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Vehicle stops, citations: 0
Vehicle stops, verbal warnings:
0
10:50 a.m. An officer spoke with a Summit Road couple
On the Agenda provides a brief overview of upcoming meetings of Marblehead municipal boards and commissions, Meeting schedules and agendas are subject to change. For the most
the home textiles industry, beginning with Fieldcrest and later WestPoint Stevens. His work took him across the country, including a few years in Lake Oswego, Oregon, before
inspired his enduring love for the sea and community.
Pete attended Tufts University, where he earned a bachelor of arts in economics and political science. He was an active member of ROTC and, upon graduation, served as an officer in the United States Navy on a destroyer during the Vietnam campaign. During his service, he was honored with the National Defense Service Medal, the
about suspicious activity that the husband had noticed after getting up to use the bathroom around 3:30 a.m. The husband had looked out the window of their home and noticed a person standing and holding a flashlight near the end of his pipeline driveway, which is adjacent to an easement Summit Road residents use for beach access.
The husband watched as the unknown person walked down the easement approximately 20 feet towards the water. After about 30 seconds, the person reappeared and walked over to a small sedan, got in and drove away. The husband had been unable to get a description of the person or the vehicle because of the poor lighting. The officer advised the couple to call police immediately if there were any more suspicious activity and suggested that they consider getting additional motion sensors at the end of their driveway to illuminate the area.
11:09 a.m. An officer spoke at the station with a man who had tried to mail a check to his landlord in Brighton, only to have the check intercepted, “washed” and then attempted to be cashed at Marblehead Bank. The man had spoken to a bank manager, who said that the bank has the person who tried to cash the check on video and also has a
current list and for Zoom links to online or hybrid meetings, see marbleheadma.gov/events.
Wednesday, Oct. 29 ` 9 a.m., School Committee, school administration building, 9
he settled into a commute from Westport, Connecticut, to New York City, where he spent the majority of his professional life.
Chuck and Carol raised their family in Westport and remained friends after their eventual divorce. In 1994, Chuck met the love and partner of his later years, Teri Orefice. In 1997, they moved to Wells, Maine, to be closer to the family cottage on Moody Beach — a place that held deep meaning for Chuck throughout his life.
Living near the ocean brought Chuck immense joy. He was a daily walker from Moody Beach to Ogunquit and spent countless summer hours body surfing, swimming and enjoying beach time with his children,
Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Upon returning from military service, Pete continued his education at the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, where he earned his MBA. He then embarked on his career in finance, working for several banks before joining Woodstock Corporation. At Woodstock, Pete built the company’s analyst practice and investment strategy, served as president and ultimately concluded his career as vice chair while always still playing the market.
In 1975, after being introduced by dear family friends, Pete married Madelyn “Leli” Carey. He was a devoted and loving husband for over 50 years and
copy of the ID he had presented. The man said the bank was still in possession of the check. The officer said he would share the information with detectives for follow-up.
1:44 p.m. A caller reported the apparent recent theft of a vehicle from the Lynch-van Otterloo YMCA on Leggs Hill Road.
1:48 p.m. Police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Beach Street and Atlantic Avenue.
3:55 p.m. Police assisted with crowd control at the “No Kings” rally at the corner of Maple and Lafayette streets.
9:15 p.m. An officer went to Pond Street to speak to a man whose boat trailer had been damaged in a hit-and-run crash at about 5 p.m., which had been captured by the surveillance camera attached to his home.
The officer reviewed the video and saw what appeared to be a gray BMW SUV strike the back left side of the trailer, which caused significant damage to both. A neighbor had also left the resident a note with a possible license plate number, though the officer’s search did not come up with an immediate match. The officer then canvassed the area but was unable to locate any vehicles matching the one in the video. The next day,
Widger Road, and on Zoom
` Agenda: Workshops to create composite end-of-cycle superintendent evaluation and to edit/consolidate School Committee goals
grandchildren and Teri. Winters were for skiing, especially at Sugarloaf, another beloved family tradition.
Even after moving to Maine, Chuck remained active in his industry, working for Biddeford Blankets and later Cuddledown before retiring.
Chuck was predeceased by his brother, Homer “Skip” Cilley. He is survived by his partner of 31 years, Teri Orefice; his children, Caroline Sumrall of Birmingham, Alabama, Charlie Cilley of Marblehead and Doug Cilley of Jupiter, Florida; his ten grandchildren; and his former wife and friend, Carol Hayden.
The family would like to express heartfelt thanks to the
is survived by his beloved wife, Leli; his sons, Andrew and Geoffrey; and his son-in-law, Sarkis Arutiunov. He considered his cousins, Jean Corcoran and Susan Boswell, as sisters, and leaves them behind as well as Jean’s children, Brian, John, and Sarah. He also loved Leli’s family, spending countless weekends celebrating life’s moments at the family home on Peach’s Point with her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. Pete’s legacy as a husband and father is reflected in the beautiful life he created for his family, filled with memorable family traditions and vacations, unwavering support to his loved ones, his witty sense of humor and kindness.
His favorite pastimes were skiing, biking, hiking and, above all, sailing. He fondly remembered his early days sailing in Little Harbor and later
however, officers received a tip that the vehicle might belong to a neighbor of the man with the boat trailer. The officer returned to Pond Street and found a gray BMW SUV with significant damage to the right front bumper. The officer knocked on the door several times, but no one answered. Another officer later made contact with the BMW owner by phone. The BMW’s owner acknowledged having crashed into the trailer, though he said that he did not initially realize there had been any damage, only noticing the damage to his vehicle later in the day. The man questioned whether boat trailers are allowed to park on the street and suggested the trailer should have had a flag on it. The officer informed him that, as long as the trailer was registered, as this one was, it was allowed to be parked on the street.
Sunday, Oct. 19
Vehicle stops, citations: 0
Vehicle stops, verbal warnings:
0 1:38 p.m. An officer investigated a 911 hang-up call from Pleasant Street.
4:14 p.m. Two officers investigated a 911 hang-up call from Countryside Lane.
Monday, Oct. 20
` 1:20 p.m., Brown School Advisory Council, 40 Baldwin Road ` Agenda: Review norms, purpose and roles; school improvement plan progress assessment; upcoming events.
Thursday, Oct. 30 ` 10 a.m., Historical Commission, Select Board Meeting Room, Abbot Hall, and on Zoom
compassionate teams at Avita and Gentiva for their care and companionship in Chuck’s final chapter.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Chuck’s memory to Good Shepherd Food Bank, PO Box 1807, Auburn, Maine 04211-1807 or online at.gsfb.org. Chuck will be remembered for his deep love of family, the ocean and the joy he found in life’s simple pleasures.
Services will be private.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence please visit Chuck’s book of memories page at bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer St., Kennebunk, Maine, 04043.
his adventures with his family aboard his Bristol sloop, Orion. Pete’s final years were marked by remarkable strength. With the support of his dedicated medical team and cherished family, he defied the odds and persevered for over four years after being diagnosed with stage-4 pancreatic cancer. He passed away peacefully at home with his family. Pete will be remembered with profound respect, deep affection, and enduring gratitude by all who were privileged to know him. His family will hold a celebration of life for family and friends at the Eastern Yacht Club from 2:30pm – 5pm on Friday, Nov.21. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com.
Vehicle stops, citations: 0
Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0 12:57 p.m. An officer investigated a 911 hang-up call from Lorraine Terrace.
1:41 p.m. A phone and wallet were found on Roundhouse Road.
2:41 p.m. An officer investigated a report of a disabled vehicle on Lafayette and Maple streets, but it could not be found.
5:52 p.m. An officer assisted with a disabled vehicle on West Shore Drive.
Tuesday, Oct. 21
Vehicle stops, citations: 2
Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 2
2:58 p.m. An officer investigated a report of larceny, forgery or fraud on Woodfin Terrace.
5:05 p.m. An officer responded to the scene of a vehicle crash on Jersey Street and West Shore Drive and filed a report.
10:13 p.m. Annoying phone calls were reported on Gerry Street.
10:28 p.m. Officers investigated a disturbance on Pleasant Street and filed a report.
Wednesday, Oct. 22
Vehicle stops, citations: 0
Vehicle stops, verbal warnings: 0
` Agenda: Collection manager’s report, 10-footer update, neighborhood surveys update, Harris Street Cemeteries Oversight Committee, Museum of Marblehead History, Town Meeting request,
New faculty spotlight: Marianne Durand
Sophie Li, Freshman
This year, Marianne Durand has stepped into her role as the new French teacher at Marblehead High School, eager to inspire a passion for the language among her students. With each class, she works hard to make learning French engaging and enjoyable.
What is your impression of Marblehead High School so far?
“I have a lot of students who are freshmen, and it's a pleasure to teach freshmen because, for a while, I have been teaching students who learn the foreign language online, and having students who started learning the language with humans makes a big difference in terms of enthusiasm and willingness to take risks with the language.”
What are your goals for this year?
“Have fun! My goals are to offer students the basics of what they need to progress, but also to take them out of the classroom, or teach them to cook after studying recipes in French.”
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
“It was by accident when my daughter and her friends came to me to help them with their French homework since I grew up in Paris, and my daughter told me I was good at teaching, so I decided to become a teacher, and I ended up loving it.”
What are your hobbies and interests?
“ I have a strong passion for swimming and running, particularly participating in running 5k events. Additionally, I enjoy hiking and traveling with my family. During my time at home, I like gardening and reading.”
Is there anything students should know about you, such as teaching expectations?
“Surprise me with your curiosity and your adventurous spirit of speaking a foreign language. Think outside the box and really make the language alive in the classroom by helping your classmates, and I have fun!”
In just a few months, Marianne Durand has created a welcoming and engaging classroom environment. Her lessons encourage curiosity and confidence, helping students connect to the language and culture. She looks forward to building on that excitement as the year progresses.
Ready to go to college?
College. It’s something that many of us have talked about for a long time, and for the graduating class of 2026, that moment has almost fully arrived. As someone who is currently going through the admissions process, there’s been a lot to unpack over the last few months. From picking a list of schools, filling out the Common App, to writing both the personal narrative and the additional essays many colleges assign, my time with the college admissions process has been stressful to say the least.
Trying to come up with a list of colleges is tough, as you don’t know what you want. There are so many schools now that have different things to offer, such as a certain type of major that colleges are known for. There is also the debate of if you want to live in a rural or urban area. Each is obviously very different with how many people live around you and what sort of places and activities that you have access to. There are many factors alongside these that make selecting which schools to apply to difficult.
After finally coming up with a list of schools comes the challenge of filling out college applications. Schools want so much information about you, like your college essay, grades, and supplemental essays. You’d think with all the information they want that their private investigators are trying to solve a case.
Having to write a personal narrative and supplemental essays are probably the most challenging part of applying to colleges. First, there is the challenge of trying to come up with what to write about as there really isn’t a set prompt. For some, they may not think that they have an exciting or essay-worthy event that happened to them that they could write about. Once you do come up with an interesting topic to write about, there is the issue of trying to fit it into a 650 word essay. Think about it, could you sum up an important life event in 650 words? There’s also the fact of having to get people to look at your essay and give you feedback and revisions which takes up even more time than writing the essay itself.
After completing a personal narrative, colleges have the audacity to give us more essays to write. We thought we were applying to college, not writing essays for English class! Usually these supplemental essays are openended too, with no real prompt to guide you. If you had a hard time coming up with something to write about for your personal narrative, good luck trying to think of something for your supplemental essays.
It’s no secret college admissions are not fun, but they are still important. College opens a door to endless opportunities and provides you with the chance to meet people who may become your friends and help move you closer to achieving your goals. We guess in order to succeed we all need to suffer a little bit.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Greyson Collins ASSISTANT EDITORS: Evan Eisen, Anna Cruikshank, Georgia Marshall FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins
REPORTERS: Anna Baughman, Maya Berman, Piper Browning, Madeline Duffy, Teagan Freedman, Sophie Li, Eve Magen, Will Pelliciotti, Mary Prindiville, Daphne Seliger
Evan Eisen, Assistant Editor, Senior and William Pelliciotti, Senior
Scenes from the Freshman Day of Service held on October 22, 2025
Preparing lunch bags for a meal donation
Visiting the Marblehead Police Station with School Resource Officer Sean Sweeney, Jr.
Assisting
