11.12.2025 - Volume 3, Issue 51

IN THIS ISSUE

SPORTS

SEA TO SEA

MUFFINS & MORE

Football Magicians stay alive in playoffs

Sharing stories from a 4,800-mile bicycle ride

Go behind the counter at one of Marblehead’s favorite spots

Page 7

Page 14

Page 9

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PAID

MARBLEHEAD, MA PERMIT NO. 25

NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT.

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NOVEMBER 12, 2025

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VOLUME 3, ISSUE NO. 51

FIRST WAVE 1

.The town considers rezoning Tedesco Golf Club to meet 3A mandates. Page 1

2

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MARBLEHEADCURRENT.ORG

Finance director sees no way to avoid a property tax hike. Page 1

woman 3 Local lobbies for bill to

protect patients from sexual abuse. Page 3

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ON SOCIAL @MHDCURRENT

Village 4 Seaglass offers support,

community to local seniors. Page 13

5 Holiday spirit: How

to help during the holidays. Page 13

Five facts from this week’s Marblehead Current.

HOUSING

Is Tedesco Country Club town’s solution for 3A?

BY LEIGH BLANDER The town is considering rezoning parts of the Tedesco Country Club golf course located in Marblehead, along with nearby parcels, for multifamily housing. The goal is to meet state zoning mandates under the MBTA Communities Act. “We feel pretty confident that we can make it work there,” Select Board Chair Dan Fox told the Current. Fox, Planning Board member Marc Liebman

and Town Planner Alex Eitler are working with a consultant to identify areas for rezoning.

In addition to the 32 acres of the club that are in Marblehead, Planning and Community Development Dir. Brendan Callahan said the town is looking at “the parking lot across the street, the Glover property and there may be, like another parcel.”

Callahan confirmed that zoning the Tedesco area and Broughton Road as multifamily

would get Marblehead to the state-mandated 897 possible housing units it needs to comply with the state.

MBTA Communities Act

The MBTA Communities Act requires 177 cities and towns, including Marblehead, to zone for denser housing in an effort to ease the state’s housing crunch.

In July, voters rejected the town’s original plan to rezone Broughton Road, Tioga Way and a section of Pleasant Street near

CURRENT PHOTO / GREY COLLINS

Tedesco Country Club may be the town’s answer to 3A compliance.

Village Plaza for multifamily housing. Marblehead is out of compliance with the state law and has already lost millions of dollars in grants, according to multiple town officials.

Fox said the town is looking at two other possible areas in town.

He declined to identify those,

BROADWAY BOUND

North Shore Children’s Theater marks 15th year, looks for permanent home

saying not enough analysis has been done.

The consultant, Barrett Planning Group, believes the Tedesco area may pass muster with the state, according to Fox. “It works within the guidelines TEDESCO, P. 6

VETERANS DAY

Town honors service and selflessness

BY LEIGH BLANDER

COURTESY PHOTO / KIM PIVER

Cameron Ridgely, Ayla Fox and Victoria Tran sit on the stage at the Veterans School while their fellow castmates rehearse.

BY LEIGH BLANDER Cameron Ridgely, 9, may be a kid, but he has big dreams.

Ridgely, of Marblehead, has performed in 19 — that’s right, 19 — productions with North Shore Children’s Theater.

Right now, he’s rehearsing for his roles as Zeke and a flying monkey in “The Wizard of Oz.” “I like singing and dancing and my goal is to grow up and be a Broadway star,” Ridgely said.

“I’d like to play Aaron Burr in ‘Hamilton.’”

NSCT, based at 19 Prospect St. in Marblehead, is celebrating its 15th anniversary. The troupe puts on 15 shows a year, including plays and musicals for Marblehead’s Village, Veterans and Charter schools. It has served more than 1,000 kids ages 4 to 18.

“I’ve gotten to see so many kids grow up in this theater and learn public speaking and teamwork,” said Kim Piver of Marblehead

Together we’ve built something rare.

Let’s keep it strong.

BLACK CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW

who leads the NSCT board of directors. Her two children, now in college, participated in NSCT for years.

“When kids don’t necessarily know where they fit in, this can be it,” Pizer said. “My kids got here and never left. And once they have that self-confidence, once they feel like they have a place, they just start to blossom.”

Ayla Fox, of Marblehead, said THEATER, P. 3

More than 80 Marblehead veterans enjoyed the annual Veterans Breakfast sponsored by the Masons at the Council on Aging Friday morning.

“I come every year, every year,” said Walter Horan, who served in the Navy 1964-67, including one year in Vietnam. “I like seeing my old buddies.”

John Capellotti, who served in the Air Force 1956-60, worked as a weather observer in the Bering Sea. “I wouldn’t miss the coffee” and the conversation,” Capellotti said with a laugh.

Marblehead Veterans Services Officer Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli welcomed the crowd. Marine vet Francisco Urena led a brief prayer and Liz Tauro sang the national anthem.

Trionfi-Mazzuchelli mentioned that the government shutdown is “greatly affecting veterans services” and expressed hope that the shutdown would end soon.

State Rep. Jenny Armini thanked the vets for their services, saying she often brags about Marblehead’s role in the country’s founding.

“This is the home of patriots, from John Glover to everyone in this room,” Armini said. “Liberty started here and continues here.”

For coverage of more Veterans Day events (after press deadline) visit MarbleheadCurrent.org.

CURRENT PHOTO / LEIGH BLANDER

More than 80 Marblehead veterans gathered for the annual Veterans Breakfast, sponsored by the Masons and hosted by the Council on Aging.

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2 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

TOGETHER, WE’VE BUILT SOMETHING RARE. LET’S KEEP IT STRONG. Launched in 2022, the Current is Marblehead’s only full-service newsroom—and the only one that’s independent and nonprofit, free from corporate or donor influence.

Our newsroom, readers, columnists, volunteers, advertisers, board and donors have shown what’s possible when a community invests in itself. Together, we’ve built something rare: reliable, community-powered local news that’s free and accessible to all. And the numbers tell the story.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 12, 2025 3

MONEY MATTERS

NEWS FOR PEOPLE, NOT FOR PROFIT. CHAIR

Finance director: ‘I just don’t think it’s feasible’ to avoid an override

Bob Peck

BY LEIGH BLANDER

NEWSROOM

All town departments in Marblehead are being instructed to create level-funded budgets with no additional spending for fiscal year 2027, according to Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin at a Nov. 3 meeting.

That’s despite contractuallyobligated 3% raises for many town employees; and rising utility, health insurance, trash and other costs.

In addition, Finance Director Aleesha Benjamin is projecting town revenues will drop by $514,462 in FY27 and she is predicting $5 million in free cash (money left over from the previous year), down from $7

Editor - Leigh Blander

lblander@marbleheadnews.org

Consulting Editor - Kris Olson kolson@marbleheadnews.org

Sports Reporter Joe McConnell

jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.org

Intern

Saoirse Stallings CONTRIBUTORS

Lizzie Assa Stephen Bach Linda Bassett Virginia Buckingham Laurie Fullerton James (Seamus) Hourihan Christine McCarriston Maggie Mulvihill Eyal Oren Pam Peterson Emily Promise Chris Stevens

million last year.

“In order to balance (the budget) — which we have to balance, right? — there are going to be reductions in budgets,” Finance Committee Chair Alec Goolsby said at a Nov. 3 meeting.

Benjamin said a Prop 2 ½ override vote this spring is inevitable.

“I just don’t think it’s feasible for the town to live with 2.5% anymore,” Benjamin said.

“Inflation is at 3%. The state knows this is a problem and they tell cities and towns, ‘Just put forward an override.’ The problem is, not everybody’s educated on what an override is and what it means. And why, the longer we push it off, the more it

costs in the long run.”

Marblehead voters haven’t approved a general override since 2005.

Gloomy forecast

According to Benjamin, 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 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 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%. Pension costs are also expected to rise.

Goolsby said Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer will have additional information at the State of the Town, possibly on Jan. 28. Goolsby also presented a budget timeline leading up to Town Meeting in May.

FREELANCE REPORTERS

Grey Collins Luca Tedesco Akanksha Goyal Bella Travaglini

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gene Arnould Brian Birke Cheryl Byrne Bob Peck Donna Rice David Vigneron Richard Weed - Treasurer EDITORIAL BOARD

Brian Birke Kris Olson Bob Peck Joseph P. Kahn DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Kathryn Whorf FOUNDERS

Jessica Barnett Ed Bell Leigh Blander Will Dowd David Moran Kris Olson DESIGN AND PRODUCTION

North of Boston Media Group Marblehead Current P.O. Box 102 Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945 617-545-5445 info@marbleheadnews.org www.marbleheadCurrent.org Marblehead Current is published every Wednesday by Marblehead News Group, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It is mailed to all homes and businesses in Marblehead, MA 01945.

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HEALTH & SAFETY

Local woman lobbies for bill to protect patients from sexual abuse

BY AKANKSHA GOYAL Less than seven months after testifying at the Massachusetts State House about being sexually abused by a Boston rheumatologist, Marblehead resident Rory McCarthy has helped shape a federal bill that would require medical professionals nationwide to offer patients the option of a chaperone during sensitive exams.

Filed Oct. 31 by U.S. Reps. Lori Trahan and Jim McGovern (both of Massachusetts) and Debbie Dingell (of Michigan), the Protect Patients from Health Care Abuse Act seeks to close loopholes that have allowed doctors to exploit patients under the guise of sensitive medical exams.

“Patients deserve to feel safe when they see their doctor,” said Dingell in a statement released by Trahan’s office. “Anything less is unacceptable.” McCarthy told the Current that the idea for the bill began to take shape in early 2024, while she was still working through post-traumatic stress from her experience with Dr. Derrick Todd, who faces criminal charges after allegations of sexual abuse from nearly 250 former patients.

“No one was there to be a chaperone, no one was there to hear anything, oversee things, keep things in check, [or] question why a rheumatologist was consistently doing sensitive exams on patients that were coming in for autoimmune diseases,” she said, recalling how he would schedule appointments when the office was quiet.

Her review of other high-profile cases, including those of Larry Nassar and Robert Hadden, revealed a nationwide pattern of doctors exploiting patients in situations lacking supervision.

That’s when McCarthy reached out to State Rep. Jenny Armini of Marblehead, who filed legislation on Beacon Hill.

Having interned for McGovern a decade ago, McCarthy reconnected with his office

COURTESY PHOTO

Rory McCarthy stands outside the State House April 9, where she testified about the sexual violence she says she endured at the hands of a Boston doctor. She hopes proposed state and federal legislation will protect other patients.

and helped build a coalition with Trahan and Dingell, working with survivor networks and advocacy groups to shape the bill’s language.

The legislation, she said, has been 18 months in the making.

The measure would require doctors to inform patients of their right to have a chaperone present and prohibit sensitive exams if one isn’t available. It would also link compliance to Medicare funding, ensuring hospitals and clinics face consequences for failing to protect patients.

“It’s no longer safe for this type of information, this legislation, this policy, to be left to the hospital systems,” she said. “I believe that had this policy been put in place

10 years ago, he would not have gotten to me.”

McCarthy said she hopes federal action will extend the reach of her ongoing state-level advocacy.

“This is a national problem that needs a national policy,” she said. “My goal is for this to become a bipartisan bill that will… help save patients and protect our medical system by rebuilding trust with it.” That trust has been hard to recover, McCarthy says, especially because Todd allegedly preyed upon a particularly vulnerable population that depends on the medical system to remain healthy.

“After going through and living through what happened, I’ve had a very difficult time rebuilding trust within the medical system,” she said. “My goal is that this legislation… is going to help me feel safe, but also help so many other people that no longer feel safe because this has a ripple effect and it’s something that does not just go away — the PTSD part — everyone is impacted differently.” For McCarthy, the effort represents both systemic change and personal empowerment.

“It removes my narrative from feeling like a victim to feeling like someone who has taken back her power, her voice and her story,” she said.

The federal bill complements ongoing statelevel reforms she helped facilitate, including a chaperone policy and an effort to remove Massachusetts’ charitable immunity caps, which currently limit civil damages to $20,000 in sexual abuse cases.

She encourages others to contact their representatives in support of the bill.

“Massachusetts is a leader in the medical world,” she said. “It is only right that it becomes a leader in protecting patients through healthcare policies.” The Massachusetts legislation is still working its way through committees and has yet to be voted on.

Theater

From P. 1 she tried a bunch of different activities before discovering that performing was her passion. At age 11, she has already been in 16 NSCT shows and is currently rehearsing for her role as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” and Fork in “Beauty and the Beast.”

Fox, who wants to be a movie star when she grows up, says NSCT has taught her about persistence.

“When I started doing theater here, I had stage fright, but now I love being on stage,” she said. “So you just have to keep trying.”

NSCT is looking for a permanent home where it can stage productions. Right now, the troupe rents auditoriums across the North Shore, which can make it challenging for young actors to get to rehearsals and shows.

“Our main goal is to raise enough money to be able to

» Where: Collins Middle

School, Salem

“Little Women” musical (NSCT, high school students) » Show Date: Dec. 19-21 » Where: Peabody Black Box

Theatre (22 Foster St.)

“Beauty and the Beast” (Vets Middle School show) » When: Dec. 12, 14 » Where: PAC at Marblehead

COURTESY PHOTO / KIM PIVER

NSCT put on “Sweeney Todd” this year. Front row: Jacob Glass, left, and Brady Weed; back, left to right, Ellyana Barrows, Isabelle Scogland, Alyssa Vargas-Visita and Drew Piver.

Veterans School

“Matilda” (Village School show) » When: March 5-7

purchase a home, so we can have a place where we can perform, rehearse, do everything,” said NSCT Founder and Director Nicole Poirier. “Right now, we’re just like a traveling circus.”

Upcoming NSCT performances include the following:

“Wizard of Oz” (NSCT, ages 4-14) » Show Date: Nov. 21-23,

» Where: Village School,

Marblehead Learn more about the North Shore Children’s Theater at nsctheatre.org.

marbleheadcurrent.org

4 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

Opinion EDITORIAL

Ending of shutdown may be far away, but hunger is right here As of this Sunday, the government shutdown had hit 40 days, with the pain spread across the board, from fired and furloughed federal workers to the millions at risk of losing their health insurance under expiring tax credits.

Yet no hardship has hit home more than the current freeze on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits — a grim and self-imposed first in our nation’s history. Established by Congress in 1964, the then-named Food Stamp Program, which provides approximately $187 a month to participants, has literally been a lifeline for qualifying households, many of which include the elderly and disabled living at or below the poverty line on fixed incomes. For these more than 40 million Americans, hunger knows no party affiliation or political ideology.

In Massachusetts alone, more than a million residents are struggling with the potential loss of full or partial SNAP benefits. In Marblehead, the number receiving some form of nutritional assistance is almost 900. Moreover, the ripple effect is being felt up and down the economic ladder, from food vendors and local farmers to hospitals setting up makeshift food banks and communities ramping up their food distribution programs.

While a federal judge last week ordered the Trump administration to restore full funding to SNAP during November, the administration has already appealed that order, which only addressed using limited emergency funds to restore partial SNAP benefits. Even though Massachusetts officials are coming through with some funding for SNAP benefits, the funding deficit will remain.

And more legal challenges are coming. A satisfactory and lasting solution to fully restore SNAP benefits seem highly unlikely during this unprecedented government shutdown.

In the meantime, food bills continue to climb, winter heating costs are ramping up, and the holiday season is rapidly approaching. Yet federal officials continue to claim their hands are tied when it comes to releasing emergency SNAP funds or finding other funding avenues. At some point, this posturing crosses the line from shameful to cruel.

Marblehead may be a wealthy community by many measures, but hundreds of our fellow citizens are facing these same food insecurity issues. And when some of our neighbors struggle to put sustenance on the table, that should concern all of us. As SPUR Inc. executive director Lynne Krasker Schultz told us, “This is not an issue Marblehead is immune to,” noting that even families with full-time breadwinners often need help putting enough food on the table.

Many of us take for granted basic essentials like the eggs, milk and flour found in our homes right now. But to those in need of help, they quickly become luxury items, having to sacrifice one basic necessity to afford another.

No one should have to sacrifice food for medicine, clothing or heat.

Marcy Schwam, president of the Marblehead Food Pantry, which typically serves 80 to 100 households weekly, said she is seeing a steady increase of six to eight new households per week, which usually are 65+ or single mother families.

That is why supporting Marblehead’s network of food assistance is an imperative. To be sure, and as a testament to both the growing need and our community’s compassion, residents are stepping up to meet increasing demands. The community is working to help ensure those facing food insecurity have resources available with dignity and without judgment.

But more and sustained help is needed. The political gridlock far away has exposed the fragility and vulnerability of our social safety net. Our local organizations need more funding, more shelf-stable items and more volunteer time to shore up their ability to meet the moment.

So, as we go about our lives during this season of giving, let us remember that providing food assistance is not charity — it is community. Also remember that our strength has always been and always will be in caring for one another. While we cannot directly control what happens in Washington, we can absolutely control how we respond here at home. Our neighbors are counting on us.

Please help. Community resources offering and needing support include: » Marblehead Food Pantry » marbleheadfoodpantry.org » Marblehead Little Free Pantry » littlefreepantrymhd.weebly.com » Family Table (Temple Sinai) » templesinaiweb.org/social-action/food-pantry » Making Ends Meet » makingendsmeetmhead.org/ » Marblehead Female Humane Society marbleheadfemalehumanesociety.com/referrals/ » The Marblehead Counseling Center marbleheadcounseling.org/services/social-services/ Other local faith-based organizations may also be able to provide emergency support.

EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY

Nature calls, but why?

BY VIRGINIA BUCKINGHAM

Dear readers, I have a friend who calls himself a “rugged indoorsman” and with his professorial air, owl-rimmed glasses and a passion for indoor racquet sports, the label fits. Minus the “rugged” part, I can relate. No one would mistake me for a woman who relishes the great outdoors, unless it involves a seat in a sunny corner of a patio, a book and a glass of wine.

I can’t explain why but for the last few weeks I have felt a need, no even stronger, a craving, to be out in nature. This is puzzling to one who has responded to my husband’s entreaties to rent a Winnebago and traverse the national parks with an arched eyebrow and declaration that he can feel free to come meet me for dinner anytime in the luxury, fully-appointed condo I’ll find on the route.

(Those skeptical of my husband’s commitment to this national park plan might recall the story of his sighting of a wolf in the woods of Chestnut Hill as we walked to encourage labor to begin with our first child.

My hero shepherded me posthaste to the car to save me from the wolf which, while not being sighted in these parts since the 1800s, somehow happened to be a stone’s throw from Bloomingdales.)

Why am I being drawn to enter the woods now?

My first stop, given its proximity, was the familiar Audubon Sanctuary on Marblehead Neck. I have fond memories of bringing my toddlers to see the ducks, and had my first birdwatching epiphany there not so long ago. But this time I had no goal but to be absorbed in the natural world. I found and carried a branch of yellow oak leaves like a divining rod and closed my eyes to simply listen. Maybe stillness and reflection by the small body of water in the sanctuary would help me figure out what this call to nature was all about.

My nascent stillness practice was disturbed when five ducks, including two mallards, all turned at the same time and made their way toward me. “I don’t have anything but my tree branch to fight them off,” I worried. But it was red berries on the shoreline they wanted to munch, not me. As I sighed with relief, I heard a large noise, like a small truck crashing through undergrowth, right behind me. I turned in time to see a GIGANTIC wild turkey fly up and alight on a nearby tree branch. Yes, somewhere I accessed the knowledge that turkeys can fly, but to see one do so and then perch on a branch over my head was as unsettling as the idea of Elon Musk building a flying car.

I said to myself, “that’s enough nature for now” and hurried down the path to the safety of my safely-onthe-ground transport.

With Salem Halloween traffic subsiding, a few days later I made my way to the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. I’d only been there once, when Jack’s first grade Bell School teacher organized a field trip to watch maple sugaring and scour the snowy grounds for scat.

COURTESY PHOTO

Virginia Buckingham is hitting the great outdoors this fall.

This time I was determined to avoid all animal poop and paid $7.50 to park the car, obtained a map of the property and set off to try to answer whatever this nature call inside my head was about.

The first thing I noticed was the birds seemed to have no fear of people. That puzzle was solved quickly as I saw several grown adults, still as statues, standing with an outstretched hand full of bird seed. I may have been imagining it but the chickadees which came right up to me seemed to have an attitude, sneering at the “newbie” who had nothing to offer them.

I did see a beaver, which was cool, and allowed me to post an Instagram story with the clever “Leave it to…” caption. But, despite enjoying the quiet and beauty of the pristine property, I didn’t find transcendence.

Maybe I’m a Daoist, I suggested to a friend, referring to the ancient spiritual practice of aligning with the flow of nature. Wisely, she just smiled and didn’t respond, having just guided me through the Robinson Farm conservation area and, perhaps, sensed less than complete inner harmony in my careful avoidance of protruding roots.

Today, I’m off to the wooded trails behind Seaside Park. I’ll report back if I find anything. That is, if I ever figure out what it is I’m looking for.

—Your faithful indoorsman, Ginny 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” in her newly empty nest and writes a biweekly column for the Current.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Something to think about on Veterans/ Remembrance Day To the editor: On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Americans expressed gratitude for the military service of the living.

On this day in Britain, designated as “Remembrance Day,” the people of the United Kingdom honor the memory of those who cannot be thanked in person. In the thousandyear-old Norfolk village of Thorpe Abbotts, England, incongruously situated adjacent to verdant fields of sugar beet, thatch-roofed houses, half-timbered buildings and narrow winding roads, stands a small, nondescript, block-shaped building.

Next to it, here in the heart of East Anglia, flies the flag of the United States of America. It serves as a reminder. A reminder of the time when, in the words of Winston Churchill, “the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old.” During WWII, this was the control tower, and nerve center for U.S. Army 8th Air Force Station 139, home to the 100th Bombardment

COURTESY PHOTO

Dr. Michael Fuenfer of Marblehead in Thorpe Abbots, England, last month.

Group (heavy). Sustaining a combat casualty rate of 77%, it would become better known as “The Bloody Hundredth.” The recent television series “Masters of the Air” portrayed the role that this base, and its 3,500 airmen played in prosecuting the Allied strategic air campaign against targets in Nazi-occupied Europe.

It is a place of ineffable sadness, whose enduring legacy is also that of valor, devotion to duty and the human cost of preserving freedom.

On the morning of Oct. 10,1943,

13 B-17 Flying Fortresses, each with a crew of 10 young Americans, ascended from the nearby runways for a “Maximum Effort” mission to Munster, Germany. At day’s end, only one of these aircraft returned, battle-damaged and barely flying, carrying its wounded crew back here… their home.

Years later, in a personal correspondence, the pilot of that B-17, Robert Rosenthal, recalled that LETTERS, P. 5

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 12, 2025 5

EDUCATION

Superintendent earns ‘proficient’ score

BY LEIGH BLANDER At its Nov. 6 meeting, the School Committee gave Superintendent John Robidoux a “proficient” grade in a midcycle review. The committee looked at four areas in making its assessment: instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture.

“As noted in his selfassessment, Superintendent John Robidoux made partial progress toward this goal (professional practice) during the evaluation period. While some steps were taken to address staffing patterns, a comprehensive, district-wide approach to developing and implementing consistent staffing practices was not fully achieved.

Notably, compiling concrete staffing data remains a critical tool to inform and drive the FY 27 budget process.”

The review continued: “It is important that John builds upon the district’s practices around data-driven decision making to

Letters From P. 4

“Thorpe Abbotts was a very quiet place that night.”

Just something to think about on this Veterans/Remembrance Day. Michael M. Fuenfer, MD Colonel (retired), Medical Corps, U.S. Army Franklin Street

Writer supports pay-as-you-go trash & recycling Letter to the editor: Regarding Marblehead Musings by Seamus Hourihan and “inflated heads”: If Mr. Thatcher Kezer and Ms. Aleesha Benjamin have unilaterally changed their job titles from “town administrator” to “chief administrative officer” and from “finance director” to “chief financial officer” respectively, I wonder if they have also awarded themselves a corresponding raise unilaterally. By whose authority were these changes made? Do I sense a bit of dishonesty and self-aggrandizement here?

Another subject: The Board of Health and new trash collection.

If pay-as-you-go would help to diminish the amount of trash we produce, albeit with attendant higher costs, then I vote for this system. For one reason or another, we are facing some horrendous and destructive climate challenges. Anything we can do to slow down these challenges for ourselves and future generations is worth trying, even if it costs.

Walter Haug Highland Terrace

W.W.K.D.?

To the editor: “By the way, what is also historic about that, in many ways — it was the closest election for president of the United States in the 21st century,” Kamala Harris said. “Period. Period.”

Yes, this is from the mouth of Kamala Harris while being interviewed at Howard University as she was promoting her new book written by a person named Geraldine Brooks.

Now, we all know this is complete malarkey, as Joe Biden would say, so why did she say it? One Google search showed me that Al Gore in 2000, John Kerry in 2004, Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Donald Trump in 2020 all received more electoral votes than Kamala. President Donald Trump 47 crushed her

» Professional practice:

COURTESY PHOTO

There’s a proposal to name the MHS auditorium in honor of longtime teacher and theater technical director Greg Dana.

equip administrators, School Committee members and other advocates and stakeholders to explain and justify the district’s needs.”

In the review’s summary, the committee wrote, “John entered the Marblehead Public School district in a time of significant

turmoil, culminating in an illegal teachers strike. Throughout this challenging time, John demonstrated professionalism, calmness, integrity and diplomacy.”

The committee also approved several new goals that Robidoux wrote for himself, including:

by 86 electoral votes as well as winning the popular vote by more than 2.5 million. It was without a doubt not the closest Presidential Election in the 21st Century. It was a landslide.

Yet, Kamala has repeated this line multiple times and even on media outlets including MSNBC. Is it her narcissism? Or is it that she’s really not that bright?

Or all of the above? Whatever the diagnosis, her statement made me shudder to think if the 2024 election was close and if she did pull it off what kind of shape would the United States be in after 10 months with this nitwit at the helm. Please look at the following topics and ask yourself, “W.W.K.D.?”

The Middle East Trump 45 made great strides in the Middle East with the creation of the Abraham Accords that created diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab neighbors. These agreements cover a multitude of issues including trade, security, cultural and business partnerships and started the structure of tolerance between people of different nations and faiths.

In May of this year, Trump 47 used his first foreign trip of this administration to revisit the Middle East where he secured trillions of dollars in investments for the USA while trying to add more Arab nations to the Accords. He eliminated the Iran nuclear threat as well as created a plan to stop the IsraelHamas war in Gaza. W.W.K.D.?

China/Asia A trade deal (basically an agreement to stop a trade war) with China was signed at the end of President Trump’s wildly successful trip to Asia. Trade and mineral deals with Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea eliminated the reliance on China, which used rare earths as a trade weapon.

China agreed to start buying U.S. soybeans again as well as AI chips and crack down on the fentanyl issue. W.W.K.D.?

Border security After the intentional and treasonous opening of our southern border by Joe Biden and his autopen, America was inundated with criminals and gang members from all over the world. Now? The border is shut down to historic lows under President Trump. As of late September of this year, DHS has reported over 2 million illegal immigrants have been removed from the United States.

(This number includes selfdeportation.) ICE is setting

records for captures, even in the face of radical leftist, liberal judges, governors and mayors attempting to block their work.

Antifa has physically attacked these brave men and women as well. The cherry on the sundae?

We have gone five months with ZERO illegals being caught at the border and released into the United States. W.W.K.D.?

Other stuff President Trump 47 has brokered peace deals all over the world, brought trillions of dollars in investments to the United States, secured the border and exposed the corruption and waste inside the federal government. He has initiated deregulation within the government to free businesses from red tape that hampers their growth. He has negotiated with Big Pharma to lower costs on medicines, prioritized keeping men out of women’s sports and continues to clean up crime in cities where Democrat mayors and governors refuse to act.

The military is again meeting recruiting goals as the woke agenda has been wiped out. He has tilted the world trade market in America’s favor using tariffs and diplomacy and has forced NATO members to pay more into their own defense.

He’s taking action to stop deadly fentanyl from getting across our borders, ended funding for the hoax that is climate change while invigorating the oil and gas industries to unleash America’s energy potential. He has cut taxpayer funding to biased media outlets like PBS and NPR and has increased funding to HBCUs while cutting funding to universities that tolerate antisemitism and hate speech. I could go on and on. W.W.K.D.?

The best part of all of this?

He still has three more years to work for us! Now, I just gave very general summaries of what President Trump has done for our country in just 10 months in office. The point is that Trump is an absolute machine and he wakes up every day to start working for the citizens of America. He truly cares about the success of our country.

It’s a nice change from those who tried the last four years to destroy the USA. If you’re a lefty, you’re free to not like him, but you can’t argue with the results.

Even if Kamala wanted to take any of these actions — and we all know she wouldn’t — she doesn’t have the skill or fortitude to initiate or implement any of this, and

Further development of building administrators as the instructional leaders of their schools. » District improvement: Enhancement of practices in hiring, training and retaining highly-qualified educators. » Continue the development of a district improvement (strategic) plan for 2026-29. » Student learning: Identify meaningful ways to assess and enhance/improve students’ academic achievement and social/emotional growth.

The School Committee also discussed goals for itself, including enhancing financial transparency by publishing “budget explainers” and hosting at least two community forums on the budget process before Town Meeting in May 2026,

Behind the scenes

Marblehead High School English teacher and Drama Director Ashley Skeffington presented a formal request that the high school’s auditorium be named in honor of longtime

MHS teacher and theater technical director Greg Dana.

“Greg’s 51 years of service to the Marblehead Public Schools, his unwavering commitment to the performing arts, and his profound dedication to mentoring has left an indelible legacy that exceeds far beyond the walls of Marblehead High School,” Skeffington said.

The committee is asking the community to reach out with thoughts about the naming. Email the committee at schoolcommittee@ marbleheadschools.org.

Early childhood center?

Also last week, the School Committee’s subcommittee on facilities met to discuss exploring a possible early childhood education center to be located at the Eveleth School.

Assistant Superintendent for Student Services LisaMarie Ippolito will send out a needs assessment survey to parents of young children. If enough parents express interest in the idea, the district may launch a feasibility study.

LETTERS POLICY The Current welcomes letters to the editor and strives to represent a range of viewpoints on our opinion pages.

Generally, letters should not exceed 500 words. Letters over the word limit may be returned to the writer for editing.

Writers may be given more leeway to criticize national political candidates and other public figures. However, in all cases, letter writers should refrain from name calling and personal attacks and instead focus on the substance of matters of public concern.

Letter writers may be asked to substantiate claims that do not relate to information previously published in the Current.

While we will make every effort to let writers have their say, we reserve the right not to publish letters.

Letters must include:

The author’s name. Unsigned letters and form letters will not be published.

The name of the street on which the author lives in Marblehead. Only the street name will be published next to the author’s name – not their full address.

The author’s daytime/cell phone number for verification purposes (not publication).

Letters must be received by our newsroom directly from their writers (for special circumstances, contact the newsroom). Email submissions to info@marbleheadnews.org or use the submission form found at marbleheadcurrent.org/letters.

Some letters may be shared to social media. We will share a wide array of viewpoints.

Letters must be received by noon on Friday in order to be printed in the following week’s print edition.

neither would the people she would have picked for her cabinet. Imagine the nightmare of Cackling Kamala trying to represent the United States when dealing with the likes of Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping!

What a horrifying thought!

This is a woman who recently claimed that Joe Biden was fit enough to serve a second term and that she advocates for lowering the voting age to 16 because of “climate anxiety.”

Huh? In Kamala’s defense, there isn’t a whole lot to choose from within the clown show that is the Democrat Party.

Maybe that’s why she still gets asked her opinion on things. Is it strange that every time she speaks I feel like having a salad?

God bless President Donald J. Trump, and God bless the United States of America!

Mark W. Ferrante Ruby Avenue

support mental health initiatives in our local schools. Proceeds from the event help provide access to Inner Explorer, a nationally recognized nonprofit that offers a simple, evidencebased daily mindfulness program used in schools to reduce stress and improve focus and emotional resilience among students.

This effort is the result of a close collaboration between the Rotary Club and the Marblehead school administration, a partnership that continues to grow stronger each year. Special recognition and thanks are due to past Rotary president Nancy Gwin, whose leadership, passion and persistence have been instrumental in shaping this event into the club’s largest annual fundraiser. Nancy’s vision has also sparked an ongoing and much-needed community conversation about wellness and the mental health challenges facing children and families today.

Of course, the success of the 5K is a true team effort.

It reflects the hard work and dedication of countless volunteers, including nearly 30 enthusiastic members of the Marblehead High School Interact Club, who joined other community volunteers to help make the day run smoothly.

Congratulations again to the Marblehead Rotary Club for another inspiring event.

Through efforts like this, we are reminded of what can happen when a community comes together by combining compassion, collaboration, and purpose which make a real difference in the lives of others.

Jack Attridge Past president, Marblehead Rotary Club

Thanks to Rotary for 5K success To the editor: I want to extend heartfelt congratulations to the Marblehead Rotary Club for the tremendous success of this year’s Marblehead Rotary Club 5K for Mental Health.

The event, held Nov. 2, brought together over 200 runners on a beautiful course winding through Marblehead’s Historic District, starting and finishing at Crocker Park. Following the race, participants and supporters gathered at the Boston Yacht Club for the awards ceremony for a celebration of both athletic achievement and community spirit.

Now in its fourth year, the 5K has become much more than a race. It represents a sustained and meaningful commitment by the Marblehead Rotary Club to

marbleheadcurrent.org

6 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

POLITICS

Immigration lawyer mulling Congressional run

BY LEIGH BLANDER Marblehead immigration attorney Diann Slavit Baylis is considering a run for Congress in the 6th District to replace Seth Moulton, who is campaigning to unseat Sen. Ed Markey.

“I grew up understanding the value of families and community, working hard and most importantly our duty of civic involvement,” said Slavit Baylis, the last of nine children in a middle-class family. “Now, our country is faced with an administration that is imposing radical restrictions on our freedoms, our healthcare and our quality of life. I fight against the Trump administration every day through my role as an immigration attorney protecting my clients from mean-spirited,

COURTESY PHOTO

Diann Slavit Baylis, who lives in Marblehead, is a family immigration attorney considering a run for Congress.

unfair and illegal immigration actions.”

Slavit Baylis continued: “I am on the front lines dealing with the Trump administration’s policies and all of their damaging effects.

Donald Trump said he would

be targeting criminals but what he is really doing, and we are seeing it right here in this district, is going after landscapers, home care workers and others who are essential to our economy. I have not heard about this second hand

by reading the newspapers and watching the news, but by seeing directly the impact it is having on my clients — families, children and well-deserving people who should not be treated like common criminals.”

Slavit Baylis says immigration is not her only campaign issue.

“The disconnect between what Donald Trump said he was going to do and what he is actually doing goes well beyond immigration. He said he was going to lower the cost of living when in fact the cost of everything is going up and families are struggling. People are worried about their jobs, their health care and their ability to put food on the table.”

Slavit Baylis ran for state representative in the 8th Essex District in 2022, losing to Jenny Armini. She was elected last year

as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. “I’m having conversations throughout the district about what they’re looking for in a member of Congress,” Slavit Baylis said.

“What do we need? We need a member of Congress who is going to fight every day to protect our families, to protect our communities and to protect our democracy.”

At least six other candidates have announced runs for Moulton’s 6th District seat: Moulton’s former chief of staff Rick Jakious, former Biden White House aide Dan Koh of Andover, state Rep. Tram Nguyen of Andover, financial tech veteran Dan Beccia of Lynnfield, former state rep Jamie Belsito of Topsfield and software designer Beth AndresBeck of Middleton.

HOUSING

MHA sees updated Broughton Road plans, including interior designs

BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS The Marblehead Housing Authority met on Nov. 4 and 6 to learn more about plans for the $67 million Broughton Road redevelopment project with WinnDevelopment.

Broughton Road currently has 62 units, some as old as 75 years.

The proposal is to renovate 44 units and replace 18. A new building on Broughton Road will house another 60 units.

The MHA has hired a consultant to oversee design aspects of the project. On Monday, SV Design Principal Stefano Basso updated the MHA with feedback gathered from Broughton Road residents. Basso shared a conceptual drawing of the property, explaining the design aspects.

MHA member William Kuker urged Basso to consider moving the project’s new building away from Humphrey Street.

“I’d like to see it go down at the end closer to the Rail Trail and that way you would be tearing down two less buildings,” Kuker said. “It’s not the wise thing to put a big in-your-face project right there on Humphrey Street where everybody’s going

to see it.”

Several other design issues were discussed, including architectural details, second bathrooms in some units and storage options to improve functionality and space.

Additional ideas included prioritizing community areas like playgrounds and adult gathering spaces.

The project is focusing on high-energy efficiency with geothermal studies and electric vehicle parking.

“They’ve [WinnDevelopment] discussed being very committed to being as sustainable as humanly possible,” said MHA Vice Chair Terri Tauro. “They have a whole division within their organization that kind of manages that aspect of design.

And in the conceptual plan they submitted, they did discuss at length their commitment to it. I think that that’s definitely something that we should communicate and be sure that that’s considered one of the higher priorities in everything that we’re discussing.”

To find more information on the Broughton Road project, visit broughtonrd.com.

Tedesco

likely be Broughton Road.

From P. 1

Reaction from the state

of the parameters to meet the state’s numerical requirements,” he said. The town would need at least one other 3A parcel, which would

The question is: Will the state accept the golf club as a serious location for multifamily zoning?

“We can’t predict what the state is going to say,”

COURTESY PHOTOS

The MHA is learning more about the exterior and interior designs proposed for Broughton Road.

Fox emphasized. “We’re making sure everything we do complies with the word of the law.”

Fox said the Planning Board will likely submit a new 3A plan to the state in the “next week or two” and then start to hold public hearings.

The Current reached out to the Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities for reaction to the new proposal.

“HLC appreciates Marblehead’s consideration of opportunities to create multifamily zoning and

INVITATION FOR BID TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD

INVITATION FOR BID TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD

26-27 Garage Door Repairs and Installations M.G.L. c. 149 Invitation for Bid

26-28 Fence Repairs and Installations M.G.L. c. 30 § 39M Invitation for Bid

The purpose of this procurement is for the Town of Marblehead to contract with a qualified company who can perform various overhead and garage door installations, maintenance and repair services. The types of services to be covered include, but are not limited to furnishing all labor, materials, equipment and incidentals required to install and repair overhead doors.

A bid deposit of at least five percent (5%) of the total project is required.

This solicitation is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 149, and any resulting contract will be strictly awarded in accordance with the requirements of the solicitation.

The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The Town reserves the right to waive all informalities.

Specifications, Terms and Conditions and Forms may be obtained via the Town’s website at https://marbleheadma.gov/ bids-rfps/ Complete sets of bidding documents shall be used in preparing bids; the Town does not assume any responsibility for errors or misinterpretations resulting from the use of incomplete sets of bidding documents or for modifications to the bidding documents including electronic conversion.

The purpose of this procurement is for the Town of Marblehead to contract with a qualified fencing company who can perform various fencing installations, maintenance and repair services.

A bid deposit of at least five percent (5%) of the total project is required.

This solicitation is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30 § 39M, and any resulting contract will be strictly awarded in accordance with the requirements of the solicitation.

The Town reserves the right to reject any or all bids. The Town reserves the right to waive all informalities.

Specifications, Terms and Conditions and Forms may be obtained via the Town’s website at https://marbleheadma. gov/bids-rfps/ after 9 am on November 12, 2025.

Complete sets of bidding documents shall be used in preparing bids; the Town does not assume any responsibility for errors or misinterpretations resulting from the use of incomplete sets of bidding documents or for modifications to the bidding documents including electronic conversion.

will continue to assist them as they work to come into compliance with the law,” said HLC Press Secretary Tara Smith.

State Rep. Jenny Armini, who lives in Marblehead had this to say about the plan: “The law and regulations are structured so communities have the flexibility to craft their own needs and character.

That’s what Marblehead is working on right now.”

As for Tedesco,

Fox said, “I have had conversations with their board. They understand it’s an overlay and not a requirement to build.

It will have no effect on their use or their financial situation.”

Fox said the town is working hard to meet the concerns of critics who say the original 3A plan would lead to too much congestion along West Shore Drive and Pleasant Street.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM on the request of Kevin and Caroline Wotjas to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction of one story additions to a single-family dwelling with less than the required Lot Area and Rear Yard Setback located at 20 Euclid Avenue in the SINGLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The new additions will encroach into the Rear Yard Setback and exceed the 10% expansion limits for a non-conforming building. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda can be found on the following link: https://marbleheadma.gov/zoning-board-of-appeals/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

marbleheadcurrent.org

Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 12, 2025 7

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Cyclist shares stories after bike trek across country

BY LEIGH BLANDER It was a cool, bright morning on May 30, when Rich Coffman dipped the back wheel of his bicycle into the ocean at Fort Beach before pedaling off on a crosscountry adventure. Onehundred-fifty days later he arrived in Santa Monica, California, and dipped his front wheel in the Pacific.

In the weeks and months in between, he logged 4800 miles, about 40 flat tires and a lifetime of stories.

Coffman, 64, stopped working last December and planned his bike trip to help him transition into retirement.

“My old life does seem like a long time ago because of this trip, which is great,” he said from his home near Fort Sewall on Oct. 31.

Coffman biked for 130 of the 150 days he was gone, traveling through mountain ranges (including Loveland Pass at 12,000 feet), plains and even the Mojave Desert. He hit 16 states, riding about 50 miles a day.

He would sleep in local hotels or at friends’ homes along the route.

His main source of fuel was pizza.

“I would buy a giant pizza for dinner, eat half of it and save the other half for lunch the next day,” he said with a laugh.

Coffman lost 20 pounds on his trip.

COURTESY PHOTO

two wheels. He and his wife hope to join a tour group and bike the Tour de France route a few days behind the actual competitors.

Asked to reflect on any lessons learned during his cross-country adventure, Coffman smiled and said, “I met hundreds of people, and not one was a jerk.

Not one person. One couple in Colorado gave me a $20 bill with their phone number on it so we could meet in California and they could buy me a congratulatory drink.”

They did.

Other people bought Coffman breakfast or lunch or shared water in the desert.

“Everybody went out of their way to try to help me.

That’s amazing,” he added.

Rich Coffman of Marblehead raises his bike over his head to celebrate reaching the Pacific Ocean after a cross-country trek.

“I stopped at a couple of shoe repair stores to have them pop a new hole in my belt to keep my pants from falling off. Once in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, his bathing suit dropped when he dove into a local pool.

“I’m underwater and I’m like, ‘OK, you’re naked.

Don’t panic.’”

Coffman was able to secure his suit and put it back on before coming up for air.

He had good weather — for most of his trip.

“My scariest weather day by far was in Colorado on something called the

McClure Pass. I’m near the summit and I see a lighting bolt. So I stopped and put on my rain gear. And then I saw more lighting and I could feel the wind … and the storm started coming right over the valley towards me. I laid the bike down and I got in this gully and hid under these two giant blue spruce trees. I was pretty proud of myself.”

Later that night at his hotel, Coffman was talking to some locals who warned him about an uptick in bear activity in the area.

He felt relief that he hadn’t run into a bear in

that gulley.

Coffman never crashed his bike or sustained any serious injuries. Near Palm Springs, he did get pushed into a guardrail by a gust of wind.

He learned that he couldn’t spend much time daydreaming or philosophizing while pedaling.

“You have to stay laser focused,” he said. “If you don’t I guarantee you will have a rude awakening.

It could be a pothole or a rock, a drain. Inevitably, a semi will come by and you’re like, ‘Wow, wow,wow.”

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A highlight of the trip, other than approaching the Santa Monica Pier in the very last moments of his ride, was a surprise to him.

“Everyone expects the best riding and views to be in the mountain passes of Colorado, right?

But there’s an area of northeast Kansas called Flint Hills. Everybody thinks Kansas is flat, but there are pretty significant hills — big rolling things with limestone bluffs. It was gorgeous.”

He traveled to two other Marbleheads — one in Ohio and one in Illinois.

And he ran into folks from here at a Rotary Club event in western Colorado.

Coffman plans to stay off his bike until next spring.

But he’s already mapping out his next adventure on

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marbleheadcurrent.org

8 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

From our family to yours – Happy Thanksgiving, Marblehead!

Lise Danforth

For over 200 years, Marblehead Female Humane Society has remained faithful to its original mission of quietly and respectfully helping Marblehead residents in need.

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Buying & Selling is all about My priority is to recognize and respond to the needs of sellers strategy & reading the market. If honesty & integrity, and buyers. I provide confidence local expertise & a smooth and trust based on my knowledge, experience and service. successful transaction are important to you, call Lise.

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If you are looking for a real estate agent with experience, knowledge and integrity please reach out. We can meet to discuss the market and your goals for buying and/or selling.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 12, 2025 9

Sports FOOTBALL

Magicians take home statement win over Shepherd Hill, 42-14

BY LUCA TEDESCO The sixth-seed Marblehead Magicians football team returned to form at the perfect time with a 42-14 victory over the Shepherd Hill Rams in the Round of 16 of the MIAA Division 4 state tournament at Piper Field on Friday.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the kids,” said head coach Jim Rudloff. “[Last week] was a great opportunity for us to learn that you only get these things when things are hard. You only get better when things are hard. I couldn’t be prouder of this team and the way they responded all week long.”

Marblehead came out of the gates red hot, with Breydan Callahan running 25 yards into Shepherd Hill territory on the opening play from scrimmage.

The Magicians would keep the ball along the ground for the entirety of their first drive, with Callahan pounding the ball through the Rams defensive line to give Marblehead the early

COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD

Marblehead’s Trent Brown (14), Owen Dulac (25) and Landon Dosch (15) celebrate a fourth down defensive stop during the MIAA Division 4 tournament game between Marblehead and Shepherd Hill Regional High School on Friday, November 8.

lead.

Shepherd Hill’s offense would have no need to run out onto the

field following the Magicians’ score as the Rams’ senior captain, Aiden Tyler, sprinted

98 yards to the endzone on the ensuing kickoff, the second such score Marblehead has let up this

season. The Magician defense would come up with the stop on the two-point try, allowing the hosts to hold onto a narrow 7-6 lead.

Callahan would find the end zone for the second time in two Marblehead possessions. The senior kept his legs churning as he pushed the ball over the goal line to up the advantage to 14-6.

After Shepherd Hill won a controversial fourth down conversion, the Marblehead defense would come up with a key stop on the next set of downs, taking over on their own 36-yard line.

Marblehead would make quick work of the ensuing drive.

After rapidly moving the ball across midfield, quarterback Finn Gallup would find Landon Dosch on the far hash, giving the junior space to maneuver and find the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown reception, his first of the season.

Gallup connected with FOOTBALL, P. 11

ON THE PITCH

MHS volleyball players pose with a dad dressed as the Marblehead Magician.

Girls soccer advances to Sweet 16 after double OT thriller

BY JOE MCCONNELL The Marblehead High girls soccer team (13-1-5, 10th seed) needed two overtimes to dispatch Walpole (5-9-6, 23rd seed) in the Division 2 Round of 32 state tournament game at Piper Field on Wednesday night, Nov. 5, 3-2. The Timberwolves first had to play Putnam Vocational Tech (7-7, 42nd seed), in a preliminary round game on Nov. 3, and they handled Putnam rather easily to the tune of 14-0.

After the overtime thriller, the Magicians have since advanced to the second round of the state tournament for the first time since 2016, and as a result they headed south to play Oliver Ames (10-5-2, seventh seed) in the Sweet 16 game on Sunday, Nov. 9, after press deadline.

The Tigers defeated Nashoba Regional (6-11-3, 26th seed) in their Round of 32 game, also on Wednesday, 5-0, after the Wolves escaped past Bristol-Plymouth

COURTESY PHOTO

Regional (14-4-1, 39th seed), 1-0 in the preliminary round game on Nov. 3.

“This one was not for the faint of heart,” said coach Lisa Wales right after the Walpole game.

The Magicians took a 1-0 lead just before halftime on a header by Callie Gilmore, with an assist going to Ashley Mortensen.

In the second half, Walpole came back with two unanswered tallies to go ahead by one with less than five minutes left in regulation, but then Wales moved Northeastern Conference MVP Sydney Ball to midfield, where she eventually found the back of the net with less than two minutes to go on a solo effort goal to send the game to sudden death overtime.

But then, there were a lot more nervous minutes — 18 to be exact — for the home fans, before the Magicians scored the game-winning goal. With two minutes left in the second 10-minute

SET AND SERVE

Girls volleyball tourney run ends with 3-1 defeat at Longmeadow LONGMEADOW — The Marblehead Magicians girls volleyball team had their tournament run end in a hard fought 3-1 loss (25-18, 22-25, 22-25, 18-25) to the #3 Longmeadow Lancers on Nov. 7.

The Magicians took the opening set by a seven point margin, but dropped the second by just three. Marblehead jumped to a 10-2 lead early in the third set, but a spectacular comeback put Longmeadow in the driver’s seat heading to the fourth set.

The Lancers held off the Magicians’ attempt to force a deciding fifth set, taking the set

GIRLS, P. 11

Your support keeps reporters on the sidelines and athletes in the spotlight.

25-18 and the match 3-1, ending Marblehead’s season in the quarterfinals.

“It was a great run for Marblehead volleyball,” said head coach Killeen Miller, who took home Northeastern Conference Coach of the Year honors. “This was the best and deepest playoff run in program history.”

Statistically, senior Greta Sachs lived up to her billing as NEC Player of the Year, posting 15 kills and three blocks. Junior hitter Lila Moniz finished the season with her third consecutive double-double, dropping 14 kills

and racking up 15 digs, followed closely by libero Sydney Faris, who picked up 14 digs of her own.

Setter Eva Burke distributed 38 assists in the match, ending her high school with 1,129 assists, a school record.

Marblehead finishes their best season in program history with a 20-3 record, sweeping the NEC Coach and Player of the Year honors. Two Magicians, Lila Moniz and Sydney Faris, were named to the All-Conference team with three more, Mari Modrzynska, Eva Burke and Sammy Walker, listed as NEC All-Stars.

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10 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

ON THE PITCH

Boys soccer battles perennial power Hingham, only to come up short in Round of 32

BY JOE MCCONNELL It was not the ending that the Marblehead High boys soccer team (11-6-2) was hoping for, but as the 24th seed in Division 2 they had the misfortune to go to Hingham to face the host Harbormen (14-3-3, ninth seed) in the Round of 32 on Nov. 4.

It’s never easy to open up the postseason on the road, especially taking those long bus rides through the Ted Williams Tunnel to face your South Shore counterparts, all because of the new state

power rankings system.

But the Magicians came out of this game earning the respect of their state peers after going toe-totoe with Hingham, only to lose in a heartbreaker, 2-1.

“We knew we were facing a former state champ and semifinalist, and it was going to be a battle to the end, which it turned out to be,” said coach Elmer Magana.

“But our waking up late mentality finally caught up to us, when we allowed an early goal, 10 minutes into the game.”

The Harbormen had a

very disciplined defensive approach that Marblehead was only able to crack in the second half, when Ilan Druker lofted a ball into the box. The Hingham goalie jumped to punch at it, but missed, and then it went past the second post, where forward David Magen, returning from an ankle injury, drilled it home on a header.

At that point, the Hingham fans fell silent, while the Marblehead crowd started cheering again. Their support was felt by the visitors, who went on a relentless

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attack.

Junior Erik Badzak fired a rocket from the 30, which missed the top corner by inches. A through ball that split Hingham’s center backs was chased by Magen, but when he was about to shoot, accidental contact from a Hingham center back sent him to the turf, which nullified the scoring opportunity. As it turned out, it unfortunately was the team’s last real chance to tie up the game.

“The pride that I feel for our team doesn’t fit in the entire universe,” said Magana. “Even though we were playing against the No. 9 team in the division to go along with the injuries, the wind and the intense away crowd, we still went toe-totoe with a former state champ. We can hold our heads high knowing that we left everything on the turf. Our boys sacrificed their bodies and souls for their teammates, for their

BOYS, P. 11

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school and for their town in this game.”

The coach also mentioned that injured captain Jared Halpern made a heroic return to lead his team against Hingham. “His balldelivering vision and playmaking skills gave us a chance to compete against a giant like Hingham,” he said.

Senior goalie Matias Watts-Cruz stopped a

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COURTESY PHOTO / MARBLEHEAD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR KAI ROZINSKY

Marblehead High boys soccer sophomore Judah Spell is fired up during a game this year, an example of the team’s intensity that won many games, because of it.

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11

ON THE RUN

Cross-country stars O’Connell, Munroe, Cruikshank named NEC All-Conference

BY JOE MCCONNELL While the Marblehead High boys and girls cross-country teams were prepping for last Saturday’s (Nov. 8) State Division 2A Championship Meet at the Northfield Mountain Recreation Area, the Northeastern Conference announced its all-star teams following the annual NEC Meet at Gloucester, where the

Marblehead girls rolled over their conference peers once again to complete the perfect season. They breezed through the regular season with a 7-0 record to win the Dunn Division.

The Danvers girls were the top team in the Lynch Division.

The boys also ran well in the conference meet, coming in third after ending up fourth in the regular season with a 4-3 record.

If there was ever an automatic bid to an All-Conference team, it certainly belonged to senior captain Marri O’Connell this year after she literally went wire to wire — that’s freshman season to senior year in her case — never losing a dual regular season meet. She, in fact, also just won her third straight conference championship after finishing a close second as a freshman. Needless to say, she

also earned the NEC Runner of the Year Award among the girls.

Junior Sarah Munroe, the heir apparent to O’Connell, joined her on this year’s All-Conference team as a result of her fifth-place finish in the NEC Meet. Ruby Assa and Norah Walsh, a couple of sophomores, were chosen to the all-star team by the conference coaches.

There was one additional honor for Marblehead, and that

went to coach Will Herlihy, who was selected the NEC Girls Coach of the Year by his peers. Rival Swampscott was the recipient of the NEC Girls Sportsmanship Award.

Senior Will Cruikshank was the lone Marblehead representative on the NEC AllConference boys team. Senior Henrik Adams and junior Filip Grubor made the all-star squad.

Football From P. 9

Dosch again on the following Marblehead possession, this time for a 75-yard scoring catch to push the lead to 28-6 midway through the second quarter.

After forcing a fourth down stop in Rams territory, Marblehead drove down the short field in just two plays.

Owen Coyne would snag a pitch and rumble 28 yards to put the Magicians goal-to-go at the sixyard line before Callahan took the ball the rest of the way home for a first half hat trick, giving Marblehead a 35-6 lead heading to the halftime interval.

The Magicians defense would make yet another fourth down stop to bring the offense back on the field just past the halfway mark of the third quarter.

The scoring frenzy would continue with Gallup hitting Callahan on a perfectly executed screen pass. The convoy of blockers ahead of the senior would give him the room he needed to run 58-yards untouched for his fourth touchdown of the game.

Dosch and Coyne would come up big on defense, with the former making a touchdown saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff and the latter making a game sealing interception at the

COURTESY PHOTO / EYAL OREN, WEDNESDAYS IN MARBLEHEAD

Landon Dosch (15) of Marblehead catches a 75-yard touchdown, his second of the game, near midfield during the second quarter of the MIAA Division 4 tournament game between Marblehead and Shepherd Hill Regional High School on Friday, November 8.

two-yard line to bring the third quarter to a close.

With the clock running from the first snap of the final term, the Magicians drove the majority of the way down the field before

being stopped on fourth down with just under four minutes remaining.

The Shepherd Hill offense would shatter the second-string Marblehead defense, breaking

off a 75-yard touchdown as time expired to cut the winning margin to 28.

With the bounce-back 42-14 win, the #6 Magicians advance to the quarterfinals of the Division

4 state tournament where they will travel to the #3 Canton Bulldogs on Friday at 7 p.m. to battle for a spot in their first state semifinal since their 2021 Super Bowl winning season.

Girls From P. 9

overtime period, Lucy McDonald took a pass from Callie Gilmore to finally drill the winning shot home from 30 yards out.

“The bigger the game, the better Lucy plays,” said Wales on Lucy’s clutch score afterwards.

“We were without striker Liv Carlson and Sadie Halpern, and so once again we asked everybody else to step up, and they did. We bent, but did not break. We did, however, have a little bit of luck on our side, as well. But we still prepared for these moments, and were able to capitalize when the (opportunity arose).”

In the postseason, a team needs a reliable goalie to keep games close, and Hailey Gilmore did just that, coming up with eight pivotal saves against the

Boys From P. 10

scoring chance, when a Hingham striker broke free to create a breakaway opportunity. WattsCruz came out of the box to face him one-on-one. He ended up taking a low right shot, but the Marblehead goalie stopped it cold, before grabbing it to give his teammates a chance to regroup.

“What an amazing and incredible save it was,” said Magana. “It kept us in the game (down the stretch).”

COURTESY PHOTO / VICTORIA DOSCH

The Marblehead High girls soccer team poses for a photo after its thrilling 3-2 overtime win over Walpole in the Division 2 Round of 32 state tournament game at Piper Field on Nov. 5.

Timberwolves.

Wales knew that Walpole was going to be a formidable

team, because they play in the very challenging Bay State Conference. It still doesn’t get

any easier for Marblehead, when it has to face Oliver Ames out of the competitive Hockomock

League on Sunday, again in the Sweet 16 game at 4 p.m.

The coach also singled out defenders Adam Loughlin, T.J. Kelly, Ethan Clock and Judah Spell. “They all had a monster game stopping the Hingham attack, before delivering the ball to the midfielders and wings,” he said.

Center defensive midfielder Erik Badzak gave it his all to the point where he was subbed out in the last five minutes of the game, because his body couldn’t physically go one more step, according to the coach, who also mentioned that center midfielders Mark Vinojur, Bubaccar Jallow and Mitchell

Leighton battled in the air and on the ground to win possession of the ball and create scoring chances, while forwards Miles Fontela-Tuttle, Quinn Cohane, Julien Poitevin, Druker and Magen emptied their tanks to find the gaps in the Hingham defense.

“Soccer is a team sport, and on this day, we displayed effort, resilience, sportsmanship and pride in one another,” Magana added. “We had a great season with many unforgettable memories that will live in the hearts and souls of our players well into the future. They were

and are a band of brothers, who looked after one another on the pitch, in school and in the community. We are very grateful to our seniors for their commitment to playing the sport for so many years, but we are also excited about the many underclassmen who will return next year. They have seen what it takes to compete at the highest level in the state, and what it takes to survive the grind of the regular season, as well as what it means to be a part of the Marblehead High soccer family.”

By the numbers this season Druker (9 goals, 8 assists) and Fontela-Tuttle (12 goals, 4 assists) were the top two leading scorers on the team this year.

Poitevin (5 goals, 6 assists), Halpern (4 goals, 5 assists), Jallow (2 goals, 7 assists), Badzak (3 goals, 4 assists), Vinojur (6 goals, 1 assist), Cohane (3 goals, 2 assists), Magen (3 goals, 1 assist), Loughlin (3 goals) and Leighton (1 goal, 1 assist) also contributed to the offensive effort this fall.

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12 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

OBITUARY

Frederick Shmid, 89 Heart of a lion, patience of a saint, stubborn as a mule, Frederick “Champ” Schmid passed away peacefully on Oct. 31, surrounded by his family.

Fred leaves behind his wife of 63 years Judith Atkinson Schmid, his sons Keil Schmid and Kurt Schmid; his daughter-in-law Margarita Schmid and grandkids Max Schmid, Kaia Schmid and Timo Schmid.

Fred was born on June 2, 1936 outside Cooperstown, New York. He grew up working on his parents’ dairy farm. His educational interests led him away from the farm and he went

on to graduate from Lafayette University and earned his master’s degree at Northeastern University. A gifted technology inventor and scientist with many international patents and scientific publications to

his name, he formed Crystal Systems Inc., in Salem in 1971, producing the world’s largest sapphire and silicon crystals.

He achieved the pinnacle of business success with the sale of the business to a public company in 2010. However, crystal growth, science and the desire to continue to develop technology would continue in his new company, Crystal Systems Innovations Inc, to this very day. Fred thoroughly enjoyed working with the employees of his company and the technical industry at large. Fred would walk onto the production floor each day to say good morning to each employee and see how things were going with the technology and production.

Fred had many passions

beyond work, he was an avid sailor and raced in the Marblehead Rhodes 19 fleet, (winning the East Coast Championships with his wife Judy), and later on in the PHRF fleet. He was known as a fierce competitor and loved to recount the races over a beer with his crew and fellow racers after the events.

Fred was an avid tennis player, skier and gardener who could be found outdoors enjoying nature during his free time. He was a big family man and loved having the whole family around to enjoy time together at his home and meals with his family. He was well known in his businesses and around the town as a friendly guy who dreamed big and pursued them vigorously up

until his final moments. Every lion has a final roar and his will continue to echo through all he accomplished and all the folks who he impacted, especially through his family who loved him dearly. As he would always say to people when saying goodbye to them, “Have fun, but not too much,” with a big smile.

A celebration of Fred’s life will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Plummer House, via Plummer Youth Promise | Helping Foster Children, 37 Winter Island Road, Salem, MA 01970 or plummeryouthpromise. org/?campaign=695451. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome. com for Fred’s family.

NEWS IN BRIEF The Current welcomes submissions (150–200 words) to the news in brief. Send yours to info@marbleheadnews.org.

BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS

Former Coffin School listening session Join a community listening session about new uses for the old Coffin School property on Thursday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. in the Abbot Hall Select Board Room hosted by the Department of Community Development & Planning. There will be a brief overview of the site and planning context. This is an open forum for community input and an opportunity to share ideas, priorities and questions.

For more info, contact the Department of Community Development & Planning CDP@marbleheadma.gov or visit: marbleheadma.gov/ coffin-school-adaptive-reuse/.

Merry Mixers launch New Patient in Need Fund to support local families For more than seven decades, the Merry Mixers have been raising funds to improve pediatric care at Mass General Brigham’s Salem Hospital. Now, the volunteer-driven nonprofit is expanding its impact with the creation of the Merry Mixers Pediatric Patient in Need Fund, an initiative designed to support families facing financial hardship while their children receive medical care.

As the group looks toward another fundraising year, their mission remains unchanged: to enhance the health and well-being of children on the North Shore through dedicated community Support. The mixers annual 50/50 raffle tickets are now

on sale visit meryymixers.org/ raffle or reach out to a mixer to get your tickets. The winner will be drawn on Dec. 5 at the Marblehead Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m., you don’t need to be present to win.

SPUR Holiday Cheer Drive The SPUR Holiday Cheer Drive provides over 600 children and families experiencing homelessness with winter essentials and holiday gifts. Here are the key dates: » Wednesday, Nov. 12, wishlists are available to sponsor online. » Friday, Nov. 14, volunteers are needed to wrap. » Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22, wishlists will be available for pickup at Harbor Holidays. » Sunday, Nov. 30 through Monday, Dec. 15, Volunteers prepare Bundles of Cheer in the SPUR office. » Tuesday, Dec. 2, completed Bundles of Cheer are due.

Find more information here: spurnorthshore.org/ holidaycheerfaq.

Marblehead awarded $20,000 Mass Humanities grant for ‘We Were There’ The town of Marblehead has been awarded a $20,000 “Promises of the Revolution” grant from Mass Humanities in support of the project, “We Were There: Reclaiming the Histories of Black and Indigenous Marbleheaders in the

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM on the request of Mark Holland to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction of an addition to a pre-existing non-conforming single-family dwelling with less than the required Front, Side, and Rear Yard Setbacks located at 14 Madison Road in the SINGLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The new addition will encroach into the Front Yard Setback. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning ByLaw, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda can be found on the following link: https://marbleheadma.gov/zoning-boardof-appeals/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

The Merry Mixers have launched a new fund to support families of pediatric patients at Salem Hospital.

Revolution.”

This award recognizes Marblehead’s leadership in uncovering and sharing underrepresented stories from the American Revolution, particularly those of Black and Indigenous residents, both enslaved and free, who served in and supported the war effort.

Developed in partnership with the Marblehead Museum and Marblehead Public Schools, “We Were There” will expand and complete the museum’s permanent exhibit, highlighting local figures such as Joseph Brown, Cato Prince and Romeo Johonnot; as well as create an inclusive digital curriculum for Marblehead schools.

Edith Dodge Fund

Edith Dodge Fund, a 52 year old nonprofit, is looking for teams of two or families to deliver gifts to over 900 (80 years and older) during the first

week of December. The fund is also looking for volunteers to deliver to local extended care residences.

Assistance would be appreciated for fun prep days Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 2 and 3. If interested please call and leave a message at 781-258-5837.

Donations may be made to PO Box 1402, Marblehead.

Do you like budgets?

The Finance Committee is looking to add one new member.

The FinCom consists of nine members appointed by the Select Board to staggered threeyear terms. The committee functions in an advisory capacity for all financial matters of the town.

The committee reviews the budgets of all town departments and holds a public hearing on all Town Meeting warrant articles calling for the expenditure of town funds. For more information on how to

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

All proposals are to be sealed and plainly marked on the outside of the envelope “Digger Derrick Proposal” and must be submitted to the Distribution Manager, 80 Commercial Street, Marblehead, Massachusetts, no later than 10:00am on November 21, 2025, at which time all submitted proposals will be opened in public.

MMLD reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive any informality in the proposals received and accept the proposal that it deems to be most favorable to the interest of the MMLD. Proposals that are not clear or complete may be rejected.

Rethinking retirement Join Lecture with a Road Scholar on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 2 p.m. about the best places to retire, at the Abbot Public Library. Each year, publications rank the “best places to retire,” but how do those lists align with your own values, goals and lifestyle?

Learn how to create your own personal criteria to assess communities and find a place where you can thrive, retire happily and age well.

Registration is required and limited to 35. Register at tinyurl.com/Road-ScholarRetirement. If you are not able to attend in person, please register for the program or join the wait list. Everyone who is registered will be sent the recording.

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM on the request of Old Town Properties LLC to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for a change of use from a retail/office use to a converted dwelling use with four dwelling units located at 1-7 Pleasant Street in the UNRESTRICTED DISTRICT. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda can be found on the following link: https://marbleheadma.gov/zoning-board-of-appeals/

The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday November 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM on the request of 185 Pleasant Street LLC to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for the installation of dormers on a non-conforming mixed-use structure located at 185 Pleasant Street in the B1 DISTRICT. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information

by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting.

The agenda can be found on the following link: https://marbleheadma.gov/ zoning-board-of-appeals/

W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS MARBLEHEAD MUNICIPAL LIGHT DEPARTMENT INVITATION FOR BID Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law c.164, §56D, Marblehead Municipal Light Department (MMLD) invites vendors to submit sealed proposals for furnishing MMLD with one (1) 46kV dielectric-tested, hydraulic digger derrick on 2027 Model Year Freightliner 4x2 Regular Cab Chassis in white.

Full specifications and related documents are available at 80 Commercial Street in Marblehead or on our website at https://www.marbleheadelectric. com/bids-procurements.html. Please contact MMLD’s Distribution Manager, Greg Chane, with questions.

apply visit: marbleheadma.gov/ finance-committee/.

The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday November 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM on the request of 185 Pleasant Street LLC to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for the installation of dormers on a non-conforming mixed-use structure located at 185 Pleasant Street in the B1 DISTRICT. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18.

This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@ marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda can be found on the following link: https://marbleheadma.gov/zoning-board-of-appeals/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

TOWN OF MARBLEHEAD ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS The Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on Tuesday November 25, 2025 at 8:00 PM on the request of Jonathan and Deborah Golub-Sass to vary the application of the present Zoning By-Law by allowing a Special Permit for the construction of additions to a pre-existing non-conforming single-family dwelling with less than the required Front and Side Yard Setbacks located at 45 Ruby Avenue in the SINGLE RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The new additions will encroach into the Front and Side Yard Setbacks, reduce the Open Area Ratio, and exceed the 10% expansion limits for a non-conforming building. The hearing is held in accordance with the provisions of the Marblehead Zoning By-Law, and Chapter 40A of the General Laws as amended and Pursuant to Governor Baker’s Order allowing suspension of Certain Provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, §18. This hearing will be held remotely in accordance with Governor Baker’s March 12, 2020 Order superseding certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A, section 18 and the Governor’s March 15, 2020 Order imposing strict limitation on the number of people that may gather in one place. Request to make an appointment to review plans and information by E-mailing: lyonsl@marbleheadma.gov For any questions, please call (781) 631-1529. Details on how to access the hearing remotely via the internet will be posted on the meeting agenda at least 48-hours prior to the meeting. The agenda can be found on the following link: https://marbleheadma.gov/zoning-board-of-appeals/ W. Lewis Barlow, IV Secretary

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Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 12, 2025 13

CURRENT EVENTS

Marblehead’s best bets

BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS

Current Events spotlights exciting happenings in the coming week. If you’d like to contribute a listing, please email Current editor Leigh Blander at lblander@marbleheadnews.org.

—Leigh Blander

Art talk with Siobhan McDonald: ‘This is Where I Lived’

Marblehead Museum to host talk on Devereux neighborhood

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 7p.m.

Join Siobhan McDonald at the Abbot Library, 235 Pleasant St., for her talk on her exhibit, “This is Where I Lived.”

The work will be displayed in the Carten Gallery from Monday, Nov. 10, through Saturday, Jan. 3. McDonald is a Marblehead resident, with her studio at Gallows Hill Artists in Salem.

“The works in this show are about who I am, how I see things and what place means to me. I travel using traditional means or sometimes with Google Earth. Every series I do begins with a piece of literature. A poem, a book — something that provides me with a key to open the structure of the series, answering my internal questions of how

Thursday, Nov. 20, 7p.m.

many, what or why. I’m interested in memory and how people’s recollections of things and their perceptions can shift over time. Altered buildings, abstracted space and other changes may make some works seem both familiar and yet not,” said McDonald.

The Marblehead Museum, 170 Washington St., will host historic preservationist John Clemson for a talk entitled “The Devereux Neighborhood: A History.” Clemson will show how the area evolved from an agricultural center to a residential neighborhood served by railroad and streetcar from 1870-1940, using historic maps and images. The presentation is based in part on a Historic Properties Survey that Clemson completed for the Marblehead Historical Commission in 2023.

Tickets are $10 for museum members and $15 for the public. Tickets are available for in-person attendance or via Zoom. For tickets, visit the museum’s website at marbleheadmuseum.org, or call the museum at 781-631-1768.

‘Last of the Right Whales’: A Movie Screening with Sophia Naumovski Monday, Nov. 17, 6p.m.

Holiday Marketplace Saturday, Nov. 15, 9:30a.m.-2 p.m.

Head over to the Old North Church, 35 Washington St, to find breakfast and lunch along with artisan jewelry, baked goods and holiday decor. Kids will enjoy crafts, too.

Gather at the Abbot Library for a screening and discussion of the documentary, “Last of the Right Whales,” with Sophia Naumovski, followed by a Q&A. Registration is required, please register at tinyurl. com/Last-Right-Whales.

“Last of the Right Whales” follows the North Atlantic right whale migration and the people committed to saving a species still struggling to recover from centuries of hunting.

Now climate change is forcing right whales further north in search of

food, putting them on a collision course with ships and fishing gear.

Naumovski is an oceans associate with Environment Massachusetts.

Mini Book Sale at Council On Aging

For All We Know - A Truly Global Experience

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 9 a.m.

Sunday, Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m.

Will and Christiana Goslin Bueno will perform “Sonar Immigration,” a show of songs of gratitude, protest and longing at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 135 Lafayette St. The concert will feature music in English, Spanish, Armenian, French and Portuguese.

The event is free with donations gratefully accepted. For more information, call 781-631-4951 or visit stAndrewsmhd.org.

The Friends of Abbot Public Library will be having a Mini Book Sale at the Judy and Gene Jacobi Community Center at 10 Humphrey St. Visit tinyurl.com/ Friends-of-Abbot or contact the Friends of Abbot Public Library at friendsofabbotlibrary@gmail.com with questions.

COMMUNITY

Seaglass Village makes a splash in Marblehead

BY BELLA TRAVAGLINI Sometimes, it takes a village…

Just ask Cliff Boggis and Kathleen Iannacchino, who live in town and volunteer for Seaglass Village, a community of seniors serving Marblehead, Swampscott and Nahant, who help each other maintain their independence while living in their own homes as they embark on their golden years.

“It certainly helps people have a feeling of empowerment when they can stay in their own homes as they age and know that they can call on someone to change a lightbulb, for instance,” said Iannacchino.

Seaglass Village began operating in December of 2021 and is one of 350 such villages across the country when local steering committees identified that many seniors had a strong desire to remain living at home as they aged.

The concept in Massachusetts emerged over 20 years ago in Boston with the formation of Beacon Hill Village as part of the “village movement.” Soon after, Cambridge Neighbors and Village Neighbors in western Massachusetts came to be as the national network called the Village to Village Network

Seaglass Village supports seniors in Marblehead, Swampscott and Nahant.

gained ground.

Seaglass Village operates out of Swampscott led by its new executive director, Anne Quagrello.

The group has 73 volunteers, with about 30 hailing from Marblehead, serving 94 members who pay dues for the service.

Full membership is offered at $360 annually, which covers an array of services, like a ride to a medical or hairdressing appointment, a lift to the grocery store or simply for a home visit just because, as well as access to the many social events Seaglass provides. Some take advantage for the social aspect alone, which is offered at $120 per year. Operations rely almost entirely on membership dues and donations. However,

just recently, Seaglass Village received a $30,000 grant from the Women’s Fund of Essex County that can be used to subsidize membership for women throughout the three communities.

Boggis, who serves on the organization’s board of directors in addition to volunteering, had a desire to give back to the town where he grew up after retiring from a long career in finance and banking, which didn’t allow him much free time, he said.

“I heard about Seaglass Village while playing bridge at the community center and it sounded like something I could do, “ said Boggis. “It really isn’t heavy lifting on my part at all, so it overwhelms me as to how

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appreciative those I help out are,” he said. “In many instances, I do not know the person I am helping out, but after some repeat business, you find out a lot about their lives and develop a friendship. The help means the world to them,” he said.

The majority of requests that come in are for rides, said Iannacchino, who started as a volunteer and also sits on the board. Many members, as of late, have been calling for a ride to locations in Boston and Waltham for cataract surgery, while the bulk of the calls remains for local ride requests, she said. Since volunteers are CORI checked, they are cleared to enter member homes, said Quagrello, so they can help cart groceries

in or assist with a small chore in the home.

Reaping personal benefits from her volunteer work, Iannacchino also joined as a member of Seaglass Village simply for access to the social events.

“I do it for the companionship and camaraderie I experience,” said Iannacchio, who enjoys the frequent garden parties, lunch and dinner outings, movie nights and excursions to the beach that Seaglass Village volunteers provide,” she said.

But there is more work to be done, said Boggis. While the recent grant award has breathed new life into the group’s desire to expand into neighboring Salem, there remains a dire need for more volunteers.

“We suspect that there are many seniors in Salem who would benefit from our services,” said Boggis. “And the grant will certainly help us with the costs to network and promote what we are about — it will take us a long way, and we are grateful. But we can’t offer what we have if we do not have enough volunteers to fill those needs,” he said.

For more information on Seaglass Village, visit seaglassvillage.org.

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14 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

FOOD & COMMUNITY

Go behind the counter at The Muffin Shop ‘Destiny’ brought Capassos from Italy to Marblehead

BY JULIE FLYNN About an hour before the sun rises, the Muffin Shop opens its doors at 7 a.m., welcoming the first customers of the day.

Walking in to the smell of fresh coffee and an array of warm muffins, commuters grab their morning fuel.

Sixteen different kinds of muffins line the muffin trays, from pumpkin to peach.

Blueberry is the best seller, with oatmeal raspberry a close second. Pumpkin is always a crowd pleaser in the fall.

Behind the counter you’ll usually find Luisa or Celeste Capasso, the owners, who greet customers by name.

The Muffin Shop is not your average corner bakery. Many locals regularly meet friends and linger over breakfast and lunch.

Arthur and Sallie Cote sit at a window table every morning.

“A day at the Muffin Shop is a good day!” says Arthur, laughing.

He and his wife meet a group of locals here most days of the week. “I get a blueberry muffin every morning,” Arthur says.

Bill Hatch started coming every day 20 years ago as part of his morning routine after he retired. “My favorite is a chocolate chip muffin,” he said.

‘We have seasonal muffins all year-round, such as pistachio for St. Patrick’s Day and apple cinnamon when it’s fall. A lot of muffins we carry all year-round, so customers don’t have to wait until the next season to get them,” said Luisa Capasso.

Andrea Bunde, a member of the Wolfpack swimming group at Devereux Beach, joined in.

“I’ve been coming here for at least 10 years. It’s part of my day. It gives you structure. It’s a mini-community center,” Bunde said. “We care about each other, too.”

On Thursdays, a group of 15 or

helps prepare breakfast and lunch. Luisa takes over at 10:30 a.m. and stays until closing at 4 p.m.

In the summer months, it’s nonstop. The shop fills with tourists when the sidewalks are busy.

“We get a lot of big orders for boaters: tons of breakfast meals and sandwiches,” Luisa said.

“We sell several hundred muffins during the week and three to four hundred on the weekends.

Thankfully, we have five or six high school and college girls who help take orders and serve food. We’ve been very fortunate to have had one college girl for five years, Laura Zisson, as well as her sister, Emily, who’s still in high school. Our customers really appreciate them.”

Match made in Italy

CURRENT PHOTOS / JULIE FLYNN

Louisa Cappaso stands behind the counter at the Muffin Shop. She gets up around 1 a.m. each day to bake the popular pastries.

The Muffin Shop has a lot of loyal customers, including, from left, Arthur and Sallie Cote, Ned Quigley, Andrea Bunde and Bill Hatch.

16 retired men meet for lunch where the conversation flows as easily as the coffee.

It’s time to make the muffins Rising between 1 and 2 a.m.,

Celeste begins her day with baking dozens of the crowdpleasing muffins, one batch at a time. The shop’s handwritten chalkboard breakfast menu is loaded with other breakfast items including pancakes,

French toast, waffles and omelets.

As for their lunch crowd, their sandwiches and paninis sell out fast, too. Ask them their customers’ favorites, and they’ll point to a few bestsellers: turkey clubs, grilled cheeses and turkey avocado melts.

Desserts are always a big hit.

“Every item we make here is all from scratch — biscotti, cookies and hermits, you name it,” Luisa added.

Joe Frogger cookies are always a big hit with customers.

“It’s a Marblehead staple.

We’re the only cafe that makes them from scratch. We made 1,000 cookies for the grand opening of the Joe Brown School a few years ago. We ship them all over the country,” Luisa said.

Helping Luisa and Celeste is cook Maribel DeLeon who arrives at 7 every morning and

Luisa and Celeste met in Naples, Italy, in 1985, when Luisa was on what was supposed to be a two-week vacation after her graduation from IT Tech in Woburn in 1987.

“Instead, I ended up staying two years and getting married before moving to Marblehead to open up the Muffin Shop,” Luisa said.

Luisa’s four brothers are also in the food business.

In 1988, Luisa, her brother, Tony, and Celeste leased the Muffin Shop from the Pennis, the original owners. The Capassos stayed when Crosby’s bought the building.

“We have been living right above the store ever since. We raised our three boys here. Being very close to my kids was very convenient for us,” said Luisa.

The Capassos have created lifelong bonds with many customers.

“They all know us. We treat them like they are family,” Luisa said. “I guess it was all meant to be. I guess it was destiny that brought us here.”

SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Abbot Library cooks up new club

BY SAOIRSE STALLINGS This fall, the Abbot Public Library launched a Cookbook Club, where local residents come together once a month to cook, share and celebrate recipes from a chosen cookbook.

The idea came from Jane Eissner, who visited a Cookbook Club with a family member at West Concord Library.

“Everything you read about today, relationships are important,” Eissner told the Current. “It’s nice to be able to share an experience like this. I know a couple of the people really well and I met the members of the library board.

We talked and there were some other people that were very interested in the experience and their cooking.”

The Cookbook Club meets the first Wednesday of each month from 12-1:30 p.m., through December and then again March through May. Marblehead’s Adult Services Librarian Allissa Wyant oversees the program and coordinates with Linda Bassett, the Current’s food columnist, to select each month’s featured cookbook.

Participants can check out the chosen book and pick a recipe that interests them. Each member prepares a dish at home and brings it in to share, buffet style, with the group.

“Everybody in the group are excellent cooks and they’re

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The Cookbook Club sets up tables for tasting recipes prepared by readers.

fearless about trying something new, which I really loved,” Bassett said. “So that makes a really great exchange among all these people.”

Bassett added: “We have a range of ages and experience, from young mothers to retired women. The group is all women right now, but it’s open to men.

I’ve had a few conversations trying to recruit a few men.”

The first meeting, held on

Oct. 8, featured a presentation from Bassett on the history of American cookbooks with the book “Salt Fat Acid Heat,” by Samin Nostrat.

“I made a turkey breast and brined it in salt overnight. It was very interesting to me that you can cook other meats that way.

It helped me see the importance of salt and then tasting it in other dishes at the meeting,” said Eissner.

Meetings are a place where participants can talk about what they prepared and why they chose it, as well as learn new insights on cooking styles and recipes.

The latest meeting on Nov. 5, featured recipes from Ina Garten’s cookbook.

“We’re thrilled to host the Cookbook Club at the Abbot Public Library,” said Abbot

Library Executive Dir. Kimberly Grad. “It’s more than just sharing a meal. It’s a wonderful, supportive environment for food lovers to connect, share recipes and learn from local expert Linda Bassett.”

New members are welcome to join by signing up at abbotlibrary.org/events.

Each meeting is capped at 20 people.

marbleheadcurrent.org

Shining a light on the news you care about!

Marblehead Current Wednesday, November 12, 2025 15

Headlight

Written by the students of Marblehead High School for our school and community 2025 - 2026 Issue

www.mhsheadlight.com

November 12, 2025

Ready to make a difference?

Party safety

Evan Eisen, Assistant Editor, Senior

Sophie Li, Freshman

Parties can be a lot of fun, as they offer a chance to relax, laugh, and spend time with friends. But it’s always good to be aware at all times and remember some basic safety rules to follow if needed. This is just a quick reminder of what to watch out for and how to make smart choices when you’re out having fun!

A good time should never come at the cost of your comfort or safety, so knowing how to protect yourself and your friends can make all the difference.

If you’re a teenager, it can be hard to avoid substance use if others around you are using substances. It can be tough to say no when everyone else seems to be saying yes. The best way to handle it is to plan ahead and decide what you’ll say if someone offers you something. You can say, “No thanks,” or make an excuse to step away, such as, “My friend is calling me.” After declining, you should stay with your friends because true friends won’t pressure you, and leaving a situation where you feel uncomfortable will always be okay. It’s better to decline and walk away than risk your safety or health. If you ever feel unsure, reach out to someone you trust, or call a parent or guardian to come get you. There is no shame in asking for help when you need it.

Halloween was just two weeks ago, and for a lot of people, that meant excitement and partying. With costumes, busy crowds, and excitement, it can be easy to forget basic safety measures like watching your drink and staying close to people you trust. It’s also important to plan how you’re getting home before the night starts so everyone gets back safely. Whether it’s Halloween or any other celebration, staying alert and aware helps everyone have a good time.

To sum it all up, parties are about enjoying yourself, not taking risks. Look out and stick to your friends, make responsible decisions, and don’t be afraid to leave if things don’t feel right. Remember to have fun! Take photos, make a great playlist, and maybe start a new party tradition with your friends! The best nights are the ones you actually remember the next day, filled with laughter, memories, and people who make you feel safe and happy. A little caution and care can go a long way toward making every celebration memorable.

Community service is an act that shows the best in all of us.

To dedicate our time, money, and resources is an act of selflessness and devotion to improving our society. That is why we all need to get involved somehow, but of course it’s challenging to decide where, when, and how you want to make an impact. If this is you, then I have the perfect opportunity for you!

The Jefferson Forum Community Service Club at the high school is partnering with the Lynn Community Health Center for their annual My Baby’s First Holiday event. The event is being held on December 5th at North Shore Community College’s Lynn campus. It’s directed towards single mothers and low-income families who have newborns to be able to have a great holiday and receive supplies that will assist them. Parents will receive a supermarket gift card and gift bags that have onesies, socks, hats, books, and bibs. In addition, families will also be given a hot meal, with newborns and other young children being able to participate in fun activities like decorating cookies, face painting, and getting to have their photo taken with Santa Claus!

My Baby’s First Holiday is an incredible opportunity to not just make a difference, but to also meet new people and to just have a day filled with fun activities and memories! What better way is there to get into the Christmas spirit than by helping single mothers and low-income families be able to give their newborns a first holiday that they will never forget. If you can’t come to the event, there are still other ways to give back. Baby items like food and money can be donated to the Lynn Community Health Center, so even if you can’t come, you're still able to improve the lives of these newborns and their families.

If you're ready to make a difference, please contact the Jefferson Forum Club advisors Ms. Kennedy and Ms. Chaykowski, or attend the weekly meetings that are at 2:55 pm at the high school’s Career and Counseling Center. We can’t wait to see you at My Baby’s First Holiday to spread some holiday cheer!

Winter Athletics Registration MHS registration for Winter Athletics is open. The Winter season starts on December 1st. Please have your registration completed by Friday

Headlight Staff 2025 - 2026 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Grey Collins

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Evan Eisen, Anna Cruikshank, Georgia Marshall

REPORTERS: Anna Baughman, Maya Berman, Teagan Freedman, Sophie Li, Eve Magen, Will Pelliciotti, Mary Prindiville, Daphne Seliger FACULTY ADVISOR: Mr. Higgins

marbleheadcurrent.org

16 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Marblehead Current

Marblehead Harbor

Holiday Pops 2025 invites you to a reception in honor of Paul McMahan, featured artist, and the official art unveiling Masonic Philanthropic Lodge 62 Pleasant Street, Marblehead

5 – 7 p.m.

Wednesday Nov. 12

Free and open to the public.

Raffle tickets can be purchased for a chance to win Paul McMahan’s original artwork.

(Also commemorative notecards are for sale.)

Concert tickets will be available at the reception and at RotaryClubOfMheadHarbor.org starting that evening.

Complimentary refreshments catered by Louise Moore at Every Little Breeze. Cash bar.

Proceeds to support scholarships and worthy charitable donations.

Change is in the air…

Is now

We are excited to announce that we are the new owners of Step by Step, and our new name is Clover Carpet + Interiors. We talked for years about opening a shop that blends our talents and hobbies together in a way that honors our design vibes and brings something unique and special to Marblehead!

All the offerings of Step by Step remain for you with the addition of expanded and new options for customized home furnishings and handcrafted rugs.

AND we have been shopping like mad to bring you unique accessories and gifts that will bring joy to yourself and others!

Stop in and say HI! Julie Pitt and Kyle Donovan Follow us on Instagram @clovercarpetandinteriors

75 Washington Street Marblehead, MA 781.990.0180

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